A New 1,5‐Dihydroxy‐4‐methoxyisoquinoline from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans

A new isoquinoline, 1,5‐dihydroxy‐4‐methoxyisoquinoline ( 1 ), was obtained from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity on tumour cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 13 to 26 μm against five esophageal squamous cancer cells whereas low cytotoxicity against normal human esophageal epithelial cells. Isoquinoline ring oxidized at C(1), C(4), and C(5) can enhance its cytotoxicity. In addition, compound 1 showed potent inhibitory effect (inhibition rate > 50% at 13 μm ) on cell migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. This article mainly studies the structure and activity of 1 , and more modification of 1 as a potential anticancer agent.     

少棘蜈蚣毒液溶血肽的分离纯化

采用超滤和HPLC(包括凝胶过滤层析、阳离子交换层析和反相HPLC)等技术对少棘蜈蚣毒液进行分离纯化,最终获得一个多肽;运用基质辅助激光解吸附飞行时间质谱测定其分子量为4484Da,测得其对小鼠红细胞半数溶血剂量HD50=14.69μg/ml。     

湖北省黑头蜈蚣一新种（唇足纲：蜈蚣目：蜈蚣科）

记述蜈蚣属一新种,黑头蜈蚣,头板和第１有足体节的背板通常呈暗绿色至暗褐色,最大体长约７５ｍｍ。两性的末对步足之前了粗壮,长约为宽的２倍,显然不同于日本内地的日本蜈蚣。     

Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans) venom toxin peptide exhibits cytotoxic and cell growth effects in a concentration-dependent manner

Centipede venom contains a variety of proteins, peptides, and enzymes. However, the biological actions of toxin peptides in centipede venom remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified a centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans) venom toxin peptide (SsmTP) that was shown to act as a cell growth factor at low concentrations-in vitro. SsmTP was found to consist of 66 amino acids that display seven cysteine residues, which exhibited high similarity to the predicted neurotoxin. SsmTP was expressed in the venom gland of S. s. mutilans. A recombinant SsmTP peptide of approximately 5.2 kDa was produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Interestingly, SsmTP exhibited cytotoxicity in murine cells in a concentration-dependent manner but displayed a cell growth effect at low concentrations. SsmTP at a low concentration also protected murine cells against oxidative damage through the inhibition of caspase-1 and apoptosis. Our data indicate that SsmTP acts as a cell growth factor and a toxin peptide in a concentration-dependent manner. Consequently, our results provide evidence that the identification of SsmTP, a centipede toxin peptide, may not only elucidate the biological action of toxin peptides but also offer additional insight into the pharmacological applications of centipede venoms.     

Centipede venom peptide SsmTX‐I with two intramolecular disulfide bonds shows analgesic activities in animal models

Pain is a major symptom of many diseases and results in enormous pressures on human body or society. Currently, clinically used analgesic drugs, including opioids and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, have adverse reactions, and thus, the development of new types of analgesic drug candidates is urgently needed. Animal venom peptides have proven to have potential as new types of analgesic medicine. In this research, we describe the isolation and characterization of an analgesic peptide from the crude venom of centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. The amino acid sequence of this peptide was identical with SsmTX‐I that was previously reported as a specific Kv2.1 ion channel blocker. Our results revealed that SsmTX‐I was produced by posttranslational processing of a 73‐residue prepropeptide. The intramolecular disulfide bridge motifs of SsmTX‐I was Cys1–Cys3 and Cys2–Cys4. Functional assay revealed that SsmTX‐I showed potential analgesic activities in formalin‐induced paw licking, thermal pain, and acetic acid‐induced abdominal writhing mice models. Our research provides the first report of cDNA sequences, disulfide motif, successful synthesis, and analgesic potential of SsmTX‐I for the development of pain‐killing drugs. It indicates that centipede peptide toxins could be a treasure trove for the search of novel analgesic drug candidates. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biology of the Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) in a Rain Forest of Puerto Rico1

Ecological aspects of the mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) were studied in the Luquillo Mountains, a rain forest region in eastern Puerto Rico. Information was obtained by removal trapping of mongoose from grids placed in tree plantations, colorado and tabonuco forests. Trapping efficiency was two mongoose per 100 trap-days, suggesting mongoose abundance is low in wet montane forests of Puerto Rico. Sex ratio was biased (2.6:1) in favor of males. Body masses of male mongoose inhabiting rain forests of the Luquillo Mountains were larger than those in dry forests at Guánica (P < 0.0001). Stomach contents from 18 mongoose were examined, animal matter comprised 75 percent of the total food items encountered. Of these, 33 percent were from vertebrates. The food items most frequently encountered were lizards (Anolis spp.), centipedes (Scolopendra spp.), and cockroaches (Blatellidae).     

墨江蜈蚣与少棘蜈蚣的比较研究──Ⅰ．化学组成

本文对墨江蜈蚣（ＳｃｏｌｏｐｅｎｄｒａｍｏｊａｎｇｉｃａＺｈａｎｇｅｔＣｈｉ）与少棘蜈蚣（ＳｃｏｔｏｐｅｎｄｒａｓｕｂｓｐｉｎｉｐｅｓｍｕｔｉｌａｎｓＬ．Ｋｏｃｈ）的水分、灼烧残渣、蛋白质、游离氨基酸、微量元素和挥发性脂肪酸的含量进行了系统的测定并比较了两者间的异同性。实验结果表明：墨江蜈蚣的蛋白质、灼烧残渣、水分的含量分别为６７．２％、３．９５％和３．５９％，而少棘蜈蚣分别为６８．８％、４．８０％和３．６５％，它们的含量基本相同。游离氨基酸、挥发性脂肪酸和微量元素的相对含量也很接近，但脂类和总糖的含量差异较大。     

Taxonomy of the centipede Scolopendra laeta Haase (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) in Australia

Scolopendra laeta Haase, 1887, which is widespread in the western and southern parts of Australia, is redescribed from the large number of available specimens. Five intraspecific forms are distinguished by their colour patterns, and their distributions are mapped.