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The Malayan pit viper, Calloselasma rhodostoma, produces a potent venom toxin, rhodocytin (aggretin) which causes platelet aggregation. Rhodocytin is a ligand for the receptor CLEC-2 on the surface of platelets. The interaction of these two molecules initiates a signaling pathway which results in platelet activation and aggregation. We have previously solved the crystal structures of CLEC-2 and of rhodocytin, and have proposed models by which tetrameric rhodocytin may interact with either two monomers of CLEC-2, or with one or two copies of dimeric CLEC-2. In the current study we use a range of approaches to analyze the molecular interfaces and dynamics involved in the models of the interaction of rhodocytin with either one or two copies of dimeric CLEC-2, and their implications for clustering of CLEC-2 on the platelet surface.

Original publication

DOI

10.3390/toxins3080991

Type

Journal article

Journal

Toxins (Basel)

Publication Date

08/2011

Volume

3

Pages

991 - 1003

Keywords

CLEC-2, platelets, rhodocytin, thrombosis, Agkistrodon, Algorithms, Animals, Blood Platelets, Lectins, C-Type, Ligands, Platelet Aggregation, Protein Binding, Protein Conformation, Signal Transduction, Viper Venoms