Proteomic Analysis of Centruroides tecomanus (Buthidae scorpion) Venom and Biological Activity of Venom Fractions

Centruroides tecomanus is a Mexican scorpion of the state of Colima. It is a medically important scorpion, but its venom is poorly studied. Here we report the separation of the soluble venom of this scorpion by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). From 98 fractions obtained, 50 distinct components were identified by electrospray mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS) analysis. The molecular masses distribution of these components varies from 904 to 7555 Da, from which 48% falls in between 5500–7555 Da, 38% within the range of 3000–5500 Da and 12% within the range 900–3000 Da. The biological effects of the venom were tested on crustacean/freshwater shrimp (Cambarellus montezumae), insects/cockroach (Acheta domestica) and mammals/mouse (strain CD1). For the bioassays the HPLC fractions obtained during 60 minutes run were separated into 12 groups (5 min elution time each). Group VII was lethal to the three species used for assay. The IV group had toxic effect in freshwater shrimps whereas groups VI, VII and VIII were all lethal. For cockroach, groups V and VI were toxic and group VII was lethal. In mouse the lethal components were found in group VII; group VIII was toxic. The molecular masses in the mouse lethal group fall between 7013 and 7487 Da. Two lethal peptides for the three kinds of animals used, they were eluted from the HPLC at 32.72 minutes with molecular weight of 6334 Da and 31.85 min with 7430 Da, respectively.