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Mohamed AA, Nabil ZI, El-Naggar MS. Prospecting for candidate molecules from Conus virgo toxins to develop new biopharmaceuticals. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2022; 28:e20220028. [PMID: 36545288 PMCID: PMC9761950 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2022-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A combination of pharmacological and biomedical assays was applied in this study to examine the bioactivity of Conus virgo crude venom in order to determine the potential pharmacological benefit of this venom, and its in vivo mechanism of action. Methods Two doses (1/5 and 1/10 of LC50, 9.14 and 4.57 mg/kg) of the venom were used in pharmacological assays (central and peripheral analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic), while 1/2 of LC50 (22.85 mg/kg) was used in cytotoxic assays on experimental animals at different time intervals, and then compared with control and reference drug groups. Results The tail immersion time was significantly increased in venom-treated mice compared with the control group. Also, a significant reduction in writhing movement was recorded after injection of both venom doses compared with the control group. In addition, only the high venom concentration has a mild anti-inflammatory effect at the late inflammation stage. The induced pyrexia was also decreased significantly after treatment with both venom doses. On the other hand, significant increases were observed in lipid peroxidation (after 4 hours) and reduced glutathione contents and glutathione peroxidase activity, while contents of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (after 24 hours) and catalase activity were depleted significantly after venom administration. Conclusion These results indicated that the crude venom of Conus virgo probably contain bioactive components that have pharmacological activities with low cytotoxic effects. Therefore, it may comprise a potential lead compound for the development of drugs that would control pain and pyrexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anas A. Mohamed
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Zohour I. Nabil
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed S. El-Naggar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Correspondence:
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2
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A Novel Dimeric Conotoxin, FrXXA, from the Vermivorous Cone Snail Conus fergusoni, of the Eastern Pacific, Inhibits Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14080510. [PMID: 35893752 PMCID: PMC9330476 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080510] [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: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We isolated a new dimeric conotoxin with inhibitory activity against neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Edman degradation and transcriptomic studies indicate a homodimeric conotoxin composed by two chains of 47 amino acid in length. It has the cysteine framework XX and 10 disulfide bonds. According to conotoxin nomenclature, it has been named as αD-FrXXA. The αD-FrXXA conotoxin inhibited the ACh-induced response on nAChR with a IC50 of 125 nM on hα7, 282 nM on hα3β2, 607 nM on α4β2, 351 nM on mouse adult muscle, and 447 nM on mouse fetal muscle. This is first toxin characterized from C. fergusoni and, at the same time, the second αD-conotoxin characterized from a species of the Eastern Pacific.
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Oliveira CFB, Alves DP, Emerich BL, de Figueiredo SG, Cordeiro MDN, Borges MH, Richardson M, Pimenta AMDC, Duarte IDG, de Lima ME. Antinociceptive effect of PnTx4(5-5), a peptide from Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom, in rat models and the involvement of glutamatergic system. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2019; 25:e20190022. [PMID: 31467512 PMCID: PMC6706083 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2019-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The venom of Phoneutria nigriventer spider is a source of
numerous bioactive substances, including some toxins active in insects. An
example is PnTx4(5-5) that shows a high insecticidal activity and no
apparent toxicity to mice, although it inhibited NMDA-evoked currents in rat
hippocampal neurons. In this work the analgesic activity of PnTx4(5-5)
(renamed Γ-ctenitoxin-Pn1a) was investigated. Methods: The antinociceptive activity was evaluated using the paw pressure test in
rats, after hyperalgesia induction with intraplantar injection of
carrageenan or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Results: PnTx4(5-5), subcutaneously injected, was able to reduce the hyperalgesia
induced by PGE2 in rat paw, demonstrating a systemic effect.
PnTx4(5-5) administered in the plantar surface of the paw caused a
peripheral and dose-dependent antinociceptive effect on hyperalgesia induced
by carrageenan or PGE2. The hyperalgesic effect observed in these
two pain models was completely reversed with 5 µg of PnTx4(5-5).
Intraplantar administration of L-glutamate induced hyperalgesic effect that
was significantly reverted by 5 μg of PnTx4(5-5) injection in rat paw. Conclusion: The antinociceptive effect for PnTx4(5-5) was demonstrated against different
rat pain models, i.e. induced by PGE2, carrageenan or glutamate.
We suggest that the antinociceptive effect of PnTx4(5-5) may be related to
an inhibitory activity on the glutamatergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Franco Batista Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Daniela Pereira Alves
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Bruna Luiza Emerich
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Suely Gomes de Figueiredo
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo (UFES), Vitória (ES), Brasil
| | - Marta do Nascimento Cordeiro
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Professor Carlos Diniz, Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Márcia Helena Borges
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Professor Carlos Diniz, Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Michael Richardson
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Professor Carlos Diniz, Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Adriano Monteiro de Castro Pimenta
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Igor Dimitri Gama Duarte
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Maria Elena de Lima
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.,Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Rua Domingos Vieira, 590, Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 30.150-240, Brasil
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4
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Yao G, Peng C, Zhu Y, Fan C, Jiang H, Chen J, Cao Y, Shi Q. High-Throughput Identification and Analysis of Novel Conotoxins from Three Vermivorous Cone Snails by Transcriptome Sequencing. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17030193. [PMID: 30917600 PMCID: PMC6471451 DOI: 10.3390/md17030193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The venom of each Conus species consists of a diverse array of neurophysiologically active peptides, which are mostly unique to the examined species. In this study, we performed high-throughput transcriptome sequencing to extract and analyze putative conotoxin transcripts from the venom ducts of 3 vermivorous cone snails (C. caracteristicus, C. generalis, and C. quercinus), which are resident in offshore waters of the South China Sea. In total, 118, 61, and 48 putative conotoxins (across 22 superfamilies) were identified from the 3 Conus species, respectively; most of them are novel, and some possess new cysteine patterns. Interestingly, a series of 45 unassigned conotoxins presented with a new framework of C-C-C-C-C-C, and their mature regions were sufficiently distinct from any other known conotoxins, most likely representing a new superfamily. O- and M-superfamily conotoxins were the most abundant in transcript number and transcription level, suggesting their critical roles in the venom functions of these vermivorous cone snails. In addition, we identified numerous functional proteins with potential involvement in the biosynthesis, modification, and delivery process of conotoxins, which may shed light on the fundamental mechanisms for the generation of these important conotoxins within the venom duct of cone snails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Yao
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China.
| | - Chao Peng
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Yabing Zhu
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Chongxu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China.
| | - Hui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China.
| | - Jisheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China.
| | - Ying Cao
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China.
| | - Qiong Shi
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
- Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
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5
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Gao B, Peng C, Yang J, Yi Y, Zhang J, Shi Q. Cone Snails: A Big Store of Conotoxins for Novel Drug Discovery. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:E397. [PMID: 29215605 PMCID: PMC5744117 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9120397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine drugs have developed rapidly in recent decades. Cone snails, a group of more than 700 species, have always been one of the focuses for new drug discovery. These venomous snails capture prey using a diverse array of unique bioactive neurotoxins, usually named as conotoxins or conopeptides. These conotoxins have proven to be valuable pharmacological probes and potential drugs due to their high specificity and affinity to ion channels, receptors, and transporters in the nervous systems of target prey and humans. Several research groups, including ours, have examined the venom gland of cone snails using a combination of transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing, and revealed the existence of hundreds of conotoxin transcripts and thousands of conopeptides in each Conus species. Over 2000 nucleotide and 8000 peptide sequences of conotoxins have been published, and the number is still increasing quickly. However, more than 98% of these sequences still lack 3D structural and functional information. With the rapid development of genomics and bioinformatics in recent years, functional predictions and investigations on conotoxins are making great progress in promoting the discovery of novel drugs. For example, ω-MVIIA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004 to treat chronic pain, and nine more conotoxins are at various stages of preclinical or clinical evaluation. In short, the genus Conus, the big family of cone snails, has become an important genetic resource for conotoxin identification and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingmiao Gao
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Tropical Medicinal Plants, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Chao Peng
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Jiaan Yang
- Micro Pharmtech, Ltd., Wuhan 430075, China.
| | - Yunhai Yi
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Junqing Zhang
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Tropical Medicinal Plants, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Qiong Shi
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China.
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Wang Y, Li X, Yang M, Wu C, Zou Z, Tang J, Yang X. Centipede venom peptide SsmTX-I with two intramolecular disulfide bonds shows analgesic activities in animal models. J Pept Sci 2017; 23:384-391. [PMID: 28247497 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Pain is a major symptom of many diseases and results in enormous pressures on human body or society. Currently, clinically used analgesic drugs, including opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have adverse reactions, and thus, the development of new types of analgesic drug candidates is urgently needed. Animal venom peptides have proven to have potential as new types of analgesic medicine. In this research, we describe the isolation and characterization of an analgesic peptide from the crude venom of centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. The amino acid sequence of this peptide was identical with SsmTX-I that was previously reported as a specific Kv2.1 ion channel blocker. Our results revealed that SsmTX-I was produced by posttranslational processing of a 73-residue prepropeptide. The intramolecular disulfide bridge motifs of SsmTX-I was Cys1-Cys3 and Cys2-Cys4. Functional assay revealed that SsmTX-I showed potential analgesic activities in formalin-induced paw licking, thermal pain, and acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing mice models. Our research provides the first report of cDNA sequences, disulfide motif, successful synthesis, and analgesic potential of SsmTX-I for the development of pain-killing drugs. It indicates that centipede peptide toxins could be a treasure trove for the search of novel analgesic drug candidates. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Ethic Drug Screening and Pharmacology Center, Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicine Resource, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Yunnan University of Nationalities, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Xiaojie Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Meifeng Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Chunyun Wu
- Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Zhirong Zou
- Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Xinwang Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
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Scorpion Toxin, BmP01, Induces Pain by Targeting TRPV1 Channel. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:3671-87. [PMID: 26389953 PMCID: PMC4591660 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7093671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The intense pain induced by scorpion sting is a frequent clinical manifestation. To date, there is no established protocol with significant efficacy to alleviate the pain induced by scorpion envenomation. One of the important reasons is that, little information on pain-inducing compound from scorpion venoms is available. Here, a pain-inducing peptide (BmP01) has been identified and characterized from the venoms of scorpion (Mesobuthus martensii). In an animal model, intraplantar injection of BmP01 in mouse hind paw showed significant acute pain in wild type (WT) mice but not in TRPV1 knock-out (TRPV1 KO) mice during 30 min recording. BmP01 evoked currents in WT dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons but had no effect on DRG neurons of TRPV1 KO mice. Furthermore, OPEN ACCESS Toxins 2015, 7 3672 BmP01 evoked currents on TRPV1-expressed HEK293T cells, but not on HEK293T cells without TRPV1. These results suggest that (1) BmP01 is one of the pain-inducing agents in scorpion venoms; and (2) BmP01 induces pain by acting on TRPV1. To our knowledge, this is the first report about a scorpion toxin that produces pain by targeting TRPV1. Identification of a pain-inducing compound may facilitate treating pain induced by scorpion envenomation.
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