Abstract
In this study, the effect of the scorpion a-like toxin BmK M1 was investigated on isolated DUM neurons from Locusta migratoria and compared with the effect on para/tipE voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSC), cloned from Drosophila melanogaster. The two insects display different pharmacological properties regarding α-like toxins. Moreover, with the aid of the α-like toxin BmK M1 and 5 of its mutants, the importance of aromatic residues for the interaction of the toxin with the VGSC in L. migratoria and D. melanogaster, is shown.
Keywords: bmkm, voltage-gated na channels, locust dum neurons, para/tipe