Dendrotoxin-K is suitable for use as a potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 1 (Kv1.1) channel blocker in axon and human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. It has also been used as a selective blocker of Kv channels in mice.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Dendrotoxin-K (DTXk) is isolated from mamba snake Dendroaspis polylepis and interacts with the β-turn region in the N-terminal sequence of the potassium channel. It inhibits tumor progression in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells. DTXk induces neuronal damage in the hippocampus via N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors.
