INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY IN Tityus serrulatus (SCORPIONES, BUTHIDAE) VENOM ELICITED BY MALDI-TOF MASS SPECTROMETRY

Pimenta, A.M.C.(1,2), Almeida, F.M.(1,2) De Lima, M.E.(2), Bougis, P.E.(1), Martin-Eauclaire, M.F.(1)

(1)Laboratoire de Biochimie, Ingènierie des Protèines, UMR6560, IFR Jean Roche, 15, Bd Pierre Dramard, 13916, Marseille, France, (2)Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Venom variability in Tityus serrulatus specimens, a Brazilian parthenogenic scorpion, was assessed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) analyses. An expanded time lag venom extraction protocol was carried out using ten scorpions to verify individual variations that might happen due different rates in protein expression and/or processing. First extraction event took place after 20 days of animals starvation to allow the venom gland to be filled up. The second and third extraction events were carried out 24 hours and 7 days, respectively, after the first extraction. By means of MALDI-TOF analyses, important variations were observed in venoms of a single specimen extracted at different times, specially in latter extraction events. These variations are most probably related to expression and processing of mature toxins. Since T. serrulatus is a parthenogenetic species, gender variations are naturally excluded and we did not expected intra-specific variations, which was confirmed. Knowledge of individual venom variability is extremely important to avoid misunderstandings in the use of venom proteomic analysis as a taxonomic tool.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Adriano Monteiro de Castro Pimenta, Rua Marechal Hermes, 810/Apto 302, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP: 30430-030, Brasil, Email: apimenta@icb.ufmg.br