The molecular mechanism of Ca2+ release by myotoxin a (MTYX), a polypeptide toxin isolated from the venom of prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis viridis), was investigated in the heavy fraction of sarcoplasmic reticulum (HSR) of rabbit skeletal muscles. [I-125]MYTX bound to four HSR proteins (106, 74, 53 and 30 kDa) on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. DIDS, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, bound predominantly to 30 kDa protein on the PVDF membrane, the molecular weight of which was similar to one of the MYTX binding proteins. The maximum Ca-45(2+) release induced by caffeine (30 mM) was further increased in the presence of MYTX (10 mu M) or DIDS (30 mu M), whereas that induced by DIDS (30 mu M) was not affected by MYTX (10 mu M). MYTX inhibited [H-3]DIDS binding to HSR in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, [I-125]MYTX binding to 30 kDa protein was inhibited by DIDS in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that MYTX and DIDS release Ca2+ from HSR in a common mechanism. The 30 kDa protein may be a target protein for the Ca2+ releasing action of MYTX and DIDS. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.