title: Characterization of Leiurus abdullahbayrami (Scorpiones: Buthidae) venom: peptide profile, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scorpion venoms are rich bioactive peptide libraries that offer promising molecules that may lead to the discovery and development of new drugs. Leiurus abdullahbayrami produces one of the most potent venoms among Turkish scorpions that provokes severe symptoms in envenomated victims.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, the peptide profile of the venom was investigated by electrophoretic methods, size-exclusion and reversed-phase chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects were evaluated on a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and various bacterial and fungal species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proteins make up approximately half of the dry weight of L. abdullahbayrami crude venom. Microfluidic capillary electrophoresis indicated the presence of 6 to 7 kDa peptides and proved to be a highly practical peptidomics tool with better resolution when compared to conventional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Mass spectroscopy analysis helped us to identify 45 unique peptide masses between 1 to 7 kDa with a bimodal mass distribution peaking between molecular weights of 1 to 2 kDa (29%) and 3 to 4 kDa (31%). L. abdullahbayrami crude venom had a proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells, which may be explained by the high concentration of polyamines as well as potassium and calcium ions in the arachnid venoms. Antimicrobial effect was stronger on gram-negative bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work represents the first peptidomic characterization of L. abdullahbayrami venom. Considering the molecular weight-function relationship of previously identified venom peptides, future bioactivity studies may lead to the discovery of novel potassium and chloride ion channel inhibitors as well as new antimicrobial peptides from L. abdullahbayrami venom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, METU, Ankara, 06800 Turkey ; Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research and Development Center, Central Laboratory, METU, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Efe
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erdeş
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research and Development Center, Central Laboratory, METU, Ankara, Turkey ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hecettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuğba Somay
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coşar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tarık
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Danışman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kadir Boğaç
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Kunt
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research and Development Center, Central Laboratory, METU, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tamay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seker
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research and Development Center, Central Laboratory, METU, Ankara, Turkey ; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, METU, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, METU, Ankara, 06800 Turkey ; Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research and Development Center, Central Laboratory, METU, Ankara, Turkey ; Center of Excellence in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, METU, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozen
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Cytotoxicity; Electrophoresis; Leiurus abdullahbayrami; Microfluidic capillary; Peptide; Peptidomics; Scorpion venom; Toxin; Turkey; Venomics