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Shaikh NY, Sunagar K. The deep-rooted origin of disulfide-rich spider venom toxins. eLife 2023; 12:83761. [PMID: 36757362 PMCID: PMC10017107 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider venoms are a complex concoction of enzymes, polyamines, inorganic salts, and disulfide-rich peptides (DRPs). Although DRPs are widely distributed and abundant, their bevolutionary origin has remained elusive. This knowledge gap stems from the extensive molecular divergence of DRPs and a lack of sequence and structural data from diverse lineages. By evaluating DRPs under a comprehensive phylogenetic, structural and evolutionary framework, we have not only identified 78 novel spider toxin superfamilies but also provided the first evidence for their common origin. We trace the origin of these toxin superfamilies to a primordial knot - which we name 'Adi Shakti', after the creator of the Universe according to Hindu mythology - 375 MYA in the common ancestor of Araneomorphae and Mygalomorphae. As the lineages under evaluation constitute nearly 60% of extant spiders, our findings provide fascinating insights into the early evolution and diversification of the spider venom arsenal. Reliance on a single molecular toxin scaffold by nearly all spiders is in complete contrast to most other venomous animals that have recruited into their venoms diverse toxins with independent origins. By comparatively evaluating the molecular evolutionary histories of araneomorph and mygalomorph spider venom toxins, we highlight their contrasting evolutionary diversification rates. Our results also suggest that venom deployment (e.g. prey capture or self-defense) influences evolutionary diversification of DRP toxin superfamilies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naeem Yusuf Shaikh
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science BangaloreBengaluruIndia
| | - Kartik Sunagar
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science BangaloreBengaluruIndia
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Molecular Diversity of Peptide Toxins in the Venom of Spider Heteropoda pingtungensis as Revealed by cDNA Library and Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14020140. [PMID: 35202167 PMCID: PMC8876598 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The venoms of toxic animals are chemical pools composed of various proteins, peptides, and small organic molecules used for predation and defense, in which the peptidic toxins have been intensively pursued mining modulators targeting disease-related ion channels and receptors as valuable drug pioneers. In the present study, we uncovered the molecular diversity of peptide toxins in the venom of the spider Heteropoda pingtungensis (H. pingtungensis) by using a combinatory strategy of venom gland cDNA library and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). An amount of 991 high-quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were identified from 1138 generated sequences, which fall into three categories, such as the toxin-like ESTs (531, 53.58%), the cellular component ESTs (255, 25.73%), and the no-match ESTs (205, 20.69%), as determined by gene function annotations. Of them, 190 non-redundant toxin-like peptides were identified and can be artificially grouped into 13 families based on their sequence homology and cysteine frameworks (families A–M). The predicted mature toxins contain 2–10 cysteines, which are predicted to form intramolecular disulfide bonds to stabilize their three-dimensional structures. Bioinformatics analysis showed that toxins from H. pingtungensis venom have high sequences variability and the biological targets for most toxins are unpredictable due to lack of homology to toxins with known functions in the database. Furthermore, RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF analyses have identified a total of 110 different peptides physically existing in the H. pingtungensis venom, and many RP-HPLC fractions showed potent inhibitory activity on the heterologously expressed NaV1.7 channel. Most importantly, two novel NaV1.7 peptide antagonists, µ-Sparatoxin-Hp1 and µ-Sparatoxin-Hp2, were characterized. In conclusion, the present study has added many new members to the spider toxin superfamily and built the foundation for identifying novel modulators targeting ion channels in the H. pingtungensis venom.
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Han Q, Huang L, Li J, Wang Z, Gao H, Yang Z, Zhou Z, Liu Z. Neurotoxins in the venom gland of Calommata signata, a burrowing spider. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2021; 40:100871. [PMID: 34315107 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Calommata signata, a burrowing spider, represents a special type of predation mode in spiders, and its utilization of toxins is different from that of web-weaving spiders and wandering spiders. The existing researches on spider toxins are mainly focused on the web-weaving and wandering spiders, but little attention on that of the burrowing spiders. Through transcriptome sequencing of C. signata venom gland and the remaining part as the counterpart tissue, 25 putative neurotoxin precursors were identified. These most neurotoxins were novel because their low similarities with the known sequences except for that of over 50% similarities in four neuropeptide toxins. The 25 neuropeptide toxins were divided into five families according to the constitution of cysteines for the possible disulfide bonds and the similarities of the deduced amino acid sequences. Besides neuropeptide toxins, other potential toxins in the venom gland were also analyzed. Unlike web-weaving spiders and wandering spiders, only a few neurotoxin genes were significantly expressed in the venom gland of C. signata. In the non-peptide toxin genes, only CsTryp_SPc-1, CsPA2-1, CsVa5-2 and four PDI genes were abundantly expressed in the venom gland. The present study provided an improved understanding on the spider toxin diversity and useful information for the exploitation of spider toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Han
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lixin Huang
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Jiangsu Lixiahe District Institute of Agricultural Sciences/National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Microbiology, Yangzhou 225007, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhaoying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Haoli Gao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhiming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhangjin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zewen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China.
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Lopez SMM, Aguilar JS, Fernandez JBB, Lao AGJ, Estrella MRR, Devanadera MKP, Ramones CMV, Villaraza AJL, Guevarra LA, Santiago-Bautista MR, Santiago LA. Neuroactive venom compounds obtained from Phlogiellus bundokalbo as potential leads for neurodegenerative diseases: insights on their acetylcholinesterase and beta-secretase inhibitory activities in vitro. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2021; 27:e20210009. [PMID: 34249120 PMCID: PMC8237997 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spider venom is a rich cocktail of neuroactive compounds designed to prey capture and defense against predators that act on neuronal membrane proteins, in particular, acetylcholinesterases (AChE) that regulate synaptic transmission through acetylcholine (ACh) hydrolysis - an excitatory neurotransmitter - and beta-secretases (BACE) that primarily cleave amyloid precursor proteins (APP), which are, in turn, relevant in the structural integrity of neurons. The present study provides preliminary evidence on the therapeutic potential of Phlogiellus bundokalbo venom against neurodegenerative diseases. Methods Spider venom was extracted by electrostimulation and fractionated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Neuroactivity of the whole venom was observed by a neurobehavioral response from Terebrio molitor larvae in vivo and fractions were screened for their inhibitory activities against AChE and BACE in vitro. Results The whole venom from P. bundokalbo demonstrated neuroactivity by inducing excitatory movements from T. molitor for 15 min. Sixteen fractions collected produced diverse mass fragments from MALDI-TOF-MS ranging from 900-4500 Da. Eleven of sixteen fractions demonstrated AChE inhibitory activities with 14.34% (± 2.60e-4) to 62.05% (± 6.40e-5) compared with donepezil which has 86.34% (± 3.90e-5) inhibition (p > 0.05), while none of the fractions were observed to exhibit BACE inhibition. Furthermore, three potent fractions against AChE, F1, F3, and F16 displayed competitive and uncompetitive inhibitions compared to donepezil as the positive control. Conclusion The venom of P. bundokalbo contains compounds that demonstrate neuroactivity and anti-AChE activities in vitro, which could comprise possible therapeutic leads for the development of cholinergic compounds against neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Miguel M Lopez
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008.,Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101
| | - Jeremey S Aguilar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008
| | - Jerene Bashia B Fernandez
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008
| | - Angelic Gayle J Lao
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008.,Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015.,The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015.,Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101
| | - Mitzi Rain R Estrella
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008
| | - Mark Kevin P Devanadera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008.,Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015.,The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015
| | - Cydee Marie V Ramones
- Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101
| | - Aaron Joseph L Villaraza
- Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101
| | - Leonardo A Guevarra
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008.,Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015
| | - Myla R Santiago-Bautista
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008.,Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015.,The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015
| | - Librado A Santiago
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1008.,Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015.,The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1015
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Integrative multiomics analysis of Premolis semirufa caterpillar venom in the search for molecules leading to a joint disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1995. [PMID: 33479267 PMCID: PMC7820220 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79769-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The joint disease called pararamosis is an occupational disease caused by accidental contact with bristles of the caterpillar Premolis semirufa. The chronic inflammatory process narrows the joint space and causes alterations in bone structure and cartilage degeneration, leading to joint stiffness. Aiming to determine the bristle components that could be responsible for this peculiar envenomation, in this work we have examined the toxin composition of the caterpillar bristles extract and compared it with the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in synovial biopsies of patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Among the proteins identified, 129 presented an average of 63% homology with human proteins and shared important conserved domains. Among the human homologous proteins, we identified seven DEGs upregulated in synovial biopsies from RA or OA patients using meta-analysis. This approach allowed us to suggest possible toxins from the pararama bristles that could be responsible for starting the joint disease observed in pararamosis. Moreover, the study of pararamosis, in turn, may lead to the discovery of specific pharmacological targets related to the early stages of articular diseases.
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Tang X, Yang J, Duan Z, Jiang L, Liu Z, Liang S. Molecular diversification of antimicrobial peptides from the wolf spider Lycosa sinensis venom based on peptidomic, transcriptomic, and bioinformatic analyses. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2020; 52:1274-1280. [PMID: 33090198 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmaa107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The venom of Lycosoidea spiders is a complex multicomponent mixture of neurotoxic peptides (main components) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as minor components. In this study, we described the high-throughput identification and analysis of AMPs from Lycosa sinensis venom (named LS-AMPs) using a combination strategy that includes the following three different analysis approaches: (i) peptidomic analysis, namely reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separation plus top-down sequencing by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS); (ii) transcriptomic analysis, namely cDNA library construction plus DNA sequencing; (iii) bioinformatic analysis, namely analysis and prediction for molecular characters of LS-AMPs by the online biology databases. In total, 52 sequences of AMPs were identified from L. sinensis venom, and all AMPs can be categorized into eight different families according to phylogenetic analysis and sequence identity. This is the largest number of AMPs identified from a spider species so far. In the present study, we demonstrated molecular characteristics, such as complex precursor, N- and/or C-terminally truncated analogs, and C-terminal amidation of LS-AMPs from L. sinensis venom. This is a preliminary investigation on the molecular diversification of venom-derived AMPs from the wolf spider species (family Lycosidae), and a detailed investigation on the functional diversity of LS-AMPs will be preformed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Tang
- Human Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources in the Nanyue Mountainous Region, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421008, China
- College of Life Science and Environment, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421008, China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education of China, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Zhigui Duan
- The National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Liping Jiang
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Zhonghua Liu
- The National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Songping Liang
- The National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
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Wang Y, Luo Z, Lei S, Li S, Li X, Yuan C. Effects and mechanism of gating modifier spider toxins on the hERG channel. Toxicon 2020; 189:56-64. [PMID: 33212100 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Jingzhaotoxin-I, -III, -IV, -XIII, and -35 (JZTX-I, -III, -IV, -XIII, and -35), gating modifier toxins isolated from the venom of the Chinese tarantula Chilobrachys Jingzhao, were reported to act on cardiac sodium channels and Kv channels. JZTX-I and JZTX-XIII inhibited the hERG channel with the IC50 value of 626.9 nM and 612.6 nM, respectively. JZTX-III, -IV, and -35 share high sequence similarity with JZTX-I and JZTX-XIII, but they showed much lower affinity on the hERG channel compared with JZTX-I and JZTX-XIII. The inhibitory potency of the above five toxins on the hERG channel was not in accordance with their affinity on the Nav1.5 and Kv2.1 channels, indicating that the bioactive surfaces of the five toxins interacting with hERG, Nav1.5 and Kv2.1 are at least in part different. Structure-function analysis of the gating modifier toxins suggested that the functional bioactive surface binding to the hERG channel consists of a conserved hydrophobic patch, surrounding acidic residues (Glu10 in JZTX-XIII, Glu11 in JZTX-I), and basic residues which may be different from residues binding to the Kv2.1 channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhengyi Luo
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Sheng Lei
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Shuji Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiaowen Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Chunhua Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Venomic, Transcriptomic, and Bioactivity Analyses of Pamphobeteus verdolaga Venom Reveal Complex Disulfide-Rich Peptides That Modulate Calcium Channels. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11090496. [PMID: 31461913 PMCID: PMC6784019 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11090496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pamphobeteus verdolaga is a recently described Theraphosidae spider from the Andean region of Colombia. Previous reports partially characterized its venom profile. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis that includes reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (rp-HPLC), calcium influx assays, tandem mass spectrometry analysis (tMS/MS), and venom-gland transcriptome. rp-HPLC fractions of P. verdolaga venom showed activity on CaV2.2, CaV3.2, and NaV1.7 ion channels. Active fractions contained several peptides with molecular masses ranging from 3399.4 to 3839.6 Da. The tMS/MS analysis of active fraction displaying the strongest activity to inhibit calcium channels showed sequence fragments similar to one of the translated transcripts detected in the venom-gland transcriptome. The putative peptide of this translated transcript corresponded to a toxin, here named ω-theraphositoxin-Pv3a, a potential ion channel modulator toxin that is, in addition, very similar to other theraphositoxins affecting calcium channels (i.e., ω-theraphotoxin-Asp1a). Additionally, using this holistic approach, we found that P. verdolaga venom is an important source of disulfide-rich proteins expressing at least eight superfamilies.
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Marshall GR, Ballante F. Limiting Assumptions in the Design of Peptidomimetics. Drug Dev Res 2017; 78:245-267. [DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Garland R. Marshall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics; Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis Missouri 63110
| | - Flavio Ballante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics; Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis Missouri 63110
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10
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Wu L, Xie SS, Meng E, Li WY, Liu L, Zhang DY. Molecular Dynamics Simulation Reveals Unique Interplays Between a Tarantula Toxin and Lipid Membranes. J Membr Biol 2017; 250:315-325. [DOI: 10.1007/s00232-017-9965-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Deuis JR, Mueller A, Israel MR, Vetter I. The pharmacology of voltage-gated sodium channel activators. Neuropharmacology 2017; 127:87-108. [PMID: 28416444 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Toxins and venom components that target voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels have evolved numerous times due to the importance of this class of ion channels in the normal physiological function of peripheral and central neurons as well as cardiac and skeletal muscle. NaV channel activators in particular have been isolated from the venom of spiders, wasps, snakes, scorpions, cone snails and sea anemone and are also produced by plants, bacteria and algae. These compounds have provided key insight into the molecular structure, function and pathophysiological roles of NaV channels and are important tools due to their at times exquisite subtype-selectivity. We review the pharmacology of NaV channel activators with particular emphasis on mammalian isoforms and discuss putative applications for these compounds. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Deuis
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander Mueller
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Mathilde R Israel
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia; School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia.
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Oldrati V, Koua D, Allard PM, Hulo N, Arrell M, Nentwig W, Lisacek F, Wolfender JL, Kuhn-Nentwig L, Stöcklin R. Peptidomic and transcriptomic profiling of four distinct spider venoms. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172966. [PMID: 28306751 PMCID: PMC5357004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Venom based research is exploited to find novel candidates for the development of innovative pharmacological tools, drug candidates and new ingredients for cosmetic and agrochemical industries. Moreover, venomics, as a well-established approach in systems biology, helps to elucidate the genetic mechanisms of the production of such a great molecular biodiversity. Today the advances made in the proteomics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics fields, favor venomics, allowing the in depth study of complex matrices and the elucidation even of minor compounds present in minute biological samples. The present study illustrates a rapid and efficient method developed for the elucidation of venom composition based on NextGen mRNA sequencing of venom glands and LC-MS/MS venom proteome profiling. The analysis of the comprehensive data obtained was focused on cysteine rich peptide toxins from four spider species originating from phylogenetically distant families for comparison purposes. The studied species were Heteropoda davidbowie (Sparassidae), Poecilotheria formosa (Theraphosidae), Viridasius fasciatus (Viridasiidae) and Latrodectus mactans (Theridiidae). This led to a high resolution profiling of 284 characterized cysteine rich peptides, 111 of which belong to the Inhibitor Cysteine Knot (ICK) structural motif. The analysis of H. davidbowie venom revealed a high richness in term of venom diversity: 95 peptide sequences were identified; out of these, 32 peptides presented the ICK structural motif and could be classified in six distinct families. The profiling of P. formosa venom highlighted the presence of 126 peptide sequences, with 52 ICK toxins belonging to three structural distinct families. V. fasciatus venom was shown to contain 49 peptide sequences, out of which 22 presented the ICK structural motif and were attributed to five families. The venom of L. mactans, until now studied for its large neurotoxins (Latrotoxins), revealed the presence of 14 cysteine rich peptides, out of which five were ICK toxins belonging to the CSTX superfamily. This in depth profiling of distinct ICK peptide families identified across the four spider species highlighted the high conservation of these neurotoxins among spider families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Oldrati
- Atheris SA, Chemin d’Alcire 1, Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, EPGL, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, 1, Rue Michel-Servet, Geneva 4, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Dominique Koua
- Atheris SA, Chemin d’Alcire 1, Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Marie Allard
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, EPGL, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, 1, Rue Michel-Servet, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Hulo
- University of Geneva, CMU, 1, Rue Michel Servet, Geneva 4, Switzerland
- Atheris Laboratories, Chemin d’Alcire 1, Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Arrell
- Atheris SA, Chemin d’Alcire 1, Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Nentwig
- University of Bern, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 6, Baltzerstrasse, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Frédérique Lisacek
- University of Geneva, CMU, 1, Rue Michel Servet, Geneva 4, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CUI, 7, Route de Drize, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Luc Wolfender
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, EPGL, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, 1, Rue Michel-Servet, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Lucia Kuhn-Nentwig
- University of Bern, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 6, Baltzerstrasse, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Reto Stöcklin
- Atheris SA, Chemin d’Alcire 1, Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
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Meng P, Huang H, Wang G, Yang S, Lu Q, Liu J, Lai R, Rong M. A Novel Toxin from Haplopelma lividum Selectively Inhibits the Na V1.8 Channel and Possesses Potent Analgesic Efficacy. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 9:toxins9010007. [PMID: 28035974 PMCID: PMC5308240 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider venoms are a complex mixture of peptides with a large number of neurotoxins targeting ion channels. Although thousands of peptide toxins have been identified from venoms of numerous species of spiders, many unknown species urgently need to be investigated. In this study, a novel sodium channel inhibitor, µ-TRTX-Hl1a, was identified from the venom of Haplopelma lividum. It contained eight cysteines and formed a conserved cysteine pattern of ICK motif. µ-TRTX-Hl1a inhibited the TTX-resistant (TTX-r) sodium channel current rather than the TTX-sensitive (TTX-s) sodium channel current. Meanwhile, µ-TRTX-Hl1a selectively inhibited NaV1.8 with an IC50 value of 2.19 μM. Intraperitoneal injection of µ-TRTX-Hl1a dose-dependently reduced inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rodent models of formalin-induced paw licking, tail-flicking, acetic acid-induced writhing, and hot plate test. It showed a better analgesic effect than morphine in inflammatory pain and equipotent effect to morphine in neuropathic pain. These findings demonstrate that µ-TRTX-Hl1a might be a valuable tool for physiology studies on NaV1.8 and a promising lead molecule for pain therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Meng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- United Laboratory of Natural Peptide of University of Science and Technology of China & Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China.
| | - Honggang Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 6550 1000, Denmark.
- The Danish Diabetes Academy, Odense 6550 1000, Denmark.
| | - Gan Wang
- Life Sciences College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shilong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- United Laboratory of Natural Peptide of University of Science and Technology of China & Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China.
| | - Qiuming Lu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- United Laboratory of Natural Peptide of University of Science and Technology of China & Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China.
| | - Jingze Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei, China.
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- United Laboratory of Natural Peptide of University of Science and Technology of China & Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China.
| | - Mingqiang Rong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- United Laboratory of Natural Peptide of University of Science and Technology of China & Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
- Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Science, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China.
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14
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Ikonomopoulou MP, Smith JJ, Herzig V, Pineda SS, Dziemborowicz S, Er SY, Durek T, Gilchrist J, Alewood PF, Nicholson GM, Bosmans F, King GF. Isolation of two insecticidal toxins from venom of the Australian theraphosid spider Coremiocnemis tropix. Toxicon 2016; 123:62-70. [PMID: 27793656 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Sheep flystrike is caused by parasitic flies laying eggs on soiled wool or open wounds, after which the hatched maggots feed on the sheep flesh and often cause large lesions. It is a significant economic problem for the livestock industry as infestations are difficult to control due to ongoing cycles of larval development into flies followed by further egg laying. We therefore screened venom fractions from the Australian theraphosid spider Coremiocnemis tropix to identify toxins active against the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina, which is the primary cause of flystrike in Australia. This screen led to isolation of two insecticidal peptides, Ct1a and Ct1b, that are lethal to blowflies within 24 h of injection. The primary structure of these peptides was determined using a combination of Edman degradation and sequencing of a C. tropix venom-gland transcriptome. Ct1a and Ct1b contain 39 and 38 amino acid residues, respectively, including six cysteine residues that form three disulfide bonds. Recombinant production in bacteria (Escherichia coli) resulted in low yields of Ct1a whereas solid-phase peptide synthesis using native chemical ligation produced sufficient quantities of Ct1a for functional analyses. Synthetic Ct1a had no effect on voltage-gated sodium channels from the American cockroach Periplanata americana or the German cockroach Blattella germanica, but it was lethal to sheep blowflies with an LD50 of 1687 pmol/g.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Ikonomopoulou
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jennifer J Smith
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Volker Herzig
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sandy S Pineda
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - Sing-Yan Er
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - John Gilchrist
- Department of Physiology & Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Graham M Nicholson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Frank Bosmans
- Department of Physiology & Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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15
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Abreu TF, Sumitomo BN, Nishiyama MY, Oliveira UC, Souza GHMF, Kitano ES, Zelanis A, Serrano SMT, Junqueira-de-Azevedo I, Silva PI, Tashima AK. Peptidomics of Acanthoscurria gomesiana spider venom reveals new toxins with potential antimicrobial activity. J Proteomics 2016; 151:232-242. [PMID: 27436114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Acanthoscurria gomesiana is a Brazilian spider from the Theraphosidae family inhabiting regions of Southeastern Brazil. Potent antimicrobial peptides as gomesin and acanthoscurrin have been discovered from the spider hemolymph in previous works. Spider venoms are also recognized as sources of biologically active peptides, however the venom peptidome of A. gomesiana remained unexplored to date. In this work, a MS-based workflow was applied to the investigation of the spider venom peptidome. Data-independent and data-dependent LC-MS/MS acquisitions of intact peptides and of peptides submitted to multiple enzyme digestions, followed by automated chromatographic alignment, de novo analysis, database and homology searches with manual validations showed that the venom is composed by <165 features, with masses ranging from 0.4-15.8kDa. From digestions, 135 peptides were identified from 17 proteins, including three new mature peptides: U1-TRTX-Agm1a, U1-TRTX-Agm2a and U1-TRTX-Agm3a, containing 3, 4 and 3 disulfide bonds, respectively. The toxins U1-TRTX-Agm1a differed by only one amino acid from U1-TRTX-Ap1a from A. paulensis and U1-TRTX-Agm2a was derived from the genicutoxin-D1 precursor from A. geniculata. These toxins have potential applications as antimicrobial agents, as the peptide fraction of A. gomesiana showed activity against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Candida albicans strains. MS data are available via ProteomeXchange Consortium with identifier PXD003884. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Biological fluids of the Acanthoscurria gomesiana spider are sources of active molecules, as is the case of antimicrobial peptides and acylpolyamines found in the hemolymphs. The venom is also a potential source of toxins with pharmacological and biotechnological applications. However, to our knowledge no A. gomesiana venom toxin structure has been determined to date. Using a combination of high resolution mass spectrometry, transcriptomics and bioinformatics, we employed a workflow to fully sequence, determine the number of disulfide bonds of mature peptides and we found new potential antimicrobial peptides. This workflow is suitable for complete peptide toxin sequencing when handling limited amount of venom samples and can accelerate the discovery of peptides with potential biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago F Abreu
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca N Sumitomo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Milton Y Nishiyama
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ursula C Oliveira
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H M F Souza
- Mass Spectrometry Applications Research & Development Laboratory, Waters Corporation, Sāo Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo S Kitano
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - André Zelanis
- Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, ICT-UNIFESP, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Solange M T Serrano
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Inácio Junqueira-de-Azevedo
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pedro I Silva
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexandre K Tashima
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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16
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Molecular Diversity between Salivary Proteins from New World and Old World Sand Flies with Emphasis on Bichromomyia olmeca, the Sand Fly Vector of Leishmania mexicana in Mesoamerica. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004771. [PMID: 27409591 PMCID: PMC4943706 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sand fly saliva has been shown to have proteins with potent biological activities, salivary proteins that can be used as biomarkers of vector exposure, and salivary proteins that are candidate vaccines against different forms of leishmaniasis. Sand fly salivary gland transcriptomic approach has contributed significantly to the identification and characterization of many of these salivary proteins from important Leishmania vectors; however, sand fly vectors in some regions of the world are still neglected, as Bichromomyia olmeca (formerly known as Lutzomyia olmeca olmeca), a proven vector of Leishmania mexicana in Mexico and Central America. Despite the importance of this vector in transmitting Leishmania parasite in Mesoamerica there is no information on the repertoire of B. olmeca salivary proteins and their relationship to salivary proteins from other sand fly species. Methods and Findings A cDNA library of the salivary glands of wild-caught B. olmeca was constructed, sequenced, and analyzed. We identified transcripts encoding for novel salivary proteins from this sand fly species and performed a comparative analysis between B. olmeca salivary proteins and those from other sand fly species. With this new information we present an updated catalog of the salivary proteins specific to New World sand flies and salivary proteins common to all sand fly species. We also report in this work the anti-Factor Xa activity of Lofaxin, a salivary anticoagulant protein present in this sand fly species. Conclusions This study provides information on the first transcriptome of a sand fly from Mesoamerica and adds information to the limited repertoire of salivary transcriptomes from the Americas. This comparative analysis also shows a fast degree of evolution in salivary proteins from New World sand flies as compared with Old World sand flies. Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by a parasite transmitted to the host by the bite of an infected sand fly. Sand fly saliva contains biologically active components that allow the sand fly to take a blood meal and also the parasite to spread in the host by countering the host immune mechanisms that fights the parasite. Research on sand fly saliva has allowed us to understand the biological functions of some of these proteins, to identify salivary proteins producing an immune response in different hosts and to select potential salivary vaccine that could be used to protect the host against the parasite. However, vectors transmitting different species of Leishmania in diverse regions of the world are still neglected. The present work focuses on the identification of the secreted proteins from the saliva of B. olmeca, a vector of Leishmania mexicana in North and Central America. We catalogued these proteins with those previously identified in other sand fly species from Old and New World. We showed here how conserved or divergent are these proteins families when comparing different sand fly species. We also report the anti-Factor Xa activity of Lofaxin, a salivary anticoagulant protein identified in the saliva of this sand fly species.
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17
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Sunagar K, Moran Y. The Rise and Fall of an Evolutionary Innovation: Contrasting Strategies of Venom Evolution in Ancient and Young Animals. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005596. [PMID: 26492532 PMCID: PMC4619613 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal venoms are theorized to evolve under the significant influence of positive Darwinian selection in a chemical arms race scenario, where the evolution of venom resistance in prey and the invention of potent venom in the secreting animal exert reciprocal selection pressures. Venom research to date has mainly focused on evolutionarily younger lineages, such as snakes and cone snails, while mostly neglecting ancient clades (e.g., cnidarians, coleoids, spiders and centipedes). By examining genome, venom-gland transcriptome and sequences from the public repositories, we report the molecular evolutionary regimes of several centipede and spider toxin families, which surprisingly accumulated low-levels of sequence variations, despite their long evolutionary histories. Molecular evolutionary assessment of over 3500 nucleotide sequences from 85 toxin families spanning the breadth of the animal kingdom has unraveled a contrasting evolutionary strategy employed by ancient and evolutionarily young clades. We show that the venoms of ancient lineages remarkably evolve under the heavy constraints of negative selection, while toxin families in lineages that originated relatively recently rapidly diversify under the influence of positive selection. We propose that animal venoms mostly employ a ‘two-speed’ mode of evolution, where the major influence of diversifying selection accompanies the earlier stages of ecological specialization (e.g., diet and range expansion) in the evolutionary history of the species–the period of expansion, resulting in the rapid diversification of the venom arsenal, followed by longer periods of purifying selection that preserve the potent toxin pharmacopeia–the period of purification and fixation. However, species in the period of purification may re-enter the period of expansion upon experiencing a major shift in ecology or environment. Thus, we highlight for the first time the significant roles of purifying and episodic selections in shaping animal venoms. While the influence of positive selection in diversifying animal venoms is widely recognized, the role of purifying selection that conserves the amino acid sequence of venom components such as peptide toxins has never been considered. In addition to unraveling the unique strategies of evolution of toxin gene families in centipedes and spiders, which are amongst the first terrestrial venomous lineages, we highlight the significant role of purifying selection in shaping the composition of animal venoms. Analysis of numerous toxin families, spanning the breadth of the animal kingdom, has revealed a striking contrast between the evolution of venom in ancient and evolutionarily young animal groups. Our findings enable the postulation of a new theory of venom evolution. The proposed ‘two-speed’ mode of evolution of venom captures the fascinating evolutionary history and the dynamics of this complex biochemical cocktail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Sunagar
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Alexander Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- * E-mail: (KS); (YM)
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Alexander Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- * E-mail: (KS); (YM)
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18
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Three Peptide Modulators of the Human Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel 1.7, an Important Analgesic Target, from the Venom of an Australian Tarantula. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:2494-513. [PMID: 26134258 PMCID: PMC4516925 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7072494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels are responsible for propagating action potentials in excitable cells. NaV1.7 plays a crucial role in the human pain signalling pathway and it is an important therapeutic target for treatment of chronic pain. Numerous spider venom peptides have been shown to modulate the activity of NaV channels and these peptides represent a rich source of research tools and therapeutic lead molecules. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity of NaV1.7-active peptides in the venom of an Australian Phlogius sp. tarantula and to characterise their potency and subtype selectivity. We isolated three novel peptides, μ-TRTX-Phlo1a, -Phlo1b and -Phlo2a, that inhibit human NaV1.7 (hNaV1.7). Phlo1a and Phlo1b are 35-residue peptides that differ by one amino acid and belong in NaSpTx family 2. The partial sequence of Phlo2a revealed extensive similarity with ProTx-II from NaSpTx family 3. Phlo1a and Phlo1b inhibit hNaV1.7 with IC50 values of 459 and 360 nM, respectively, with only minor inhibitory activity on rat NaV1.2 and hNaV1.5. Although similarly potent at hNaV1.7 (IC50 333 nM), Phlo2a was less selective, as it also potently inhibited rNaV1.2 and hNaV1.5. All three peptides cause a depolarising shift in the voltage-dependence of hNaV1.7 activation.
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19
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Bioinformatics-Aided Venomics. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:2159-87. [PMID: 26110505 PMCID: PMC4488696 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7062159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Venomics is a modern approach that combines transcriptomics and proteomics to explore the toxin content of venoms. This review will give an overview of computational approaches that have been created to classify and consolidate venomics data, as well as algorithms that have helped discovery and analysis of toxin nucleic acid and protein sequences, toxin three-dimensional structures and toxin functions. Bioinformatics is used to tackle specific challenges associated with the identification and annotations of toxins. Recognizing toxin transcript sequences among second generation sequencing data cannot rely only on basic sequence similarity because toxins are highly divergent. Mass spectrometry sequencing of mature toxins is challenging because toxins can display a large number of post-translational modifications. Identifying the mature toxin region in toxin precursor sequences requires the prediction of the cleavage sites of proprotein convertases, most of which are unknown or not well characterized. Tracing the evolutionary relationships between toxins should consider specific mechanisms of rapid evolution as well as interactions between predatory animals and prey. Rapidly determining the activity of toxins is the main bottleneck in venomics discovery, but some recent bioinformatics and molecular modeling approaches give hope that accurate predictions of toxin specificity could be made in the near future.
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20
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Jingzhaotoxin-35, a novel gating-modifier toxin targeting both Nav1.5 and Kv2.1 channels. Toxicon 2014; 92:90-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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21
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Kozlov SA, Lazarev VN, Kostryukova ES, Selezneva OV, Ospanova EA, Alexeev DG, Govorun VM, Grishin EV. Comprehensive analysis of the venom gland transcriptome of the spider Dolomedes fimbriatus. Sci Data 2014; 1:140023. [PMID: 25977780 PMCID: PMC4322566 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2014.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive transcriptome analysis of an expressed sequence tag (EST) database of the spider Dolomedes fimbriatus venom glands using single-residue distribution analysis (SRDA) identified 7,169 unique sequences. Mature chains of 163 different toxin-like polypeptides were predicted on the basis of well-established methodology. The number of protein precursors of these polypeptides was appreciably numerous than the number of mature polypeptides. A total of 451 different polypeptide precursors, translated from 795 unique nucleotide sequences, were deduced. A homology search divided the 163 mature polypeptide sequences into 16 superfamilies and 19 singletons. The number of mature toxins in a superfamily ranged from 2 to 49, whereas the diversity of the original nucleotide sequences was greater (2-261 variants). We observed a predominance of inhibitor cysteine knot toxin-like polypeptides among the cysteine-containing structures in the analyzed transcriptome bank. Uncommon spatial folds were also found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey A. Kozlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences ul. Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Vassili N. Lazarev
- Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russian Federation, 1a, Malaya Pirogovskaya st., Moscow 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region 141700, Russia
| | - Elena S. Kostryukova
- Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russian Federation, 1a, Malaya Pirogovskaya st., Moscow 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region 141700, Russia
| | - Oksana V. Selezneva
- Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russian Federation, 1a, Malaya Pirogovskaya st., Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - Elena A. Ospanova
- Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russian Federation, 1a, Malaya Pirogovskaya st., Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - Dmitry G. Alexeev
- Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russian Federation, 1a, Malaya Pirogovskaya st., Moscow 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region 141700, Russia
| | - Vadim M. Govorun
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences ul. Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russian Federation, 1a, Malaya Pirogovskaya st., Moscow 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region 141700, Russia
| | - Eugene V. Grishin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences ul. Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION As an ecological adaptation venoms have evolved independently in several species of Metazoa. As haematophagous arthropods ticks are mainly considered as ectoparasites due to directly feeding on the skin of animal hosts. Ticks are of major importance since they serve as vectors for several diseases affecting humans and livestock animals. Ticks are rarely considered as venomous animals despite that tick saliva contains several protein families present in venomous taxa and that many Ixodida genera can induce paralysis and other types of toxicoses. Tick saliva was previously proposed as a special kind of venom since tick venom is used for blood feeding that counteracts host defense mechanisms. As a result, the present study provides evidence to reconsider the venomous properties of tick saliva. RESULTS Based on our extensive literature mining and in silico research, we demonstrate that ticks share several similarities with other venomous taxa. Many tick salivary protein families and their previously described functions are homologous to proteins found in scorpion, spider, snake, platypus and bee venoms. This infers that there is a structural and functional convergence between several molecular components in tick saliva and the venoms from other recognized venomous taxa. We also highlight the fact that the immune response against tick saliva and venoms (from recognized venomous taxa) are both dominated by an allergic immunity background. Furthermore, by comparing the major molecular components of human saliva, as an example of a non-venomous animal, with that of ticks we find evidence that ticks resemble more venomous than non-venomous animals. Finally, we introduce our considerations regarding the evolution of venoms in Arachnida. CONCLUSIONS Taking into account the composition of tick saliva, the venomous functions that ticks have while interacting with their hosts, and the distinguishable differences between human (non-venomous) and tick salivary proteins, we consider that ticks should be referred to as venomous ectoparasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL), INSERM U1019 – CNRS UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real 13005, Spain
| | - James J Valdés
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
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Baumann K, Casewell NR, Ali SA, Jackson TNW, Vetter I, Dobson JS, Cutmore SC, Nouwens A, Lavergne V, Fry BG. A ray of venom: Combined proteomic and transcriptomic investigation of fish venom composition using barb tissue from the blue-spotted stingray (Neotrygon kuhlii). J Proteomics 2014; 109:188-98. [PMID: 24946716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Fish venoms remain almost completely unstudied despite the large number of species. In part this is due to the inherent nature of fish venoms, in that they are highly sensitive to heat, pH, lyophilisation, storage and repeated freeze-thawing. They are also heavily contaminated with mucus, which makes proteomic study difficult. Here we describe a novel protein-handling protocol to remove mucus contamination, utilising ammonium sulphate and acetone precipitation. We validated this approach using barb venom gland tissue protein extract from the blue-spotted stingray Neotrygon kuhlii. We analysed the protein extract using 1D and 2D gels with LC-MS/MS sequencing. Protein annotation was underpinned by a venom gland transcriptome. The composition of our N. kuhlii venom sample revealed a variety of protein types that are completely novel to animal venom systems. Notably, none of the detected proteins exhibited similarity to the few toxin components previously characterised from fish venoms, including those found in other stingrays. Putative venom toxins identified here included cystatin, peroxiredoxin and galectin. Our study represents the first combined survey of gene and protein composition from the venom apparatus of any fish and our novel protein handling method will aid the future characterisation of toxins from other unstudied venomous fish lineages. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE These results show an efficient manner for removing mucus from fish venoms. These results are the first insights into the evolution of proteins present on stingrayvenom barbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Baumann
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia; Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; Molecular Ecology and Evolution Group, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Syed A Ali
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia; HRJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Timothy N W Jackson
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - James S Dobson
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Scott C Cutmore
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Amanda Nouwens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Vincent Lavergne
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia; School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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24
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Meng E, Cai TF, Zhang H, Tang S, Li MJ, Li WY, Huang PF, Liu K, Wu L, Zhu LY, Liu L, Peng K, Dai XD, Jiang H, Zeng XZ, Liang SP, Zhang DY. Screening for voltage-gated sodium channel interacting peptides. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4569. [PMID: 24691553 PMCID: PMC3972499 DOI: 10.1038/srep04569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) interacting peptide is of special interest for both basic research and pharmaceutical purposes. In this study, we established a yeast-two-hybrid based strategy to detect the interaction(s) between neurotoxic peptide and the extracellular region of VGSC. Using a previously reported neurotoxin JZTX-III as a model molecule, we demonstrated that the interactions between JZTX-III and the extracellular regions of its target hNav1.5 are detectable and the detected interactions are directly related to its activity. We further applied this strategy to the screening of VGSC interacting peptides. Using the extracellular region of hNav1.5 as the bait, we identified a novel sodium channel inhibitor SSCM-1 from a random peptide library. This peptide selectively inhibits hNav1.5 currents in the whole-cell patch clamp assays. This strategy might be used for the large scale screening for target-specific interacting peptides of VGSCs or other ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Er Meng
- 1] State Key Laboratory of High Performance Computing, Research Center of Biological Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, China [2]
| | - Tian-Fu Cai
- 1] Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China [2]
| | - Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Si Tang
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Meng-Jie Li
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Wen-Ying Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Computing, Research Center of Biological Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, China
| | - Peng-Fei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Kai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Lei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Computing, Research Center of Biological Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, China
| | - Ling-Yun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Computing, Research Center of Biological Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, China
| | - Long Liu
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Computing, Research Center of Biological Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, China
| | - Kuan Peng
- Core Facilities of Biotechnology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Xian-Dong Dai
- Beijing Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Beijing Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Xiong-Zhi Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Song-Ping Liang
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Dong-Yi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Computing, Research Center of Biological Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, China
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25
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Pineda SS, Sollod BL, Wilson D, Darling A, Sunagar K, Undheim EAB, Kely L, Antunes A, Fry BG, King GF. Diversification of a single ancestral gene into a successful toxin superfamily in highly venomous Australian funnel-web spiders. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:177. [PMID: 24593665 PMCID: PMC4029134 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spiders have evolved pharmacologically complex venoms that serve to rapidly subdue prey and deter predators. The major toxic factors in most spider venoms are small, disulfide-rich peptides. While there is abundant evidence that snake venoms evolved by recruitment of genes encoding normal body proteins followed by extensive gene duplication accompanied by explosive structural and functional diversification, the evolutionary trajectory of spider-venom peptides is less clear. RESULTS Here we present evidence of a spider-toxin superfamily encoding a high degree of sequence and functional diversity that has evolved via accelerated duplication and diversification of a single ancestral gene. The peptides within this toxin superfamily are translated as prepropeptides that are posttranslationally processed to yield the mature toxin. The N-terminal signal sequence, as well as the protease recognition site at the junction of the propeptide and mature toxin are conserved, whereas the remainder of the propeptide and mature toxin sequences are variable. All toxin transcripts within this superfamily exhibit a striking cysteine codon bias. We show that different pharmacological classes of toxins within this peptide superfamily evolved under different evolutionary selection pressures. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study reinforces the hypothesis that spiders use a combinatorial peptide library strategy to evolve a complex cocktail of peptide toxins that target neuronal receptors and ion channels in prey and predators. We show that the ω-hexatoxins that target insect voltage-gated calcium channels evolved under the influence of positive Darwinian selection in an episodic fashion, whereas the κ-hexatoxins that target insect calcium-activated potassium channels appear to be under negative selection. A majority of the diversifying sites in the ω-hexatoxins are concentrated on the molecular surface of the toxins, thereby facilitating neofunctionalisation leading to new toxin pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bryan G Fry
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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26
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Gui J, Liu B, Cao G, Lipchik AM, Perez M, Dekan Z, Mobli M, Daly NL, Alewood PF, Parker LL, King GF, Zhou Y, Jordt SE, Nitabach MN. A tarantula-venom peptide antagonizes the TRPA1 nociceptor ion channel by binding to the S1-S4 gating domain. Curr Biol 2014; 24:473-83. [PMID: 24530065 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The venoms of predators have been an excellent source of diverse highly specific peptides targeting ion channels. Here we describe the first known peptide antagonist of the nociceptor ion channel transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). RESULTS We constructed a recombinant cDNA library encoding ∼100 diverse GPI-anchored peptide toxins (t-toxins) derived from spider venoms and screened this library by coexpression in Xenopus oocytes with TRPA1. This screen resulted in identification of protoxin-I (ProTx-I), a 35-residue peptide from the venom of the Peruvian green-velvet tarantula, Thrixopelma pruriens, as the first known high-affinity peptide TRPA1 antagonist. ProTx-I was previously identified as an antagonist of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels. We constructed a t-toxin library of ProTx-I alanine-scanning mutants and screened this library against NaV1.2 and TRPA1. This revealed distinct partially overlapping surfaces of ProTx-I by which it binds to these two ion channels. Importantly, this mutagenesis yielded two novel ProTx-I variants that are only active against either TRPA1or NaV1.2. By testing its activity against chimeric channels, we identified the extracellular loops of the TRPA1 S1-S4 gating domain as the ProTx-I binding site. CONCLUSIONS These studies establish our approach, which we term "toxineering," as a generally applicable method for isolation of novel ion channel modifiers and design of ion channel modifiers with altered specificity. They also suggest that ProTx-I will be a valuable pharmacological reagent for addressing biophysical mechanisms of TRPA1 gating and the physiology of TRPA1 function in nociceptors, as well as for potential clinical application in the context of pain and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhong Gui
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Boyi Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Guan Cao
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Andrew M Lipchik
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Minervo Perez
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Zoltan Dekan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mobli
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Norelle L Daly
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Laurie L Parker
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yufeng Zhou
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Sven-Eric Jordt
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Michael N Nitabach
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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27
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28
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Abstract
Adequate pain control is still a significant challenge and largely unmet medical need in the 21st century. With many small molecules failing to reach required levels of potency and selectivity, drug discovery is once again turning to nature to replenish pain therapeutic pipelines. Venomous animals are frequently stereotyped as inflictors of pain and distress and have historically been vilified by mankind. Yet, ironically, the very venoms that cause pain when directly injected by the host animal may actually turn out to contain the next generation of analgesics when injected by the clinician. The last 12 months have seen dramatic discoveries of analgesic tools within venoms. Spiders, snakes and even centipedes are yielding peptides with immense therapeutic potential. Significant advances are also taking place in delivery methods that can improve bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of these exciting natural resources. Turning proteinaceous venom into pharmaceutical liquid gold is the goal of venomics and the focus of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Trim
- Venomtech Ltd, Kent Enterprise Hub, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Carol M Trim
- Venomtech Ltd, Kent Enterprise Hub, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
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29
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Estrada-Gomez S, Vargas Muñoz LJ, Quintana Castillo JC. Extraction and partial characterization of venom from the Colombian spider Pamphobeteus aff. nigricolor (Aranae:Theraphosidae). Toxicon 2013; 76:301-9. [PMID: 24140923 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Revised: 10/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We report the first studies of characterization and extraction of the Pamphobeteus aff. nigricolor (Pocock, 1901) (Aranae:Theraphosidae) venom done in Colombia using the electro-stimulation technique previous anesthesia with isofluorane. After each extraction process, a low viscosity, colorless venom was obtained. This venom showed a 1.01 mg/μl density and a pH of 5. The humidity percentage did not show a significance difference between males and females (P > 0.05) with a general media of 77.49 ± 1.74%. In all cases the venom yielded was variable between males and females, with a media of 22.45 ± 5.17 mg (wet weight) and 4.58 ± 0.94 mg (dry weigh), obtaining larger amounts in females, 28.34 ± 7.49 mg and 5.69 ± 1.36 (wet and dry weight respectively). Venom showed a hemolytic activity dependent of enzymatic active phospholipase and neither coagulant nor proteolytic activities were observed. Electrophoretic profile showed a main protein content with a molecular mass below 14 kDa. RP-HPLC venom profile revealed a difference among male and female venom's content where 17 and 21 main fractions were obtained respectively. Three peptides, Theraphotoxin-Pn1a, Theraphotoxin-Pn1b and Theraphotoxin-Pn2a, were identified using HPLC-nESI-MS/MS. These peptides showed a high identity with other peptides found on Theraphosides which are proved to affect voltage-gated calcium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Estrada-Gomez
- Facultad de Química Farmacéutica, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellín, Colombia; Programa de Ofidismo/Escorpionismo, Facultad de Química Farmacéutica, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellín, Colombia.
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30
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Tao H, Chen JJ, Xiao YC, Wu YY, Su HB, Li D, Wang HY, Deng MC, Wang MC, Liu ZH, Liang SP. Analysis of the Interaction of Tarantula Toxin Jingzhaotoxin-III (β-TRTX-Cj1α) with the Voltage Sensor of Kv2.1 Uncovers the Molecular Basis for Cross-Activities on Kv2.1 and Nav1.5 Channels. Biochemistry 2013; 52:7439-48. [DOI: 10.1021/bi4006418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Huai Tao
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
| | - Jin J. Chen
- College
of Biology Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Yu C. Xiao
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Yuan Y. Wu
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Hai B Su
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Dan Li
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Heng Y. Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Mei C. Deng
- Department
of Biochemistry, School of Biological Science and Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Mei C. Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Zhong H. Liu
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Song P. Liang
- Key
Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry
of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
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31
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Hardy MC, Daly NL, Mobli M, Morales RAV, King GF. Isolation of an orally active insecticidal toxin from the venom of an Australian tarantula. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73136. [PMID: 24039872 PMCID: PMC3770646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many insect pests have developed resistance to existing chemical insecticides and consequently there is much interest in the development of new insecticidal compounds with novel modes of action. Although spiders have deployed insecticidal toxins in their venoms for over 250 million years, there is no evolutionary selection pressure on these toxins to possess oral activity since they are injected into prey and predators via a hypodermic needle-like fang. Thus, it has been assumed that spider-venom peptides are not orally active and are therefore unlikely to be useful insecticides. Contrary to this dogma, we show that it is possible to isolate spider-venom peptides with high levels of oral insecticidal activity by directly screening for per os toxicity. Using this approach, we isolated a 34-residue orally active insecticidal peptide (OAIP-1) from venom of the Australian tarantula Selenotypus plumipes. The oral LD50 for OAIP-1 in the agronomically important cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera was 104.2±0.6 pmol/g, which is the highest per os activity reported to date for an insecticidal venom peptide. OAIP-1 is equipotent with synthetic pyrethroids and it acts synergistically with neonicotinoid insecticides. The three-dimensional structure of OAIP-1 determined using NMR spectroscopy revealed that the three disulfide bonds form an inhibitor cystine knot motif; this structural motif provides the peptide with a high level of biological stability that probably contributes to its oral activity. OAIP-1 is likely to be synergized by the gut-lytic activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxin (Bt) expressed in insect-resistant transgenic crops, and consequently it might be a good candidate for trait stacking with Bt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret C. Hardy
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Norelle L. Daly
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mobli
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | | | - Glenn F. King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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32
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A novel ICK peptide from the Loxosceles intermedia (brown spider) venom gland: Cloning, heterologous expression and immunological cross-reactivity approaches. Toxicon 2013; 71:147-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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33
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Rates B, Prates MV, Verano-Braga T, da Rocha ÂP, Roepstorff P, Borges CL, Lapied B, Murillo L, Pimenta AM, Biondi I, De Lima ME. μ-Theraphotoxin-An1a: Primary structure determination and assessment of the pharmacological activity of a promiscuous anti-insect toxin from the venom of the tarantula Acanthoscurria natalensis (Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae). Toxicon 2013; 70:123-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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34
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Wong ESW, Hardy MC, Wood D, Bailey T, King GF. SVM-based prediction of propeptide cleavage sites in spider toxins identifies toxin innovation in an Australian tarantula. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66279. [PMID: 23894279 PMCID: PMC3718798 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider neurotoxins are commonly used as pharmacological tools and are a popular source of novel compounds with therapeutic and agrochemical potential. Since venom peptides are inherently toxic, the host spider must employ strategies to avoid adverse effects prior to venom use. It is partly for this reason that most spider toxins encode a protective proregion that upon enzymatic cleavage is excised from the mature peptide. In order to identify the mature toxin sequence directly from toxin transcripts, without resorting to protein sequencing, the propeptide cleavage site in the toxin precursor must be predicted bioinformatically. We evaluated different machine learning strategies (support vector machines, hidden Markov model and decision tree) and developed an algorithm (SpiderP) for prediction of propeptide cleavage sites in spider toxins. Our strategy uses a support vector machine (SVM) framework that combines both local and global sequence information. Our method is superior or comparable to current tools for prediction of propeptide sequences in spider toxins. Evaluation of the SVM method on an independent test set of known toxin sequences yielded 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Furthermore, we sequenced five novel peptides (not used to train the final predictor) from the venom of the Australian tarantula Selenotypus plumipes to test the accuracy of the predictor and found 80% sensitivity and 99.6% 8-mer specificity. Finally, we used the predictor together with homology information to predict and characterize seven groups of novel toxins from the deeply sequenced venom gland transcriptome of S. plumipes, which revealed structural complexity and innovations in the evolution of the toxins. The precursor prediction tool (SpiderP) is freely available on ArachnoServer (http://www.arachnoserver.org/spiderP.html), a web portal to a comprehensive relational database of spider toxins. All training data, test data, and scripts used are available from the SpiderP website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S. W. Wong
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
- * E-mail: (EW); (GK)
| | - Margaret C. Hardy
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - David Wood
- Division of Genomics and Computational Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Timothy Bailey
- Division of Genomics and Computational Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Glenn F. King
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
- * E-mail: (EW); (GK)
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35
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Jiang L, Liu C, Duan Z, Deng M, Tang X, Liang S. Transcriptome analysis of venom glands from a single fishing spider Dolomedes mizhoanus. Toxicon 2013; 73:23-32. [PMID: 23851222 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2013] [Revised: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The spider venom is a large pharmacological repertoire composed of different types of bioactive peptide toxins. Despite the importance of spider toxins in capturing terrestrial prey and defending themselves against predators, we know little about the venom components from the spider acting on the fish. Here we constructed a cDNA library of a pair of venomous glands from a single fish-hunting spider Dolomedes mizhoanus. A total of 356 high-quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained from the venom gland cDNA library and analyzed. These transcripts were further classified into 45 clusters (19 contigs and 26 singletons), most of which encoded cystine knot toxins (CKTs) and non-CKTs. The ESTs coding for 53 novel CKT precursors were abundant transcripts in the venom glands of the spider D. mizhoanus, accounting for 76% of the total ESTs, the precursors of which were grouped into six families based on the sequence identity and the phylogenetic analysis. In addition, the non-CKTs deduced from 21% of the total ESTs were annotated by Gene Ontology terms and eukaryotic orthologous groups. Fifty-five CKT precursors deduced from 273 ESTs are the largest dataset for a single spider specimen to date. The results may contribute to discovering novel potential drug leads from spider venoms and a better understanding of the evolutionary relationship of the spider toxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Jiang
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China
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Mourão CBF, Heghinian MD, Barbosa EA, Marí F, Bloch C, Restano-Cassulini R, Possani LD, Schwartz EF. Characterization of a Novel Peptide Toxin from Acanthoscurria paulensis Spider Venom: A Distinct Cysteine Assignment to the HWTX-II Family. Biochemistry 2013; 52:2440-52. [DOI: 10.1021/bi4000035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline B. F. Mourão
- Laboratório de Toxinologia,
Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF
70910-900, Brazil
| | - Mari D. Heghinian
- Department
of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, United States
| | - Eder A. Barbosa
- EMBRAPA Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, DF,
Brazil
| | - Frank Marí
- Department
of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, United States
| | - Carlos Bloch
- EMBRAPA Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, DF,
Brazil
| | - Rita Restano-Cassulini
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62210
Morelos, Mexico
| | - Lourival D. Possani
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62210
Morelos, Mexico
| | - Elisabeth F. Schwartz
- Laboratório de Toxinologia,
Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF
70910-900, Brazil
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Ayroza G, Ferreira ILC, Sayegh RSR, Tashima AK, da Silva Junior PI. Juruin: an antifungal peptide from the venom of the Amazonian Pink Toe spider, Avicularia juruensis, which contains the inhibitory cystine knot motif. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:324. [PMID: 22973266 PMCID: PMC3437525 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to screen the venom of the theraposid spider Avicularia juruensis for the identification of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which could be further used as prototypes for drug development. Eleven AMPs, named juruentoxins, with molecular weight ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 kDa, were identified by mass spectrometry after the soluble venom was separated by high performance liquid chromatography. Juruentoxins have a putative inhibitory cystine knot (ICK) motif, generally found in neurotoxins, which are also resistant to proteolysis. One juruentoxin that has 38 amino acid residues and three disulfide bonds were characterized, to which we proposed the name Juruin. Based on liquid growth inhibition assays, it has potent antifungal activity in the micromolar range. Importantly, Juruin lacks haemolytic activity on human erythrocytes at the antimicrobial concentrations. Based on the amino acid sequence, it is highly identical to the insecticidal peptides from the theraposid spiders Selenocosmia huwena, Chilobrachys jingzhao, and Haplopelma schmidti from China, indicating they belong to a group of conserved toxins which are likely to inhibit voltage-gated ion channels. Juruin is a cationic AMP, and Lys22 and Lys23 show maximum positive charge localization that might be important for receptor recognition. Although it shows marked sequence similarity to neurotoxic peptides, Juruin is a novel exciting molecule with potent antifungal activity, which could be used as a novel template for development of drugs against clinical resistant fungi strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Ayroza
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan São Paulo, Brazil
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Klint JK, Senff S, Rupasinghe DB, Er SY, Herzig V, Nicholson GM, King GF. Spider-venom peptides that target voltage-gated sodium channels: Pharmacological tools and potential therapeutic leads. Toxicon 2012; 60:478-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.04.337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Pineda SS, Wilson D, Mattick JS, King GF. The lethal toxin from Australian funnel-web spiders is encoded by an intronless gene. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43699. [PMID: 22928020 PMCID: PMC3425536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 07/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Australian funnel-web spiders are generally considered the most dangerous spiders in the world, with envenomations from the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus resulting in at least 14 human fatalities prior to the introduction of an effective anti-venom in 1980. The clinical envenomation syndrome resulting from bites by Australian funnel-web spiders is due to a single 42-residue peptide known as δ-hexatoxin. This peptide delays the inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels, which results in spontaneous repetitive firing and prolongation of action potentials, thereby causing massive neurotransmitter release from both somatic and autonomic nerve endings. Here we show that δ-hexatoxin from the Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche versuta is produced from an intronless gene that encodes a prepropeptide that is post-translationally processed to yield the mature toxin. A limited sampling of genes encoding unrelated venom peptides from this spider indicated that they are all intronless. Thus, in distinct contrast to cone snails and scorpions, whose toxin genes contain introns, spiders may have developed a quite different genetic strategy for evolving their venom peptidome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Steffany Pineda
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Wilson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - John S. Mattick
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Glenn F. King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Yang S, Liu Z, Xiao Y, Li Y, Rong M, Liang S, Zhang Z, Yu H, King GF, Lai R. Chemical punch packed in venoms makes centipedes excellent predators. Mol Cell Proteomics 2012; 11:640-50. [PMID: 22595790 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m112.018853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Centipedes are excellent predatory arthropods that inject venom to kill or immobilize their prey. Although centipedes have long been known to be venomous, their venoms remain largely unexplored. The chemical components responsible for centipede predation and the functional mechanisms are unknown. Twenty-six neurotoxin-like peptides belonging to ten groups were identified from the centipede venoms, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch by peptidomics combined with transcriptome analysis, revealing the diversity of neurotoxins. These neurotoxins each contain two to four intramolecular disulfide bridges, and in most cases the disulfide framework is different from that found in neurotoxins from the venoms of spiders, scorpions, marine cone snails, sea anemones, and snakes (5S animals). Several neurotoxins contain potential insecticidal abilities, and they are found to act on voltage-gated sodium, potassium, and calcium channels, respectively. Although these neurotoxins are functionally similar to the disulfide-rich neurotoxins found in the venoms of 5S animals in that they modulate the activity of voltage-gated ion channels, in almost all cases the primary structures of the centipede venom peptides are unique. This represents an interesting case of convergent evolution in which different venomous animals have evolved different molecular strategies for targeting the same ion channels in prey and predators. Moreover, the high level of biochemical diversity revealed in this study suggests that centipede venoms might be attractive subjects for prospecting and screening for peptide candidates with potential pharmaceutical or agrochemical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
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Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the cDNAs Encoding Toxin-Like Peptides from the Venom Glands of Tarantula Grammostola rosea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEPTIDES 2012; 2012:731293. [PMID: 22500178 PMCID: PMC3303826 DOI: 10.1155/2012/731293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 11/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Tarantula venom glands produce a large variety of bioactive peptides. Here we present the identification of venom components obtained by sequencing clones isolated from a cDNA library prepared from the venom glands of the Chilean common tarantula, Grammostola rosea. The cDNA sequences of about 1500 clones out of 4000 clones were analyzed after selection using several criteria. Forty-eight novel toxin-like peptides (GTx1 to GTx7, and GTx-TCTP and GTx-CRISP) were predicted from the nucleotide sequences. Among these peptides, twenty-four toxins are ICK motif peptides, eleven peptides are MIT1-like peptides, and seven are ESTX-like peptides. Peptides similar to JZTX-64, aptotoxin, CRISP, or TCTP are also obtained. GTx3 series possess a cysteine framework that is conserved among vertebrate MIT1, Bv8, prokineticins, and invertebrate astakines. GTx-CRISP is the first CRISP-like protein identified from the arthropod venom. Real-time PCR revealed that the transcripts for TCTP-like peptide are expressed in both the pereopodal muscle and the venom gland. Furthermore, a unique peptide GTx7-1, whose signal and prepro sequences are essentially identical to those of HaTx1, was obtained.
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Yuan C, Liu Z, Hu W, Gao T, Liang S. JZTX-XIII, a Kv channel gating modifier toxin from Chinese tarantula Chilobrachys jingzhao. Toxicon 2012; 59:265-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2011] [Revised: 10/22/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Extreme diversity of scorpion venom peptides and proteins revealed by transcriptomic analysis: Implication for proteome evolution of scorpion venom arsenal. J Proteomics 2012; 75:1563-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2011.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2011] [Revised: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Kozminsky-Atias A, Zilberberg N. Molding the business end of neurotoxins by diversifying evolution. FASEB J 2011; 26:576-86. [PMID: 22009937 DOI: 10.1096/fj.11-187179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A diverse range of organisms utilize neurotoxins that target specific ion channels and modulate their activity. Typically, toxins are clustered into several multigene families, providing an organism with the upper hand in the never-ending predator-prey arms race. Several gene families, including those encoding certain neurotoxins, have been subject to diversifying selection forces, resulting in rapid gene evolution. Here we sought a spatial pattern in the distribution of both diversifying and purifying selection forces common to neurotoxin gene families. Utilizing the mechanistic empirical combination model, we analyzed various toxin families from different phyla affecting various receptors and relying on diverse modes of action. Through this approach, we were able to detect clear correlations between the pharmacological surface of a toxin and rapidly evolving domains, rich in positively selected residues. On the other hand, patches of negatively selected residues were restricted to the nontoxic face of the molecule and most likely help in stabilizing the tertiary structure of the toxin. We thus propose a mutual evolutionary strategy of venomous animals in which adaptive molecular evolution is directed toward the toxin active surface. Furthermore, we propose that the binding domains of unstudied toxins could be readily predicted using evolutionary considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Kozminsky-Atias
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Rong M, Chen J, Tao H, Wu Y, Jiang P, Lu M, Su H, Chi Y, Cai T, Zhao L, Zeng X, Xiao Y, Liang S. Molecular basis of the tarantula toxin jingzhaotoxin-III (β-TRTX-Cj1α) interacting with voltage sensors in sodium channel subtype Nav1.5. FASEB J 2011; 25:3177-85. [PMID: 21665957 DOI: 10.1096/fj.10-178848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
With conserved structural scaffold and divergent electrophysiological functions, animal toxins are considered powerful tools for investigating the basic structure-function relationship of voltage-gated sodium channels. Jingzhaotoxin-III (β-TRTX-Cj1α) is a unique sodium channel gating modifier from the tarantula Chilobrachys jingzhao, because the toxin can selectively inhibit the activation of cardiac sodium channel but not neuronal subtypes. However, the molecular basis of JZTX-III interaction with sodium channels remains unknown. In this study, we showed that JZTX-III was efficiently expressed by the secretory pathway in yeast. Alanine-scanning analysis indicated that 2 acidic residues (Asp1, Glu3) and an exposed hydrophobic patch, formed by 4 Trp residues (residues 8, 9, 28 and 30), play important roles in the binding of JZTX-III to Nav1.5. JZTX-III docked to the Nav1.5 DIIS3-S4 linker. Mutations S799A, R800A, and L804A could additively reduce toxin sensitivity of Nav1.5. We also demonstrated that the unique Arg800, not emerging in other sodium channel subtypes, is responsible for JZTX-III selectively interacting with Nav1.5. The reverse mutation D816R in Nav1.7 greatly increased the sensitivity of the neuronal subtype to JZTX-III. Conversely, the mutation R800D in Nav1.5 decreased JZTX-III's IC₅₀ by 72-fold. Therefore, our results indicated that JZTX-III is a site 4 toxin, but does not possess the same critical residues on sodium channels as other site 4 toxins. Our data also revealed the underlying mechanism for JZTX-III to be highly specific for the cardiac sodium channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqiang Rong
- Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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Abstract
The cystine knot is a structural motif that confers exceptional stability on proteins. Here we provide an update on the topology of the cystine knot and the combinatorial diversity of proteins that contain it. We describe recent chemical biology studies that have utilised this structural motif for the development of potential therapeutic or diagnostic agents. The cystine knot appears to have evolved in fungi, plants and animals as a stable and adaptable framework for the display of a wide variety of bioactive peptide sequences, but is amenable to chemical or recombinant synthesis and thus has a wide range of applications in chemistry, biology and medicine.
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Kozlov S, Grishin E. The mining of toxin-like polypeptides from EST database by single residue distribution analysis. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:88. [PMID: 21281459 PMCID: PMC3040730 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2010] [Accepted: 01/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Novel high throughput sequencing technologies require permanent development of bioinformatics data processing methods. Among them, rapid and reliable identification of encoded proteins plays a pivotal role. To search for particular protein families, the amino acid sequence motifs suitable for selective screening of nucleotide sequence databases may be used. In this work, we suggest a novel method for simplified representation of protein amino acid sequences named Single Residue Distribution Analysis, which is applicable both for homology search and database screening. Results Using the procedure developed, a search for amino acid sequence motifs in sea anemone polypeptides was performed, and 14 different motifs with broad and low specificity were discriminated. The adequacy of motifs for mining toxin-like sequences was confirmed by their ability to identify 100% toxin-like anemone polypeptides in the reference polypeptide database. The employment of novel motifs for the search of polypeptide toxins in Anemonia viridis EST dataset allowed us to identify 89 putative toxin precursors. The translated and modified ESTs were scanned using a special algorithm. In addition to direct comparison with the motifs developed, the putative signal peptides were predicted and homology with known structures was examined. Conclusions The suggested method may be used to retrieve structures of interest from the EST databases using simple amino acid sequence motifs as templates. The efficiency of the procedure for directed search of polypeptides is higher than that of most currently used methods. Analysis of 39939 ESTs of sea anemone Anemonia viridis resulted in identification of five protein precursors of earlier described toxins, discovery of 43 novel polypeptide toxins, and prediction of 39 putative polypeptide toxin sequences. In addition, two precursors of novel peptides presumably displaying neuronal function were disclosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Kozlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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Diego-García E, Peigneur S, Waelkens E, Debaveye S, Tytgat J. Venom components from Citharischius crawshayi spider (Family Theraphosidae): exploring transcriptome, venomics, and function. Cell Mol Life Sci 2010; 67:2799-813. [PMID: 20372963 PMCID: PMC11115658 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-010-0359-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2009] [Revised: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 03/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite strong efforts, knowledge about the composition of the venom of many spider species remains very limited. This work is the first report of transcriptome and venom analysis of the African spider Citharischius crawshayi. We used combined protocols of transcriptomics, venomics, and biological assays to characterize the venom and genes expressed in venom glands. A cDNA library of the venom glands was constructed and used to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Sequence comparisons from 236 ESTs revealed interesting and unique sequences, corresponding to toxin-like and other components. Mass spectrometrical analysis of venom fractions showed more than 600 molecular masses, some of which showed toxic activity on crickets and modulated sodium currents in DmNa(v)1 and Na(v)1.6 channels as expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Taken together, our results may contribute to a better understanding of the cellular processes involved in the transcriptome and help us to discover new components from spider venom glands with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elia Diego-García
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000 Louvain, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000 Louvain, Belgium
| | - Etienne Waelkens
- Laboratory of Protein Phosphorylation and Proteomics, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N1, Herestraat 49, PO Box 901, 3000 Louvain, Belgium
- Prometa and BioMacs, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Sarah Debaveye
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000 Louvain, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, Herestraat 49, PO Box 922, 3000 Louvain, Belgium
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Vassilevski AA, Kozlov SA, Grishin EV. Molecular diversity of spider venom. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2010; 74:1505-34. [PMID: 20210706 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297909130069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Spider venom, a factor that has played a decisive role in the evolution of one of the most successful groups of living organisms, is reviewed. Unique molecular diversity of venom components including substances of variable structure (from simple low molecular weight compounds to large multidomain proteins) with different functions is considered. Special attention is given to the structure, properties, and biosynthesis of toxins of polypeptide nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Vassilevski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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50
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Jiang L, Zhang D, Zhang Y, Peng L, Chen J, Liang S. Venomics of the spider Ornithoctonus huwena based on transcriptomic versus proteomic analysis. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2010; 5:81-8. [PMID: 20403776 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2010.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2009] [Revised: 01/07/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The spider Ornithoctonus huwena is a venomous spider found in southern China. Its venom is a complex mixture of numerous biologically active components. In this study, 41 novel unique transcripts encoding cellular proteins or other possible venom components were generated from the previously constructed cDNA library. These proteins were also annotated by KOG (eukaryotic orthologous group) and GO (gene ontology) terms. A novel cellular transcript contig encoding an EF-hand protein (named HWEFHP1) was found, which might be involved in the secretion of toxins in the venom glands. In order to have an overview of the molecular diversity of the O. huwena venom, the datasets of all the transcripts, peptides and proteins known so far were analyzed. A comparison of the data obtained through a proteomic versus a transcriptomic approach, revealed that only 15 putative cystine knot toxins (CKTs) were identified by both approaches, 29 transcripts coding for CKTs were found in the transcriptome but not as translated peptides in the venom proteome. However, no cellular protein with identical molecular weight was identified by both approaches. Our data may contribute to a deeper understanding of the biology and ecology of O. huwena and the relationship between structure and function of individual toxins.
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