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Electrophysiological characterization of Bm K M1, an α‐like toxin from Buthus martensi Karsch venom
Author(s) -
Goudet Cyril,
Huys Isabelle,
Clynen Elke,
Schoofs Liliane,
Wang Da-Cheng,
Waelkens Etienne,
Tytgat Jan
Publication year - 2001
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/s0014-5793(01)02365-1
Subject(s) - venom , toxin , chemistry , electrophysiology , biology , biochemistry , neuroscience
The present study investigates the electrophysiological actions of Bm K M1, an α‐like toxin purified from the venom of the scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch, on voltage‐gated Na + channels. Using the voltage clamp technique, we assessed the Bm K M1 activity on the cardiac Na + channel (hH1) functionally expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The main actions of the toxin are a concentration‐dependent slowing of the inactivation process and a hyperpolarizing shift of the steady‐state inactivation. This work is the first electrophysiological characterization of Bm K M1 on a cloned Na + channel, demonstrating that this toxin belongs to the class of scorpion α‐toxins. Our results also show that Bm K M1 can be considered as a cardiotoxin.