Spooky toxin (SsTx) is a smallpeptideneurotoxin. It is found in thevenom ofChinese red-headed centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans), also known as golden head centipedes. It is originally composed of 76amino acids (sequence: MEKKIIFLVFLVALLALPGFISTEVIKKDTPYKKRKFPYKSECLKACATSFTGGDESRIQEGKPGFFKCTCYFTTG, disulfide bonds Cys43-Cys69, Cys47-Cys71), with a molecular weight of 6017.5 daltons, but loses the first 23 residues and becomes 53 residues long (sequenceEVIKKDTPYKKRKFPYKSECLKACATSFTGGDESRIQEGKPFGFKCTCYFTTG, disulfide bonds Cys20-Cys46, Cys24-Cys48). SsTx is currently thought to be unique toScolopendra subspinipes mutilans.
By blockingKCNQ channels (preventing potassium from flowing into and out of cells) SsTx disrupts cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and nervous systems; where snake venoms typically only affect circulatory or nervous systems, and venom from spiders, scorpions, and snails typically only target nervous systems. This allows for golden headed centipedes to target larger prey up to 15 times their size.[1]
The venom of theScolopendra subspinipes mutilans is already being widely used as atraditional medicine in Asian countries.[2] Claimed medicinal uses include antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anticancer.[3][4][5]
^Pemberton RW (June 1999). "Insects and other arthropods used as drugs in Korean traditional medicine".Journal of Ethnopharmacology.65 (3):207–16.doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00209-8.PMID10404418.
^Yoo WG, Lee JH, Shin Y, Shim JY, Jung M, Kang BC, et al. (June 2014). "Antimicrobial peptides in the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans".Functional & Integrative Genomics.14 (2):275–83.doi:10.1007/s10142-014-0366-3.PMID24652097.S2CID18793966.
^Wenhua R, Shuangquan Z, Daxiang S, Kaiya Z, Guang Y (April 2006). "Induction, purification and characterization of an antibacterial peptide scolopendrin I from the venom of centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans".Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics.43 (2):88–93.PMID16955756.
