Structural and molecular characterization of peptide Ts42 isolated from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom

• Grant number: 24/04135-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Toxicology
• Principal Investigator: Eliane Candiani Arantes Braga
• Grantee: Beatriz Carrião Portella
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Scorpions are venomous animals belonging to the class Arachnida and are found in various regions around the world. The species Tityus serrulatus is one of the most venomous in the world, being responsible for the majority of scorpion-related incidents in Brazil. The venom of this species contains a wide variety of components, mainly neurotoxins that act on ion channels, with some components already identified but not yet studied. The objective of this project is the structural and molecular characterization of the peptide Ts42, aiming for a comprehensive description of the molecule. Freshly extracted venom will be applied to a C18 reverse-phase column coupled with a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) system. The isolated peptide will be evaluated using Tris-Tricine-SDS-PAGE, Peptide Mass Fingerprint, and mass spectrometry. Additionally, it will be assessed using circular dichroism in order to obtain a more comprehensive evaluation of its biochemical structure. Previous studies with the peptide have demonstrated potential protease modulation activity, making this study extremely important, as its structural characterization will be crucial for its functional application. The characterization of peptides can be highly significant for mapping the actions and interactions of such peptides with other enzymes and proteins.