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Linial M, Rappoport N, Ofer D. Overlooked Short Toxin-Like Proteins: A Shortcut to Drug Design. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:E350. [PMID: 29109389 PMCID: PMC5705965 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9110350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Short stable peptides have huge potential for novel therapies and biosimilars. Cysteine-rich short proteins are characterized by multiple disulfide bridges in a compact structure. Many of these metazoan proteins are processed, folded, and secreted as soluble stable folds. These properties are shared by both marine and terrestrial animal toxins. These stable short proteins are promising sources for new drug development. We developed ClanTox (classifier of animal toxins) to identify toxin-like proteins (TOLIPs) using machine learning models trained on a large-scale proteomic database. Insects proteomes provide a rich source for protein innovations. Therefore, we seek overlooked toxin-like proteins from insects (coined iTOLIPs). Out of 4180 short (<75 amino acids) secreted proteins, 379 were predicted as iTOLIPs with high confidence, with as many as 30% of the genes marked as uncharacterized. Based on bioinformatics, structure modeling, and data-mining methods, we found that the most significant group of predicted iTOLIPs carry antimicrobial activity. Among the top predicted sequences were 120 termicin genes from termites with antifungal properties. Structural variations of insect antimicrobial peptides illustrate the similarity to a short version of the defensin fold with antifungal specificity. We also identified 9 proteins that strongly resemble ion channel inhibitors from scorpion and conus toxins. Furthermore, we assigned functional fold to numerous uncharacterized iTOLIPs. We conclude that a systematic approach for finding iTOLIPs provides a rich source of peptides for drug design and innovative therapeutic discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Linial
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Nadav Rappoport
- Institute for Computational Health Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Dan Ofer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
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Vakorina TI, Gladkikh IN, Monastyrnaia MM, Kozlovskaia EP. [Conformational stability of serine proteinase inhibitor from the sea anemone Heteractis crispa]. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2011; 37:310-8. [PMID: 21899045 DOI: 10.1134/s1068162011020154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The influence of different environmental values of the pH and temperature on the spatial organization of serine proteinase inhibitor from the sea anemone Heteractis crispa (=Radianthus macrodactylus) on the level of tertiary and secondary structure was studied by CD spectroscopy. The molecule InhVJ was shown to possess a high conformational thermo- and pH-stability. We determined the point of conformational thermotransition of polypeptide (70 degrees C) after which the molecule gets denaturational stable state with conservation of 80% proteinase inhibitory activity. The significant partial reversible changes of molecule spatial organization were established to occur at the level of tertiary structure in the process of acid-base titration in the range of pH 11.0-13.0. This can be explained by of ionization of tyrosine residues. The molecule InhVJ is conformationally stable at the low pH values (2.0). The quenching of tyrosine residues by acrylamide showed that two of these residues are accessible to the quencher in full, while the third part is available.
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Razpotnik A, Križaj I, Kem WR, Maček P, Turk T. A new cytolytic protein from the sea anemone Urticina crassicornis that binds to cholesterol- and sphingomyelin-rich membranes. Toxicon 2009; 53:762-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2008] [Revised: 01/15/2009] [Accepted: 02/09/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Primary Structures of Actinoporins from Sea Anemone Oulactis orientalis. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s11171-005-0044-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Vakorina TI, Klyshko EV, Monastyrnaya MM, Kozlovskaya EP. Conformational Stability and Hemolytic Activity of Actinoporin RTX-SII from the Sea Anemone Radianthus macrodactylus. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2005; 70:790-8. [PMID: 16097943 DOI: 10.1007/s10541-005-0185-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The spatial organization of actinoporin RTX-SII from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus on the level of tertiary and secondary structures was studied by UV and CD spectroscopy and intrinsic protein fluorescence. The specific and molar extinction coefficients of RTX-SII were determined. The percentages of canonical secondary structures of actinoporin were calculated. The tertiary structure of the polypeptide is well developed and its secondary structure is highly ordered and contains about 50% antiparallel folded beta-sheets. The irreversible thermal denaturation of RTX-SII was studied by CD spectroscopy; a conformational transition occurs at 53 degrees C. Above this temperature irreversible conformational changes are observed in the secondary and tertiary structures. This is accompanied by redistribution of the content of regular and distorted forms of beta-sheet and also by increase in the content of an unordered form. It is suggested that an intermediate is formed in the process of thermal denaturation. Acid-base titration of RTX-SII results in irreversible conformational changes at pH below 2.0 and above 12.0. As shown by intrinsic protein fluorescence, tyrosine residues of RTX-SII make a fundamental contribution to emission, and the total fluorescence depends more on temperature and ionic strength of the solution than tryptophan fluorescence. The data on conformational stability of actinoporin are correlated with data on its hemolytic activity. Activity of RTX-SII significantly decreases at increased temperature and slightly decreases at low pH. Hemolytic activity drastically increases at high pH. Increase in the actinoporin activity at pH above 10 seems to be caused by ionization of the molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- T I Vakorina
- Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, 690022, Russia.
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Il?ina AP, Monastyrnaya MM, Sokotun IN, Egorov TA, Nazarenko YA, Likhatskaya GN, Kozlovskaya EP. Actinoporins from the Sea of Japan anemone Oulactis orientalis: Isolation and partial characterization. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s11171-005-0004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Honma T, Nagai H, Nagashima Y, Shiomi K. Molecular cloning of an epidermal growth factor-like toxin and two sodium channel toxins from the sea anemone Stichodactyla gigantea. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2004; 1652:103-6. [PMID: 14644045 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2003.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
An epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like toxin (gigantoxin I) and two sodium channel toxins (gigantoxins II and III), previously isolated from the sea anemone Stichodactyla gigantea, were cloned for their cDNAs. The precursor protein of gigantoxin I is composed of a signal peptide, propart and mature peptide, similar to those of gigantoxins II and III, and is much simpler in structure than those of mammalian EGFs. In addition, gigantoxin I as well as gigantoxins II and III was demonstrated to be contained in nematocysts, suggesting that gigantoxin I functions as a toxin in S. gigantea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Honma
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Fisheries, Konan-4, Minato, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
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Gondran M, Eckeli AL, Migues PV, Gabilan NH, Rodrigues ALS. The crude extract from the sea anemone, Bunodosoma caissarum elicits convulsions in mice: possible involvement of the glutamatergic system. Toxicon 2002; 40:1667-74. [PMID: 12457877 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-0101(02)00181-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The crude extract from the sea anemone, Bunodosoma caissarum caused dose-dependent convulsions by i.c.v. route in mice. The involvement of the glutamatergic system in the convulsions was investigated. MK-801 and ketamine, non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists, prolonged the latencies for convulsion onset. AP-5, a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, reduced the number of animals convulsing and also increased the latency for convulsion onset. 7-Chlorokynurenic acid, an antagonist of the glycine site on the NMDA receptor, reduced the incidence of convulsions. GMP, a nucleotide known to antagonize some NMDA actions, reduced the incidence and the severity of convulsions and prolonged the latency for their onset. Riluzole, a neuroprotective and anticonvulsant agent, blocked the appearance of convulsions. In vitro, the crude extract inhibited [3H]glutamate binding to cerebral cortical membranes and enhanced [3H]glutamate release from cortical synaptosomes. Heating the crude extract to 100 degrees C for 30 min or preincubating it with sphingomyelin, abolished its effect on glutamate release, but did not alter its ability to induce convulsions and to inhibit glutamate binding. However, the convulsant action was inhibited when the crude extract was submitted to trypsin treatment. Our data suggest that the convulsions elicited by the crude extract are not due to the presence of cytolysin and are not related to an increase in glutamate release, but seem to be dependent on the interaction between a peptide component of the extract and NMDA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarete Gondran
- Departamento de Bioquímica, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
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Goudet C, Chi CW, Tytgat J. An overview of toxins and genes from the venom of the Asian scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch. Toxicon 2002; 40:1239-58. [PMID: 12220709 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-0101(02)00142-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Among the different scorpion species, Buthus martensi Karsch (BmK), a widely distributed scorpion species in Asia, has received a lot of attention. Indeed, over the past decade, more than 70 different peptides, toxins or homologues have been isolated and more peptides are probably still to be revealed. This review is focusing on the many peptides isolated from the venom of this scorpion, their targets, their genes and their structures. The aim is to give both a 'state of the art' view of the research on BmK venom and an illustration of the complexity of this scorpion venom. In the present manuscript, we have listed the different ion channel toxins and homologues isolated from the venom of BmK, either from the literature or from databases. We have described here 51 long-chain peptides related to the Na(+) channel toxins family: 34 related to the alpha-toxin family, four related to the excitatory insect toxin family, 10 related to the depressant insect toxin, one beta-like toxin plus two peptides, BmK AS and AS1, that act on ryanodine receptors. We also listed 18 peptides related to the K(+) channel toxin family: 14 short chain toxins or homologues, two long chain K(+) toxin homologues and two putative K(+) toxin precursors. Additionally, two chlorotoxin like peptides (Bm-12 and 12 b) have been isolated in the venom of BmK. Besides these ion channels toxins, two peptides without disulfide bridges (the bradykinin-potentiating peptide BmK bpp and BmK n1) and three peptides with no known functions have also been discovered in this venom. We have also taken the opportunity of this review to update the classification of scorpion K(+) toxins () which now presents 17 subfamilies instead of the 12 described earlier. The work on the venom of BmK led to the discovery of two new subfamilies, alpha-KT x 14 and alpha-KT x 17.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Goudet
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Leuven, Van Evenstraat 4, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
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Abstract
More than 32 species of sea anemones have been reported to produce lethal cytolytic peptides and proteins. Based on their primary structure and functional properties, cytolysins have been classified into four polypeptide groups. Group I consists of 5-8 kDa peptides, represented by those from the sea anemones Tealia felina and Radianthus macrodactylus. These peptides form pores in phosphatidylcholine containing membranes. The most numerous is group II comprising 20 kDa basic proteins, actinoporins, isolated from several genera of the fam. Actiniidae and Stichodactylidae. Equinatoxins, sticholysins, and magnificalysins from Actinia equina, Stichodactyla helianthus, and Heteractis magnifica, respectively, have been studied mostly. They associate typically with sphingomyelin containing membranes and create cation-selective pores. The crystal structure of equinatoxin II has been determined at 1.9A resolution. Lethal 30-40 kDa cytolytic phospholipases A(2) from Aiptasia pallida (fam. Aiptasiidae) and a similar cytolysin, which is devoid of enzymatic activity, from Urticina piscivora, form group III. A thiol-activated cytolysin, metridiolysin, with a mass of 80 kDa from Metridium senile (fam. Metridiidae) is a single representative of the fourth family. Its activity is inhibited by cholesterol or phosphatides. Biological, structure-function, and pharmacological characteristics of these cytolysins are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111,1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Goudet C, Ferrer T, Galàn L, Artiles A, Batista CFV, Possani LD, Alvarez J, Aneiros A, Tytgat J. Characterization of two Bunodosoma granulifera toxins active on cardiac sodium channels. Br J Pharmacol 2001; 134:1195-206. [PMID: 11704639 PMCID: PMC1573052 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
1. Two sodium channel toxins, BgII and BgIII, have been isolated and purified from the sea anemone Bunodosoma granulifera. Combining different techniques, we have investigated the electrophysiological properties of these toxins. 2. We examined the effect of BgII and BgIII on rat ventricular strips. These toxins prolong action potentials with EC50 values of 60 and 660 nM and modify the resting potentials. 3. The effect on Na+ currents in rat cardiomyocytes was studied using the patch-clamp technique. BgII and BgIII slow the rapid inactivation process and increase the current density with EC50 values of 58 and 78 nM, respectively. 4. On the cloned hH1 cardiac Na+ channel expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, BgII and BgIII slow the inactivation process of Na+ currents (respective EC50 values of 0.38 and 7.8 microM), shift the steady-state activation and inactivation parameters to more positive potentials and the reversal potential to more negative potentials. 5. The amino acid sequences of these toxins are almost identical except for an asparagine at position 16 in BgII which is replaced by an aspartic acid in BgIII. In all experiments, BgII was more potent than BgIII suggesting that this conservative residue is important for the toxicity of sea anemone toxins. 6. We conclude that BgII and BgIII, generally known as neurotoxins, are also cardiotoxic and combine the classical effects of sea anemone Na+ channels toxins (slowing of inactivation kinetics, shift of steady-state activation and inactivation parameters) with a striking decrease on the ionic selectivity of Na+ channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Goudet
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, E. Van Evenstraat 4, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tania Ferrer
- Instituto de Cardologia y Cirugia Cardiovascular, Apartado de Correos 6152, 10600 La Habana, Cuba
| | - Loipa Galàn
- Instituto de Cardologia y Cirugia Cardiovascular, Apartado de Correos 6152, 10600 La Habana, Cuba
| | - Adriana Artiles
- Instituto de Cardologia y Cirugia Cardiovascular, Apartado de Correos 6152, 10600 La Habana, Cuba
| | - Cesar F V Batista
- Department of Molecular Recognition and Structural Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001 Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico
| | - Lourival D Possani
- Department of Molecular Recognition and Structural Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenida Universidad, 2001 Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico
| | - Julio Alvarez
- Instituto de Cardologia y Cirugia Cardiovascular, Apartado de Correos 6152, 10600 La Habana, Cuba
| | - Abel Aneiros
- Instituto de Oceanologia, Loma y 37 Alturas del Vedado, 10600 La Habana, Cuba
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, E. Van Evenstraat 4, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Author for correspondence:
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Kaczorowski GJ, Garcia ML. Pharmacology of voltage-gated and calcium-activated potassium channels. Curr Opin Chem Biol 1999; 3:448-58. [PMID: 10419851 DOI: 10.1016/s1367-5931(99)80066-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Several important new findings have furthered the development of voltage-gated and calcium-activated potassium channel pharmacology. The molecular constituents of several members of these large ion channel families were identified. Small-molecule modulators of some of these channels were reported, including correolide, the first potent, small-molecule, natural product inhibitor of the Shaker family of voltage-gated potassium channels to be disclosed. The initial crystal structure of a bacterial potassium channel was determined; this work gives a physical basis for understanding the mechanisms of ion selectivity and ion conduction. With the recent molecular characterization of a potassium channel structure and the discovery of new templates for channel modulatory agents, the ability to rationally identify and develop potassium channel agonists and antagonists may become a reality in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- G J Kaczorowski
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Merck Research Laboratories, PO Box 2000, 80N-31C, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
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