title: Inhibition of calcium channel dihydropyridine receptor binding by purified Mojave toxin.
abstract: Mojave toxin, the principal toxic component of the venom of the Mojave rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus, is a protein complex of about 22,000 mol. wt. The mechanism of action of this potent (LD50 = 0.039 micrograms/g, mouse, IV) neurotoxin is a matter of conjecture, but physiologic data suggest a presynaptic site of action with disruption of stimulus-secretion coupling and neurotransmitter release. The selectivity of Mojave toxin's effect on several ion channels involved in neurotransmission was assessed in the present study using competitive radioisotopic binding procedures. Synaptic membranes from rat brain were used to assess the toxin's interaction with Ca++ and Cl- channels while membrane fragments from the Torpedo fish electric organ were used to determine toxin interaction with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-coupled Na+ channel. Mojave toxin was found to irreversibly inhibit 3H-nitrendipine binding to dihydropyridine receptors associated with Ca++ channels in rat brain, but had no effect on radioligand binding in the Na+ and Cl- channel assays. Saturation analysis of the binding further showed that the effects of MoTX on dihydropyridine binding were noncompetitive, with MoTX producing a decrease in both the affinity and density of 3H-nitrendipine sites. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that MoTX acts selectively on Ca++ channel function and that this interaction occurs via an allosteric mechanism in which MoTX binds to a membrane site that is topologically distinct from the dihydropyridine receptor.
authors: Biotechnology Division, Chemical Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5423.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Valdes
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Thompson
authors: V L
authors: VL
authors: Wolff
authors: D E
authors: DE
authors: Menking
authors: E D
authors: ED
authors: Rael
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004557:Electric Organ; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D014101:Torpedo
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C018107:Mojave toxin; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009568:Nitrendipine; D010622:Phencyclidine