Peptide toxins in sea anemones: structural and functional aspects
In: Marine Biotechnology. Springer-Verlag: New York. ISSN 1436-2228; e-ISSN 1436-2236, more
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Document type: Review
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| Keywords |
Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Proteins > Peptides
Chemical elements > Metals > Alkali metals > Potassium
Chemical elements > Metals > Alkali metals > Sodium
Materials > Hazardous materials > Biological poisons
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
peptide toxin; potassium channel toxin; sea anemone; sodium channeltoxin |
| Abstract |
Sea anemones are a rich source of two classes of peptide toxins, sodium channel toxins and potassium channel toxins, which have been or will be useful tools for studying the structure and function of specific ion channels. Most of the known sodium channel toxins delay channel inactivation by binding to the receptor site 3 and most of the known potassium channel toxins selectively inhibit Kv1 channels. The following peptide toxins are functionally unique among the known sodium or potassium channel toxins: APETx2, which inhibits acid-sensing ion channels in sensory neurons; BDS-I and II, which show selectivity for Kv3.4 channels and APETx1, which inhibits human ether-a-go-go-related gene potassium channels. In addition, structurally novel peptide toxins, such as an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like toxin (gigantoxin I), have also been isolated from some sea anemones although their functions remain to be clarified. |
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