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Li S, Kim C, Zong S, Liu Y, Kang J, Pak C, Cao Z, Wu Y. Dynamic synthesis and transport of fluorescent substances from moulting scorpions. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2022; 234:112511. [PMID: 35816856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2022.112511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Scorpion fluorescence under ultraviolet light is a well-known phenomenon, and its change is also a known biological feature during the scorpion moulting process. However, the synthesis and transport of fluorescent substances during the moulting stage remain unclear. In this study, in-depth investigations on the global fluorescence changes from the exoskeleton, fluorescence layer, coelomic fluid, and abdomen to the digestive glands indicated that the digestive glands, which occupy most of the space in the abdomen of the scorpion mesosoma segment, were responsible for synthesizing the fluorescent substances. More importantly, these fluorescent substances were produced in advance, before the moulting process, which contributed to the recovery of the fluorescent exoskeleton as early as possible. The synthesized fluorescent substances first entered the coelomic fluid, then successively passed through the inherent epithelial cell layer and two new formed endocuticle and exocuticle layers, and ultimately reached and became enriched in the new formed fluorescent layer, which was protected by the new epicuticle layer. These four new layers were the first to illustrate the structural features of the fluorescent exoskeleton. Due to the very soft body and the inability of the newly moulted scorpion to resist attacks from the predator, this special synthesis and transport strategy of the fluorescent substances could guarantee the rapid formation of the integrated fluorescent exoskeleton during the 24 h after ecdysis, which would be a novel biological feature during the scorpion evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songryong Li
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, Kim Hyong Jik University of Education, Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
| | - Cholman Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, Kim Hyong Jik University of Education, Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
| | - Shaozhi Zong
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuqing Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jongguk Kang
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; Faculty of Life Science, Kim Il Sung University, Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
| | - Cholmin Pak
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; Gastrointestinal Hospital, Korean Red Cross General Hospital, Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
| | - Zhijian Cao
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; Center for BioDrug Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yingliang Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; Center for BioDrug Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
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Fuzita FJ, Pinkse MWH, Patane JSL, Juliano MA, Verhaert PDEM, Lopes AR. Biochemical, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of digestion in the scorpion Tityus serrulatus: insights into function and evolution of digestion in an ancient arthropod. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123841. [PMID: 25875018 PMCID: PMC4398375 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Scorpions are among the oldest terrestrial arthropods and they have passed through small morphological changes during their evolutionary history on land. They are efficient predators capable of capturing and consuming large preys and due to envenomation these animals can become a human health challenge. Understanding the physiology of scorpions can not only lead to evolutionary insights but also is a crucial step in the development of control strategies. However, the digestive process in scorpions has been scarcely studied. In this work, we describe the combinatory use of next generation sequencing, proteomic analysis and biochemical assays in order to investigate the digestive process in the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus, mainly focusing in the initial protein digestion. The transcriptome generated database allowed the quantitative identification by mass spectrometry of different enzymes and proteins involved in digestion. All the results suggested that cysteine cathepsins play an important role in protein digestion. Two digestive cysteine cathepsins were isolated and characterized presenting acidic characteristics (pH optima and stability), zymogen conversion to the mature form after acidic activation and a cross-class inhibition by pepstatin. A more elucidative picture of the molecular mechanism of digestion in a scorpion was proposed based on our results from Tityus serrulatus. The midgut and midgut glands (MMG) are composed by secretory and digestive cells. In fasting animals, the secretory granules are ready for the next predation event, containing enzymes needed for alkaline extra-oral digestion which will compose the digestive fluid, such as trypsins, astacins and chitinase. The digestive vacuoles are filled with an acidic proteolytic cocktail to the intracellular digestion composed by cathepsins L, B, F, D and legumain. Other proteins as lipases, carbohydrases, ctenitoxins and a chitolectin with a perithrophin domain were also detected. Evolutionarily, a large gene duplication of cathepsin L occurred in Arachnida with the sequences from ticks being completely divergent from other arachnids probably due to the particular selective pressures over this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe J. Fuzita
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Biotechnology Program, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Martijn W. H. Pinkse
- Laboratory of Analytical Biotechnology & Innovative Peptide Biology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - José S. L. Patane
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Peter D. E. M. Verhaert
- Laboratory of Analytical Biotechnology & Innovative Peptide Biology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Adriana R. Lopes
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Louati H, Zouari N, Miled N, Gargouri Y. A new chymotrypsin-like serine protease involved in dietary protein digestion in a primitive animal, Scorpio maurus: purification and biochemical characterization. Lipids Health Dis 2011; 10:121. [PMID: 21777432 PMCID: PMC3161877 DOI: 10.1186/1476-511x-10-121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most recent works on chymotrypsins have been focused on marine animals and insects. However, no study was reported in chelicerate. Results Scorpion chymotrypsin-like protease (SCP) was purified to homogeneity from delipidated hepatopancreases. The protease NH2-terminal sequence exhibited more than 60% monoacids identity with those of insect putative peptidases. The protease displayed no sequence homology with classical proteases. From this point of view, the protease recalls the case of the scorpion lipase which displayed no sequence homology with known lipases. The scorpion amylase purified and characterized by our time, has an amino-acids sequence similar to those of mammalian amylases. The enzyme was characterized with respect its biochemical properties: it was active on a chymotrypsin substrate and had an apparent molecular mass of 25 kDa, like the classically known chymotrypsins. The dependence of the SCP activity and stability on pH and temperature was similar to that of mammalian chymotrypsin proteases. However, the SCP displayed a lower specific activity and a boarder pH activity range (from 6 to 9). Conclusion lower animal have a less evaluated digestive organ: a hepatopancreas, whereas, higher ones possess individualized pancreas and liver. A new chymotrypsin-like protease was purified for the first time from the scorpion hepatopancreas. Its biochemical characterization showed new features as compared to classical chymotrypsin-higher-animals proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanen Louati
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie Enzymatique des Lipases, ENIS, Université de Sfax, route de Soukra 3038, BP 1173 Sfax-Tunisia
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Louati H, Zouari N, Fendri A, Gargouri Y. Digestive amylase of a primitive animal, the scorpion: purification and biochemical characterization. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2010; 878:853-60. [PMID: 20206585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2010.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2009] [Revised: 12/22/2009] [Accepted: 01/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Scorpion, one of the most ancient invertebrates was chosen, as a model of a primitive animal, to purify and characterize an amylase located in the hepatopancreas. The scorpion digestive amylase (SDA) was purified. Pure SDA was obtained after heat treatment followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation and three steps of chromatography. The pure amylase is not glycosylated and has a molecular mass of 59,101 Da determined by MALDI-TOF MS analysis. The maximal amylase activity was measured at pH 7.0 and 50 degrees C, in the presence of Ca2+ and using potato starch as substrate. The enzyme was able to hydrolyze also, glycogen and amylose. The 23 NH2-terminal amino acid SDA residues were sequenced. The sequence obtained is similar to those of mammalian and avian pancreatic amylases. Nevertheless, polyclonal antibodies directed against SDA failed to recognize classical digestive amylases like the porcine pancreatic one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanen Louati
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie, Enzymatique des Lipases, ENIS route de Soukra, 1173 Sfax, Tunisia
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