Charybdotoxin
Venom Peptide / Ion ChannelAlso known as: ChTX, CTX (scorpion)
Scorpion Venom PeptidesResearch phase: Preclinical (research tool)Regulatory: Not approved. Research tool compound.
Mechanism
Charybdotoxin is a scorpion venom peptide that blocks several types of potassium channels and intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels.
Technical detail
Charybdotoxin is a 37-amino acid peptide from Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus venom. It blocks BKCa, Kv1.2, Kv1.3, and IKCa (KCa3.1) channels by occluding the channel pore. Less selective than iberiotoxin for BK channels, it remains useful for studying IKCa-mediated immune cell function.