Disciplines
Biochemistry | Entomology | Integrative Biology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Scorpions are well known, venomous arthropods (Class: Arachnida, Order: Scorpiones). Their venom is composed of neurotoxins, proteases and cytotoxic peptides which plays a major role in toxic components such as inflammatory, antimicrobial and hemolytic activity. Venom is key for the survival of scorpions as it is involved in defense against prey and in feeding on predators. Centruroides vittatus (bark scorpion) is commonly found in North America, with habitat ranges from Nebraska to southern Texas. For this study, scorpions were harvested from Laredo, Texas (27˚57’ N, 99˚43’ W), held in captivity for 4 months and fed a consistent diet of Acheta domesticus, prior to milking. The venom signatures from individual size class IV scorpions and the pooled samples from size class IV and I-III scorpions were investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and LiCor scanning techniques were employed to resolve differences in venom signatures. Selected protein band (8) returned normalized intensity values of 88394, 46533, and 45719 for LUC 1, LUC 2, and LUC 5, respectably. This suggest LUC 2 and LUC 5 expressed a 2.75 fold higher expression compared to LUC 1. Examination of pooled size class I-III and size class IV venom suggests size class IV venom displays higher intensities for bands 3, 4 and 7 compared to size class I-III scorpions. Our data suggests there is a difference between individual C. vittatus venom signatures.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Eric Albrecht
Additional Faculty
C. Neal McReynolds, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Texas A&M International University, Laredo TX, 78041, USA, nmcreynolds@tamiu.edu Thomas McElroy, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA, tmcelro2@kennesaw.edu
Poster Abstract
Differential Analysis of Individual Centruroides vittatus Venom
Scorpions are well known, venomous arthropods (Class: Arachnida, Order: Scorpiones). Their venom is composed of neurotoxins, proteases and cytotoxic peptides which plays a major role in toxic components such as inflammatory, antimicrobial and hemolytic activity. Venom is key for the survival of scorpions as it is involved in defense against prey and in feeding on predators. Centruroides vittatus (bark scorpion) is commonly found in North America, with habitat ranges from Nebraska to southern Texas. For this study, scorpions were harvested from Laredo, Texas (27˚57’ N, 99˚43’ W), held in captivity for 4 months and fed a consistent diet of Acheta domesticus, prior to milking. The venom signatures from individual size class IV scorpions and the pooled samples from size class IV and I-III scorpions were investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and LiCor scanning techniques were employed to resolve differences in venom signatures. Selected protein band (8) returned normalized intensity values of 88394, 46533, and 45719 for LUC 1, LUC 2, and LUC 5, respectably. This suggest LUC 2 and LUC 5 expressed a 2.75 fold higher expression compared to LUC 1. Examination of pooled size class I-III and size class IV venom suggests size class IV venom displays higher intensities for bands 3, 4 and 7 compared to size class I-III scorpions. Our data suggests there is a difference between individual C. vittatus venom signatures.