Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv1.4 , Kv3.1 , Kv4.1 , Kv4.2 , Kv4.3

Title: Shal-type (Kv4.x) potassium channel pore blockers from scorpion venoms.

Authors: Pierre Edouard Bougis, Marie-France Martin-Eauclaire

Journal, date & volume: Sheng Li Xue Bao, 2015 Jun 25 , 67, 248-54

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26109297

Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv4.1, Kv4.2 and Kv4.3) encoded by the members of the KCND/Kv4 (Shal) channel family mediate the native, fast inactivating (A-type) K(+) current (IA) described both in heart and neurons. This IA current is specifically blocked by short scorpion toxins that belong to the α-KTx15 subfamily and which act as pore blockers, a different mode of action by comparison to spider toxins known as gating modifiers. This review summarizes our present chemical and pharmacological knowledge on the α-KTx15 toxins.