Prospect Of New Bioactive Molecules From The Venom Of Scolopendra sp. (Centipede, Scolopendromorpha) From Serra do Cipó, MG, Brazil.

^1,2Rates, B.; ^1,3Bemquerer, M.P.; ^1,2De Lima, M.E.; ⁴Richardson, M.; ^1,2Pimenta, A.M.C.

¹Núcleo de Biomoléculas, ²Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, ³Laboratório de Enzimologia e Físico-química de Proteínas, Depto. de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; ⁴CPPCD, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Centipedes are venomous arthropods with worldwide distribution. Their venom is poorly studied, although it has been reported that it has many biochemical and physiological effects. In this study an off-line RP-HPLC/ESI-Q-ToF-MS approach was used to prospect for new bioactive molecules in the venom of Scolopendrasp. from Serrado Cipó, MG, Brazil. Three individuals were collected at Campo rupestre (rocky field) and were kept in captivity until the extraction of the venom, which was performed through electrical stimulation. In the venom, there are several compounds that may be grouped in six families, according to their molecular masses. First, there is a <1000 Da family composed by peptides and non-proteinaceous molecules. Other families are constituted by proteins isoforms with molecular masses with approximately 2.8, 4.6, 5.8 and 20 kDa. Additionally, a 5847.42 Da protein was purified by this single purification step and we were able to determine a 19 amino acids sequence from its N-terminal side through Edman automated sequencing. This protein, so far, shows no significant sequence homology with any other proteins deposited in public databanks. This study will northward further attempts of purification, structure and biological activity characterization of molecules present in the venom of Scolopendrasp. from Serrado Cipó.

Supported by CAPES, CAPES-PRODOC, FINEP, MCT-INFRA, FAPEMIG AND CNPq.

Correspondence to: brenorates@ufmg.br