title: Scorpion toxin peptide action at the ion channel subunit level.
abstract: This review categorizes functionally validated actions of defined scorpion toxin (SCTX) neuropeptides across ion channel subclasses, highlighting key trends in this rapidly evolving field. Scorpion envenomation is a common event in many tropical and subtropical countries, with neuropharmacological actions, particularly autonomic nervous system modulation, causing significant mortality. The primary active agents within scorpion venoms are a diverse group of small neuropeptides that elicit specific potent actions across a wide range of ion channel classes. The identification and functional characterisation of these SCTX peptides has tremendous potential for development of novel pharmaceuticals that advance knowledge of ion channels and establish lead compounds for treatment of excitable tissue disorders. This review delineates the unique specificities of 320 individual SCTX peptides that collectively act on 41 ion channel subclasses. Thus the SCTX research field has significant translational implications for pathophysiology spanning neurotransmission, neurohumoral signalling, sensori-motor systems and excitation-contraction coupling. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Dentistry, Cairns Campus, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia; Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: david.housley@my.jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Housley
authors.affiliation: Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Housley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science and College of Science & Engineering, Cairns Campus, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Liddell
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Dentistry, Cairns Campus, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia; Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Queensland 4878, Australia; Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Ernest A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jennings
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D010455:Peptides; D012604:Scorpion Venoms
keywords: Ion channels; Neuropeptide; Neurotoxin; Scorpion; Venom