Plectasin, first animal toxin-like fungal defensin blocking potassium channels through recognizing channel pore region.

ABSTRACT: The potassium channels were recently found to be inhibited by animal toxin-like human β-defensin 2 (hBD2), the first defensin blocker of potassium channels. Whether there are other defensin blockers from different organisms remains an open question. Here, we reported the potassium channel-blocking plectasin, the first defensin blocker from a fungus. Based on the similar cysteine-stabilized alpha-beta (CSαβ) structure between plectasin and scorpion toxins acting on potassium channels, we found that plectasin could dose-dependently block Kv1.3 channel currents through electrophysiological experiments. Besides Kv1.3 channel, plectasin could less inhibit Kv1.1, Kv1.2, IKCa, SKCa3, hERG and KCNQ channels at the concentration of 1 μΜ. Using mutagenesis and channel activation experiments, we foun

SUBMITTER: Xiang F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4303811 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature