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Valencia-Martínez H, Riaño-Umbarila L, Olamendi-Portugal T, Romero-Moreno JA, Possani LD, Becerril B. Neutralization of Centruroides tecomanus scorpion venom by the use of two human recombinant antibody fragments. Mol Immunol 2023; 164:79-87. [PMID: 37980772 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
The first toxic component identified against mammals in the venom from Centruroides tecomanus scorpion from Colima, Mexico was Ct1a toxin, which was neutralized by human single chain variable fragment (scFv) RAS27. Venom characterization from these scorpions collected on the Pacific coast of Colima, enabled the identification of a second component of medical importance named Ct71 toxin. Amino acid sequence of Ct71 shares a high identity with Chui5 toxin from C. huichol scorpion, which was neutralized by scFv HV. For this reason, the kinetic parameters of interaction between Ct71 toxin and scFv HV were determined by surface plasmon resonance. Results showed a significantly higher affinity for Ct71 as compared to Chui5. As expected, this toxin was neutralized by scFv HV. The injection of a mixture of scFvs HV and RAS27, resulted in the neutralization of C. tecomanus venom, corroborating that human recombinant antibody fragments can efficiently contribute to the neutralization of medically important toxins and their respective venoms from Mexican scorpions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Valencia-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- Investigadora por México, CONAHCyT-Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico
| | - Timoteo Olamendi-Portugal
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - José Alberto Romero-Moreno
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - Lourival D Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico.
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Valencia-Martínez H, Olamendi-Portugal T, Restano-Cassulini R, Serrano-Posada H, Zamudio F, Possani LD, Riaño-Umbarila L, Becerril B. Characterization of Four Medically Important Toxins from Centruroides huichol Scorpion Venom and Its Neutralization by a Single Recombinant Antibody Fragment. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14060369. [PMID: 35737030 PMCID: PMC9227038 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14060369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Centruroides huichol scorpion venom is lethal to mammals. Analysis of the venom allowed the characterization of four lethal toxins named Chui2, Chui3, Chui4, and Chui5. scFv 10FG2 recognized well all toxins except Chui5 toxin, therefore a partial neutralization of the venom was observed. Thus, scFv 10FG2 was subjected to three processes of directed evolution and phage display against Chui5 toxin until obtaining scFv HV. Interaction kinetic constants of these scFvs with the toxins were determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as well as thermodynamic parameters of scFv variants bound to Chui5. In silico models allowed to analyze the molecular interactions that favor the increase in affinity. In a rescue trial, scFv HV protected 100% of the mice injected with three lethal doses 50 (LD50) of venom. Moreover, in mix-type neutralization assays, a combination of scFvs HV and 10FG2 protected 100% of mice injected with 5 LD50 of venom with moderate signs of intoxication. The ability of scFv HV to neutralize different toxins is a significant achievement, considering the diversity of the species of Mexican venomous scorpions, so this scFv is a candidate to be part of a recombinant anti-venom against scorpion stings in Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Valencia-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico; (H.V.-M.); (T.O.-P.); (R.R.-C.); (F.Z.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Timoteo Olamendi-Portugal
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico; (H.V.-M.); (T.O.-P.); (R.R.-C.); (F.Z.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Rita Restano-Cassulini
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico; (H.V.-M.); (T.O.-P.); (R.R.-C.); (F.Z.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Hugo Serrano-Posada
- Investigador por México, CONACyT-Laboratorio de Biología Sintética, Estructural y Molecular, Laboratorio de Agrobiotecnología-Tecnoparque CLQ, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Los Limones-Loma de Juárez, Colima 28627, Mexico;
| | - Fernando Zamudio
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico; (H.V.-M.); (T.O.-P.); (R.R.-C.); (F.Z.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Lourival D. Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico; (H.V.-M.); (T.O.-P.); (R.R.-C.); (F.Z.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- Investigadora por México, CONACyT-Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico
- Correspondence: (L.R.-U.); (B.B.); Tel.: +52-(777)-329-1669 (B.B.)
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico; (H.V.-M.); (T.O.-P.); (R.R.-C.); (F.Z.); (L.D.P.)
- Correspondence: (L.R.-U.); (B.B.); Tel.: +52-(777)-329-1669 (B.B.)
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Riaño-Umbarila L, Romero-Moreno JA, Ledezma-Candanoza LM, Olamendi-Portugal T, Possani LD, Becerril B. Full Neutralization of Centruroidessculpturatus Scorpion Venom by Combining Two Human Antibody Fragments. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13100708. [PMID: 34679001 PMCID: PMC8540208 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13100708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental issue of the characterization of single-chain variable fragments (scFvs), capable of neutralizing scorpion toxins, is their cross-neutralizing ability. This aspect is very important in Mexico because all scorpions dangerous to humans belong to the Centruroides genus, where toxin sequences show high identity. Among toxin-neutralizing antibodies that were generated in a previous study, scFv 10FG2 showed a broad cross-reactivity against several Centruroides toxins, while the one of scFv LR is more limited. Both neutralizing scFvs recognize independent epitopes of the toxins. In the present work, the neutralization capacity of these two scFvs against two medically important toxins of the venom of Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing was evaluated. The results showed that these toxins are recognized by both scFvs with affinities between 1.8 × 10-9 and 6.1 × 10-11 M. For this reason, their ability to neutralize the venom was evaluated in mice, where scFv 10FG2 showed a better protective capacity. A combination of both scFvs at a molar ratio of 1:5:5 (toxins: scFv 10FG2: scFv LR) neutralized the venom without the appearance of any signs of intoxication. These results indicate a complementary activity of these two scFvs during venom neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- CONACYT, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico;
| | - José Alberto Romero-Moreno
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico; (J.A.R.-M.); (L.M.L.-C.); (T.O.-P.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Luis M. Ledezma-Candanoza
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico; (J.A.R.-M.); (L.M.L.-C.); (T.O.-P.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Timoteo Olamendi-Portugal
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico; (J.A.R.-M.); (L.M.L.-C.); (T.O.-P.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Lourival D. Possani
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico; (J.A.R.-M.); (L.M.L.-C.); (T.O.-P.); (L.D.P.)
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Morelos, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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Fernández-Taboada G, Riaño-Umbarila L, Olvera-Rodríguez A, Gómez-Ramírez IV, Losoya-Uribe LF, Becerril B. The venom of the scorpion Centruroides limpidus, which causes the highest number of stings in Mexico, is neutralized by two recombinant antibody fragments. Mol Immunol 2021; 137:247-255. [PMID: 34298407 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Phage display and directed evolution have made it possible to generate recombinant antibodies in the format of single chain variable fragments (scFvs) capable of neutralizing different toxins and venoms of Mexican scorpions. Despite having managed to neutralize a significant number of venoms, some others have not yet been completely neutralized, due to the diversity of the toxic components present in them. An example is the venom of the scorpion Centruroides limpidus, which contains three toxins of medical importance, called Cll1, Cll2 and Cl13. The first two are neutralized by scFv 10FG2, while Cl13, due to its sequence divergence, was not even recognized. For this reason, the aim of the present work was the generation of a new scFv capable of neutralizing Cl13 toxin and thereby helping to neutralize the whole venom of this scorpion. By hybridoma technology, a monoclonal antibody (mAb B7) was generated, which was able to recognize and partially neutralize Cl13 toxin. From mAb B7, its scFv format was obtained, named scFv B7 and subjected to three cycles of directed evolution. At the end of these processes, scFv 11F which neutralized Cl13 toxin was obtained. This scFv, administered in conjunction with scFv 10FG2, allowed to fully neutralize the whole venom of Centruroides limpidus scorpion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Fernández-Taboada
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
| | - Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- Cátedra CONACYT, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
| | - Alejandro Olvera-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
| | - Ilse Viridiana Gómez-Ramírez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
| | - Luis Fernando Losoya-Uribe
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
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López-Giraldo AE, Olamendi-Portugal T, Riaño-Umbarila L, Becerril B, Possani LD, Delepierre M, del Río-Portilla F. The three-dimensional structure of the toxic peptide Cl13 from the scorpion Centruroides limpidus. Toxicon 2020; 184:158-166. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Biochemical characterization of the venom from the Mexican scorpion Centruroides ornatus, a dangerous species to humans. Toxicon 2020; 173:27-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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7
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Rincón-Cortés CA, Olamendi-Portugal T, Carcamo-Noriega EN, Santillán EG, Zuñiga FZ, Reyes-Montaño EA, Vega Castro NA, Possani LD. Structural and functional characterization of toxic peptides purified from the venom of the Colombian scorpion Tityus macrochirus. Toxicon 2019; 169:5-11. [PMID: 31402191 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The soluble venom of the scorpion Tityus macrochirus was separated by chromatographic procedures and three homogeneous peptides were obtained and their primary structures were determined. They were called: Tma1-Tma3, from the abbreviated name of the scorpion. Tma1 is a peptide containing 65 amino acids with four disulfide linkages and a molecular weight of 7386.2 Da. It is a mammalian toxin, shown to affect human sodium-channels sub-types hNav1.6 and hNav1.4. Tma2 and Tma3 are peptides containing 69 amino acids linked by four disulfide bonds, molecular weights 7819.7 and 7830.0 Da, respectively. They do not affect human sodium-channels but are lethal to insects (crickets). A phylogenic analysis of the three peptides and those of other toxic peptides isolated from the genus Tityus and Centruroides were grouped together and analyzed, permitting to obtain a topology with two main clades, one includes most sodium-channel anti-insect scorpion toxins and others includes mostly sodium-channel scorpion toxins anti-mammalian. Tma1 segregates among a group of well-studied β-class toxins of other Tityus species such as T. discrepans, T. obscurus and T. pachyurus. Tma2 and Tma3 are associated with anti-insect toxins, particularly with one of T. obscurus. This phylogenetic analysis confirms and enforces our experimental results obtained with these three new sodium-channel scorpion toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Andrea Rincón-Cortés
- Grupo de Investigación en Proteínas, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales, U.D.C.A., Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Timoteo Olamendi-Portugal
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Edson Norberto Carcamo-Noriega
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Edmundo González Santillán
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Fernando Zamudio Zuñiga
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Edgar Antonio Reyes-Montaño
- Grupo de Investigación en Proteínas, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Nohora Angélica Vega Castro
- Grupo de Investigación en Proteínas, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Lourival Domingos Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico.
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Dissecting Toxicity: The Venom Gland Transcriptome and the Venom Proteome of the Highly Venomous Scorpion Centruroides limpidus (Karsch, 1879). Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11050247. [PMID: 31052267 PMCID: PMC6563264 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11050247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Venom glands and soluble venom from the Mexican scorpion Centruroides limpidus (Karsch, 1879) were used for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, respectively. An RNA-seq was performed by high-throughput sequencing with the Illumina platform. Approximately 80 million reads were obtained and assembled into 198,662 putative transcripts, of which 11,058 were annotated by similarity to sequences from available databases. A total of 192 venom-related sequences were identified, including Na+ and K+ channel-acting toxins, enzymes, host defense peptides, and other venom components. The most diverse transcripts were those potentially coding for ion channel-acting toxins, mainly those active on Na+ channels (NaScTx). Sequences corresponding to β- scorpion toxins active of K+ channels (KScTx) and λ-KScTx are here reported for the first time for a scorpion of the genus Centruroides. Mass fingerprint corroborated that NaScTx are the most abundant components in this venom. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectometry (LC-MS/MS) allowed the identification of 46 peptides matching sequences encoded in the transcriptome, confirming their expression in the venom. This study corroborates that, in the venom of toxic buthid scorpions, the more abundant and diverse components are ion channel-acting toxins, mainly NaScTx, while they lack the HDP diversity previously demonstrated for the non-buthid scorpions. The highly abundant and diverse antareases explain the pancreatitis observed after envenomation by this species.
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Riaño-Umbarila L, Gómez-Ramírez IV, Ledezma-Candanoza LM, Olamendi-Portugal T, Rodríguez-Rodríguez ER, Fernández-Taboada G, Possani LD, Becerril B. Generation of a Broadly Cross-Neutralizing Antibody Fragment against Several Mexican Scorpion Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11010032. [PMID: 30634620 PMCID: PMC6356842 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The recombinant antibody fragments generated against the toxic components of scorpion venoms are considered a promising alternative for obtaining new antivenoms for therapy. Using directed evolution and site-directed mutagenesis, it was possible to generate a human single-chain antibody fragment with a broad cross-reactivity that retained recognition for its original antigen. This variant is the first antibody fragment that neutralizes the effect of an estimated 13 neurotoxins present in the venom of nine species of Mexican scorpions. This single antibody fragment showed the properties of a polyvalent antivenom. These results represent a significant advance in the development of new antivenoms against scorpion stings, since the number of components would be minimized due to their broad cross-neutralization capacity, while at the same time bypassing animal immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- CONACYT, Instituto de Biotecnología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
| | - Ilse V Gómez-Ramírez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
| | - Luis M Ledezma-Candanoza
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
| | - Timoteo Olamendi-Portugal
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
| | - Everardo Remi Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
| | - Guillermo Fernández-Taboada
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
| | - Lourival D Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico.
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Shi W, He P, Zeng XC, Wu W, Chen X. Inhibitory Effect of an Acidic Peptide on the Activity of an Antimicrobial Peptide from the Scorpion Mesobuthus martensii Karsch. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23123314. [PMID: 30558111 PMCID: PMC6321396 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23123314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly acidic peptides with no disulfide bridges are widely present in the scorpion venoms; however, none of them has been functionally characterized so far. Here, we cloned the full-length cDNA of a short-chain highly acidic peptide (referred to as HAP-1) from a cDNA library made from the venom glands of the Chinese scorpion Mesobuthus martensii Karsch. HAP-1 contains 19 amino acid residues with a predicted IP value of 4.25. Acidic amino residues account for 33.3% of the total residues in the molecule of HAP-1. HAP-1 shows 76⁻98% identities to some scorpion venom peptides that have not yet been functionally characterized. Secondary structure prediction showed that HAP-1 contains a beta-sheet region (residues 9⁻17), and two coiled coil regions (residues 1⁻8 and 18⁻19) located at the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the peptide, respectively. Antimicrobial assay showed that HAP-1 does not have any effect on the growth of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus AB94004. However, it potently inhibits the antimicrobial activity of a 13-mer peptide from M. martensii Karsch against Staphylococcus aureus AB94004. This finding is the first characterization of the function of such highly acidic peptides from scorpions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanxia Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Pengchen He
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Xian-Chun Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Weiwei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Xiaoming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology & School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
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Carcamo-Noriega EN, Possani LD, Ortiz E. Venom content and toxicity regeneration after venom gland depletion by electrostimulation in the scorpion Centruroides limpidus. Toxicon 2018; 157:87-92. [PMID: 30468759 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.11.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The scorpion venom is a cocktail of many components. Its composition can exhibit a level of plasticity in response to different behavioral and environmental factors, leading to intraspecific variation. The toxicity and specificity of scorpion venoms appear to be taxon-dependent, due to a co-evolutionary interaction with prey and predators, which shaped the composition at the molecular level. The venom regeneration by the venom glands is an asynchronous process, in which particular components are expressed at different stages and at different rates. According to this, it can be reasonably assumed that the regeneration of toxicity in the venom is also asynchronous. In this work, we studied the toxicity regeneration dynamics by the scorpion Centruroides limpidus after full venom depletion by electrical stimulation. For this, we evaluated the toxicity of venom samples extracted at different days post depletion, against insects (crickets) and mammals (humans, by assessing the venom activity on the human voltage-dependent Na+ channel Nav1.6). The regeneration of toxicity against humans lagged behind that against crickets (13 vs 10 days, respectively). Thirteen days after depletion the venom seems to be replenished. Our results show asynchrony in the regeneration of species-specific toxic activity in the venom of Centruroides limpidus. The understanding of the venom regeneration kinetics for the different scorpion species will help to design venom extraction protocols that could maximize the yield and quality of the collected venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edson Norberto Carcamo-Noriega
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Lourival Domingos Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico.
| | - Ernesto Ortiz
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico.
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Valdez-Velázquez LL, Olamendi-Portugal T, Restano-Cassulini R, Zamudio FZ, Possani LD. Mass fingerprinting and electrophysiological analysis of the venom from the scorpion Centruroides hirsutipalpus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2018; 24:17. [PMID: 29988683 PMCID: PMC6029114 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-018-0154-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Centruroides hirsutipalpus, of the family Buthidae, is a scorpion endemic to the Western Pacific region of Mexico. Although medically important, its venom has not yet been studied. Therefore, this communication aims to identify their venom components and possible functions. Methods Fingerprinting mass analysis of the soluble venom from this scorpion was achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the soluble venom and its toxic effects were evaluated extensively via electrophysiological assays in HEK cells expressing human voltage-gated Na+ channels (hNav 1.1 to Nav1.6), CHO cells expressing hNav 1.7, potassium channel hERG 1 (Ether-à-go-go-related-gene) and the human K+-channel hKv1.1. Results The separation of soluble venom produced 60 fractions from which 83 distinct components were identified. The molecular mass distribution of these components varies from 340 to 21,120 Da. Most of the peptides have a molecular weight between 7001 and 8000 Da (46% components), a range that usually corresponds to peptides known to affect Na+ channels. Peptides with molecular masses from 3000 to 5000 Da (28% of the components) were identified within the range corresponding to K+-channel blocking toxins. Two peptides were obtained in pure format and completely sequenced: one with 29 amino acids, showing sequence similarity to an “orphan peptide” of C. limpidus, and the other with 65 amino acid residues shown to be an arthropod toxin (lethal to crustaceans and toxic to crickets). The electrophysiological results of the whole soluble venom show a beta type modification of the currents of channels Nav1.1, Nav1.2 and Nav1.6. The main effect observed in channels hERG and hKv 1.1 was a reduction of the currents. Conclusion The venom contains more than 83 distinct components, among which are peptides that affect the function of human Na+-channels and K+-channels. Two new complete amino acid sequences were determined: one an arthropod toxin, the other a peptide of unknown function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timoteo Olamendi-Portugal
- 2Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, apartado postal, 510-3 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - Rita Restano-Cassulini
- 2Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, apartado postal, 510-3 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - Fernando Z Zamudio
- 2Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, apartado postal, 510-3 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - Lourival D Possani
- 2Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, apartado postal, 510-3 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
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Carcamo-Noriega EN, Olamendi-Portugal T, Restano-Cassulini R, Rowe A, Uribe-Romero SJ, Becerril B, Possani LD. Intraspecific variation of Centruroides sculpturatus scorpion venom from two regions of Arizona. Arch Biochem Biophys 2018; 638:52-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Updating knowledge on new medically important scorpion species in Mexico. Toxicon 2017; 138:130-137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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