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Ye X, Liu X, Luo X, Sun F, Qin C, Ding L, Zhu W, Zhang H, Zhou H, Chen Z. Characterization of the Molecular Diversity and Degranulation Activity of Mastoparan Family Peptides from Wasp Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15050331. [PMID: 37235365 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15050331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Wasp stings have become an increasingly serious public health problem because of their high incidence and mortality rates in various countries and regions. Mastoparan family peptides are the most abundant natural peptides in hornet venoms and solitary wasp venom. However, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive studies on mastoparan family peptides from wasp venoms. In our study, for the first time, we evaluated the molecular diversity of 55 wasp mastoparan family peptides from wasp venoms and divided them into four major subfamilies. Then, we established a wasp peptide library containing all 55 known mastoparan family peptides by chemical synthesis and C-terminal amidation modification, and we systematically evaluated their degranulation activities in two mast cell lines, namely the RBL-2H3 and P815 cell lines. The results showed that among the 55 mastoparans, 35 mastoparans could significantly induce mast cell degranulation, 7 mastoparans had modest mast cell degranulation activity, and 13 mastoparans had little mast cell degranulation activity, suggesting functional variation in mastoparan family peptides from wasp venoms. Structure-function relationship studies found that the composition of amino acids in the hydrophobic face and amidation in the C-terminal region are critical for the degranulation activity of mastoparan family peptides from wasp venoms. Our research will lay a theoretical foundation for studying the mechanism underlying the degranulation activity of wasp mastoparans and provide new evidence to support the molecular design and molecular optimization of natural mastoparan peptides from wasp venoms in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdong Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Xudong Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Fang Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Chenhu Qin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Wen Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Huajun Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Haimei Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Zongyun Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
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de Santana CJC, Pires Júnior OR, Fontes W, Palma MS, Castro MS. Mastoparans: A Group of Multifunctional α-Helical Peptides With Promising Therapeutic Properties. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:824989. [PMID: 35813822 PMCID: PMC9263278 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.824989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biologically active peptides have been attracting increasing attention, whether to improve the understanding of their mechanisms of action or in the search for new therapeutic drugs. Wasp venoms have been explored as a remarkable source for these molecules. In this review, the main findings on the group of wasp linear cationic α-helical peptides called mastoparans were discussed. These compounds have a wide variety of biological effects, including mast cell degranulation, activation of protein G, phospholipase A2, C, and D activation, serotonin and insulin release, and antimicrobial, hemolytic, and anticancer activities, which could lead to the development of new therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos José Correia de Santana
- Laboratory of Toxinology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Osmindo Rodrigues Pires Júnior
- Laboratory of Toxinology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Wagner Fontes
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Mário Sérgio Palma
- Department of Basic and Applied Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Mariana S. Castro
- Laboratory of Toxinology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Mariana S. Castro,
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Guido-Patiño JC, Plisson F. Profiling hymenopteran venom toxins: Protein families, structural landscape, biological activities, and pharmacological benefits. Toxicon X 2022; 14:100119. [PMID: 35372826 PMCID: PMC8971319 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hymenopterans are an untapped source of venom secretions. Their recent proteo-transcriptomic studies have revealed an extraordinary pool of toxins that participate in various biological processes, including pain, paralysis, allergic reactions, and antimicrobial activities. Comprehensive and clade-specific campaigns to collect hymenopteran venoms are therefore needed. We consider that data-driven bioprospecting may help prioritise sampling and alleviate associated costs. This work established the current protein landscape from hymenopteran venoms to evaluate possible sample bias by studying their origins, sequence diversity, known structures, and biological functions. We collected all 282 reported hymenopteran toxins (peptides and proteins) from the UniProt database that we clustered into 21 protein families from the three studied clades - wasps, bees, and ants. We identified 119 biological targets of hymenopteran toxins ranging from pathogen membranes to eukaryotic proteases, ion channels and protein receptors. Our systematic study further extended to hymenopteran toxins' therapeutic and biotechnological values, where we revealed promising applications in crop pests, human infections, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The hymenopteran toxin diversity includes 21 protein families from 81 species. Some toxins are shared across wasps, bees and ants, others are clade-specific. Their venoms contain membrane-active peptides, neurotoxins, allergens and enzymes. Hymenopteran toxins have been tested against a total of 119 biological targets. Hymenopteran toxins were predominantly evaluated as anti-infective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Guido-Patiño
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Del IPN (CINVESTAV), Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para La Biodiversidad (Langebio), Irapuato, Guanajuato, 36824, Mexico
| | - Fabien Plisson
- CONACYT, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Del IPN (CINVESTAV), Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para La Biodiversidad (Langebio), Irapuato, Guanajuato, 36824, Mexico
- Corresponding author.
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Tan J, Wang W, Wu F, Li Y, Fan Q. Transcriptome profiling of venom gland from wasp species: de novo assembly, functional annotation, and discovery of molecular markers. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:427. [PMID: 32580761 PMCID: PMC7315503 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06851-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vespa velutina, one of the most aggressive and fearful wasps in China, can cause grievous allergies and toxic reactions, leading to organ failure and even death. However, there is little evidence on molecular data regarding wasps. Therefore, we aimed to provide an insight into the transcripts expressed in the venom gland of wasps. Results In our study, high-throughput RNA sequencing was performed using the venom glands of four wasp species. First, the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase submit I (COI) barcoding and the neighbor joining (NJ) tree were used to validate the unique identity and lineage of each individual species. After sequencing, a total of 127,630 contigs were generated and 98,716 coding domain sequences (CDS) were predicted from the four species. The Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of unigenes revealed their functional role in important biological processes (BP), molecular functions (MF) and cellular components (CC). In addition, c-type, p1 type, p2 type and p3 type were the most commonly found simple sequence repeat (SSR) types in the four species of wasp transcriptome. There were differences in the distribution of SSRs and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among the four wasp species. Conclusions The transcriptome data generated in this study will improve our understanding on bioactive proteins and venom-related genes in wasp venom gland and provide a basis for pests control and other applications. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the identification of large-scale genomic data and the discovery of microsatellite markers from V. tropica ducalis and V. analis fabricius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Tan
- General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, 610021, China.,CDC of Western Theater Command, PLA, Chengdu, 610021, China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- CDC of Western Theater Command, PLA, Chengdu, 610021, China
| | - Fan Wu
- General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, 610021, China
| | - Yunming Li
- General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, 610021, China
| | - Quanshui Fan
- CDC of Western Theater Command, PLA, Chengdu, 610021, China.
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Freire KA, Torres MDT, Lima DB, Monteiro ML, Bezerra de Menezes RRPP, Martins AMC, Oliveira VX. Wasp venom peptide as a new antichagasic agent. Toxicon 2020; 181:71-78. [PMID: 32360153 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.04.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and affects approximately 10 million people a year worldwide. The only two treatment options, benznidazole and nifurtimox, have low efficacy and high toxicity towards human cells. Mastoporan peptide (MP) a small cationic AMP from the venom of the wasp Polybia paulista has been reported as a potent trypanocidal agent. Thus, we evaluated the antichagasic effect of another AMP from the venom of the same wasp Polybia paulista, polybia-CP (ILGTILGLLSKL-NH2), and investigated its mechanism of action against different stages of the trypanosomal cells life cycle. Polybia-CP was tested against the epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of the T. cruzi Y strain (benznidazole-resistant strain) and inhibited the development of these forms. We also assessed the selectivity of the AMP against mammalian cells by exposing LLC-MK2 cells to polybia-CP, the peptide presented a high selectivity index (>106). The mechanism of action of polybia-CP on trypanosomal cells was investigated by flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and enzymatic assays with T. cruzi GAPDH (tcGAPDH), enzyme that catalyzes the sixth step of glycolysis. Polybia-CP induced phosphatidylserine exposure, it also increased the formation of reactive species of oxigen (ROS) and reduced the transmembrane mitochondrial potential. Polybia-CP also led to cell shrinkage, evidencing apoptotic cell death. We did not observe the inhibition of tcGAPDH or autophagy induction. Altogether, polybia-CP has shown the features of a promising template for the development of new antichagasic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil; Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, PA, USA
| | - Dânya Bandeira Lima
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE 60430372, Brazil
| | - Marilia Lopes Monteiro
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE 60430372, Brazil
| | | | - Alice Maria Costa Martins
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE 60430372, Brazil
| | - Vani Xavier Oliveira
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil.
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das Neves RC, Mortari MR, Schwartz EF, Kipnis A, Junqueira-Kipnis AP. Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Effects of Peptides from Venom of Social Wasp and Scorpion on Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E216. [PMID: 30974767 PMCID: PMC6520840 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11040216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intravascular stent infection is a rare complication with a high morbidity and high mortality; bacteria from the hospital environment form biofilms and are often multidrug-resistant (MDR). Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been considered as alternatives to bacterial infection treatment. We analyzed the formation of the bacterial biofilm on the vascular stents and also tested the inhibition of this biofilm by AMPs to be used as treatment or coating. Antimicrobial activity and antibiofilm were tested with wasp (Agelaia-MPI, Polybia-MPII, Polydim-I) and scorpion (Con10 and NDBP5.8) AMPs against Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains. A. baumannii formed a biofilm on the vascular stent. Agelaia-MPI and Polybia-MPII inhibited biofilm formation with bacterial cell wall degradation. Coating biofilms with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) and Agelaia-MPI reduced 90% of A. baumannii adhesion on stents. The wasp AMPs Agelaia-MPI and Polybia-MPII had better action against MDR A. baumannii adherence and biofilm formation on vascular stents, preventing its formation and treating mature biofilm when compared to the other tested peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogério Coutinho das Neves
- Laboratory of Immunopathology of infectious diseases, Department of Immunology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Rua 235, Goiania, 74605-050 Goiás, Brazil.
| | - Márcia Renata Mortari
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, 70910-900 Brasilia, Brazil.
| | - Elisabeth Ferroni Schwartz
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, 70910-900 Brasilia, Brazil.
| | - André Kipnis
- Laboratory of Immunopathology of infectious diseases, Department of Immunology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Rua 235, Goiania, 74605-050 Goiás, Brazil.
| | - Ana Paula Junqueira-Kipnis
- Laboratory of Immunopathology of infectious diseases, Department of Immunology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Rua 235, Goiania, 74605-050 Goiás, Brazil.
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dos Santos-Pinto JRA, Perez-Riverol A, Lasa AM, Palma MS. Diversity of peptidic and proteinaceous toxins from social Hymenoptera venoms. Toxicon 2018; 148:172-196. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Vinhote JFC, Lima DB, Menezes RRPPBD, Mello CP, de Souza BM, Havt A, Palma MS, Santos RPD, Albuquerque ELD, Freire VN, Martins AMC. Trypanocidal activity of mastoparan from Polybia paulista wasp venom by interaction with TcGAPDH. Toxicon 2017; 137:168-172. [PMID: 28826757 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, considered a neglected disease, is a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which is endemic throughout the world. Previously, the antimicrobial effect of Mastoparan (MP) from Polybia paulista wasp venom against bacteria was described. To continue the study, we report in this short communication the antimicrobial effect of MP against Trypanosoma cruzi. MP inhibits all T. cruzi developmental forms through the inhibition of TcGAPDH suggested by the molecular docking. In conclusion, we suggest there is an antimicrobial effect also on T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dânya Bandeira Lima
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Clarissa Perdigão Mello
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre Havt
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Mario Sérgio Palma
- Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University, Brazil
| | | | - Eudenilson Lins de Albuquerque
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | | | - Alice Maria Costa Martins
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
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Perez-Riverol A, Dos Santos-Pinto JRA, Lasa AM, Palma MS, Brochetto-Braga MR. Wasp venomic: Unravelling the toxins arsenal of Polybia paulista venom and its potential pharmaceutical applications. J Proteomics 2017; 161:88-103. [PMID: 28435107 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is a neotropical social wasp from southeast Brazil. As most social Hymenoptera, venom from P. paulista comprises a complex mixture of bioactive toxins ranging from low molecular weight compounds to peptides and proteins. Several efforts have been made to elucidate the molecular composition of the P. paulista venom. Data derived from proteomic, peptidomic and allergomic analyses has enhanced our understanding of the whole envenoming process caused by the insect sting. The combined use of bioinformatics, -omics- and molecular biology tools have allowed the identification, characterization, in vitro synthesis and recombinant expression of several wasp venom toxins. Some of these P. paulista - derived bioactive compounds have been evaluated for the rational design of antivenoms and the improvement of allergy specific diagnosis and immunotherapy. Molecular characterization of crude venom extract has enabled the description and isolation of novel toxins with potential biotechnological applications. Here, we review the different approaches that have been used to unravel the venom composition of P. paulista. We also describe the main groups of P. paulista - venom toxins currently identified and analyze their potential in the development of component-resolved diagnosis of allergy, and in the rational design of antivenoms and novel bioactive drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amilcar Perez-Riverol
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Artrópodes-LBMA-IBRC-UNESP (Univ Estadual Paulista), Av. 24-A, n° 1515, CEP 13506-900, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
| | | | - Alexis Musacchio Lasa
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Division, System Biology Department, Ave. 31, e/158 and 190, P.O. Box 6162, Cubanacan, Playa, Havana 10600, Cuba.
| | - Mario Sergio Palma
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais-CEIS-IBRC-UNESP (Univ Estadual Paulista), Av. 24-A, n° 1515, CEP 13506-900, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
| | - Márcia Regina Brochetto-Braga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Artrópodes-LBMA-IBRC-UNESP (Univ Estadual Paulista), Av. 24-A, n° 1515, CEP 13506-900, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil; Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos-CEVAP (Univ Estadual Paulista), Rua José Barbosa de Barros, 1780, Fazenda Experimental Lageado, Botucatu 18610-307, SP, Brazil.
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10
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Mendonça A, Paula MC, Fernandes WD, Andrade LHC, Lima SM, Antonialli-Junior WF. Variation in Venoms of Polybia Paulista Von Ihering and Polybia Occidentalis Olivier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Assessed by the FTIR-PAS Technique. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 46:8-17. [PMID: 27457373 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-016-0426-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Wasps are able to synthesize toxic compounds known as venoms, which form a part of a mechanism to overcome prey and also to defend their colonies. Study of the compounds that constitute these substances is essential in order to understand how this defense mechanism evolved, since there is evidence that the venoms can vary both intra- and interspecifically. Some studies have used liquid and gas chromatography as a reliable technique to analyze these compounds. However, the use of Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) to analyze the variations in venom's chemical profile has been proposed recently. This study evaluated whether the FTIR-PAS technique is effective for assessing the role of environmental factors on intra- and interspecific differences in the venom of the wasps Polybia paulista Von Ihering and Polybia occidentalis Olivier by FTIR-PAS. The colonies were collected in three municipalities of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in different types of environments. The results showed that the venoms of P. paulista and P. occidentalis differed significantly in profile. In addition, the intraspecific differences in the venom's chemical profile of P. paulista are related to the type of environment where they nested, regardless of the geographical distance between the nests. The FTIR-PAS technique proved to be reliable and effective to evaluate the variations in the venom's chemical profile in social wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mendonça
- Univ Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
- Lab de Ecologia Comportamental, Univ Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
| | - M C Paula
- Univ Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brasil
- Lab de Ecologia Comportamental, Univ Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brasil
| | - W D Fernandes
- Univ Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brasil
| | - L H C Andrade
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Óptica e Fototérmica, Univ Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brasil
| | - S M Lima
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Óptica e Fototérmica, Univ Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brasil
| | - W F Antonialli-Junior
- Univ Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brasil
- Lab de Ecologia Comportamental, Univ Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brasil
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11
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Silva JC, Neto LM, Neves RC, Gonçalves JC, Trentini MM, Mucury-Filho R, Smidt KS, Fensterseifer IC, Silva ON, Lima LD, Clissa PB, Vilela N, Guilhelmelli F, Silva LP, Rangel M, Kipnis A, Silva-Pereira I, Franco OL, Junqueira-Kipnis AP, Bocca AL, Mortari MR. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the mastoparan Polybia-MPII isolated from venom of the social wasp Pseudopolybia vespiceps testacea (Vespidae, Hymenoptera). Int J Antimicrob Agents 2017; 49:167-175. [PMID: 28108242 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2016.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mastoparans, a class of peptides found in wasp venom, have significant effects following a sting as well as useful applications in clinical practice. Among these is their potential use in the control of micro-organisms that cause infectious diseases with a significant impact on society. Thus, the present study describes the isolation and identification of a mastoparan peptide from the venom of the social wasp Pseudopolybia vespiceps and evaluated its antimicrobial profile against bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense), fungi (Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans) and in vivo S. aureus infection. The membrane pore-forming ability was also assessed. The mastoparan reduced in vitro and ex vivo mycobacterial growth by 80% at 12.5 µM in infected peritoneal macrophages but did not affect the shape of bacterial cells at the dose tested (6.25 µM). The peptide also showed potent action against S. aureus in vitro (EC50 and EC90 values of 1.83 µM and 2.90 µM, respectively) and reduced the in vivo bacterial load after 6 days of topical treatment (5 mg/kg). Antifungal activity was significant, with EC50 and EC90 values of 12.9 µM and 15.3 µM, respectively, for C. albicans, and 11 µM and 22.70 µM, respectively, for C. neoformans. Peptides are currently attracting interest for their potential in the design of antimicrobial drugs, particularly due to the difficulty of micro-organisms in developing resistance to them. In this respect, Polybia-MPII proved to be highly effective, with a lower haemolysis rate compared with peptides of the same family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana C Silva
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Lázaro M Neto
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Heath, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Rogério C Neves
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Heath, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline C Gonçalves
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Monalisa M Trentini
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Heath, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Mucury-Filho
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Karina S Smidt
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Isabel C Fensterseifer
- Center for Proteomics and Biochemical Analyses, Genomic Science and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Molecular Pathology Graduate Program, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Osmar N Silva
- Center for Proteomics and Biochemical Analyses, Genomic Science and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Department of Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | - Lilian D Lima
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Patricia B Clissa
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Nathália Vilela
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Guilhelmelli
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Luciano P Silva
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marisa Rangel
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunopathology, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - André Kipnis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Heath, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Ildinete Silva-Pereira
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Octavio L Franco
- Center for Proteomics and Biochemical Analyses, Genomic Science and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Molecular Pathology Graduate Program, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil; Department of Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Graduate Biotechnology Program, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Ana P Junqueira-Kipnis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Heath, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Anamelia L Bocca
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Márcia R Mortari
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
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Touchard A, Koh JMS, Aili SR, Dejean A, Nicholson GM, Orivel J, Escoubas P. The complexity and structural diversity of ant venom peptidomes is revealed by mass spectrometry profiling. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2015; 29:385-396. [PMID: 26349460 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Compared with other animal venoms, ant venoms remain little explored. Ants have evolved complex venoms to rapidly immobilize arthropod prey and to protect their colonies from predators and pathogens. Many ants have retained peptide-rich venoms that are similar to those of other arthropod groups. METHODS With the goal of conducting a broad and comprehensive survey of ant venom peptide diversity, we investigated the peptide composition of venoms from 82 stinging ant species from nine subfamilies using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). We also conducted an in-depth investigation of eight venoms using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separation coupled with offline MALDI-TOFMS. RESULTS Our results reveal that the peptide compositions of ant venom peptidomes from both poneroid and formicoid ant clades comprise hundreds of small peptides (<4 kDa), while large peptides (>4 kDa) are also present in the venom of formicoids. Chemical reduction revealed the presence of disulfide-linked peptides in most ant subfamilies, including peptides structured by one, two or three disulfide bonds as well as dimeric peptides reticulated by three disulfide bonds. CONCLUSIONS The biochemical complexity of ant venoms, associated with an enormous ecological and taxonomic diversity, suggests that stinging ant venoms constitute a promising source of bioactive molecules that could be exploited in the search for novel drug and biopesticide leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Touchard
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379, Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Jennifer M S Koh
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Samira R Aili
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alain Dejean
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379, Kourou Cedex, France
- Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Graham M Nicholson
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jérôme Orivel
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379, Kourou Cedex, France
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13
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Aili SR, Touchard A, Escoubas P, Padula MP, Orivel J, Dejean A, Nicholson GM. Diversity of peptide toxins from stinging ant venoms. Toxicon 2014; 92:166-78. [PMID: 25448389 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) represent a taxonomically diverse group of arthropods comprising nearly 13,000 extant species. Sixteen ant subfamilies have individuals that possess a stinger and use their venom for purposes such as a defence against predators, competitors and microbial pathogens, for predation, as well as for social communication. They exhibit a range of activities including antimicrobial, haemolytic, cytolytic, paralytic, insecticidal and pain-producing pharmacologies. While ant venoms are known to be rich in alkaloids and hydrocarbons, ant venoms rich in peptides are becoming more common, yet remain understudied. Recent advances in mass spectrometry techniques have begun to reveal the true complexity of ant venom peptide composition. In the few venoms explored thus far, most peptide toxins appear to occur as small polycationic linear toxins, with antibacterial properties and insecticidal activity. Unlike other venomous animals, a number of ant venoms also contain a range of homodimeric and heterodimeric peptides with one or two interchain disulfide bonds possessing pore-forming, allergenic and paralytic actions. However, ant venoms seem to have only a small number of monomeric disulfide-linked peptides. The present review details the structure and pharmacology of known ant venom peptide toxins and their potential as a source of novel bioinsecticides and therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira R Aili
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Axel Touchard
- CNRS, UMR Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Pierre Escoubas
- VenomeTech, 473 Route des Dolines - Villa 3, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Matthew P Padula
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Jérôme Orivel
- CNRS, UMR Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Alain Dejean
- CNRS, UMR Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France; Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France.
| | - Graham M Nicholson
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
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14
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Schaffrath S, Predel R. A simple protocol for venom peptide barcoding in scorpions. EUPA OPEN PROTEOMICS 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.euprot.2014.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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15
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Touchard A, Dauvois M, Arguel MJ, Petitclerc F, Leblanc M, Dejean A, Orivel J, Nicholson GM, Escoubas P. Elucidation of the unexplored biodiversity of ant venom peptidomes via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and its application for chemotaxonomy. J Proteomics 2014; 105:217-31. [PMID: 24456813 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The rise of integrative taxonomy, a multi-criteria approach used in characterizing species, fosters the development of new tools facilitating species delimitation. Mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of venom peptides from venomous animals has previously been demonstrated to be a valid method for identifying species. Here we aimed to develop a rapid chemotaxonomic tool for identifying ants based on venom peptide mass fingerprinting. The study focused on the biodiversity of ponerine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) in French Guiana. Initial experiments optimized the use of automated matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to determine variations in the mass profiles of ant venoms using several MALDI matrices and additives. Data were then analyzed via a hierarchical cluster analysis to classify the venoms of 17 ant species. In addition, phylogenetic relationships were assessed and were highly correlated with methods using DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1. By combining a molecular genetics approach with this chemotaxonomic approach, we were able to improve the accuracy of the taxonomic findings to reveal cryptic ant species within species complexes. This chemotaxonomic tool can therefore contribute to more rapid species identification and more accurate taxonomies. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE This is the first extensive study concerning the peptide analysis of the venom of both Pachycondyla and Odontomachus ants. We studied the venoms of 17 ant species from French Guiana that permitted us to fine-tune the venom analysis of ponerine ants via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. We explored the peptidomes of crude ant venom and demonstrated that venom peptides can be used in the identification of ant species. In addition, the application of this novel chemotaxonomic method combined with a parallel genetic approach using COI sequencing permitted us to reveal the presence of cryptic ants within both the Pachycondyla apicalis and Pachycondyla stigma species complexes. This adds a new dimension to the search for means of exploiting the enormous biodiversity of venomous ants as a source for novel therapeutic drugs or biopesticides. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics of non-model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Touchard
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France.
| | - Mélodie Dauvois
- VenomeTech, 473 Route des Dolines - Villa 3, Valbonne 06560, France
| | | | - Frédéric Petitclerc
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Mathieu Leblanc
- VenomeTech, 473 Route des Dolines - Villa 3, Valbonne 06560, France
| | - Alain Dejean
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, INP, Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (ECOLAB), 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Jérôme Orivel
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France
| | - Graham M Nicholson
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Pierre Escoubas
- VenomeTech, 473 Route des Dolines - Villa 3, Valbonne 06560, France
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16
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Dias NB, de Souza BM, Gomes PC, Palma MS. Peptide diversity in the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera): a comparison of the intra- and inter-colony compositions. Peptides 2014; 51:122-30. [PMID: 24239857 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Revised: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The venoms of the social wasps evolved to be used as defensive tools to protect the colonies of these insects against the attacks of predators. Previous studies estimated the presence of a dozen peptide components in the venoms of each species of these insects, which altogether comprise up to 70% of the weight of freeze-dried venoms. In the present study, an optimized experimental protocol is reported that utilizes liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the detection of peptides in the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista; peptide profiles for both intra- and inter-colonial comparisons were obtained using this protocol. The results of our study revealed a surprisingly high level of intra- and inter-colonial variability for the same wasp species. We detected 78-108 different peptides in the venom of different colonies of P. paulista in the molar mass range from 400 to 3000Da; among those, only 36 and 44 common peptides were observed in the inter- and intra-colony comparisons, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia Baptista Dias
- UNESP - São Paulo State University, Center of Studies of Social Insects, Institute of Biosciences, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Bibiana Monson de Souza
- UNESP - São Paulo State University, Center of Studies of Social Insects, Institute of Biosciences, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Paulo Cesar Gomes
- UNESP - São Paulo State University, Center of Studies of Social Insects, Institute of Biosciences, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Mario Sergio Palma
- UNESP - São Paulo State University, Center of Studies of Social Insects, Institute of Biosciences, Rio Claro, Brazil.
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17
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Schwartz EF, Mourão CBF, Moreira KG, Camargos TS, Mortari MR. Arthropod venoms: A vast arsenal of insecticidal neuropeptides. Biopolymers 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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18
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Baptista-Saidemberg NB, Saidemberg DM, Palma MS. Profiling the peptidome of the venom from the social wasp Agelaia pallipes pallipes. J Proteomics 2011; 74:2123-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2011.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Revised: 05/19/2011] [Accepted: 06/05/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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19
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Saidemberg DM, Baptista-Saidemberg NB, Palma MS. Chemometric analysis of Hymenoptera toxins and defensins: A model for predicting the biological activity of novel peptides from venoms and hemolymph. Peptides 2011; 32:1924-33. [PMID: 21855589 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2011] [Revised: 07/29/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
When searching for prospective novel peptides, it is difficult to determine the biological activity of a peptide based only on its sequence. The "trial and error" approach is generally laborious, expensive and time consuming due to the large number of different experimental setups required to cover a reasonable number of biological assays. To simulate a virtual model for Hymenoptera insects, 166 peptides were selected from the venoms and hemolymphs of wasps, bees and ants and applied to a mathematical model of multivariate analysis, with nine different chemometric components: GRAVY, aliphaticity index, number of disulfide bonds, total residues, net charge, pI value, Boman index, percentage of alpha helix, and flexibility prediction. Principal component analysis (PCA) with non-linear iterative projections by alternating least-squares (NIPALS) algorithm was performed, without including any information about the biological activity of the peptides. This analysis permitted the grouping of peptides in a way that strongly correlated to the biological function of the peptides. Six different groupings were observed, which seemed to correspond to the following groups: chemotactic peptides, mastoparans, tachykinins, kinins, antibiotic peptides, and a group of long peptides with one or two disulfide bonds and with biological activities that are not yet clearly defined. The partial overlap between the mastoparans group and the chemotactic peptides, tachykinins, kinins and antibiotic peptides in the PCA score plot may be used to explain the frequent reports in the literature about the multifunctionality of some of these peptides. The mathematical model used in the present investigation can be used to predict the biological activities of novel peptides in this system, and it may also be easily applied to other biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Saidemberg
- Center of Study of Social Insects (CEIS)/Dept. Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
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20
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Baptista-Saidemberg NB, Saidemberg DM, de Souza BM, César-Tognoli LM, Ferreira VM, Mendes MA, dos Santos Cabrera MP, Neto JR, Palma MS. Protonectin (1–6): A novel chemotactic peptide from the venom of the social wasp Agelaia pallipes pallipes. Toxicon 2010; 56:880-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Revised: 06/08/2010] [Accepted: 06/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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21
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Rocha T, Soares de Barros LL, Fontana K, Monson de Souza B, Palma MS, Alice da Cruz-Höfling M. Inflammation and apoptosis induced by mastoparan Polybia-MPII on skeletal muscle. Toxicon 2010; 55:1213-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2009] [Revised: 10/07/2009] [Accepted: 12/03/2009] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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22
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Brigatte P, Cury Y, de Souza BM, Baptista-Saidemberg NB, Saidemberg DM, Gutierrez VP, Palma MS. Hyperalgesic and edematogenic effects of peptides isolated from the venoms of honeybee (Apis mellifera) and neotropical social wasps (Polybia paulista and Protonectarina sylveirae). Amino Acids 2010; 40:101-11. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0512-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 02/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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de Souza BM, Dos Santos Cabrera MP, Neto JR, Palma MS. Investigating the effect of different positioning of lysine residues along the peptide chain of mastoparans for their secondary structures and biological activities. Amino Acids 2010; 40:77-90. [PMID: 20108158 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0481-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 01/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of the different positions of the positive charges generated by the ionization of the side-chain of lysine residues, on the structure-activity relationship of the mastoparans, the peptides Protonectarina-MP (INWKALLDAAKKVL-NH2), Parapolybia-MP (INWKKMAATALKMI-NH2) and Asn-2-Polybia-MP I (INWKKLLDAAKQIL-NH2) and MK-578 (INWLKAKKVAGMIL-NH2) were investigated as models. Thus, the four peptides had their secondary structure studied and were submitted to assays of mast cell degranulation, hemolysis, and antibiosis. The results of the bioassays made clear that those peptides bearing the positive charges positioned at the positions 4/5 and/or from 11 to 13 are the most active ones; meanwhile, the localization of the positive charges in the middle of peptide chain resulted in a poorly active peptide. Thus, Protonectarina-MP, Parapolybia-MP, and Asn-2-Polybia-MP I presented physiologically important hemolysis and antibiosis, while MK-578 presented only a reduced antibiotic activity. Circular dichroism analysis were carried-out in different environments revealing that the anionic environment of a mixture of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol (70:30) liposomes favored the higher helical content of the four peptides in this study in relation to the zwiterionic environment of 100% phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The positioning of the lysine residues at the strategic positions (4/5 and 11-13), flanking and maintaining stable α-helix which extends from the 4th to the 13th residue along the peptide chain, seems to contribute to maximal lytic efficiency of the mastoparans, which in turn results in a more homogeneous hydrophobic surface in the amphipathic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Monson de Souza
- CEIS/Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenue 24-A no 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
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24
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de Souza BM, da Silva AVR, Resende VMF, Arcuri HA, Dos Santos Cabrera MP, Ruggiero Neto J, Palma MS. Characterization of two novel polyfunctional mastoparan peptides from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista. Peptides 2009; 30:1387-95. [PMID: 19463874 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2009.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2009] [Revised: 05/07/2009] [Accepted: 05/07/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Hymenoptera venoms are complex mixtures of biochemically and pharmacologically active components such as biogenic amines, peptides and proteins. Polycationic peptides generally constitute the largest group of Hymenoptera venom toxins, and the mastoparans constitute the most abundant and important class of peptides in the venom of social wasps. These toxins are responsible for histamine release from mast cells, serotonin from platelets, and catecholamines and adenylic acids from adrenal chromafin cells. The present work reports the structural and functional characterization of two novel mastoparan peptides identified from the venom of the neotropical social wasp Polybia paulista. The mastoparans Polybia-MP-II and -III were purified, sequenced and synthesized on solid phase using Fmoc chemistry and the synthetic peptides used for structural and functional characterizations. Polybia-MP-II and -III are tetradecapeptides, amidated at their C-termini, and form amphipathic alpha-helical conformations under membrane-mimetic conditions. Both peptides were polyfunctional, causing pronounced cell lysis of rat mast cells and erythrocytes, in addition to having antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Monson de Souza
- CEIS/Dept. Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
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25
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Rocha T, de Souza BM, Palma MS, da Cruz-Höfling MA, Harris JB. The neurotoxicological effects of mastoparan Polybia-MPII at the murine neuromuscular junction: an ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study. Histochem Cell Biol 2009; 132:395-404. [PMID: 19499241 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-009-0607-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/12/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Polybia-MPII (INWLKLGKMVIDAL-NH2), a mastoparan isolated from the crude venom of the swarming wasp Polybia paulista, was injected into the left hind limb of Swiss white mice. Between 3 h and 21 days later the mice were killed and the soleus muscles from both hind limbs were removed. Sections of the muscles were made for transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. Transmission electron microscopy showed that both the volume fraction occupied by synaptic vesicles and synaptic vesicle density was greatly reduced after exposure to Polybia-MPII, although there was no significant structural damage to the plasma membrane of the terminal boutons and mitochondria were indistinguishable from those in normal, control boutons. Immunocytochemistry revealed that in control muscles 99% of motor end plates identified by the positive labelling of acetylcholine receptors by TRITC-alpha-bungarotoxin co-labelled with anti-synaptophysin antibody, but this figure fell by 30% in muscles exposed to the toxin. These changes were transient. They were maximal at 6 h and fully reversed by 3 days. At no time was axonal labelling with anti-neurofilament antibodies affected by exposure to Polybia-MPII. We conclude that mastoparan Polybia-MPII is a minor neurotoxin and suggest that its neurotoxic activity is unlikely to be of clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalita Rocha
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, PO Box 6109, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil
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26
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Rocha T, Leonardo MB, De Souza BM, Palma MS, Da Cruz-Höfling MA. Mastoparan effects in skeletal muscle damage: An ultrastructural view until now concealed. Microsc Res Tech 2008; 71:220-9. [DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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27
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Murariu M, Dragan ES, Drochioiu G. Synthesis and Mass Spectrometric Characterization of a Metal-Affinity Decapeptide: Copper-Induced Conformational Changes. Biomacromolecules 2007; 8:3836-41. [DOI: 10.1021/bm700793g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Murariu
- “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda 41 A, RO-700487 Iasi, Romania, and Faculty of Chemistry, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, RO-700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ecaterina Stela Dragan
- “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda 41 A, RO-700487 Iasi, Romania, and Faculty of Chemistry, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, RO-700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Gabi Drochioiu
- “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda 41 A, RO-700487 Iasi, Romania, and Faculty of Chemistry, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, RO-700506 Iasi, Romania
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Rocha T, de Souza BM, Palma MS, da Cruz-Höfling MA. Myotoxic effects of mastoparan from Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Epiponini) wasp venom in mice skeletal muscle. Toxicon 2007; 50:589-99. [PMID: 17572466 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2007.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2007] [Revised: 05/02/2007] [Accepted: 05/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In a previous study, we showed that the Polybia paulista wasp venom causes strong myonecrosis. This study was undertaken to characterize the myotoxic potency of mastoparan (Polybia-MPII) isolated from venom (0.25 microg/microl) and injected in the tibial anterior (TA) muscle (i.m.) of Balb/c mice. The time course of the changes was followed at muscle degenerative (3 and 24h) and regenerative (3, 7, and 21 days) periods (n=6) after injection and compared to matched controls by calculation of the percentage of cross-sectional area affected and determination of creatine kinase (CK) activity (n=10). The results showed that although MP was strongly myotoxic, its capacity for regeneration was maintained high. Since the extent of tissue damage was not correlated with the CK serum levels, which remained very low, we raised the hypothesis that the enzyme underwent denaturation by the peptide. Evidence suggested that MP induced the death of TA fibers by necrosis and apoptosis and had the sarcolemma as its primordial target. Given its amphiphilic polycationic nature and based on the vast spectrum of functions attributed to the peptide, we suggest that MP interaction with cell membrane impaired the phosphorylation of dystrophin essential for sarcolemma mechanical stability, and disturbed Ca2+ mobilization with obvious implications on sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalita Rocha
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biology, P.O. Box 6109, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil
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29
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Jia C, Qi W, He Z. Cyclization reaction of peptide fragment ions during multistage collisionally activated decomposition: an inducement to lose internal amino-acid residues. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2007; 18:663-78. [PMID: 17234429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jasms.2006.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2006] [Revised: 12/05/2006] [Accepted: 12/06/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
During characterization of some peptides (linear precursors of the cyclic peptides showing potential to be anticancer drugs) in an ion trap, it was noted that many internal amino acid residues could be lost from singly charged b ions. The phenomenon was not obvious at the first stage of collisionally activated decomposition (CAD), but was apparent at multiple stages of CAD. The unique fragmentation consisting of multiple steps is induced by a cyclization reaction of b ions, the mechanism of which has been probed by experiments of N-acetylation, MS(n), rearranged-ion design, and activation-time adjustment. The fragmentation of synthetic cyclic peptides demonstrates that a cyclic peptide intermediate (CPI) formed by b ion cyclization exhibits the same fragmentation pattern as a protonated cyclic peptide. Although no rules for the cyclization reaction were discerned in the experiments of peptide modification, the fragmentations of a number of b ions indicate that the "Pro and Asn/Gln effects" can influence ring openings of CPIs. In addition, large-scale losses of internal residues from different positions of a-type ions have been observed when pure helium was used as collision gas. The fragmentation is initiated by a cyclization reaction forming an a-type ion CPI. This CPI with a fixed-charge structure cannot be influenced by the "Pro effect", causing a selective ring opening at the amide bond Pro-Xxx rather than Xxx-Pro. With the knowledge of the unique fragmentations leading to internal residue losses, the misidentification of fragments and sequences of peptides may be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Jia
- Chemical Engineering Research Center, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
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30
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Abstract
AbstractTwo heptapeptides have been prepared by Fmoc methodology using Wang resin as solid support. For attachment of the first amino acid, several coupling systems were evaluated, and DIC/DMAP system could give yields of >99% and low levels of racemization. The selection of scavenger combination to deprotect side chains revealed that H2O/p-cresol was good at scavenging trityl and 1,2-ethanedithiol was highly efficient for scavenging t-butyl. Through shortening the preactivation time to 5 min, the racemization which occurred during formation of amide bonds coupled by HBTU was minimized. The crude peptides were characterized by RP-HPLC and MS, and sequenced by MS/MS to acquire reliable amino acid sequence information.
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31
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Favreau P, Menin L, Michalet S, Perret F, Cheneval O, Stöcklin M, Bulet P, Stöcklin R. Mass spectrometry strategies for venom mapping and peptide sequencing from crude venoms: case applications with single arthropod specimen. Toxicon 2006; 47:676-87. [PMID: 16626777 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Due to their complexity and diversity, animal venoms represent an extensive source of bioactive compounds such as peptides and proteins. Conventional approaches for their characterization often require large quantities of biological material. Current mass spectrometry (MS) techniques now give access to a wealth of information in a short working time frame with minute amounts of sample. Such MS approaches may now be used for the discovery of novel compounds, and once their structure has been determined they may be synthesized and tested for functional activity. Molecular mass fingerprints of venoms allow the rapid identification of known toxins as well as preliminary structural characterization of new compounds. De novo peptide sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) offers rapid access to partial or total primary peptide structures. This article, written as a tutorial, also contains new material: molecular mass fingerprint analysis of Orthochirus innesi scorpion venom, and identification of components from bumblebee Bombus lapidarius venom, both collected from one single specimen. The structure of the three major peptides detected in the Bombus venom was fully characterized in one working day by de novo sequencing using an electrospray ionization hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight instrument (ESI-QqTOF) and a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight instrument (MALDI-LIFT-TOF-TOF). After presenting the MS-based sequence elucidation, perspectives in using MS and MS/MS techniques in toxinology are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Favreau
- Atheris Laboratories, Research and Development, Case postale 314, CH-1233 Bernex-Geneva, Switzerland
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32
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Sequencing peptides by electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry: A useful tool in synthesis of Axinastatin 3. OPEN CHEM 2006. [DOI: 10.2478/s11532-006-0028-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAxinastatin 3 as a potential anticancer agent was synthesized by chemical methods. In an electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometer, using one stage of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), the linear peptide intermediate was sequenced via the complementarities of y and b ions. Then, using multistep MS/MS (to MS6), the cyclic peptide was sequenced through sequentially removing one amino acid residue in each stage of MS/MS. The difference of the fragmentation mechanisms and the sequencing approaches between them is discussed.
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34
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Jia C, Qi W, He Z, Qiao B. Multi-stage collisionally-activated decomposition in an ion trap for identification of sequences, structures and bn --> bn-1 fragmentation pathways of protonated cyclic peptides. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (CHICHESTER, ENGLAND) 2006; 12:235-45. [PMID: 17057280 DOI: 10.1255/ejms.815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic penta-, hexa- and heptapeptides have been designed, synthesized and their fragmentations induced by multistage tandem mass spectrometry have been studied. Under low-energy collisionally activated decomposition (CAD), the protonated cyclic peptides mainly dissociate via ring opening pathways and the corresponding bn --> bn-1 pathways to form several sets of b ions as oxazolone rings (and b1 ions as aziridinone rings). Through repeated observation of these b ions in multistep CAD experiments, accurate sequencing and head-to-tail ring structure of cyclic peptides can be determined. The mistaken assignments of these b ions can be avoided by this sequencing method. Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations have been utilized to provide insight into the proposed dissociation mechanism. In addition, for cyclic peptides that include an Asn residue, the nitrogen of the Asn side chain is observed to be preferentially protonated, which can induce a unique ring-opening pathway with a loss of ammonia that competes with the conventional ring opening pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Jia
- Chemical Engineering Research Center, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, People's Republic of China
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35
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Saar K, Lindgren M, Hansen M, Eiríksdóttir E, Jiang Y, Rosenthal-Aizman K, Sassian M, Langel U. Cell-penetrating peptides: A comparative membrane toxicity study. Anal Biochem 2005; 345:55-65. [PMID: 16137634 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2005.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2005] [Revised: 06/22/2005] [Accepted: 07/01/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) constitute a new class of delivery vectors with high pharmaceutical potential. However, the abilities of these peptides to translocate through cell membranes can be accompanied by toxic effects resulting from membrane perturbation at higher peptide concentrations. Therefore, we investigated membrane toxicity of five peptides with well-documented cell-penetrating properties, pAntp(43-58), pTAT(48-60), pVEC(615-632), model amphipathic peptide (MAP), and transportan 10, on two human cancer cell lines, K562 (erythroleukemia) and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer), as well as on immortalized aortic endothelial cells. We studied the effects of these five peptides on the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and on the fluorescence of plasma membrane potentiometric dye bis-oxonol. In all cell lines, pAntp(43-58), pTAT(48-60), and pVEC(615-632) induced either no leakage or low leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, accompanied by modest changes in bis-oxonol fluorescence. MAP and transportan 10 caused significant leakage; in K562 and MDA-MB-231 cells, 40% of total lactate dehydrogenase leaked out during 10 min exposure to 10 microM of transportan 10 and MAP, accompanied by a significant increase in bis-oxonol fluorescence. However, none of the CPPs tested had a hemolytic effect on bovine erythrocytes comparable to mastoparan 7. The toxicity profiles presented in the current study are of importance when selecting CPPs for different applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Külliki Saar
- Department of Neurochemistry and Neurotoxicology, Stockholm University, SE10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
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. MRM, . AOS, . LDO, . EAG, . EBV, . WFD. Comparative Toxic Effects of the Venoms from Three Wasp Species of the Genus Polybia (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2005.449.454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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37
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Mendes MA, de Souza BM, dos Santos LD, Santos KS, Palma MS. Analyzing glycerol-mediated protein oligomerization by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2005; 19:2636-42. [PMID: 16124036 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.2113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Glycerol is widely used as protein stabilizer, in both local and commercial preparations, so it has become necessary to develop methods for mass spectrometric analysis of protein preparations in the presence of glycerol. However, this stabilizing agent may cause signal suppression when present in high concentrations, and is also known to induce protein supercharging even at low concentrations. This work reports the use of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry to characterize glycerol-mediated protein oligomerization. This phenomenon seems to involve the formation of strong non-covalent interactions between protein and glycerol involving close contact between the monomers, leading to formation of protein oligomers adducted with glycerol molecules under the characteristic analytical conditions of the ESI interface. At high orders of oligomerization a lower number of glycerol molecules is required to maintain the high oligomeric states than for the dimers and trimers, and it is possible that for the higher oligomers the monomers become so close to one another that non-covalent bonds between the side chains of the amino acid residues in the proteins may be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anita Mendes
- Department of Biology, CEIS/IBRC, UNESP, Rio Claro, SP, CEP 13506-900, Brazil
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Ribeiro SP, Mendes MA, Dos Santos LD, de Souza BM, Marques MR, de Azevedo WF, Palma MS. Structural and functional characterization of N-terminally blocked peptides isolated from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista. Peptides 2004; 25:2069-78. [PMID: 15572194 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2004.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2004] [Revised: 08/20/2004] [Accepted: 08/24/2004] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Two novel peptides were isolated from the crude venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista, by using RP-HPLC under a gradient of MeCN from 5 to 60% (v/v) and named Polybine-I and -II. Further purification of these peptides under normal phase chromatography, rendered pure enough preparations to be sequenced by Edman degradation chemistry. However, both peptides did not interact with phenylisothiocyanate reagent, suggesting the existence of a chemically blocked N-terminus. Therefore, the sequences of both peptides were assigned by ESI-MS/MS under CID conditions, as follows: Polybine-I Ac-SADLVKKIWDNPAL-NH2 (Mr 1610 Da) and Polybine-II Ac-SVDMVMKGLKIWPL-NH2 (Mr 1657 Da). During the tandem mass spectrometry experiments, a loss of 43 a.m.u. was observed from the N-terminal residue of each peptide, suggesting the acetylation of the N-terminus. Subsequently, the peptides with and without acetylation were synthesized on solid phase and submitted to functional characterizations; the biological activities investigated were: hemolysis, chemotaxis of polymorphonucleated leukocytes (PMNL), mast cell degranulation and antibiosis. The results revealed that the acetylated peptides exhibited more pronounced chemotaxis of PMNL cells and mast cell degranulation than the respective non-acetylated congeners; no hemolytic and antibiotic activities were observed, irrespective to the blockage or not of the alpha-amino groups of the N-terminal residues of each peptide. Therefore, the N-terminal acetylation may be related to the increase of the inflammatory activity of both peptides.
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