2
|
Pei S, Wang N, Mei Z, Zhangsun D, Craik DJ, McIntosh JM, Zhu X, Luo S. Conotoxins Targeting Voltage-Gated Sodium Ion Channels. Pharmacol Rev 2024; 76:828-845. [PMID: 38914468 PMCID: PMC11331937 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.123.000923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels are intimately involved in the generation and transmission of action potentials, and dysfunction of these channels may contribute to nervous system diseases, such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, psychosis, autism, and cardiac arrhythmia. Many venom peptides selectively act on NaV channels. These include conotoxins, which are neurotoxins secreted by cone snails for prey capture or self-defense but which are also valuable pharmacological tools for the identification and/or treatment of human diseases. Typically, conotoxins contain two or three disulfide bonds, and these internal crossbraces contribute to conotoxins having compact, well defined structures and high stability. Of the conotoxins containing three disulfide bonds, some selectively target mammalian NaV channels and can block, stimulate, or modulate these channels. Such conotoxins have great potential to serve as pharmacological tools for studying the functions and characteristics of NaV channels or as drug leads for neurologic diseases related to NaV channels. Accordingly, discovering or designing conotoxins targeting NaV channels with high potency and selectivity is important. The amino acid sequences, disulfide bond connectivity, and three-dimensional structures are key factors that affect the biological activity of conotoxins, and targeted synthetic modifications of conotoxins can greatly improve their activity and selectivity. This review examines NaV channel-targeted conotoxins, focusing on their structures, activities, and designed modifications, with a view toward expanding their applications. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: NaV channels are crucial in various neurologic diseases. Some conotoxins selectively target NaV channels, causing either blockade or activation, thus enabling their use as pharmacological tools for studying the channels' characteristics and functions. Conotoxins also have promising potential to be developed as drug leads. The disulfide bonds in these peptides are important for stabilizing their structures, thus leading to enhanced specificity and potency. Together, conotoxins targeting NaV channels have both immediate research value and promising future application prospects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shengrong Pei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| | - Nan Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| | - Zaoli Mei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| | - Dongting Zhangsun
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| | - David J Craik
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| | - Xiaopeng Zhu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| | - Sulan Luo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China (S.P., N.W., Z.M., D.Z., X.Z., S.L.); Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China (D.Z., S.L.); Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D.J.C.); Departments of Biology and Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.); and George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.M.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou M, Yang M, Wen H, Xu S, Han C, Wu Y. O1-conotoxin Tx6.7 cloned from the genomic DNA of Conus textile that inhibits calcium currents. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2023; 29:e20220085. [PMID: 37283723 PMCID: PMC10241523 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2022-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Conotoxins exhibit great potential as neuropharmacology tools and therapeutic candidates due to their high affinity and specificity for ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors or transporters. The traditional methods to discover new conotoxins are peptide purification from the crude venom or gene amplification from the venom duct. Methods In this study, a novel O1 superfamily conotoxin Tx6.7 was directly cloned from the genomic DNA of Conus textile using primers corresponding to the conserved intronic sequence and 3' UTR elements. The mature peptide of Tx6.7 (DCHERWDWCPASLLGVIYCCEGLICFIAFCI) was synthesized by solid-phase chemical synthesis and confirmed by mass spectrometry. Results Patch clamp experiments on rat DRG neurons showed that Tx6.7 inhibited peak calcium currents by 59.29 ± 2.34% and peak potassium currents by 22.33 ± 7.81%. In addition, patch clamp on the ion channel subtypes showed that 10 μM Tx6.7 inhibited 56.61 ± 3.20% of the hCaV1.2 currents, 24.67 ± 0.91% of the hCaV2.2 currents and 7.30 ± 3.38% of the hNaV1.8 currents. Tx6.7 had no significant toxicity to ND7/23 cells and increased the pain threshold from 0.5 to 4 hours in the mouse hot plate assay. Conclusion Our results suggested that direct cloning of conotoxin sequences from the genomic DNA of cone snails would be an alternative approach to obtaining novel conotoxins. Tx6.7 could be used as a probe tool for ion channel research or a therapeutic candidate for novel drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maojun Zhou
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics,
State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Manyi Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, NHC Key
Laboratory of Nanobiological Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University,
Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Huiling Wen
- School of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi,
China
| | - Shun Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular
Diagnostics, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Cuifang Han
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular
Diagnostics, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular
Diagnostics, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu Y, Yang M, Li Y, Zhang W, Zhou M. Synthesis and evaluation of a novel analgesic conotoxin Lt7b that inhibits calcium currents and increases sodium currents. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:5330-5334. [PMID: 36050866 PMCID: PMC9575111 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17521] [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: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Conotoxins are promising neuropharmacological tools and drug candidates due to their high efficiency and specificity in targeting ion channels or neurotransmitter receptors. In this study, a novel O2‐superfamily conotoxin, Lt7b, was synthesized and its pharmacological functions were evaluated. Lt7b with three modified amino acids and three disulfide bonds was successfully synthesized. CD spectra showed that Lt7b had a typical α‐helix in the secondary structure. Patch clamp experiments on rat DRG neurons showed that Lt7b could significantly inhibit calcium currents with an IC50 value of 856 ± 95 nM. Meanwhile, 10 μM Lt7b could significantly increase the sodium currents by 77 ± 8%, but it had no obvious effects on the potassium currents in DRG neurons. In addition, patch clamp experiments on ion channel subtypes showed that 10 μM Lt7b could inhibit 7.0 ± 1.2%, 8.0 ± 1.5%, 4.6 ± 3.4%, and 9.5 ± 0.1% of the hCav1.2, hCav2.1, hCav2.2, and hCav3.2 currents, respectively, while it did not increase the rNav1.7, rNav1.8, hNav1.5, hNav1.7, and hNav1.8 currents. Lt7b had no obvious toxicity to HaCaT and ND7/23 cells up to 1 mM and significantly increased the pain threshold at the testing time of 0.5–4 h in a dose‐dependent manner in the mouse hotplate assay. This novel conotoxin Lt7b may be a useful tool for ion channel studies and analgesic drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Manyi Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, NHC Key Laboratory of Nanobiological Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yubin Li
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijingshan District, China
| | - Maojun Zhou
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Covering: 2020This review covers the literature published in 2020 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 757 citations (747 for the period January to December 2020) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1407 in 420 papers for 2020), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Pertinent reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that led to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included. A meta analysis of bioactivity data relating to new MNPs reported over the last five years is also presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Carroll
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. .,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Brent R Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Enivironment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert A Keyzers
- Centre for Biodiscovery, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang M, Li Y, Liu L, Zhou M. A novel proline-rich M-superfamily conotoxin that can simultaneously affect sodium, potassium and calcium currents. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2021; 27:e20200164. [PMID: 34234819 PMCID: PMC8230863 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2020-0164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Conotoxins have become a research hotspot in the neuropharmacology field for their high activity and specificity in targeting ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors. There have been reports of a conotoxin acting on two ion channels, but rare reports of a conotoxin acting on three ion channels. Methods Vr3a, a proline-rich M-superfamily conotoxin from a worm-hunting Conus varius, was obtained by solid-phase synthesis and identified by mass spectrometry. The effects of synthesized Vr3a on sodium, potassium and calcium currents were tested on rat DRG cells by patch clamp experiments. The further effects of Vr3a on human Cav1.2 and Cav2.2 currents were tested on HEK293 cells. Results About 10 μM Vr3a has no effects on the peak sodium currents, but can induce a ~10 mV shift in a polarizing direction in the current-voltage relationship. In addition, 10 μM Vr3a can increase 19.61 ± 5.12% of the peak potassium currents and do not induce a shift in the current-voltage relationship. An amount of 10 μM Vr3a can inhibit 31.26% ± 4.53% of the peak calcium currents and do not induce a shift in the current-voltage relationship. The IC50 value of Vr3a on calcium channel currents in rat DRG neurons is 19.28 ± 4.32 μM. Moreover, 10 μM Vr3a can inhibit 15.32% ± 5.41% of the human Cav1.2 currents and 12.86% ± 4.93% of the human Cav2.2 currents. Conclusions Vr3a can simultaneously affect sodium, potassium and calcium currents. This novel triple-target conotoxin Vr3a expands understanding of conotoxin functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manyi Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, NHC Key Laboratory of Nanobiological Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yubin Li
- Department of Oncology, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Longfei Liu
- Department of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Maojun Zhou
- Department of Oncology, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| |
Collapse
|