title: Block of high-threshold calcium channels by the synthetic polyamines sFTX-3.3 and FTX-3.3.
abstract: A polyamine component of Agelenopsis aperta spider venom designated FTX is reported to be a selective antagonist of P-type calcium channels in the mammalian brain. Consequently, this component has frequently been used as a pharmacological tool to determine the presence, distribution, and function of P-type channels in physiological systems. We describe antagonism of calcium channels by the synthesized polyamine FTX-3.3, which has the proposed structure of natural FTX. We also examined a corresponding polyamine amide, sFTX-3.3. These polyamines are critically evaluated for antagonism of three high-threshold calcium channel subtypes in rat neurons through the use of the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. FTX-3.3 (IC50 = approximately 0.13 mM) is approximately twice as potent as sFTX-3.3 (IC50 = approximately 0.24 mM) against P-type channels and approximately 3-fold more potent against N-type channels (FTX-3.3, IC50 = approximately 0.24 mM; sFTX-3.3, IC50 = approximately 0.70 mM). Both polyamines also block L-type calcium channels with similar potencies. sFTX-3.3 (1 mM) and FTX-3.3 (0.5 mM) typically block 50% and 65% of Bay K8644-enhanced L-type current, respectively. Antagonism of each calcium channel subtype is voltage dependent, with less inhibition of Ba2+ currents at more-positive potentials. These data show that both sFTX-3.3 and FTX-3.3 antagonize P-, N-, and L-type calcium channels in mammalian Purkinje and superior cervical ganglia neurons with similar IC50 values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521, USA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Blagbrough
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011073:Polyamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; C071920:FTX, spider toxin; D011073:Polyamines; D013111:Spider Venoms; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester