Suitable pattern and high yield were obtained when the reverse-phase performance liquidchromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to separate neurotoxins from venom of Chinese scorpion Buthusmartensi Karsch.Using this techniqu...Suitable pattern and high yield were obtained when the reverse-phase performance liquidchromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to separate neurotoxins from venom of Chinese scorpion Buthusmartensi Karsch.Using this technique,the venom was first separated to two main regions.The toxicitytests show that the insect-selective neurotoxical components are concentrated in the latter region,from whichfive insect-selective neurotoxins designated by BmK IT1-IT5 were obtained.According to the results of thetoxicity test as well as the amino acid composition and N-terminal analyses,BmK IT1 is the excitatory insectneurotoxin as reported in a previous paper,and the others are the newly found depressant insect-selectiveneurotoxins.The molecules of all the four toxins are single-chain minipeptides of about 60 amino acids.Their isoelectric points (pI) are between 8.3 and 8.5.The fact that BmK IT2 loses completely its insect tox-icity after being modified by fluorochrome shows that the positive charges on the molecular surface of thiskind of toxins are important to maintaining the bioactivity of the molecules.展开更多
Scorpion venoms contain several kinds of neurotoxins, such as antimammalian neurotoxins, anti-insect neurotoxins and others. But most of them form a family of structurally related single chain proteins of 60—70 amino...Scorpion venoms contain several kinds of neurotoxins, such as antimammalian neurotoxins, anti-insect neurotoxins and others. But most of them form a family of structurally related single chain proteins of 60—70 amino acid residues and selectively interact with voltage-dependent sodium channels in different excitable cells, only a few minipeptides of 31—39 amino acid residues are proved to block potassium channels. As a kind of molecular probe, scorpion neurotoxins have been widely used for analyzing the展开更多
During evolution, scorpions have developed the ability to produce a series of toxins. Scorpion toxins, which are reserved in terminal segments of scorpion, serve as the arms for predation and self-defence. They have a...During evolution, scorpions have developed the ability to produce a series of toxins. Scorpion toxins, which are reserved in terminal segments of scorpion, serve as the arms for predation and self-defence. They have also been used as medicine for some human sickness. As far as the targets that they act on are concerned, these toxins can be展开更多
Considering the factors which affect gene transcription, translation and the stability of mRNA, without changing the amino acid composition of the encoded polypeptide, AaIT gene encoding insect-specific neurotoxin was...Considering the factors which affect gene transcription, translation and the stability of mRNA, without changing the amino acid composition of the encoded polypeptide, AaIT gene encoding insect-specific neurotoxin was designed and synthesized according to bias in codon choice, overall G+C content and G + C content of bases at the third position in codons of polyhedrin genes of baculovirus and of plant genes as well. AaIT gene was fused behind a synthetic gp67 signal sequence and then recombined into the genome of Trichoplusia ni nuclear polyhedrosis virus (TnNPV) by transfer vector pSXIV VI+X3. The recombinant virus TnNPV-AalT (occ+-gal-) was screened. The results of Southern blotting and SDS-PAGE demonstrated that AaIT gene had integrated into the genome of virus and expressed. Bioassays on the 3rd-instar Trichoplusia ni larvae showed that recombinant viruses TnNPV-AalT could shorten the time of killing insect and improve the efficiency of killing agronomically important insects.展开更多
Scorpion anti-insect toxins can be divided into long chain (about 61-70 aminoacid residues)and short chain (about 5 amino acid residues) types according to theirmolecular size, and the former can be further divided in...Scorpion anti-insect toxins can be divided into long chain (about 61-70 aminoacid residues)and short chain (about 5 amino acid residues) types according to theirmolecular size, and the former can be further divided into excitatory and depressanttypes on the basis of their pharmacological action. In our previous papers, the iso-lation and determination of the primary structure of an excitatory展开更多
Selenocosmia huwena and Selenocosmia hainana are two tarantula species found in southern China.Their venoms contain abundant peptide toxins.Two new neurotoxic peptides,huwentoxin-Ⅲ(HWTX-Ⅲ) and hainantoxin-VI(HNTX-VI...Selenocosmia huwena and Selenocosmia hainana are two tarantula species found in southern China.Their venoms contain abundant peptide toxins.Two new neurotoxic peptides,huwentoxin-Ⅲ(HWTX-Ⅲ) and hainantoxin-VI(HNTX-VI),were obtained from the venom using ion-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography(RP-HPLC).The mechanism of action of HWTX-Ⅲ and HNTX-VI on insect neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels(VGSCs) was studied via whole-cell patch clamp techniques.In a fashion similar to δ-atracotoxins,HNTX-VI can induce a slowdown of current inactivation of the VGSC and reduction in the peak of Na+ current in cockroach dorsal unpaired median(DUM) neurons.Meanwhile,10 μmol/L HNTX-IV caused a positive shift of steady-state inactivation of sodium channel.HWTX-ⅡI inhibited VGSCs on DUM neurons(concentration of toxin at half-maximal inhibition(IC50)≈1.106 μmol/L) in a way much similar to tetrodotoxin(TTX).HWTX-Ⅲ had no effect on the kinetics of activation and inactivation.The shift in the steady-state inactivation curve was distinct from other depressant spider toxins.The diverse effect and the mechanism of action of the two insect toxins illustrate the diverse biological activities of spider toxins and provide a fresh theoretical foundation to design and develop novel insecticides.展开更多
The insect-selective neurotoxin(BmK IT) of scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch was first reduced and S-alkylated, and then digested by TPCK-trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V-8 Protease. The enzymatic peptides were purif...The insect-selective neurotoxin(BmK IT) of scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch was first reduced and S-alkylated, and then digested by TPCK-trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V-8 Protease. The enzymatic peptides were purified on TLC-plastic sheet and submitted to determine their amino acid compositions and sequences. The sequence of the 70 amino acid residues of BmK IT was established with reference to the primary structure of AaH IT, another excitatory insect-selective toxin from the venom of North African scorpion Androctonus australis Hector. About 75% of the homologous sequence was found in the molecules of BmK IT and AaH IT. It is obvious that the results contribute toward better understanding of the molecular structure characteristics, structure/activity relationship of scorpion insect-selective toxins, and they can serve as the molecular basis for utilizing the toxins as a tool to clarify molecular mechanism involved in channel gating, and to infer the possibility of developing them as new selective bioinsecticides.展开更多
基金Project supported by a grant from Youth Foundation (388008) to Ji Yong-hua from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the grant-in-aid for overseas scientific research from the Ministry of Education,Science and Culture,Japan.
文摘Suitable pattern and high yield were obtained when the reverse-phase performance liquidchromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to separate neurotoxins from venom of Chinese scorpion Buthusmartensi Karsch.Using this technique,the venom was first separated to two main regions.The toxicitytests show that the insect-selective neurotoxical components are concentrated in the latter region,from whichfive insect-selective neurotoxins designated by BmK IT1-IT5 were obtained.According to the results of thetoxicity test as well as the amino acid composition and N-terminal analyses,BmK IT1 is the excitatory insectneurotoxin as reported in a previous paper,and the others are the newly found depressant insect-selectiveneurotoxins.The molecules of all the four toxins are single-chain minipeptides of about 60 amino acids.Their isoelectric points (pI) are between 8.3 and 8.5.The fact that BmK IT2 loses completely its insect tox-icity after being modified by fluorochrome shows that the positive charges on the molecular surface of thiskind of toxins are important to maintaining the bioactivity of the molecules.
基金This Work was respectively supported in part by a grant for Youth Foundation (388008) the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Grant-in-Aid for Overeas Scientific Reseatrch from the Ministry of Education, Science Culture, Japan
文摘Scorpion venoms contain several kinds of neurotoxins, such as antimammalian neurotoxins, anti-insect neurotoxins and others. But most of them form a family of structurally related single chain proteins of 60—70 amino acid residues and selectively interact with voltage-dependent sodium channels in different excitable cells, only a few minipeptides of 31—39 amino acid residues are proved to block potassium channels. As a kind of molecular probe, scorpion neurotoxins have been widely used for analyzing the
基金The sequences have been deposited in EMBL Bank with Accession Nos. X92077 & X92846.
文摘During evolution, scorpions have developed the ability to produce a series of toxins. Scorpion toxins, which are reserved in terminal segments of scorpion, serve as the arms for predation and self-defence. They have also been used as medicine for some human sickness. As far as the targets that they act on are concerned, these toxins can be
文摘Considering the factors which affect gene transcription, translation and the stability of mRNA, without changing the amino acid composition of the encoded polypeptide, AaIT gene encoding insect-specific neurotoxin was designed and synthesized according to bias in codon choice, overall G+C content and G + C content of bases at the third position in codons of polyhedrin genes of baculovirus and of plant genes as well. AaIT gene was fused behind a synthetic gp67 signal sequence and then recombined into the genome of Trichoplusia ni nuclear polyhedrosis virus (TnNPV) by transfer vector pSXIV VI+X3. The recombinant virus TnNPV-AalT (occ+-gal-) was screened. The results of Southern blotting and SDS-PAGE demonstrated that AaIT gene had integrated into the genome of virus and expressed. Bioassays on the 3rd-instar Trichoplusia ni larvae showed that recombinant viruses TnNPV-AalT could shorten the time of killing insect and improve the efficiency of killing agronomically important insects.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China and partly by the Grant-in-aid for Overseas Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.
文摘Scorpion anti-insect toxins can be divided into long chain (about 61-70 aminoacid residues)and short chain (about 5 amino acid residues) types according to theirmolecular size, and the former can be further divided into excitatory and depressanttypes on the basis of their pharmacological action. In our previous papers, the iso-lation and determination of the primary structure of an excitatory
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30500146)the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (No.2006CB708508)
文摘Selenocosmia huwena and Selenocosmia hainana are two tarantula species found in southern China.Their venoms contain abundant peptide toxins.Two new neurotoxic peptides,huwentoxin-Ⅲ(HWTX-Ⅲ) and hainantoxin-VI(HNTX-VI),were obtained from the venom using ion-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography(RP-HPLC).The mechanism of action of HWTX-Ⅲ and HNTX-VI on insect neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels(VGSCs) was studied via whole-cell patch clamp techniques.In a fashion similar to δ-atracotoxins,HNTX-VI can induce a slowdown of current inactivation of the VGSC and reduction in the peak of Na+ current in cockroach dorsal unpaired median(DUM) neurons.Meanwhile,10 μmol/L HNTX-IV caused a positive shift of steady-state inactivation of sodium channel.HWTX-ⅡI inhibited VGSCs on DUM neurons(concentration of toxin at half-maximal inhibition(IC50)≈1.106 μmol/L) in a way much similar to tetrodotoxin(TTX).HWTX-Ⅲ had no effect on the kinetics of activation and inactivation.The shift in the steady-state inactivation curve was distinct from other depressant spider toxins.The diverse effect and the mechanism of action of the two insect toxins illustrate the diverse biological activities of spider toxins and provide a fresh theoretical foundation to design and develop novel insecticides.
基金This research was supported by a fellowship from CNRS of France, granted to Ji Yong-hua,and in part by a grant for Youth Foundation(388008), the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Grant-in-Aid for Overseas Scientific Research from the M
文摘The insect-selective neurotoxin(BmK IT) of scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch was first reduced and S-alkylated, and then digested by TPCK-trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V-8 Protease. The enzymatic peptides were purified on TLC-plastic sheet and submitted to determine their amino acid compositions and sequences. The sequence of the 70 amino acid residues of BmK IT was established with reference to the primary structure of AaH IT, another excitatory insect-selective toxin from the venom of North African scorpion Androctonus australis Hector. About 75% of the homologous sequence was found in the molecules of BmK IT and AaH IT. It is obvious that the results contribute toward better understanding of the molecular structure characteristics, structure/activity relationship of scorpion insect-selective toxins, and they can serve as the molecular basis for utilizing the toxins as a tool to clarify molecular mechanism involved in channel gating, and to infer the possibility of developing them as new selective bioinsecticides.
