title: A large number of novel Ergtoxin-like genes and ERG K+-channels blocking peptides from scorpions of the genus Centruroides.
abstract: Twenty-three novel sequences similar to Ergtoxin (ErgTx) were obtained by direct sequencing of peptides or deduced from gene cloned using cDNAs of venomous glands of Centruroides (C.) elegans, C. exilicauda, C. gracilis, C. limpidus limpidus, C. noxius and C. sculpturatus. These peptides have from 42 to 47 amino acid residues cross-linked by four disulfide bridges. They share sequence similarities (60-98% compared with ErgTx1) and were shown to block ERG K(+)-channels of F-11 clone (N18TG-2xrat DRG) cultured cells. An unrooted phylogenetic tree analysis of these peptides showed that they conform at least five different subfamilies, of which three are novel subfamilies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, P.O. Box 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: Georgina B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gurrola
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: Rita Restano
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Cassulini
authors.forename: Norma A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Valdez-Cruz
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Domínguez
authors.forename: Fredy I V
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Coronas
authors.forename: Fernando Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Zamudio
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: Lourival D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Possani
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005796:Genes; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010802:Phylogeny; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000145:classification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; C118951:ergotoxin, Centruroides noxius