1
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Mumtaz SM, Khan MA, Jamal A, Hattiwale SH, Parvez S. Toxin-derived peptides: An unconventional approach to alleviating cerebral stroke burden and neurobehavioral impairments. Life Sci 2024; 351:122777. [PMID: 38851419 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122777] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Cerebral stroke is a pressing global health concern, ranking as the second leading cause of mortality and resulting in persistent neurobehavioral impairments. Cerebral strokes, triggered by various embolic events, initiate complex signaling pathways involving neuroexcitotoxicity, ionic imbalances, inflammation, oxidative stress, acidosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to programmed cell death. Currently, the FDA has approved tissue plasminogen activator as a relatively benign intervention for cerebral stroke, leaving a significant treatment gap. However, a promising avenue has emerged from Earth's toxic creatures. Animal venoms harbor bioactive molecules, particularly neuropeptides, with potential in innovative healthcare applications. These venomous components, affecting ion channels, receptors, and transporters, encompass neurochemicals, amino acids, and peptides, making them prime candidates for treating cerebral ischemia and neurological disorders. This review explores the composition, applications, and significance of toxin-derived peptides as viable therapeutic agents. It also investigates diverse toxins from select venomous creatures, with the primary objective of shedding light on current stroke treatments and paving the way for pioneering therapeutic strategies capable of addressing neurobehavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayed Md Mumtaz
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Mohammad Ahmed Khan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Azfar Jamal
- Department of Biology, College of Science Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; Health and Basic Science Research Centre, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shaheenkousar H Hattiwale
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suhel Parvez
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India.
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2
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Farhat S, Modica MV, Puillandre N. Whole Genome Duplication and Gene Evolution in the Hyperdiverse Venomous Gastropods. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad171. [PMID: 37494290 PMCID: PMC10401626 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity of venomous organisms and the toxins they produce have been increasingly investigated, but taxonomic bias remains important. Neogastropods, a group of marine predators representing almost 22% of the known gastropod diversity, evolved a wide range of feeding strategies, including the production of toxins to subdue their preys. However, whether the diversity of these compounds is at the origin of the hyperdiversification of the group and how genome evolution may correlate with both the compounds and species diversities remain understudied. Among the available gastropods genomes, only eight, with uneven quality assemblies, belong to neogastropods. Here, we generated chromosome-level assemblies of two species belonging to the Tonnoidea and Muricoidea superfamilies (Monoplex corrugatus and Stramonita haemastoma). The two obtained high-quality genomes had 3 and 2.2 Gb, respectively, and 92-89% of the total assembly conformed 35 pseudochromosomes in each species. Through the analysis of syntenic blocks, Hox gene cluster duplication, and synonymous substitutions distribution pattern, we inferred the occurrence of a whole genome duplication event in both genomes. As these species are known to release venom, toxins were annotated in both genomes, but few of them were found in homologous chromosomes. A comparison of the expression of ohnolog genes (using transcriptomes from osphradium and salivary glands in S. haemastoma), where both copies were differentially expressed, showed that most of them had similar expression profiles. The high quality of these genomes makes them valuable reference in their respective taxa, facilitating the identification of genome-level processes at the origin of their evolutionary success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Farhat
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Maria Vittoria Modica
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Roma, Italy
| | - Nicolas Puillandre
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
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3
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Straub CJ, Rusali LE, Kremiller KM, Riley AP. What We Have Gained from Ibogaine: α3β4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Inhibitors as Treatments for Substance Use Disorders. J Med Chem 2023; 66:107-121. [PMID: 36440853 PMCID: PMC10034762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
For decades, ibogaine─the main psychoactive alkaloid found in Tabernanthe iboga─has been investigated as a possible treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) due to its purported ability to interrupt the addictive properties of multiple drugs of abuse. Of the numerous pharmacological actions of ibogaine and its derivatives, the inhibition of α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), represents a probable mechanism of action for their apparent anti-addictive activity. In this Perspective, we examine several classes of compounds that have been discovered and developed to target α3β4 nAChRs. Specifically, by focusing on compounds that have proven efficacious in pre-clinical models of drug abuse and have been evaluated clinically, we highlight the promising potential of the α3β4 nAChRs as viable targets to treat a wide array of SUDs. Additionally, we discuss the challenges faced by the existing classes of α3β4 nAChR ligands that must be overcome to develop them into therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn J Straub
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Lisa E Rusali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Kyle M Kremiller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Andrew P Riley
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
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4
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Sankari S, Babu VM, Bian K, Alhhazmi A, Andorfer MC, Avalos DM, Smith TA, Yoon K, Drennan CL, Yaffe MB, Lourido S, Walker GC. A haem-sequestering plant peptide promotes iron uptake in symbiotic bacteria. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1453-1465. [PMID: 35953657 PMCID: PMC9420810 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01192-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Symbiotic partnerships with rhizobial bacteria enable legumes to grow without nitrogen fertilizer because rhizobia convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia via nitrogenase. After Sinorhizobium meliloti penetrate the root nodules that they have elicited in Medicago truncatula, the plant produces a family of about 700 nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides that guide the differentiation of endocytosed bacteria into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. The sequences of the NCR peptides are related to the defensin class of antimicrobial peptides, but have been adapted to play symbiotic roles. Using a variety of spectroscopic, biophysical and biochemical techniques, we show here that the most extensively characterized NCR peptide, 24 amino acid NCR247, binds haem with nanomolar affinity. Bound haem molecules and their iron are initially made biologically inaccessible through the formation of hexamers (6 haem/6 NCR247) and then higher-order complexes. We present evidence that NCR247 is crucial for effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. We propose that by sequestering haem and its bound iron, NCR247 creates a physiological state of haem deprivation. This in turn induces an iron-starvation response in rhizobia that results in iron import, which itself is required for nitrogenase activity. Using the same methods as for L-NCR247, we show that the D-enantiomer of NCR247 can bind and sequester haem in an equivalent manner. The special abilities of NCR247 and its D-enantiomer to sequester haem suggest a broad range of potential applications related to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siva Sankari
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Vignesh M.P. Babu
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ke Bian
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Areej Alhhazmi
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mary C. Andorfer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dante M. Avalos
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Harvard Graduate Program in Biophysics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Tyler A. Smith
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kwan Yoon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Catherine L. Drennan
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Michael B. Yaffe
- Departments of Biology and Biological Engineering, and Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute for Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Divisions of Acute Care Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Sebastian Lourido
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Graham C. Walker
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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5
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Jimenez EC. Peptide antagonists of NMDA receptors: Structure-activity relationships for potential therapeutics. Peptides 2022; 153:170796. [PMID: 35367253 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2022.170796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are heteromeric cation channels involved in memory, learning, and synaptic plasticity. The dysfunction associated with NMDA receptors results in neurodegenerative conditions. The conantokins comprise a family of Conus venom peptides that induce sleep upon intracranial injection into young mice and are known to be NMDA receptor antagonists. This work comprehensibly documents the conantokins that have been characterized to date, focusing on the biochemistry, solution structures in the presence or absence of divalent cations, functions as selective NMDA receptor antagonists, and structure-activity relationships. Furthermore, the applications of conantokins as potential therapeutics for certain neurological conditions, including neuropathic pain, epilepsy, and ischaemia that are linked to NMDA receptor dysfunction are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsie C Jimenez
- Department of Physical Sciences, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio, Baguio City 2600, Philippines.
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6
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Pathophysiological Responses to Conotoxin Modulation of Voltage-Gated Ion Currents. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20050282. [PMID: 35621933 PMCID: PMC9143252 DOI: 10.3390/md20050282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated ion channels are plasma membrane proteins that generate electrical signals following a change in the membrane voltage. Since they are involved in several physiological processes, their dysfunction may be responsible for a series of diseases and pain states particularly related to neuronal and muscular systems. It is well established for decades that bioactive peptides isolated from venoms of marine mollusks belonging to the Conus genus, collectively known as conotoxins, can target different types and isoforms of these channels exerting therapeutic effects and pain relief. For this reason, conotoxins are widely used for either therapeutic purposes or studies on ion channel mechanisms of action disclosure. In addition their positive property, however, conotoxins may generate pathological states through similar ion channel modulation. In this narrative review, we provide pieces of evidence on the pathophysiological impacts that different members of conotoxin families exert by targeting the three most important voltage-gated channels, such as sodium, calcium, and potassium, involved in cellular processes.
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7
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Brogna C, Cristoni S, Petrillo M, Querci M, Piazza O, Van den Eede G. Toxin-like peptides in plasma, urine and faecal samples from COVID-19 patients. F1000Res 2022; 10:550. [PMID: 35106136 PMCID: PMC8772524 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.54306.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 disease and led to the pandemic currently affecting the world has been broadly investigated. Different studies have been performed to understand the infection mechanism, and the involved human genes, transcripts and proteins. In parallel, numerous clinical extra-pulmonary manifestations co-occurring with COVID-19 disease have been reported and evidence of their severity and persistence is increasing. Whether these manifestations are linked to other disorders co-occurring with SARS-CoV-2 infection, is under discussion. In this work, we report the identification of toxin-like peptides in COVID-19 patients by application of the Liquid Chromatography Surface-Activated Chemical Ionization – Cloud Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry. Methods: Plasma, urine and faecal samples from COVID-19 patients and control individuals were analysed to study peptidomic toxins’ profiles. Protein precipitation preparation procedure was used for plasma, to remove high molecular weight proteins and efficiently solubilize the peptide fraction; in the case of faeces and urine, direct peptide solubilization was employed. Results: Toxin-like peptides, almost identical to toxic components of venoms from animals, like conotoxins, phospholipases, phosphodiesterases, zinc metal proteinases, and bradykinins, were identified in samples from COVID-19 patients, but not in control samples. Conclusions: The presence of toxin-like peptides could potentially be connected to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Their presence suggests a possible association between COVID-19 disease and the release in the body of (oligo-)peptides almost identical to toxic components of venoms from animals. Their involvement in a large set of heterogeneous extra-pulmonary COVID-19 clinical manifestations, like neurological ones, cannot be excluded. Although the presence of each individual symptom is not selective of the disease, their combination might be related to COVID-19 by the coexistence of the panel of the here detected toxin-like peptides. The presence of these peptides opens new scenarios on the aetiology of the COVID-19 clinical symptoms observed up to now, including neurological manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simone Cristoni
- ISB Ion Source & Biotechnologies srl, Italy, Bresso, Milano, 20091, Italy
| | - Mauro Petrillo
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
| | - Maddalena Querci
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
| | - Ornella Piazza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, 84081, Italy
| | - Guy Van den Eede
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Geel, 2440, Belgium
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8
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Brogna C, Cristoni S, Petrillo M, Querci M, Piazza O, Van den Eede G. Toxin-like peptides in plasma, urine and faecal samples from COVID-19 patients. F1000Res 2021; 10:550. [PMID: 35106136 PMCID: PMC8772524 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.54306.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 disease and led to the pandemic currently affecting the world has been broadly investigated. Different studies have been performed to understand the infection mechanism, and the involved human genes, transcripts and proteins. In parallel, numerous clinical extra-pulmonary manifestations co-occurring with COVID-19 disease have been reported and evidence of their severity and persistence is increasing. Whether these manifestations are linked to other disorders co-occurring with SARS-CoV-2 infection, is under discussion. In this work, we report the identification of toxin-like peptides in COVID-19 patients by application of the Liquid Chromatography Surface-Activated Chemical Ionization - Cloud Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry. Methods: Plasma, urine and faecal samples from COVID-19 patients and control individuals were analysed to study peptidomic toxins' profiles. Protein precipitation preparation procedure was used for plasma, to remove high molecular weight proteins and efficiently solubilize the peptide fraction; in the case of faeces and urine, direct peptide solubilization was employed. Results: Toxin-like peptides, almost identical to toxic components of venoms from animals, like conotoxins, phospholipases, phosphodiesterases, zinc metal proteinases, and bradykinins, were identified in samples from COVID-19 patients, but not in control samples. Conclusions: The presence of toxin-like peptides could potentially be connected to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Their presence suggests a possible association between COVID-19 disease and the release in the body of (oligo-)peptides almost identical to toxic components of venoms from animals. Their involvement in a large set of heterogeneous extra-pulmonary COVID-19 clinical manifestations, like neurological ones, cannot be excluded. Although the presence of each individual symptom is not selective of the disease, their combination might be related to COVID-19 by the coexistence of the panel of the here detected toxin-like peptides. The presence of these peptides opens new scenarios on the aetiology of the COVID-19 clinical symptoms observed up to now, including neurological manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simone Cristoni
- ISB Ion Source & Biotechnologies srl, Italy, Bresso, Milano, 20091, Italy
| | - Mauro Petrillo
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
| | - Maddalena Querci
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
| | - Ornella Piazza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, 84081, Italy
| | - Guy Van den Eede
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Geel, 2440, Belgium
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9
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Zheng N, Christensen SB, Dowell C, Purushottam L, Skalicky JJ, McIntosh JM, Chou DHC. Discovery of Methylene Thioacetal-Incorporated α-RgIA Analogues as Potent and Stable Antagonists of the Human α9α10 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9513-9524. [PMID: 34161094 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
α9-Containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are key targets for the treatment of neuropathic pain. α-Conotoxin RgIA4 is a peptide antagonist of human α9α10 nAChRs with high selectivity. However, structural rearrangement reveals a potential liability for clinical applications. We herein report our designer RgIA analogues stabilized by methylene thioacetal as nonopioid analgesic agents. We demonstrate that replacing disulfide loop I [CysI-CysIII] with methylene thioacetal in the RgIA skeleton results in activity loss, whereas substitution of loop II [CysII-CysIV] can be accommodated. The lead molecule, RgIA-5524, exhibits highly selective inhibition of α9α10 nAChRs with an IC50 of 0.9 nM and much reduced degradation in human serum. In vivo studies showed that RgIA-5524 relieves chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in wild type but not α9 knockout mouse models, demonstrating that α9-containing nAChRs are necessary for the therapeutic effects. This work highlights the application of methylene thioacetal as a disulfide surrogate in conotoxin-based, disulfide-rich peptide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Sean B Christensen
- School of Biological Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Cheryl Dowell
- School of Biological Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Landa Purushottam
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jack J Skalicky
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- School of Biological Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.,George E. Whalen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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10
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D’Ambrosio M, Gonçalves C, Calmão M, Rodrigues M, Costa PM. Localization and Bioreactivity of Cysteine-Rich Secretions in the Marine Gastropod Nucella lapillus. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:276. [PMID: 34063509 PMCID: PMC8156292 DOI: 10.3390/md19050276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine biodiversity has been yielding promising novel bioproducts from venomous animals. Despite the auspices of conotoxins, which originated the paradigmatic painkiller Prialt, the biotechnological potential of gastropod venoms remains to be explored. Marine bioprospecting is expanding towards temperate species like the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus, which is suspected to secrete immobilizing agents through its salivary glands with a relaxing effect on the musculature of its preferential prey, Mytilus sp. This work focused on detecting, localizing, and testing the bioreactivity of cysteine-rich proteins and peptides, whose presence is a signature of animal venoms and poisons. The highest content of thiols was found in crude protein extracts from the digestive gland, which is associated with digestion, followed by the peribuccal mass, where the salivary glands are located. Conversely, the foot and siphon (which the gastropod uses for feeding) are not the main organs involved in toxin secretion. Ex vivo bioassays with Mytilus gill tissue disclosed the differential bioreactivity of crude protein extracts. Secretions from the digestive gland and peribuccal mass caused the most significant molecular damage, with evidence for the induction of apoptosis. These early findings indicate that salivary glands are a promising target for the extraction and characterization of bioactive cysteine-rich proteinaceous toxins from the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariaelena D’Ambrosio
- UCIBIO–Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (C.G.); (M.C.); (M.R.)
| | | | | | | | - Pedro M. Costa
- UCIBIO–Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (C.G.); (M.C.); (M.R.)
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11
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Abstract
Snails can provide a considerable variety of bioactive compounds for cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, useful for the development of new formulations with less toxicity and post effects compared to regular compounds used for the purpose. Compounds from crude extract, mucus, slime consist of glycans, polypeptides, proteins, etc., and can be used for curing diseases like viral lesions, warts, and different dermal problems. Some particular uses of snails involve treating post-traumatic stress. Micro RNA of Lymnaea stagnalis, was known to be responsible for the development of long-term memory and treatment of Alzheimer's and Dementia like diseases. This review explores the application of various bioactive compounds from snails with its potential as new translational medicinal and cosmetic applications. Snail bioactive compounds like ω-MVIIA, μ-SIIIA, μO-MrVIB, Xen2174, δ-EVIA, α-Vc1.1, σ-GVIIA, Conantokin-G, and Contulakin-G, conopeptides can be used for the development of anti-cancer drugs. These compounds target the innate immunity and improve the defense system of humans and provide protection against these life-threatening health concerns.AbbreviationsFDA: Food and Drug Administration; UTI: urinal tract infection; nAChRs: nicotinic acetylcholine receptors; NMDA: N-methyl-D-aspartate; CNS: central nervous system; CAR T: chimeric antigen receptors therapy; Micro RNA: micro ribonucleic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Dhiman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, DharamshalaDharamshala, India
| | - Deepak Pant
- School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, Haryana, India
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12
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Gallo A, Boni R, Tosti E. Neurobiological activity of conotoxins via sodium channel modulation. Toxicon 2020; 187:47-56. [PMID: 32877656 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Conotoxins (CnTX) are bioactive peptides produced by marine molluscs belonging to Conus genus. The biochemical structure of these venomous peptides is characterized by a low number of amino acids linked with disulfide bonds formed by a high degree of post-translational modifications and glycosylation steps which increase the diversity and rate of evolution of these molecules. CnTX different isoforms are known to target ion channels and, in particular, voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channels (Nav channels). These are transmembrane proteins fundamental in excitable cells for generating the depolarization of plasma membrane potential known as action potential which propagates electrical signals in muscles and nerves for physiological functions. Disorders in Nav channel activity have been shown to induce neurological pathologies and pain states. Here, we describe the current knowledge of CnTX isoform modulation of the Nav channel activity, the mechanism of action and the potential therapeutic use of these toxins in counteracting neurological dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Gallo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy.
| | - Raffele Boni
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100, Potenza, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Tosti
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy.
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13
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Zheng N, Christensen SB, Blakely A, Dowell C, Purushottam L, McIntosh JM, Chou DHC. Development of Conformationally Constrained α-RgIA Analogues as Stable Peptide Antagonists of Human α9α10 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. J Med Chem 2020; 63:8380-8387. [PMID: 32597184 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Non-opioid therapeutics for the treatment of neuropathic pain are urgently needed to address the ongoing opioid crisis. Peptides from cone snail venoms have served as invaluable molecules to target key pain-related receptors but can suffer from unfavorable physicochemical properties, which limit their therapeutic potential. In this work, we developed conformationally constrained α-RgIA analogues with high potency, receptor selectivity, and enhanced human serum stability to target the human α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The key lactam linkage introduced in α-RgIA fixed the favored globular conformation and suppressed disulfide scrambling. The NMR structure of the macrocyclic peptide overlays well with that of α-RgIA4, demonstrating that the cyclization does not perturb the overall conformation of backbone and key side-chain residues. Finally, a molecular docking model was used to rationalize the selective binding between a macrocyclic analogue and the α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. These conformationally constrained antagonists are therefore promising candidates for antinociceptive therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Sean B Christensen
- School of Biological Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Alan Blakely
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Cheryl Dowell
- School of Biological Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Landa Purushottam
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- School of Biological Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.,George E. Whalen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, United States
| | - Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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14
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Isolation, Characterization and In-Silico Study of Conotoxin Protein from Conus loroisii and Its Anti-cancer Activity. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-020-10091-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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15
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Differential Expression of Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptors Associates with Human Breast Cancer and Mediates Antitumor Activity of αO-Conotoxin GeXIVA. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18010061. [PMID: 31963558 PMCID: PMC7024346 DOI: 10.3390/md18010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are membrane receptors and play a major role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Here, we have investigated the differential expression of nAChR subunits in human breast cancer cell lines and breast epithelial cell lines at mRNA and protein levels and the effects of the αO-conotoxin GeXIVA, antagonist of α9α10 nAChR, on human breast cancer cells. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that all nAChR subunits, except α6, were expressed in the 20 tested cell lines. Real time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) suggested that the mRNA of α5, α7, α9 and β4 nAChR subunits were overexpressed in all the breast cancer cell lines compared with the normal epithelial cell line HS578BST. α9 nAChR was highly expressed in almost all the breast cancer cell lines in comparison to normal cells. The different expression is prominent (p < 0.001) as determined by flow cytometry and Western blotting, except for MDA-MB-453 and HCC1395 cell lines. αO-conotoxin GeXIVA that targeted α9α10 nAChR were able to significantly inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and merits further investigation as potential agents for targeted therapy.
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16
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Conotoxin Diversity in the Venom Gland Transcriptome of the Magician's Cone, Pionoconus magus. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17100553. [PMID: 31569823 PMCID: PMC6835573 DOI: 10.3390/md17100553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptomes of the venom glands of two individuals of the magician’s cone, Pionoconus magus, from Okinawa (Japan) were sequenced, assembled, and annotated. In addition, RNA-seq raw reads available at the SRA database from one additional specimen of P. magus from the Philippines were also assembled and annotated. The total numbers of identified conotoxin precursors and hormones per specimen were 118, 112, and 93. The three individuals shared only five identical sequences whereas the two specimens from Okinawa had 30 sequences in common. The total number of distinct conotoxin precursors and hormones for P. magus was 275, and were assigned to 53 conotoxin precursor and hormone superfamilies, two of which were new based on their divergent signal region. The superfamilies that had the highest number of precursors were M (42), O1 (34), T (27), A (18), O2 (17), and F (13), accounting for 55% of the total diversity. The D superfamily, previously thought to be exclusive of vermivorous cones was found in P. magus and contained a highly divergent mature region. Similarly, the A superfamily alpha 4/3 was found in P. magus despite the fact that it was previously postulated to be almost exclusive of the genus Rhombiconus. Differential expression analyses of P. magus compared to Chelyconus ermineus, the only fish-hunting cone from the Atlantic Ocean revealed that M and A2 superfamilies appeared to be more expressed in the former whereas the O2 superfamily was more expressed in the latter.
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17
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Conformational dynamics of [Formula: see text]-conotoxin PnIB in complex solvent systems. Mol Divers 2019; 24:1291-1299. [PMID: 31502188 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-019-09993-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Cone snails are slow-moving animals that secure survival by injecting to their prey a concoction of highly potent and stable neurotoxic peptides called conotoxins. These small toxins (~ 10-30 AA) interact with ion channels and their diverse structures account for various variables such as the environment and the prey of preference. This study probed the conformational space of α-conotoxin PnIB from Conus pennaceus by performing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on the conotoxin in complex solvent systems of water and octanol. Secondary structure analyses showed a uniform conformation for the pure (C100Oc, C100W) and minute (C95Oc, C5Oc) systems. In C50Oc, however, structural changes were observed. The original helices were converted to turns and were shown to happen simultaneously with the elongation of the helix and shortening of end-to-end distance. The transitions complement the orientation of the peptide at the interface. The shift to the broken helix conformation is marked by the rearrangement of solvent molecules to a framework that favors the accumulation of water molecules at residues 6-11 of the H2 region. This promotes specific protein-solvent interactions that facilitate secondary structure transitions. As PnIB has shown favorable binding toward neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, this study may provide insights on this conotoxin's therapeutic potential. Description: Structural changes in PnIB are accompanied by a simultaneous change in solvent density.
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Kumari A, Ameri S, Ravikrishna P, Dhayalan A, Kamala-Kannan S, Selvankumar T, Govarthanan M. Isolation and Characterization of Conotoxin Protein from Conus inscriptus and Its Potential Anticancer Activity Against Cervical Cancer (HeLa-HPV 16 Associated) Cell Lines. Int J Pept Res Ther 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-019-09907-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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19
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Marine Toxins and Nociception: Potential Therapeutic Use in the Treatment of Visceral Pain Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11080449. [PMID: 31370176 PMCID: PMC6723473 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11080449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral pain, of which the pathogenic basis is currently largely unknown, is a hallmark symptom of both functional disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. Intrinsic sensory neurons in the enteric nervous system and afferent sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia, connecting with the central nervous system, represent the primary neuronal pathways transducing gut visceral pain. Current pharmacological therapies have several limitations, owing to their partial efficacy and the generation of severe adverse effects. Numerous cellular targets of visceral nociception have been recognized, including, among others, channels (i.e., voltage-gated sodium channels, VGSCs, voltage-gated calcium channels, VGCCs, Transient Receptor Potential, TRP, and Acid-sensing ion channels, ASICs) and neurotransmitter pathways (i.e., GABAergic pathways), which represent attractive targets for the discovery of novel drugs. Natural biologically active compounds, such as marine toxins, able to bind with high affinity and selectivity to different visceral pain molecular mediators, may represent a useful tool (1) to improve our knowledge of the physiological and pathological relevance of each nociceptive target, and (2) to discover therapeutically valuable molecules. In this review we report the most recent literature describing the effects of marine toxin on gastrointestinal visceral pain pathways and the possible clinical implications in the treatment of chronic pain associated with gut diseases.
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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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21
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Neurobiology and therapeutic applications of neurotoxins targeting transmitter release. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 193:135-155. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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22
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Knuhtsen A, Whitmore C, McWhinnie FS, McDougall L, Whiting R, Smith BO, Timperley CM, Green AC, Kinnear KI, Jamieson AG. α-Conotoxin GI triazole-peptidomimetics: potent and stable blockers of a human acetylcholine receptor. Chem Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c8sc04198a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A conotoxin peptidomimetic was developed as a potential muscle relaxant that is highly potent and blood plasma stable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charlotte Whitmore
- Chemical, Biological and Radiological Division
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Salisbury
- SP4 0JQ UK
| | | | | | - Rachel Whiting
- Chemical, Biological and Radiological Division
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Salisbury
- SP4 0JQ UK
| | - Brian O. Smith
- Institute of Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology
- College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences
- University of Glasgow
- Glasgow
- G12 8QQ UK
| | - Christopher M. Timperley
- Chemical, Biological and Radiological Division
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Salisbury
- SP4 0JQ UK
| | - A. Christopher Green
- Chemical, Biological and Radiological Division
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Salisbury
- SP4 0JQ UK
| | - Kenneth I. Kinnear
- Chemical, Biological and Radiological Division
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Salisbury
- SP4 0JQ UK
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23
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Fu Y, Li C, Dong S, Wu Y, Zhangsun D, Luo S. Discovery Methodology of Novel Conotoxins from Conus Species. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16110417. [PMID: 30380764 PMCID: PMC6266589 DOI: 10.3390/md16110417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cone snail venoms provide an ideal resource for neuropharmacological tools and drug candidates discovery, which have become a research hotspot in neuroscience and new drug development. More than 1,000,000 natural peptides are produced by cone snails, but less than 0.1% of the estimated conotoxins has been characterized to date. Hence, the discovery of novel conotoxins from the huge conotoxin resources with high-throughput and sensitive methods becomes a crucial key for the conotoxin-based drug development. In this review, we introduce the discovery methodology of new conotoxins from various Conus species. It focuses on obtaining full N- to C-terminal sequences, regardless of disulfide bond connectivity through crude venom purification, conotoxin precusor gene cloning, venom duct transcriptomics, venom proteomics and multi-omic methods. The protocols, advantages, disadvantages, and developments of different approaches during the last decade are summarized and the promising prospects are discussed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Fu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Cheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Shuai Dong
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Yong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Dongting Zhangsun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Sulan Luo
- Key Laboratory for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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24
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Using Drosophila behavioral assays to characterize terebrid venom-peptide bioactivity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15276. [PMID: 30323294 PMCID: PMC6189199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33215-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of newly discovered peptides from the transcriptomes and proteomes of animal venom arsenals is rapidly increasing, resulting in an abundance of uncharacterized peptides. There is a pressing need for a systematic, cost effective, and scalable approach to identify physiological effects of venom peptides. To address this discovery-to-function gap, we developed a sequence driven:activity-based hybrid approach for screening venom peptides that is amenable to large-venom peptide libraries with minimal amounts of peptide. Using this approach, we characterized the physiological and behavioral phenotypes of two peptides from the venom of predatory terebrid marine snails, teretoxins Tv1 from Terebra variegata and Tsu1.1 from Terebra subulata. Our results indicate that Tv1 and Tsu1.1 have distinct bioactivity. Tv1 (100 µM) had an antinociceptive effect in adult Drosophila using a thermal nociception assay to measure heat avoidance. Alternatively, Tsu1.1 (100 µM) increased food intake. These findings describe the first functional bioactivity of terebrid venom peptides in relation to pain and diet and indicate that Tv1 and Tsu1.1 may, respectively, act as antinociceptive and orexigenic agents. Tv1 and Tsu1.1 are distinct from previously identified venom peptides, expanding the toolkit of peptides that can potentially be used to investigate the physiological mechanisms of pain and diet.
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25
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Duracova M, Klimentova J, Fucikova A, Dresler J. Proteomic Methods of Detection and Quantification of Protein Toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10030099. [PMID: 29495560 PMCID: PMC5869387 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10030099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological toxins are a heterogeneous group of compounds that share commonalities with biological and chemical agents. Among them, protein toxins represent a considerable, diverse set. They cover a broad range of molecular weights from less than 1000 Da to more than 150 kDa. This review aims to compare conventional detection methods of protein toxins such as in vitro bioassays with proteomic methods, including immunoassays and mass spectrometry-based techniques and their combination. Special emphasis is given to toxins falling into a group of selected agents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as Staphylococcal enterotoxins, Bacillus anthracis toxins, Clostridium botulinum toxins, Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin, ricin from Ricinus communis, Abrin from Abrus precatorius or control of trade in dual-use items in the European Union, including lesser known protein toxins such as Viscumin from Viscum album. The analysis of protein toxins and monitoring for biological threats, i.e., the deliberate spread of infectious microorganisms or toxins through water, food, or the air, requires rapid and reliable methods for the early identification of these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloslava Duracova
- Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense in Brno, Třebešská 1575, CZ-500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Jana Klimentova
- Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense in Brno, Třebešská 1575, CZ-500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Alena Fucikova
- Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense in Brno, Třebešská 1575, CZ-500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiri Dresler
- Military Health Institute, Military Medical Agency, Tychonova 1, CZ-160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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Conotoxins as Tools to Understand the Physiological Function of Voltage-Gated Calcium (Ca V) Channels. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:md15100313. [PMID: 29027927 PMCID: PMC5666421 DOI: 10.3390/md15100313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels are widely expressed and are essential for the completion of multiple physiological processes. Close regulation of their activity by specific inhibitors and agonists become fundamental to understand their role in cellular homeostasis as well as in human tissues and organs. CaV channels are divided into two groups depending on the membrane potential required to activate them: High-voltage activated (HVA, CaV1.1–1.4; CaV2.1–2.3) and Low-voltage activated (LVA, CaV3.1–3.3). HVA channels are highly expressed in brain (neurons), heart, and adrenal medulla (chromaffin cells), among others, and are also classified into subtypes which can be distinguished using pharmacological approaches. Cone snails are marine gastropods that capture their prey by injecting venom, “conopeptides”, which cause paralysis in a few seconds. A subset of conopeptides called conotoxins are relatively small polypeptides, rich in disulfide bonds, that target ion channels, transporters and receptors localized at the neuromuscular system of the animal target. In this review, we describe the structure and properties of conotoxins that selectively block HVA calcium channels. We compare their potency on several HVA channel subtypes, emphasizing neuronal calcium channels. Lastly, we analyze recent advances in the therapeutic use of conotoxins for medical treatments.
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Tosti E, Boni R, Gallo A. µ-Conotoxins Modulating Sodium Currents in Pain Perception and Transmission: A Therapeutic Potential. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:E295. [PMID: 28937587 PMCID: PMC5666403 DOI: 10.3390/md15100295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Conus genus includes around 500 species of marine mollusks with a peculiar production of venomous peptides known as conotoxins (CTX). Each species is able to produce up to 200 different biological active peptides. Common structure of CTX is the low number of amino acids stabilized by disulfide bridges and post-translational modifications that give rise to different isoforms. µ and µO-CTX are two isoforms that specifically target voltage-gated sodium channels. These, by inducing the entrance of sodium ions in the cell, modulate the neuronal excitability by depolarizing plasma membrane and propagating the action potential. Hyperexcitability and mutations of sodium channels are responsible for perception and transmission of inflammatory and neuropathic pain states. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of µ-CTX interacting with the different sodium channels subtypes, the mechanism of action and their potential therapeutic use as analgesic compounds in the clinical management of pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Tosti
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
| | - Raffaele Boni
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 75100 Potenza, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Gallo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
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29
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Lebbe EKM, Tytgat J. In the picture: disulfide-poor conopeptides, a class of pharmacologically interesting compounds. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2016; 22:30. [PMID: 27826319 PMCID: PMC5100318 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-016-0083-6] [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: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During evolution, nature has embraced different strategies for species to survive. One strategy, applied by predators as diverse as snakes, scorpions, sea anemones and cone snails, is using venom to immobilize or kill a prey. This venom offers a unique and extensive source of chemical diversity as it is driven by the evolutionary pressure to improve prey capture and/or to protect their species. Cone snail venom is an example of the remarkable diversity in pharmacologically active small peptides that venoms can consist of. These venom peptides, called conopeptides, are classified into two main groups based on the number of cysteine residues, namely disulfide-rich and disulfide-poor conopeptides. Since disulfide-poor conotoxins are minor components of this venom cocktail, the number of identified peptides and the characterization of these peptides is far outclassed by its cysteine-rich equivalents. This review provides an overview of 12 families of disulfide-poor peptides identified to date as well as the state of affairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline K M Lebbe
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N2, Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, O&N2, Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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30
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Peng C, Yao G, Gao BM, Fan CX, Bian C, Wang J, Cao Y, Wen B, Zhu Y, Ruan Z, Zhao X, You X, Bai J, Li J, Lin Z, Zou S, Zhang X, Qiu Y, Chen J, Coon SL, Yang J, Chen JS, Shi Q. High-throughput identification of novel conotoxins from the Chinese tubular cone snail (Conus betulinus) by multi-transcriptome sequencing. Gigascience 2016; 5:17. [PMID: 27087938 PMCID: PMC4832519 DOI: 10.1186/s13742-016-0122-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The venom of predatory marine cone snails mainly contains a diverse array of unique bioactive peptides commonly referred to as conopeptides or conotoxins. These peptides have proven to be valuable pharmacological probes and potential drugs because of their high specificity and affinity to important ion channels, receptors and transporters of the nervous system. Most previous studies have focused specifically on the conopeptides from piscivorous and molluscivorous cone snails, but little attention has been devoted to the dominant vermivorous species. Results The vermivorous Chinese tubular cone snail, Conus betulinus, is the dominant Conus species inhabiting the South China Sea. The transcriptomes of venom ducts and venom bulbs from a variety of specimens of this species were sequenced using both next-generation sequencing and traditional Sanger sequencing technologies, resulting in the identification of a total of 215 distinct conopeptides. Among these, 183 were novel conopeptides, including nine new superfamilies. It appeared that most of the identified conopeptides were synthesized in the venom duct, while a handful of conopeptides were identified only in the venom bulb and at very low levels. Conclusions We identified 215 unique putative conopeptide transcripts from the combination of five transcriptomes and one EST sequencing dataset. Variation in conopeptides from different specimens of C. betulinus was observed, which suggested the presence of intraspecific variability in toxin production at the genetic level. These novel conopeptides provide a potentially fertile resource for the development of new pharmaceuticals, and a pathway for the discovery of new conotoxins. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13742-016-0122-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Peng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Ge Yao
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Beijing, 102205 China
| | - Bing-Miao Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199 China
| | - Chong-Xu Fan
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Beijing, 102205 China
| | - Chao Bian
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | | | - Ying Cao
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Beijing, 102205 China
| | - Bo Wen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | | | - Zhiqiang Ruan
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | | | - Xinxin You
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Jie Bai
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Jia Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | | | | | - Xinhui Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Ying Qiu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Jieming Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Steven L Coon
- Molecular Genomics Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Jiaan Yang
- Micro Pharmatech Ltd, Wuhan, 430075 China
| | - Ji-Sheng Chen
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Beijing, 102205 China
| | - Qiong Shi
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083 China ; BGI-Zhenjiang Institute of Hydrobiology, Zhenjiang, 212000 China
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Rivara M, Zuliani V. Novel sodium channel antagonists in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2015; 25:215-26. [PMID: 26576738 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2016.1121992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Effective and safe drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain are still an unmet clinical need. Neuropathic pain, caused by a lesion or disease that affects the somatosensory system, is a debilitating and hampering condition that has a great economic cost and, above all, a tremendous impact on the quality of life. Sodium channels are one of the major players in generating and propagating action potentials. They represent an appealing target for researchers involved in the development of new and safer drugs useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The actual goal for researchers is to target sodium channels selectively to stop the abnormal signaling that characterizes neuropathic pain while leaving normal somatosensory functions intact. AREAS COVERED This review covers the most recent publications regarding sodium channel blockers and their development as new treatments for neuropathic pain. The main areas discussed are the natural sources of new blockers, such as venom extracts and the recent efforts from many pharmaceutical companies in the field. EXPERT OPINION There have been serious efforts by both the pharmaceutical industry and academia to develop new and safer therapeutic options for neuropathic pain. A number of different strategies have been undertaken; the main efforts directed towards the identification of selective blockers starting from both natural products or screening chemical libraries. At this time, researchers have identified and characterized selective compounds against NaV1.7 or NaV1.8 voltage-gated sodium channels but only time will tell if they reach the market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Rivara
- a Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università degli Studi di Parma , Via Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Valentina Zuliani
- a Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università degli Studi di Parma , Via Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma , Italy
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Grosso C, Valentão P, Ferreres F, Andrade PB. Bioactive marine drugs and marine biomaterials for brain diseases. Mar Drugs 2014; 12:2539-89. [PMID: 24798925 PMCID: PMC4052305 DOI: 10.3390/md12052539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine invertebrates produce a plethora of bioactive compounds, which serve as inspiration for marine biotechnology, particularly in drug discovery programs and biomaterials development. This review aims to summarize the potential of drugs derived from marine invertebrates in the field of neuroscience. Therefore, some examples of neuroprotective drugs and neurotoxins will be discussed. Their role in neuroscience research and development of new therapies targeting the central nervous system will be addressed, with particular focus on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. In addition, the neuronal growth promoted by marine drugs, as well as the recent advances in neural tissue engineering, will be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Grosso
- REQUIMTE/Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, no. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Patrícia Valentão
- REQUIMTE/Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, no. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Federico Ferreres
- Research Group on Quality, Safety and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Department of Food Science and Technology, CEBAS (CSIC), P.O. Box 164, Campus University Espinardo, Murcia 30100, Spain.
| | - Paula B Andrade
- REQUIMTE/Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, no. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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Lavergne V, Dutertre S, Jin AH, Lewis RJ, Taft RJ, Alewood PF. Systematic interrogation of the Conus marmoreus venom duct transcriptome with ConoSorter reveals 158 novel conotoxins and 13 new gene superfamilies. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:708. [PMID: 24131469 PMCID: PMC3853152 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conopeptides, often generically referred to as conotoxins, are small neurotoxins found in the venom of predatory marine cone snails. These molecules are highly stable and are able to efficiently and selectively interact with a wide variety of heterologous receptors and channels, making them valuable pharmacological probes and potential drug leads. Recent advances in next-generation RNA sequencing and high-throughput proteomics have led to the generation of large data sets that require purpose-built and dedicated bioinformatics tools for efficient data mining. RESULTS Here we describe ConoSorter, an algorithm that categorizes cDNA or protein sequences into conopeptide superfamilies and classes based on their signal, pro- and mature region sequence composition. ConoSorter also catalogues key sequence characteristics (including relative sequence frequency, length, number of cysteines, N-terminal hydrophobicity, sequence similarity score) and automatically searches the ConoServer database for known precursor sequences, facilitating identification of known and novel conopeptides. When applied to ConoServer and UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot databases, ConoSorter is able to recognize 100% of known conotoxin superfamilies and classes with a minimum species specificity of 99%. As a proof of concept, we performed a reanalysis of Conus marmoreus venom duct transcriptome and (i) correctly classified all sequences previously annotated, (ii) identified 158 novel precursor conopeptide transcripts, 106 of which were confirmed by protein mass spectrometry, and (iii) identified another 13 novel conotoxin gene superfamilies. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these findings indicate that ConoSorter is not only capable of robust classification of known conopeptides from large RNA data sets, but can also facilitate de novo identification of conopeptides which may have pharmaceutical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ryan J Taft
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
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Strategies for the development of conotoxins as new therapeutic leads. Mar Drugs 2013; 11:2293-313. [PMID: 23812174 PMCID: PMC3736424 DOI: 10.3390/md11072293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2013] [Revised: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide toxins typically bind to their target ion channels or receptors with high potency and selectivity, making them attractive leads for therapeutic development. In some cases the native peptide as it is found in the venom from which it originates can be used directly, but in many instances it is desirable to truncate and/or stabilize the peptide to improve its therapeutic properties. A complementary strategy is to display the key residues that make up the pharmacophore of the peptide toxin on a non-peptidic scaffold, thereby creating a peptidomimetic. This review exemplifies these approaches with peptide toxins from marine organisms, with a particular focus on conotoxins.
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Ayed Y, Dellai A, Ben Mansour H, Bacha H, Abid S. Analgesic and antibutyrylcholinestrasic activities of the venom prepared from the Mediterranean jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskal, 1775). Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2012; 11:15. [PMID: 22691546 PMCID: PMC3483011 DOI: 10.1186/1476-0711-11-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxins derived from jellyfishes have been exploited as a model for the development of new drug promising applications to treat neurodegenerative diseases. The present work is aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of crude venom of Pelagia noctiluca and then to screen the analgesic and antibutyrylcholinestrasic (anti-BuChE) activities of the crude venom and its fractions. Methods Sephadex G75 gel was used to separate crude venom of Pelagia noctiluca, which led to some fractions. In addition, in vivo analgesic and in vitro plasma antibutyrylcholinestrasic activities were carried out with Pelagia crude venom and its fractions respectively. Results The crude venom and its fractions displayed analgesic and anti-BuChE activities at different doses without inducing acute toxicity. Fraction 2 possesses the highest analgesic and antibutyrylcholinestrasic properties. The crude venom and fraction 1 had shown to possess less significant inhibitory activity against analgesic and antibutyrylcholinestrasic models. Conclusions Based on this study, the crude venom of Pelagia noctiluca is found to be a useful tool for probing pharmacological activity. The purification and the determination of chemical structures of compounds of active fractions of the venom are under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosra Ayed
- Laboratory for Research on Biologically Compatible Compounds, Faculty of Dentistry, Monastir university, Monastir, Tunisia
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De Zoysa M. Medicinal benefits of marine invertebrates: sources for discovering natural drug candidates. ADVANCES IN FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH 2012; 65:153-69. [PMID: 22361185 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-416003-3.00009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Marine invertebrates are one of the major groups of organisms, which could be diversified under the major taxonomic groups of Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, and many other minor phyla. To date, range of medicinal benefits and a significant number of marine natural products (MNPs) have been discovered from marine invertebrates. Seafood diet from edible marine invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans has been linked with various medicinal benefits to improve human health. Among marine invertebrates, spongers from phylum Porifera is the most dominant group responsible for discovering large number of MNPs, which have been used as template to develop therapeutic drugs. MNPs isolated from invertebrates have shown wide range of therapeutic properties including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and immune modulator, and other medicinal effects. Therefore, marine invertebrates are rich sources of chemical diversity and health benefits for developing drug candidates, cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and molecular probes that can be supported to increase the healthy life span of human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahanama De Zoysa
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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Bingham JP, Mitsunaga E, Bergeron ZL. Drugs from slugs--past, present and future perspectives of omega-conotoxin research. Chem Biol Interact 2010; 183:1-18. [PMID: 19800874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2009.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2009] [Revised: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 09/24/2009] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Peptides from the venom of carnivorous cone shells have provided six decades of intense research, which has led to the discovery and development of novel analgesic peptide therapeutics. Our understanding of this unique natural marine resource is however somewhat limited. Given the past pharmacological record, future investigations into the toxinology of these highly venomous tropical marine snails will undoubtedly yield other highly selective ion channel inhibitors and modulators. With over a thousand conotoxin-derived sequences identified to date, those identified as ion channel inhibitors represent only a small fraction of the total. Here we discuss our present understanding of conotoxins, focusing on the omega-conotoxin peptide family, and illustrate how such a seemingly simple snail has yielded a highly effective clinical drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon-Paul Bingham
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
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Myers RM, Shearman JW, Kitching MO, Ramos-Montoya A, Neal DE, Ley SV. Cancer, chemistry, and the cell: molecules that interact with the neurotensin receptors. ACS Chem Biol 2009; 4:503-25. [PMID: 19462983 DOI: 10.1021/cb900038e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The literature covering neurotensin (NT) and its signalling pathways, receptors, and biological profile is complicated by the fact that the discovery of three NT receptor subtypes has come to light only in recent years. Moreover, a lot of this literature explores NT in the context of the central nervous system and behavioral studies. However, there is now good evidence that the up-regulation of NT is intimately involved in cancer development and progression. This Review aims to summarize the isolation, cloning, localization, and binding properties of the accepted receptor subtypes (NTR1, NTR2, and NTR3) and the molecules known to bind at these receptors. The growing role these targets are playing in cancer research is also discussed. We hope this Review will provide a useful overview and a one-stop resource for new researchers engaged in this field at the chemistry-biology interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Myers
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - James W. Shearman
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew O. Kitching
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio Ramos-Montoya
- CRUK-Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - David E. Neal
- CRUK-Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Steven V. Ley
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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Blunt JW, Copp BR, Hu WP, Munro MHG, Northcote PT, Prinsep MR. Marine natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2008; 25:35-94. [PMID: 18250897 DOI: 10.1039/b701534h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This review covers the literature published in 2006 for marine natural products, with 758 citations (534 for the period January to December 2006) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green algae, brown algae, red algae, sponges, cnidaria, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates and echinoderms. The emphasis is on new compounds (779 for 2006), together with their relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Blunt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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