title: Amino acid sequence of TsTX-V, an alpha-toxin from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom, and its effect on K+ permeability of beta-cells from isolated rat islets of Langerhans.
abstract: Highly purified Tityustoxin V (TsTX-V), an alpha-toxin isolated from the venom of the Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus, was obtained by ion exchange chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose-52. It was shown to be homogeneous by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, N-terminal sequencing (first 39 residues) of the reduced and alkylated protein and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate and tricine. Following enzymatic digestion, the complete amino acid sequence (64 residues) was determined. The sequence showed higher homology with the toxins from the venoms of the North African than with those of the North and South American scorpions. Using the rate of 86Rb+ release from depolarized rat pancreatic beta-cells as a measure of K+ permeability changes, TsTX-V (5.6 micrograms/ml) was found to increase by 2.0-2.4-fold the rate of marker outflow in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose. This effect was persistent and slowly reversible, showing similarity to that induced by 100 microM veratridine, an agent that increases the open period of Na+ channels, delaying their inactivation. It is suggested that, by extending the depolarized period, TsTX-V indirectly affects beta-cell voltage-dependent K+ channels, thus increasing K+ permeability.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marangoni
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014701:Veratridine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; C093268:tityustoxin V; D014701:Veratridine; D011188:Potassium