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Wang X, Luo H, Peng X, Chen J. Spider and scorpion knottins targeting voltage-gated sodium ion channels in pain signaling. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 227:116465. [PMID: 39102991 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116465] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
In sensory neurons that transmit pain signals, whether acute or chronic, voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are crucial for regulating excitability. NaV1.1, NaV1.3, NaV1.6, NaV1.7, NaV1.8, and NaV1.9 have been demonstrated and defined their functional roles in pain signaling based on their biophysical properties and distinct patterns of expression in each subtype of sensory neurons. Scorpions and spiders are traditional Chinese medicinal materials, belonging to the arachnid class. Most of the studied species of them have evolved venom peptides that exhibit a wide variety of knottins specifically targeting VGSCs with subtype selectivity and conformational specificity. This review provides an overview on the exquisite knottins from scorpion and spider venoms targeting pain-related NaV channels, describing the sequences and the structural features as well as molecular determinants that influence their selectivity on special subtype and at particular conformation, with an aim for the development of novel research tools on NaV channels and analgesics with minimal adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiting Wang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Huan Luo
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Xiaozhen Peng
- School of Public Health & Laboratory Medicine, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China.
| | - Jinjun Chen
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China; Hunan Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Cell Mechanics and Function Analysis, Changsha 418000, China.
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2
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Chen B, Hu Z, Chen X, Zeng X. Molecular mechanisms of two novel and selective TRPV1 channel activators. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 275:133658. [PMID: 38969044 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133658] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Venomous toxins hold immense value as tools in elucidating the intricate structure and underlying mechanisms of ion channels. In this article, we identified of two novel toxins, Hainantoxin-XXI (HNTX-XXI) and Hainantoxin-XXII (HNTX-XXII), derived from the venom of the Chinese spider Ornithoctonus hainana. HNTX-XXI, boasting a molecular weight of 6869.095 Da, comprises 64 amino acid residues and contains 8 cysteines. Meanwhile, HNTX-XXII, with a molecular weight of 8623.732 Da, comprises 77 amino acid residues and contains 12 cysteines. Remarkably, we discovered that both HNTX-XXI and HNTX-XXII possess the ability to activate TRPV1. They activated TRPV1 with EC50 values of 3.6 ± 0.19 μM and 862 ± 56 nM, respectively. Furthermore, the current generated by the activation of TRPV1 by these toxins can be rapidly blocked by ruthenium red. Intriguingly, our analysis revealed that the interaction between HNTX-XXI and TRPV1 is mediated by three key amino acid residues: L465, V469, and D471. Similarly, the interaction between HNTX-XXII and TRPV1 is facilitated by four key amino acid residues: A657, F659, E600, and R601. These findings provide profound insights into the molecular basis of toxin-TRPV1 interactions and pave the way for future research exploring the therapeutic potential of these toxic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418000, China; The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China; Key Laboratory of Research and Utilization of Ethnomedicinal Plant Resources of Hunan Province, College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Zhaotun Hu
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418000, China; The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China; Key Laboratory of Research and Utilization of Ethnomedicinal Plant Resources of Hunan Province, College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Xinlong Chen
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Xiongzhi Zeng
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China.
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Zou X, Zhang Z, Lu H, Zhao W, Pan L, Chen Y. Functional effects of drugs and toxins interacting with Na V1.4. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1378315. [PMID: 38725668 PMCID: PMC11079311 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1378315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
NaV1.4 is a voltage-gated sodium channel subtype that is predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle cells. It is essential for producing action potentials and stimulating muscle contraction, and mutations in NaV1.4 can cause various muscle disorders. The discovery of the cryo-EM structure of NaV1.4 in complex with β1 has opened new possibilities for designing drugs and toxins that target NaV1.4. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of channelopathies, the binding sites and functions of chemicals including medicine and toxins that interact with NaV1.4. These substances could be considered novel candidate compounds or tools to develop more potent and selective drugs targeting NaV1.4. Therefore, studying NaV1.4 pharmacology is both theoretically and practically meaningful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Food and Health, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Food and Health, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Lu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Food and Health, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Food and Health, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lanying Pan
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Food and Health, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
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Díaz-Gómez JL, Martín-Estal I, Rivera-Aboytes E, Gaxiola-Muñíz RA, Puente-Garza CA, García-Lara S, Castorena-Torres F. Biomedical applications of synthetic peptides derived from venom of animal origin: A systematic review. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:116015. [PMID: 38113629 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116015] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of therapeutic agents that have fewer adverse effects and have higher efficacy for diseases, such as cancer, metabolic disorders, neurological diseases, infections, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases, are required. Recent studies have focused on identifying novel sources for pharmaceutical molecules to develop therapies against these diseases. Among the sources for potentially new therapies, animal venom-derived molecules have generated much interest. Various animal venom-derived proteins and peptides have been isolated, identified, synthesized, and tested to develop drugs. Venom-derived peptides have several biomedical properties, such as proapoptotic, cell migration, and autophagy regulation activities in cancer cell models; induction of vasodilation by nitric oxide and regulation of angiotensin II; modification of insulin response by controlling calcium and potassium channels; regulation of pain receptor activity; modulation of immune cell activity; alteration of motor neuron activity; degradation or inhibition of β-amyloid plaque formation; antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoal activities; increase in sperm motility and potentiation of erectile function; reduction of intraocular pressure; anticoagulation, fibrinolytic, and antithrombotic activities; etc. This systematic review compiles these biomedical properties and potential biomedical applications of synthesized animal venom-derived peptides reported in the latest research. In addition, the limitations and areas of opportunity in this research field are discussed so that new studies can be developed based on the data presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge L Díaz-Gómez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ave. Morones Prieto 3000, Monterrey 64710, N.L., Mexico
| | - Irene Martín-Estal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ave. Morones Prieto 3000, Monterrey 64710, N.L., Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Rivera-Aboytes
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico
| | - Ramón Alonso Gaxiola-Muñíz
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ave. Morones Prieto 3000, Monterrey 64710, N.L., Mexico
| | - César A Puente-Garza
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico
| | - Silverio García-Lara
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico
| | - Fabiola Castorena-Torres
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ave. Morones Prieto 3000, Monterrey 64710, N.L., Mexico.
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Diochot S. Pain-related toxins in scorpion and spider venoms: a face to face with ion channels. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2021; 27:e20210026. [PMID: 34925480 PMCID: PMC8667759 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is a common symptom induced during envenomation by spiders and scorpions.
Toxins isolated from their venom have become essential tools for studying the
functioning and physiopathological role of ion channels, as they modulate their
activity. In particular, toxins that induce pain relief effects can serve as a
molecular basis for the development of future analgesics in humans. This review
provides a summary of the different scorpion and spider toxins that directly
interact with pain-related ion channels, with inhibitory or stimulatory effects.
Some of these toxins were shown to affect pain modalities in different animal
models providing information on the role played by these channels in the pain
process. The close interaction of certain gating-modifier toxins with membrane
phospholipids close to ion channels is examined along with molecular approaches
to improve selectivity, affinity or bioavailability in vivo for
therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Diochot
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7275 et Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), 06560 Valbonne, France. Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Université Côte d'Azur Valbonne France
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Spider Knottin Pharmacology at Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels and Their Potential to Modulate Pain Pathways. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11110626. [PMID: 31671792 PMCID: PMC6891507 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11110626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) are a key determinant of neuronal signalling. Neurotoxins from diverse taxa that selectively activate or inhibit NaV channels have helped unravel the role of NaV channels in diseases, including chronic pain. Spider venoms contain the most diverse array of inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) toxins (knottins). This review provides an overview on how spider knottins modulate NaV channels and describes the structural features and molecular determinants that influence their affinity and subtype selectivity. Genetic and functional evidence support a major involvement of NaV subtypes in various chronic pain conditions. The exquisite inhibitory properties of spider knottins over key NaV subtypes make them the best lead molecules for the development of novel analgesics to treat chronic pain.
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Murray JK, Wu B, Tegley CM, Nixey TE, Falsey JR, Herberich B, Yin L, Sham K, Long J, Aral J, Cheng Y, Netirojjanakul C, Doherty L, Glaus C, Ikotun T, Li H, Tran L, Soto M, Salimi-Moosavi H, Ligutti J, Amagasu S, Andrews KL, Be X, Lin MHJ, Foti RS, Ilch CP, Youngblood B, Kornecook TJ, Karow M, Walker KW, Moyer BD, Biswas K, Miranda LP. Engineering Na V1.7 Inhibitory JzTx-V Peptides with a Potency and Basicity Profile Suitable for Antibody Conjugation To Enhance Pharmacokinetics. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:806-818. [PMID: 30875193 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Drug discovery research on new pain targets with human genetic validation, including the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7, is being pursued to address the unmet medical need with respect to chronic pain and the rising opioid epidemic. As part of early research efforts on this front, we have previously developed NaV1.7 inhibitory peptide-antibody conjugates with tarantula venom-derived GpTx-1 toxin peptides with an extended half-life (80 h) in rodents but only moderate in vitro activity (hNaV1.7 IC50 = 250 nM) and without in vivo activity. We identified the more potent peptide JzTx-V from our natural peptide collection and improved its selectivity against other sodium channel isoforms through positional analogueing. Here we report utilization of the JzTx-V scaffold in a peptide-antibody conjugate and architectural variations in the linker, peptide loading, and antibody attachment site. We found conjugates with 100-fold improved in vitro potency relative to those of complementary GpTx-1 analogues, but pharmacokinetic and bioimaging analyses of these JzTx-V conjugates revealed a shorter than expected plasma half-life in vivo with accumulation in the liver. In an attempt to increase circulatory serum levels, we sought the reduction of the net +6 charge of the JzTx-V scaffold while retaining a desirable NaV in vitro activity profile. The conjugate of a JzTx-V peptide analogue with a +2 formal charge maintained NaV1.7 potency with 18-fold improved plasma exposure in rodents. Balancing the loss of peptide and conjugate potency associated with the reduction of net charge necessary for improved target exposure resulted in a compound with moderate activity in a NaV1.7-dependent pharmacodynamic model but requires further optimization to identify a conjugate that can fully engage NaV1.7 in vivo.
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Moyer BD, Murray JK, Ligutti J, Andrews K, Favreau P, Jordan JB, Lee JH, Liu D, Long J, Sham K, Shi L, Stöcklin R, Wu B, Yin R, Yu V, Zou A, Biswas K, Miranda LP. Pharmacological characterization of potent and selective NaV1.7 inhibitors engineered from Chilobrachys jingzhao tarantula venom peptide JzTx-V. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196791. [PMID: 29723257 PMCID: PMC5933747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 inhibitors for chronic pain therapeutic development is an area of vigorous pursuit. In an effort to identify more potent leads compared to our previously reported GpTx-1 peptide series, electrophysiology screening of fractionated tarantula venom discovered the NaV1.7 inhibitory peptide JzTx-V from the Chinese earth tiger tarantula Chilobrachys jingzhao. The parent peptide displayed nominal selectivity over the skeletal muscle NaV1.4 channel. Attribute-based positional scan analoging identified a key Ile28Glu mutation that improved NaV1.4 selectivity over 100-fold, and further optimization yielded the potent and selective peptide leads AM-8145 and AM-0422. NMR analyses revealed that the Ile28Glu substitution changed peptide conformation, pointing to a structural rationale for the selectivity gains. AM-8145 and AM-0422 as well as GpTx-1 and HwTx-IV competed for ProTx-II binding in HEK293 cells expressing human NaV1.7, suggesting that these NaV1.7 inhibitory peptides interact with a similar binding site. AM-8145 potently blocked native tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) channels in mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, exhibited 30- to 120-fold selectivity over other human TTX-S channels and exhibited over 1,000-fold selectivity over other human tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) channels. Leveraging NaV1.7-NaV1.5 chimeras containing various voltage-sensor and pore regions, AM-8145 mapped to the second voltage-sensor domain of NaV1.7. AM-0422, but not the inactive peptide analog AM-8374, dose-dependently blocked capsaicin-induced DRG neuron action potential firing using a multi-electrode array readout and mechanically-induced C-fiber spiking in a saphenous skin-nerve preparation. Collectively, AM-8145 and AM-0422 represent potent, new engineered NaV1.7 inhibitory peptides derived from the JzTx-V scaffold with improved NaV selectivity and biological activity in blocking action potential firing in both DRG neurons and C-fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D. Moyer
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Justin K. Murray
- Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Joseph Ligutti
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Kristin Andrews
- Molecular Engineering, Amgen Discovery Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - John B. Jordan
- Discovery Attribute Sciences, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Josie H. Lee
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Dong Liu
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Jason Long
- Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Kelvin Sham
- Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Licheng Shi
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Reto Stöcklin
- Atheris Laboratories, CH Bernex, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bin Wu
- Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Ruoyuan Yin
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Violeta Yu
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anruo Zou
- Neuroscience, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Kaustav Biswas
- Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
| | - Les P. Miranda
- Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen Discovery Research, Thousand Oaks, California, United States of America
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Wu Y, Ma H, Zhang F, Zhang C, Zou X, Cao Z. Selective Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Peptide Toxins from Animal Venom: Pharmacological Probes and Analgesic Drug Development. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:187-197. [PMID: 29161016 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) play critical roles in action potential generation and propagation. Nav channelopathy as well as pathological sensitization contribute to allodynia and hyperalgesia. Recent evidence has demonstrated the significant roles of Nav subtypes (Nav1.3, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9) in nociceptive transduction, and therefore these Navs may represent attractive targets for analgesic drug discovery. Animal toxins are structurally diverse peptides that are highly potent yet selective on ion channel subtypes and therefore represent valuable probes to elucidate the structures, gating properties, and cellular functions of ion channels. In this review, we summarize recent advances on peptide toxins from animal venom that selectively target Nav1.3, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9, along with their potential in analgesic drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for TCM Evaluation
and Translational Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for TCM Evaluation
and Translational Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for TCM Evaluation
and Translational Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chunlei Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for TCM Evaluation
and Translational Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiaohan Zou
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for TCM Evaluation
and Translational Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zhengyu Cao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for TCM Evaluation
and Translational Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
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Xu X, Wang H, Zhang F, Hu Z, Liang S, Liu Z. A Comparative Analysis of the Venom Gland Transcriptomes of the Fishing Spiders Dolomedes mizhoanus and Dolomedes sulfurous. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139908. [PMID: 26445494 PMCID: PMC4596850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dolomedes sulfurous and Dolomedes mizhoanus are predaceous arthropods catching and feeding on small fish. They live in the same area and have similar habits. Their venoms exhibit some similarities and differences in biochemical and electrophysiological properties. In the present work, we first performed a transcriptomic analysis by constructing the venom gland cDNA library of D. sulfurous and 127 novel putative toxin sequences were consequently identified, which were classified into eight families. This venom gland transcriptome was then compared with that of D. mizhoanus, which revealed that the putative toxins from both spider venoms might have originated from the same gene ancestors although novel toxins were evolved independently in the two spiders. The putative toxins from both spiders contain 6-12 cysteine residues forming seven cysteine patterns. As revealed by blast search, the two venoms are rich in neurotoxins targeting ion channels with pharmacological and therapeutic significance. This study provides insight into the venoms of two closely related species of spider, which will be of use for future investigations into the structure and function of their toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunxun Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, China
| | - Hengyun Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, China
| | - Zhaotun Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, China
| | - Songping Liang
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, China
| | - Zhonghua Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, China
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