The crystal structure of neurotoxin Ts1, a major component of the venom of the Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus, has been determined at 1.7 Angstrom resolution. It is the first X-ray structure of a highly toxic anti-mammalian beta-toxin. The folding of the polypeptide chain of Ts1 is similar to that of other scorpion toxins. A cysteine-stabilised alpha-helix/beta-sheet motif forms the core of the flattened molecule All residues identified as functionally important by Chemical modification and site-directed mutagenesis are located on one side of the molecule, which is therefore considered as the Na+ channel recognition site. The distribution of charged and non-polar residues over this surface determines the specificity of the toxin-channel interaction. Comparison to other scorpion toxins shows that positively charged groups at positions 1 and 12 as well as a negative charge at position 2 are likely determinants of the specificity of beta-toxins. In contrast, the contribution of the conserved aromatic cluster to the interaction might be relatively small. Comparison of Ts1 to weak beta-toxins from Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing reveals that a number of basic amino acid residues located on the face of the molecule opposite to the binding surface may account for the high toxicity of Ts1. (C) 1999 Academic Press.2901175184