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Zavarzina II, Kuzmenkov AI, Dobrokhotov NA, Maleeva EE, Korolkova YV, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Krylov NA, Vassilevski AA, Chugunov AO. The scorpion toxin BeKm-1 blocks hERG cardiac potassium channels using an indispensable arginine residue. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:889-901. [PMID: 38563123 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BeKm-1 is a peptide toxin from scorpion venom that blocks the pore of the potassium channel hERG (Kv11.1) in the human heart. Although individual protein structures have been resolved, the structure of the complex between hERG and BeKm-1 is unknown. Here, we used molecular dynamics and ensemble docking, guided by previous double-mutant cycle analysis data, to obtain an in silico model of the hERG-BeKm-1 complex. Adding to the previous mutagenesis study of BeKm-1, our model uncovers the key role of residue Arg20, which forms three interactions (a salt bridge and hydrogen bonds) with the channel vestibule simultaneously. Replacement of this residue even by lysine weakens the interactions significantly. In accordance, the recombinantly produced BeKm-1R20K mutant exhibited dramatically decreased activity on hERG. Our model may be useful for future drug design attempts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iana I Zavarzina
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | | | - Nikita A Dobrokhotov
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nikolay A Krylov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton O Chugunov
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
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2
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Joukhan A, Kononenko V, Bele T, Sollner Dolenc M, Peigneur S, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Tytgat J, Turk T, Križaj I, Drobne D. Attenuation of Nicotine Effects on A549 Lung Cancer Cells by Synthetic α7 nAChR Antagonists APS7-2 and APS8-2. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:147. [PMID: 38667764 PMCID: PMC11051029 DOI: 10.3390/md22040147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that are overexpressed in different cancer cells, promoting tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of APS7-2 and APS8-2, synthetic analogs of a marine sponge toxin, to inhibit nicotine-mediated effects on A549 human lung cancer cells. Our electrophysiological measurements confirmed that APS7-2 and APS8-2 act as α7 nAChR antagonists. APS8-2 showed no cytotoxicity in A549 cells, while APS7-2 showed concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in A549 cells. The different cytotoxic responses of APS7-2 and APS8-2 emphasize the importance of the chemical structure in determining their cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Nicotine-mediated effects include increased cell viability and proliferation, elevated intracellular calcium levels, and reduced cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species production (ROS) in A549 cells. These effects of nicotine were effectively attenuated by APS8-2, whereas APS7-2 was less effective. Our results suggest that APS8-2 is a promising new therapeutic agent in the chemotherapy of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Joukhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.K.); (T.T.)
| | - Veno Kononenko
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.K.); (T.T.)
| | - Tadeja Bele
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.B.); (I.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marija Sollner Dolenc
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (E.L.P.-J.); (J.T.)
| | | | - Jan Tytgat
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (E.L.P.-J.); (J.T.)
| | - Tom Turk
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.K.); (T.T.)
| | - Igor Križaj
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.B.); (I.K.)
| | - Damjana Drobne
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.K.); (T.T.)
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An D, Carrazoni GS, Souto das Neves BH, D’Hooge R, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. The Sobering Sting: Oleoyl Serotonin Is a Novel Stephanoconus Snail Venom-Derived Antagonist of Cannabinoid Receptors That Counteracts Learning and Memory Deficits. Biomedicines 2024; 12:454. [PMID: 38398056 PMCID: PMC10887214 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are promising targets for a better understanding of neurological diseases. Nevertheless, only a few ligands of CB have reached clinical application so far. Venoms are considered as interesting sources of novel biologically active compounds. Here, we describe an endocannabinoid-like molecule, oleoyl serotonin (OS), present in the venom of Stephanoconus snails. Using electrophysiological assays, it was shown that OS inhibits CB1 and CB2. Structure-activity relationship studies using a chimeric CB1/2 revealed that the domain encompassing the transmembrane helix V (TMHV)- intracellular loop 3 (ICL3)-TMHVI of the CB2 is critical for the binding and function of OS. We concluded that OS binds to sites of the CB2 that are different from the binding sites of the non-selective CB agonist WIN55,212-2. Behavioral assays in mice showed that OS counteracted learning and memory deficits caused by WIN55,212-2. Furthermore, a selectivity screening of OS showed high selectivity for CB over various ion channels and receptors. Overall, OS may represent a new approach to the prevention and treatment of learning and memory cognition impairment in neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongchen An
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, ON2, Herestraat 49, Box-922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guilherme Salgado Carrazoni
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Box-3714, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.S.C.); (B.-H.S.d.N.); (R.D.)
| | - Ben-Hur Souto das Neves
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Box-3714, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.S.C.); (B.-H.S.d.N.); (R.D.)
| | - Rudi D’Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Box-3714, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (G.S.C.); (B.-H.S.d.N.); (R.D.)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, ON2, Herestraat 49, Box-922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, ON2, Herestraat 49, Box-922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Seldeslachts A, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. Histamine Receptors: Ex Vivo Functional Studies Enabling the Discovery of Hits and Pathways. Membranes (Basel) 2023; 13:897. [PMID: 38132901 PMCID: PMC10744718 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13120897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Histamine receptors (HRs) are G-protein-coupled receptors involved in diverse responses triggered by histamine release during inflammation or by encounters with venomous creatures. Four histamine receptors (H1R-H4R) have been cloned and extensively characterized. These receptors are distributed throughout the body and their activation is associated with clinical manifestations such as urticaria (H1R), gastric acid stimulation (H2R), regulation of neurotransmitters in neuronal diseases (H3R), and immune responses (H4R). Despite significant homologous overlap between H3R and H4R, much remains unknown about their precise roles. Even though some drugs have been developed for H1R, H2R, and H3R, not a single H4R antagonist has been approved for clinical use. To enhance our understanding and advance innovative therapeutic targeting of H1R, H2R, H3R, and H4R, we established a robust ex vivo functional platform. This platform features the successful heterologous expression of H1R-H4R in Xenopus laevis oocytes, utilizing an electrophysiological readout. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the function and pharmacological properties of the histamine receptors. Researchers can benefit from the utility of this platform when investigating the effects of histamine receptors and exploring potential therapeutic targets. In doing so, it broadens the horizon of drug discovery, offering new perspectives for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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5
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Gubič Š, Montalbano A, Sala C, Becchetti A, Hendrickx LA, Van Theemsche KM, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Altadonna GC, Peigneur S, Ilaš J, Labro AJ, Pardo LA, Tytgat J, Tomašič T, Arcangeli A, Peterlin Mašič L. Immunosuppressive effects of new thiophene-based K V1.3 inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115561. [PMID: 37454520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium channel KV1.3 inhibitors have been shown to be effective in preventing T-cell proliferation and activation by affecting intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Here, we present the structure-activity relationship, KV1.3 inhibition, and immunosuppressive effects of new thiophene-based KV1.3 inhibitors with nanomolar potency on K+ current in T-lymphocytes and KV1.3 inhibition on Ltk- cells. The new KV1.3 inhibitor trans-18 inhibited KV1.3 -mediated current in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T-lymphocytes with an IC50 value of 26.1 nM and in mammalian Ltk- cells with an IC50 value of 230 nM. The KV1.3 inhibitor trans-18 also had nanomolar potency against KV1.3 in Xenopus laevis oocytes (IC50 = 136 nM). The novel thiophene-based KV1.3 inhibitors impaired intracellular Ca2+ signaling as well as T-cell activation, proliferation, and colony formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Špela Gubič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alberto Montalbano
- University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, I-50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Cesare Sala
- University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, I-50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Becchetti
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Louise Antonia Hendrickx
- University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kenny M Van Theemsche
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteisplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ernesto Lopes Pinheiro-Junior
- University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Steve Peigneur
- University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Janez Ilaš
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alain J Labro
- Ghent University, Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luis A Pardo
- Max-Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, AG Oncophysiology, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jan Tytgat
- University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tihomir Tomašič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Annarosa Arcangeli
- University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, I-50134, Florence, Italy.
| | - Lucija Peterlin Mašič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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6
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Mineev KS, Chernykh MA, Motov VV, Prudnikova DA, Pavlenko DM, Kuzmenkov AI, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Vassilevski AA. A scorpion toxin affecting sodium channels shows double cis-trans isomerism. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2358-2368. [PMID: 37501371 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Scorpion α-toxins (α-NaTx) inhibiting the inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav ) are a well-studied family of small proteins. We previously showed that the structure of α-NaTx specificity module responsible for selective Nav binding is governed by an interplay between the nest and niche protein motifs. Here, we report the solution structure of the toxin Lqq4 from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus. Unexpectedly, we find that this toxin presents an ensemble of long-lived structurally distinct states. We unequivocally assign these states to the alternative configurations (cis-trans isomers) of two peptide bonds: V56-P57 and C17-G18; neither of the cis isomers has been described in α-NaTx so far. We argue that the native conformational space of α-NaTx is wider than assumed previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin S Mineev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Chernykh
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladislav V Motov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Daria A Prudnikova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daniil M Pavlenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey I Kuzmenkov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
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7
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Lopez L, De Waard S, Meudal H, Caumes C, Khakh K, Peigneur S, Oliveira-Mendes B, Lin S, De Waele J, Montnach J, Cestèle S, Tessier A, Johnson JP, Mantegazza M, Tytgat J, Cohen C, Béroud R, Bosmans F, Landon C, De Waard M. Structure-function relationship of new peptides activating human Na v1.1. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115173. [PMID: 37453200 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Nav1.1 is an important pharmacological target as this voltage-gated sodium channel is involved in neurological and cardiac syndromes. Channel activators are actively sought to try to compensate for haploinsufficiency in several of these pathologies. Herein we used a natural source of new peptide compounds active on ion channels and screened for drugs capable to inhibit channel inactivation as a way to compensate for decreased channel function. We discovered that JzTx-34 is highly active on Nav1.1 and subsequently performed a full structure-activity relationship investigation to identify its pharmacophore. These experiments will help interpret the mechanism of action of this and formerly identified peptides as well as the future identification of new peptides. We also reveal structural determinants that make natural ICK peptides active against Nav1.1 challenging to synthesize. Altogether, the knowledge gained by this study will help facilitate the discovery and development of new compounds active on this critical ion channel target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludivine Lopez
- Nantes Université, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France; Smartox Biotechnology, Saint-Egrève, France
| | - Stephan De Waard
- Nantes Université, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France; LabEx "Ion Channels, Science and Therapeutics", Valbonne, France
| | - Hervé Meudal
- Center for Molecular Biophysics, CNRS, rue Charles Sadron, CS 80054, Orléans 45071, France
| | | | - Kuldip Khakh
- Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Sophia Lin
- Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jolien De Waele
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Montnach
- Nantes Université, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Sandrine Cestèle
- Université Cote d'Azur, CNRS UMR 7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Agnès Tessier
- Nantes Université, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - J P Johnson
- Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Massimo Mantegazza
- Université Cote d'Azur, CNRS UMR 7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Jan Tytgat
- University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charles Cohen
- Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Frank Bosmans
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Céline Landon
- Center for Molecular Biophysics, CNRS, rue Charles Sadron, CS 80054, Orléans 45071, France
| | - Michel De Waard
- Nantes Université, CNRS, INSERM, l'institut du thorax, F-44000 Nantes, France; Smartox Biotechnology, Saint-Egrève, France; LabEx "Ion Channels, Science and Therapeutics", Valbonne, France.
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8
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Kuzmenkov AI, Gigolaev AM, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Vassilevski AA. Methionine-isoleucine dichotomy at a key position in scorpion toxins inhibiting voltage-gated potassium channels. Toxicon 2023; 231:107181. [PMID: 37301298 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have identified some key amino acid residues in scorpion toxins blocking potassium channels. In particular, the most numerous toxins belonging to the α-KTx family and affecting voltage-gated potassium channels (KV) present a conserved K-C-X-N motif in the C-terminal half of their sequence. Here, we show that the X position of this motif is almost always occupied by either methionine or isoleucine. We compare the activity of three pairs of peptides that differ just by this residue on a panel of KV1 channels and find that toxins bearing methionine affect preferentially KV1.1 and 1.6 isoforms. The refined K-C-M/I-N motif stands out as the principal structural element of α-KTx conferring high affinity and selectivity to KV channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey I Kuzmenkov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
| | - Andrei M Gigolaev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | | | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
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9
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Zidar N, Tomašič T, Kikelj D, Durcik M, Tytgat J, Peigneur S, Rogers M, Haworth A, Kirby RW. New aryl and acylsulfonamides as state-dependent inhibitors of Na v1.3 voltage-gated sodium channel. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 258:115530. [PMID: 37329714 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) play an essential role in neurotransmission, and their dysfunction is often a cause of various neurological disorders. The Nav1.3 isoform is found in the CNS and upregulated after injury in the periphery, but its role in human physiology has not yet been fully elucidated. Reports suggest that selective Nav1.3 inhibitors could be used as novel therapeutics to treat pain or neurodevelopmental disorders. Few selective inhibitors of this channel are known in the literature. In this work, we report the discovery of a new series of aryl and acylsulfonamides as state-dependent inhibitors of Nav1.3 channels. Using a ligand-based 3D similarity search and subsequent hit optimization, we identified and prepared a series of 47 novel compounds and tested them on Nav1.3, Nav1.5, and a selected subset also on Nav1.7 channels in a QPatch patch-clamp electrophysiology assay. Eight compounds had an IC50 value of less than 1 μM against the Nav1.3 channel inactivated state, with one compound displaying an IC50 value of 20 nM, whereas activity against the inactivated state of the Nav1.5 channel and Nav1.7 channel was approximately 20-fold weaker. None of the compounds showed use-dependent inhibition of the cardiac isoform Nav1.5 at a concentration of 30 μM. Further selectivity testing of the most promising hits was measured using the two-electrode voltage-clamp method against the closed state of the Nav1.1-Nav1.8 channels, and compound 15b displayed small, yet selective, effects against the Nav1.3 channel, with no activity against the other isoforms. Additional selectivity testing of promising hits against the inactivated state of the Nav1.3, Nav1.7, and Nav1.8 channels revealed several compounds with robust and selective activity against the inactivated state of the Nav1.3 channel among the three isoforms tested. Moreover, the compounds were not cytotoxic at a concentration of 50 μM, as demonstrated by the assay in human HepG2 cells (hepatocellular carcinoma cells). The novel state-dependent inhibitors of Nav1.3 discovered in this work provide a valuable tool to better evaluate this channel as a potential drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nace Zidar
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Tihomir Tomašič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Danijel Kikelj
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martina Durcik
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jan Tytgat
- University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Toxicology & Pharmacology, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Toxicology & Pharmacology, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Rogers
- Metrion Biosciences Limited, Building 2, Granta Centre, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK
| | - Alexander Haworth
- Metrion Biosciences Limited, Building 2, Granta Centre, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK
| | - Robert W Kirby
- Metrion Biosciences Limited, Building 2, Granta Centre, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK
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10
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Gubič Š, Hendrickx LA, Shi X, Toplak Ž, Možina Š, Theemsche KMV, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Peigneur S, Labro AJ, Pardo LA, Tytgat J, Tomašič T, Peterlin Mašič L. Correction: Gubič et al. Design of New Potent and Selective Thiophene-Based K V1.3 Inhibitors and Their Potential for Anticancer Activity. Cancers 2022, 14, 2595. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112925. [PMID: 37297027 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In the original publication [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Špela Gubič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Louise Antonia Hendrickx
- Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xiaoyi Shi
- AG Oncophysiology, Max-Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Žan Toplak
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Štefan Možina
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Kenny M Van Theemsche
- Laboratory for Molecular, Cellular and Network Excitability, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10 (Entrance 36), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ernesto Lopes Pinheiro-Junior
- Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alain J Labro
- Laboratory for Molecular, Cellular and Network Excitability, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10 (Entrance 36), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luis A Pardo
- AG Oncophysiology, Max-Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tihomir Tomašič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Primak AL, Orlov NA, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Ignatova AA, Denisova KR, Yakimov SA, Kirpichnikov MP, Nekrasova OV, Feofanov AV. AgTx2-GFP, Fluorescent Blocker Targeting Pharmacologically Important K v1.x (x = 1, 3, 6) Channels. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030229. [PMID: 36977120 PMCID: PMC10056440 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing interest in potassium channels as pharmacological targets has stimulated the development of their fluorescent ligands (including genetically encoded peptide toxins fused with fluorescent proteins) for analytical and imaging applications. We report on the properties of agitoxin 2 C-terminally fused with enhanced GFP (AgTx2-GFP) as one of the most active genetically encoded fluorescent ligands of potassium voltage-gated Kv1.x (x = 1, 3, 6) channels. AgTx2-GFP possesses subnanomolar affinities for hybrid KcsA-Kv1.x (x = 3, 6) channels and a low nanomolar affinity to KcsA-Kv1.1 with moderate dependence on pH in the 7.0-8.0 range. Electrophysiological studies on oocytes showed a pore-blocking activity of AgTx2-GFP at low nanomolar concentrations for Kv1.x (x = 1, 3, 6) channels and at micromolar concentrations for Kv1.2. AgTx2-GFP bound to Kv1.3 at the membranes of mammalian cells with a dissociation constant of 3.4 ± 0.8 nM, providing fluorescent imaging of the channel membranous distribution, and this binding depended weakly on the channel state (open or closed). AgTx2-GFP can be used in combination with hybrid KcsA-Kv1.x (x = 1, 3, 6) channels on the membranes of E. coli spheroplasts or with Kv1.3 channels on the membranes of mammalian cells for the search and study of nonlabeled peptide pore blockers, including measurement of their affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Primak
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikita A Orlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N2, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N2, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anastasia A Ignatova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kristina R Denisova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey A Yakimov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Kirpichnikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Oksana V Nekrasova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V Feofanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
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12
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Kecskes M, Peigneur S, Held K. Editorial: Contribution of ion channels to neuropathologies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1179663. [PMID: 36994098 PMCID: PMC10040864 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1179663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miklos Kecskes
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Miklos Kecskes, ; Katharina Held,
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katharina Held
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Miklos Kecskes, ; Katharina Held,
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13
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Liu J, Maxwell M, Cuddihy T, Crawford T, Bassetti M, Hyde C, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Undheim EAB, Mobli M. ScrepYard: An online resource for disulfide-stabilized tandem repeat peptides. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4566. [PMID: 36644825 PMCID: PMC9885460 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Receptor avidity through multivalency is a highly sought-after property of ligands. While readily available in nature in the form of bivalent antibodies, this property remains challenging to engineer in synthetic molecules. The discovery of several bivalent venom peptides containing two homologous and independently folded domains (in a tandem repeat arrangement) has provided a unique opportunity to better understand the underpinning design of multivalency in multimeric biomolecules, as well as how naturally occurring multivalent ligands can be identified. In previous work, we classified these molecules as a larger class termed secreted cysteine-rich repeat-proteins (SCREPs). Here, we present an online resource; ScrepYard, designed to assist researchers in identification of SCREP sequences of interest and to aid in characterizing this emerging class of biomolecules. Analysis of sequences within the ScrepYard reveals that two-domain tandem repeats constitute the most abundant SCREP domain architecture, while the interdomain "linker" regions connecting the functional domains are found to be abundant in amino acids with short or polar sidechains and contain an unusually high abundance of proline residues. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of ScrepYard as a virtual screening tool for discovery of putatively multivalent peptides, by using it as a resource to identify a previously uncharacterized serine protease inhibitor and confirm its predicted activity using an enzyme assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Liu
- Centre for Advanced ImagingThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Michael Maxwell
- Centre for Advanced ImagingThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Thom Cuddihy
- Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation Ltd.The University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia,Centre for Clinical ResearchThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Theo Crawford
- Centre for Advanced ImagingThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Madeline Bassetti
- Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation Ltd.The University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Cameron Hyde
- Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation Ltd.The University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia,University of the Sunshine CoastMaroochydoreQueenslandAustralia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and PharmacologyUniversity of Leuven (KU Leuven)LeuvenBelgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and PharmacologyUniversity of Leuven (KU Leuven)LeuvenBelgium
| | - Eivind A. B. Undheim
- Centre for Advanced ImagingThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia,Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Mehdi Mobli
- Centre for Advanced ImagingThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
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14
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Gigolaev AM, Tabakmakher VM, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Vassilevski AA. Structural Optimization of an α-Hairpinin Blocking Potassium Channels KV1.3. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093023010167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
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15
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Gigolaev AM, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Vassilevski AA. KV1.2-Selective Peptide with High Affinity. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s002209302206031x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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16
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Cordeiro FA, Amorim FG, Boldrini-França J, Pinheiro-Júnior EL, Cardoso IA, Zoccal KF, Peigneur S, Faccioli LH, Tytgat J, Arantes EC. Heterologous expression of Ts8, a neurotoxin from Tityus serrulatus venom, evidences its antifungal activity. Toxicon 2022; 218:47-56. [PMID: 36063971 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this study we expressed the Ts8, a neurotoxin from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom, in Pichia pastoris yeast. We evaluated the peptide expression in different conditions, such as pH, temperature, and addition of casamino acids supplement. Analyses of expressed products by mass spectrometry and Edman degradation showed that rTs8 has sites that allow its cleavage by yeast proteases released into the culture medium. The casamino acids addition was favourable for toxin expression, however, was not sufficient to minimize proteolytic degradation. Functional assays with recombinant toxin fragments and native toxins have demonstrated the release of cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β in some peptides tested. In addition, the toxins were shown to inhibit the Pichia pastoris growth in antifungal test and were not toxic to alveolar macrophages cells at the concentrations analyzed The electrophysiological screening, by voltage clamp technique, showed that the rTs8 fragment with the highest molecular weight inhibited the Kv1.3 channel, whereas the N-terminal fragment had no activity on the ion channels tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francielle Almeida Cordeiro
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda Gobbi Amorim
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Liège, Bât. B6C Laboratoire de spectrométrie de Masse (L.S.M.), Quartier Agora, Allée du six Août 11, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Johara Boldrini-França
- School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, 1 Tankard's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | - Iara Aimê Cardoso
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Karina Furlani Zoccal
- Center University Barão of Mauá, St. Ramos of Azavedo, N 423, 14090-062, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 - PO Box 922, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lucia Helena Faccioli
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 - PO Box 922, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eliane Candiani Arantes
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
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17
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ElFessi R, Khamessi O, Srairi-Abid N, Sabatier JM, Tytgat J, Peigneur S, Kharrat R. Purification and Characterization of Bot33: A Non-Toxic Peptide from the Venom of Buthus occitanus tunetanus Scorpion. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27217278. [PMID: 36364113 PMCID: PMC9657394 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Scorpion venom is a rich source of promising therapeutic compounds, such as highly selective ion channel ligands with potent pharmacological effects. Bot33 is a new short polypeptide of 38 amino acid residues with six cysteines purified from the venom of the Buthus occitanus tunetanus scorpion. Bot33 has revealed less than 40% identity with other known alpha-KTx families. This peptide displayed a neutral amino acid (Leucine), in the position equivalent to lysine 27, described as essential for the interaction with Kv channels. Bot33 did not show any toxicity following i.c.v. injection until 2 µg/kg mouse body weight. Due to its very low venom concentration (0.24%), Bot33 was chemically synthesized. Unexpectedly, this peptide has been subjected to a screening on ion channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and it was found that Bot33 has no effect on seven Kv channel subtypes. Interestingly, an in silico molecular docking study shows that the Leu27 prevents the interaction of Bot33 with the Kv1.3 channel. All our results indicate that Bot33 may have a different mode of action from other scorpion toxins, which will be interesting to elucidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rym ElFessi
- Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur BP74, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Oussema Khamessi
- Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur BP74, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Najet Srairi-Abid
- Laboratoire Biomolécules, Venins et Applications Théranostiques (LR20IPT01), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur BP74, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Jean-Marc Sabatier
- Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), Université Aix-Marseille, UMR 7051, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (R.K.)
| | - Riadh Kharrat
- Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur BP74, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (R.K.)
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18
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Kalina RS, Kasheverov IE, Koshelev SG, Sintsova OV, Peigneur S, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Popov RS, Chausova VE, Monastyrnaya MM, Dmitrenok PS, Isaeva MP, Tytgat J, Kozlov SA, Kozlovskaya EP, Leychenko EV, Gladkikh IN. Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Are Novel Targets of APETx-like Toxins from the Sea Anemone Heteractis magnifica. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14100697. [PMID: 36287966 PMCID: PMC9611977 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14100697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are prototypical ligand-gated ion channels, provide cholinergic signaling, and are modulated by various venom toxins and drugs in addition to neurotransmitters. Here, four APETx-like toxins, including two new toxins, named Hmg 1b-2 Metox and Hmg 1b-5, were isolated from the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica and characterized as novel nAChR ligands and acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) modulators. All peptides competed with radiolabeled α-bungarotoxin for binding to Torpedo californica muscle-type and human α7 nAChRs. Hmg 1b-2 potentiated acetylcholine-elicited current in human α7 receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Moreover, the multigene family coding APETx-like peptides library from H. magnifica was described and in silico surface electrostatic potentials of novel peptides were analyzed. To explain the 100% identity of some peptide isoforms between H. magnifica and H. crispa, 18S rRNA, COI, and ITS analysis were performed. It has been shown that the sea anemones previously identified by morphology as H. crispa belong to the species H. magnifica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimma S. Kalina
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Igor E. Kasheverov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey G. Koshelev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Oksana V. Sintsova
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Roman S. Popov
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Victoria E. Chausova
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Margarita M. Monastyrnaya
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Pavel S. Dmitrenok
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Marina P. Isaeva
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sergey A. Kozlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Emma P. Kozlovskaya
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Elena V. Leychenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
- Correspondence: (I.N.G.); (E.V.L.)
| | - Irina N. Gladkikh
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
- Correspondence: (I.N.G.); (E.V.L.)
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19
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Wiere S, Sugai C, Espiritu MJ, Aurelio VP, Reyes CD, Yuzon N, Whittal RM, Tytgat J, Peigneur S, Bingham JP. Research into the Bioengineering of a Novel α-Conotoxin from the Milked Venom of Conus obscurus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12096. [PMID: 36292948 PMCID: PMC9602734 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The marine cone snail produces one of the fastest prey strikes in the animal kingdom. It injects highly efficacious venom, often causing prey paralysis and death within seconds. Each snail has hundreds of conotoxins, which serve as a source for discovering and utilizing novel analgesic peptide therapeutics. In this study, we discovered, isolated, and synthesized a novel α3/5-conotoxins derived from the milked venom of Conus obscurus (α-conotoxin OI) and identified the presence of α-conotoxin SI-like sequence previously found in the venom of Conus striatus. Five synthetic analogs of the native α-conotoxin OI were generated. These analogs incorporated single residue or double residue mutations. Three synthetic post-translational modifications (PTMs) were synthetically incorporated into these analogs: N-terminal truncation, proline hydroxylation, and tryptophan bromination. The native α-conotoxin OI demonstrated nanomolar potency in Poecilia reticulata and Homosapiens muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) isoforms. Moreover, the synthetic α-[P9K] conotoxin OI displayed enhanced potency in both bioassays, ranging from a 2.85 (LD50) to 18.4 (IC50) fold increase in comparative bioactivity. The successful incorporation of PTMs, with retention of both potency and nAChR isoform selectivity, ultimately pushes new boundaries of peptide bioengineering and the generation of novel α-conotoxin-like sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Wiere
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Christopher Sugai
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Michael J. Espiritu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- School of Pharmacy, Pacific University Oregon, Hillsboro, OR 97123, USA
| | - Vincent P. Aurelio
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Chloe D. Reyes
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Nicole Yuzon
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Randy M. Whittal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg O&N II, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg O&N II, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jon-Paul Bingham
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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Kuzmenkov AI, Peigneur S, Nasburg JA, Mineev KS, Nikolaev MV, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Arseniev AS, Wulff H, Tytgat J, Vassilevski AA. Apamin structure and pharmacology revisited. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:977440. [PMID: 36188602 PMCID: PMC9523135 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.977440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Apamin is often cited as one of the few substances selectively acting on small-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels (KCa2). However, published pharmacological and structural data remain controversial. Here, we investigated the molecular pharmacology of apamin by two-electrode voltage-clamp in Xenopus laevis oocytes and patch-clamp in HEK293, COS7, and CHO cells expressing the studied ion channels, as well as in isolated rat brain neurons. The microtitre broth dilution method was used for antimicrobial activity screening. The spatial structure of apamin in aqueous solution was determined by NMR spectroscopy. We tested apamin against 42 ion channels (KCa, KV, NaV, nAChR, ASIC, and others) and confirmed its unique selectivity to KCa2 channels. No antimicrobial activity was detected for apamin against Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. The NMR solution structure of apamin was deposited in the Protein Data Bank. The results presented here demonstrate that apamin is a selective nanomolar or even subnanomolar-affinity KCa2 inhibitor with no significant effects on other molecular targets. The spatial structure as well as ample functional data provided here support the use of apamin as a KCa2-selective pharmacological tool and as a template for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey I. Kuzmenkov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Joshua A. Nasburg
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Konstantin S. Mineev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow Region, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Maxim V. Nikolaev
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Alexander S. Arseniev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow Region, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Heike Wulff
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alexander A. Vassilevski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow Region, Dolgoprudny, Russia
- *Correspondence: Alexander A. Vassilevski,
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21
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Seldeslachts A, Peigneur S, Mebs D, Tytgat J. Unraveling the venom chemistry with evidence for histamine as key regulator in the envenomation by caterpillar Automeris zaruma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:972442. [PMID: 36091066 PMCID: PMC9448982 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.972442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, envenomation by caterpillars of Automeris spp. became an increasing health problem in Latin America. Accidental contact with the stinging spines of these caterpillars cause acute local pain, itching, inflammation and skin rashes that persists for days. Even when the cause is obvious, the exact molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed symptoms are yet to be elucidated. Here, we describe for the first time, an active compound in the venom and the study of the bioactivity of the venom extracted from the spines of the caterpillar Automeris zaruma. Electrophysiological screening of a library of membrane proteins important for pain and itch enabled us to investigate and reveal the mode of action of the venom of A. zaruma. Further mass spectrometric analysis (Q-TOF-MS) made it possible to establish a link between the bioactivity and the components found in the venom. We show that the spine extract of A. zaruma contains histamine that potently activates the four types of the human histamine receptors (H1R, H2R, H3R and H4R) with a selectivity preference towards H3R and H4R. Furthermore, a modulation of the target MRGPRX2 was found. Together, these findings are the first to explain the symptomology of A. zaruma envenomation, enabling us a better understanding of caterpillar envenomation and predict that the hurdle of the scarce efficacy of the currently used antihistaminic drugs can be overcome by including H3R and H4R blockers in the clinical used medication. Such an approach might be used for other caterpillar envenomation in the world and represent a significant improvement for the well-being of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dietrich Mebs
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Jan Tytgat,
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22
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Schmidt CA, Cooke I, Wilson DT, Miller DJ, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Field M, Takjoo R, Smout MJ, Loukas A, Daly NL. Newly Discovered Peptides from the Coral Heliofungia actiniformis Show Structural and Functional Diversity. J Nat Prod 2022; 85:1789-1798. [PMID: 35829679 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Scleractinian corals are crucially important to the health of some of the world's most biodiverse, productive, and economically important marine habitats. Despite this importance, analysis of coral peptidomes is still in its infancy. Here we show that the tentacle extract from the stony coral Heliofungia actiniformis is rich in peptides with diverse and novel structures. We have characterized the sequences and three-dimensional structures of four new peptides, three of which have no known homologues. We show that a 2 kDa peptide, Hact-2, promotes significant cell proliferation on human cells and speculate this peptide may be involved in the remarkable regenerative capacity of corals. We found a 3 kDa peptide, Hact-3, encoded within a fascin-like domain, and homologues of Hact-3 are present in the genomes of other coral species. Two additional peptides, Hact-4 and Hact-SCRiP1, with limited sequence similarity, both contain a beta-defensin-like fold and highlight a structural link with the small cysteine-rich proteins (SCRiP) family of proteins found predominantly in corals. Our results provide a first glimpse into the remarkable and unexplored structural diversity of coral peptides, providing insight into their diversity and putative functions and, given the ancient lineage of corals, potential insight into the evolution of structural motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey A Schmidt
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Ira Cooke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David T Wilson
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Matthew Field
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Rozita Takjoo
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Michael J Smout
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Norelle L Daly
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
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23
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Kvetkina A, Pislyagin E, Menchinskaya E, Yurchenko E, Kalina R, Kozlovskiy S, Kaluzhskiy L, Menshov A, Kim N, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Ivanov A, Ayvazyan N, Leychenko E, Aminin D. Kunitz-Type Peptides from Sea Anemones Protect Neuronal Cells against Parkinson's Disease Inductors via Inhibition of ROS Production and ATP-Induced P2X7 Receptor Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095115. [PMID: 35563513 PMCID: PMC9103184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a socially significant disease, during the development of which oxidative stress and inflammation play a significant role. Here, we studied the neuroprotective effects of four Kunitz-type peptides from Heteractis crispa and Heteractis magnifica sea anemones against PD inductors. The peptide HCIQ1c9, which was obtained for the first time, inhibited trypsin less than other peptides due to unfavorable interactions of Arg17 with Lys43 in the enzyme. Its activity was reduced by up to 70% over the temperature range of 60–100 °C, while HCIQ2c1, HCIQ4c7, and HMIQ3c1 retained their conformation and stayed active up to 90–100 °C. All studied peptides inhibited paraquat- and rotenone-induced intracellular ROS formation, in particular NO, and scavenged free radicals outside the cells. The peptides did not modulate the TRPV1 channels but they affected the P2X7R, both of which are considered therapeutic targets in Parkinson’s disease. HMIQ3c1 and HCIQ4c7 almost completely inhibited the ATP-induced uptake of YO-PRO-1 dye in Neuro-2a cells through P2X7 ion channels and significantly reduced the stable calcium response in these cells. The complex formation of the peptides with the P2X7R extracellular domain was determined via SPR analysis. Thus, these peptides may be considered promising compounds to protect neuronal cells against PD inductors, which act as ROS production inhibitors and partially act as ATP-induced P2X7R activation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kvetkina
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Evgeny Pislyagin
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Ekaterina Menchinskaya
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Ekaterina Yurchenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Rimma Kalina
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Sergei Kozlovskiy
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Leonid Kaluzhskiy
- V.N. Orekhovich Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10, Pogodinskaya St., 119121 Moscow, Russia; (L.K.); (A.I.)
| | - Alexander Menshov
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Natalia Kim
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N2, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N2, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Alexis Ivanov
- V.N. Orekhovich Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10, Pogodinskaya St., 119121 Moscow, Russia; (L.K.); (A.I.)
| | - Naira Ayvazyan
- L.A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Yerevan 0028, Armenia;
| | - Elena Leychenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Dmitry Aminin
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.K.); (E.P.); (E.M.); (E.Y.); (R.K.); (S.K.); (A.M.); (N.K.); (E.L.)
- Correspondence:
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24
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Pinheiro-Junior EL, Kalina R, Gladkikh I, Leychenko E, Tytgat J, Peigneur S. A Tale of Toxin Promiscuity: The Versatile Pharmacological Effects of Hcr 1b-2 Sea Anemone Peptide on Voltage-Gated Ion Channels. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20020147. [PMID: 35200676 PMCID: PMC8878452 DOI: 10.3390/md20020147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea anemones are a rich source of biologically active compounds. Among approximately 1100 species described so far, Heteractis crispa species, also known as sebae anemone, is native to the Indo-Pacific area. As part of its venom components, the Hcr 1b-2 peptide was first described as an ASIC1a and ASIC3 inhibitor. Using Xenopus laevis oocytes and the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, in the present work we describe the remarkable lack of selectivity of this toxin. Besides the acid-sensing ion channels previously described, we identified 26 new targets of this peptide, comprising 14 voltage-gated potassium channels, 9 voltage-gated sodium channels, and 3 voltage-gated calcium channels. Among them, Hcr 1b-2 is the first sea anemone peptide described to interact with isoforms from the Kv7 family and T-type Cav channels. Taken together, the diversity of Hcr 1b-2 targets turns this toxin into an interesting tool to study different types of ion channels, as well as a prototype to develop new and more specific ion channel ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Lopes Pinheiro-Junior
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: (E.L.P.-J.); (J.T.); (S.P.); Tel.: +32-16-32-34-04 (E.L.P.-J. & J.T. & S.P.)
| | - Rimma Kalina
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (R.K.); (I.G.); (E.L.)
| | - Irina Gladkikh
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (R.K.); (I.G.); (E.L.)
| | - Elena Leychenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (R.K.); (I.G.); (E.L.)
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: (E.L.P.-J.); (J.T.); (S.P.); Tel.: +32-16-32-34-04 (E.L.P.-J. & J.T. & S.P.)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: (E.L.P.-J.); (J.T.); (S.P.); Tel.: +32-16-32-34-04 (E.L.P.-J. & J.T. & S.P.)
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25
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Cristina Mendes Ferreira R, Cristina de Sousa Fonseca F, Lamounier de Almeida D, Cristina Nogueira Freitas A, Peigneur S, Roberto Lima Romero T, Almeida Amaral F, Dimitri Gama Duarte I. Bradykinin induces peripheral antinociception in PGE 2-induced hyperalgesia in mice. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 198:114965. [PMID: 35182520 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bradykinin (BK) is an endogenous peptide involved in vascular permeability and inflammation. It has opposite effects (inducing hyperalgesia or antinociception) when administered directly in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether BK may also present this dual effect when injected peripherally in a PGE2-induced nociceptive pain model, as well as to investigate the possible mechanisms of action involved in this event in mice. METHODS Male Swiss and C57BL/6 knockout mice for B1 or B2 bradykinin receptors were submitted to a mechanical paw pressure test and hyperalgesia was induced by intraplantar prostaglandin E2 (2 µg/paw) injection. RESULTS Bradykinin (20, 40 and 80 ng/paw) produced dose-dependent peripheral antinociception against PGE2-induced hyperalgesia. This effect was antagonized by bradyzide (8, 16 and 32 μg/paw), naloxone (12.5, 25 and 50 μg/paw), nor-binaltorphimine (50, 100 and 200 μg/paw) and AM251 (20, 40 and 80 μg/paw). Bestatin (400 µg/paw), MAFP (0.5 µg/paw) and VDM11 (2.5 µg/paw) potentiated the antinociception of a lower 20 ng BK dose. The knockout of B1 or B2 bradykinin receptors partially abolished the antinociceptive action of BK (80 ng/paw), bremazocine (1 μg/paw) and anandamide (40 ng/paw) when compared with wild-type animals, which show complete antinociception with the same dose of each drug. CONCLUSION The present study is the first to demonstrate BK-induced antinociception in peripheral tissues against PGE2-induced nociception in mice and the involvement of κ-opioid and CB1 cannabinoid receptors in this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Douglas Lamounier de Almeida
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Nogueira Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thiago Roberto Lima Romero
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Flávio Almeida Amaral
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Igor Dimitri Gama Duarte
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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26
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Rungsa P, Peigneur S, Jangpromma N, Klaynongsruang S, Tytgat J, Daduang S. In Silico and In Vitro Structure-Activity Relationship of Mastoparan and Its Analogs. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27020561. [PMID: 35056876 PMCID: PMC8779355 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are an important class of therapeutic agent used against a wide range of pathogens such as Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Mastoparan (MpVT) is an α-helix and amphipathic tetradecapeptide obtained from Vespa tropica venom. This peptide exhibits antibacterial activity. In this work, we investigate the effect of amino acid substitutions and deletion of the first three C-terminal residues on the structure–activity relationship. In this in silico study, the predicted structure of MpVT and its analog have characteristic features of linear cationic peptides rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acids without disulfide bonds. The secondary structure and the biological activity of six designed analogs are studied. The biological activity assays show that the substitution of phenylalanine (MpVT1) results in a higher antibacterial activity than that of MpVT without increasing toxicity. The analogs with the first three deleted C-terminal residues showed decreased antibacterial and hemolytic activity. The CD (circular dichroism) spectra of these peptides show a high content α-helical conformation in the presence of 40% 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). In conclusion, the first three C-terminal deletions reduced the length of the α-helix, explaining the decreased biological activity. MpVTs show that the hemolytic activity of mastoparan is correlated to mean hydrophobicity and mean hydrophobic moment. The position and spatial arrangement of specific hydrophobic residues on the non-polar face of α-helical AMPs may be crucial for the interaction of AMPs with cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapenpuksiri Rungsa
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (P.R.); (N.J.); (S.K.)
- Division of Pharmacognosy and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), O&N 2, P.O. Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Nisachon Jangpromma
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (P.R.); (N.J.); (S.K.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Sompong Klaynongsruang
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (P.R.); (N.J.); (S.K.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), O&N 2, P.O. Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Correspondence: (J.T.); (S.D.)
| | - Sakda Daduang
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (P.R.); (N.J.); (S.K.)
- Division of Pharmacognosy and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Correspondence: (J.T.); (S.D.)
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27
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Abstract
Pacemaker cells are the basis of rhythm in the heart. Cardiovascular diseases, and in particular, arrhythmias are a leading cause of hospital admissions and have been implicated as a cause of sudden death. The prevalence of people with arrhythmias will increase in the next years due to an increase in the ageing population and risk factors. The current therapies are limited, have a lot of side effects, and thus, are not ideal. Pacemaker channels, also called hyperpolarizationactivated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, are the molecular correlate of the hyperpolarization- activated current, called Ih (from hyperpolarization) or If (from funny), that contribute crucially to the pacemaker activity in cardiac nodal cells and impulse generation and transmission in neurons. HCN channels have emerged as interesting targets for the development of drugs, in particular, to lower the heart rate. Nonetheless, their pharmacology is still rather poorly explored in comparison to many other voltage-gated ion channels or ligand-gated ion channels. Ivabradine is the first and currently the only clinically approved compound that specifically targets HCN channels. The therapeutic indication of ivabradine is the symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina pectoris in patients with coronary artery disease with a normal sinus rhythm. Several other pharmacological agents have been shown to exert an effect on heart rate, although this effect is not always desired. This review is focused on the pacemaking process taking place in the heart and summarizes the current knowledge on HCN channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Depuydt
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000Leuven, Belgium
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Pompeia C, Frare EO, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, da Silva ÁP, de Oliveira EB, Pereira A, Kerkis I, Kolonin MG. Synthetic polypeptide crotamine: characterization as a myotoxin and as a target of combinatorial peptides. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:65-76. [PMID: 34643765 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02140-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Crotamine is a rattlesnake-derived toxin that causes fast-twitch muscle paralysis. As a cell-penetrating polypeptide, crotamine has been investigated as an experimental anti-cancer and immunotherapeutic agent. We hypothesized that molecules targeting crotamine could be designed to study its function and intervene in its adverse activities. Here, we characterize synthetic crotamine and show that, like the venom-purified toxin, it induces hindlimb muscle paralysis by affecting muscle contraction and inhibits KCNA3 (Kv1.3) channels. Synthetic crotamine, labeled with a fluorophore, displayed cell penetration, subcellular myofiber distribution, ability to induce myonecrosis, and bind to DNA and heparin. Here, we used this functionally validated synthetic polypeptide to screen a combinatorial phage display library for crotamine-binding cyclic peptides. Selection for tryptophan-rich peptides was observed, binding of which to crotamine was confirmed by ELISA and gel shift assays. One of the peptides (CVWSFWGMYC), synthesized chemically, was shown to bind both synthetic and natural crotamine and to block crotamine-DNA binding. In summary, our study establishes a functional synthetic substitute to the venom-derived toxin and identifies peptides that could further be developed as probes to target crotamine. KEY MESSAGES: Synthetic crotamine was characterized as a functional substitute for venom-derived crotamine based on myotoxic effects. A combinatorial peptide library was screened for crotamine-binding peptides. Tryptophan-rich peptides were shown to bind to crotamine and interfere with its DNA binding. Crotamine myofiber distribution and affinity for tryptophan-rich peptides provide insights on its mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Pompeia
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Genetics Laboratory, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Currently an Independent Researcher, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Irina Kerkis
- Genetics Laboratory, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mikhail G Kolonin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
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29
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Khamtorn P, Peigneur S, Amorim FG, Quinton L, Tytgat J, Daduang S. De Novo Transcriptome Analysis of the Venom of Latrodectus geometricus with the Discovery of an Insect-Selective Na Channel Modulator. Molecules 2021; 27:molecules27010047. [PMID: 35011282 PMCID: PMC8746590 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, is a predator of a variety of agricultural insects and is also hazardous for humans. Its venom is a true pharmacopeia representing neurotoxic peptides targeting the ion channels and/or receptors of both vertebrates and invertebrates. The lack of transcriptomic information, however, limits our knowledge of the diversity of components present in its venom. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) carry out a transcriptomic analysis of the venom, and (2) investigate the bioactivity of the venom using an electrophysiological bioassay. From 32,505 assembled transcripts, 8 toxin families were classified, and the ankyrin repeats (ANK), agatoxin, centipede toxin, ctenitoxin, lycotoxin, scorpion toxin-like, and SCP families were reported in the L. geometricus venom gland. The diversity of L. geometricus venom was also uncovered by the transcriptomics approach with the presence of defensins, chitinases, translationally controlled tumor proteins (TCTPs), leucine-rich proteins, serine proteases, and other important venom components. The venom was also chromatographically purified, and the activity contained in the fractions was investigated using an electrophysiological bioassay with the use of a voltage clamp on ion channels in order to find if the neurotoxic effects of the spider venom could be linked to a particular molecular target. The findings show that U24-ctenitoxin-Pn1a involves the inhibition of the insect sodium (Nav) channels, BgNav and DmNav. This study provides an overview of the molecular diversity of L. geometricus venom, which can be used as a reference for the venom of other spider species. The venom composition profile also increases our knowledge for the development of novel insecticides targeting voltage-gated sodium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pornsawan Khamtorn
- Program in Research and Development in Pharmaceuticals, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand;
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Fernanda Gobbi Amorim
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, MolSys Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (F.G.A.); (L.Q.)
| | - Loïc Quinton
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, MolSys Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (F.G.A.); (L.Q.)
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Campus Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Sakda Daduang
- Center for Research and Development of Herbal Health Products (CDR-HHP), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Division of Pharmacognosy and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Correspondence:
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30
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Zhu S, Gao B, Umetsu Y, Peigneur S, Li P, Ohki S, Tytgat J. Adaptively evolved human oral actinomyces-sourced defensins show therapeutic potential. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 14:e14499. [PMID: 34927385 PMCID: PMC8819291 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of eukaryote‐derived antimicrobial peptides as systemically administered drugs has proven a challenging task. Here, we report the first human oral actinomyces‐sourced defensin—actinomycesin—that shows promise for systemic therapy. Actinomycesin and its homologs are only present in actinobacteria and myxobacteria, and share similarity with a group of ancient invertebrate‐type defensins reported in fungi and invertebrates. Signatures of natural selection were detected in defensins from the actinomyces colonized in human oral cavity and ruminant rumen and dental plaque, highlighting their role in adaptation to complex multispecies bacterial communities. Consistently, actinomycesin exhibited potent antibacterial activity against oral bacteria and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus and synergized with two classes of human salivary antibacterial factors. Actinomycesin specifically inhibited bacterial peptidoglycan synthesis and displayed weak immunomodulatory activity and low toxicity on human and mammalian cells and ion channels in the heart and central nervous system. Actinomycesin was highly efficient in mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae and mice with MRSA‐induced experimental peritoneal infection. This work identifies human oral bacteria as a new source of systemic anti‐infective drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunyi Zhu
- Group of Peptide Biology and Evolution, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Gao
- Group of Peptide Biology and Evolution, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yoshitaka Umetsu
- Center for Nano Materials and Technology (CNMT), Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Nomi, Japan
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ping Li
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety (Chinese Academy of Sciences), National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shinya Ohki
- Center for Nano Materials and Technology (CNMT), Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Nomi, Japan
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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31
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Mitchell ML, Hossain MA, Lin F, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Peigneur S, Wai DCC, Delaine C, Blyth AJ, Forbes BE, Tytgat J, Wade JD, Norton RS. Identification, Synthesis, Conformation and Activity of an Insulin-like Peptide from a Sea Anemone. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1785. [PMID: 34944429 PMCID: PMC8698791 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of insulin and insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in vertebrate animals is well studied. Numerous ILPs are also found in invertebrates, although there is uncertainty as to the function and role of many of these peptides. We have identified transcripts with similarity to the insulin family in the tentacle transcriptomes of the sea anemone Oulactis sp. (Actiniaria: Actiniidae). The translated transcripts showed that these insulin-like peptides have highly conserved A- and B-chains among individuals of this species, as well as other Anthozoa. An Oulactis sp. ILP sequence (IlO1_i1) was synthesized using Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis of the individual chains, followed by regioselective disulfide bond formation of the intra-A and two interchain disulfide bonds. Bioactivity studies of IlO1_i1 were conducted on human insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptors, and on voltage-gated potassium, sodium, and calcium channels. IlO1_i1 did not bind to the insulin or insulin-like growth factor receptors, but showed weak activity against KV1.2, 1.3, 3.1, and 11.1 (hERG) channels, as well as NaV1.4 channels. Further functional studies are required to determine the role of this peptide in the sea anemone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela L. Mitchell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, G.P.O. Box 666, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
- Biodiversity and Geosciences, Queensland Museum, P.O. Box 3000, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (M.A.H.); (F.L.); (J.D.W.)
- School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Feng Lin
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (M.A.H.); (F.L.); (J.D.W.)
| | - Ernesto L. Pinheiro-Junior
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, O&N 2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (E.L.P.-J.); (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, O&N 2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (E.L.P.-J.); (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Dorothy C. C. Wai
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Carlie Delaine
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; (C.D.); (A.J.B.); (B.E.F.)
| | - Andrew J. Blyth
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; (C.D.); (A.J.B.); (B.E.F.)
| | - Briony E. Forbes
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; (C.D.); (A.J.B.); (B.E.F.)
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, O&N 2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (E.L.P.-J.); (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - John D. Wade
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (M.A.H.); (F.L.); (J.D.W.)
- School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Raymond S. Norton
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- ARC Centre for Fragment-Based Design, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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32
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Pinheiro-Junior EL, Boldrini-França J, Takeda AAS, Costa TR, Peigneur S, Cardoso IA, Oliveira ISD, Sampaio SV, de Mattos Fontes MR, Tytgat J, Arantes EC. Towards toxin PEGylation: The example of rCollinein-1, a snake venom thrombin-like enzyme, as a PEGylated biopharmaceutical prototype. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 190:564-573. [PMID: 34506860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PEGylation was firstly described around 50 years ago and has been used for more than 30 years as a strategy to improve the drugability of biopharmaceuticals. However, it remains poorly employed in toxinology, even though it may be a promising strategy to empower these compounds in therapeutics. This work reports the PEGylation of rCollinein-1, a recombinant snake venom serine protease (SVSP), able to degrade fibrinogen and inhibit the hEAG1 potassium channel. We compared the functional, structural, and immunogenic properties of the non-PEGylated (rCollinein-1) and PEGylated (PEG-rCollinein-1) forms. PEG-rCollinein-1 shares similar kinetic parameters with rCollinein-1, maintaining its capability of degrading fibrinogen, but with reduced activity on hEAG1 channel. CD analysis revealed the maintenance of protein conformation after PEGylation, and thermal shift assays demonstrated similar thermostability. Both forms of the enzyme showed to be non-toxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In silico epitope prediction indicated three putative immunogenic peptides. However, immune response on mice showed PEG-rCollinein-1 was devoid of immunogenicity. PEGylation directed rCollinein-1 activity towards hemostasis control, broadening its possibilities to be employed as a defibrinogenant agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Lopes Pinheiro-Junior
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 - PO box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johara Boldrini-França
- University of Vila Velha, Av. Comissário José Dantas de Melo, 21, Boa Vista II, 29102-920 Vila Velha, ES, Brazil
| | | | - Tássia Rafaella Costa
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 - PO box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iara Aimê Cardoso
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Isadora Sousa de Oliveira
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Suely Vilela Sampaio
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 - PO box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eliane Candiani Arantes
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n°, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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Kulbatskii D, Shenkarev Z, Bychkov M, Loktyushov E, Shulepko M, Koshelev S, Povarov I, Popov A, Peigneur S, Chugunov A, Kozlov S, Sharonova I, Efremov R, Skrebitsky V, Tytgat J, Kirpichnikov M, Lyukmanova E. Human Three-Finger Protein Lypd6 Is a Negative Modulator of the Cholinergic System in the Brain. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:662227. [PMID: 34631692 PMCID: PMC8494132 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.662227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lypd6 is a GPI-tethered protein from the Ly-6/uPAR family expressed in the brain. Lypd6 enhances the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, although its action on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been also proposed. To investigate a cholinergic activity of Lypd6, we studied a recombinant water-soluble variant of the human protein (ws-Lypd6) containing isolated “three-finger” LU-domain. Experiments at different nAChR subtypes expressed in Xenopus oocytes revealed the negative allosteric modulatory activity of ws-Lypd6. Ws-Lypd6 inhibited ACh-evoked currents at α3β4- and α7-nAChRs with IC50 of ∼35 and 10 μM, respectively, and the maximal amplitude of inhibition of 30–50%. EC50 of ACh at α3β4-nAChRs (∼30 μM) was not changed in the presence of 35 μM ws-Lypd6, while the maximal amplitude of ACh-evoked current was reduced by ∼20%. Ws-Lypd6 did not elicit currents through nAChRs in the absence of ACh. Application of 1 μM ws-Lypd6 significantly inhibited (up to ∼28%) choline-evoked current at α7-nAChRs in rat hippocampal slices. Similar to snake neurotoxin α-bungarotoxin, ws-Lypd6 suppressed the long-term potentiation (LTP) in mouse hippocampal slices. Colocalization of endogenous GPI-tethered Lypd6 with α3β4- and α7-nAChRs was detected in primary cortical and hippocampal neurons. Ws-Lypd6 interaction with the extracellular domain of α7-nAChR was modeled using the ensemble protein-protein docking protocol. The interaction of all three Lypd6 loops (“fingers”) with the entrance to the orthosteric ligand-binding site and the loop C of the primary receptor subunit was predicted. The results obtained allow us to consider Lypd6 as the endogenous negative modulator involved in the regulation of the cholinergic system in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii Kulbatskii
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Zakhar Shenkarev
- Structural Biology Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia.,Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim Bychkov
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugene Loktyushov
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail Shulepko
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Koshelev
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor Povarov
- Brain Research Department, Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Popov
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Neuroscience, Nizhny Novgorod University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anton Chugunov
- Structural Biology Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia.,Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,International Laboratory for Supercomputer Atomistic Modelling and Multi-Scale Analysis, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Kozlov
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina Sharonova
- Brain Research Department, Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman Efremov
- Structural Biology Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia.,Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,International Laboratory for Supercomputer Atomistic Modelling and Multi-Scale Analysis, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mikhail Kirpichnikov
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia.,Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Lyukmanova
- Bioengineering Department, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia.,Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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Jacobsson E, Peigneur S, Andersson HS, Laborde Q, Strand M, Tytgat J, Göransson U. Functional Characterization of the Nemertide α Family of Peptide Toxins. J Nat Prod 2021; 84:2121-2128. [PMID: 34445875 PMCID: PMC8406415 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Peptide toxins find use in medicine, biotechnology, and agriculture. They are exploited as pharmaceutical tools, particularly for the investigation of ion channels. Here, we report the synthesis and activity of a novel family of peptide toxins: the cystine-knotted α nemertides. Following the prototypic α-1 and -2 (1 and 2), six more nemertides were discovered by mining of available nemertean transcriptomes. Here, we describe their synthesis using solid phase peptide chemistry and their oxidative folding by using an improved protocol. Nemertides α-2 to α-7 (2-7) were produced to characterize their effect on voltage-gated sodium channels (Blatella germanica BgNaV1 and mammalian NaVs1.1-1.8). In addition, ion channel activities were matched to in vivo tests using an Artemia microwell assay. Although nemertides demonstrate high sequence similarity, they display variability in activity on the tested NaVs. The nemertides are all highly toxic to Artemia, with EC50 values in the sub-low micromolar range, and all manifest preference for the insect BgNaV1 channel. Structure-activity relationship analysis revealed key residues for NaV-subtype selectivity. Combined with low EC50 values (e.g., NaV1.1: 7.9 nM (α-6); NaV1.3: 9.4 nM (α-5); NaV1.4: 14.6 nM (α-4)) this underscores the potential utility of α-nemertides for rational optimization to improve selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Jacobsson
- Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 591, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology
& Pharmacology, University of Leuven
(KU Leuven), O&N 2, PO Box 992, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Håkan S. Andersson
- Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 591, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Quentin Laborde
- Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 591, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Strand
- Swedish
Species Information Centre, Swedish University
of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology
& Pharmacology, University of Leuven
(KU Leuven), O&N 2, PO Box 992, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 591, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
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35
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Depuydt AS, Rihon J, Cheneval O, Vanmeert M, Schroeder CI, Craik DJ, Lescrinier E, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. Cyclic Peptides as T-Type Calcium Channel Blockers: Characterization and Molecular Mapping of the Binding Site. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1379-1389. [PMID: 34423272 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
T-type calcium (CaV3) channels play a crucial role in the generation and propagation of action potentials in excitable cells and are considered potential drug targets for the treatment of neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Given the limited pharmacological repertoire for these channels, there is a great need for novel potent and selective CaV3 channel inhibitors. In this study, we used Xenopus oocytes to heterologously express CaV3.1 channels and characterized the interaction with a small cyclic peptide, PnCS1. Using molecular modeling, PnCS1 was docked into the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human CaV3.1 channel and molecular dynamics were performed on the resultant complex. The binding site of the peptide was mapped with the involvement of critical amino acids located in the pore region and fenestrations of the channel. More specifically, we found that PnCS1 reclines in the central cavity of the pore domain of the CaV3.1 channel and resides stably between the selectivity filter and the intracellular gate, blocking the conduction pathway of the channel. Using Multiple Attribute Positional Scanning approaches, we developed a series of PnCS1 analogues. These analogues had a reduced level of inhibition, confirming the importance of specific residues and corroborating our modeling. In summary, functional studies of PnCS1 on the CaV3.1 channel combined with molecular dynamics results provide the basis for understanding the molecular interactions of PnCS1 with CaV3.1 and are fundamental to structure-based drug discovery for treating CaV3 channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Depuydt
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Rihon
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland Australia
| | - Michiel Vanmeert
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland Australia.,National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland Australia
| | - Eveline Lescrinier
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven 3000, Belgium
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Nihei KI, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Lange AB, Konno K. Isolation and characterization of FMRFamide-like peptides in the venoms of solitary sphecid wasps. Peptides 2021; 142:170575. [PMID: 34023397 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Purification of small peptide components in the venoms of the solitary sphecid wasps, Sphex argentatus argentatus and Isodontia harmandi, led to the isolation of several major peptides. Analysis of MS/MS spectra by MALDI-TOF/TOF revealed the sequence of a new peptide Sa112 (EDVDHVFLRF-NH2), which is structurally very similar to leucomyosupressin (pQDVDHVFLRF-NH2) and SchistoFLRFamide (PDVDHVFLRF-NH2), the FMRFamide-like peptides from cockroach and locust, respectively. Indeed, this new peptide, like SchistoFLRFamide, inhibited the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions of the locust oviduct in a dose-dependent manner. A non-amidated peptide Sa12b (EDVDHVFLRF) was also isolated, but this peptide had no effect on spontaneous locust oviduct contraction. This is the first example of a FMRF-like peptide to be found in solitary wasp venom. Additionally, a truncated form of the myosuppressins, which has previously been synthesized and tested for biological activity, DVDHVFLRF-NH2 (Sh5b), was found for the first time as a natural product. Four other novel peptides were isolated and characterized as Sa81 (EDDLEDFNPTVS), Sa10 (EDDLEDFNPTIA), Sh41 (DDLSDFNPKV), and Sh42 (EDDLSDFNPKV). They are structurally related to each other, having a high content of acidic amino acids, but no structural similarity to any known peptides. Ion channel associated activities of Sh41 and Sh42 were tested, but did not show any activity for Na+, K+, Ca2+ channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken-Ichi Nihei
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi 321-0943, Japan
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Angela B Lange
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Katsuhiro Konno
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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Gubič Š, Hendrickx LA, Toplak Ž, Sterle M, Peigneur S, Tomašič T, Pardo LA, Tytgat J, Zega A, Mašič LP. Discovery of K V 1.3 ion channel inhibitors: Medicinal chemistry approaches and challenges. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:2423-2473. [PMID: 33932253 PMCID: PMC8252768 DOI: 10.1002/med.21800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The KV 1.3 voltage-gated potassium ion channel is involved in many physiological processes both at the plasma membrane and in the mitochondria, chiefly in the immune and nervous systems. Therapeutic targeting KV 1.3 with specific peptides and small molecule inhibitors shows great potential for treating cancers and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and myasthenia gravis. However, no KV 1.3-targeted compounds have been approved for therapeutic use to date. This review focuses on the presentation of approaches for discovering new KV 1.3 peptide and small-molecule inhibitors, and strategies to improve the selectivity of active compounds toward KV 1.3. Selectivity of dalatazide (ShK-186), a synthetic derivate of the sea anemone toxin ShK, was achieved by chemical modification and has successfully reached clinical trials as a potential therapeutic for treating autoimmune diseases. Other peptides and small-molecule inhibitors are critically evaluated for their lead-like characteristics and potential for progression into clinical development. Some small-molecule inhibitors with well-defined structure-activity relationships have been optimized for selective delivery to mitochondria, and these offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancers. This overview of KV 1.3 inhibitors and methodologies is designed to provide a good starting point for drug discovery to identify novel effective KV 1.3 modulators against this target in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Špela Gubič
- Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Louise A. Hendrickx
- Toxicology and PharmacologyUniversity of Leuven, Campus GasthuisbergLeuvenBelgium
| | - Žan Toplak
- Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Maša Sterle
- Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | | | - Luis A. Pardo
- AG OncophysiologyMax‐Planck Institute for Experimental MedicineGöttingenGermany
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and PharmacologyUniversity of Leuven, Campus GasthuisbergLeuvenBelgium
| | - Anamarija Zega
- Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
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Chernykh MA, Kuldyushev NA, Peigneur S, Berkut AA, Tytgat J, Efremov RG, Vassilevski AA, Chugunov AO. Derivative of Scorpion Neurotoxin BeM9 Is Selective for Insect Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels. Russ J Bioorg Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162021040063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Scorpion α-toxins are small proteins inhibiting the inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels. They can selectively act on either mammalian (mammal toxins) or insect channels (insect toxins), or affect both types of channels (α-like toxins). Currently no model has been proposed that fully explains the dependence of selectivity upon amino acid sequence, but some patterns have already been established. Thus, most mammal toxins have an aspartic acid residue in position 8, which is involved in the formation of the nest motif, but it is still not clear whether this residue interacts directly with channels. The objective of our study was to obtain a derivative of the α-like toxin BeM9 with the replacement of lysine in position 8 by glutamate (K8E), changing the charge, but excluding the formation of the nest motif. In addition, we replaced the tyrosine in position 17 with glycine (Y17G), which is characteristic of mammal toxins. Surprisingly, the double-mutant derivative BeM9EG lost its activity on mammalian channels, becoming an insect toxin. To explain these changes, we constructed models of BeM9 and BeM9EG complexes with channels, and also performed molecular dynamics of isolated toxins. Analysis of intermolecular contacts in the complexes did not explain the reason for the selectivity change. Nevertheless, the structure of intramolecular contacts and data on molecular mobility indicate an important role of residues K8 and Y17 in stabilizing a certain conformation of BeM9 loops. We assume that the replacement of these residues allosterically affects the efficiency of toxin binding to channels.
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Pucca MB, Fry BG, Sartim MA, Peigneur S, Monteiro WM. Editorial: Venoms and Toxins: At the Crossroads of Basic, Applied and Clinical Immunology. Front Immunol 2021; 12:716508. [PMID: 34249021 PMCID: PMC8266298 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.716508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela B Pucca
- Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Marco A Sartim
- Department of Research, Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation, Manaus, Brazil.,Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - Wuelton M Monteiro
- Department of Research, Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation, Manaus, Brazil.,School of Health Sciences, Amazonas State University, Manaus, Brazil
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Tabakmakher VM, Kuzmenkov AI, Gigolaev AM, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Peigneur S, Efremov RG, Tytgat J, Vassilevski AA. Artificial Peptide Ligand of Potassium
Channel KV1.1 with High Selectivity. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093021020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Toplak Ž, Hendrickx LA, Abdelaziz R, Shi X, Peigneur S, Tomašič T, Tytgat J, Peterlin-Mašič L, Pardo LA. Overcoming challenges of HERG potassium channel liability through rational design: Eag1 inhibitors for cancer treatment. Med Res Rev 2021; 42:183-226. [PMID: 33945158 DOI: 10.1002/med.21808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Two decades of research have proven the relevance of ion channel expression for tumor progression in virtually every indication, and it has become clear that inhibition of specific ion channels will eventually become part of the oncology therapeutic arsenal. However, ion channels play relevant roles in all aspects of physiology, and specificity for the tumor tissue remains a challenge to avoid undesired effects. Eag1 (KV 10.1) is a voltage-gated potassium channel whose expression is very restricted in healthy tissues outside of the brain, while it is overexpressed in 70% of human tumors. Inhibition of Eag1 reduces tumor growth, but the search for potent inhibitors for tumor therapy suffers from the structural similarities with the cardiac HERG channel, a major off-target. Existing inhibitors show low specificity between the two channels, and screenings for Eag1 binders are prone to enrichment in compounds that also bind HERG. Rational drug design requires knowledge of the structure of the target and the understanding of structure-function relationships. Recent studies have shown subtle structural differences between Eag1 and HERG channels with profound functional impact. Thus, although both targets' structure is likely too similar to identify leads that exclusively bind to one of the channels, the structural information combined with the new knowledge of the functional relevance of particular residues or areas suggests the possibility of selective targeting of Eag1 in cancer therapies. Further development of selective Eag1 inhibitors can lead to first-in-class compounds for the treatment of different cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Žan Toplak
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Louise A Hendrickx
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Reham Abdelaziz
- AG Oncophysiology, Max-Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xiaoyi Shi
- AG Oncophysiology, Max-Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tihomir Tomašič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Luis A Pardo
- AG Oncophysiology, Max-Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
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Tabakmakher VM, Gigolaev AM, Peigneur S, Krylov NA, Tytgat J, Chugunov AO, Vassilevski AA, Efremov RG. Potassium channel blocker crafted by α-hairpinin scaffold engineering. Biophys J 2021; 120:2471-2481. [PMID: 33932436 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The α-Hairpinins are a family of plant defense peptides with a common fold presenting two short α-helices stabilized by two invariant S-S-bridges. We have shown previously that substitution of just two amino acid residues in a wheat α-hairpinin Tk-AMP-X2 leads to Tk-hefu-2 that features specific affinity to voltage-gated potassium channels KV1.3. Here, we utilize a combined molecular modeling approach based on molecular dynamics simulations and protein surface topography technique to improve the affinity of Tk-hefu-2 to KV1.3 while preserving its specificity. An important advance of this work compared with our previous studies is transition from the analysis of various physicochemical properties of an isolated toxin molecule to its consideration in complex with its target, a membrane-bound ion channel. As a result, a panel of computationally designed Tk-hefu-2 derivatives was synthesized and tested against KV1.3. The most active mutant Tk-hefu-10 showed a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of ∼150 nM being >10 times more active than Tk-hefu-2 and >200 times more active than the original Tk-hefu. We conclude that α-hairpinins provide an attractive disulfide-stabilized scaffold for the rational design of ion channel inhibitors. Furthermore, the success rate can be considerably increased by the proposed "target-based" iterative strategy of molecular design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin M Tabakmakher
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Andrei M Gigolaev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nikolay A Krylov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anton O Chugunov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow State University, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast, Russia
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow State University, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast, Russia.
| | - Roman G Efremov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow State University, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast, Russia
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An D, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. WIN55,212-2, a Dual Modulator of Cannabinoid Receptors and G Protein-Coupled Inward Rectifier Potassium Channels. Biomedicines 2021; 9:484. [PMID: 33924979 PMCID: PMC8146939 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The coupling of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, to G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium channels, GIRK1 and GIRK2, modulates neuronal excitability in the human brain. The present study established and validated the functional expression in a Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system of CB1 and CB2 receptors, interacting with heteromeric GIRK1/2 channels and a regulator of G protein signaling, RGS4. This ex vivo system enables the discovery of a wide range of ligands interacting orthosterically or allosterically with CB1 and/or CB2 receptors. WIN55,212-2, a non-selective agonist of CB1 and CB2, was used to explore the CB1- or CB2-GIRK1/2-RGS4 signaling cascade. We show that WIN55,212-2 activates CB1 and CB2 at low concentrations whereas at higher concentrations it exerts a direct block of GIRK1/2. This illustrates a dual modulatory function, a feature not described before, which helps to explain the adverse effects induced by WIN55,212-2 in vivo. When comparing the effects with other typical cannabinoids such as Δ9-THC, CBD, CP55,940, and rimonabant, only WIN55,212-2 can significantly block GIRK1/2. Interestingly, the inward rectifier potassium channel, IRK1, a non-G protein-coupled potassium channel important for setting the resting membrane voltage and highly similar to GIRK1 and GIRK2, is not sensitive to WIN55,212-2, Δ9-THC, CBD, CP55,940, or rimonabant. From this, it is concluded that WIN55,212-2 selectively blocks GIRK1/2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O & N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O & N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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Ameamsri U, Chaveerach A, Sudmoon R, Tanee T, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. Oleamide in Ipomoea and Dillenia Species and Inflammatory Activity Investigated through Ion Channel Inhibition. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2021; 22:254-261. [PMID: 32515307 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666200607185250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oleamide is an essential substance for human health. So, the plants with high oleamide content are great sources for health care products. OBJECTIVE This study is conducted to investigate the quality of oleamide in plants and test the bioactivity in the selected two studied species. METHODS The three Ipomoea and five Dillenia species including Ipomoea alba, Ipomoea aquatica and Ipomoea pes-caprae, and Dillenia indica, Dillenia obovata, Dillenia ovata, Dillenia parviflora and Dillenia pentagyna were investigated for the quantity of oleamide by high-performance liquid chromatography. The biological activity test was conducted on the powder formulation of the chosen plants, Dillenia ovata and Dillenia parviflora at a ratio of 30:70, for anti-inflammatory activity ex vivo on a panel of molecular targets through ion channel inhibition including voltage-gated sodium channel, voltage-gated potassium channel, and the cardiac ion as human ether-a-go-go related gene. RESULTS The results showed that the leaf extracts of I. aquatica and D. ovata gave the highest and subsequent oleamide quantity i.e. 7.52 and 5.17 mg/g, respectively. Out of the Dillenia formulation which contained various compounds, oleamide showed the highest percentages of inhibition at 8.0-20.0%, and 6.2-14.2% in voltage-gated sodium channel, and voltage-gated potassium channel which had slightly lower values than the oleamide standard, and no effect as 0.0% value inhibition in the cardiac ion channel. CONCLUSION The Dillenia formulation exhibits anti-inflammatory activity without affecting the heart. Accordingly, the three studied Ipomoea and three studied Dillenia species may be used for the same activity as a single component or formulation with effective solvent for disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unchaleeporn Ameamsri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Arunrat Chaveerach
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | | | - Tawatchai Tanee
- Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
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Zhu S, Gao B, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. How a Scorpion Toxin Selectively Captures a Prey Sodium Channel: The Molecular and Evolutionary Basis Uncovered. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:3149-3164. [PMID: 32556211 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing resistance of insects to chemical pesticides is reducing the effectiveness of conventional methods for pest control and thus, the development of novel insecticidal agents is imperative. Scorpion toxins specific for insect voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) have been considered as one of the most promising insecticide alternatives due to their host specificity, rapidly evoked toxicity, biodegradability, and the lack of resistance. However, they have not been developed for uses in agriculture and public health, mainly because of a limited understanding of their molecular and evolutionary basis controlling their phylogenetic selectivity. Here, we show that the traditionally defined insect-selective scorpion toxin LqhIT2 specifically captures a prey Nav through a conserved trapping apparatus comprising a three-residue-formed cavity and a structurally adjacent leucine. The former serves as a detector to recognize and bind a highly exposed channel residue conserved in insects and spiders, two major prey items for scorpions; and the latter subsequently seizes the "moving" voltage sensor via hydrophobic interactions to reduce activation energy for channel opening, demonstrating its action in an enzyme-like manner. Based on the established toxin-channel interaction model in combination with toxicity assay, we enlarged the toxic spectrum of LqhIT2 to spiders and certain other arthropods. Furthermore, we found that genetic background-dependent cavity shapes determine the species selectivity of LqhIT2-related toxins. We expect that the discovery of the trapping apparatus will improve our understanding of the evolution and design principle of Nav-targeted toxins from a diversity of arthropod predators and accelerate their uses in pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunyi Zhu
- Group of Peptide Biology and Evolution, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects & Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Gao
- Group of Peptide Biology and Evolution, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects & Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
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Sintsova O, Gladkikh I, Monastyrnaya M, Tabakmakher V, Yurchenko E, Menchinskaya E, Pislyagin E, Andreev Y, Kozlov S, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Aminin D, Kozlovskaya E, Leychenko E. Sea Anemone Kunitz-Type Peptides Demonstrate Neuroprotective Activity in the 6-Hydroxydopamine Induced Neurotoxicity Model. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9030283. [PMID: 33802055 PMCID: PMC8001995 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9030283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Kunitz-type peptides from venomous animals have been known to inhibit different proteinases and also to modulate ion channels and receptors, demonstrating analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine and many other biological activities. At present, there is evidence of their neuroprotective effects. We have studied eight Kunitz-type peptides of the sea anemone Heteractis crispa to find molecules with cytoprotective activity in the 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity model on neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells. It has been shown that only five peptides significantly increase the viability of neuronal cells treated with 6-OHDA. The TRPV1 channel blocker, HCRG21, has revealed the neuroprotective effect that could be indirect evidence of TRPV1 involvement in the disorders associated with neurodegeneration. The pre-incubation of Neuro-2a cells with HCRG21 followed by 6-OHDA treatment has resulted in a prominent reduction in ROS production compared the untreated cells. It is possible that the observed effect is due to the ability of the peptide act as an efficient free-radical scavenger. One more leader peptide, InhVJ, has shown a neuroprotective activity and has been studied at concentrations of 0.01–10.0 µM. The target of InhVJ is still unknown, but it was the best of all eight homologous peptides in an absolute cell viability increment on 38% of the control in the 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity model. The targets of the other three active peptides remain unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Sintsova
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Irina Gladkikh
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Margarita Monastyrnaya
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Valentin Tabakmakher
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (V.T.); (Y.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Ekaterina Yurchenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Ekaterina Menchinskaya
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Evgeny Pislyagin
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Yaroslav Andreev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (V.T.); (Y.A.); (S.K.)
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya str. 8, bld. 2, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Kozlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (V.T.); (Y.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg O&N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg O&N2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Dmitry Aminin
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Emma Kozlovskaya
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Elena Leychenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Pr. 100 let Vladivostoku, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (O.S.); (I.G.); (M.M.); (E.Y.); (E.M.); (E.P.); (D.A.); (E.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-(423)-231-11-68
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47
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Almeida CGM, Costa-Higuchi K, Piovesan AR, Moro CF, Venturin GT, Greggio S, Costa-Ferro ZS, Salamoni SD, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, de Lima ME, Silva CND, Vinadé L, Rowan EG, DaCosta JC, Dal Belo CA, Carlini CR. Neurotoxic and convulsant effects induced by jack bean ureases on the mammalian nervous system. Toxicology 2021; 454:152737. [PMID: 33631299 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ureases are microbial virulence factors either because of the enzymatic release of ammonia or due to many other non-enzymatic effects. Here we studied two neurotoxic urease isoforms, Canatoxin (CNTX) and Jack Bean Urease (JBU), produced by the plant Canavalia ensiformis, whose mechanisms of action remain elusive. The neurotoxins provoke convulsions in rodents (LD50 ∼2 mg/kg) and stimulate exocytosis in cell models, affecting intracellular calcium levels. Here, electrophysiological and brain imaging techniques were applied to elucidate their mode of action. While systemic administration of the toxins causes tonic-clonic seizures in rodents, JBU injected into rat hippocampus induced spike-wave discharges similar to absence-like seizures. JBU reduced the amplitude of compound action potential from mouse sciatic nerve in a tetrodotoxin-insensitive manner. Hippocampal slices from CNTX-injected animals or slices treated in vitro with JBU failed to induce long term potentiation upon tetanic stimulation. Rat cortical synaptosomes treated with JBU released L-glutamate. JBU increased the intracellular calcium levels and spontaneous firing rate in rat hippocampus neurons. MicroPET scans of CNTX-injected rats revealed increased [18]Fluoro-deoxyglucose uptake in epileptogenesis-related areas like hippocampus and thalamus. Curiously, CNTX did not affect voltage-gated sodium, calcium or potassium channels currents, neither did it interfere on cholinergic receptors, suggesting an indirect mode of action that could be related to the ureases' membrane-disturbing properties. Understanding the neurotoxic mode of action of C. ensiformis ureases could help to unveil the so far underappreciated relevance of these toxins in diseases caused by urease-producing microorganisms, in which the human central nervous system is affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gabriel Moreira Almeida
- Laboratory of Neurotoxins, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Kiyo Costa-Higuchi
- Laboratory of Neurotoxins, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Materials Technology and Engineering, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angela Regina Piovesan
- Laboratory of Neurotoxins, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Celular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carlo Frederico Moro
- Laboratory of Neurotoxins, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gianina Teribele Venturin
- Preclinical Research Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Samuel Greggio
- Preclinical Research Center, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Zaquer Susana Costa-Ferro
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Simone Denise Salamoni
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Laboratory of Toxicology & Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Laboratory of Toxicology & Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Elena de Lima
- Institute of Teaching and Research, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Lúcia Vinadé
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Toxinology (Lanetox), Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil
| | - Edward G Rowan
- Strathclyde Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jaderson Costa DaCosta
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cháriston André Dal Belo
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Toxinology (Lanetox), Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil.
| | - Celia Regina Carlini
- Laboratory of Neurotoxins, Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Scholl of Medicine, Pontificía Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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48
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Ameamsri U, Tanee T, Chaveerach A, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Sudmoon R. Anti-inflammatory and detoxification activities of some Ipomoea species determined by ion channel inhibition and their phytochemical constituents. ScienceAsia 2021. [DOI: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2021.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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49
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Kalina RS, Peigneur S, Gladkikh IN, Dmitrenok PS, Kim NY, Leychenko EV, Monastyrnaya MM, Tytgat J, Kozlovskaya EP. New Sea Anemone Toxin RTX-VI Selectively Modulates Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels. DOKL BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2020; 495:292-295. [PMID: 33368037 DOI: 10.1134/s1607672920060071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A new neurotoxin RTX-VI that modulates the voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) was isolated from the ethanolic extract of the sea anemone Heteractis crispa. Its amino acid sequence was determined using the combination of Edman degradation and tandem mass spectrometry. RTX-VI turned out to be an unusual natural analogue of the previously described sea anemone toxin RTX-III. The RTX-VI molecule consists of two disulfide-linked peptide chains and is devoid of Arg13, which is important for the selectivity and affinity of such peptides for the NaV channels. Electrophysiological screening of RTV-VI on NaV channel subtypes showed its selective interaction with the central nervous system (NaV1.2, NaV1.6) and insect (BgNaV1, VdNaV1) sodium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Kalina
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia.
| | - S Peigneur
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - I N Gladkikh
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - P S Dmitrenok
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - N Y Kim
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - E V Leychenko
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - M M Monastyrnaya
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - J Tytgat
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - E P Kozlovskaya
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
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50
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Schmidt CA, Wilson DT, Cooke I, Potriquet J, Tungatt K, Muruganandah V, Boote C, Kuek F, Miles JJ, Kupz A, Ryan S, Loukas A, Bansal PS, Takjoo R, Miller DJ, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Daly NL. Identification and Characterization of a Peptide from the Stony Coral Heliofungia actiniformis. J Nat Prod 2020; 83:3454-3463. [PMID: 33166137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Marine organisms produce a diverse range of toxins and bioactive peptides to support predation, competition, and defense. The peptide repertoires of stony corals (order Scleractinia) remain relatively understudied despite the presence of tentacles used for predation and defense that are likely to contain a range of bioactive compounds. Here, we show that a tentacle extract from the mushroom coral, Heliofungia actiniformis, contains numerous peptides with a range of molecular weights analogous to venom profiles from species such as cone snails. Using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry we characterized a 12-residue peptide (Hact-1) with a new sequence (GCHYTPFGLICF) and well-defined β-hairpin structure stabilized by a single disulfide bond. The sequence is encoded within the genome of the coral and expressed in the polyp body tissue. The structure present is common among toxins and venom peptides, but Hact-1 does not show activity against select examples of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria or a range of ion channels, common properties of such peptides. Instead, it appears to have a limited effect on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but the ecological function of the peptide remains unknown. The discovery of this peptide from H. actiniformis is likely to be the first of many from this and related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey A Schmidt
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - David T Wilson
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Ira Cooke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jeremy Potriquet
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- AB Sciex, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katie Tungatt
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Visai Muruganandah
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Chloë Boote
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Felicity Kuek
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - John J Miles
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Andreas Kupz
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Stephanie Ryan
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Paramjit S Bansal
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Rozita Takjoo
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Norelle L Daly
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
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