Scorpine, an anti-malaria and anti-bacterial agent purified from scorpion venom

A novel peptide, scorpine, was isolated from the venom of the scorpion Pand inus imperator, with anti-bacterial activity and a potent inhibitory effect on the ookinete (ED50 0.7 mu M) and gamete (ED50 10 mu M) stages of Plasmo dium berghei development. It has 75 amino acids, three disulfide bridges wi th a molecular mass of 8350 Da. Scorpine has a unique amino acid sequence, similar only to some cecropins in its N-terminal segment and to some defens ins in its C-terminal region, its gene was cloned from a cDNA library. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.