Purification of binding protein for Tityus gamma toxin identified with the gating component of the voltage-sensitive Na+ channel

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Jul;80(13):4164-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.80.13.4164.

Abstract

The gating component associated with the voltage-sensitive Na+ channel from electroplax membranes of Electrophorus electricus has been purified by using toxin gamma from the venom of the scorpion Tityus serrulatus serrulatus. The toxin-binding site was efficiently solubilized with Lubrol PX, resulting in an extract of high initial specific activity. Purification was achieved by adsorption of the toxin-binding component to DEAE-Sephadex A-25 followed by desorption at high ionic strength and chromatography on either wheat germ agglutinin-Ultrogel or Sepharose 6B. Maximal final specific activities were at least 42% of the specific activity expected for a pure toxin-binding component. The purified material exhibited a Stokes radius of 85 A, and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated a single polypeptide component of Mr 270,000. Furthermore, tetrodotoxin binding activity and Tityus gamma toxin binding activity copurified, suggesting that the selectivity filter and the gating component of the Na+ channel are carried by the same polypeptide chain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Electric Organ / metabolism*
  • Electrophorus
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Neurotoxins / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / metabolism*
  • Scorpion Venoms / metabolism*
  • Sodium / metabolism*
  • Sodium Channels*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • Neurotoxins
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Scorpion Venoms
  • Sodium Channels
  • scorpion toxin receptor
  • tetrodotoxin-binding protein
  • tityustoxin
  • Sodium