Analysis of the Snake Venom Peptidome Serrano, Solange M T; Zelanis, André; Miyamoto, Jackson G ...
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.),
2024, Letnik:
2758
Journal Article
Snake venom peptidomes are known to be a large source of molecules with different pharmacological properties. The complexity and variability of snake venoms, the presence of proteinases, and the lack ...of complete species-specific genome sequences make snake venom peptidome profiling a challenging task that requires especial technical strategies for sample processing and mass spectrometric analysis. Here, we describe a method for assessing the content of snake venom peptides and highlight the importance of sampling procedures, as they substantially influence the peptidomic complexity of snake venoms.
Naja annulifera is a medically important venomous snake occurring in some of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Accidental bites result in severe coagulation disturbances, systemic inflammation and ...heart damage, as reported in dogs, and death, by respiratory arrest, in humans. Despite the medical importance of N. annulifera, little is known about its venom composition and the pathogenesis of envenomation. In this paper, the toxic, inflammatory and immunogenic properties of N. annulifera venom were analyzed.
Venom proteomic analysis identified 79 different proteins, including Three Finger Toxins, Cysteine Rich Secretory Proteins, Metalloproteinases, Phospholipases A2 (PLA2), Hyaluronidase, L-amino-acid oxidase, Cobra Venom Factor and Serine Proteinase. The presence of PLA2, hyaluronidase, fibrinogenolytic and anticoagulant activities was detected using functional assays. The venom was cytotoxic to human keratinocytes. In an experimental murine model of envenomation, it was found that the venom induced local changes, such as swelling, which was controlled by anti-inflammatory drugs. Moreover, the venom caused death, which was preceded by systemic inflammation and pulmonary hemorrhage. The venom was shown to be immunogenic, inducing a strong humoral immune response, with the production of antibodies able to recognize venom components with high molecular weight and to neutralize its lethal activity.
The results obtained in this study demonstrate that N. annulifera venom contains toxins able to induce local and systemic inflammation, which can contribute to lung damage and death. Moreover, the venom is immunogenic, an important feature that must be considered during the production of a therapeutic anti-N. annulifera antivenom.
The larva of cestodes belonging to the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) complex causes cystic echinococcosis (CE). It is a globally distributed zoonosis with significant economic and public ...health impact. The most immunogenic and specific Echinococcus-genus antigen for human CE diagnosis is antigen B (AgB), an abundant lipoprotein of the hydatid cyst fluid (HF). The AgB protein moiety (apolipoprotein) is encoded by five genes (AgB1-AgB5), which generate mature 8 kDa proteins (AgB8/1-AgB8/5). These genes seem to be differentially expressed among Echinococcus species. Since AgB immunogenicity lies on its protein moiety, differences in AgB expression within E. granulosus s.l. complex might have diagnostic and epidemiological relevance for discriminating the contribution of distinct species to human CE. Interestingly, AgB2 was proposed as a pseudogene in E. canadensis, which is the second most common cause of human CE, but proteomic studies for verifying it have not been performed yet. Herein, we analysed the protein and lipid composition of AgB obtained from fertile HF of swine origin (E. canadensis G7 genotype). AgB apolipoproteins were identified and quantified using mass spectrometry tools. Results showed that AgB8/1 was the major protein component, representing 71% of total AgB apolipoproteins, followed by AgB8/4 (15.5%), AgB8/3 (13.2%) and AgB8/5 (0.3%). AgB8/2 was not detected. As a methodological control, a parallel analysis detected all AgB apolipoproteins in bovine fertile HF (G1/3/5 genotypes). Overall, E. canadensis AgB comprised mostly AgB8/1 together with a heterogeneous mixture of lipids, and AgB8/2 was not detected despite using high sensitivity proteomic techniques. This endorses genomic data supporting that AgB2 behaves as a pseudogene in G7 genotype. Since recombinant AgB8/2 has been found to be diagnostically valuable for human CE, our findings indicate that its use as antigen in immunoassays could contribute to false negative results in areas where E. canadensis circulates. Furthermore, the presence of anti-AgB8/2 antibodies in serum may represent a useful parameter to rule out E. canadensis infection when human CE is diagnosed.
Proteomics and drug discovery in cancer Dias, Matheus H; Kitano, Eduardo S; Zelanis, André ...
Drug discovery today,
02/2016, Letnik:
21, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Proteomics has emerged as an invaluable tool in the quest to unravel the biochemical changes that give rise to the hallmarks of cancer. In this review, we present the advances and challenges facing ...proteomics technology as applied to cancer research, and address how the information gathered so far has helped to enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disease and contributed to the discovery of biomarkers and new drug targets. We conclude by presenting a perspective on how proteomics could be applied in the future to determine prognostic biomarkers and direct strategies for effective cancer treatment.
Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) play an important role in local tissue damage of snakebite patients, mostly by hydrolysis of basement membrane (BM) components. We evaluated the proinflammatory ...activity of SVMPs Atroxlysin-Ia (ATXL) and Batroxrhagin (BATXH) from
venom and their hydrolysis products of Matrigel. BALB/c mice were injected with SVMPs (2 μg), for assessment of paw edema and peritoneal leukocyte accumulation. Both SVMPs induced edema, representing an increase of ~70% of the paw size. Leukocyte infiltrates reached levels of 6 × 10
with ATXL and 5 × 10
with BATXH. TNF-α was identified in the supernatant of BATXH-or venom-stimulated MPAC cells. Incubation of Matrigel with the SVMPs generated fragments, including peptides from Laminin, identified by LC-MS/MS. The Matrigel hydrolysis peptides caused edema that increased 30% the paw size and promoted leukocyte accumulation (4-5 × 10
) to the peritoneal cavity, significantly higher than Matrigel control peptides 1 and 4 h after injection. Our findings suggest that ATXL and BATXH are involved in the inflammatory reaction observed in
envenomings by direct action on inflammatory cells or by releasing proinflammatory peptides from BM proteins that may amplify the direct action of SVMPs through activation of endogenous signaling pathways.
The
Araneae
order is considered one of the most successful groups among venomous animals in the world. An important factor for this success is the production of venoms, a refined biological fluid ...rich in proteins, short peptides and cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs). These toxins may present pharmacologically relevant biological actions, as antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer activities, for instance. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in the exploration of venom toxins for therapeutic reasons, such as drug development. However, the process of peptide sequencing and mainly the evaluation of potential biological activities of these peptides are laborious, considering the low yield of venom extraction and the high variability of toxins present in spider venoms. Here we show a robust methodology for identification, sequencing, and initial screening of potential bioactive peptides found in the venom of
Acanthoscurria rondoniae
. This methodology consists in a multiomics approach involving proteomics, peptidomics and transcriptomics analyses allied to
in silico
predictions of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer activities. Through the application of this strategy, a total of 92,889 venom gland transcripts were assembled and 84 novel toxins were identified at the protein level, including seven short peptides and 10 fully sequenced CRPs (belonging to seven toxin families).
In silico
analysis suggests that seven CRPs families may have potential antimicrobial or antiviral activities, while two CRPs and four short peptides are potentially anticancer. Taken together, our results demonstrate an effective multiomics strategy for the discovery of new toxins and
in silico
screening of potential bioactivities. This strategy may be useful in toxin discovery, as well as in the screening of possible activities for the vast diversity of molecules produced by venomous animals.
Hemorrhage induced by snake venom metalloproteases (SVMPs) results from proteolysis, capillary disruption, and blood extravasation. HF3, a potent SVMP of
Bothrops jararaca
, induces hemorrhage at ...pmol doses in the mouse skin. To gain insight into the hemorrhagic process, the main goal of this study was to analyze changes in the skin peptidome generated by injection of HF3, using approaches of mass spectrometry-based untargeted peptidomics. The results revealed that the sets of peptides found in the control and HF3-treated skin samples were distinct and derived from the cleavage of different proteins. Peptide bond cleavage site identification in the HF3-treated skin showed compatibility with trypsin-like serine proteases and cathepsins, suggesting the activation of host proteinases. Acetylated peptides, which originated from the cleavage at positions in the N-terminal region of proteins in both samples, were identified for the first time in the mouse skin peptidome. The number of peptides acetylated at the residue after the first Met residue, mostly Ser and Ala, was higher than that of peptides acetylated at the initial Met. Proteins cleaved in the hemorrhagic skin participate in cholesterol metabolism, PPAR signaling, and in the complement and coagulation cascades, indicating the impairment of these biological processes. The peptidomic analysis also indicated the emergence of peptides with potential biological activities, including pheromone, cell penetrating, quorum sensing, defense, and cell–cell communication in the mouse skin. Interestingly, peptides generated in the hemorrhagic skin promoted the inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation and could act synergistically in the local tissue damage induced by HF3.
We carried out an analysis of the venom gland proteome of Bothrops jararaca taking into account two distinct phases of its ontogenetic development (i.e., newborn and adult) and the marked sexual ...dimorphism recently reported on its venom proteome. Proteomic data analysis showed a dynamic rearrangement in the proteome landscape of B. jararaca venom gland upon development and gender-related changes. Differentially expressed proteins covered a number of biological pathways related to protein synthesis, including proteins associated with transcription and translation, which were found to be significantly higher expressed in the newborn venom gland. Our results suggest that the variation in the expression levels of cellular proteins might give rise to an even higher variation in the levels of the expressed toxins. Upon aging, the venom gland proteome repertoire related to the protein synthesis together with ecological traits would have an impact on the toxin repertoire, which, in the case of B. jararaca species, would enable the species to deal with different prey types during its lifespan. Proteomic data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD004186.
is an Amazonian spider described for the first time almost a century ago. However, little is known about their venom composition. Here, we present a multiomics characterization of
venom by a ...combination of transcriptomics, proteomics, and peptidomics approaches. Transcriptomics of female venom glands resulted in 93,979 unique assembled mRNA transcript encoding proteins. A total of 92 proteins were identified in the venom by mass spectrometry, including 14 mature cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs). Quantitative analysis showed that CRPs, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, metalloproteases, carbonic anhydrases, and hyaluronidase comprise >90% of the venom proteome. Relative quantification of venom toxins was performed by DIA and DDA, revealing converging profiles of female and male specimens by both methods. Biochemical assays confirmed the presence of active hyaluronidases, phospholipases, and proteases in the venom. Moreover, the venom promoted
paralytic activities in crickets, consistent with the high concentration of CRPs. Overall, we report a comprehensive analysis of the arsenal of toxins of
and highlight their potential biotechnological and pharmacological applications. Mass spectrometry data were deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE repository with the dataset identifier PXD013149 and via the MassIVE repository with the dataset identifier MSV000087777.
The imbalance of cellular homeostasis during oncogenesis together with the high heterogeneity of tumor-associated stromal cells have a marked effect on the repertoire of the proteins secreted by ...malignant cells (the secretome). Hence, the study of tumoral secretomes provides insights for understanding the cross-talk between cells within the tumor microenvironment as well as the key effectors for the establishment of the pre-metastatic niche in distant tumor sites. In this context, we performed a proteomic analysis of the secretomes derived from four cell lines: a paired set of fibroblasts - Hs 895. T, a cell line obtained from a lung node metastatic site from a patient who had melanoma and Hs 895.Sk, a skin fibroblast cell line (derived from the same patient); two malignant metastatic melanoma cell lines - A375, a malignant melanoma cell line from primary source and SH-4, a cell line derived from pleural effusion of a patient with metastatic melanoma. Clustering of expression profiles together with functional enrichment analysis resulted in patterns that mirrored each cell type. In addition, these patterns might be the result of cell-specific protein expression programs and reveal the emergence of trends in the co-expression of functionally related proteins in cellular melanoma models.
Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer and a lethal melanocytic neoplasm with increasing annual number of cases, faster than any other solid tumor. In this context, the imbalance of cellular homeostasis during oncogenesis together with the high heterogeneity of tumor-associated stromal cells have a marked effect on the repertoire of the proteins secreted by malignant cells (the secretome). Therefore, the identification of protein expression patterns in malignant cells together with functional enrichment analysis provide insights into cell-specific protein expression programs and may reveal the emergence of trends in the co-expression of functionally related proteins regardless of cell type. Moreover, the identification of networks of protein interactions together with their expression profiles can be used for the targeted analysis of co-expressed proteins, allowing the identification of regulatory motifs in melanoma protein-protein interaction networks.
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•Secretomes are rich sources of (protein) markers in oncogenesis.•Signatures of protein expression in human melanoma cells were reported.•Clustering of protein expression data revealed signatures of melanoma cells.•Co-expression protein signatures were functionally related.