1
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Yao J, Hua X, Huo W, Xiao L, Wang Y, Tang Q, Valdivia CR, Valdivia HH, Dong W, Xiao L. The Effect of Acidic Residues on the Binding between Opicalcin1 and Ryanodine Receptor from the Structure-Functional Analysis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2024; 87:104-112. [PMID: 38128916 PMCID: PMC10825818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Calcin is a group ligand with high affinity and specificity for the ryanodine receptors (RyRs). Little is known about the effect of its acidic residues on the spacial structure as well as the interaction with RyRs. We screened the opicalcin1 acidic mutants and investigated the effect of mutation on activity. The results indicated that all acidic mutants maintained the structural features, but their surface charge distribution underwent significant changes. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were used to analyze the interaction between opicalcin1 mutants and RyRs, which demonstrated that all opicalcin1 mutants effectively bound to the channel domain of RyR1. This stable binding induced a pronounced asymmetry in the structure of the RyR tetramer, exhibiting a high degree of structural dissimilarity. [3H]Ryanodine binding to RyR1 was enhanced in D2A and D15A, which was similar to opicalcin1, but that effect was suppressed in E12A and E29A and reversed for the DE-4A, thereby inhibiting ryanodine binding. Opicalcin1 and DE-4A also exhibited the ability to form stable docking structures with RyR2. Acidic residues play a crucial role in the structure of calcin and its functional interaction with RyRs that is beneficial for the calcin optimization to develop more active peptide lead compounds for RyR-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinchi Yao
- School
of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian116081, China
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hua
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Wenjing Huo
- The
305 Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100017, China
| | - Li Xiao
- Department
of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53188, United States
- Department
of Forensic Toxicological Analysis, West China School of Basic Medical
Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan
University, Chengdu 610017, China
| | - Yongfang Wang
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qinglong Tang
- Central
Medical District of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100120, China
| | - Carmen R. Valdivia
- Department
of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53188, United States
| | - Héctor H. Valdivia
- Department
of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53188, United States
| | - Weibing Dong
- School
of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian116081, China
| | - Liang Xiao
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
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2
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Miniproteins in medicinal chemistry. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 71:128806. [PMID: 35660515 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Miniproteins exhibit great potential as scaffolds for drug candidates because of their well-defined structure and good synthetic availability. Because of recently described methodologies for their de novo design, the field of miniproteins is emerging and can provide molecules that effectively bind to problematic targets, i.e., those that have been previously considered to be undruggable. This review describes methodologies for the development of miniprotein scaffolds and for the construction of biologically active miniproteins.
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3
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Montnach J, De Waard S, Nicolas S, Burel S, Osorio N, Zoukimian C, Mantegazza M, Boukaiba R, Béroud R, Partiseti M, Delmas P, Marionneau C, De Waard M. Fluorescent- and tagged-protoxin II peptides: potent markers of the Na v 1.7 channel pain target. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:2632-2650. [PMID: 33742442 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Protoxin II (ProTx II) is a high affinity gating modifier that is thought to selectively block the Nav 1.7 voltage-dependent Na+ channel, a major therapeutic target for the control of pain. We aimed at producing ProTx II analogues entitled with novel functionalities for cell distribution studies and biochemical characterization of its Nav channel targets. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We took advantage of the high affinity properties of the peptide, combined to its slow off rate, to design a number of new tagged analogues useful for imaging and biochemistry purposes. We used high-throughput automated patch-clamp to identify the analogues best matching the native properties of ProTx II and validated them on various Nav -expressing cells in pull-down and cell distribution studies. KEY RESULTS Two of the produced ProTx II analogues, Biot-ProTx II and ATTO488-ProTx II, best emulate the pharmacological properties of unlabelled ProTx II, whereas other analogues remain high affinity blockers of Nav 1.7. The biotinylated version of ProTx II efficiently works for the pull-down of several Nav isoforms tested in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the fluorescent ATTO488-ProTx II specifically labels the Nav 1.7 channel over other Nav isoforms tested in various experimental conditions. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The properties of these ProTx II analogues as tools for Nav channel purification and cell distribution studies pave the way for a better understanding of ProTx II channel receptors in pain and their pathophysiological implications in sensory neuronal processing. The new fluorescent ProTx II should also be useful in the design of new drug screening strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Montnach
- LabEx "Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics", l'institut du thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, Nantes, France
| | - Stephan De Waard
- LabEx "Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics", l'institut du thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, Nantes, France
| | - Sébastien Nicolas
- LabEx "Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics", l'institut du thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, Nantes, France
| | - Sophie Burel
- LabEx "Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics", l'institut du thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, Nantes, France
| | - Nancy Osorio
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, UMR 7291, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | | | - Massimo Mantegazza
- Université Cote d'Azur, CNRS UMR 7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Rachid Boukaiba
- Sanofi R&D, Integrated Drug Discovery - High Content Biology, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | | | - Michel Partiseti
- Sanofi R&D, Integrated Drug Discovery - High Content Biology, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Patrick Delmas
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, UMR 7291, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Céline Marionneau
- LabEx "Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics", l'institut du thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, Nantes, France
| | - Michel De Waard
- LabEx "Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics", l'institut du thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, Nantes, France.,Smartox Biotechnology, Saint-Egrève, France
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4
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Maurocalcin and its analog MCaE12A facilitate Ca2+ mobilization in cardiomyocytes. Biochem J 2020; 477:3985-3999. [PMID: 33034621 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ryanodine receptors are responsible for the massive release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum that triggers heart muscle contraction. Maurocalcin (MCa) is a 33 amino acid peptide toxin known to target skeletal ryanodine receptor. We investigated the effect of MCa and its analog MCaE12A on isolated cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), and showed that they increase RyR2 sensitivity to cytoplasmic calcium concentrations promoting channel opening and decreases its sensitivity to inhibiting calcium concentrations. By measuring intracellular Ca2+ transients, calcium sparks and contraction on cardiomyocytes isolated from adult rats or differentiated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, we demonstrated that MCaE12A passively penetrates cardiomyocytes and promotes the abnormal opening of RyR2. We also investigated the effect of MCaE12A on the pacemaker activity of sinus node cells from different mice lines and showed that, MCaE12A improves pacemaker activity of sinus node cells obtained from mice lacking L-type Cav1.3 channel, or following selective pharmacologic inhibition of calcium influx via Cav1.3. Our results identify MCaE12A as a high-affinity modulator of RyR2 and make it an important tool for RyR2 structure-to-function studies as well as for manipulating Ca2+ homeostasis and dynamic of cardiac cells.
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5
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Crook ZR, Nairn NW, Olson JM. Miniproteins as a Powerful Modality in Drug Development. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:332-346. [PMID: 32014389 PMCID: PMC7197703 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Miniproteins are a diverse group of protein scaffolds characterized by small (1-10 kDa) size, stability, and versatility in drug-like roles. Coming largely from native sources, they have been widely adopted into drug development pipelines. While their structures and capabilities are diverse, the approaches to their utilization share more similarities with each other than with more widely used modalities (e.g., antibodies or small molecules). In this review, we highlight recent advances in miniprotein-based approaches to otherwise poorly addressed clinical needs, including structure-based and functional characterization. We also summarize their unique screening strategies and pharmacology considerations. Through a greater understanding of the unique properties that make them attractive for drug design, miniproteins can be effectively utilized against targets that are intractable by other approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary R Crook
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N., Room D4-100, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Natalie W Nairn
- Blaze Bioscience, Inc, 530 Fairview Ave N., Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James M Olson
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N., Room D4-100, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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6
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Anti-tumoral effect of scorpion peptides: Emerging new cellular targets and signaling pathways. Cell Calcium 2019; 80:160-174. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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7
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Santibáñez-López CE, Kriebel R, Ballesteros JA, Rush N, Witter Z, Williams J, Janies DA, Sharma PP. Integration of phylogenomics and molecular modeling reveals lineage-specific diversification of toxins in scorpions. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5902. [PMID: 30479892 PMCID: PMC6240337 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Scorpions have evolved a variety of toxins with a plethora of biological targets, but characterizing their evolution has been limited by the lack of a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis of scorpion relationships grounded in modern, genome-scale datasets. Disagreements over scorpion higher-level systematics have also incurred challenges to previous interpretations of venom families as ancestral or derived. To redress these gaps, we assessed the phylogenomic relationships of scorpions using the most comprehensive taxonomic sampling to date. We surveyed genomic resources for the incidence of calcins (a type of calcium channel toxin), which were previously known only from 16 scorpion species. Here, we show that calcins are diverse, but phylogenetically restricted only to parvorder Iurida, one of the two basal branches of scorpions. The other branch of scorpions, Buthida, bear the related LKTx toxins (absent in Iurida), but lack calcins entirely. Analysis of sequences and molecular models demonstrates remarkable phylogenetic inertia within both calcins and LKTx genes. These results provide the first synapomorphies (shared derived traits) for the recently redefined clades Buthida and Iurida, constituting the only known case of such traits defined from the morphology of molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ricardo Kriebel
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jesús A. Ballesteros
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nathaniel Rush
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Zachary Witter
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Daniel A. Janies
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Prashant P. Sharma
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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8
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Xiao L, Gurrola GB, Zhang J, Valdivia CR, SanMartin M, Zamudio FZ, Zhang L, Possani LD, Valdivia HH. Structure-function relationships of peptides forming the calcin family of ryanodine receptor ligands. J Gen Physiol 2017; 147:375-94. [PMID: 27114612 PMCID: PMC4845687 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201511499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcins are a novel family of scorpion peptides that bind with high affinity to ryanodine receptors (RyRs) and increase their activity by inducing subconductance states. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the structure-function relationships of the eight calcins known to date, based on their primary sequence, three-dimensional modeling, and functional effects on skeletal RyRs (RyR1). Primary sequence alignment and evolutionary analysis show high similarity among all calcins (≥78.8% identity). Other common characteristics include an inhibitor cysteine knot (ICK) motif stabilized by three pairs of disulfide bridges and a dipole moment (DM) formed by positively charged residues clustering on one side of the molecule and neutral and negatively charged residues segregating on the opposite side. [(3)H]Ryanodine binding assays, used as an index of the open probability of RyRs, reveal that all eight calcins activate RyR1 dose-dependently with Kd values spanning approximately three orders of magnitude and in the following rank order: opicalcin1 > opicalcin2 > vejocalcin > hemicalcin > imperacalcin > hadrucalcin > maurocalcin >> urocalcin. All calcins significantly augment the bell-shaped [Ca(2+)]-[(3)H]ryanodine binding curve with variable effects on the affinity constants for Ca(2+) activation and inactivation. In single channel recordings, calcins induce the appearance of a subconductance state in RyR1 that has a unique fractional value (∼20% to ∼60% of the full conductance state) but bears no relationship to binding affinity, DM, or capacity to stimulate Ca(2+) release. Except for urocalcin, all calcins at 100 nM concentration stimulate Ca(2+) release and deplete Ca(2+) load from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum. The natural variation within the calcin family of peptides offers a diversified set of high-affinity ligands with the capacity to modulate RyRs with high dynamic range and potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Xiao
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China Center for Arrhythmia Research, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Georgina B Gurrola
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62271, México Center for Arrhythmia Research, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Jing Zhang
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Carmen R Valdivia
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Mario SanMartin
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Fernando Z Zamudio
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62271, México Center for Arrhythmia Research, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Liming Zhang
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Lourival D Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62271, México
| | - Héctor H Valdivia
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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9
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Kerkis I, de Brandão Prieto da Silva AR, Pompeia C, Tytgat J, de Sá Junior PL. Toxin bioportides: exploring toxin biological activity and multifunctionality. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:647-661. [PMID: 27554773 PMCID: PMC11107510 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2343-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Toxins have been shown to have many biological functions and to constitute a rich source of drugs and biotechnological tools. We focus on toxins that not only have a specific activity, but also contain residues responsible for transmembrane penetration, which can be considered bioportides-a class of cell-penetrating peptides that are also intrinsically bioactive. Bioportides are potential tools in pharmacology and biotechnology as they help deliver substances and nanoparticles to intracellular targets. Bioportides characterized so far are peptides derived from human proteins, such as cytochrome c (CYCS), calcitonin receptor (camptide), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (nosangiotide). However, toxins are usually disregarded as potential bioportides. In this review, we discuss the inclusion of some toxins and molecules derived thereof as a new class of bioportides based on structure activity relationship, minimization, and biological activity studies. The comparative analysis of the amino acid residue composition of toxin-derived bioportides and their short molecular variants is an innovative analytical strategy which allows us to understand natural toxin multifunctionality in vivo and plan novel pharmacological and biotechnological products. Furthermore, we discuss how many bioportide toxins have a rigid structure with amphiphilic properties important for both cell penetration and bioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Kerkis
- Laboratório de Genética, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Celine Pompeia
- Laboratório de Genética, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Louvain, Belgium
| | - Paulo L de Sá Junior
- Laboratório de Genética, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil.
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10
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In cellulo phosphorylation induces pharmacological reprogramming of maurocalcin, a cell-penetrating venom peptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E2460-8. [PMID: 27071086 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1517342113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The venom peptide maurocalcin (MCa) is atypical among toxins because of its ability to rapidly translocate into cells and potently activate the intracellular calcium channel type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1). Therefore, MCa is potentially subjected to posttranslational modifications within recipient cells. Here, we report that MCa Thr(26) belongs to a consensus PKA phosphorylation site and can be phosphorylated by PKA both in vitro and after cell penetration in cellulo. Unexpectedly, phosphorylation converts MCa from positive to negative RyR1 allosteric modulator. Thr(26) phosphorylation leads to charge neutralization of Arg(24), a residue crucial for MCa agonist activity. The functional effect of Thr(26) phosphorylation is partially mimicked by aspartyl mutation. This represents the first case, to our knowledge, of both ex situ posttranslational modification and pharmacological reprogramming of a small natural cystine-rich peptide by target cells. So far, phosphorylated MCa is the first specific negative allosteric modulator of RyR1, to our knowledge, and represents a lead compound for further development of phosphatase-resistant analogs.
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11
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Perret P, Ahmadi M, Riou L, Bacot S, Pecher J, Poillot C, Broisat A, Ghezzi C, De Waard M. Biodistribution, Stability, and Blood Distribution of the Cell Penetrating Peptide Maurocalcine in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:27730-40. [PMID: 26610471 PMCID: PMC4661912 DOI: 10.3390/ijms161126054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Maurocalcine (MCa) is the first natural cell penetrating peptide to be discovered in animal venom. In addition to the fact that it represents a potent vector for the cell penetration of structurally diverse therapeutic compounds, MCa also displays several distinguishing features that make it a potential peptide of choice for clinical and biotechnological applications. The aim of the present study was to gain new information about the properties of MCa in vivo in order to delineate the future potential applications of this vector. For this purpose, two analogues of this peptide with (Tyr-MCa) and without (Lin-Tyr-MCa) disulfide bridges were synthesized, radiolabeled with 125I, and their in vitro stabilities were first evaluated in mouse blood. The results indicated that 125I-Tyr-MCa was stable in vitro and that the disulfide bridges conferred a competitive advantage for the stability of peptide. Following in vivo injection in mice, 125I-Tyr-MCa targeted peripheral organs with interesting quantitative differences and the main route of peptide elimination was renal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Perret
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Radiopharmaceutiques Biocliniques, INSERM, UMR S1039, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Mitra Ahmadi
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Radiopharmaceutiques Biocliniques, INSERM, UMR S1039, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Laurent Riou
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Radiopharmaceutiques Biocliniques, INSERM, UMR S1039, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Sandrine Bacot
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Radiopharmaceutiques Biocliniques, INSERM, UMR S1039, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Julien Pecher
- Smartox Biotechnologies, Bâtiment Nanobio, 570 rue de la Chimie, 38400 Saint Martin d'Hères, France.
| | - Cathy Poillot
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Science and Therapeutics, LabEx Ion Channels, Grenoble Institute of Neuroscience, INSERM, U836, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Alexis Broisat
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Radiopharmaceutiques Biocliniques, INSERM, UMR S1039, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Catherine Ghezzi
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Radiopharmaceutiques Biocliniques, INSERM, UMR S1039, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Michel De Waard
- Grenoble Alpes University, 38041 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.
- Smartox Biotechnologies, Bâtiment Nanobio, 570 rue de la Chimie, 38400 Saint Martin d'Hères, France.
- Science and Therapeutics, LabEx Ion Channels, Grenoble Institute of Neuroscience, INSERM, U836, 38700 La Tronche, France.
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12
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Aroui S, Dardevet L, Ajmia WB, de Boisvilliers M, Perrin F, Laajimi A, Boumendjel A, Kenani A, Muller JM, De Waard M. A Novel Platinum–Maurocalcine Conjugate Induces Apoptosis of Human Glioblastoma Cells by Acting through the ROS-ERK/AKT-p53 Pathway. Mol Pharm 2015; 12:4336-48. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5b00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Aroui
- Laboratoire
de Biochimie, Unité de recherche UR 12ES08 “Signalisation
Cellulaire et Pathologies”, Faculté de Médecine
de Monastir, Université de Monastir, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Lucie Dardevet
- LabEx
Ion Channels, Science and Therapeutics, INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 09, France
- University Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Wafa Ben Ajmia
- Toxicology-Microbiology
and Environnemental Health Unit (UR11ES70), Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Sfax 3072, Tunisia
| | - Madryssa de Boisvilliers
- Equipe
émergente “Récepteurs, régulations et
cellules tumorales” (2RCT), Université de Poitiers, 1 rue Georges
Bonnet, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France
| | - Florian Perrin
- Equipe
émergente “Récepteurs, régulations et
cellules tumorales” (2RCT), Université de Poitiers, 1 rue Georges
Bonnet, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France
| | - Amel Laajimi
- Laboratoire
de Biochimie, Unité de recherche UR 12ES08 “Signalisation
Cellulaire et Pathologies”, Faculté de Médecine
de Monastir, Université de Monastir, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Ahcène Boumendjel
- University Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
- CNRS
5063, Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire, Université Joseph Fourier, 38400 Saint-Martin d’Hères, France
| | - Abderraouf Kenani
- Laboratoire
de Biochimie, Unité de recherche UR 12ES08 “Signalisation
Cellulaire et Pathologies”, Faculté de Médecine
de Monastir, Université de Monastir, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Jean Marc Muller
- Equipe
émergente “Récepteurs, régulations et
cellules tumorales” (2RCT), Université de Poitiers, 1 rue Georges
Bonnet, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France
| | - Michel De Waard
- LabEx
Ion Channels, Science and Therapeutics, INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 09, France
- University Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Smartox Biotechnology, 570 Rue
de la Chimie, 38400 Saint-Martin d’Hères, France
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13
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Quantitative evaluation of the cell penetrating properties of an iodinated Tyr-L-maurocalcine analog. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2014; 1843:2356-64. [PMID: 24667409 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2014.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
L-Maurocalcine (L-MCa) is the first reported animal cell-penetrating toxin. Characterizing its cell penetration properties is crucial considering its potential as a vector for the intracellular delivery of drugs. Radiolabeling is a sensitive and quantitative method to follow the cell accumulation of a molecule of interest. An L-MCa analog containing an additional N-terminal tyrosine residue (Tyr-L-MCa) was synthesized, shown to fold and oxidize properly, and successfully radioiodinated to (125)I-Tyr-L-MCa. Using various microscopy techniques, the average volume of the rat line F98 glioma cells was evaluated at 8.9 to 18.9×10(-7)μl. (125)I-Tyr-L-MCa accumulates within cells with a dose-dependency similar to the one previously published using 5,6-carboxyfluorescein-L-MCa. According to subcellular fractionation of F98 cells, plasma membranes keep less than 3% of the peptide, regardless of the extracellular concentration, while the nucleus accumulates over 75% and the cytosol around 20% of the radioactive material. Taking into account both nuclear and cytosolic fractions, cells accumulate intracellular concentrations of the peptide that are equal to the extracellular concentrations. Estimation of (125)I-Tyr-L-MCa cell entry kinetics indicate a first rapid phase with a 5min time constant for the plasma membrane followed by slower processes for the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Once inside cells, the labeled material no longer escapes from the intracellular environment since 90% of the radioactivity remains 24h after washout. Dead cells were found to have a lower uptake than live ones. The quantitative information gained herein will be useful for better framing the use of L-MCa in biotechnological applications. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium Signaling in Health and Disease. Guest Editors: Geert Bultynck, Jacques Haiech, Claus W. Heizmann, Joachim Krebs, and Marc Moreau.
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14
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Quintero-Hernández V, Jiménez-Vargas J, Gurrola G, Valdivia H, Possani L. Scorpion venom components that affect ion-channels function. Toxicon 2013; 76:328-42. [PMID: 23891887 PMCID: PMC4089097 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The number and types of venom components that affect ion-channel function are reviewed. These are the most important venom components responsible for human intoxication, deserving medical attention, often requiring the use of specific anti-venoms. Special emphasis is given to peptides that recognize Na(+)-, K(+)- and Ca(++)-channels of excitable cells. Knowledge generated by direct isolation of peptides from venom and components deduced from cloned genes, whose amino acid sequences are deposited into databanks are nowadays in the order of 1.5 thousands, out of an estimate biodiversity closed to 300,000. Here the diversity of components is briefly reviewed with mention to specific references. Structural characteristic are discussed with examples taken from published work. The principal mechanisms of action of the three different types of peptides are also reviewed. Na(+)-channel specific venom components usually are modifier of the open and closing kinetic mechanisms of the ion-channels, whereas peptides affecting K(+)-channels are normally pore blocking agents. The Ryanodine Ca(++)-channel specific peptides are known for causing sub-conducting stages of the channels conductance and some were shown to be able to internalize penetrating inside the muscle cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Quintero-Hernández
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico
| | - J.M. Jiménez-Vargas
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico
| | - G.B. Gurrola
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico
- Cardiovascular Center 2139, Michigan University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5644, U.S.A
| | - H.H.F. Valdivia
- Cardiovascular Center 2139, Michigan University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5644, U.S.A
| | - L.D. Possani
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico
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15
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Hmed B, Serria HT, Mounir ZK. Scorpion peptides: potential use for new drug development. J Toxicol 2013; 2013:958797. [PMID: 23843786 PMCID: PMC3697785 DOI: 10.1155/2013/958797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2013] [Revised: 05/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several peptides contained in scorpion fluids showed diverse array of biological activities with high specificities to their targeted sites. Many investigations outlined their potent effects against microbes and showed their potential to modulate various biological mechanisms that are involved in immune, nervous, cardiovascular, and neoplastic diseases. Because of their important structural and functional diversity, it is projected that scorpion-derived peptides could be used to develop new specific drugs. This review summarizes relevant findings improving their use as valuable tools for new drugs development.
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Affiliation(s)
- BenNasr Hmed
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty of Sfax, Street of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Hammami Turky Serria
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty of Sfax, Street of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Zeghal Khaled Mounir
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty of Sfax, Street of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
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16
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Multiple actions of phi-LITX-Lw1a on ryanodine receptors reveal a functional link between scorpion DDH and ICK toxins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:8906-11. [PMID: 23671114 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1214062110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently reported the isolation of a scorpion toxin named U1-liotoxin-Lw1a (U1-LITX-Lw1a) that adopts an unusual 3D fold termed the disulfide-directed hairpin (DDH) motif, which is the proposed evolutionary structural precursor of the three-disulfide-containing inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) motif found widely in animals and plants. Here we reveal that U1-LITX-Lw1a targets and activates the mammalian ryanodine receptor intracellular calcium release channel (RyR) with high (fM) potency and provides a functional link between DDH and ICK scorpion toxins. Moreover, U1-LITX-Lw1a, now described as ϕ-liotoxin-Lw1a (ϕ-LITX-Lw1a), has a similar mode of action on RyRs as scorpion calcines, although with significantly greater potency, inducing full channel openings at lower (fM) toxin concentrations whereas at higher pM concentrations increasing the frequency and duration of channel openings to a submaximal state. In addition, we show that the C-terminal residue of ϕ-LITX-Lw1a is crucial for the increase in full receptor openings but not for the increase in receptor subconductance opening, thereby supporting the two-binding-site hypothesis of scorpion toxins on RyRs. ϕ-LITX-Lw1a has potential both as a pharmacological tool and as a lead molecule for the treatment of human diseases that involve RyRs, such as malignant hyperthermia and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
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17
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Cell penetration properties of a highly efficient mini maurocalcine Peptide. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2013; 6:320-39. [PMID: 24276021 PMCID: PMC3816693 DOI: 10.3390/ph6030320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2013] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maurocalcine is a highly potent cell-penetrating peptide isolated from the Tunisian scorpion Maurus palmatus. Many cell-penetrating peptide analogues have been derived from the full-length maurocalcine by internal cysteine substitutions and sequence truncation. Herein we have further characterized the cell-penetrating properties of one such peptide, MCaUF1-9, whose sequence matches that of the hydrophobic face of maurocalcine. This peptide shows very favorable cell-penetration efficacy compared to Tat, penetratin or polyarginine. The peptide appears so specialized in cell penetration that it seems hard to improve by site directed mutagenesis. A comparative analysis of the efficacies of similar peptides isolated from other toxin members of the same family leads to the identification of hadrucalcin’s hydrophobic face as an even better CPP. Protonation of the histidine residue at position 6 renders the cell penetration of MCaUF1-9 pH-sensitive. Greater cell penetration at acidic pH suggests that MCaUF1-9 can be used to specifically target cancer cells in vivo where tumor masses grow in more acidic environments.
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18
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Poillot C, Bichraoui H, Tisseyre C, Bahemberae E, Andreotti N, Sabatier JM, Ronjat M, De Waard M. Small efficient cell-penetrating peptides derived from scorpion toxin maurocalcine. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:17331-17342. [PMID: 22433862 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.360628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Maurocalcine is the first demonstrated example of an animal toxin peptide with efficient cell penetration properties. Although it is a highly competitive cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), its relatively large size of 33 amino acids and the presence of three internal disulfide bridges may hamper its development for in vitro and in vivo applications. Here, we demonstrate that several efficient CPPs can be derived from maurocalcine by replacing Cys residues by isosteric 2-aminobutyric acid residues and sequence truncation down to peptides of up to 9 residues in length. A surprising finding is that all of the truncated maurocalcine analogues possessed cell penetration properties, indicating that the maurocalcine is a highly specialized CPP. Careful examination of the cell penetration properties of the truncated analogues indicates that several maurocalcine-derived peptides should be of great interest for cell delivery applications where peptide size matters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Poillot
- INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, Site Santé La Tronche, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Université Joseph Fourier, 38041 Grenoble, France
| | - Hicham Bichraoui
- INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, Site Santé La Tronche, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Université Joseph Fourier, 38041 Grenoble, France
| | - Céline Tisseyre
- INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, Site Santé La Tronche, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Université Joseph Fourier, 38041 Grenoble, France
| | - Eloi Bahemberae
- INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, Site Santé La Tronche, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Université Joseph Fourier, 38041 Grenoble, France
| | | | | | - Michel Ronjat
- INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, Site Santé La Tronche, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Université Joseph Fourier, 38041 Grenoble, France
| | - Michel De Waard
- INSERM U836, Grenoble Neuroscience Institute, Site Santé La Tronche, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Université Joseph Fourier, 38041 Grenoble, France; Smartox Biotechnologies, Biopolis, 5 Avenue du Grand Sablon, 38700 La Tronche, France.
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19
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Cascales L, Henriques ST, Kerr MC, Huang YH, Sweet MJ, Daly NL, Craik DJ. Identification and characterization of a new family of cell-penetrating peptides: cyclic cell-penetrating peptides. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:36932-43. [PMID: 21873420 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.264424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides can translocate across the plasma membrane of living cells and thus are potentially useful agents in drug delivery applications. Disulfide-rich cyclic peptides also have promise in drug design because of their exceptional stability, but to date only one cyclic peptide has been reported to penetrate cells, the Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor II (MCoTI-II). MCoTI-II belongs to the cyclotide family of plant-derived cyclic peptides that are characterized by a cyclic cystine knot motif. Previous studies in fixed cells showed that MCoTI-II could penetrate cells but kalata B1, a prototypic cyclotide from a separate subfamily of cyclotides, was bound to the plasma membrane and did not translocate into cells. Here, we show by live cell imaging that both MCoTI-II and kalata B1 can enter cells. Kalata B1 has the same cyclic cystine knot structural motif as MCoTI-II but differs significantly in sequence, and the mechanism by which these two peptides enter cells also differs. MCoTI-II appears to enter via macropinocytosis, presumably mediated by interaction of positively charged residues with phosphoinositides in the cell membrane, whereas kalata B1 interacts directly with the membrane by targeting phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipids, probably leading to membrane bending and vesicle formation. We also show that another plant-derived cyclic peptide, SFTI-1, can penetrate cells. SFTI-1 includes just 14 amino acids and, with the exception of its cyclic backbone, is structurally very different from the cyclotides, which are twice the size. Intriguingly, SFTI-1 does not interact with any of the phospholipids tested, and its mechanism of penetration appears to be distinct from MCoTI-II and kalata B1. The ability of diverse disulfide-rich cyclic peptides to penetrate cells enhances their potential in drug design, and we propose a new classification for them, i.e. cyclic cell-penetrating peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cascales
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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20
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Smith JJ, Hill JM, Little MJ, Nicholson GM, King GF, Alewood PF. Unique scorpion toxin with a putative ancestral fold provides insight into evolution of the inhibitor cystine knot motif. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:10478-83. [PMID: 21670253 PMCID: PMC3127888 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1103501108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The three-disulfide inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) motif is a fold common to venom peptides from spiders, scorpions, and aquatic cone snails. Over a decade ago it was proposed that the ICK motif is an elaboration of an ancestral two-disulfide fold coined the disulfide-directed β-hairpin (DDH). Here we report the isolation, characterization, and structure of a novel toxin [U(1)-liotoxin-Lw1a (U(1)-LITX-Lw1a)] from the venom of the scorpion Liocheles waigiensis that is the first example of a native peptide that adopts the DDH fold. U(1)-LITX-Lw1a not only represents the discovery of a missing link in venom protein evolution, it is the first member of a fourth structural fold to be adopted by scorpion-venom peptides. Additionally, we show that U(1)-LITX-Lw1a has potent insecticidal activity across a broad range of insect pest species, thereby providing a unique structural scaffold for bioinsecticide development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justine M. Hill
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia; and
| | - Michelle J. Little
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Graham M. Nicholson
- Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney NSW 2007, Australia
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21
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Poillot C, Dridi K, Bichraoui H, Pêcher J, Alphonse S, Douzi B, Ronjat M, Darbon H, De Waard M. D-Maurocalcine, a pharmacologically inert efficient cell-penetrating peptide analogue. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:34168-80. [PMID: 20610396 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.104919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Maurocalcine has been the first demonstrated animal toxin acting as a cell-penetrating peptide. Although it possesses competitive advantages, its use as a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) requires that analogues be developed that lack its characteristic pharmacological activity on ryanodine-sensitive calcium channels without affecting its cell-penetrating and vector efficiencies. Here, we present the synthesis, three-dimensional (1)H NMR structure, and activity of D-maurocalcine. We demonstrate that it possesses all of the desired features for an excellent CPP: preserved structure, lack of pharmacological action, conserved vector properties, and absence of cell toxicity. This is the first report of a folded/oxidized animal toxin in its D-diastereomer conformation for use as a CPP. The protease resistance of this new peptide analogue, combined with its efficient cell penetration at concentrations devoid of cell toxicity, suggests that D-maurocalcine should be an excellent vector for in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Poillot
- Grenoble Institute of Neuroscience, INSERM U836, Site Santé de la Tronche, Bâtiment Edmond J Safra, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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22
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Trimaille T, Mabrouk K, Monnier V, Charles L, Bertin D, Gigmes D. SG1-Functionalized Peptides as Precursors for Polymer−Peptide Conjugates: A Straightforward Approach. Macromolecules 2010. [DOI: 10.1021/ma100598d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Trimaille
- Laboratoire Chimie Provence, Chimie Radicalaire Organique et Polymères de Spécialité, UMR 6264
| | - Kamel Mabrouk
- Laboratoire Chimie Provence, Chimie Radicalaire Organique et Polymères de Spécialité, UMR 6264
| | | | - Laurence Charles
- Laboratoire Chimie Provence, Spectrométries Appliquées à la Chimie Structurale, UMR 6264
| | - Denis Bertin
- Laboratoire Chimie Provence, Chimie Radicalaire Organique et Polymères de Spécialité, UMR 6264
| | - Didier Gigmes
- Laboratoire Chimie Provence, Chimie Radicalaire Organique et Polymères de Spécialité, UMR 6264
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23
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Jayagopal A, Su YR, Blakemore JL, Linton MF, Fazio S, Haselton FR. Quantum dot mediated imaging of atherosclerosis. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2009; 20:165102. [PMID: 19420562 PMCID: PMC2718756 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/16/165102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The progression of atherosclerosis is associated with leukocyte infiltration within lesions. We describe a technique for the ex vivo imaging of cellular recruitment in atherogenesis which utilizes quantum dots (QD) to color-code different cell types within lesion areas. Spectrally distinct QD were coated with the cell-penetrating peptide maurocalcine to fluorescently-label immunomagnetically isolated monocyte/macrophages and T lymphocytes. QD-maurocalcine bioconjugates labeled both cell types with a high efficiency, preserved cell viability, and did not perturb native leukocyte function in cytokine release and endothelial adhesion assays. QD-labeled monocyte/macrophages and T lymphocytes were reinfused in an ApoE(-/-) mouse model of atherosclerosis and age-matched controls and tracked for up to four weeks to investigate the incorporation of cells within aortic lesion areas, as determined by oil red O (ORO) and immunofluorescence ex vivo staining. QD-labeled cells were visible in atherosclerotic plaques within two days of injection, and the two cell types colocalized within areas of subsequent ORO staining. Our method for tracking leukocytes in lesions enables high signal-to-noise ratio imaging of multiple cell types and biomarkers simultaneously within the same specimen. It also has great utility in studies aimed at investigating the role of distinct circulating leukocyte subsets in plaque development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwath Jayagopal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Yan Ru Su
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - John L Blakemore
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - MacRae F Linton
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Sergio Fazio
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Frederick R Haselton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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24
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Schwartz EF, Capes EM, Diego-García E, Zamudio FZ, Fuentes O, Possani LD, Valdivia HH. Characterization of hadrucalcin, a peptide from Hadrurus gertschi scorpion venom with pharmacological activity on ryanodine receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2009; 157:392-403. [PMID: 19389159 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00147.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Members of the calcin family, presently including imperatoxin A, maurocalcin, opicalcins and hemicalcin, are basic, 33-mer peptide activators of ryanodine receptors (RyRs), the calcium channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) that provide the majority of calcium for muscle contraction. Here we describe hadrucalcin, a novel member of this family. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Hadrucalcin was isolated from the venom of Hadrurus gertschi. Amino acid sequence and mass were determined by Edman degradation and mass spectrometry respectively. A cDNA library was constructed to generate clones for DNA sequence determination. Biological activity of native toxin was confirmed with [(3)H]ryanodine binding, by using SR vesicles from cardiac and skeletal muscle, and with single skeletal (RyR1) and cardiac (RyR2) channels reconstituted in lipid bilayers. Hadrucalcin was applied to intact ventricular myocytes to investigate effects on calcium transients. The secondary structure of hadrucalcin was computer-modelled by using atomic coordinates from maurocalcin, a structurally similar peptide. KEY RESULTS Hadrucalcin is distinguished from previously described congeners by two additional amino acids in its primary sequence and the lack of prominent amphipathicity. Hadrucalcin activated RyRs with high affinity (EC(50)= 37 nmol.L(-1)), induced a long-lasting subconductance state on RyR1 and RyR2, and rapidly (lag time approximately 2 s) penetrated ventricular cardiomyocytes, eliciting discharge of internal calcium stores and spontaneous contractions. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Hadrucalcin is a cell-permeant, powerful activator of RyRs, which has translational potential for targeted delivery of drugs to RyR as novel therapeutic intervention in arrhythmogenic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth F Schwartz
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
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25
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Aroui S, Ram N, Appaix F, Ronjat M, Kenani A, Pirollet F, De Waard M. Maurocalcine as a non toxic drug carrier overcomes doxorubicin resistance in the cancer cell line MDA-MB 231. Pharm Res 2008; 26:836-45. [PMID: 19083085 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-008-9782-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2008] [Accepted: 11/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study is to overcome tumour cell resistance that generally develops after administration of commonly used anti-cancer drugs, such as doxorubicin. METHODS Recently, cell penetrating peptides have been used for their ability to deliver non-permeant compounds into cells. One such cell penetrating peptide, maurocalcine, has been isolated from the venom of a Tunisian scorpion. Herein, we report the effects of doxorubicin covalently coupled to an analogue of maurocalcine on drug-sensitive or drug-resistant cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB 231. RESULTS We demonstrated the in vitro anti-tumoral efficacy of the doxorubicin maurocalcine conjugate. On a doxorubicin-sensitive cancer cell line, the maurocalcine-conjugated form appears slightly less efficient than doxorubicin itself. On the contrary, on a doxorubicin-resistant cancer cell line, doxorubicin coupling allows to overcome the drug resistance. This strategy can be generalized to other cell penetrating peptides since Tat and penetratin show similar effects. CONCLUSION We conclude that coupling anti-tumoral drugs to cell penetrating peptides represent a valuable strategy to overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Aroui
- INSERM, U836, Calcium Channels, Functions and Pathologies, BP 170, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38042, France
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26
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Ram N, Weiss N, Texier-Nogues I, Aroui S, Andreotti N, Pirollet F, Ronjat M, Sabatier JM, Darbon H, Jacquemond V, De Waard M. Design of a disulfide-less, pharmacologically inert, and chemically competent analog of maurocalcine for the efficient transport of impermeant compounds into cells. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:27048-56. [PMID: 18621738 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m804727200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Maurocalcine is a 33-mer peptide initially isolated from the venom of a Tunisian scorpion. It has proved itself valuable as a pharmacological activator of the ryanodine receptor and has helped the understanding of the molecular basis underlying excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscles. Because of its positively charged nature, it is also an innovative vector for the cell penetration of various compounds. We report a novel maurocalcine analog with improved properties: (i) the complete loss of pharmacological activity, (ii) preservation of the potent ability to carry cargo molecules into cells, and (iii) coupling chemistries not affected by the presence of internal cysteine residues of maurocalcine. We did this by replacing the six internal cysteine residues of maurocalcine by isosteric 2-aminobutyric acid residues and by adding an additional N-terminal biotinylated lysine (for a proof of concept analog) or an N-terminal cysteine residue (for a chemically competent coupling analogue). Additional replacement of a glutamate residue by alanyl at position 12 further improves the potency of these analogues. Coupling to several cargo molecules or nanoparticles are presented to illustrate the cell penetration potency and usefulness of these pharmacologically inactive analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra Ram
- Research Group 3 Calcium Channels, Functions, and Pathologies, Unité Inserm 836, Grenoble Institute of Neuroscience, Université Joseph Fourier, Site Santé, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 09, France
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Ram N, Aroui S, Jaumain E, Bichraoui H, Mabrouk K, Ronjat M, Lortat-Jacob H, De Waard M. Direct peptide interaction with surface glycosaminoglycans contributes to the cell penetration of maurocalcine. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:24274-84. [PMID: 18603532 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m709971200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Maurocalcine (MCa), initially identified from a Tunisian scorpion venom, defines a new member of the family of cell penetrating peptides by its ability to efficiently cross the plasma membrane. The initiating mechanistic step required for the cell translocation of a cell penetrating peptide implicates its binding onto cell surface components such as membrane lipids and/or heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Here we characterized the interaction of wild-type MCa and MCa K20A, a mutant analogue with reduced cell-penetration efficiency, with heparin (HP) and heparan sulfates (HS) through surface plasma resonance. HP and HS bind both to MCa, indicating that heparan sulfate proteoglycans may represent an important entry route of the peptide. This is confirmed by the fact that (i) both compounds bind with reduced affinity to MCa K20A and (ii) the cell penetration of wild-type or mutant MCa coupled to fluorescent streptavidin is reduced by about 50% in mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell lines lacking either all glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or just HS. Incubating MCa with soluble HS, HP, or chondroitin sulfates also inhibits the cell penetration of MCa-streptavidin complexes. Analyses of the cell distributions of MCa/streptavidin in several Chinese hamster ovary cell lines show that the distribution of the complex coincides with the endosomal marker Lyso-Tracker red and is not affected by the absence of GAGs. The distribution of MCa/streptavidin is not coincident with that of transferrin receptors nor affected by a dominant-negative dynamin 2 K44A mutant, an inhibitor of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. However, entry of the complex is greatly diminished by amiloride, indicating the importance of macropinocytosis in MCa/streptavidin entry. It is concluded that (i) interaction of MCa with GAGs quantitatively improves the cell penetration of MCa, and (ii) GAG-dependent and -independent MCa penetration rely similarly on the macropinocytosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra Ram
- INSERM U836, Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences, Research Group 3, Calcium Channels, Functions, and Pathologies Laboratory, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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