Mass fingerprinting of toxic fractions from the venom of the Indian red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus: biotope-specific variation in the expression of venom peptides

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2007;21(21):3467-76. doi: 10.1002/rcm.3240.

Abstract

The red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus, is found in two distinct biotopes within the Indian state of Maharastra-a tropical, sea-level biotope and a semi-arid biotope, up to 600 m. Scorpions from these two geographical areas show marked differences in toxicity. Using mass spectrometry, we have shown biotope-specific variation in the expression of peptides from scorpions collected from these two distinct areas. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) were assessed as techniques for obtaining mass fingerprint data. On line LC/ESI-MS was judged to be the method of choice and unique biotope-specific mass fingerprints, with key diagnostic markers, were obtained.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Ecosystem
  • Genetic Variation
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Mapping / methods*
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Scorpion Venoms / chemistry*
  • Scorpions*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Scorpion Venoms