Pharmacological comparison of two different insect models using the scorpion alpha-like toxin BmK M1 from Buthus martensii Karsch.
In this study, the effect of the scorpion alpha-like toxin BmK M1 was investigated on isolated DUM neurons from Locusta migratoria and compared with the effect on para/tipE voltage-gated Na(+) channels (VGSC), cloned from Drosophila melanogaster. The two insects display different pharmacological properties regarding alpha-like toxins. Moreover, with the aid of the alpha-like toxin BmK M1 and 5 of its mutants, the importance of aromatic residues for the interaction of the toxin with the VGSC in L. migratoria and D. melanogaster, is shown.
Bosmans
Frank
F
Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Brône
Bert
B
Sun
Yan-Mei
YM
Zhu
Rong-Huan
RH
Xiong
Yu-Mei
YM
Wang
Da-Cheng
DC
Van Kerkhove
Emmy
E
Tytgat
Jan
J
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019476:Insect Proteins; D048188:Locusta migratoria / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014982:Xenopus laevis
C403888:BmK M1 neurotoxin; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D015222:Sodium Channels