Abstract
Venom gland transcriptomic and proteomic analyses have improved our knowledge on the diversity of the heterogeneous components present in scorpion venoms. However, most of these studies have focused on species from the family Buthidae. To gain insights into the molecular diversity of the venom components of scorpions belonging to the family Superstitioniidae, one of the neglected scorpion families, we performed a transcriptomic and proteomic analyses for the species Superstitionia donensis. The total mRNA extracted from the venom glands of two specimens was subjected to massive sequencing by the Illumina protocol, and a total of 219,073 transcripts were generated. We annotated 135 transcripts putatively coding for peptides with identity to known venom components available from different protein databases. Fresh venom collected by electrostimulation was analyzed by LC-MS/MS allowing the identification of 26 distinct components with sequences matching counterparts from the transcriptomic analysis. In addition, the phylogenetic affinities of the found putative calcins, scorpines, La1-like peptides and potassium channel κ toxins were analyzed. The first three components are often reported as ubiquitous in the venom of different families of scorpions. Our results suggest that, at least calcins and scorpines, could be used as molecular markers in phylogenetic studies of scorpion venoms.
Highlights
Despite the large number of studies available in the scorpion venom literature, concerning venom components and identification of their activities, only twelve scorpion families of the twenty recognized extant families [1,2] are currently studied (Table 1)
RNA-Seq has become the technology of choice in the study of venom gland transcriptomes, because it is a low-cost sequencing technology capable of producing millions of sequences at once [6], including those of the transcripts coding for several putative toxins or venom components that may not be detected in the venom for reasons including low expression levels, fast turnover, etc
In the transcriptome analysis of the venom gland of S. donensis, we found 30 transcripts putatively coding for ion channel‐
Summary
Despite the large number of studies available in the scorpion venom literature, concerning venom components and identification of their activities, only twelve scorpion families of the twenty recognized extant families [1,2] are currently studied (Table 1). A wide phylogenetic distribution of these peptides in other scorpion families was established [19] (Table 2) This subfamily was shown to have an independent origin from the rest of the potassium channel toxins [5]. La1-like, long-chain peptides with eight cysteines [11], are ubiquitous in scorpion venoms They have been described in the venom of species belonging to out of the families studied so far (Table 2); and interestingly their function remains unknown. Unlike the other components mentioned before, the potassium channel κ toxins subfamily has not been found in many of the scorpion venoms studied far These toxins, with a distinct CSαα motif [17] and low activity on potassium channels have been described in only a few species belonging to three scorpion families (Table 2). This will contribute to establish a more complete and stable classification, and will help to categorize newly discovered components from different scorpion venoms in the future
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