Renal and vascular effects of the natriuretic peptide isolated from Crotalus durissus cascavella venom

Crotalus durissus cascavella is a snake that is usually found in the scrublands of northeast Brazil. The components of its venom may have effects on the vascular and renal systems. Recently, a new bradykinin inhibitory peptide has been identified in the venom of the Crotalinae family. The aim of the present study was to investigate the renal and vascular effects of the natriuretic peptide isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus cascavella (NP2_Casca). The chromatographic profile showed the fractionation of substances identified as convulxin, gyroxin, crotoxin and crotamine, as well as fractions V and VI. The electrophoretic profile of fraction V consisted of several bands ranging from approximately 6 kDa to 13 kDa, while fraction VI showed only two main electrophoretic bands with molecular weights of approximately 6 and 14 kDa. Reverse-phase chromatography showed that NP2_Casca corresponds to about 18% of fraction VI and that this fraction is the main natriuretic peptide. NP2_Casca was compared to other natriuretic peptides from other sources of snake venom. All amino acid sequences that were compared showed a consensus region of XGCFGX, XLDRIX and XSGLGCX. The group treated with NP2-Casca showed an increase in perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow and glomerular filtration rate. The percent of total and proximal tubular transport of sodium was reduced significantly after administration of the peptide. The mean arterial pressure showed a dose-dependent decrease after infusion of NP2_Casca, and an increase in nitrite production. In the aortic ring assay, NP2_Casca caused a relaxant effect in endothelium-intact thoracic aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine in the presence and absence of isatin. NP2_Casca failed to relax the aortic rings precontracted with an isosmotic potassium Krebs-Henseleit solution. In conclusion, the natriuretic peptide isolated from Crotalus durissus cascavella venom produced renal and vascular effects. NP2_Casca reduced total and proximal sodium tubular transport, leading to an increase in sodium excretion, thereby demonstrating a diuretic action. A hypotensive effect was displayed in an arterial pressure assay, with an increase in nitrite production, suggesting a possible vasoactive action. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Free- and peptide-based dietary arginine supplementation for the South American fish pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

Arginine was hypothesized to be a model compound in the present study on molecular forms of indispensable amino acid (IAA) dietary supplementation. Juvenile South American pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) were fed diets containing arginine in a protein base (casein-wheat gluten or casein-gelatin), or the casein-wheat gluten base supplemented with dipeptide or free arginine at two levels (5 and 10 g kg(-1)). Growth and protein efficiency ratios were significantly affected by diets, but not by arginine molecular form. Three free dispensable amino acids (DAA) and four IAA in plasma were affected by diet, but plasma arginine concentrations did not differ. Plasma urea concentrations, being very low in the pacu, and hepatic arginase activities, were not affected by diet (P = 0.10-0.11), but together with plasma ornithine, mirrored the growth data. Molecular form of arginine supplementation, free or dipeptide, significantly changed several free IAA (Phe, Leu, Ile, His) and urea, with a higher mean plasma concentration in dipeptide fed fish. The dietary treatments, or molecular form of the arginine supplementation, did not change proximate composition, except that calcium levels decreased with higher dietary arginine supplementation level. The present study indicates that dipeptides can provide IAA to pacu, and that arginine supplemented in this form is utilized as efficiently as in free form.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a eumenine mastoparan toxin: a new class of mast-cell degranulating peptide in the wasp venom

Mastoparans are tetradecapeptides found to be the major component of vespid venoms. A mastoparan toxin isolated from the venom of Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado has been crystallized and X-ray diffraction data collected to 2.7 Angstrom resolution using a synchrotron-radiation source. Crystals were determined to belong to the space group P6(2)22 (P6(4)22). This is the first mastoparan to be crystallized and will provide further insights into the conformational significance of mastoparan toxins with respect to their potency and activity in G-protein regulation.

Proteomic analysis of dog tears for potential cancer markers

The first reference map of the proteome of pooled normal dog tears was created using 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the identity of a number of the major species determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and peptide mass fingerprint matching on protein sequence databases. In order to understand the changes in protein expression in the tear film of dogs with cancer, tears from such animals were similarly examined. A number of differences were found between the tears of healthy dogs and the dogs with cancer. Differences were found in levels of actin and albumin and in an unidentified protein which may be analogous to human lacryglobulin. These findings suggest that it may be possible to develop tear film analysis to provide a simple non-invasive test for the diagnosis and/or management of canine cancers. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular Modeling Suggests Cruzain Specificity for Peptide Primaquine Prodrugs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The central repeat domain 1 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) latency associated-nuclear antigen 1 (LANA1) prevents cis MHC class I peptide presentation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phenotypic alterations of neuropeptide Y and calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing neurons innervating the rat temporomandibular joint during carrageenan-induced arthritis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Characterization and in vitro evaluation of bacterial cellulose membranes functionalized with osteogenic growth peptide for bone tissue engineering

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Identification of continuous interaction sites in PLA(2)-based protein complexes by peptide arrays

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Probing the Specificity of Binding to the Major Nuclear Localization Sequence-binding Site of Importin-alpha Using Oriented Peptide Library Screening

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Orpotrin: A novel vasoconstrictor peptide from the venom of the Brazilian Stingray Potamotrygon gr. orbignyi

Characterization of the peptide content of venoms has a number of potential benefits for basic research, clinical diagnosis, development of new therapeutic agents, and production of antiserum. In order to analyze in detail the peptides and small proteins of crude samples, techniques such as chromatography and mass spectrometry have been employed. The present study describes the isolation, biochemical characterization, and sequence determination of a novel peptide, named Orpotrin from the venom of Potamotrygon gr. orbignyi. The natural peptide was shown to be effective in microcirculatory environment causing a strong vasoconstriction. The peptide was fully sequenced by de novo amino acid sequencing with mass spectrometry and identified as the novel peptide. Its amino acid sequence, HGGYKPTDK, aligns only with creatine kinase residues 97-105, but has no similarity to any bioactive peptide. Therefore, possible production of this peptide from creatine kinase by limited proteolysis is discussed. Taken together, the results indicate the usefulness of this single-step approach for low molecular mass compounds in complex samples such as venoms. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gastroprotective mechanisms of Citrus lemon (Rutaceae) essential oil and its majority compounds limonene and beta-pinene: Involvement of heat-shock protein-70, vasoactive intestinal peptide, glutathione, sulfhydryl compounds, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E-2

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Involvement of Glutathione, Sulfhydryl Compounds, Nitric Oxide, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, and Heat-Shock Protein-70 in the Gastroprotective Mechanism of Croton cajucara Benth. (Euphorbiaceae) Essential Oil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A synthetic peptide selectively kills only virulent Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeasts

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)