• Corpus ID: 35613997

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of encoded anti-insect toxin BotIT2 from the scorpion Buthus occitanus tunetanus venom.

@article{BelHajRhouma2003MolecularCA,
  title={Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of encoded anti-insect toxin BotIT2 from the scorpion Buthus occitanus tunetanus venom.},
  author={Rahima Bel Haj Rhouma and Hafida Dkhil and Khadija Benkhadir and Lamia Borchani and Mohamed El Ayeb and Habib Karoui},
  journal={Archives de l'Institut Pasteur de Tunis},
  year={2003},
  volume={80 1-4},
  pages={
          35-41
        }
}

• R. Bel Haj Rhouma, H. Dkhil, +3 authors H. Karoui
• Published 2003
• Biology, Chemistry
• Archives de l'Institut Pasteur de Tunis

Numerous toxins from scorpion venoms are much more toxic to insects than to other animal classes, and possess high affinity to Na+ channels. Many of them active on insects were purified from the venom of Buthus occitanus tunetanus. Using amino acid sequences of BotIT2 and RACE-PCR amplification (Rapid amplification of cDNA ends) technique, we isolated, identified and sequenced the nucleotide sequence from the venom glands of the scorpion Buthus occitanus tunetanus. The cDNA encodes a precursor of an insect toxin of 60 amino acid residues. The deduced nucleotide sequence toxin was identical to the determined amino acid sequence of BotIT2. BotIT2 is more similar to the excitatory toxins in its mode of action and to the depressant toxins in its primary structure.