In nature there are two super poisons. First one it is, botulism, the second one is tetanus: both of them kill by paralyzing the neuronic system - tetanus by contractions, botulism by flabbiling. What in these substances is so poison, even in small amounts? And what are the differences?
Answers to these questions were given by scientists working with modern x-ray equipment – synchrotrons. X-ray with excellent spectral resolution allowed us to know the structure of both toxins.
They are quite different, complicated proteins, with one common feature: at a certain place of the chain there is a Zinc atom, surrounded with four aminoacids. One of them is the same for these poisons, the rest of them is different.
How does such a poison work? It
attacks a very specific protein of the cellular membrane of the neurons,
which is responsible for the transmission of electrical signals, cutting this proteinin two parts. In this way, neuronic
signals are stopped – a sure death, even at minimal dose!
What is bothering in this story is the fact, that Mother Nature, in her’s all wickedness invented only two such super poisons. “Good” man knows, that there are as many as 16 biologically active aminoacids.