Isolation of the first toxin from the scorpion Buthus occitanus israelis showing preference for Shaker potassium channels

Adi Kozminsky-Atias; Erez Somech; Noam Zilberberg

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2007.04.065

Isolation of the first toxin from the scorpion Buthus occitanus israelis showing preference for Shaker potassium channels

Adi Kozminsky-Atias, Erez Somech, Noam Zilberberg

Department of Life Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 IC₅₀ 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2478-2484
Number of pages	7
Journal	FEBS Letters
Volume	581
Issue number	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2007.04.065
State	Published - 29 May 2007

Keywords

Buthus occitanus
Potassium channels
Scorpion toxin
Shaker
TEVC
α-KTx3

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biophysics
Structural Biology
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Genetics
Cell Biology

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10.1016/j.febslet.2007.04.065

Cite this

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abstract = "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 IC50 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.",

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AB - 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 IC50 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.

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Isolation of the first toxin from the scorpion Buthus occitanus israelis showing preference for Shaker potassium channels

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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