1
|
Xu J, Lei X, Li A, Li J, Li S, Chen L. Scalable production of recombinant three-finger proteins: from inclusion bodies to high quality molecular probes. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:48. [PMID: 38347541 PMCID: PMC10860255 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02316-1] [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: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The three-finger proteins are a collection of disulfide bond rich proteins of great biomedical interests. Scalable recombinant expression and purification of bioactive three-finger proteins is quite difficult. RESULTS We introduce a working pipeline for expression, purification and validation of disulfide-bond rich three-finger proteins using E. coli as the expression host. With this pipeline, we have successfully obtained highly purified and bioactive recombinant α-Βungarotoxin, k-Bungarotoxin, Hannalgesin, Mambalgin-1, α-Cobratoxin, MTα, Slurp1, Pate B etc. Milligrams to hundreds of milligrams of recombinant three finger proteins were obtained within weeks in the lab. The recombinant proteins showed specificity in binding assay and six of them were crystallized and structurally validated using X-ray diffraction protein crystallography. CONCLUSIONS Our pipeline allows refolding and purifying recombinant three finger proteins under optimized conditions and can be scaled up for massive production of three finger proteins. As many three finger proteins have attractive therapeutic or research interests and due to the extremely high quality of the recombinant three finger proteins we obtained, our method provides a competitive alternative to either their native counterparts or chemically synthetic ones and should facilitate related research and applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Xu
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| | - Xiao Lei
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Ao Li
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuxing Li
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Lin Chen
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Van Baelen AC, Robin P, Kessler P, Maïga A, Gilles N, Servent D. Structural and Functional Diversity of Animal Toxins Interacting With GPCRs. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:811365. [PMID: 35198603 PMCID: PMC8859281 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.811365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide toxins from venoms have undergone a long evolutionary process allowing host defense or prey capture and making them highly selective and potent for their target. This has resulted in the emergence of a large panel of toxins from a wide diversity of species, with varied structures and multiple associated biological functions. In this way, animal toxins constitute an inexhaustible reservoir of druggable molecules due to their interesting pharmacological properties. One of the most interesting classes of therapeutic targets is the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs represent the largest family of membrane receptors in mammals with approximately 800 different members. They are involved in almost all biological functions and are the target of almost 30% of drugs currently on the market. Given the interest of GPCRs in the therapeutic field, the study of toxins that can interact with and modulate their activity with the purpose of drug development is of particular importance. The present review focuses on toxins targeting GPCRs, including peptide-interacting receptors or aminergic receptors, with a particular focus on structural aspects and, when relevant, on potential medical applications. The toxins described here exhibit a great diversity in size, from 10 to 80 amino acids long, in disulfide bridges, from none to five, and belong to a large panel of structural scaffolds. Particular toxin structures developed here include inhibitory cystine knot (ICK), three-finger fold, and Kunitz-type toxins. We summarize current knowledge on the structural and functional diversity of toxins interacting with GPCRs, concerning first the agonist-mimicking toxins that act as endogenous agonists targeting the corresponding receptor, and second the toxins that differ structurally from natural agonists and which display agonist, antagonist, or allosteric properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Cécile Van Baelen
- CEA, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Philippe Robin
- CEA, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Pascal Kessler
- CEA, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Arhamatoulaye Maïga
- CEA, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- CHU Sainte Justine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Gilles
- CEA, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Denis Servent
- CEA, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- *Correspondence: Denis Servent,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Droctové L, Ciolek J, Mendre C, Chorfa A, Huerta P, Carvalho C, Gouin C, Lancien M, Stanajic-Petrovic G, Braco L, Blanchet G, Upert G, De Pauw E, Barbe P, Keck M, Mourier G, Mouillac B, Servent D, Rodríguez de la Vega RC, Quinton L, Gilles N. A new Kunitz-type snake toxin family associated with an original mode of interaction with the vasopressin 2 receptor. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:3470-3481. [PMID: 35122240 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Venomous animals express numerous Kunitz-type peptides. The mambaquaretin-1 (MQ1) identified from the Dendroaspis angusticeps venom is the most selective antagonist of the arginine-vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R) and the unique Kunitz-type peptide active on a GPCR. We aimed to exploit other mamba venoms to enlarge the V2R-Kunitz peptide family and gain insight into the MQ1 molecular mode of action. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used a bio-guided screening assay to identify novel MQs and placed them phylogenetically. MQs were produced by solid phase peptide synthesis and characterized in vitro by binding and functional tests and in vivo by diuresis measurement in rats. KEY RESULTS Eight additional MQs were identified with nanomolar affinities for the V2R, all antagonists. MQs form a new subgroup in the Kunitz family, close to the V2R non-active dendrotoxins and to 2 V2R active cobra toxins. Sequence comparison between active and non-active V2R Kunitz peptides highlighted 5 positions, belong which, four are involved in V2R interaction and which belong to the 2 large MQ1 loops. We finally determined that 8 positions, part of these 2 loops, interact with the V2R. The variant MQ1-K39A showed higher affinity for the hV2R but not for the rat V2R. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS A new function and mode of action is now associated with the Kunitz-peptides. The number of MQ1 residues involved in V2R binding is large and may explain its absolute selectivity. MQ1-K39A represents the first step in the improvement of the MQ1 design for medicinal perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Droctové
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Justyna Ciolek
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Christiane Mendre
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Amélia Chorfa
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Paola Huerta
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Chrystelle Carvalho
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Charlotte Gouin
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Manon Lancien
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Goran Stanajic-Petrovic
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lorine Braco
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Guillaume Blanchet
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Gregory Upert
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Edwin De Pauw
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Peggy Barbe
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mathilde Keck
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Gilles Mourier
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Bernard Mouillac
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Denis Servent
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Loïc Quinton
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Gilles
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Olson KM, Traynor JR, Alt A. Allosteric Modulator Leads Hiding in Plain Site: Developing Peptide and Peptidomimetics as GPCR Allosteric Modulators. Front Chem 2021; 9:671483. [PMID: 34692635 PMCID: PMC8529114 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.671483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulators (AMs) of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are desirable drug targets because they can produce fewer on-target side effects, improved selectivity, and better biological specificity (e.g., biased signaling or probe dependence) than orthosteric drugs. An underappreciated source for identifying AM leads are peptides and proteins-many of which were evolutionarily selected as AMs-derived from endogenous protein-protein interactions (e.g., transducer/accessory proteins), intramolecular receptor contacts (e.g., pepducins or extracellular domains), endogenous peptides, and exogenous libraries (e.g., nanobodies or conotoxins). Peptides offer distinct advantages over small molecules, including high affinity, good tolerability, and good bioactivity, and specific disadvantages, including relatively poor metabolic stability and bioavailability. Peptidomimetics are molecules that combine the advantages of both peptides and small molecules by mimicking the peptide's chemical features responsible for bioactivity while improving its druggability. This review 1) discusses sources and strategies to identify peptide/peptidomimetic AMs, 2) overviews strategies to convert a peptide lead into more drug-like "peptidomimetic," and 3) critically analyzes the advantages, disadvantages, and future directions of peptidomimetic AMs. While small molecules will and should play a vital role in AM drug discovery, peptidomimetics can complement and even exceed the advantages of small molecules, depending on the target, site, lead, and associated factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Olson
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John R. Traynor
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Andrew Alt
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shi YJ, Chiou JT, Wang LJ, Huang CH, Lee YC, Chen YJ, Chang LS. Blocking of negative charged carboxyl groups converts Naja atra neurotoxin to cardiotoxin-like protein. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 164:2953-2963. [PMID: 32846183 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.08.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Naja atra cobrotoxin and cardiotoxin 3 (CTX3) exhibit neurotoxicity and cytotoxicity, respectively. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether the carboxyl groups of cobrotoxin play a role in structural constraints, thereby preventing cobrotoxin from exhibiting cytotoxic activity. Six of the seven carboxyl groups in cobrotoxin were conjugated with semicarbazide. Measurement of circular dichroism spectra and Trp fluorescence quenching showed that the gross conformation of semicarbazide-modified cobrotoxin (SEM-cobrotoxin) and cobrotoxin differed. In sharp contrast to cobrotoxin, SEM-cobrotoxin demonstrated membrane-damaging activity and cytotoxicity, which are feature more characteristic of CTX3. Furthermore, both SEM-cobrotoxin and CTX3 induced cell death through AMPK activation. Analyses of the interaction between polydiacetylene/lipid vesicles and fluorescence-labeled lipids revealed that SEM-cobrotoxin and cobrotoxin adopted different membrane-bound states. The structural characteristics of SEM-cobrotoxin were similar to those of CTX3, including trifluoroethanol (TFE)-induced structural transformation and membrane binding-induced conformational change. Conversely, cobrotoxin was insensitive to the TFE-induced effect. Collectively, the data of this study indicate that blocking negatively charged residues confers cobrotoxin with membrane-damaging activity and cytotoxicity. The findings also suggest that the structural constraints imposed by carboxyl groups control the functional properties of snake venom α-neurotoxins during the divergent evolution of snake venom neurotoxins and cardiotoxins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jun Shi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Ting Chiou
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Liang-Jun Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hui Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Chin Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Jung Chen
- Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Long-Sen Chang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kini RM, Koh CY. Snake venom three-finger toxins and their potential in drug development targeting cardiovascular diseases. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 181:114105. [PMID: 32579959 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases such as coronary and peripheral artery diseases, venous thrombosis, stroke, hypertension, and heart failure are enormous burden to health and economy globally. Snake venoms have been the sources of discovery of successful therapeutics targeting cardiovascular diseases. For example, the first-in-class angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril was designed largely based on bradykinin-potentiating peptides from Bothrops jararaca venom. In the recent years, sensitive and high throughput approaches drive discovery and cataloging of new snake venom toxins. As one of the largest class of snake venom toxin, there are now>700 sequences of three-finger toxins (3FTxs) available, many of which are yet to be studied. While the function of 3FTxs are normally associated with neurotoxicity, increasingly more 3FTxs have been characterized to have pharmacological effects on cardiovascular systems. Here we focus on this family of snake venom toxins and their potential in developing therapeutics against cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Manjunatha Kini
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 117558, Singapore; Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore
| | - Cho Yeow Koh
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
de la Rosa G, Olvera F, Archundia IG, Lomonte B, Alagón A, Corzo G. Horse immunization with short-chain consensus α-neurotoxin generates antibodies against broad spectrum of elapid venomous species. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3642. [PMID: 31409779 PMCID: PMC6692343 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11639-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antivenoms are fundamental in the therapy for snakebites. In elapid venoms, there are toxins, e.g. short-chain α-neurotoxins, which are quite abundant, highly toxic, and consequently play a major role in envenomation processes. The core problem is that such α-neurotoxins are weakly immunogenic, and many current elapid antivenoms show low reactivity towards them. We have previously developed a recombinant consensus short-chain α-neurotoxin (ScNtx) based on sequences from the most lethal elapid venoms from America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Here we report that an antivenom generated by immunizing horses with ScNtx can successfully neutralize the lethality of pure recombinant and native short-chain α-neurotoxins, as well as whole neurotoxic elapid venoms from diverse genera such as Micrurus, Dendroaspis, Naja, Walterinnesia, Ophiophagus and Hydrophis. These results provide a proof-of-principle for using recombinant proteins with rationally designed consensus sequences as universal immunogens for developing next-generation antivenoms with higher effectiveness and broader neutralizing capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo de la Rosa
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico.
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S3E1, Canada.
| | - Felipe Olvera
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico
| | - Irving G Archundia
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ferraz CR, Arrahman A, Xie C, Casewell NR, Lewis RJ, Kool J, Cardoso FC. Multifunctional Toxins in Snake Venoms and Therapeutic Implications: From Pain to Hemorrhage and Necrosis. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
|
9
|
de la Rosa G, Corrales-García LL, Rodriguez-Ruiz X, López-Vera E, Corzo G. Short-chain consensus alpha-neurotoxin: a synthetic 60-mer peptide with generic traits and enhanced immunogenic properties. Amino Acids 2018; 50:885-895. [PMID: 29626299 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-018-2556-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The three-fingered toxin family and more precisely short-chain α-neurotoxins (also known as Type I α-neurotoxins) are crucial in defining the elapid envenomation process, but paradoxically, they are barely neutralized by current elapid snake antivenoms. This work has been focused on the primary structural identity among Type I neurotoxins in order to create a consensus short-chain α-neurotoxin with conserved characteristics. A multiple sequence alignment considering the twelve most toxic short-chain α-neurotoxins reported from the venoms of the elapid genera Acanthophis, Oxyuranus, Walterinnesia, Naja, Dendroaspis and Micrurus led us to propose a short-chain consensus α-neurotoxin, here named ScNtx. The synthetic ScNtx gene was de novo constructed and cloned into the expression vector pQE30 containing a 6His-Tag and an FXa proteolytic cleavage region. Escherichia coli Origami cells transfected with the pQE30/ScNtx vector expressed the recombinant consensus neurotoxin in a soluble form with a yield of 1.5 mg/L of culture medium. The 60-amino acid residue ScNtx contains canonical structural motifs similar to α-neurotoxins from African elapids and its LD50 of 3.8 µg/mice is similar to the most toxic short-chain α-neurotoxins reported from elapid venoms. Furthermore, ScNtx was also able to antagonize muscular, but not neuronal, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Rabbits immunized with ScNtx were able to immune-recognize short-chain α-neurotoxins within whole elapid venoms. Type I neurotoxins are difficult to isolate and purify from natural sources; therefore, the heterologous expression of molecules such ScNtx, bearing crucial motifs and key amino acids, is a step forward to create common immunogens for developing cost-effective antivenoms with a wider spectrum of efficacy, quality and strong therapeutic value.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo de la Rosa
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, 61500, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ligia L Corrales-García
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, 61500, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.,Departamento de Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y Alimentarias, Universidad de Antioquia, AA 1226, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ximena Rodriguez-Ruiz
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología/Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Estuardo López-Vera
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología/Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, 61500, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. .,Institute of Biotechnology-UNAM, Av. Universidad 2001, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ancestral protein resurrection and engineering opportunities of the mamba aminergic toxins. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2701. [PMID: 28578406 PMCID: PMC5457417 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02953-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mamba venoms contain a multiplicity of three-finger fold aminergic toxins known to interact with various α-adrenergic, muscarinic and dopaminergic receptors with different pharmacological profiles. In order to generate novel functions on this structural scaffold and to avoid the daunting task of producing and screening an overwhelming number of variants generated by a classical protein engineering strategy, we accepted the challenge of resurrecting ancestral proteins, likely to have possessed functional properties. This innovative approach that exploits molecular evolution models to efficiently guide protein engineering, has allowed us to generate a small library of six ancestral toxin (AncTx) variants and associate their pharmacological profiles to key functional substitutions. Among these variants, we identified AncTx1 as the most α1A-adrenoceptor selective peptide known to date and AncTx5 as the most potent inhibitor of the three α2 adrenoceptor subtypes. Three positions in the ρ-Da1a evolutionary pathway, positions 28, 38 and 43 have been identified as key modulators of the affinities for the α1 and α2C adrenoceptor subtypes. Here, we present a first attempt at rational engineering of the aminergic toxins, revealing an epistasis phenomenon.
Collapse
|
11
|
Kessler P, Marchot P, Silva M, Servent D. The three-finger toxin fold: a multifunctional structural scaffold able to modulate cholinergic functions. J Neurochem 2017; 142 Suppl 2:7-18. [PMID: 28326549 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Three-finger fold toxins are miniproteins frequently found in Elapidae snake venoms. This fold is characterized by three distinct loops rich in β-strands and emerging from a dense, globular core reticulated by four highly conserved disulfide bridges. The number and diversity of receptors, channels, and enzymes identified as targets of three-finger fold toxins is increasing continuously. Such manifold diversity highlights the specific adaptability of this fold for generating pleiotropic functions. Although this toxin superfamily disturbs many biological functions by interacting with a large diversity of molecular targets, the most significant target is the cholinergic system. By blocking the activity of the nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors or by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, three-finger fold toxins interfere most drastically with neuromuscular junction functioning. Several of these toxins have become powerful pharmacological tools for studying the function and structure of their molecular targets. Most importantly, since dysfunction of these receptors/enzyme is involved in many diseases, exploiting the three-finger scaffold to create novel, highly specific therapeutic agents may represent a major future endeavor. This is an article for the special issue XVth International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Kessler
- Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), IBITECS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Pascale Marchot
- Aix-Marseille Université/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques laboratory, Faculté des Sciences Campus Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Marcela Silva
- Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), IBITECS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.,Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Denis Servent
- Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), IBITECS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
de la Rosa G, Pastor N, Alagón A, Corzo G. Synthetic peptide antigens derived from long-chain alpha-neurotoxins: Immunogenicity effect against elapid venoms. Peptides 2017; 88:80-86. [PMID: 28010961 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Three-finger toxins (3FTXs), especially α-neurotoxins, are the most poorly neutralized elapid snake toxins by current antivenoms. In this work, the conserved structural similarity and motif arrangements of long-chain α-neurotoxins led us to design peptides with consensus sequences. Eight long-chain α-neurotoxins (also known as Type II) were used to generate a consensus sequence from which two peptides were chemically synthesized, LCP1 and LCP2. Rabbit sera raised against them were able to generate partially-neutralizing antibodies, which delayed mice mortality in neutralization assays against Naja haje, Dendrospis polylepis and Ophiophagus hannah venoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo de la Rosa
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos 61500, Mexico
| | - Nina Pastor
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, IICBA, UAEM, Av. Universidad 1001 Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62209, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos 61500, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos 61500, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Verdon J, Coutos-Thevenot P, Rodier MH, Landon C, Depayras S, Noel C, La Camera S, Moumen B, Greve P, Bouchon D, Berjeaud JM, Braquart-Varnier C. Armadillidin H, a Glycine-Rich Peptide from the Terrestrial Crustacean Armadillidium vulgare, Displays an Unexpected Wide Antimicrobial Spectrum with Membranolytic Activity. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1484. [PMID: 27713732 PMCID: PMC5031766 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of innate immunity and are widespread in nature, from bacteria to vertebrate animals. In crustaceans, there are currently 15 distinct AMP families published so far in the literature, mainly isolated from members of the Decapoda order. Up to now, armadillidin is the sole non-decapod AMP isolated from the haemocytes of Armadillidium vulgare, a crustacean isopod. Its first description demonstrated that armadillidin is a linear glycine-rich (47%) cationic peptide with an antimicrobial activity directed toward Bacillus megaterium. In the present work, we report identification of armadillidin Q, a variant of armadillidin H (earlier known as armadillidin), from crude haemocyte extracts of A. vulgare using LC-MS approach. We demonstrated that both armadillidins displayed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, but were totally inactive against yeasts. Membrane permeabilization assays, only performed with armadillidin H, showed that the peptide is membrane active against bacterial and fungal strains leading to deep changes in cell morphology. This damaging activity visualized by electronic microscopy correlates with a rapid decrease of cell viability leading to highly blebbed cells. In contrast, armadillidin H does not reveal cytotoxicity toward human erythrocytes. Furthermore, no secondary structure could be defined in this study [by circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)] even in a membrane mimicking environment. Therefore, armadillidins represent interesting candidates to gain insight into the biology of glycine-rich AMPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Verdon
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Pierre Coutos-Thevenot
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Marie-Helene Rodier
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Celine Landon
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR4301 Orléans, France
| | - Segolene Depayras
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Cyril Noel
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Sylvain La Camera
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Bouziane Moumen
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Pierre Greve
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Didier Bouchon
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Jean-Marc Berjeaud
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| | - Christine Braquart-Varnier
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers Poitiers, France
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Barnwal B, Jobichen C, Girish VM, Foo CS, Sivaraman J, Kini RM. Ringhalexin from Hemachatus haemachatus: A novel inhibitor of extrinsic tenase complex. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25935. [PMID: 27173146 PMCID: PMC4865804 DOI: 10.1038/srep25935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticoagulant therapy is used for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. Blood coagulation is initiated by the interaction of factor VIIa (FVIIa) with membrane-bound tissue factor (TF) to form the extrinsic tenase complex which activates FX to FXa. Thus, it is an important target for the development of novel anticoagulants. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a novel anticoagulant ringhalexin from the venom of Hemachatus haemachatus (African Ringhals Cobra). Amino acid sequence of the protein indicates that it belongs to the three-finger toxin family and exhibits 94% identity to an uncharacterized Neurotoxin-like protein NTL2 from Naja atra. Ringhalexin inhibited FX activation by extrinsic tenase complex with an IC50 of 123.8 ± 9.54 nM. It is a mixed-type inhibitor with the kinetic constants, Ki and Ki' of 84.25 ± 3.53 nM and 152.5 ± 11.32 nM, respectively. Ringhalexin also exhibits a weak, irreversible neurotoxicity on chick biventer cervicis muscle preparations. Subsequently, the three-dimensional structure of ringhalexin was determined at 2.95 Å resolution. This study for the first time reports the structure of an anticoagulant three-finger toxin. Thus, ringhalexin is a potent inhibitor of the FX activation by extrinsic tenase complex and a weak, irreversible neurotoxin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bhaskar Barnwal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260, Singapore
| | - Chacko Jobichen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260, Singapore
| | | | - Chun Shin Foo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260, Singapore
| | - J. Sivaraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260, Singapore
| | - R. Manjunatha Kini
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mourier G, Salinas M, Kessler P, Stura EA, Leblanc M, Tepshi L, Besson T, Diochot S, Baron A, Douguet D, Lingueglia E, Servent D. Mambalgin-1 Pain-relieving Peptide, Stepwise Solid-phase Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Functional Domain for Acid-sensing Ion Channel 1a Inhibition. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:2616-29. [PMID: 26680001 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.702373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mambalgins are peptides isolated from mamba venom that specifically inhibit a set of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) to relieve pain. We show here the first full stepwise solid phase peptide synthesis of mambalgin-1 and confirm the biological activity of the synthetic toxin both in vitro and in vivo. We also report the determination of its three-dimensional crystal structure showing differences with previously described NMR structures. Finally, the functional domain by which the toxin inhibits ASIC1a channels was identified in its loop II and more precisely in the face containing Phe-27, Leu-32, and Leu-34 residues. Moreover, proximity between Leu-32 in mambalgin-1 and Phe-350 in rASIC1a was proposed from double mutant cycle analysis. These data provide information on the structure and on the pharmacophore for ASIC channel inhibition by mambalgins that could have therapeutic value against pain and probably other neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Mourier
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Miguel Salinas
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Pascal Kessler
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Enrico A Stura
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Mathieu Leblanc
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Livia Tepshi
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Thomas Besson
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Sylvie Diochot
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Anne Baron
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Dominique Douguet
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and
| | - Eric Lingueglia
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Denis Servent
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette,
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Upert G, Mourier G, Pastor A, Verdenaud M, Alili D, Servent D, Gilles N. High-throughput production of two disulphide-bridge toxins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 50:8408-11. [PMID: 24947561 DOI: 10.1039/c4cc02679a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A quick and efficient production method compatible with high-throughput screening was developed using 36 toxins belonging to four different families of two disulphide-bridge toxins. Final toxins were characterized using HPLC co-elution, CD and pharmacological studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grégory Upert
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), CEA Saclay, Gif sur Yvette F-91191, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Evaluation of cytotoxic activities of snake venoms toward breast (MCF-7) and skin cancer (A-375) cell lines. Cytotechnology 2014; 68:687-700. [PMID: 25407733 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-014-9820-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake venoms are mixtures of bioactive proteins and peptides that exhibit diverse biochemical activities. This wide array of pharmacologies associated with snake venoms has made them attractive sources for research into potentially novel therapeutics, and several venom-derived drugs are now in use. In the current study we performed a broad screen of a variety of venoms (61 taxa) from the major venomous snake families (Viperidae, Elapidae and "Colubridae") in order to examine cytotoxic effects toward MCF-7 breast cancer cells and A-375 melanoma cells. MTT cell viability assays of cancer cells incubated with crude venoms revealed that most venoms showed significant cytotoxicity. We further investigated venom from the Red-bellied Blacksnake (Pseudechis porphyriacus); venom was fractionated by ion exchange fast protein liquid chromatography and several cytotoxic components were isolated. SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were used to identify the compounds in this venom responsible for the cytotoxic effects. In general, viper venoms were potently cytotoxic, with MCF-7 cells showing greater sensitivity, while elapid and colubrid venoms were much less toxic; notable exceptions included the elapid genera Micrurus, Naja and Pseudechis, which were quite cytotoxic to both cell lines. However, venoms with the most potent cytotoxicity were often not those with low mouse LD50s, including some dangerously venomous viperids and Australian elapids. This study confirmed that many venoms contain cytotoxic compounds, including catalytic PLA2s, and several venoms also showed significant differential toxicity toward the two cancer cell lines. Our results indicate that several previously uncharacterized venoms could contain promising lead compounds for drug development.
Collapse
|
18
|
Chemical synthesis, structure-activity relationship, and properties of shepherin I: a fungicidal peptide enriched in glycine-glycine-histidine motifs. Amino Acids 2014; 46:2573-86. [PMID: 25106507 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-014-1811-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Although glycine-rich antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found in animals and plants, very little has been reported on their chemistry, structure activity-relationship, and properties. We investigated those topics for Shepherin I (Shep I), a glycine-rich AMP with the unique amino acid sequence G(1)YGGHGGHGGHGGHGGHGGHGHGGGGHG(28). Shep I and analogues were synthesized by the solid-phase method at 60 °C using conventional heating. Purification followed by chemical characterization confirmed the products' identities and high purity. Amino acid analysis provided their peptide contents. All peptides were active against the clinically important Candida species, but ineffective against bacteria and mycelia fungi. Truncation of the N- or C-terminal portion reduced Shep I antifungal activity, the latter being more pronounced. Carboxyamidation of Shep I did not affect the activity against C. albicans or C. tropicalis, but increased activity against S. cerevisiae. Carboxyamidated analogues Shep I (3-28)a and Shep I (6-28)a were equipotent to Shep I and Shep Ia against Candida species. As with most cationic AMPs, all peptides had their activity significantly reduced in high-salt concentrations, a disadvantage that is defeated if 10 µM ZnCl2 is present. At 100 µM, the peptides were practically not hemolytic. Shep Ia also killed C. albicans MDM8 and ATCC 90028 cells. Fluo-Shep Ia, an analogue labeled with 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, was rapidly internalized by C. albicans MDM8 cells, a salt-sensitive process dependent on metabolic energy and temperature. Altogether, such results shed light on the chemistry, structural requirements for activity, and other properties of candidacidal glycine-rich peptides. Furthermore, they show that Shep Ia may have strong potential for use in topical application.
Collapse
|
19
|
Polypharmacology profiles and phylogenetic analysis of three-finger toxins from mamba venom: Case of aminergic toxins. Biochimie 2014; 103:109-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
20
|
Saviola AJ, Peichoto ME, Mackessy SP. Rear-fanged snake venoms: an untapped source of novel compounds and potential drug leads. TOXIN REV 2014. [DOI: 10.3109/15569543.2014.942040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
|
21
|
Cai W, Naimuddin M, Inagaki H, Kameyama K, Ishida N, Kubo T. Directed evolution of three-finger toxin to produce serine protease inhibitors. J Recept Signal Transduct Res 2013; 34:154-61. [PMID: 24308378 DOI: 10.3109/10799893.2013.865747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Directed evolution is a very popular strategy for improving biophysical properties and even for generating proteins with novel functions. Recent advances in combinatorial protein engineering mean it is now possible to develop protein scaffolds that could substitute for whole antibody-associated properties as emerging therapeutic proteins. In particular, disulfide-rich proteins are attractive templates for directed evolution in the search for novel molecules because they can regulate the activities of receptors, enzymes, and other molecules. Previously, we demonstrated that functional regulatory molecules against interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) could be obtained by directed evolution of the three-finger toxin (3F) scaffold. In the present study, trypsin was selected as a target for directed evolution to further explore the potential use of the 3F cDNA display library. After seven rounds of selection, the DNA sequences converged. The recombinant proteins produced by the selected candidates had inhibitory activity against trypsin (Ki of 33-450 nM). Three of the six groups had Ki values that were comparable to bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and soybean trypsin inhibitor. Two of the candidates also had inhibitory effects against chymotrypsin and kallikrein. This study suggests that 3F protein is suitable for the preparation of high-diversity libraries that can be utilized to obtain protease inhibitors. In addition to our previous successful targeting of IL-6R, the technique developed in our studies may have wide applications in the generation of regulatory molecules for targets of interest, such as receptors, enzymes for research, diagnostic applications, and therapeutic uses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiyan Cai
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba, Ibaraki , Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Maïga A, Vera L, Marchetti C, Lorphelin A, Bellanger L, Mourier G, Servent D, Gilles N, Stura EA. Crystallization of recombinant green mamba ρ-Da1a toxin during a lyophilization procedure and its structure determination. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:704-9. [PMID: 23722859 PMCID: PMC3668600 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309113011470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
ρ-Da1a toxin from eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) venom is a polypeptide of 65 amino acids with a strong affinity for the G-protein-coupled α(1A)-adrenoceptor. This neurotoxin has been crystallized from resolubilized lyophilized powder, but the best crystals grew spontaneously during lyophilization. The crystals belonged to the trigonal space group P3(1)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 37.37, c = 66.05 Å, and diffracted to 1.95 Å resolution. The structure solved by molecular replacement showed strong similarities to green mamba muscarinic toxins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arhamatoulaye Maïga
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d’Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Laura Vera
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d’Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Charles Marchetti
- CEA, DSV, iBEB, Service de Biochimie et Toxicologie Nucléaire, Centre de Marcoule, BP 17171, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze CEDEX, France
| | - Alain Lorphelin
- CEA, DSV, iBEB, Service de Biochimie et Toxicologie Nucléaire, Centre de Marcoule, BP 17171, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze CEDEX, France
| | - Laurent Bellanger
- CEA, DSV, iBEB, Service de Biochimie et Toxicologie Nucléaire, Centre de Marcoule, BP 17171, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze CEDEX, France
| | - Gilles Mourier
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d’Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Denis Servent
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d’Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nicolas Gilles
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d’Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Enrico Adriano Stura
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d’Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Blanchet G, Upert G, Mourier G, Gilquin B, Gilles N, Servent D. New α-adrenergic property for synthetic MTβ and CM-3 three-finger fold toxins from black mamba. Toxicon 2013; 75:160-7. [PMID: 23648423 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite their isolation more than fifteen years ago from the venom of the African mamba Dendroaspis polylepis, very few data are known on the functional activity of MTβ and CM-3 toxins. MTβ was initially classified as a muscarinic toxin interacting non-selectively and with low affinity with the five muscarinic receptor subtypes while no biological function was determined for CM-3. Recent results highlight the multifunctional activity of three-finger fold toxins for muscarinic and adrenergic receptors and reveal some discrepancies in the pharmacological profiles of their venom-purified and synthetic forms. Here, we report the pharmacological characterization of chemically-synthesized MTβ and CM-3 toxins on nine subtypes of muscarinic and adrenergic receptors and demonstrate their high potency for α-adrenoceptors and in particular a sub-nanomolar affinity for the α1A-subtype. Strikingly, no or very weak affinity were found for muscarinic receptors, highlighting that pharmacological characterizations of venom-purified peptides may be risky due to possible contaminations. The biological profile of these two homologous toxins looks like that one previously reported for the Dendroaspis angusticeps ρ-Da1a toxin. Nevertheless, MTβ and CM-3 interact more potently than ρ-Da1a with α1B- and α1D-AR subtypes. A computational analysis of the stability of the MTβ structure suggests that mutation S38I, could be involved in this gain in function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Blanchet
- CEA, iBiTec-S, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), F-91191 Gif sur Yvette, France; UFR Sciences de la Vie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), 4 place Jussieu, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|