Toxin Name β/ω-theraphotoxin-Tp2a
Source Species Thrixopelma  pruriens (Green velvet tarantula)
Toxin Group Theraphotoxin
Description β/ω-TRTX-Tp2a blocks both tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin-resistant human voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels by shifting the voltage dependence of channel activation to more positive potentials. The toxin is at least 100-fold more potent against Nav1.7 than other human Nav channel subtypes. Has no significant effect on Kv1.2, Kv1.3, Kv1.5, and Kv2.1 channels. Also inhibits activation of human Cav3.1 channels at much higher doses. The pharmacophore shown in the figure below, which is comprised exclusively of hydrophobic and cationic residues, is for interaction with Nav1.5 channels.

The binding site(s) for β/ω-TRTX-Tp2a on Nav channels remains to be unequivocally determined, but Nav1.5 chimeras indicate that it does not bind to the pharmacologically defined Nav channel sites 3 or 4. Neutralization of gating charges in the voltage sensor (S4) of domain II of Nav1.2 prevents the effect of the toxin on gating current. Thus, it has been suggested that the toxin acts by trapping the voltage sensor of Nav channel domain II in the resting state, impeding outward gating movement of the IIS4 transmembrane segment of the channel.

β/ω-TRTX-Tp2a is lethal to rats when injected intravenously at 1.0 mg/kg (although doses of 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg are well tolerated) or by intrathecal administration at 0.1 mg/kg. The toxin was not efficacious in rodent models of acute and inflammatory pain when administered intravenously at 0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg or intrathecally at 0.001 or 0.01 mg/kg. The latter intrathecal dose transiently reduced muscle tone and impaired motor function even though systemic levels at 4 hours after toxin administration were below the level of detection (3 nM).

Toxins with very similar primary structure have been reported from two different theraphosid spiders, Grammostola rosea (κ-TRTX-Gr2a, a weak blocker of mechanosensitive channels in rat astrocytes (Kd ~ 6 μM)) and Paraphysa scrofa (κ-TRTX-Ps1a, a blocker of vertebrate voltage-gated potassium channels Kv4.2 and Kv4.3)
Discovered 2002
Sex: female, Prosoma length: 27mm
Photo courtesy of Bastian Rast
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This toxin last updated on Feb 08, 2012

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