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Dongol Y, Wilson DT, Daly NL, Cardoso FC, Lewis RJ. Structure-function and rational design of a spider toxin Ssp1a at human voltage-gated sodium channel subtypes. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1277143. [PMID: 38034993 PMCID: PMC10682951 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1277143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The structure-function and optimization studies of NaV-inhibiting spider toxins have focused on developing selective inhibitors for peripheral pain-sensing NaV1.7. With several NaV subtypes emerging as potential therapeutic targets, structure-function analysis of NaV-inhibiting spider toxins at such subtypes is warranted. Using the recently discovered spider toxin Ssp1a, this study extends the structure-function relationships of NaV-inhibiting spider toxins beyond NaV1.7 to include the epilepsy target NaV1.2 and the pain target NaV1.3. Based on these results and docking studies, we designed analogues for improved potency and/or subtype-selectivity, with S7R-E18K-rSsp1a and N14D-P27R-rSsp1a identified as promising leads. S7R-E18K-rSsp1a increased the rSsp1a potency at these three NaV subtypes, especially at NaV1.3 (∼10-fold), while N14D-P27R-rSsp1a enhanced NaV1.2/1.7 selectivity over NaV1.3. This study highlights the challenge of developing subtype-selective spider toxin inhibitors across multiple NaV subtypes that might offer a more effective therapeutic approach. The findings of this study provide a basis for further rational design of Ssp1a and related NaSpTx1 homologs targeting NaV1.2, NaV1.3 and/or NaV1.7 as research tools and therapeutic leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashad Dongol
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David T. Wilson
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Norelle L. Daly
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Fernanda C. Cardoso
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J. Lewis
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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2
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Tran P, Crawford T, Ragnarsson L, Deuis JR, Mobli M, Sharpe SJ, Schroeder CI, Vetter I. Structural Conformation and Activity of Spider-Derived Inhibitory Cystine Knot Peptide Pn3a Are Modulated by pH. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:26276-26286. [PMID: 37521635 PMCID: PMC10373202 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Numerous spider venom-derived gating modifier toxins exhibit conformational heterogeneity during purification by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). This conformational exchange is especially peculiar for peptides containing an inhibitor cystine knot motif, which confers excellent structural stability under conditions that are not conducive to disulfide shuffling. This phenomenon is often attributed to proline cis/trans isomerization but has also been observed in peptides that do not contain a proline residue. Pn3a is one such peptide forming two chromatographically distinguishable peaks that readily interconvert following the purification of either conformer. The nature of this exchange was previously uncharacterized due to the fast rate of conversion in solution, making isolation of the conformers impossible. In the present study, an N-terminal modification of Pn3a enabled the isolation of the individual conformers, allowing activity assays to be conducted on the individual conformers using electrophysiology. The conformers were analyzed separately by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to study their structural differences. RP-HPLC and NMR were used to study the mechanism of exchange. The later-eluting conformer was the active conformer with a rigid structure that corresponds to the published structure of Pn3a, while NMR analysis revealed the earlier-eluting conformer to be inactive and disordered. The exchange was found to be pH-dependent, arising in acidic solutions, possibly due to reversible disruption and formation of intramolecular salt bridges. This study reveals the nature of non-proline conformational exchange observed in Pn3a and possibly other disulfide-rich peptides, highlighting that the structure and activity of some disulfide-stabilized peptides can be dramatically susceptible to disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poanna Tran
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Theo Crawford
- Centre
for Advanced Imaging, The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Lotten Ragnarsson
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jennifer R. Deuis
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mobli
- Centre
for Advanced Imaging, The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Simon J. Sharpe
- Molecular
Medicine Program, Research Institute, The
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Christina I. Schroeder
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Center
for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201, United States
- Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School
of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
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3
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Muller JAI, Chan LY, Toffoli-Kadri MC, Mortari MR, Craik DJ, Koehbach J. Antinociceptive peptides from venomous arthropods. TOXIN REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2022.2065510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. I. Muller
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Inflammation, FACFAN/Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lai Y. Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Monica C. Toffoli-Kadri
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Inflammation, FACFAN/Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marcia R. Mortari
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, IB/University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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Diochot S. Pain-related toxins in scorpion and spider venoms: a face to face with ion channels. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2021; 27:e20210026. [PMID: 34925480 PMCID: PMC8667759 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is a common symptom induced during envenomation by spiders and scorpions.
Toxins isolated from their venom have become essential tools for studying the
functioning and physiopathological role of ion channels, as they modulate their
activity. In particular, toxins that induce pain relief effects can serve as a
molecular basis for the development of future analgesics in humans. This review
provides a summary of the different scorpion and spider toxins that directly
interact with pain-related ion channels, with inhibitory or stimulatory effects.
Some of these toxins were shown to affect pain modalities in different animal
models providing information on the role played by these channels in the pain
process. The close interaction of certain gating-modifier toxins with membrane
phospholipids close to ion channels is examined along with molecular approaches
to improve selectivity, affinity or bioavailability in vivo for
therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Diochot
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7275 et Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), 06560 Valbonne, France. Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Université Côte d'Azur Valbonne France
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Abstract
In this method paper, we describe protocols for using membrane-tethered peptide toxins (T-toxins) to study the structure/function and biophysics of toxin-channel interactions with two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC). Here, we show how T-toxins can be used to determine toxin equilibrium affinity, to quantify toxin surface level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence (smTIRF) microscopy, to assess toxin association and dissociations rate, to identify toxin residues critical to binding via scanning mutagenesis, and to study of toxin blocking mechanism. The sea anemone type I (SAK1) toxin HmK and a potassium channel are used to demonstrate the strategies. T-toxins offer experimental flexibility that facilitates studies of toxin variants by mutation of the expression plasmid, avoiding the need to synthesize and purify individual peptides, speeding and reducing the cost of studies. T-toxins can be applied to peptide toxins that target pores or regulatory domains, that inhibit or activate, that are derived from different species, and that bind to different types of ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiming Zhao
- Departments of Pediatrics, Physiology & Biophysics, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Steve A N Goldstein
- Departments of Pediatrics, Physiology & Biophysics, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States.
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Peschel A, Cardoso FC, Walker AA, Durek T, Stone MRL, Braga Emidio N, Dawson PE, Muttenthaler M, King GF. Two for the Price of One: Heterobivalent Ligand Design Targeting Two Binding Sites on Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels Slows Ligand Dissociation and Enhances Potency. J Med Chem 2020; 63:12773-12785. [PMID: 33078946 PMCID: PMC7667638 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
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Voltage-gated
sodium (NaV) channels are pore-forming
transmembrane proteins that play essential roles in excitable cells,
and they are key targets for antiepileptic, antiarrhythmic, and analgesic
drugs. We implemented a heterobivalent design strategy to modulate
the potency, selectivity, and binding kinetics of NaV channel
ligands. We conjugated μ-conotoxin KIIIA, which occludes the
pore of the NaV channels, to an analogue of huwentoxin-IV,
a spider-venom peptide that allosterically modulates channel gating.
Bioorthogonal hydrazide and copper-assisted azide–alkyne cycloaddition
conjugation chemistries were employed to generate heterobivalent ligands
using polyethylene glycol linkers spanning 40–120 Å. The
ligand with an 80 Å linker had the most pronounced bivalent effects,
with a significantly slower dissociation rate and 4–24-fold
higher potency compared to those of the monovalent peptides for the
human NaV1.4 channel. This study highlights the power of
heterobivalent ligand design and expands the repertoire of pharmacological
probes for exploring the function of NaV channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Peschel
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Fernanda C Cardoso
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew A Walker
- 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
| | - M Rhia L Stone
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Nayara Braga Emidio
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Philip E Dawson
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Markus Muttenthaler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.,Institute of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel D Robinson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia; School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
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