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Isolation of the first toxin from the scorpion Buthus occitanus israelis showing preference for Shaker potassium channels
Author(s) -
Kozminsky-Atias Adi,
Somech Erez,
Zilberberg Noam
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.04.065
Subject(s) - shaker , xenopus , venom , scorpion toxin , scorpion , toxin , potassium channel , scorpion venoms , biology , peptide , insect , chemistry , biochemistry , gene , biophysics , botany , physics , quantum mechanics , vibration
We have purified BoiTx1, the first toxin from the venom of the Israeli scorpion, Buthus occitanus israelis , and studied its activity and genomic organization. BoiTx1 is a 37 amino acid‐long peptide contained six conserved cysteines, and is classified as an α‐KTx3.10 toxin. The pharmacological effects of BoiTx1 were studied on various cloned K + channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. BoiTx1 inhibited currents through Drosophila Shaker channels with an IC 50 value of 3.5 ± 0.5 nM, yet had much lesser effect on its mammalian orthologs. Thus, BoiTx1 is the first member of the α‐KTx3 family that preferentially affects insect potassium channels.