title: Determination of species-specific components in the venom of Parabuthus scorpions from southern Africa using matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyze mass spectra of scorpions belonging to the genus Parabuthus (Pocock 1890) by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and to construct a species-specific venom code for species identification. The venom compositions of sixteen Parabuthus species, occurring in southern Africa, were characterized using representative peaks in the molecular mass range of 6400-8400 Da. This mass range is characteristic for the typical long-chain neurotoxins influencing sodium channels. Only a few of these peptides have been sequenced up to now. The impetus for development of these species-specific profiles was the observation of unique, highly reproducible mass spectral peaks within a specific species. An identification label for all the different species could be found using a minimum number of peaks. MALDI-TOFMS is therefore proposed as a complementary method to morphological and behavioural characteristics for species and ultimately subspecies discrimination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa. FLGKD@puknet.puk.ac.za
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dyason
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prendini
authors.forename: Fons
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verdonck
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tytgat
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: du Plessis
authors.forename: Gerbus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Jurg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Walt
mesh_terms: D000353:Africa, Southern; D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004032:Diet; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000032:analysis*; D012605:Scorpions / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012604:Scorpion Venoms