Solution structure of a core peptide derived from scyllatoxin

Characterization of a bicyclic peptide neuropilin-1 (NP-1) antagonist (EG3287) reveals importance of vascular endothelial growth factor exon 8 for NP-1 binding and role of NP-1 in KDR signaling

Neuropilin-1 (NP-1) is a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor-A165 (VEGF-A165) in endothelial cells. To define the role of NP-1 in the biological functions of VEGF, we developed a specific peptide antagonist of VEGF binding to NP-1 based on the NP-1 binding site located in the exon 7- and 8-encoded VEGF-A165 domain. The bicyclic peptide, EG3287, potently (K(i) 1.2 microM) and effectively (>95% inhibition at 100 microM) inhibited VEGF-A165 binding to porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing NP-1 (PAE/NP-1) and breast carcinoma cells expressing only NP-1 receptors for VEGF-A, but had no effect on binding to PAE/KDR or PAE/Flt-1. Molecular dynamics calculations, a nuclear magnetic resonance structure of EG3287, and determination of stability in media, indicated that it constitutes a stable subdomain very similar to the corresponding region of native VEGF-A165. The C terminus encoded by exon 8 and the three-dimensional structure were both critical for EG3287 inhibition of NP-1 binding, whereas modifications at the N terminus had little effect. Although EG3287 had no direct effect on VEGF-A165 binding to KDR receptors, it inhibited cross-linking of VEGF-A165 to KDR in human umbilical vein endothelial cells co-expressing NP-1, and inhibited stimulation of KDR and PLC-gamma tyrosine phosphorylation, activation of ERKs1/2 and prostanoid production. These findings characterize the first specific antagonist of VEGF-A165 binding to NP-1 and demonstrate that NP-1 is essential for optimum KDR activation and intracellular signaling. The results also identify a key role for the C-terminal exon 8 domain in VEGF-A165 binding to NP-1.

Purification and functional characterization of a low-molecular-mass Ca2+,Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase modulator protein from rat brain cytosol

A low-molecular-mass modulator protein having a molecular mass of about 12 kDa has been purified from rat brain cytosol following gel filtration and FPLC/Mono Q anion-exchange chromatographic separation. A number of protein fractions were obtained from an FPLC column when eluted with a 0.1 M NaCl hold gradient. One fraction (peak no. 5) was found to stimulate Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase but inhibit Ca2+-ATPase isolated from goat spermatozoa. The S50 (concentration producing 50% stimulation) and I50 were found to be in the nanomolar range. The modulator seems to bind to Ca2+, Mg2+- or Ca2+-ATPase at a site distal from the ATP binding site. The binding to both the ATPases is reversible and non-competitive in nature. The inhibitory activity is found to depend significantly on -SH or -NH2 group(s) of the modulator, whereas no appreciable dependency of the stimulatory effect was apparent. The study indicates that the modulator is not a glycoprotein. CD analysis suggests that the protein exists as an unordered secondary structure. An immuno-cross-reactivity study with specific antibody and inhibition by thapsigargin suggests that the Ca2+,Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPases from goat testes microsomal membranes are two isoforms of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic-reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) family. The modulator does not contain any Trp molecules, as evident from Trp fluorescence analysis. Amino acid analysis shows that glycine, serine, derivatives of tyrosine and phenylalanine are the predominant amino acids. The data suggest that the modulator is a negatively charged protein and is a good tool for distinguishing the regulation of Ca2+,Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase activities.

Synthetic peptides as tools to investigate the structure and pharmacology of potassium channel-acting short-chain scorpion toxins

In the last decade, numerous polypeptide toxins acting on ion channels have been isolated and characterized from diverse scorpion venoms. These toxins are useful pharmacological probes to study ion-specific channel proteins because they interact selectively with these channels and modulate their activities. Since low amounts of natural toxins can be isolated from scorpion venoms, the chemical synthesis approach is extremely useful to produce larger quantities of toxins and toxin analogs. This report is a succinct overview of the possibilities offered by the chemical synthesis to investigate pharmacological and structural properties of these compounds.

Purification and functional characterization of a low-molecular-mass Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor protein from rat brain cytosol

A number of low-molecular mass (12-13 kDa) Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor proteins have been purified from rat brain cytosol by gel filtration followed by FPLC fractionation on a Mono Q anion-exchange column. Eight peaks were obtained using 0.1 M NaCl eluent of which one peak was found to be the most potent inhibitor of Na+, K+-ATPase. The molcular mass of the inhibitor was about 13 kDa on 16.5% SDS/PAGE. The concentration at which 50% inhibition (I50) was found was in the nanomolar range. The inhibitor seems to bind to Na+, K+-ATPase at a site distal from the ATP-binding site. The binding to the ATPase is non-competitive. The CD analysis suggests an unordered secondary structural element. It also inhibits p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity from rat brain with comparable I50 value to that for Na+, K+-ATPase. The protein does not contain any Trp as evident from Trp fluorescence and amino acid analysis. Amino acid analysis shows that glycine and serine, derivatives of tyrosine and phenylalanine are the predominant amino acids. The data suggests that it is a negatively charged protein in which the contribution of the hydrophobic part is 27%.

1H-NMR-derived secondary structure and the overall fold of the potent anti-mammal and anti-insect toxin III from the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus

We describe the secondary structure and the overall fold of toxin III from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus determined using two-dimensional-1H-NMR spectroscopy. This protein, which contains 64 amino acids and 4 disulfide bridges, belongs to the long-chain toxin category and is highly toxic to both mammals and insects. The overall fold was determined on the basis of 1208 inter-proton-distance restraints derived from NOE measurements and 90 psi, phi dihedral-angle restraints derived from NOE connectivities and 3JNH-alphaH coupling constants using the HABAS program. This fold, which mainly consists of an alpha-helix packed against a small antiparallel three-stranded beta-sheet, and of several turns and loops, is similar to that of other long-chain scorpion toxins. Aromatic and non-polar residues form several patches on the surface of the protein which alternate with patches of charged and polar residues. Such a topology should be important in the interactions of toxin III with sodium channels in membranes. Two weakly constrained loops introduce some flexibility to the structure which could be related to the activity of this toxin. The central core of toxin III is compared with the cysteine-stabilized alpha beta motif (an alpha-helix connected to a beta-sheet through two disulfide bridges) found in insect defensins and plant thionins. Defensins and thionins are small proteins (approximately 40--50 amino acid residues) containing three or four disulfide bridges, respectively. This comparison confirms that the cysteine-stabilized alpha beta motif is a common core to a number of small proteins from different origins and having different activities.