| Spooky toxin | |
|---|---|
 3D structure of spooky toxin | |
| Identifiers | |
| Organism | |
| Symbol | SsTx |
| PDB | 5X0S |
Spooky toxin (SsTx) is a small peptide neurotoxin. It is found in the venom of Chinese red-headed centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans), also known as golden head centipedes. It is originally composed of 76 amino acids (sequence: MEKKIIFLVFLVAL LALPGFISTEVIKK DTPYKKRKFPYKSEC LKACATSFTG GDESRIQEGKPG FFKCTCYFTTG, 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 (sequence EVIKKDTPYKKRKFPYKSECLKACATSFTGGDESRIQEGKPFGFKCTCYFTTG, disulfide bonds Cys20-Cys46, Cys24-Cys48). SsTx is currently thought to be unique to Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.
By blocking KCNQ 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]
- ^ Luo L, Li B, Wang S, Wu F, Wang X, Liang P, et al. (February 2018). "Centipedes subdue giant prey by blocking KCNQ channels". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 115 (7): 1646–1651. Bibcode:2018PNAS..115.1646L. doi:10.1073/pnas.1714760115. PMC 5816164. PMID 29358396.