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Peptides Isolated from Amphibian Skin Secretions with Emphasis on Antimicrobial Peptides. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14100722. [PMID: 36287990 PMCID: PMC9607450 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14100722] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The skin of amphibians is a tissue with biological functions, such as defense, respiration, and excretion. In recent years, researchers have discovered a large number of peptides in the skin secretions of amphibians, including antimicrobial peptides, antioxidant peptides, bradykinins, insulin-releasing peptides, and other peptides. This review focuses on the origin, primary structure, secondary structure, length, and functions of peptides secreted from amphibians' skin. We hope that this review will provide further information and promote the further study of amphibian skin secretions, in order to provide reference for expanding the research and application of amphibian bioactive peptides.
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Gao Y, Li R, Yang W, Zhou M, Wang L, Ma C, Xi X, Chen T, Shaw C, Wu D. Identification of a new myotropic decapeptide from the skin secretion of the red-eyed leaf frog, Agalychnis callidryas. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243326. [PMID: 33270804 PMCID: PMC7714090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Bradykinin-related peptides (BRPs) family is one of the most significant myotropic peptide families derived from frog skin secretions. Here, a novel BRP callitide was isolated and identified from the red-eyed leaf frog, Agalychnis callidryas, with atypical primary structure FRPAILVRPK-NH2. The mature peptide was cleaved N-terminally at a classic propeptide convertase cleavage site (-KR-) and at the C-terminus an unusual -GKGKGK sequence was removed using the first G residue as an amide donor for the C-terminally-located K residue. Thereafter, the synthetic replicates of callitide were assessed the myotropic activity and showed a significant contraction of balder, with the 0.63 nM EC50 value, more potent than most discovered myotropic peptides. The binding mode was further speculated by molecular docking and stimulation. The result indicated that the C-terminal of callitide might selectively bind to bradykinin receptor B2 (BKRB2). Further investigation of the callitide needs to be done in the future to be exploited as potential future drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitian Gao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Renjie Li
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Wenqing Yang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mei Zhou
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Lei Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Chengbang Ma
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Xinping Xi
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Tianbao Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Shaw
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Di Wu
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- * E-mail:
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Du Q, Wang H, Ma C, Wu Y, Xi X, Zhou M, Chen T, Shaw C, Wang L. Identification of a Novel Vasodilatory Octapeptide from the Skin Secretion of the African Hyperoliid Frog, Kassina senegalensis. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22071215. [PMID: 28753966 PMCID: PMC6152130 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22071215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The defensive skin secretions of amphibians continue to be an excellent source of novel biologically-active peptides. Here we report the identification and pharmacological activity of a novel C-terminally amided myotropic octapeptide from the skin secretion of the African hyperoliid frog, Kassina senegalensis. The 8-amino acid peptide has the following primary structure: WMSLGWSL-amide and has a molecular mass of 978 Da. The primary structure and organisation of the biosynthetic precursor of WL-8 amide was successfully deduced from cloned skin secretion-derived cDNA. The open-reading frame encoded a single copy of WL-8, located at the C-terminus. Synthetic WL-8 amide was found to cause relaxation of rat tail artery smooth muscle with an EC50 of 25.98 nM. This peptide is unique in terms of its primary structure and is unlike any other peptide previously isolated from an amphibian source which has been archived in the NCBI database. WL-8 amide thus represents the prototype of a novel family of myotropic peptide from amphibian defensive skin secretions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Du
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China.
| | - Chengbang Ma
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Yue Wu
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Xinping Xi
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Mei Zhou
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Tianbao Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Chris Shaw
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Lei Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
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König E, Bininda-Emonds ORP, Shaw C. The diversity and evolution of anuran skin peptides. Peptides 2015; 63:96-117. [PMID: 25464160 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Revised: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians exhibit various, characteristic adaptations related to their "incomplete" shift from the aquatic to the terrestrial habitat. In particular, the integument was subject to a number of specialized modifications during the evolution of these animals. In this review, we place special emphasis on endogenous host-defence skin peptides from the cuteanous granular glands anuran amphibians (frogs and toads). The overview on the two broad groups of neuroactive and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) goes beyond a simple itemization in that we provide a new perspective into the evolution and function of anuran AMPs. Briefly, these cationic, amphipathic and α-helical peptides are traditionally viewed as being part of the innate immune system, protecting the moist skin against invading microorganisms through their cytolytic action. However, the complete record of anuran species investigated to date suggests that AMPs are distributed sporadically (i.e., non-universally) across Anura. Together with the intriguing observation that virtually all anurans known to produce neuropeptides in their granular glands also co-secrete cytolytic peptides, we call the traditional role for AMPs as being purely antimicrobial into question and present an alternative scenario. We hypothesize AMPs to assist neuroactive peptides in their antipredator role through their cytolytic action increasing the delivery of the latter to the endocrine and nervous system of the predator. Thus, AMPs are more accurately viewed as cytolysins and their contribution to the immune system is better regarded as an accessory benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico König
- AG Systematik und Evolutionsbiologie, IBU - Fakultät V, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Olaf R P Bininda-Emonds
- AG Systematik und Evolutionsbiologie, IBU - Fakultät V, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Chris Shaw
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Center, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
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Senegalin: a novel antimicrobial/myotropic hexadecapeptide from the skin secretion of the African running frog, Kassina senegalensis. Amino Acids 2013; 44:1347-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1470-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Antimicrobial peptides and alytesin are co-secreted from the venom of the Midwife toad, Alytes maurus (Alytidae, Anura): Implications for the evolution of frog skin defensive secretions. Toxicon 2012; 60:967-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Li X, Feng W, Zhou M, Ma C, Chen T, Zeller M, Hornshaw M, Wang L, Shaw C. Kasstasin: A novel potent vasoconstrictor peptide from the skin secretion of the African red-legged running frog, Kassina maculata. Biochimie 2011; 93:1537-42. [PMID: 21624426 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2011.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/11/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Amphibian skin secretions are established sources of bioactive peptides. Here we describe the isolation, structural and pharmacological characterisation of a novel vasoconstrictor peptide from the skin secretion of the African hyperoliid frog, Kassina maculata, which exhibits no structural similarity to any known class of amphibian skin peptide. The peptide consists of 21 amino acid residues, FIKELLPHLSGIIDSVANAIK, and is C-terminally amidated. The provisional structure was obtained by MS/MS fragmentation using an Orbitrap mass spectrometer and L/I ambiguities were resolved following molecular cloning of biosynthetic precursor-encoding cDNA. A synthetic replicate of the peptide was found to possess weak antimicrobial and haemolytic activities but was exceptionally effective in constricting the smooth muscle of rat tail artery (EC(50) of 25 pM). In reflection of its exceptional potency in constricting rat arterial smooth muscle, the peptide was named kasstasin, a derivation of Kassina and "stasis" (stoppage of flow). These data illustrate the continuing potential of amphibian skin secretions to provide novel natural peptide templates for biological evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohe Li
- Molecular Therapeutics Research, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
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Kawada T, Sekiguchi T, Sakai T, Aoyama M, Satake H. Neuropeptides, hormone peptides, and their receptors in Ciona intestinalis: an update. Zoolog Sci 2010; 27:134-53. [PMID: 20141419 DOI: 10.2108/zsj.27.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The critical phylogenetic position of ascidians leads to the presumption that neuropeptides and hormones in vertebrates are highly likely to be evolutionarily conserved in ascidians, and the cosmopolitan species Ciona intestinalis is expected to be an excellent deuterostome Invertebrate model for studies on neuropeptides and hormones. Nevertheless, molecular and functional characterization of Ciona neuropeptides and hormone peptides was restricted to a few peptides such as a cholecystokinin (CCK)/gastrin peptide, cionin, and gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRHs). In the past few years, mass spectrometric analyses and database searches have detected Ciona orthologs or prototypes of vertebrate peptides and their receptors, including tachykinin, insulin/relaxin, calcitonin, and vasopressin. Furthermore, studies have shown that several Ciona peptides, including vasopressin and a novel GnRH-related peptide, have acquired ascidian-specific molecular forms and/or biological functions. These findings provided indisputable evidence that ascidians, unlike other invertebrates (including the traditional protostome model animals), possess neuropeptides and hormone peptides structurally and functionally related to vertebrate counterparts, and that several peptides have uniquely diverged in ascidian evolutionary lineages. Moreover, recent functional analyses of Ciona tachykinin in the ovary substantiated the novel tachykininergic protease-assoclated oocyte growth pathway, which could not have been revealed in studies on vertebrates. These findings confirm the outstanding advantages of ascidians in understanding the neuroscience, endocrinology, and evolution of vertebrate neuropeptides and hormone peptides. This article provides an overview of basic findings and reviews new knowledge on ascidian neuropeptides and hormone peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Kawada
- Suntory Institute for Bioorganic Research, 1-1-1 Wakayamadai, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan
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