Characterization of the first two toxins isolated from the venom of the ancient scorpion Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis (Borelli, 1901).

Natiela Beatriz De Oliveira,Carlos Alberto Schwartz,Ana Carolina Martins Magalhães,Eder Alves Barbosa,Carlos Bloch Jr,Paulo Sérgio Lacerda Beirão,Rafael D Melani,Osmindo Rodrigues Pires Júnior,Anita De Oliveira Silva

doi:10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0035

Natiela Beatriz De Oliveira, Carlos Alberto Schwartz + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0035

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Abstract

Background: Almost all Tityus characterized toxins are from subgenera Atreus and Tityus, there are only a few data about toxins produced by Archaeotityus, an ancient group in Tityus genus.Methods: Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis crude venom was fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography, the major fractions were tested in a frog sciatic nerve single sucrose-gap technique. Two fractions (Tm1 and Tm2) were isolated, partially sequenced by MALDI-TOF/MS and electrophysiological assayed on HEK293 Nav 1.3, HEK293 Nav 1.6, DUM and DRG cells.Results: The sucrose-gap technique showed neurotoxicity in four fractions. One fraction caused a delay of action potential repolarization and other three caused a reduction in amplitude. An electrophysiological assay showed that Tm1 is active on HEK293 Nav 1.3, HEK293 Nav 1.6, DUM and DRG cells, and Tm2 on HEK293 Nav 1.3 and DRG cells, but not in HEK293 Nav 1.6. In addition, Tm1 and Tm2 did promote a shift to more negative potentials strongly suggesting that both are α-NaScTx. Conclusion: Although Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis is considered an ancient group in Tityus genus, the primary structure of Tm1 and Tm2 is more related to Tityus subgenus. The patch clamp electrophysiological tests suggest that Tm1 and Tm2 are NaScTx, and also promoted no shift to more negative potentials, strongly suggesting that both are α-NaScTx. This paper aimed to explore and characterize for the first time toxins from the ancient scorpion Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis.

Highlights

Almost all Tityus characterized toxins are from subgenera Atreus and Tityus, there are only a few data about toxins produced by Archaeotityus, an ancient group in Tityus genus
The present study aims to describe the first two Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis toxins and their electrophysiological activity in Nav 1.3, Nav 1.6, DUM and dorsal root ganglion cells (DRG) cells, enhancing knowledge on relationship of Archaeotityus with other Tityus NaScTx
In order to find the neuroactive peptides from the T. (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis venom, the 7 most abundant chromatographic fractions highlighted in Figure 1C were tested, individually in single sucrose gap (n = 1), as well as the molecular masses present in these fractions were elucidated by MALDITOF mass spectrometry

Summary

Introduction

Almost all Tityus characterized toxins are from subgenera Atreus and Tityus, there are only a few data about toxins produced by Archaeotityus, an ancient group in Tityus genus. Archaeotityus includes 24 valid species distributed in the Neotropical region from Costa Rica to central Argentina. The Archaeotityus species share a small size (20-40 mm), general coloring reticulated on a background ranging from pale yellow to reddish and a medium to large pyramidal subaculular tubercle [6]. According to Lourenço [5], Archaeotityus constitutes the ancient group occupying a plesiomorphic position, because the variegated pigmentation and median dorsal carina strongest distal tooth are considered primitive characters and found only in the juvenile stages of Tityus species. The Tityus characterized toxins are almost totally from subgenera Atreus and Tityus species, there is scarce data about toxins produced by Archaeotityus [7]

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