Abstract
Introduction:It is a long time that natural toxin research is conducted to unlock the medical potential of toxins. Although venoms-toxins cause pathophysiological conditions, they may be effective to treat several diseases. Since toxins including scorpion toxins target voltage-gated ion channels, they may have profound effects on excitable cells. Therefore, elucidating the cellular and electrophysiological impacts of toxins, particularly scorpion toxins would be helpful in future drug development opportunities.Methods:Intracellular recording was made from F1 cells of Helix aspersa in the presence of calcium Ringer solution in which Na+ and K+ channels were blocked. Then, the modulation of channel function in the presence of extracellular application of F4 and F6 toxins and kaliotoxin (KTX; 50 nM and 1 μM) was examined by assessing the electrophysiological characteristics of calcium spikes.Results:The two active toxin fractions, similar to KTX, a known Ca2+-activated K+ channel blocker, reduced the amplitude of AHP, enhanced the firing frequency of calcium spikes and broadened the duration of Ca2+ spikes. Therefore, it might be inferred that these two new fractions induce neuronal hyperexcitability possibly, in part, by blocking calcium-activated potassium channel current. However, this supposition requires further investigation using voltage clamping technique.Conclusion:These toxin fractions may act as blocker of calcium-activated potassium channels.
Highlights
It is a long time that natural toxin research is conducted to unlock the medical potential of toxins
This supposition requires further investigation using voltage clamping technique. These toxin fractions may act as blocker of calcium-activated potassium channels
● These toxin fractions act similar to Kaliotoxin as a KCa2+ channels
Summary
It is a long time that natural toxin research is conducted to unlock the medical potential of toxins. Since toxins including scorpion toxins target voltagegated ion channels, they may have profound effects on excitable cells. Venoms/toxins mainly result in pathophysiological consequences on human, there are several studies that support the potential medicinal properties of natural animal and insect venom neurotoxins including scorpion toxins (Hwang, Kim, & Bae, 2015). The same target molecules can be affected by many natural toxins in order to control and/or treat several diseases (Mouhat, Jouirou, Mosbah, De Waard, & Sabatier, 2004; Mouhat, Andreotti, Jouirou, & Sabatier, 2008). In this context, ion channels could be common biological targets affected by both diseases and venomous neurotoxins. Voltage-gated Na+, Ca2+, and K+ channels are important therapeutic candidates which can be modulated by various neurotoxins including scorpion toxins (Batista et al, 2002; Zuo & Ji 2004; Quintero-Hernández et al, 2013; He et al, 2016)
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