Researchers have identified a peptide from the venom of the Buthus martensii Karsch scorpion that can penetrate liver cells and disrupt a protein interaction implicated in fatty liver disease. The peptide, named BmK Tx-2, binds to a heat shock protein (HSP90β) that normally suppresses a fat-burning transcription factor (PPARα). By blocking this interaction, BmK Tx-2 promotes PPARα activity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, and reduces liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis in diet-induced mouse models of MASLD. The study, published in iMetaMed , highlights a new mechanistic approach for treating metabolic liver diseases by targeting protein–protein interactions within cells.
A cell-penetrating scorpion venom peptide disrupts the HSP90β–PPARα interaction to ameliorate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
23-Dec-2025
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.