A Recombinant Insect‐Specific α‐Toxin of Buthus occitanus tunetanus Scorpion Confers Protection Against Homologous Mammal Toxins

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1996.0653w.x
• Publication Date: 2004-08-31T13:58:09Z
• Authors: Balkiss Bouhaoual...; Frédérique Ducancel; Ilham Zenouaki; Rym Ben Khalifa; Lamia Borchani; Marcel Pelhate; Jean‐Claude Boulain; Mohamed El Ayeb; André Ménez; Habib Karoui
• Keywords: Scorpion Venoms; Scorpion toxin; German cockroach

We have constructed a cDNA library from venom glands of the scorpion Buthus occitanus tunetanus and cloned DNA sequence that encodes an α‐toxin. This clone was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion protein with two Ig‐binding (Z) domains A Staphylococcus aureus. After CNBr treatment HPLC purification, we obtained approximately 1 mg recombinant α‐toxin/I bacterial culture. The toxin, called Bot XIV, displays no toxicity towards mammals but is active insects shown by its paralytic activity against Blatella germanica cockroach electrophysiological studies on Periplaneta americana cockroaches. XIV fused to Z highly immunogenic mice induces production antisera specifically recognize neutralize toxic components had been injected into mice. could be very useful for development potent protective venoms.