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Park SJ, Lee JS, Nam YR, Lee JM, Ki DW, Yun BS, Choi SW, Van NTH, Nam JH, Kim HJ, Kim WK. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Alphitolic Acid Isolated from Agrimonia coreana Nakai Extracts Are Mediated via the Inhibition of I CRAC Activity in T Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17309. [PMID: 38139137 PMCID: PMC10743429 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., an important medicinal herb in traditional East Asian medicine, is primarily used to treat abdominal pain, dysentery, and hemostasis. There are ten other reported species of Agrimonia plants, including Agrimonia coreana Nakai-a naturally growing species in South Korea-and Agrimonia eupatoria Linn. Although recent studies have isolated numerous active constituents and investigated their effects, the medicinal utility of this herb is not yet fully explored. Through patch-clamp recording, a previous study reported that Agrimonia plant extracts inhibit the function of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels (CRACs). Herein, we aimed to identify and isolate the main compounds in A. coreana responsible for CRAC inhibition while assessing the anti-inflammatory effects mediated by this inhibition. We demonstrated for the first time that alphitolic acid isolated from A. coreana has a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on CRAC activity and, thus, an inhibitory effect on intracellular calcium increase. Furthermore, analysis of human CD4+ T cell proliferation via the carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester method revealed that alphitolic acid inhibited T cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the potential therapeutic use of alphitolic acid in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Jin Park
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, 123 Dongdae-ro, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea; (S.J.P.); (J.M.L.); (S.W.C.); (N.T.H.V.); (J.H.N.)
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jin Seok Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dongguk University, 27 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yu Ran Nam
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
- CIPA KOREA Inc. 755-27, Gobong-ro, Gyeonggi-do, Paju-si 10911, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Min Lee
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, 123 Dongdae-ro, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea; (S.J.P.); (J.M.L.); (S.W.C.); (N.T.H.V.); (J.H.N.)
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
| | - Dae-Won Ki
- Division of Biotechnology and Advanced Institute of Environment and Bioscience, College of Environmental and Bioresource Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Gobong-ro 79, Iksan 54596, Republic of Korea; (D.-W.K.); (B.-S.Y.)
| | - Bong-Sik Yun
- Division of Biotechnology and Advanced Institute of Environment and Bioscience, College of Environmental and Bioresource Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Gobong-ro 79, Iksan 54596, Republic of Korea; (D.-W.K.); (B.-S.Y.)
| | - Seong Woo Choi
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, 123 Dongdae-ro, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea; (S.J.P.); (J.M.L.); (S.W.C.); (N.T.H.V.); (J.H.N.)
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
| | - Nhung Thi Hong Van
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, 123 Dongdae-ro, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea; (S.J.P.); (J.M.L.); (S.W.C.); (N.T.H.V.); (J.H.N.)
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
| | - Joo Hyun Nam
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, 123 Dongdae-ro, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea; (S.J.P.); (J.M.L.); (S.W.C.); (N.T.H.V.); (J.H.N.)
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hyun Jong Kim
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, 123 Dongdae-ro, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea; (S.J.P.); (J.M.L.); (S.W.C.); (N.T.H.V.); (J.H.N.)
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
| | - Woo Kyung Kim
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dongguk University, 27 Dongguk-ro, Ilsan Dong-gu, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea;
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Muller JAI, Chan LY, Toffoli-Kadri MC, Mortari MR, Craik DJ, Koehbach J. Antinociceptive peptides from venomous arthropods. TOXIN REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2022.2065510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. I. Muller
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Inflammation, FACFAN/Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lai Y. Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Monica C. Toffoli-Kadri
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Inflammation, FACFAN/Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marcia R. Mortari
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, IB/University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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Zaporozhets TS, Besednova NN. Biologically active compounds from marine organisms in the strategies for combating coronaviruses. AIMS Microbiol 2020; 6:470-494. [PMID: 33364539 PMCID: PMC7755586 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the progress made in immunization and drug development, so far there are no prophylactic vaccines and effective therapies for many viral infections, including infections caused by coronaviruses. In this regard, the search for new antiviral substances continues to be relevant, and the enormous potential of marine resources are a stimulus for the study of marine compounds with antiviral activity in experiments and clinical trials. The highly pathogenic human coronaviruses-severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain a serious threat to human health. In this review, the authors hope to bring the attention of researchers to the use of biologically active substances of marine origin as potential broad-spectrum antiviral agents targeting common cellular pathways and various stages of the life cycle of different viruses, including coronaviruses. The review has been compiled using references from major databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer and Google Scholar (up to June 2020) and keywords such as 'coronaviruses', 'marine organisms', 'biologically active substances', 'antiviral drugs', 'SARS-CoV', 'MERS-CoV', 'SARS-CoV-2', '3CLpro', 'TMPRSS2', 'ACE2'. After obtaining all reports from the databases, the papers were carefully analysed in order to find data related to the topic of this review (98 references). Biologically active substances of marine origin, such as flavonoids, phlorotannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides, lectins, polysaccharides, lipids and others substances, can affect coronaviruses at the stages of penetration and entry of the viral particle into the cell, replication of the viral nucleic acid and release of the virion from the cell; they also can act on the host's cellular targets. These natural compounds could be a vital resource in the fight against coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana S. Zaporozhets
- Immunology Laboratory, Somov Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
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Bedoya M, Rinné S, Kiper AK, Decher N, González W, Ramírez D. TASK Channels Pharmacology: New Challenges in Drug Design. J Med Chem 2019; 62:10044-10058. [PMID: 31260312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Rational drug design targeting ion channels is an exciting and always evolving research field. New medicinal chemistry strategies are being implemented to explore the wild chemical space and unravel the molecular basis of the ion channels modulators binding mechanisms. TASK channels belong to the two-pore domain potassium channel family and are modulated by extracellular acidosis. They are extensively distributed along the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, and their expression is up- and downregulated in different cancer types, which makes them an attractive therapeutic target. However, TASK channels remain unexplored, and drugs designed to target these channels are poorly selective. Here, we review TASK channels properties and their known blockers and activators, considering the new challenges in ion channels drug design and focusing on the implementation of computational methodologies in the drug discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Bedoya
- Centro de Bioinformática y Simulación Molecular (CBSM) , Universidad de Talca , 1 Poniente No. 1141 , 3460000 Talca , Chile
| | - Susanne Rinné
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Vegetative Physiology and Marburg Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, MCMBB , Philipps-University of Marburg , Deutschhausstraße 2 , Marburg 35037 , Germany
| | - Aytug K Kiper
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Vegetative Physiology and Marburg Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, MCMBB , Philipps-University of Marburg , Deutschhausstraße 2 , Marburg 35037 , Germany
| | - Niels Decher
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Vegetative Physiology and Marburg Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, MCMBB , Philipps-University of Marburg , Deutschhausstraße 2 , Marburg 35037 , Germany
| | - Wendy González
- Centro de Bioinformática y Simulación Molecular (CBSM) , Universidad de Talca , 1 Poniente No. 1141 , 3460000 Talca , Chile.,Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD) , Universidad de Talca , 1 Poniente No. 1141 , 3460000 Talca , Chile
| | - David Ramírez
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud , Universidad Autónoma de Chile , El Llano Subercaseaux 2801, Piso 6 , 8900000 Santiago , Chile
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Bioactive Compounds Isolated from Neglected Predatory Marine Gastropods. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16040118. [PMID: 29621159 PMCID: PMC5923405 DOI: 10.3390/md16040118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A diverse range of predatory marine gastropods produce toxins, yet most of these molecules remain uncharacterized. Conus species have received the most attention from researchers, leading to several conopeptides reaching clinical trials. This review aims to summarize what is known about bioactive compounds isolated from species of neglected marine gastropods, especially in the Turridae, Terebridae, Babyloniidae, Muricidae, Buccinidae, Colubrariidae, Nassariidae, Cassidae, and Ranellidae families. Multiple species have been reported to contain bioactive compounds with potential toxic activity, but most of these compounds have not been characterized or even clearly identified. The bioactive properties and potential applications of echotoxins and related porins from the Ranellidae family are discussed in more detail. Finally, the review concludes with a call for research on understudied species.
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Abstract
For phage therapy-the treatment of bacterial infections using bacterial viruses-a key issue is the conflict between apparent ease of clinical application, on the one hand, and on the other hand, numerous difficulties that can be associated with undertaking preclinical development. These conflicts between achieving efficacy in the real world versus rigorously understanding that efficacy should not be surprising because equivalent conflicts have been observed in applied biology for millennia: exploiting the inherent, holistic tendencies of useful systems, e.g., of dairy cows, inevitably is easier than modeling those systems or maintaining effectiveness while reducing such systems to isolated parts. Trial and error alone, in other words, can be a powerful means toward technological development. Undertaking trial and error-based programs, especially in the clinic, nonetheless is highly dependent on those technologies possessing both inherent safety and intrinsic tendencies toward effectiveness, but in this modern era we tend to forget that ideally there would exist antibacterials which could be thus developed, that is, with tendencies toward both safety and effectiveness, and which are even relatively inexpensive. Consequently, we tend to demand rigor as well as expense of development even to the point of potentially squandering such utility, were it to exist. In this review I lay out evidence that in phage therapy such potential, in fact, does exist. Advancement of phage therapy unquestionably requires effective regulation as well as rigorous demonstration of efficacy, but after nearly 100 years of clinical practice, perhaps not as much emphasis on strictly laboratory-based proof of principle.
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Hou XM, Zhang YH, Hai Y, Zheng JY, Gu YC, Wang CY, Shao CL. Aspersymmetide A, a New Centrosymmetric Cyclohexapeptide from the Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus versicolor. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:E363. [PMID: 29165326 PMCID: PMC5706052 DOI: 10.3390/md15110363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A new centrosymmetric cyclohexapeptide, aspersymmetide A (1), together with a known peptide, asperphenamate (2), was isolated from the fungus Aspergillus versicolor isolated from a gorgonian coral Carijoa sp., collected from the South China Sea. The chemical structure of 1 was elucidated by analyzing its NMR spectroscopy and MS spectrometry data, and the absolute configurations of the amino acids of 1 were determined by Marfey's method and UPLC-MS analysis of the hydrolysate. Aspersymmetide A (1) represents the first example of marine-derived centrosymmetric cyclohexapeptide. Moreover, 1 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against NCI-H292 and A431 cell lines at the concentration of 10 μM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Mei Hou
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266200, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Corrosion and Protection, Luoyang Ship Material Research (LSMRI), Qingdao 266061, China.
| | - Ya-Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266200, China.
| | - Yang Hai
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266200, China.
| | - Ji-Yong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Corrosion and Protection, Luoyang Ship Material Research (LSMRI), Qingdao 266061, China.
| | - Yu-Cheng Gu
- Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell RG42 6EY, Berkshire, UK.
| | - Chang-Yun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266200, China.
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
| | - Chang-Lun Shao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266200, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Corrosion and Protection, Luoyang Ship Material Research (LSMRI), Qingdao 266061, China.
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Hetrick KJ, van der Donk WA. Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural product discovery in the genomic era. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2017; 38:36-44. [PMID: 28260651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In the past 15 years, the cost of sequencing a genome has plummeted. Consequently, the number of sequenced bacterial genomes has exponentially increased, and methods for natural product discovery have evolved rapidly to take advantage of the wealth of genomic data. This review highlights applications of genome mining software to compare and organize large-scale data sets and methods for identifying unique biosynthetic pathways amongst the thousands of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) gene clusters. We also discuss a small number of the many RiPPs discovered in the years 2014-2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenton J Hetrick
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61822, USA
| | - Wilfred A van der Donk
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61822, USA.
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High-Affinity α-Conotoxin PnIA Analogs Designed on the Basis of the Protein Surface Topography Method. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36848. [PMID: 27841338 PMCID: PMC5107951 DOI: 10.1038/srep36848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite some success for small molecules, elucidating structure-function relationships for biologically active peptides - the ligands for various targets in the organism - remains a great challenge and calls for the development of novel approaches. Some of us recently proposed the Protein Surface Topography (PST) approach, which benefits from a simplified representation of biomolecules' surface as projection maps, which enables the exposure of the structure-function dependencies. Here, we use PST to uncover the "activity pattern" in α-conotoxins - neuroactive peptides that effectively target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). PST was applied in order to design several variants of the α-conotoxin PnIA, which were synthesized and thoroughly studied. Among the best was PnIA[R9, L10], which exhibits nanomolar affinity for the α7 nAChR, selectivity and a slow wash-out from this target. Importantly, these mutations could hardly be delineated by "standard" structure-based drug design. The proposed combination of PST with a set of experiments proved very efficient for the rational construction of new bioactive molecules.
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Gentile E, Liuzzi GM. Marine pharmacology: therapeutic targeting of matrix metalloproteinases in neuroinflammation. Drug Discov Today 2016; 22:299-313. [PMID: 27697495 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity are recognized as key pathogenetic events in several neurological disorders. This evidence makes MMPs possible therapeutic targets. The search for substances that can inhibit MMPs is moving progressively toward the screening of natural products. In particular, marine bioprospecting could be promising for the discovery of marine natural products with anti-MMP activities. Despite recent advances in this field, the possibility of using marine MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) for the treatment of neuroinflammation is still under-investigated. Here, we review the latest findings in this promising research field and the potential that marine MMPIs can have in the management and treatment of various neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Gentile
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Grazia M Liuzzi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy.
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Yang S, Yang F, Wei N, Hong J, Li B, Luo L, Rong M, Yarov-Yarovoy V, Zheng J, Wang K, Lai R. A pain-inducing centipede toxin targets the heat activation machinery of nociceptor TRPV1. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8297. [PMID: 26420335 PMCID: PMC4589873 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 ion channel is a polymodal nociceptor that responds to heat with exquisite sensitivity through an unknown mechanism. Here we report the identification of a novel toxin, RhTx, from the venom of the Chinese red-headed centipede that potently activates TRPV1 to produce excruciating pain. RhTx is a 27-amino-acid small peptide that forms a compact polarized molecule with very rapid binding kinetics and high affinity for TRPV1. We show that RhTx targets the channel's heat activation machinery to cause powerful heat activation at body temperature. The RhTx-TRPV1 interaction is mediated by the toxin's highly charged C terminus, which associates tightly to the charge-rich outer pore region of the channel where it can directly interact with the pore helix and turret. These findings demonstrate that RhTx binding to the outer pore can induce TRPV1 heat activation, therefore providing crucial new structural information on the heat activation machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Ningning Wei
- Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jing Hong
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Lei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Mingqiang Rong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - KeWei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
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Teichert RW, Schmidt EW, Olivera BM. Constellation pharmacology: a new paradigm for drug discovery. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2015; 55:573-89. [PMID: 25562646 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010814-124551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Constellation pharmacology is a cell-based high-content phenotypic-screening platform that utilizes subtype-selective pharmacological agents to elucidate the cell-specific combinations (constellations) of key signaling proteins that define specific cell types. Heterogeneous populations of native cells, in which the different individual cell types have been identified and characterized, are the foundation for this screening platform. Constellation pharmacology is useful for screening small molecules or for deconvoluting complex mixtures of biologically active natural products. This platform has been used to purify natural products and discover their molecular mechanisms. In the ongoing development of constellation pharmacology, there is a positive feedback loop between the pharmacological characterization of cell types and screening for new drug candidates. As constellation pharmacology is used to discover compounds with novel targeting-selectivity profiles, those new compounds then further help to elucidate the constellations of specific cell types, thereby increasing the content of this high-content platform.
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Borsook D, Hargreaves R, Bountra C, Porreca F. Lost but making progress--Where will new analgesic drugs come from? Sci Transl Med 2015; 6:249sr3. [PMID: 25122640 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3008320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There is a critical need for effective new pharmacotherapies for pain. The paucity of new drugs successfully reaching the clinic calls for a reassessment of current analgesic drug discovery approaches. Many points early in the discovery process present significant hurdles, making it critical to exploit advances in pain neurobiology to increase the probability of success. In this review, we highlight approaches that are being pursued vigorously by the pain community for drug discovery, including innovative preclinical pain models, insights from genetics, mechanistic phenotyping of pain patients, development of biomarkers, and emerging insights into chronic pain as a disorder of both the periphery and the brain. Collaborative efforts between pharmaceutical, academic, and public entities to advance research in these areas promise to de-risk potential targets, stimulate investment, and speed evaluation and development of better pain therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Borsook
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richard Hargreaves
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chas Bountra
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Frank Porreca
- Center for Pain and the Brain and Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
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Liu Y, Liu Q, Ye G, Khan A, Liu J, Gan F, Zhang X, Kumbhar S, Huang K. Protective effects of Selenium-enriched probiotics on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2015; 63:242-249. [PMID: 25513970 DOI: 10.1021/jf5039184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Se-enriched probiotics (SP) on the liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats. The results showed that SP significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (87.0 ± 1.96 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (101 ± 3.13 U/L), hepatic hydroxyproline (898 ± 72.5 μg/g), and malondialdehyde (2.39 ± 0.34 nmol/mg) levels, but increased glutathione peroxidase (37.2 ± 3.19 U/mg), superoxide dismutase (201 ± 19.2 U/mg), and glutathione levels (3.32 ± 0.25 mg/g) (P < 0.05) in rats treated by CCl4. SP suppressed hepatic inflammation and necrosis induced by CCl4. Moreover, SP significantly reduced the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, collagen, TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and inflammation-related gene and induced apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells (P < 0.05) in rats treated by CCl4. Our results suggest that SP could protect the liver from fibrosis by attenuating hepatic oxidative stress, suppressing hepatic inflammation, and inducing apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells.
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15
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Peigneur S, Paolini-Bertrand M, Gaertner H, Biass D, Violette A, Stöcklin R, Favreau P, Tytgat J, Hartley O. δ-Conotoxins synthesized using an acid-cleavable solubility tag approach reveal key structural determinants for NaV subtype selectivity. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:35341-50. [PMID: 25352593 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.610436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Conotoxins are venom peptides from cone snails with multiple disulfide bridges that provide a rigid structural scaffold. Typically acting on ion channels implicated in neurotransmission, conotoxins are of interest both as tools for pharmacological studies and as potential new medicines. δ-Conotoxins act by inhibiting inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav). Their pharmacology has not been extensively studied because their highly hydrophobic character makes them difficult targets for chemical synthesis. Here we adopted an acid-cleavable solubility tag strategy that facilitated synthesis, purification, and directed disulfide bridge formation. Using this approach we readily produced three native δ-conotoxins from Conus consors plus two rationally designed hybrid peptides. We observed striking differences in Nav subtype selectivity across this group of compounds, which differ in primary structure at only three positions: 12, 23, and 25. Our results provide new insights into the structure-activity relationships underlying the Nav subtype selectivity of δ-conotoxins. Use of the acid-cleavable solubility tag strategy should facilitate synthesis of other hydrophobic peptides with complex disulfide bridge patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Peigneur
- From the Department Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Catholic University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marianne Paolini-Bertrand
- the Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hubert Gaertner
- the Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Biass
- Atheris Laboratories, 1233 Bernex, Switzerland, and
| | | | | | - Philippe Favreau
- Atheris Laboratories, 1233 Bernex, Switzerland, and the Department of Environment, Transport and Agriculture, Service de Toxicologie de l'Environnement, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jan Tytgat
- From the Department Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Catholic University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,
| | - Oliver Hartley
- the Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland,
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Abedon ST. Phage therapy: eco-physiological pharmacology. SCIENTIFICA 2014; 2014:581639. [PMID: 25031881 PMCID: PMC4054669 DOI: 10.1155/2014/581639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial virus use as antibacterial agents, in the guise of what is commonly known as phage therapy, is an inherently physiological, ecological, and also pharmacological process. Physiologically we can consider metabolic properties of phage infections of bacteria and variation in those properties as a function of preexisting bacterial states. In addition, there are patient responses to pathogenesis, patient responses to phage infections of pathogens, and also patient responses to phage virions alone. Ecologically, we can consider phage propagation, densities, distribution (within bodies), impact on body-associated microbiota (as ecological communities), and modification of the functioning of body "ecosystems" more generally. These ecological and physiological components in many ways represent different perspectives on otherwise equivalent phenomena. Comparable to drugs, one also can view phages during phage therapy in pharmacological terms. The relatively unique status of phages within the context of phage therapy as essentially replicating antimicrobials can therefore result in a confluence of perspectives, many of which can be useful towards gaining a better mechanistic appreciation of phage therapy, as I consider here. Pharmacology more generally may be viewed as a discipline that lies at an interface between organism-associated phenomena, as considered by physiology, and environmental interactions as considered by ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
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Kudryavtsev D, Makarieva T, Utkina N, Santalova E, Kryukova E, Methfessel C, Tsetlin V, Stonik V, Kasheverov I. Marine natural products acting on the acetylcholine-binding protein and nicotinic receptors: from computer modeling to binding studies and electrophysiology. Mar Drugs 2014; 12:1859-75. [PMID: 24686559 PMCID: PMC4012456 DOI: 10.3390/md12041859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
For a small library of natural products from marine sponges and ascidians, in silico docking to the Lymnaea stagnalis acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP), a model for the ligand-binding domains of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), was carried out and the possibility of complex formation was revealed. It was further experimentally confirmed via competition with radioiodinated α-bungarotoxin ([¹²⁵I]-αBgt) for binding to AChBP of the majority of analyzed compounds. Alkaloids pibocin, varacin and makaluvamines С and G had relatively high affinities (K(i) 0.5-1.3 μM). With the muscle-type nAChR from Torpedo californica ray and human neuronal α7 nAChR, heterologously expressed in the GH4C1 cell line, no competition with [¹²⁵I]-αBgt was detected in four compounds, while the rest showed an inhibition. Makaluvamines (K(i) ~ 1.5 μM) were the most active compounds, but only makaluvamine G and crambescidine 359 revealed a weak selectivity towards muscle-type nAChR. Rhizochalin, aglycone of rhizochalin, pibocin, makaluvamine G, monanchocidin, crambescidine 359 and aaptamine showed inhibitory activities in electrophysiology experiments on the mouse muscle and human α7 nAChRs, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Thus, our results confirm the utility of the modeling studies on AChBPs in a search for natural compounds with cholinergic activity and demonstrate the presence of the latter in the analyzed marine biological sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Kudryavtsev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Tatyana Makarieva
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (PIBOC), Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100 let Vladivostoku, 159, Vladivostok 690022, Russia.
| | - Natalia Utkina
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (PIBOC), Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100 let Vladivostoku, 159, Vladivostok 690022, Russia.
| | - Elena Santalova
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (PIBOC), Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100 let Vladivostoku, 159, Vladivostok 690022, Russia.
| | - Elena Kryukova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | | | - Victor Tsetlin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Valentin Stonik
- Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (PIBOC), Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100 let Vladivostoku, 159, Vladivostok 690022, Russia.
| | - Igor Kasheverov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
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18
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Mayer AMS, Rodríguez AD, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Fusetani N. Marine pharmacology in 2009-2011: marine compounds with antibacterial, antidiabetic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities; affecting the immune and nervous systems, and other miscellaneous mechanisms of action. Mar Drugs 2013; 11:2510-73. [PMID: 23880931 PMCID: PMC3736438 DOI: 10.3390/md11072510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Revised: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro M. S. Mayer
- Department of Pharmacology, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-630-515-6951; Fax: +1-630-971-6414
| | - Abimael D. Rodríguez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, I-80131 Napoli, Italy; E-Mail:
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19
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Connectivity maps for biosimilar drug discovery in venoms: The case of Gila Monster Venom and the anti-diabetes drug Byetta®. Toxicon 2013; 69:160-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Revised: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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20
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Petrel C, Hocking HG, Reynaud M, Upert G, Favreau P, Biass D, Paolini-Bertrand M, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Gilles N, Hartley O, Boelens R, Stocklin R, Servent D. Identification, structural and pharmacological characterization of τ-CnVA, a conopeptide that selectively interacts with somatostatin sst3 receptor. Biochem Pharmacol 2013; 85:1663-71. [PMID: 23567999 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Revised: 03/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Conopeptides are a diverse array of small linear and reticulated peptides that interact with high potency and selectivity with a large diversity of receptors and ion channels. They are used by cone snails for prey capture or defense. Recent advances in venom gland transcriptomic and venom peptidomic/proteomic technologies combined with bioactivity screening approaches lead to the identification of new toxins with original pharmacological profiles. Here, from transcriptomic/proteomic analyses of the Conus consors cone snail, we identified a new conopeptide called τ-CnVA, which displays the typical cysteine framework V of the T1-conotoxin superfamily. This peptide was chemically synthesized and its three-dimensional structure was solved by NMR analysis and compared to that of TxVA belonging to the same family, revealing very few common structural features apart a common orientation of the intercysteine loop. Because of the lack of a clear biological function associated with the T-conotoxin family, τ-CnVA was screened against more than fifty different ion channels and receptors, highlighting its capacity to interact selectively with the somatostatine sst3 receptor. Pharmacological and functional studies show that τ-CnVA displays a micromolar (Ki of 1.5μM) antagonist property for the sst3 receptor, being currently the only known toxin to interact with this GPCR subfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Petrel
- CEA, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, Laboratoire de Toxinologie Moléculaire et Biotechnologies, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Li R, Xu L, Liang T, Li Y, Zhang S, Duan X. Puerarin mediates hepatoprotection against CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats through attenuation of inflammation response and amelioration of metabolic function. Food Chem Toxicol 2012; 52:69-75. [PMID: 23146695 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2012.10.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 10/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the potential effects of puerarin (PR), an effective isoflavonoid compound purified from Pueraria lobata, in treating hepatic fibrosis (HF) rats induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4), 2 mL kg(-1) d(-1)). Compared to model control, PR treatment effectively lowered the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb), total protein (TP) in HF rats. Masson stained analysis showed that the condition of HF rats was mitigated. Meanwhile, the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) expressions were significantly down-regulated at protein level by PR intervention. Additionally, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was elevated, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was lessened in liver tissue. As revealed by immunohistochemistry assay, PR therapy resulted in reduced production of transforming growth factor-βl (TGF-βl). Moreover, it also was attributed to decreased mRNA level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) using RT-PCR analysis. These findings demonstrate that puerarin successfully reverses hepatotoxicity in CCl(4)-induced HF rats via the underlying mechanisms of regulating serum enzymes and attenuating TNF-α/NF-κB pathway for anti-inflammation response, as well as improving metabolic function in liver tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Department of Physiology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, PR China
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22
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Abstract
Ion channels are targets of many therapeutically useful agents, and worldwide sales of ion channel-targeted drugs are estimated to be approximately US$12 billion. Nevertheless, considering that over 400 genes encoding ion channel subunits have been identified, ion channels remain significantly under-exploited as therapeutic targets. This is at least partly due to limitations in high-throughput assay technologies that support screening and lead optimization. Will the recent developments in automated electrophysiology rectify this situation? What are the other major limitations and can they be overcome? In this article, we review the status of ion channel drug discovery, discuss current challenges and propose alternative approaches that may facilitate the discovery of new drugs in the future.
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23
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Hu H, Bandyopadhyay PK, Olivera BM, Yandell M. Elucidation of the molecular envenomation strategy of the cone snail Conus geographus through transcriptome sequencing of its venom duct. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:284. [PMID: 22742208 PMCID: PMC3441800 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The fish-hunting cone snail, Conus geographus, is the deadliest snail on earth. In the absence of medical intervention, 70% of human stinging cases are fatal. Although, its venom is known to consist of a cocktail of small peptides targeting different ion-channels and receptors, the bulk of its venom constituents, their sites of manufacture, relative abundances and how they function collectively in envenomation has remained unknown. Results We have used transcriptome sequencing to systematically elucidate the contents the C. geographus venom duct, dividing it into four segments in order to investigate each segment’s mRNA contents. Three different types of calcium channel (each targeted by unrelated, entirely distinct venom peptides) and at least two different nicotinic receptors appear to be targeted by the venom. Moreover, the most highly expressed venom component is not paralytic, but causes sensory disorientation and is expressed in a different segment of the venom duct from venoms believed to cause sensory disruption. We have also identified several new toxins of interest for pharmaceutical and neuroscience research. Conclusions Conus geographus is believed to prey on fish hiding in reef crevices at night. Our data suggest that disorientation of prey is central to its envenomation strategy. Furthermore, venom expression profiles also suggest a sophisticated layering of venom-expression patterns within the venom duct, with disorientating and paralytic venoms expressed in different regions. Thus, our transcriptome analysis provides a new physiological framework for understanding the molecular envenomation strategy of this deadly snail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Hu
- Eccles institute of Human Genetics, University of Utah, and School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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24
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Gowd KH, Han TS, Twede V, Gajewiak J, Smith MD, Watkins M, Platt RJ, Toledo G, White HS, Olivera BM, Bulaj G. Conantokins derived from the Asprella clade impart conRl-B, an N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonist with a unique selectivity profile for NR2B subunits. Biochemistry 2012; 51:4685-92. [PMID: 22594498 DOI: 10.1021/bi300055n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Using molecular phylogeny has accelerated the discovery of peptidic ligands targeted to ion channels and receptors. One clade of venomous cone snails, Asprella, appears to be significantly enriched in conantokins, antagonists of N-methyl d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Here, we describe the characterization of two novel conantokins from Conus rolani, including conantokin conRl-B that has shown an unprecedented selectivity for blocking NMDARs that contain NR2B subunits. ConRl-B shares only some sequence similarity with the most studied NR2B selective conantokin, conG. The divergence between conRl-B and conG in the second inter-Gla loop was used to design analogues for structure-activity studies; the presence of Pro10 was found to be key to the high potency of conRl-B for NR2B, whereas the ε-amino group of Lys8 contributed to discrimination in blocking NR2B- and NR2A-containing NMDARs. In contrast to previous findings for Tyr5 substitutions in other conantokins, conRl-B[L5Y] showed potencies on the four NR2 NMDA receptor subtypes that were similar to those of the native conRl-B. When delivered into the brain, conRl-B was active in suppressing seizures in the model of epilepsy in mice, consistent with NR2B-containing NMDA receptors being potential targets for antiepileptic drugs. Circular dichroism experiments confirmed that the helical conformation of conRl-B is stabilized by divalent metal ions. Given the clinical applications of NMDA antagonists, conRl-B provides a potentially important pharmacological tool for understanding the differential roles of NMDA receptor subtypes in the nervous system. This work shows the effectiveness of coupling molecular phylogeny, chemical synthesis, and pharmacology for discovering new bioactive natural products.
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Gerwick WH, Moore BS. Lessons from the past and charting the future of marine natural products drug discovery and chemical biology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 19:85-98. [PMID: 22284357 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2011.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 401] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2011] [Revised: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Marine life forms are an important source of structurally diverse and biologically active secondary metabolites, several of which have inspired the development of new classes of therapeutic agents. These success stories have had to overcome difficulties inherent to natural products-derived drugs, such as adequate sourcing of the agent and issues related to structural complexity. Nevertheless, several marine-derived agents are now approved, most as "first-in-class" drugs, with five of seven appearing in the past few years. Additionally, there is a rich pipeline of clinical and preclinical marine compounds to suggest their continued application in human medicine. Understanding of how these agents are biosynthetically assembled has accelerated in recent years, especially through interdisciplinary approaches, and innovative manipulations and re-engineering of some of these gene clusters are yielding novel agents of enhanced pharmaceutical properties compared with the natural product.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Gerwick
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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26
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Hama A, Sagen J. Combination Drug Therapy for Pain following Chronic Spinal Cord Injury. PAIN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2012; 2012:840486. [PMID: 22550581 PMCID: PMC3324948 DOI: 10.1155/2012/840486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A number of mechanisms have been elucidated that maintain neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury (SCI). While target-based therapeutics are being developed based on elucidation of these mechanisms, treatment for neuropathic SCI pain has not been entirely satisfactory due in part to the significant convergence of neurological and inflammatory processes that maintain the neuropathic pain state. Thus, a combination drug treatment strategy, wherein several pain-related mechanism are simultaneously engaged, could be more efficacious than treatment against individual mechanisms alone. Also, by engaging several targets at once, it may be possible to reduce the doses of the individual drugs, thereby minimizing the potential for adverse side effects. Positive preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated improved efficacy of combination drug treatment over single drug treatment in neuropathic pain of peripheral origin, and perhaps such combinations could be utilized for neuropathic SCI pain. At the same time, there are mechanisms that distinguish SCI from peripheral neuropathic pain, so novel combination therapies will be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldric Hama
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1095 SW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jacqueline Sagen
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1095 SW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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András CD, Albert C, Salamon S, Gálicza J, András R, András E. Conus magus vs. Irukandji syndrome: A computational approach of a possible new therapy. Brain Res Bull 2011; 86:195-202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2011] [Revised: 07/03/2011] [Accepted: 07/05/2011] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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28
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Cabang AB, Imperial JS, Gajewiak J, Watkins M, Corneli PS, Olivera BM, Concepcion GP. Characterization of a venom peptide from a crassispirid gastropod. Toxicon 2011; 58:672-80. [PMID: 21939682 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2011] [Revised: 09/02/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The crassispirids are a large branch of venomous marine gastropods whose venoms have not been investigated previously. We demonstrate that crassispirids comprise a major group of toxoglossate snails in a clade distinct from all turrids whose venoms have been analyzed. The isolation and biochemical definition of the first venom component from any crassispirid is described. Crassipeptide cce9a from Crassispira cerithina (Anton, 1838) was purified from crude venom by following biological activity elicited in young mice, lethargy and a lack of responsiveness to external stimuli. Using Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry, the purified peptide was shown to be 29 amino acid residues long, with the sequence: GSCGLPCHENRRCGWACYCDDGICKPLRV. The sequence assignment was verified through the analysis of a cDNA clone encoding the peptide. The peptide was chemically synthesized and folded; the synthetic peptide was biologically active and coelution with the native venom peptide was demonstrated. When injected into mice of various ages, the peptide elicited a striking shift in behavioral phenotype between 14 and 16 days, from lethargy to hyperactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- April B Cabang
- Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
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