Evaluation of Collagenase Activity from Crab Hepatopancreas in Different Model Systems.

The effect of Kamchatka crab hepatopancreas containing three collagenolytic isoenzymes Collagenase KK and proteinases of Streptomyces lavendulae on metabolic activity and cell death were carried out on in vitro models. It was shown that changes in the protein structure under the influence of Collagenase KK occurred earlier than under the effect of bacterial proteinases. At the same time, activity of Collagenase KK was significantly higher than that of bacterial proteinases (p<0.01). Both preparations had a pronounced time- and dose-dependent effects on metabolic activity of cells. Collagenase KK had low cytotoxic effect, and cells mainly died by apoptosis. Thus, hepatopancreas collagenase has a high activity and proapoptotic effect on cells and can be used in low concentrations for enzymatic disaggregation of tissues.

Changes in Spermatogenesis, Lipoperoxidation Processes, and Antioxidant Protection in Men with Pathozoospermia after COVID-19. The Effectiveness of Correction with a Promising Antioxidant Complex.

The indicators of spermatogenesis and the state of LPO and antioxidant protection in men with pathozoospermia after COVID-19 were assessed before and after treatment an antioxidant complex. Blood plasma served as the material for biochemical studies. In the examined patients, the parameters of spermatogenesis, as well as blood concentration of LPO components (diene conjugates and TBA-reactive substances) were analyzed. The total antioxidant activity of the blood was determined as an indicator characterizing the total activity of LPO inhibitors and determining its buffer capacity. In patients recovered from COVID-19, an increase in spermatogenesis disorders and shifts towards the predominance of prooxidant factors were observed. After a course (1 month) of antioxidant complex, patients showed increased sperm motility, decreased leukocyte count in the ejaculate, and restored balance in the prooxidant-antioxidant system towards antioxidant components. The effectiveness of correction of post-COVID disorders largely depends on the degree of damage to the structure and function of cell membranes caused by oxidative stress. The use of the antioxidant complex is a promising option, because it reduces the level of LPO, enhances antioxidant protection of the body, and also normalizes some parameters of spermatogenesis.

New Sea Anemone Toxin RTX-VI Selectively Modulates Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels.

A new neurotoxin RTX-VI that modulates the voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) was isolated from the ethanolic extract of the sea anemone Heteractis crispa. Its amino acid sequence was determined using the combination of Edman degradation and tandem mass spectrometry. RTX-VI turned out to be an unusual natural analogue of the previously described sea anemone toxin RTX-III. The RTX-VI molecule consists of two disulfide-linked peptide chains and is devoid of Arg13, which is important for the selectivity and affinity of such peptides for the NaV channels. Electrophysiological screening of RTV-VI on NaV channel subtypes showed its selective interaction with the central nervous system (NaV1.2, NaV1.6) and insect (BgNaV1, VdNaV1) sodium channels.

Peptide Blocker of Ion Channel TRPV1 Exhibits a Long Analgesic Effect in the Heat Stimulation Model.

The ion channel TRPV1, which is one of the most important integrators of pain and inflammatory stimuli, is considered a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of pain conditions. In this work, we performed a comparative study of the analgesic effect in the "hot plate" test of recombinant analogues of Kunitz-type peptides from the sea anemone Heteractis crispa venom: APHC1-modulator of TRPV1 and HCRG21-a full blocker of TRPV1. As a result of biological tests, it was shown that the full blocker HCRG21, despite the higher value of 50% effective concentration of TRPV1 inhibition, had an equal analgesic ability with the APHC1 upon intramuscular administration and retained it for 13 h of observation. The analgesic effect of APHC1 at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg when administered intramuscularly developed very quickly in 5 min but lasted 3 h. The differences in the pharmacodynamic profile of the peptides are in good agreement with different mechanisms of binding to TRPV1.

New Targets of Kunitz-Type Peptide from Sea Anemone Heteractis magnifica.

The interaction of Kunitz-type peptide, HMIQ3c1, from the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica with several serine proteases, including inflammatory proteases, was investigated using the surface plasmon resonance approach. We showed that the recombinant analog of HMIQ3c1 forms sufficiently strong complexes with trypsin (KD = 1.07 × 10-9 М) and chymotrypsin (KD = 4.70 × 10-8 М). Analysis of thermodynamic parameters of HMIQ3c1/chymotrypsin revealed significant contribution of the entropic factor to the complex formation. The formation of specific complexes of HMIQ3c1 with the kallikrein (KD = 2.81 × 10-8 М) and neutrophil elastase (KD = 1.11 × 10-7 М) indicates its anti-inflammatory activity and makes prospects to use the peptide as a potential therapeutic agent.

Magnificamide Is a New Effective Mammalian α-Amylase Inhibitor.

Recombinant analogue of the sea anemone Heteractismagnifica peptide was obtained, and the kinetic parameters of its interaction with mammalian α-amylases were determined. Magnificamide inhibits α-amylases significantly stronger than the medical drug acarbose (PrecoseTM or GlucobayTM). Magnificamide is assumed to find application as a drug for prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Polypeptide of the Sea Anemone, Heteractis crispa].

The anti-inflammatory effect of the recombinant polypeptide HCGS 1.20, a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor of the sea anemone Heteractis crispa, was investigated. It was shown that the polypeptide inhibits the increase of the concentration of calcium ions in mouse bone marrow derived macrophages elicited by histamine, and reduces the content of NO in lipopolysaccharide stimulated macrophages. A presumable mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of the polypeptide was being discussed.

Hct-a is a new actinoporin family from the heteractis crispa sea anemone.

Several new actinoporin isoforms with molecular weights of 18995.5 to 19398.7 Da exhibiting a high hemolytic activity were isolated from the tropical sea anemone Heteractis crispa using a combination of liquid chromatography techniques. The actinoporins were demonstrated to occur as mono-, di-, and trimers in aqueous solutions. The sequences of the genes encoding actinoporins were identified, and the amino acid sequences of the new polypeptides belonging to the Hct-A actinoporin family were obtained. The new acinoporins differ in their isoelectric points, the number and localization of charged amino acid residues at the functionally important N-terminal fragment of the molecule, as well as in the charge of a tetrapeptide (amino acid residues 74-77) involved in an electrostatic interaction with the cytoplasmic membrane. A recombinant actinoporin, rHct-A2, with a molecular weight of 19141 Da, pI of 9.64, and hemolytic activity of 4.0 × 104 HU/mg, was obtained. The conductivity of the ion channels formed by rHct-A2 in the BLM was demonstrated to be similar to that of the native actinoporin from H. crispa. The obtained data expand knowledge on the structural and functional relationships of actinoporins and contribute to our understanding of the functioning mechanism of these molecules, which is the basis for the development of compounds with a high biomedical potential. Currently, they are considered as models for obtaining antitumor, antibacterial, and cardiac-stimulating agents.

New Actinoporins from sea anemone Heteractis crispa: cloning and functional expression.

A new actinoporin Hct-S4 (molecular mass 19,414 ± 10 Da) belonging to the sphingomyelin-inhibited α-pore forming toxin (α-PFT) family was isolated from the tropical sea anemone Heteractis crispa (also called Radianthus macrodactylus) and purified by methods of protein chemistry. The N-terminal nucleotide sequence (encoding 20 amino acid residues) of actinoporin Hct-S4 was determined. Genes encoding 18 new isoforms of H. crispa actinoporins were cloned and sequenced. These genes form a multigene Hct-S family characterized by presence of N-terminal serine in the mature proteins. Highly conserved residues comprising the aromatic phosphorylcholine-binding site and significant structure-function changes in the N-terminal segment (10-27 amino acid residues) of actinoporins were established. Two expressed recombinant actinoporins (rHct-S5 and rHct-S6) were one order less hemolytically active than native actinoporins.

Proteinase inhibitors from the tropical sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus: isolation and characteristic.

Two new serine proteinase inhibitors (RmIn I and RmIn II) from the tropical sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus have been isolated and characterized. The purification procedure includes polychrome-1 hydrophobic chromatography, Superdex Peptide 10/30 FPLC, and Nucleosil C(18) reverse-phase HPLC. The molecular masses of RmIn I, RmIn II, and the complexes RmIn II/trypsin and RmIn I,II/alpha-chymotrypsin have been determined. The K(i) values of RmIn I and RmIn II for trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin have been determined. The polypeptides RmIn I and RmIn II are shown to be nontoxic and to exhibit antihistamine activity. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of RmIn I (GICSEPIVVGPCKAG-) and RmIn II (GSTCLEPKVVGPCKA-) have been determined. A high homology of the amino acid sequences is demonstrated for the proteinase inhibitors produced by such evolutionarily distant species as coelenterates, reptiles, and mammals.

Conformational stability and hemolytic activity of actinoporin RTX-SII from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus.

The spatial organization of actinoporin RTX-SII from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus on the level of tertiary and secondary structures was studied by UV and CD spectroscopy and intrinsic protein fluorescence. The specific and molar extinction coefficients of RTX-SII were determined. The percentages of canonical secondary structures of actinoporin were calculated. The tertiary structure of the polypeptide is well developed and its secondary structure is highly ordered and contains about 50% antiparallel folded beta-sheets. The irreversible thermal denaturation of RTX-SII was studied by CD spectroscopy; a conformational transition occurs at 53 degrees C. Above this temperature irreversible conformational changes are observed in the secondary and tertiary structures. This is accompanied by redistribution of the content of regular and distorted forms of beta-sheet and also by increase in the content of an unordered form. It is suggested that an intermediate is formed in the process of thermal denaturation. Acid-base titration of RTX-SII results in irreversible conformational changes at pH below 2.0 and above 12.0. As shown by intrinsic protein fluorescence, tyrosine residues of RTX-SII make a fundamental contribution to emission, and the total fluorescence depends more on temperature and ionic strength of the solution than tryptophan fluorescence. The data on conformational stability of actinoporin are correlated with data on its hemolytic activity. Activity of RTX-SII significantly decreases at increased temperature and slightly decreases at low pH. Hemolytic activity drastically increases at high pH. Increase in the actinoporin activity at pH above 10 seems to be caused by ionization of the molecule.

Sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus--a new source of palytoxin.

A very potent non-protein toxin was isolated from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus with the use of chromatography on polytetrafluoroethylene, CM-Sephadex C-25 and by cation and anion exchange HPLC. The toxin was identified as palytoxin by u.v.-, i.r.- and 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy. Its LD50 was 0.74 +/- 0.29 micrograms/kg by i.v. injection into mice. So far, palytoxin has been associated with zoanthids only. The toxin caused the loss of haemoglobin from erythrocytes but only in about 2 hr after the beginning of incubation, which is characteristic for palytoxin from zoanthids. Sea anemone palytoxin was divided into major and minor components by HPLC. The latter proved to be a product of degradation of palytoxin.

Calorimetric study of interactions of toxin from Radianthus macrodactylus with erythrocyte membrane.

Differential scanning microcalorimetry, intrinsic protein fluorescence and SDS-electrophoresis have been applied for the study of the hemolytic toxin from sea anemone, Radianthus macrodactylus, when it is incorporated into pure sphingomyelin/water systems and upon its effect on the human and dog erythrocyte membranes. The results obtained by using these techniques showed that one molecule of toxin withdraws six sphingomyelin molecules from the cooperative transition. Effect of hemolytic toxin on human erythrocyte ghosts causes an appearance of a new heat sorption peak in their differential scanning calorimetric curve with a maximum of 36 degrees C and, moreover, it leads to a loss of one of cytoskeleton proteins (actin). These effects are essentially weaker in the case of dog erythrocyte ghosts. This suggests differences in the structural organization of human and dog erythrocyte membranes.

Structure-toxicity relationships of neurotoxin RTX-III from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus: modification of amino groups.

The effect of modification of amino groups on RTX-III induced lethality in mice has been studied. The toxicity was not affected by guanidination of one or two lysine residues with O-methylisourea, but guanidination of three or four lysine residues decreased lethality two-fold. Acetylation of the N-terminal amino group with [3H]acetic anhydride caused a 12-fold decrease of lethality. The toxin containing acetylated Lys-4 or one of three C-terminal lysine residues had half the lethal potency of the native RTX-III. Diacetylated derivatives were 30- to 35-fold less toxic than the native toxin. By circular dichroism, it was shown that modification of one or two amino groups did not affect the secondary structure of the toxin. We conclude that protonated amino groups are essential for neurotoxicity.

Modification of carboxyl groups in sea anemone toxin RTX-III from Radianthus macrodactylus.

The toxin was treated with [14C]trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate or [3H]glycine methyl ester in the presence of 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. Esterification of separate carboxyl groups with [14C]trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate decreased the toxicity no more than two-fold. Blocking of any single carboxyl group with [3H]glycine methyl ester did not cause more than a two-fold decrease of toxicity, and modification of two carboxyl groups caused no more than a six-fold decrease. Partial localization of modified residues in the amino acid sequence was performed. By circular dichroism, it was shown that the decrease of toxicity was not associated with alteration of secondary or tertiary structure. It is concluded that free carboxyl groups are not absolutely essential for toxicity, however they are necessary for expression of the maximum RTX-III toxicity.

Modification of arginine in sea anemone toxin RTX-III from Radianthus macrodactylus.

Chemical modifications of the polypeptide neurotoxin RTX-III have allowed us to study the functional role of Arg residues. The effect of chemical modification has been estimated by measuring toxicity in mice. 2,4-Pentanedione did not react with Arg residues of RTX-III even after 100 hr incubation. Malonic aldehyde reacted readily with RTX-III, yielding an unusual derivative; a Schiff's base obtained by condensation of one of two aldehyde groups of malonic aldehyde with the guanidine group. The derivative was one-fourth as toxic as the native toxin. Modification of the guanidine side chain of Arg-13 with both 1,2-cyclohexanedione and phenylglyoxal decreased the toxicity of RTX-III by a factor of five. We conclude that Arg-13 is not fully responsible for toxicity. The toxin-receptor attachment might be multipoint, involving several structural elements of the protein molecule, with Arg-13, probably being one of them. The guanidine side chain of Arg-45 is buried in the sequence and apparently functionally nonessential.