title: omega-Conotoxin GVIA and nifedipine inhibit the depolarizing action of the fungal metabolite, destruxin B on muscle from the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens).
abstract: Recent studies on a group of fungal metabolites, collectively called the destruxins, have suggested that these compounds activate calcium influx in insect skeletal muscle. In this study, we have investigated the sensitivity of destruxin B to the voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists; omega-conotoxin GVIA, nifedipine, diltiazem and methoxyverapamil on skeletal muscle from the lepidopteran insect pest, tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens). At a concentration of 1.7 microM, destruxin B caused a rapid decrease in the transmembrane resting potential. The effect of destruxin B on insect muscle was blocked by micromolar concentrations of omega-conotoxin GVIA and nifedipine but not by methoxyverapamil or diltiazem. The inhibitory activity of omega-conotoxin GVIA on invertebrate muscle tissue was surprising since this compound was previously thought to be selective to vertebrate nervous tissue. The sensitivity of the destruxin-stimulated depolarization to the two antagonists suggested that destruxin B activated a voltage-dependent calcium channel. Neuromuscular transmission was monitored in the presence of omega-conotoxin GVIA and nifedipine to investigate the physiological role of the destruxin-activated channel. Neither antagonist altered the waveform of graded action potentials produced by synaptic activation. The lack of effect of omega-conotoxin GVIA and a high dose of nifedipine could be explained by the existence of two populations of pharmacologically distinct voltage-dependent calcium channels on the muscle membrane. One population which is involved with the production of graded action potentials is insensitive to omega-conotoxin GVIA and nifedipine. The other population is activated by destruxin B and inhibited by omega-conotoxin GIVA and nifedipine.
authors.affiliation: DowElanco, Agricultural Products Research Center, Walnut Creek, CA 94598.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bradfisch
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Harmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D047630:Depsipeptides; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D005711:Gallopamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008978:Mollusk Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D009036:Moths; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D047630:Depsipeptides; D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D009183:Mycotoxins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D005711:Gallopamil; C040424:destruxin B; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine