Ssm spooky toxin explained

Spooky toxin
Symbol:SsTx
Organism:Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans
Pdb:5X0S

Spooky toxin (SsTx) is a small peptide neurotoxin. It is found in the venom of Chinese red-headed centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans), also known as golden head centipedes. It is originally composed of 76 amino acids (sequence: MEKKIIFLVFLVALLALPGFISTEVIKKDTPYKKRKFPYKSECLKACATSFTGGDESRIQEGKPGFFKCTCYFTTG, disulfide bonds Cys43-Cys69, Cys47-Cys71), with a molecular weight of 6017.5 daltons, but loses the first 23 residues and becomes 53 residues long (sequenceEVIKKDTPYKKRKFPYKSECLKACATSFTGGDESRIQEGKPFGFKCTCYFTTG, disulfide bonds Cys20-Cys46, Cys24-Cys48). SsTx is currently thought to be unique to Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.

By blocking KCNQ channels (preventing potassium from flowing into and out of cells) SsTx disrupts cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and nervous systems; where snake venoms typically only affect circulatory or nervous systems, and venom from spiders, scorpions, and snails typically only target nervous systems. This allows for golden headed centipedes to target larger prey up to 15 times their size.[1]

Applications

The venom of the Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans is already being widely used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries.[2] Claimed medicinal uses include antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anticancer.[3] [4] [5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Luo L, Li B, Wang S, Wu F, Wang X, Liang P, Ombati R, Chen J, Lu X, Cui J, Lu Q, Zhang L, Zhou M, Tian C, Yang S, Lai R . 6 . Centipedes subdue giant prey by blocking KCNQ channels . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 115 . 7 . 1646–1651 . February 2018 . 29358396 . 5816164 . 10.1073/pnas.1714760115 . 2018PNAS..115.1646L . free .
  2. Pemberton RW . Insects and other arthropods used as drugs in Korean traditional medicine . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 65 . 3 . 207–16 . June 1999 . 10404418 . 10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00209-8 .
  3. Yoo WG, Lee JH, Shin Y, Shim JY, Jung M, Kang BC, Oh J, Seong J, Lee HK, Kong HS, Song KD, Yun EY, Kim IW, Kwon YN, Lee DG, Hwang UW, Park J, Hwang JS . 6 . Antimicrobial peptides in the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans . Functional & Integrative Genomics . 14 . 2 . 275–83 . June 2014 . 24652097 . 10.1007/s10142-014-0366-3 . 18793966 .
  4. Wenhua R, Shuangquan Z, Daxiang S, Kaiya Z, Guang Y . Induction, purification and characterization of an antibacterial peptide scolopendrin I from the venom of centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans . Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics . 43 . 2 . 88–93 . April 2006 . 16955756 .
  5. Lee JH, Kim IW, Kim SH, Kim MA, Yun EY, Nam SH, Ahn MY, Kang D, Hwang JS . 6 . Anticancer Activity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Scolopendrasin VII Derived from the Centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans . Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology . 25 . 8 . 1275–80 . August 2015 . 25907065 . 10.4014/jmb.1503.03091 . free .

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