Abstract
The multigene family of equinatoxins, pore-forming proteins from sea anemone Actinia
equina, has been studied at the protein and gene levels. We report the cDNA sequence of a
new, sphingomyelin inhibited equinatoxin, EqtIV. The N-terminal sequences of natural Eqt
I and III were also determined, con®rming two isoforms of EqtI, diering at position 13.
The number of Eqt genes determined by Southern blot hybridization was found to be more
than ®ve, indicating that Eqts belong to a multigene family. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.
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