Centipedes subdue giant prey by blocking KCNQ channels

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Feb 13;115(7):1646-1651. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1714760115. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Abstract

Centipedes can subdue giant prey by using venom, which is metabolically expensive to synthesize and thus used frugally through efficiently disrupting essential physiological systems. Here, we show that a centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, ∼3 g) can subdue a mouse (∼45 g) within 30 seconds. We found that this observation is largely due to a peptide toxin in the venom, SsTx, and further established that SsTx blocks KCNQ potassium channels to exert the lethal toxicity. We also demonstrated that a KCNQ opener, retigabine, neutralizes the toxicity of a centipede's venom. The study indicates that centipedes' venom has evolved to simultaneously disrupt cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and nervous systems by targeting the broadly distributed KCNQ channels, thus providing a therapeutic strategy for centipede envenomation.

Keywords: KCNQ; SsTx; centipede; toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacology
  • Arthropod Venoms / toxicity*
  • Arthropods / physiology*
  • Carbamates / pharmacology
  • KCNQ Potassium Channels / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy
  • Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
  • Phenylenediamines / pharmacology
  • Predatory Behavior / drug effects*
  • Respiratory System Abnormalities / chemically induced*
  • Respiratory System Abnormalities / drug therapy
  • Respiratory System Abnormalities / metabolism

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Arthropod Venoms
  • Carbamates
  • KCNQ Potassium Channels
  • Phenylenediamines
  • ezogabine

Associated data

  • GENBANK/MG585384
  • PDB/5X0S