The Tarantula Toxin ω-Avsp1a Specifically Inhibits Human Ca_V3.1 and Ca_V3.3 via the Extracellular S3-S4 Loop of the Domain 1 Voltage-Sensor.

ABSTRACT: Inhibition of T-type calcium channels (Ca_V3) prevents development of diseases related to cardiovascular and nerve systems. Further, knockout animal studies have revealed that some diseases are mediated by specific subtypes of Ca_V3. However, subtype-specific Ca_V3 inhibitors for therapeutic purposes or for studying the physiological roles of Ca_V3 subtypes are missing. To bridge this gap, we employed our spider venom library and uncovered that Avicularia spec. ("Amazonas Purple", Peru) tarantula venom inhibited specific T-type Ca_V channel subtypes. By using chromatographic and mass-spectrometric techniques, we isolated and sequenced the active toxin ω-Avsp1a, a C-terminally amidated 36 residue peptide with a molecular weight of 422

SUBMITTER: Herzig V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9138389 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature