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Vol 46(2012) N 4 p. 508-513; Wanhong Liu1, Feng Luo2, Jing He1,3, Zhijian Cao4, Lixia Miao1* Molecular cloning and characterization of a new cDNA sequence encoding a venom peptide from the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans 1School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China2School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China 3School of Life Science, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China 4College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China *lixiamczj@sina.com Received - 2011-04-15; Accepted - 2011-07-11 Many studies have been performed on venomous peptides derived from animals. However, little of this research has focused on peptides from centipede venoms. Here, a venom gland cDNA library was successfully constructed for the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. A new cDNA encoding the precursor of a venom peptide, named SsmTx, was cloned from the venomous gland cDNA library of the centipede S subspinipes mutilans. The full-length SsmTx cDNA sequence is 465 nt, including a 249 nt ORF, a 45 nt 5'UTR and a 171 nt 3' UTR. There is a signal tail AATAAA 31 nt upstream of the poly (A) tail. The precursor nucleotide sequence of SsmTx encodes a signal peptide of 25 residues and a mature peptide of 57 residues, which is bridged by two pairs of disulfide bonds. SsmTx displays a unique cysteine motif that is completely different from that of other venomous animal toxins. This is the first reported cDNA sequence encoding a venom peptide from the centipede S subspinipes mutilans. Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, cDNA, venom peptide, cysteine motif |
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