Comparative characterization of two scorpion toxins, BlTx1 and BlTx2, identifies BlTx2 as a Kv4.1-selective peptide

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  Comparative characterization of two scorpion toxins, BlTx1 and BlTx2, identifies BlTx2 as a Kv4.1-selective peptide Abstract Voltage-gated potassium channels of the Kv4 subfamily (Kv4.1, Kv4.2, and Kv4.3) mediate transient A-type potassium currents that regulate neuronal excitability, dendritic integration, and cardiac repolarization. Despite their importance, no pharmacological tool has been available to selectively dissect the role of Kv4.1, as existing peptide toxins from the α-KTx15 family display broad activity across Kv4 isoforms. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of two novel scorpion toxins, BlTx1 and BlTx2, isolated from the venom gland transcriptome of  Buthacus leptochelys . Both toxins were heterologously expressed in yeast and purified to homogeneity. Electrophysiological recordings from  Xenopus laevis  oocytes revealed that BlTx1 and BlTx2 potently inhibited Kv4.1 currents, while sparing Kv4.2 and Kv4.3. Among a panel of 20 tested po...

A new species of ant-eating spider (Araneae: Zodariidae) from the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan, with colour variation possibly associated with substrate

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A new species of ant-eating spider (Araneae: Zodariidae) from the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan, with colour variation possibly associated with substrate

ABSTRACT

A new species of ant-eating spider, Zodariellum gromovi sp. n. (male, female; Zodariidae), is diagnosed, illustrated and described from the central part of the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. The new species, collected from three localities, exhibits considerable colour variation that appears to be correlated with the type of substrate it inhabits. The potential for these colour morphs to represent independent lineages is briefly discussed, and the distribution of Zodariellum species in Uzbekistan is mapped.

Fomichev, A. A., & Zamani, A. (2026). A new species of ant-eating spider (Araneae: Zodariidae) from the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan, with colour variation possibly associated with substrate. Journal of Natural History, 60(21–24), 1181–1191. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2655399