# Peptidomics and pharmacological profiling of Odontobuthus doriae (Buthidae) scorpion venom at the kappa opioid receptor

## TL;DR

This study explores scorpion venom peptides and their interaction with the kappa opioid receptor, revealing new potential for pain treatment.

## Contribution

The study identifies scorpion venom peptides that bind to the kappa opioid receptor, highlighting their potential as novel analgesic scaffolds.

## Key findings

- Species-specific peptide fingerprints were identified in Buthidae scorpion venoms using MALDI-TOF MS.
- Fractions from Odontobuthus doriae venom displaced up to 40% of [³H]-diprenorphine at the kappa opioid receptor.
- Functional assays showed weak receptor activation, suggesting partial agonist or antagonist activity.

## Abstract

Scorpion venoms are rich in bioactive peptides, many of which act on ion channels and neurotransmitter systems, yet their capacity to interact with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been largely unexplored. Here, we profiled the venom peptides of five species in the family Buthidae and evaluated their activity at the kappa opioid receptor (KOR). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) revealed species-specific peptide fingerprints in the mass range between 2.5 and 4 kDa, underscoring interspecies peptide toxin variation. Following pre-purification by solid-phase extraction, radioligand displacement assays demonstrated that fractions from Odontobuthus doriae bound to KOR, with Od-e (36% acetonitrile) and Od-f (45% acetonitrile) displacing ~ 35–40% of [³H]-diprenorphine. However, BRET-based functional assays demonstrated only weak receptor activation, suggesting that these peptides may function as partial agonists or antagonists rather than full agonists. Collectively, these findings highlight scorpion venoms as a previously underexplored source of opioid receptor-interacting peptides. Systematic investigation of their structural diversity and pharmacological profiles in the future may not only expand our understanding of venom evolution but also provide novel scaffolds for GPCR ligand discovery and potential analgesic development.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-31108-9.