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Cardoso FF, Salvador GHM, Cavalcante WLG, Dal-Pai M, Fontes MRDM. BthTX-I, a phospholipase A 2-like toxin, is inhibited by the plant cinnamic acid derivative: chlorogenic acid. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2024; 1872:140988. [PMID: 38142025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140988] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite is a significant health concern in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, resulting in more than 2.7 million envenomations and an estimated one hundred thousand fatalities annually. The Bothrops genus is responsible for the majority of snakebite envenomings in Latin America and Caribbean countries. Accidents involving snakes from this genus are characterized by local symptoms that often lead to permanent sequelae and death. However, specific antivenoms exhibit limited effectiveness in inhibiting local tissue damage. Phospholipase A2-like (PLA2-like) toxins emerge as significant contributors to local myotoxicity in accidents involving Bothrops species. As a result, they represent a crucial target for prospective treatments. Some natural and synthetic compounds have shown the ability to reduce or abolish the myotoxic effects of PLA2-like proteins. In this study, we employed a combination approach involving myographic, morphological, biophysical and bioinformatic techniques to investigate the interaction between chlorogenic acid (CGA) and BthTX-I, a PLA2-like toxin. CGA provided a protection of 71.8% on muscle damage in a pre-incubation treatment. Microscale thermophoresis and circular dichroism experiments revealed that CGA interacted with the BthTX-I while preserving its secondary structure. CGA exhibited an affinity to the toxin that ranks among the highest observed for a natural compound. Bioinformatics simulations indicated that CGA inhibitor binds to the toxin's hydrophobic channel in a manner similar to other phenolic compounds previously investigated. These findings suggest that CGA interferes with the allosteric transition of the non-activated toxin, and the stability of the dimeric assembly of its activated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio Florença Cardoso
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Walter Luís Garrido Cavalcante
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Maeli Dal-Pai
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Roberto de Mattos Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Estudos Avançados do Mar (IEAMar), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Vicente, SP, Brazil.
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Salvador GHM, Pinto ÊKR, Ortolani PL, Fortes-Dias CL, Cavalcante WLG, Soares AM, Lomonte B, Lewin MR, Fontes MRM. Structural basis of the myotoxic inhibition of the Bothrops pirajai PrTX-I by the synthetic varespladib. Biochimie 2023; 207:1-10. [PMID: 36403756 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Varespladib (LY315920) is a potent inhibitor of human group IIA phospholipase A2 (PLA2) originally developed to control inflammatory cascades of diseases associated with high or dysregulated levels of endogenous PLA2. Recently, varespladib was also found to inhibit snake venom PLA2 and PLA2-like toxins. Herein, ex vivo neuromuscular blocking activity assays were used to test the inhibitory activity of varespladib. The binding affinity between varespladib and a PLA2-like toxin was quantified and compared with other potential inhibitors for this class of proteins. Crystallographic and bioinformatic studies showed that varespladib binds to PrTX-I and BthTX-I into their hydrophobic channels, similarly to other previously characterized PLA2-like myotoxins. However, a new finding is that an additional varespladib binds to the MDiS region, a particular site that is related to muscle cell disruption by these toxins. The present results further advance the characterization of the molecular interactions of varespladib with PLA2-like myotoxins and provide additional evidence for this compound as a promising inhibitor candidate for different PLA2 and PLA2-like toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme H M Salvador
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Êmylle K R Pinto
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
| | - Paula L Ortolani
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Brazil
| | | | - Walter L G Cavalcante
- Departmento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
| | - Andreimar M Soares
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Proteínas e Compostos Bioativos Aplicados à Saúde, LABIOPROT, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT EPIAMO, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Matthew R Lewin
- Ophirex, Inc. Corte Madera, CA, 94925, USA; Center for Exploration and Travel Health, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | - Marcos R M Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
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Structural and functional studies of a snake venom phospholipase A 2-like protein complexed to an inhibitor from Tabernaemontana catharinensis. Biochimie 2023; 206:105-115. [PMID: 36273763 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Snake envenomation is an ongoing global health problem and tropical neglected disease that afflicts millions of people each year. The only specific treatment, antivenom, has several limitations that affects its proper distribution to the victims and its efficacy against local effects, such as myonecrosis. The main responsible for this consequence are the phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and PLA2-like proteins, such as BthTX-I from Bothrops jararacussu. Folk medicine resorts to plants such as Tabernaemontana catharinensis to palliate these and other snakebite effects. Here, we evaluated the effect of its root bark extract and one of its isolated compounds, 12-methoxy-4-methyl-voachalotine (MMV), against the in vitro paralysis and muscle damage induced by BthTX-I. Secondary and quaternary structures of BthTX-I were not modified by the interaction with MMV. Instead, this compound interacted in an unprecedented way with the region inside the toxin hydrophobic channel and promoted a structural change in Val31, loop 58-71 and Membrane Disruption Site. Thus, we hypothesize that MMV inhibits PLA2-like proteins by preventing entrance of fatty acid into the hydrophobic channel. These data may explain the traditional use of T. catharinensis extract and confirm MMV as a promising candidate to complement antivenom or a structural guide to develop more effective inhibitors.
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Lomonte B. Lys49 myotoxins, secreted phospholipase A 2-like proteins of viperid venoms: A comprehensive review. Toxicon 2023; 224:107024. [PMID: 36632869 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Muscle necrosis is a potential clinical complication of snakebite envenomings, which in severe cases can lead to functional or physical sequelae such as disability or amputation. Snake venom proteins with the ability to directly damage skeletal muscle fibers are collectively referred to as myotoxins, and include three main types: cytolysins of the "three-finger toxin" protein family expressed in many elapid venoms, the so-called "small" myotoxins found in a number of rattlesnake venoms, and the widespread secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) molecules. Among the latter, protein variants that conserve the sPLA2 structure, but lack such enzymatic activity, have been increasingly found in the venoms of many viperid species. Intriguingly, these sPLA2-like proteins are able to induce muscle necrosis by a mechanism independent of phospholipid hydrolysis. They are commonly referred to as "Lys49 myotoxins" since they most often present, among other substitutions, the replacement of the otherwise invariant residue Asp49 of sPLA2s by Lys. This work comprehensively reviews the historical developments and current knowledge towards deciphering the mechanism of action of Lys49 sPLA2-like myotoxins, and points out main gaps to be filled for a better understanding of these multifaceted snake venom proteins, to hopefully lead to improved treatments for snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica.
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Ferreira SDS, Silva DPD, Torres-Rêgo M, Silva-Júnior AAD, Fernandes-Pedrosa MDF. The potential of phenolic acids in therapy against snakebites: A review. Toxicon 2021; 208:1-12. [PMID: 34979199 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ophidism is a serious health problem worldwide and is included in the World Health Organization's (WHO's) list of Neglected Tropical Diseases. Although snakebite envenoming requires emergency treatment, currently the only treatment recommended by WHO is serotherapy, which has some disadvantages such as low access to the rural population, low effectiveness in neutralizing local effects, and high cost. In this context, new alternatives for the treatment of snakebites are required. The use of plant-derived compounds to inhibit the effects caused by snake venoms has been the object of a number of studies in recent years. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the use of phenolic acids with therapeutic application against envenomation by snakes of different species. In this sense, structural analysis in silico and biological activities in vivo and in vitro were reported. The acids were subdivided into derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids, with derivatives of cinnamic acids being the most studied. Studies have revealed that these compounds are capable of inhibiting local and systemic effects induced by envenomation, and structural analyses indicate that the acids interact with important sites responsible for the action of toxins. Thus, it was reported that phenolic acids showed antiophidic potential, providing insights for future research to develop complementary drugs for the treatment of snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah de Sousa Ferreira
- Laboratory of Technology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Tecbiofar), College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenue General Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, S/N, Petrópolis, Natal, 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Diana Pontes da Silva
- Laboratory of Technology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Tecbiofar), College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenue General Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, S/N, Petrópolis, Natal, 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Manoela Torres-Rêgo
- Laboratory of Technology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Tecbiofar), College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenue General Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, S/N, Petrópolis, Natal, 59012-570, Brazil; Graduate Program of Chemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenue Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal, 59072-970, Brazil.
| | - Arnóbio Antônio da Silva-Júnior
- Laboratory of Technology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Tecbiofar), College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenue General Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, S/N, Petrópolis, Natal, 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa
- Laboratory of Technology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Tecbiofar), College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenue General Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, S/N, Petrópolis, Natal, 59012-570, Brazil.
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Barbosa ED, Lima Neto JX, Bezerra KS, Oliveira JIN, Machado LD, Fulco UL. Quantum Biochemical Investigation of Lys49-PLA 2 from Bothrops moojeni. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:12972-12980. [PMID: 34793159 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Envenomation via snakebites occurs largely in areas where it is harder to access the hospital. Its mortality rate and sequelae acquired by the survivors symbolize a big challenge for antivenom therapy. In particular, the homologous phospholipase A2 (Lys49-PLA2) proteins can induce myonecrosis and are not effectively neutralized by current treatments. Thus, by taking advantage of crystallographic structures of Bothrops moojeni Lys49-PLA2 complexed with VRD (varespladib) and AIN (aspirin), a quantum biochemistry study based on the molecular fractionation with conjugate cap scheme within the density functional theory formalism is performed to unveil these complexes' detailed interaction energies. The calculations revealed that important interactions between ligands and the Lys49-PLA2 pocket could occur up to a pocket radius of r = 6.5 (5.0 Å) for VRD (AIN), with the total interaction energy of the VRD ligand being higher than that of the AIN ligand, which is well-correlated with the experimental binding affinity. Furthermore, we have identified the role played by the amino acids LYS0069, LYS0049, LEU0005, ILE0009, CYS0029, GLY0030, HIS0048, PRO0018, ALA0019, CYS0045, TYR0052, TYR0022, PRO0125*, and PHE0126* (LYS0069, LYS0049, GLY0032, LEU0002, and LEU0005) in the VRD↔Lys49-PLA2 (AIN↔Lys49-PLA2) complex. Our simulations are a valuable tool to support the big challenge for neutralizing the damages in victims of snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Barbosa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - J X Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - K S Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - J I N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - L D Machado
- Departamento de Física Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - U L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
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Salvador GHM, Borges RJ, Lomonte B, Lewin MR, Fontes MRM. The synthetic varespladib molecule is a multi-functional inhibitor for PLA 2 and PLA 2-like ophidic toxins. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129913. [PMID: 33865953 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The treatment for snakebites is early administration of antivenom, which can be highly effective in inhibiting the systemic effects of snake venoms, but is less effective in the treatment of extra-circulatory and local effects. To complement standard-of-care treatments such as antibody-based antivenoms, natural and synthetic small molecules have been proposed for the inhibition of key venom components such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and PLA2-like toxins. Varespladib (compound LY315920) is a synthetic molecule developed and clinically tested aiming to block inflammatory cascades of several diseases associated with high PLA2s. Recent studies have demonstrated this molecule is able to potently inhibit snake venom catalytic PLA2 and PLA2-like toxins. METHODS In vivo and in vitro techniques were used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of varespladib against MjTX-I. X-ray crystallography was used to reveal details of the interaction between these molecules. A new methodology that combines crystallography, mass spectroscopy and phylogenetic data was used to review its primary sequence. RESULTS Varespladib was able to inhibit the myotoxic and cytotoxic effects of MjTX-I. Structural analysis revealed a particular inhibitory mechanism of MjTX-I when compared to other PLA2-like myotoxin, presenting an oligomeric-independent function. CONCLUSION Results suggest the effectiveness of varespladib for the inhibition of MjTX-I, in similarity with other PLA2 and PLA2-like toxins. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Varespladib appears to be a promissory molecule in the treatment of local effects led by PLA2 and PLA2-like toxins (oligomeric dependent and independent), indicating that this is a multifunctional or broadly specific inhibitor for different toxins within this superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme H M Salvador
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael J Borges
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Matthew R Lewin
- Center for Exploration and Travel Health, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Marcos R M Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
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