Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
One scorpion, two venoms: Prevenom of Parabuthus transvaalicus acts an alternative type of venom with distinct mechanism of action. |
| Authors: |
Inceoglu, Bora, Lango, Jozsef, Jie Ling, Lili Chen, Doymaz, Fuat, Pessah, Isaac N., Hammock, Bruce D. |
| Source: |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2/4/2003, Vol. 100 Issue 3, p922. 6p. 2 Black and White Photographs, 1 Chart, 5 Graphs. |
| Subjects: |
Scorpion venom, Salts, Peptides, Proteins |
| Abstract: |
Scorpion venom is a complex mixture of salts, small molecules, peptides, and proteins. Scorpions employ this valuable tool in several sophisticated ways for subduing prey, deterring predators, and possibly during mating. Here, a subtle but clever strategy of venom utilization by scorpions is reported. Scorpions secrete a small quantity of transparent venom when initially stimulated that we propose to name prevenom. If secretion continues, a cloudy and dense venom that is white in color is subsequently released. The prevenom contains a combination of high K[sup +] salt and several peptides including some that block rectifying K[sup +] channels and elicit significant pain and toxicity because of a massive local depolarization. The presence of high extracellular K[sup +] in the prevenom can depolarize cells and also decrease the local electrochemical gradient making it more difficult to reestablish the resting potential. When this positive change to the K[sup +] equilibrium potential is combined with the blockage of rectifying K[sup +] channels, this further delays the recovery of the resting potential, causing a prolonged effect. We propose that the prevenom of scorpions is used as a highly efficacious predator deterrent and for immobilizing small prey while conserving metabolically expensive venom until a certain level of stimuli is reached, after which the venom is secreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Engineering Source |
