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Zainal Abidin SA, Liew AKY, Othman I, Shaikh F. Animal Venoms as Potential Source of Anticonvulsants. F1000Res 2024; 13:225. [PMID: 38919947 PMCID: PMC11196940 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.147027.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide, and there is an urgent need to develop safe and effective therapeutic agents. Animal venoms contain diverse bioactive compounds like proteins, peptides, and small molecules, which may possess medicinal properties against epilepsy. In recent years, research has shown that venoms from various organisms such as spiders, ants, bees, wasps, and conus snails have anticonvulsant and antiepileptic effects by targeting specific receptors and ion channels. This review underscores the significance of purified proteins and toxins from these sources as potential therapeutic agents for epilepsy. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the valuable role of animal venoms as a natural resource for further exploration in epilepsy treatment research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syafiq Asnawi Zainal Abidin
- Monash University Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia
| | - Anthony Kin Yip Liew
- Monash University Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia
| | - Iekhsan Othman
- Monash University Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia
| | - Farooq Shaikh
- School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, 2800, Australia
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Talukdar A, Maddhesiya P, Namsa ND, Doley R. Snake venom toxins targeting the central nervous system. TOXIN REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2022.2084418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Talukdar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam, India
| | - Priya Maddhesiya
- Cell Biology and Anatomy, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Nima Dondu Namsa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam, India
| | - Robin Doley
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam, India
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Giglio ML, Ituarte S, Milesi V, Dreon MS, Brola TR, Caramelo J, Ip JCH, Maté S, Qiu JW, Otero LH, Heras H. Exaptation of two ancient immune proteins into a new dimeric pore-forming toxin in snails. J Struct Biol 2020; 211:107531. [PMID: 32446810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Membrane Attack Complex-Perforin (MACPF) family is ubiquitously found in all kingdoms. They have diverse cellular roles, however MACPFs with pore-forming toxic function in venoms and poisons are very rare in animals. Here we present the structure of PmPV2, a MACPF toxin from the poisonous apple snail eggs, that can affect the digestive and nervous systems of potential predators. We report the three-dimensional structure of PmPV2, at 17.2 Å resolution determined by negative-stain electron microscopy and its solution structure by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We found that PV2s differ from nearly all MACPFs in two respects: it is a dimer in solution and protomers combine two immune proteins into an AB toxin. The MACPF chain is linked by a single disulfide bond to a tachylectin chain, and two heterodimers are arranged head-to-tail by non-covalent forces in the native protein. MACPF domain is fused with a putative new Ct-accessory domain exclusive to invertebrates. The tachylectin is a six-bladed β-propeller, similar to animal tectonins. We experimentally validated the predicted functions of both subunits and demonstrated for the first time that PV2s are true pore-forming toxins. The tachylectin "B" delivery subunit would bind to target membranes, and then the MACPF "A" toxic subunit would disrupt lipid bilayers forming large pores altering the plasma membrane conductance. These results indicate that PV2s toxicity evolved by linking two immune proteins where their combined preexisting functions gave rise to a new toxic entity with a novel role in defense against predation. This structure is an unparalleled example of protein exaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Giglio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner", INIBIOLP, CONICET CCT La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas,1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - S Ituarte
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner", INIBIOLP, CONICET CCT La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas,1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - V Milesi
- Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológicos, IIFP CONICET CCT La Plata - UNLP, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - M S Dreon
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner", INIBIOLP, CONICET CCT La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas,1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - T R Brola
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner", INIBIOLP, CONICET CCT La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas,1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - J Caramelo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, IIBBA, CONICET - Fundación Instituto Leloir, Av Patricias Argentinas 435, C1405BWE Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J C H Ip
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - S Maté
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner", INIBIOLP, CONICET CCT La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas,1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - J W Qiu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - L H Otero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, IIBBA, CONICET - Fundación Instituto Leloir, Av Patricias Argentinas 435, C1405BWE Buenos Aires, Argentina; Plataforma Argentina de Biología Estructural y Metabolómica PLABEM, Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, C1405BWE Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - H Heras
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner", INIBIOLP, CONICET CCT La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas,1900 La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Química Biologica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
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Minarini A, Marucci G, Bellucci C, Giorgi G, Tumiatti V, Bolognesi ML, Matera R, Rosini M, Melchiorre C. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pirenzepine analogs bearing a 1,2-cyclohexanediamine and perhydroquinoxaline units in exchange for the piperazine ring as antimuscarinics. Bioorg Med Chem 2008; 16:7311-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2008.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2008] [Revised: 06/11/2008] [Accepted: 06/13/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Heras H, Frassa MV, Fernández PE, Galosi CM, Gimeno EJ, Dreon MS. First egg protein with a neurotoxic effect on mice. Toxicon 2008; 52:481-8. [PMID: 18640143 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2008.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2008] [Revised: 06/04/2008] [Accepted: 06/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
While many invertebrates sequester toxic compounds to endow eggs with chemical defences, here we show, for the first time to our knowledge, the identification of a neurotoxin of proteinaceous nature localized inside an egg. Egg extracts from the freshwater apple snail Pomacea canaliculata displayed a neurotoxic effect in mice upon intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) (LD50, 96h 2.3mg/kg). Egg protein and total lipids were analysed separately and the only fraction displaying a highly toxic effect (LD50, 96h 0.25mg/kg, i.p.) was further purified to homogeneity as an oligomeric glyco-lipoprotein of 400kDa and two subunits biochemically and immunologically indistinguishable from the previously described perivitellin PV2. The neurotoxin was heat sensitive and there was evidence of circulating antibody response to sublethal i.p. doses on mice. Clinical signs, histopathological and immunocytochemical studies revealed damage mostly in mice spinal cord. Experiments showed chromatolysis and a decreased response to calbindin D-28K associated with a significant increase of TUNEL-positive cells in the dorsal horn neurons. These results suggest that calcium buffering and apoptosis may play a role in the neurological disorders induced by the toxin in mammalian central nervous system. This is the first report of a mollusc neurotoxin genetically encoded outside the cone-snail species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horacio Heras
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata, Facultad de Medicina, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calles 60 y 120, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
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Tumiatti V, Minarini A, Milelli A, Rosini M, Buccioni M, Marucci G, Ghelardini C, Bellucci C, Melchiorre C. Structure–activity relationships of methoctramine-related polyamines as muscarinic antagonist: Effect of replacing the inner polymethylene chain with cyclic moieties. Bioorg Med Chem 2007; 15:2312-21. [PMID: 17276075 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2006] [Revised: 01/08/2007] [Accepted: 01/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present paper was to investigate the role of the octamethylene spacer of methoctramine (1) on the biological profile. Thus, this spacer was incorporated into a dianiline or dipiperidine moiety to determine whether flexibility and the basicity of the inner nitrogen atoms are important determinants of potency with respect to muscarinic receptors. The most potent compound was 4, which displayed, in the functional assays, a comparable potency at muscarinic M(2) receptors with respect to 1, and, in the binding assays, a loss of potency and selectivity toward muscarinic M(1) and M(3) receptor subtypes. Both compounds were endowed with antinociceptive activity. Furthermore, in microdialysis tests in rat parietal cortex, they enhanced acetylcholine release, most likely by antagonizing presynaptic muscarinic receptor subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Tumiatti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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Loughnan M, Nicke A, Jones A, Schroeder CI, Nevin ST, Adams DJ, Alewood PF, Lewis RJ. Identification of a Novel Class of Nicotinic Receptor Antagonists. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:24745-55. [PMID: 16790424 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m603703200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The venoms of predatory marine snails (Conus spp.) contain diverse mixtures of peptide toxins with high potency and selectivity for a variety of voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels. Here we describe the chemical and functional characterization of three novel conotoxins, alphaD-VxXIIA, alphaD-VxXIIB, and alphaD-VxXIIC, purified from the venom of Conus vexillum. Each toxin was observed as an approximately 11-kDa protein by LC/MS, size exclusion chromatography, and SDS-PAGE. After reduction, the peptide sequences were determined by Edman degradation chemistry and tandem MS. Combining the sequence data together with LC/MS and NMR data revealed that in solution these toxins are pseudo-homodimers of paired 47-50-residue peptides. The toxin subunits exhibited a novel arrangement of 10 conserved cystine residues, and additional post-translational modifications contributed heterogeneity to the proteins. Binding assays and two-electrode voltage clamp analyses showed that alphaD-VxXIIA, alphaD-VxXIIB, and alphaD-VxXIIC are potent inhibitors of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) with selectivity for alpha7 and beta2 containing neuronal nAChR subtypes. These dimeric conotoxins represent a fifth and highly divergent structural class of conotoxins targeting nAChRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Loughnan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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