AMINO ACID SEQUENCE OF MAJOR NEUROTOXINS FROM BUTHUS SINDICUS (SCORPION) VENOM

Abstract

The present study on the venom of Buthus sindicus was undertaken to characterize scorpion venom proteins. The separation of scorpion venom components was carried out by various Chromatographic techniques. The pure proteins/ peptides were subjected to enzymatic degradation and separated on HPLC Vydac C-18 column. The amino acid compositions of proteins/ peptides were determined after hydrolysis. Scorpion venom were characterization on the basis of homology and biological activity. The major components of the venom consist of a novel peptide, insect toxin and neurotoxin of 28,35 and 65 amino acid residues respectively. These were sequenced by manual DABITC method and gas phase sequencing. The fatty acids of scorpion body were also determined by GCMS, LD50 were checked on Rana tigrina muscles and, on files (Musca domestically). The results identify the proteins BuS I and BuS II as a member of “four disulfide core proteins” and extend suggestions of relationship with various peptides involved in binding or interacting functions.