Review Article

Scorpion Peptides: Potential Use for New Drug Development

Table 1

List of various families of polypeptides isolated from scorpion venom and hemolymph.

Family Subfamilies Targeted site

Peptides acting on Na+ channels

-Mammals (classic)
-NaTxs [23] -Like Site 3
-Insect
-Mammals
-NaTxs [23] -Insect (depressant) Site 4
-Insect (contracturant)

Peptides acting on K+ channels

-KTXs [23]In conjunction with the appropriate targeted site.Kv1.x channels
KCa1.1
KCa2.x
KCa3.1
Kv11.x
-KTXs [23]NdNd
-KTXs [23]NdKv11.x
-hefutoxin [23]NdKv1.x

Peptides acting on Cl channels

Nd [23]Nd Ca2+-activated Cl channels (CFTR)

Peptides acting on Ca2+ channels

Nd [3135]NdRyanodine receptor

Peptides with free cysteine residues

BPPs [10]NdNd
AMPs [26]NdMembrane phospholipids

Peptides with enzymatic activities

PLAs2 [27]NdNd
Hyaluronidases [30]NdNd