Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv1.4

Title: Characterization of a potassium channel toxin from the Caribbean Sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus.

Authors: O Castañeda, V Sotolongo, A M Amor, R Stöcklin, A J Anderson, A L Harvey, A Engström, C Wernstedt, E Karlsson

Journal, date & volume: Toxicon, 1995 May , 33, 603-13

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7660365

Abstract
A peptide toxin, ShK, that blocks voltage-dependent potassium channels was isolated from the whole body extract of the Caribbean sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus. It competes with dendrotoxin I and alpha-dendrotoxin for binding to synaptosomal membranes of rat brain, facilities acetylcholine release at an avian neuromuscular junction and suppresses K+ currents in rat dorsal root ganglion neurones in culture. Its amino acid sequence is R1SCIDTIPKS10RCTAFQCKHS20MKYRLSFCRK30TCGTC35. There is no homology with other K+ channel-blocking peptides, except for BgK from the sea anemone Bunodosoma granulifera. ShK and BgK appear to be in a different structural class from other toxins affecting K+ channels.