Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596160
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Peptide toxins from the longest animal on earth

E Jacobsson
1   Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
,
HS Andersson
2   Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
,
M Strand
3   Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
,
E Lebbe
4   Toxicology & Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), O & N 2, PO Box 992, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
,
C Eriksson
1   Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
,
S Peigneur
4   Toxicology & Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), O & N 2, PO Box 992, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
,
J Rosengren
5   School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
,
J Tytgat
4   Toxicology & Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), O & N 2, PO Box 992, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
,
U Göransson
1   Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

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.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1: A. L. longissimus B. NMR structure of Nemertide α-1 with cysteins in roman numbers. C. left: Control C. maenas. Right: after α-1 injection.

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