Blockage of human T lymphocyte Kv1.3 channels by Pi1, a novel class of scorpion toxin

Using the patch-clamp technique we determined that Pandinus imperator toxin Pi1, a recently described peptide toxin having four disulfide bridges instead of the usual three in scorpion toxins, blocked Kv1.3 channels of human T lymphocytes from the extracellular side with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Kv1.3 block was instantaneous and removable with toxin-free extracellular solution. The toxin did not influence activation or inactivation of the channels. We found that Pi1 blocked Kv1.3 with less affinity (K(d) = 11.4 nM) than the structurally related three disulfide bridge containing toxins Pi2 (50 pM) and Pi3 (0.5 nM). The fourth disulfide bridge in Pi1 had no influence on the channel binding ability of the toxin; the less effective block was due to differences in amino acid side chain properties at positions 11 and 35.