from an evolutionary perspective botit6 is linked to both the depressant and the α group. botit6 is similar to depressant insect toxins, but also has similarities to α type and excitatory toxins. botit6 shares 58-66% of its amino-acid sequence with depressant insect toxins, and 24-34% with alfa type and excitatory toxins. in addition, it shares functional characteristics with all three groups. this has led to the hypothesis that botit6 could be an ancestral depressant toxin.