Hemitoxin (HTX; α-KTx6.15) is a 35-mer basic peptide from the venom of the Iranian scorpion Hemiscorpius lepturus, which reversibly blocks Kv1.1, Kv1.2 and Kv1.3 voltage-gated K+ channels.
[1] HTX is a neurotoxin derived from the venom of the scorpion Hemiscorpius lepturus, which is found in the southwest province of Iran, Khuzestan.
[1] HTX is a peptide composed of 35 amino acids including eight cysteine residues which are cross linked forming four intramolecular cystine amino acids via disulfide bridges.
It belongs to subfamily 6 of the α-KTx family of potassium channel scorpion toxins and has the highest sequence similarity with Maurotoxin (MTX), which is derived from a Tunisian scorpion called Scorpio maurus palmatus.
[1] Intracerebroventricular injection of HTX has been shown to cause neurotoxic symptoms in mice with an LD50 of 0.3 μg per 20 g body weight.