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DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596160
Peptide toxins from the longest animal on earth
Publication History
Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)
Peptides from animal and plant origin have been utilized as drugs, pharmacological tools and in agricultural applications. Here we describe and characterize one of the eight members of the novel Nemertide α-class peptide neurotoxins, the highly active α-1. Nemertide α-1 was extracted from the epidermal mucus layer of the world's longest animal [1], the nemertean worm Lineus longissimus. The primary sequence was determined by means of tandem mass-spectrometry in combination with transcriptomic data. Sufficient amounts of the peptide, for bioassays and NMR structural elucidation, was synthesised using microwave assisted solid phase peptide synthesis. Two bioassays were performed to pinpoint activity: injection into the cephalothorax of Carcinus maenas, and an electrophysiological neurotoxin assay (vertebrate and invertebrate) performed on Xenopus oocytes. The paralyzing dose in C. maenas was estimated to be 1 µg/kg. Nemertide α-1 also exhibited a strong effect in the Xenopus assay, with preference for the invertebrate models, suggesting the α-Nemertides as leads for insecticidal compounds.
Keywords: peptide toxin, nemertea, neurotoxin.
References:
[1] Strand M, Sundberg P. Nationalnyckeln till Sveriges Flora Och Fauna. [DO-DP], Stjärnmaskar Slemmaskar: Sipuncula-Nemertea. 2010 ArtDatabanken SLU