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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-4-5
pubmed:abstractText
Alpha scorpion toxins bind to receptor site 3 on voltage-dependent sodium channels and inhibit their inactivation. The alpha-scorpion toxin BotIII is the most toxic protein of Buthus occitanus tunetanus. Its sequence differs only by three amino acid residues from that of AahII, the most active alpha-toxin. Due to their high affinity and selectivity for mammalian sodium channels, BotIII and AahII represent powerful tools for studying the molecular determinants of specificity for voltage-dependent sodium channels. Sequence analysis of BotIII gene has revealed two exons separated by a 381-bp intron and a signal peptide of 19 amino acids. We succeeded in expressing BotIII in significantly higher amounts than AahII the only expressed strict alpha anti-mammalian scorpion toxin reported in the literature. We have also modified specific amino acid residues of BotIII. The recombinant and the natural toxins differ by the amidation of the C-terminal residue. Toxicity and binding experiments indicated: (a) the affinity of rBotIII-OH and rAahII-OH (rBotIII-OH with the 3 mutations R10V, V51L, N64H) for the voltage-dependent sodium channels is reduced compared to the natural toxins. This data revealed the important role of the C-terminal amidation for the biological activity of BotIII and AahII; (b) the single mutation N64H is responsible for the difference of toxicity and affinity between rBotIII-OH and rAahII-OH; (c) the addition of the sequence GR to rBotIII-OH leads to the loss of biological activity. This study is in agreement with the important role attributed to the C-terminal sequence of alpha-toxins in their interaction with sodium channels receptors.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0196-9781
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
25
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
151-61
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Molecular cloning and functional expression of the alpha-scorpion toxin BotIII: pivotal role of the C-terminal region for its interaction with voltage-dependent sodium channels.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratoire des Venins et Toxines, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, B. P 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't