Isolation of toxin TsTX-VI from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom. Effects on the release of neurotransmitters from synaptosomes

Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1996 Jul;39(4):729-40. doi: 10.1080/15216549600201811.

Abstract

A detailed procedure for the purification of Tityustoxin-VI, TsTX-VI, from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom is described. For comparative purposes, a second toxin, CM-VI, obtained from the same fractionation procedure, was analyzed in parallel. Typical biochemical parameters, such as electrophoretic migration, mol.weight, amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence (first 42 amino acid residues out of a total of approx. 60) were determined for both. Our data showed that CM-VI is identical or extremely homologous to gamma-toxin (TsTX-I), the highly toxic major toxin from T. serrulatus venom. TsTX-VI was less toxic, although still effective at inducing an allergic reaction, lacrymation and contraction of the hind legs of mice. Both toxins produced a dose dependent release of the neurotransmitters glutamic acid and gamma aminobutyric acid from rat brain synaptosomes, this effect being blocked by tetrodotoxin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neurotoxins / isolation & purification*
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Scorpion Venoms / chemistry*
  • Scorpion Venoms / isolation & purification*
  • Scorpion Venoms / pharmacology
  • Synaptosomes / metabolism*
  • Tetrodotoxin / pharmacology
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • CM-VI toxin
  • Neurotoxins
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Scorpion Venoms
  • toxin TsTX-VI
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Tetrodotoxin
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid