Iberiotoxin

Venom Peptide / Ion Channel

Also known as: IbTX

Scorpion Venom PeptidesResearch phase: Preclinical (research tool)Regulatory: Not approved. Research tool compound.

Mechanism

Iberiotoxin is a scorpion venom peptide that selectively blocks large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels. It is a standard research tool in ion channel pharmacology.

Technical detail

Iberiotoxin is a 37-amino acid peptide from Mesobuthus tamulus (Buthus tamulus) venom that selectively blocks BKCa (Slo1/KCa1.1) channels with high affinity (Kd ~1-10 nM). It is the gold-standard pharmacological tool for distinguishing BK channel currents from other potassium conductances.