In the journal Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C (Q1 in Zoology), Krzysztof Kowalski, Leszek Rychlik (Department of Systematic Zoology), and co-authors from the Institute of Experimental Biology, Paweł Marciniak and Grzegorz Rosiński (Department of Animal Physiology and Development) recently published a paper with the new results demonstrating strong cardio- and myotropic properties, and low neuroactivity, of selected proteins from Bufo parotoids. Authors also, for the first time, identified a series of peptides with cardio-, myo- and neurotropic activity. The results supports the thesis that parotoid toxins (especially those with a strong cardiotoxic activity) can be an effective toads’ defence against some predators.
Full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2018.01.004