NEUROPEPTIDES ORIGINATING IN SCORPION

摘要

The peptide represented by the following amino acid sequence, having been amidated at the C-end and carrying four disulfide bonds in its molecule: AlaSer-Cys-Arg-Thr-Pro-Lys-Asp-Cys-Ala-Asp-Pro-Cys-Arg-Lys-Glu-Thr-Gly-Cys-Pro-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Cys-Met-Asn-Arg-Lys-Cys-Lys-Cys-Asn-Arg-Cys, which inhibits the production of IL-2 by blocking the voltage-dependent K+ channel and is isolated from the poison gland of a scorpion Heterometrus spinnifer; and peptides analogous thereto. These peptides are neuropeptides which exhibit activities of, at an extremely low concentration, blocking the voltagedependent K+ channel and thus inhibiting the IL-2 production and are applicable to drugs against scorpion toxin, etc.