Heteroscorpine

Heteroscopine (HS-1) is the main component of the venom of Heterometrus laoticus. It belongs to the Scorpine toxin family. It is a polypeptide consisting of a defensin-like component on its N-terminal end and a putative potassium channel blocking component on its C-terminal end. It has antimicrobial effect on some bacteria, but not on fungi.[1][2]

Sources

Heteroscorpine (HS-1) is a component of the venom of the Thai giant scorpion Heterometrus laoticus. This species is a member of the scorpion family commonly known as giant forest scorpions, indigenous to large parts of South and South-East Asia.

Chemistry

The gene coding for HS-1 consists of one intron flanked by two exons. HS-1 is a polypepide consisting of 95 amino acids. The HS-1 protein has a large resemblance to other toxins of the Scorpine family (which is a subgroup of the Beta-KTx toxin family). The polypepides of the Scorpine family possess two structural and functional domains: a N-terminal α-helix (which has a cytolytic and/or antimicrobial activity similar to that of insect defensins), and a C-terminal region with a CSαβ motif, which causes potassium channel-blocking activity.[1][2] HS-1 is highly homologous in particular to the Scorpine toxin Panscorpine (from Emperor scorpion) and Opiscorpine (from Opistophthalmus carinatus), with an 80% similarity in amino acid sequence.[1] Opiscorpine and HS-1 are both classified as scorpine-like peptides.[3] Based on its sequence homology with other scorpine-like peptides, HS-1 is likely to be a voltage-gated potassium channel blocker. HS-1 also has antimicrobial effects on some bacterial species, i.e. Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; it has no inhibitory effects on fungi. The inhibitory effect on bacteria has no gram specificity. Scanning electron microscopy shows that HS-1 causes roughening and blebbing of bacterial cell surfaces. HS-1 contains three disulfide bridges followed by a typical Cys pattern, similar to that of invertebrate defensins. Thus, HS-1 is likely to act accordingly.[1]

Toxicity

Symptoms from envenomation in humans from the Heterometrus genera are reported to be of mild severity. Sting can cause redness, swelling, inflammation and pain for hours up to a few days. Injection of the purified toxin in crickets causes paralysis.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Uawonggul, N; et al. (2007). "Purification and characterization of Heteroscorpine-1 (HS-1) toxin from Heterometrus laoticus scorpion venom". Toxicon. 49 (1): 19–29. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.09.003. PMID 17056081.
  2. 1 2 Quintero-Hernandez, V; et al. (2013). "Scorpion venom components that affect ion-channels function". Toxicon (1): 255–9. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.07.012. PMID 23891887.
  3. ↑ Diego-Garcia, E; Abdel-Mottaleb, Y; et al. (2013). "Scorpion venom components that affect ion-channels function". Toxicon. 65 (1): 187–200. doi:10.1007/s00018-007-7370-x. PMID 18030427.
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