The First K⁺-Channel Blocker Described from <i>Tityus fasciolatus</i> Venom: The Purification, Molecular Cloning, and Functional Characterization of α-KTx4.9 (Tf5).

ABSTRACT: Hundreds of toxins, particularly from scorpions of lesser medical significance, remain unknown, especially those from species endemic to specific ecosystems, such as Tityus fasciolatus. Their discovery could contribute to the development of new drugs for channelopathies and other diseases. Tf5 is a new peptide that has been identified from the venom of Tityus fasciolatus, a scorpion species endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado ecosystem. A full-length cDNA sequence of the Tf5 gene was obtained through a previously constructed transcriptomic library, where an ORF (Open Reading Frame) sequence with a length of 180 was found, including the 37 aa mature KTx domain, which has six Cys residues. Tf5 was purified from the crude venom, resulting in a peptide with a molecular mass of 3983.

SUBMITTER: Monteiro IS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11861696 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature