Solution structure of Pi4, a short four-disulfide-bridged scorpion toxin specific of potassium channels

Pi4 is a short toxin found at very low abundance in the venom of Pandinus imperator scorpions. It is a potent blocker of K(+) channels. Like the other members of the alpha-KTX6 subfamily to which it belongs, it is cross-linked by four disulfide bonds. The synthetic analog (sPi4) and the natural toxin (nPi4) have been obtained by solid-phase synthesis or from scorpion venom, respectively. Analysis of two-dimensional (1)H NMR spectra of nPi4 and sPi4 indicates that both peptides have the same structure. Moreover, electrophysiological recordings of the blocking of Shaker B K(+) channels by sPi4 (K(D) = 8.5 nM) indicate that sPi4 has the same blocking activity of nPi4 (K(D) = 8.0 nM), previously described. The disulfide bonds have been independently determined by NMR and structure calculations, and by Edman-degradation/mass-spectrometry identification of peptides obtained by proteolysis of nPi4. Both approaches indicate that the pairing of the half-cystines is (6)C-(27)C, (12)C-(32)C, (16)C-(34)C, and (22)C-(37)C. The structure of the toxin has been determined by using 705 constraints derived from NMR data on sPi4. The structure, which is well defined, shows the characteristic alpha/beta scaffold of scorpion toxins. It is compared to the structure of the other alpha-KTX6 subfamily members and, in particular, to the structure of maurotoxin, which shows a different pattern of disulfide bridges despite its high degree of sequence identity (76%) with Pi4. The structure of Pi4 and the high amounts of synthetic peptide available, will enable the detailed analysis of the interaction of Pi4 with K(+) channels.

Triabin, a highly potent exosite inhibitor of thrombin

Triabin, a new thrombin inhibitor, has been purified from the saliva of Triatoma pallidipennis, a blood-sucking triatomine bug. It forms a noncovalent complex with thrombin at a molar ratio of 1:1, inhibits thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, and prolongs thrombin clotting time and activated partial thromboplastin time. However, it only minimally suppresses the amidolytic activity of thrombin, as measured by a chromogenic peptide substrate assay. It completely blocks trypsin-catalyzed cleavage of thrombin, probably via protection of the anion-binding exosite and inhibits the effect of thrombomodulin on thrombin in a dose-dependent fashion. These results indicate that the inhibitor is directed toward the anion-binding exosite of thrombin. The protein was partially sequenced and the information used to isolate cDNA clones from a T. pallidipennis salivary gland library. Four slightly polymorphic variants coding for mature proteins of 142 amino acids preceded by a putative leader sequence were obtained. The recombinant protein expressed in the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli has a biological activity similar to that of salivary triabin, as tested in a thrombin-induced platelet aggregation assay. In addition, recombinant triabin inhibits thrombin-catalyzed hydrolysis of fibrinogen with a Ki of about 3 pM.

An inhibitor of collagen-induced platelet aggregation from the saliva of Triatoma pallidipennis

The saliva of Triatoma pallidipennis, a blood-sucking triatomine bug (Hemiptera, family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatominae) was found to contain a factor that specifically inhibits collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The 19-kDa protein was purified to homogeneity and named pallidipin. Collagen-mediated aggregation of platelets in plasma and of washed platelets was inhibited with the same efficacy. No inhibition of aggregation stimulated by other effectors (ADP, thrombin, thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619, phorbol ester) was detected. Pallidipin had no effect on platelet adhesion to collagen but inhibited ATP release from platelets. It interacted reversibly with platelets and may share with collagen a common target on them. The protein exhibits a unique primary structure (predicted from cDNA clones) with no significant similarity to other previously described sequences. The protein produced in recombinant baby hamster kidney cells had antiaggregatory effects similar to those of native pallidipin. Availability of recombinant pallidipin will allow further investigation of the precise mechanism of action.

Preliminary spectroscopic characterization of six toxins from Latin American scorpions

This paper reports on spectroscopic studies of six toxins from the Latin American scorpions Centruroides noxius Hoffmann, Centruroides elegans Thorell and Tityus serrulatus Lutz and Mello. The isolation and purification of five of these toxins was described previously. The preparation of toxin II.9.2.2 from the venom of C. noxius is first described here. Circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra indicate similarities and differences between these scorpion toxins and previously characterized snake toxins. While there is evidence that the toxins from scorpions and snakes both contain extended beta-sheet secondary structures, the spectral properties of the scorpion toxins are overall of a different type from those of snake toxins. Among the six scorpion toxins those from T. serrulatus have spectral properties markedly different from those of the Centruroides species. Furthermore, thermal denaturation and amide proton exchange measurements showed that the globular structures of the Tityus toxins were markedly less stable and less rigid than those of the Centruroides toxins.