Evidence for mechanistic alterations of Ca2+ homeostasis in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Altered cytosolic Ca2+ is implicated in the aetiology of many diseases including diabetes but there are few studies on the mechanism(s) of the altered Ca2+ regulation. Using human lymphocytes, we studied cytosolic calcium (Cai) and various Ca2+ transport mechanisms in subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and control subjects. Ca2+-specific fluorescent probes (Fura-2 and Fluo-3) were used to monitor the Ca2+ signals. Thapsigargin, a potent and specific inhibitor of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), was used to study Ca2+-store dependent Ca2+ fluxes. Significant (P<0.05) elevation of basal Ca, levels was observed in lymphocytes from diabetic subjects. Cai levels were positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. There was also a significant (P<0.05) reduction in plasma membrane calcium (PMCA) ATPase activity in diabetic subjects compared to controls. Cells from Type 2 diabetics exhibited an increased Ca2+ influx (as measured both by Fluo-3 fluorescence and 45Ca assays) as a consequence of thapsigargin-mediated Ca2+ store depletion. Upon addition of Mn2+ (a surrogate of Ca2+), the fura-2 fluorescence decayed in an exponential fashion and the rate and extent of this decline was steeper and greater in cells from type 2 diabetic patients. There was also a significant (P<0.05) difference in the Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity in Type 2 diabetic patients, both under resting conditions and after challenging the cells with thapsigargin, when the internal store Ca2+ sequestration was circumvented. Pharmacological activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in cells from patients resulted in only partial inhibition of Ca2+ entry. We conclude that cellular Ca2+ accumulation in cells from Type 2 diabetes results from (a) reduction in PMCA ATPase activity, (b) modulation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange and (3) increased Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane.

lambda-conotoxins, a new family of conotoxins with unique disulfide pattern and protein folding. Isolation and characterization from the venom of Conus marmoreus.

Conotoxins are multiple disulfide-bonded peptides isolated from marine cone snail venom. These toxins have been classified into several families based on their disulfide pattern and biological properties. Here, we report a new family of Conus peptides, which have a novel cysteine motif. Three peptides of this family (CMrVIA, CMrVIB, and CMrX) have been purified from Conus marmoreus venom, and their structures have been determined. Their amino acid sequences are VCCGYK-LCHOC (CMrVIA), NGVCCGYKLCHOC (CMrVIB), and GICCGVSFCYOC (CMrX), where O represents 4-trans-hydroxyproline. Two of these peptides (CMrVIA and CMrX) have been chemically synthesized. Using a selective protection and deprotection strategy during disulfide bond formation, peptides with both feasible cysteine-pairing combinations were generated. The disulfide pattern (C(1)-C(4), C(2)-C(3)) in native toxins was identified by their co-elution with the synthetic disulfide-isomeric peptides on reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Although cysteine residues were found in comparable positions with those of alpha-conotoxins, these toxins exhibited a distinctly different disulfide bonding pattern; we have named this new family "lambda -conotoxins." CMrVIA and CMrX induced different biological effects when injected intra-cerebroventricularly in mice; CMrVIA induces seizures, whereas CMrX induces flaccid paralysis. The synthetic peptide with lambda-conotoxin folding is about 1150-fold more potent in inducing seizures than the mispaired isomer with alpha-conotoxin folding. Thus it appears that the unique disulfide pattern, and hence the "ribbon" conformation, in lambda-conotoxins is important for their biological activity.

Purification, structure determination and synthesis of covalitoxin-II, a short insect-specific neurotoxic peptide from the venom of the Coremiocnemis validus (Singapore tarantula).

Spider venoms contain toxins that specifically immobilize and kill insects. We report the purification and characterization of a new insect-specific toxin named covalitoxin-II (Cvtx-II; mass, 3406. 24+/-0.64), from Coremiocnemis validus (Singapore tarantula) venom. The complete 31 amino acid sequence of Cvtx-II has been determined and it shows less than 40% identity with spider toxins. However, Cvtx-II has conserved cystine motif analogous to other spider and omega-conotoxins. Cvtx-II was chemically synthesized and identified with the native Cvtx-II. Synthetic Cvtx-II induced insect-specific non-lethal excitatory activity when injected into crickets, but not in cockroaches and mice.