A large number of novel Ergtoxin-like genes and ERG K+-channels blocking peptides from scorpions of the genus Centruroides.
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.
Corona
Miguel
M
Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, P.O. Box 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico.
Gurrola
Georgina B
GB
Merino
Enrique
E
Cassulini
Rita Restano
RR
Valdez-Cruz
Norma A
NA
García
Blanca
B
Ramírez-Domínguez
Martha E
ME
Coronas
Fredy I V
FI
Zamudio
Fernando Z
FZ
Wanke
Enzo
E
Possani
Lourival D
LD
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
D010455:Peptides; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; C118951:ergotoxin, Centruroides noxius