title: Comparative proteomic analysis of male and female venoms from the Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus.
abstract: A complete mass spectrometry analysis of venom components from male and female scorpions of the species Rhophalurus junceus of Cuba is reported. In the order of 200 individual molecular masses were identified in both venoms, from which 63 are identical in male and females genders. It means that a significant difference of venom components exists between individuals of different sexes, but the most abundant components are present in both sexes. The relative abundance of identical components is different among the genders. Three well defined groups of different peptides were separated and identified. The first group corresponds to peptides with molecular masses of 1000-2000 Da; the second to peptides with 3500-4500 Da molecular weight, and the third with 6500-8000 Da molecular weights. A total of 86 peptides rich in disulfide bridges were found in the venoms, 27 with three disulfide bridges and 59 with four disulfide bridges. LC-MS/MS analysis allowed the identification and amino acid sequence determination of 31 novel peptides in male venom. Two new putative K(+)-channel peptides were sequences by Edman degradation. They contain 37 amino acid residues, packed by three disulfide bridges and were assigned the systematic numbers: α-KTx 1.18 and α-KTx 2.15.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; Center for Mountain Development, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Limonar de Monte Roux, El Salvador, Guantánamo, Cuba.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Ravelo
authors.affiliation: Proteomics Laboratory, Departament of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Cesar V F
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Fredy I V
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Coronas
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Fernando Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Zamudio
authors.affiliation: Proteomics Laboratory, Departament of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hernández-Orihuela
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa-López
authors.affiliation: Center of Marine Research, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Urquiola
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico. Electronic address: possani@ibt.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Lourival D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Possani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D040901:Proteomics; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D012605:Scorpions / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms
keywords: Amino acid sequence; Gender differences; Ion-channel; Mass spectrometry; Proteomic analysis; Venom components