A novel peptide from funnel web spider venom, omega-Aga-TK, selectively blocks, P-type calcium channels

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993 Oct 15;196(1):134-40. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1993.2225.

Abstract

In the course of purification of omega-Aga-IVA, a specific P-type calcium channel blocker, from the venom of Agelenopsis aperta we discovered a novel peptide. This peptide, named omega-agatoxin Tsukuba (omega-Aga-TK), also blocked P-type channels and was twelve times more abundant in the venom than omega-Aga-IVA. omega-Aga-TK was purified to homogeneity by a two-step reverse-phase HPLC procedure. Its amino acid sequence is 71% identical to that of omega-Aga-IVA. omega-Aga-TK has a negatively charged N-terminus, whereas omega-Aga-IVA has a positively charged one. Electrophysiological data indicate that omega-Aga-TK is a potent and selective inhibitor of P-type channels.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Agatoxins
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology*
  • Calcium Channels / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cricetinae
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Rats
  • Sequence Analysis
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Spider Venoms / chemistry*
  • Spider Venoms / genetics
  • Spider Venoms / isolation & purification
  • Spider Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Spiders
  • omega-Agatoxin IVA

Substances

  • Agatoxins
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels
  • Spider Venoms
  • omega-Agatoxin IVA
  • omega-agatoxin-Aa4b