Dortoxin
Encyclopedia
Dortoxin is a lethal peptide toxin which is secreted by the South African spitting scorpion Parabuthus transvaalicus
. Injection of pure dortoxin in mice leads to hyperactivity that lasts until death.
. Other toxins in its venom include bestoxin
and altitoxin
. At least 20% of the peptides in the venom of P. transvaalicus consists of these three toxins, and they are thought to be responsible for most of its toxic potency.
family. Apart from its slightly smaller chain length and lower number of disulfide bridges, the toxin has large homology to members of the group of long chain neurotoxins. Dortoxin has a chain length of 58 amino acids and contains three disulfide bridges, whereas long chain neurotoxins generally have a chain length of 60-70 amino acids and contain four disulfide bridges. Dortoxin has a molecular mass of 6641.4 Da.
Parabuthus transvaalicus
Parabuthus transvaalicus is a species of scorpion from southern Africa. It is also known as "Dark Scorpion".-Description:P. transvaalicus grows to a length of , and is dark brown or black in colour. Its pincers are thin, but its tail is thickened, with the sting segment being as wide as the rest of...
. Injection of pure dortoxin in mice leads to hyperactivity that lasts until death.
Source
Dortoxin is a lethal peptide in the venom that is secreted by Parabuthus transvaalicusParabuthus transvaalicus
Parabuthus transvaalicus is a species of scorpion from southern Africa. It is also known as "Dark Scorpion".-Description:P. transvaalicus grows to a length of , and is dark brown or black in colour. Its pincers are thin, but its tail is thickened, with the sting segment being as wide as the rest of...
. Other toxins in its venom include bestoxin
Bestoxin
Bestoxin is a neurotoxin from the venom of the South African spitting scorpion Parabuthus transvaalicus. Most likely, it targets sodium channel function, thus promoting spontaneous and repetitive neuronal firing...
and altitoxin
Altitoxin
Altitoxin is a neurotoxin found in the South African scorpion Parabuthus transvaalicus. Injection of altitoxin in mice leads to akinesia, depression and death.-Source:...
. At least 20% of the peptides in the venom of P. transvaalicus consists of these three toxins, and they are thought to be responsible for most of its toxic potency.
Chemistry
Dortoxin is a lethal member of the birtoxinBirtoxin
Birtoxin is a neurotoxin from the venom of the South African Spitting scorpion . By changing sodium channel activation, the toxin promotes spontaneous and repetitive firing.-Source:...
family. Apart from its slightly smaller chain length and lower number of disulfide bridges, the toxin has large homology to members of the group of long chain neurotoxins. Dortoxin has a chain length of 58 amino acids and contains three disulfide bridges, whereas long chain neurotoxins generally have a chain length of 60-70 amino acids and contain four disulfide bridges. Dortoxin has a molecular mass of 6641.4 Da.