| Abstract: | 1. It has been shown that the low toxicity to mammals (LD50 of about 200 mg per kg mice body weight) of the chactoid scorpion venom Scorpio maurus palmatus (Scorpionidae) is due to a single low molecular weight basic protein. 2. This compound was purified by the aid of gel filtration and ion exchange column chromatography, possessed about 80% of the mice lethality of the crude venom with an increase of about 60 fold in its specific toxicity. 3. It is composed of 32 amino acids (mol. wt = 3478) and devoid of isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, histidine and tryptophan. 4. The unique amino acid composition of the present toxin is compared to those of the well known buthoid scorpion venom mammal toxins and some other toxins derived from the same venom. 5. It is the first chemically characterized chactoid toxin. |
