Evidence for the existence of a common ancestor of scorpion toxins affecting ion channels.
All scorpion toxins from different 30 species are simply reviewed. A new classification system of scorpion toxins is first proposed: scorpion toxins are classified into three families (long-chain scorpion toxins with 4 disulfide bridges, short-chain scorpion toxins with 3 disulfide bridges, and intermediate-type scorpion toxins with 3 or 4 disulfide bridges). Intermediate-type scorpion toxins provide a strong proof for the conclusion that channel toxins from scorpion venoms evolve from a common ancestor. Common organization of precursor nucleotides and genomic sequence, similar 3-dimensional structure, and the existence of intermediate type scorpion toxins and functionally intercrossing scorpion toxins show that all scorpion toxins affecting ion channels evolve from the common ancestor, which produce millions of scorpion toxins with function-diversity.
Zhijian
Cao
C
Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China.
Yingliang
Wu
W
Jiqun
Sheng
S
Wanhong
Liu
L
Fan
Xiao
X
Xin
Mao
M
Hui
Liu
L
Dahe
Jiang
J
Wenxin
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D004220:Disulfides / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004220:Disulfides; D007473:Ion Channels; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012604:Scorpion Venoms