The Bi-Functional Paxilline Enriched in Skin Secretion of Tree Frogs () Targets the KCNK18 and BK Channels

Overview

Journal Toxins (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Toxicology

Date 2023 Jan 20

PMID 36668889

Authors

Chuanling Yin

Fanpeng Zeng

Puyi Huang

Zhengqi Shi

Qianyi Yang

Zhenduo Pei

Xin Wang

Longhui Chai

Shipei Zhang

Shilong Yang

Wenqi Dong

Xiancui Lu

Yunfei Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The skin secretion of tree frogs contains a vast array of bioactive chemicals for repelling predators, but their structural and functional diversity is not fully understood. Paxilline (PAX), a compound synthesized by has been known as a specific antagonist of large conductance Ca-activated K Channels (BK). Here, we report the presence of PAX in the secretions of tree frogs () and that this compound has a novel function of inhibiting the potassium channel subfamily K member 18 (KCNK18) channels of their predators. The PAX-induced KCNK18 inhibition is sufficient to evoke Ca influx in charybdotoxin-insensitive DRG neurons of rats. By forming π-π stacking interactions, four phenylalanines located in the central pore of KCNK18 stabilize PAX to block the ion permeation. For PAX-mediated toxicity, our results from animal assays suggest that the inhibition of KCNK18 likely acts synergistically with that of BK to elicit tingling and buzzing sensations in predators or competitors. These results not only show the molecular mechanism of PAX-KCNK18 interaction, but also provide insights into the defensive effects of the enriched PAX.

Citing Articles

Advanced Research on Animal Venoms in China.

Lai R, Lu Q Toxins (Basel). 2023; 15(4).

PMID: 37104210 PMC: 10144149. DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040272.

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