Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Methods and compositions for blocking calcium channels with a spider toxin from Phoneutria nigriventer are provided. For easy identification the toxin will be sometimes generally referred to as Phα-1B herein. The toxin comprises a 55-amino acid sequence having a molecular weight of approximately 6,017. This Phα-1B spider toxin was found to block calcium channels within the nervous system. The synthetic gene responsible for producing this toxin has been designed and cloned. This gene and/or its derivative provide a mechanism by which the toxin can be produced using recombinant DNA expression technologies. The present invention further relates to methods of treating neurological diseases and pain by applying the isolated and identified toxins. The toxin Phα-1B may provide beneficial effects on pain and certain neurological conditions including seizures, ischemic- hypoxic, CNS damage, and neurodegenerative disorders. It was also found that the toxins are effective as tags in probing calcium channels.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim