Functional site of bukatoxin, an alpha-type sodium channel neurotoxin from the Chinese scorpion (Buthus martensi Karsch) venom: probable role of the (52)PDKVP(56) loop

FEBS Letters
K N SrinivasanP Gopalakrishnakone

Abstract

Alpha-toxins from scorpion venoms prolong the action potential of excitable cells by blocking sodium channel inactivation. We have purified bukatoxin, an alpha-toxin from scorpion (Buthus martensi Karsch) venom, to homogeneity. Bukatoxin produced marked relaxant responses in the carbachol-precontracted rat anococcygeus muscle (ACM), which were mediated through the L-arginine-nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide pathway, consequent to a neuronal release of nitric oxide. Based on the presence of proline residues in the flanking segments of protein-protein interaction sites, we predicted the site between (52)PP(56) to be the potential interaction site of bukatoxin. A homology model of bukatoxin indicated the presence of this site on the surface. Buka11, a synthetic peptide designed based on this predicted site, produced a concentration-dependent nitric oxide-mediated relaxant response in ACM. Using alanine-substituted peptides, we have shown the importance (53)DKV(55) flanked by proline residues in the functional site of bukatoxin.

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Citations

Jun 14, 2005·Journal of Molecular Graphics & Modelling·Paul T J TanVladimir Brusic
Mar 17, 2004·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·R Manjunatha Kini
Jan 5, 2002·Biochemical Pharmacology·Selvanayagam NirthananMatthew C E Gwee
Sep 11, 2002·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Cyril GoudetJan Tytgat
Jun 5, 2003·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Simone WagnerCarlos Alberto Schwartz
Aug 8, 2002·Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology·Matthew C E GweeLi-Sam Cheah
Nov 8, 2006·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Frank Bosmans, Jan Tytgat
Jan 29, 2003·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Cleber E TeixeiraGilberto De Nucci
Apr 27, 2021·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Javier AlamillaLaura L Valdez-Velázquez

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