The Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus (Scorpiones, Buthidae): component variations in venom samples collected in different geographical areas

Abstract

BackgoundThe venom of the Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus is poorly study from the point of view of their components at molecular level and the functions associated. The purpose of this article was to conduct a proteomic analysis of venom components from scorpions collected in different geographical areas of the country.ResultsVenom from the blue scorpion, as it is called, was collected separately from specimens of five distinct Cuban towns (Moa, La Poa, Limonar, El Chote and Farallones) of the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountain massif and fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); the molecular masses of each fraction were ascertained by mass spectrometry analysis. At least 153 different molecular mass components were identified among the five samples analyzed. Molecular masses varied from 466 to 19755 Da. Scorpion HPLC profiles differed among these different geographical locations and the predominant molecular masses of their components. The most evident differences are in the relative concentration of the venom components. The most abundant components presented molecular weights around 4 kDa, known to be K+-channel specific peptides, and 7 kDa, known to be Na+-channel specific peptides, but with small molecular weight differences. Approximately 30 peptides found in venom samples from the different geographical areas are identical, supporting the idea that they all probably belong to the same species, with some interpopulational variations. Differences were also found in the presence of phospholipase, found in venoms from the Poa area (molecular weights on the order of 14 to 19 kDa). The only ubiquitous enzyme identified in the venoms from all five localities studied (hyaluronidase) presented the same 45 kD molecular mass, identified by gel electrophoresis analysis.ConclusionsThe venom of these scorpions from different geographical areas seem to be similar, and are rich in peptides that have of the same molecular masses of the peptides purified from other scorpions that affect ion-channel functions.

Variation in the Venom of Parasitic Wasps, Drift, or Selection? Insights From a Multivariate QST Analysis

“…studies of the geographical variation in venom composition was conducted on several venomous taxa (Wuster et al, 1992;Francischetti et al, 2000;Binford, 2001;Alape-Giron et al, 2008;Remigio and Duda, 2008;Abdel-Rahman et al, 2009, 2011Calvete et al, 2011;Rodríguez-ravelo et al, 2013;Holding et al, 2016;Perez-Riverol et al, 2017;Hofmann et al, 2018), it was not the case for parasitoids. This is surprising since, in parasitoid wasps, venom should constrain the capacity to succeed on locally available hosts.…”

“…Although data for parasitoids are still scarce, geographic variations in venom composition have been investigated in most venomous taxa, e.g., wasps (Perez-Riverol et al, 2017), spiders (Binford, 2001), scorpions (Abdel-Rahman et al, 2009;Rodríguez-ravelo et al, 2013), cone snails (Remigio and Duda, 2008;Abdel-Rahman et al, 2011), and snakes (Wuster et al, 1992;Francischetti et al, 2000;Alape-Giron et al, 2008;Calvete et al, 2011;Holding et al, 2016;Hofmann et al, 2018).…”

Development of Resistance to the Effect of Local Anesthetic Agents Administered Via Various Routes Due to Single or Multiple, Previous Scorpion Bites: A Proposed Hypothesis and Reporting a Yet Unrecognized Phenomenon

“…It occurs in most of India [21], and is the same species commonly found in the geographical location where our patients come from. Almost all the varieties occurring in the tropical and subtropical regions including some of the islands, in the world, belong to the same family, Buthidae [22].…”

“…These toxins, (which are low molecular weight, thermo-stable, basic proteins), are known to affect sodium ion channels, potassium ion channels and calcium ion channels. In fact the severity/toxicity of these substances has been attributed to this effect [22,23]. The binding site of these at the sodium channels is the same as that of the local anesthetics, viz; 6 th segment of domain four of the alpha subunit (IV-S6) [19].…”

Scorpion Venoms

“…Besides combined transcriptome and proteome studies, venoms from more than another 20 scorpion species, 14 of which are buthids, have been profiled using only proteomic techniques (Rodriguez de la Vega et al 2010;Smith et al 2012;Caliskan et al 2012;Rodriguez-Ravelo et al 2013) (Table 1). Over 100 peptides were present in the venom of each species.…”