Inhibition of the collapse of the Shaker K+ conductance by specific scorpion toxins.

The Shaker B K(+) conductance (G(K)) collapses when the channels are closed (deactivated) in Na(+) solutions that lack K(+) ions. Also, it is known that external TEA (TEA(o)) impedes the collapse of G(K), and that channel block by TEA(o) and scorpion toxins are two mutually exclusive events. Therefore, we tested the ability of scorpion toxins to inhibit the collapse of G(K) in 0 K(+). We have found that these toxins are not uniform regarding the capacity to protect G(K). Those toxins, whose binding to the channels is destabilized by external K(+), are also effective inhibitors of the collapse of G(K). In addition to K(+), other externally added cations also destabilize toxin block, with an effectiveness that does not match the selectivity sequence of K(+) channels. The inhibition of the drop of G(K) follows a saturation relationship with [toxin], which is fitted well by the Michaelis-Menten equation, with an apparent Kd bigger than that of block of the K(+) current. However, another plausible model is also presented and compared with the Michaelis-Menten model. The observations suggest that those toxins that protect G(K) in 0 K(+) do so by interacting either with the most external K(+) binding site of the selectivity filter (suggesting that the K(+) occupancy of only that site of the pore may be enough to preserve G(K)) or with sites capable of binding K(+) located in the outer vestibule of the pore, above the selectivity filter.

A large number of novel Ergtoxin-like genes and ERG K+-channels blocking peptides from scorpions of the genus Centruroides.

Twenty-three novel sequences similar to Ergtoxin (ErgTx) were obtained by direct sequencing of peptides or deduced from gene cloned using cDNAs of venomous glands of Centruroides (C.) elegans, C. exilicauda, C. gracilis, C. limpidus limpidus, C. noxius and C. sculpturatus. These peptides have from 42 to 47 amino acid residues cross-linked by four disulfide bridges. They share sequence similarities (60-98% compared with ErgTx1) and were shown to block ERG K(+)-channels of F-11 clone (N18TG-2xrat DRG) cultured cells. An unrooted phylogenetic tree analysis of these peptides showed that they conform at least five different subfamilies, of which three are novel subfamilies.

Cn11, the first example of a scorpion toxin that is a true blocker of Na(+) currents in crayfish neurons.

A novel crustacean toxin (Cn11) was isolated and characterized from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Centruroides noxius Hoffmann. It contains 63 amino acid residues and is stabilized by four disulphide bridges. It is lethal to crustaceans (Cambarellus montezumae), less toxic to insects (crickets) and non-toxic to mammals (mice) at the doses assayed. In neurons isolated from the X organ-sinus gland system of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii, it blocks the Na(+) currents with an estimated K(m) of 320 nmol l(-1), without affecting the Ca(2+) and K(+) currents. The voltage-gated tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na(+) current was recorded from X organ neurons in culture 24 h after plating using the whole-cell clamp configuration. The Na(+) current was isolated by blocking Ca(2+) currents with Cd(2+) and Cs(+) and K(+) currents with tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine. Under control conditions, the Na(+) currents were activated at -40 mV with a maximum amplitude at 0 mV. In the presence of 1 micromol l(-1) Cn11, the Na(+) current amplitude was reduced by 75 % without apparent modifications to the gating mechanism. These findings suggest that Cn11 selectively blocks a Na(+) channel. It is the first representative of a new group of scorpion toxins specific for this molecular target.