Purification, crystallization and initial structural solution of a new α-like toxin with cardiac toxicity from scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch

Rong Jin Guan*, Xiao Lin He, Miao Wang, Ye-Xiang, Gen Pei Li, Da Cheng Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

An α-like toxin named BmK M7 active on both mammals and insects has been purified from the venom of scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) recently. The electrophysiological experiments showed that M7 can bind to human cardiac Na+-channel and modify its normal properties, hence can be considered as a cardiotoxin. Single crystals of M7 have been obtained by hanging-drop vapor diffusion method using ammonium sulfate as precipitant in Tris-HCl buffer at pH 8.5. A data set to 1.40 Å resolution was collected using synchrotron radiation and CCD detector in Photon Factory in Japan. Data analysis showed that the crystals belonged to space group P3121/P3221, with cell dimensions a=b=32.76 Å, c=176.82 Å. Assuming two molecules per asymmetric unit, the Vm value is 1.92 Å3/Da. The initial structural analysis was carried out by molecular replacement, which showed the correct space group (P3121), and the orientations and positions of the two molecules in the asymmetric unit.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)441-449
Number of pages9
JournalProtein and Peptide Letters
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Buthus martensii Karsch
  • Cardiotoxin
  • Crystal data
  • Crystallization
  • Purification
  • Scorpion toxin
  • α-like toxin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry

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