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Ratibou Z, Inguimbert N, Dutertre S. Predatory and Defensive Strategies in Cone Snails. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:94. [PMID: 38393171 PMCID: PMC10892987 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16020094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cone snails are carnivorous marine animals that prey on fish (piscivorous), worms (vermivorous), or other mollusks (molluscivorous). They produce a complex venom mostly made of disulfide-rich conotoxins and conopeptides in a compartmentalized venom gland. The pharmacology of cone snail venom has been increasingly investigated over more than half a century. The rising interest in cone snails was initiated by the surprising high human lethality rate caused by the defensive stings of some species. Although a vast amount of information has been uncovered on their venom composition, pharmacological targets, and mode of action of conotoxins, the venom-ecology relationships are still poorly understood for many lineages. This is especially important given the relatively recent discovery that some species can use different venoms to achieve rapid prey capture and efficient deterrence of aggressors. Indeed, via an unknown mechanism, only a selected subset of conotoxins is injected depending on the intended purpose. Some of these remarkable venom variations have been characterized, often using a combination of mass spectrometry and transcriptomic methods. In this review, we present the current knowledge on such specific predatory and defensive venoms gathered from sixteen different cone snail species that belong to eight subgenera: Pionoconus, Chelyconus, Gastridium, Cylinder, Conus, Stephanoconus, Rhizoconus, and Vituliconus. Further studies are needed to help close the gap in our understanding of the evolved ecological roles of many cone snail venom peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahrmina Ratibou
- CRIOBE, UAR CNRS-EPHE-UPVD 3278, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan, France;
| | - Nicolas Inguimbert
- CRIOBE, UAR CNRS-EPHE-UPVD 3278, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan, France;
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Delvaux C, Massonnet P, Kune C, Haler JRN, Upert G, Mourier G, Gilles N, Quinton L, De Pauw E, Far J. Combination of Capillary Zone Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry, Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry, and Theoretical Calculations for Cysteine Connectivity Identification in Peptides Bearing Two Intramolecular Disulfide Bonds. Anal Chem 2020; 92:2425-2434. [PMID: 31885261 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide bonds between cysteine residues are commonly involved in the stability of numerous peptides and proteins and are crucial for providing biological activities. In such peptides, the appropriate cysteine connectivity ensures the proper conformation allowing an efficient binding to their molecular targets. Disulfide bond connectivity characterization is still challenging and is a critical issue in the analysis of structured peptides/proteins targeting pharmaceutical or pharmacological utilizations. This study describes the development of new and fast gas-phase and in-solution electrophoretic methods coupled to mass spectrometry to characterize the cysteine connectivity of disulfide bonds. For this purpose, disulfide isomers of three peptides bearing two intramolecular disulfide bonds but different cysteine connectivity have been investigated. Capillary zone electrophoresis and ion mobility both coupled to mass spectrometry were used to perform the separation in both aqueous and gas phases, respectively. The separation efficiency of each technique has been critically evaluated and compared. Finally, theoretical calculations were performed to support and explain the experimental data based on the predicted physicochemical properties of the different peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Delvaux
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Quartier Agora , University of Liège , Allée du Six Août 11 , B-4000 Liège , Belgium
| | - Philippe Massonnet
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Quartier Agora , University of Liège , Allée du Six Août 11 , B-4000 Liège , Belgium.,Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging (M4I) Institute , Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry , Maastricht , Limburg , Netherlands
| | - Christopher Kune
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Quartier Agora , University of Liège , Allée du Six Août 11 , B-4000 Liège , Belgium
| | - Jean R N Haler
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Quartier Agora , University of Liège , Allée du Six Août 11 , B-4000 Liège , Belgium.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Florida International University , Miami , Florida 33199 , United States
| | - Gregory Upert
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique , DRF/Institut Joliot/SIMOPRO, Université Paris Sud , 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette , France
| | - Gilles Mourier
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique , DRF/Institut Joliot/SIMOPRO, Université Paris Sud , 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette , France
| | - Nicolas Gilles
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique , DRF/Institut Joliot/SIMOPRO, Université Paris Sud , 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette , France
| | - Loïc Quinton
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Quartier Agora , University of Liège , Allée du Six Août 11 , B-4000 Liège , Belgium
| | - Edwin De Pauw
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Quartier Agora , University of Liège , Allée du Six Août 11 , B-4000 Liège , Belgium
| | - Johann Far
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Quartier Agora , University of Liège , Allée du Six Août 11 , B-4000 Liège , Belgium
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Yu S, Du T, Liu Z, Wu Q, Feng G, Dong M, Zhou X, Jiang L, Dai Q. Im10A, a short conopeptide isolated from Conus imperialis and possesses two highly concentrated disulfide bridges and analgesic activity. Peptides 2016; 81:15-20. [PMID: 27131596 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we isolated, synthesized and NMR structurally characterized a novel conopeptide Im10A consisting of 11 amino acids (NTICCEGCMCY-NH2) from Conus imperialis. Unlike other conopeptides with four cysteine residues, Im10A had only two residues in loop 1 and one residue in loop 2 (CC-loop1-C-loop2-C), which formed a stable disulfide connectivity "I-IV, II- III" (framework X) with a type I β-turn. Interestingly, Im10A exhibited 50.7% analgesic activity on rat partial sciatic nerve ligation (PNL) at 2h after Im10A administration. However, 10μM Im10A exhibited no apparent effect on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and it did not target DRG voltage-dependent sodium, potassium and calcium ion channels and opioid receptor. To our knowledge, Im10A had the most concentrated disulfide bridges among conopeptides with four cysteine residues. This finding provided a new motif for the future development of biomimetic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 10071, PR China
| | - Tianpeng Du
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, State Key laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Zhuguo Liu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 10071, PR China
| | - Qiaoling Wu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 10071, PR China
| | - Guixue Feng
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 10071, PR China
| | - Mingxin Dong
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 10071, PR China
| | - Xiaowei Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 10071, PR China
| | - Ling Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, State Key laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan 430071, PR China.
| | - Qiuyun Dai
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 10071, PR China.
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Dutertre S, Jin AH, Kaas Q, Jones A, Alewood PF, Lewis RJ. Deep venomics reveals the mechanism for expanded peptide diversity in cone snail venom. Mol Cell Proteomics 2012; 12:312-29. [PMID: 23152539 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m112.021469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cone snails produce highly complex venom comprising mostly small biologically active peptides known as conotoxins or conopeptides. Early estimates that suggested 50-200 venom peptides are produced per species have been recently increased at least 10-fold using advanced mass spectrometry. To uncover the mechanism(s) responsible for generating this impressive diversity, we used an integrated approach combining second-generation transcriptome sequencing with high sensitivity proteomics. From the venom gland transcriptome of Conus marmoreus, a total of 105 conopeptide precursor sequences from 13 gene superfamilies were identified. Over 60% of these precursors belonged to the three gene superfamilies O1, T, and M, consistent with their high levels of expression, which suggests these conotoxins play an important role in prey capture and/or defense. Seven gene superfamilies not previously identified in C. marmoreus, including five novel superfamilies, were also discovered. To confirm the expression of toxins identified at the transcript level, the injected venom of C. marmoreus was comprehensively analyzed by mass spectrometry, revealing 2710 and 3172 peptides using MALDI and ESI-MS, respectively, and 6254 peptides using an ESI-MS TripleTOF 5600 instrument. All conopeptides derived from transcriptomic sequences could be matched to masses obtained on the TripleTOF within 100 ppm accuracy, with 66 (63%) providing MS/MS coverage that unambiguously confirmed these matches. Comprehensive integration of transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed for the first time that the vast majority of the conopeptide diversity arises from a more limited set of genes through a process of variable peptide processing, which generates conopeptides with alternative cleavage sites, heterogeneous post-translational modifications, and highly variable N- and C-terminal truncations. Variable peptide processing is expected to contribute to the evolution of venoms, and explains how a limited set of ∼ 100 gene transcripts can generate thousands of conopeptides in a single species of cone snail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Dutertre
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Peng C, Chen W, Sanders T, Chew G, Liu J, Hawrot E, Chi C. Chemical synthesis and characterization of two α4/7-conotoxins. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2010; 42:745-53. [PMID: 20801929 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmq074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Conotoxins are small disulfide-constrained peptides that act as potent and selective antagonists on specific subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). We previously cloned two α-conotoxins, Mr1.1 from the molluscivorous Conus marmoreus and Lp1.4 from the vermivorous Conus leopardus. Both of them have the typical 4/7-type framework of the subfamily of α-conotoxins that act on neuronal nAChRs. In this work, we chemically synthesized these two toxins and characterized their functional properties. The synthetic Mr1.1 could primarily inhibit acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked currents reversibly in the oocyte-expressed rat α7 nAChR, whereas Lp1.4 was an unexpected specific blocker of the mouse fetal muscle α1β1γδ receptor. Although their inhibition affinities were relatively low, their unique receptor recognition profiles make them valuable tools for toxin-receptor interaction studies. Mr1.1 could also suppress the inflammatory response to pain in vivo, suggesting that it should be further investigated with respect to its molecular role in analgesia and its mechanism or therapeutic target for the treatment of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Peng
- Institute of Protein Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Gupta K, Kumar M, Balaram P. Disulfide Bond Assignments by Mass Spectrometry of Native Natural Peptides: Cysteine Pairing in Disulfide Bonded Conotoxins. Anal Chem 2010; 82:8313-9. [DOI: 10.1021/ac101867e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kallol Gupta
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India, and National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore-560065, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India, and National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore-560065, India
| | - Padmanabhan Balaram
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India, and National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore-560065, India
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Liu Z, Yu Z, Liu N, Zhao C, Hu J, Dai Q. cDNA cloning of conotoxins with framework XII from several Conus species. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2010; 42:656-61. [PMID: 20732855 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmq066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In our efforts for cloning novel I(2)-superfamily conotoxins using the signal peptide sequence, we identified a novel conotoxin Lt12.4 from Conus litteratus. This gene has a framework XII (-C-C-C-C-CC-C-C-), which is distinct from the cysteine pattern I(2)-superfamily conotoxin (-C-C-CC-CC-C-C-). Subsequently, we found the signal peptide sequence of Lt12.4 by 5'-RACE. Using this new sequence, we identified another five novel conotoxins with this cysteine pattern from four Conus species (Conus eburneus, Conus imperialis, Conus marmoreus, and C. litteratus). These novel conotoxins have the same cysteine pattern as the reported Gla-TxX and Gla-MII, and may contain Gla residues. Furthermore, they have the highly conserved signal peptide and hypervariable mature peptide sequences, and widely exist in Conus species. Therefore, it could be defined as a new superfamily of E-conotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuguo Liu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, China
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Wu X, Shao X, Guo ZY, Chi CW. Identification of neuropeptide Y-like conopeptides from the venom of Conus betulinus. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2010; 42:502-5. [PMID: 20705590 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmq042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a ubiquitous endocrine neuropeptide found in vertebrate and invertebrate. In our present work, two NPY-like exocrine conopeptides (designated as cono-NPYs) were first identified in the venom of cone snails. Both cono-NPYs showed sequence characteristics of invertebrate NPYs, suggesting that some exocrine venom peptides are probably evolved from the preexisting endocrine peptides during the evolution of cone snails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuechen Wu
- Institute of Protein Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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