A comparison of adhesive performance among six cursorial spider species

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  A comparison of adhesive performance among six cursorial spider species Abstract The ability to adhere to surfaces is particularly relevant for cursorial predatory arthropods like hunting spiders, which often traverse relatively complex environments characterized by large variation in substrate properties. Here, we evaluated the adhesive performance of six hunting spider species that are common in eastern temperate North America and lack specialized tarsi for climbing smooth or inclined surfaces [Lycosidae: Pardosa lapidicina Emerton, 1885 and Rabidosa rabida (Walckenaer, 1837); Oxyopidae: Oxyopes salticus Hentz, 1845; Pisauridae: Pisaurina mira (Walckenaer, 1837); Dolomedidae: Dolomedes triton (Walckenaer, 1837), and Dolomedes scriptus Hentz, 1845]. We tested adhesion performance as shear load resistance (g) on a glass plate, and as the angle of failure (°) when the plate was gradually inclined relative to horizontal. Average angle of failure and shear resistance differed among ...

Scorpion venom cytolytic peptide Smp43 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR-3

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Scorpion venom cytolytic peptide Smp43 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR-3

ABSTRACT

Ovarian cancer ranks as the sixth most prevalent type of gynecological cancer. Smp43, a cationic antimicrobial peptide isolated from the scorpion venom of Scorpio maurus palmatus, exhibits notable antibacterial, against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and antifungal activities. This study evaluates the anti-cancer efficacy of Smp43 and examines its effects on cell viability, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, necrosis, and oxidative stress in a human ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR-3). Smp43 significantly reduced the viability of OVCAR-3 cells compared to the normal fibroblast cell line WI-38, with IC50 values of 7.75 µg/mL and 29.50 µg/mL, respectively. The peptide effectively caused G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in OVCAR-3 cells. It modulated apoptotic markers by downregulating the pro-survival marker Bcl-2 while upregulating the pro-apoptotic markers Bax, p53, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Additionally, Smp43 significantly increased DNA fragmentation in OVCAR-3 cells and decreased antioxidant parameters. These findings suggest that Smp43 possesses potential anti-ovarian carcinoma properties, exerting its effects through mechanisms involving apoptosis induction, necrosis, G1 cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of the antioxidant defense system.

Hussein, S. I., Gerges, M. M., Al-Awadhi, R. M., Nafie, M. S., Abdel-Nabi, I. M., Sharma, P. P., & Abdel-Rahman, M. A. (2025). Scorpion venom cytolytic peptide Smp43 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR-3. Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 12(1), 300–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/2314808X.2025.2555776