MitTx

MitTx is a peptide isolated from the Venom of the Texas coral snake Micrurus tener tener. MitTx is a selective agonist for acid-sensing ion channels 1 (ASIC1s) and produces a similar effect than pH drops. MitTx activates both ASIC1a & ASIC1b with a higher selectivity for ASIC1a (EC50 = 9.4 nM) compared to the ASIC1b (EC50= 23 nM) . MitTx also demonstrates an activity for ASIC3 with a lower potency (EC50=830 nM) .The venom toxin MitTx is an heterodimer composed of an α subunit of ~ 7 kDa and a β subunit of ~ 13.5 kDa. These two subunits when isolated do not present activity against ASIC channels. In vivo, the heterodimer elicits a robust pain-related behavior in mice by activation of ASIC1 channels on capsaicin-sensitive nerve fibers