Peptide name : Antimicrobial peptide TsAP-2

Source/Organism : Brazilian scorpion

Linear/Cyclic : Not found

Chirality : Not found

Peptide length: 73

C-terminal modification: Not found

N-terminal modification : Free

Non-natural peptide information: None

Assay type : Cell proliferation assay

Assay time : Not found

Activity : MIC : 40 µM

Cell line : HepG2

Cancer type : Human hepatocellular carcinoma

Other activity : Anti-bacterial activity

Amino acid composition bar chart :

Molecular mass : 8390.8932 Dalton

Aliphatic index : 1.256

Instability index : 45.6438

Hydrophobicity (GRAVY) : 0.2384

Isoelectric point : 9.4264

Charge (pH 7) : 2.7611

Aromaticity : 0.082

Molar extinction coefficient (cysteine, cystine): (2980, 2980)

Hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio : 1.35483871

hydrophobic moment : -0.278

Missing amino acid : W

Most occurring amino acid : L

Most occurring amino acid frequency : 11

Least occurring amino acid : D

Least occurring amino acid frequency : 1

Secondary structure fraction (Helix, Turn, Sheet): (0.3, 0.1, 0.4)

SMILES Notation: CC[C@H](C)[C@H](NC(=O)[C@H](CC(C)C)NC(=O)CNC(=O)[C@@H]1CCCN1C(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](CCSC)NC(=O)CNC(=O)[C@H](CC(C)C)NC(=O)[C@H](Cc1ccccc1)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](Cc1c[nH]cn1)NC(=O)[C@H](CS)NC(=O)[C@H](Cc1c[nH]cn1)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](CC(C)C)NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](CC(C)C)NC(=O)[C@H](Cc1ccccc1)NC(=O)[C@H](Cc1ccccc1)NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](CC(C)C)NC(=O)[C@H](Cc1c[nH]cn1)NC(=O)[C@H](CCCCN)NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](CCC(N)=O)NC(=O)[C@@H](N)CCSC)[C@@H](C)CC)[C@@H](C)CC)[C@@H](C)O)[C@@H](C)CC)C(C)C)[C@@H](C)CC)C(C)C)[C@@H](C)CC)C(=O)NCC(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)N[C@@H](Cc1ccccc1)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@H](C(=O)N[C@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(N)=O)C(=O)N[C@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(N)=O)C(=O)N[C@@H](Cc1ccc(O)cc1)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(N)=O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(N)=O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(N)=O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(N)=O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N1CCC[C@H]1C(=O)N[C@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](Cc1ccc(O)cc1)C(=O)O)C(C)C)[C@@H](C)CC)[C@@H](C)O)[C@@H](C)CC)[C@@H](C)CC

1 : Guo X, et al. Two peptides, TsAP-1 and TsAP-2, from the venom of the Brazilian yellow scorpion, Tityus serrulatus: evaluation of their antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Biochimie. 2013; 95:1784-94. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.06.003

2 : Daniele-Silva A, et al. Stigmurin and TsAP-2 from Tityus stigmurus scorpion venom: Assessment of structure and therapeutic potential in experimental sepsis. Toxicon. 2016; 121:10-21. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.08.016

3 : Almaaytah A and Albalas Q. Scorpion venom peptides with no disulfide bridges: a review. Peptides. 2014; 51:35-45. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.10.021

4 : Guilhelmelli F, et al. Activity of Scorpion Venom-Derived Antifungal Peptides against Planktonic Cells of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans Biofilms. Front Microbiol. 2016; 7:1844. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01844

Paper title : Two peptides, TsAP-1 and TsAP-2, from the venom of the Brazilian yellow scorpion, Tityus serrulatus: evaluation of their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

Doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2013.06.003

Abstract : Here we report two novel 17-mer amidated linear peptides (TsAP-1 and TsAP-2) whose structures were deduced from cDNAs cloned from a venom-derived cDNA library of the Brazilian yellow scorpion, Tityus serrulatus. Both mature peptides were structurally-characterised following their location in chromatographic fractions of venom and synthetic replicates of each were subjected to a range of biological assays. The peptides were each active against model test micro-organisms but with different potencies. TsAP-1 was of low potency against all three test organisms (MICs 120-160 μM), whereas TsAP-2 was of high potency against the Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 5 μM) and the yeast, Candida albicans (10 μM). Haemolytic activity of TsAP-1 was low (4% at 160 μM) and in contrast, that of TsAP-2 was considerably higher (18% at 20 μM). Substitution of four neutral amino acid residues with Lys residues in each peptide had dramatic effects on their antimicrobial potencies and haemolytic activities, particularly those of TsAP-1. The MICs of the enhanced cationic analogue (TsAP-S1) were 2.5 μM for S. aureus/C. albicans and 5 μM for E. coli but with an associated large increase in haemolytic activity (30% at 5 μM). The same Lys residue substitutions in TsAP-2 produced a dramatic effect on its MIC for E. coli lowering this from >320 μM to 5 μM. TsAP-1 was ineffective against three of the five human cancer cell lines tested while TsAP-2 inhibited the growth of all five. Lys residue substitution of both peptides enhanced their potency against all five cell lines with TsAp-S2 being the most potent with IC50 values ranging between 0.83 and 2.0 μM. TsAP-1 and TsAP-2 are novel scorpion venom peptides with broad spectrum antimicrobial and anticancer cell activities the potencies of which can be significantly enhanced by increasing their cationicity.

Paper title : Stigmurin and TsAP-2 from Tityus stigmurus scorpion venom: Assessment of structure and therapeutic potential in experimental sepsis.

Doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.08.016

Abstract : Microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics is a public health problem worldwide, motivating the search for new therapeutic alternatives in varied natural sources. Cationic peptides without disulfide bridges from scorpions have been targeted in this context, mainly due to their multifunctional action and the limited ability of microorganisms to develop resistance against them. The present study was focused on Stigmurin and TsAP-2, cationic peptides found in the transcriptome of the venom gland from the scorpion Tityus stigmurus. The aims were: to assess the secondary structure of TsAP-2 and the structural stability of both peptides by circular dichroism; to evaluate their antiproliferative effect, and antimicrobial activities in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo; and to investigate their therapeutic potential in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis. Stigmurin and TsAP-2 secondary structures responded similarly to environment polarity changes, and were stable to temperature and pH variation. Both peptides showed antiproliferative effect on tumor cells. TsAP-2 showed lower cytotoxicity to normal cells, and had a mitogenic activity on murine macrophages. Stigmurin demonstrated bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity, depending on the microorganism, whereas TsAP-2 had bactericidal action upon different bacterial strains analyzed. Both peptides were able to reduce leukocyte migration, TNF-α levels and microorganism load in the peritoneal cavity after induction of experimental sepsis, decreasing inflammation in the lung and cecum of septic animals. TsAP-2 also reduced the release of nitric oxide in the peritoneal cavity. Taken together, these data suggest that Stigmurin and TsAP-2 are structurally stable molecules and are efficient in the control of the infectious focus in polymicrobial sepsis, with potential use as a prototype for the rational design of novel therapeutic agents.

Paper title : Scorpion venom peptides with no disulfide bridges: a review.

Doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2013.10.021

Abstract : Scorpion venoms are rich sources of biologically active peptides that are classified into disulfide-bridged peptides (DBPs) and non-disulfide-bridged peptides (NDBPs). DBPs are the main scorpion venom components responsible for the neurotoxic effects observed during scorpion envenomation as they usually target membrane bound ion channels of excitable and non-excitable cells. Several hundred DBPs have been identified and functionally characterized in the past two decades. The NDBPs represent a novel group of molecules that have gained great interest only recently due to their high diversity both in their primary structures and bioactivities. This review provides an overview of scorpion NDBPs focusing on their therapeutic applications, modes of discovery, mechanisms of NDBPs genetic diversity and structural properties. It also provides a simple classification for NDBPs that could be adopted and applied to other NDBPs identified in future studies.

Paper title : Activity of Scorpion Venom-Derived Antifungal Peptides against Planktonic Cells of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans Biofilms.

Doi : https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01844

Abstract : The incidence of fungal infections has been increasing in the last decades, while the number of available antifungal classes remains the same. The natural and acquired resistance of some fungal species to available therapies, associated with the high toxicity of these drugs on the present scenario and makes an imperative of the search for new, more efficient and less toxic therapeutic choices. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential class of antimicrobial drugs consisting of evolutionarily conserved multifunctional molecules with both microbicidal and immunomodulatory properties being part of the innate immune response of diverse organisms. In this study, we evaluated 11 scorpion-venom derived non-disulfide-bridged peptides against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp., which are important human pathogens. Seven of them, including two novel molecules, showed activity against both genera with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 3.12 to 200 μM and an analogous activity against Candida albicans biofilms. Most of the peptides presented low hemolytic and cytotoxic activity against mammalian cells. Modifications in the primary peptide sequence, as revealed by in silico and circular dichroism analyses of the most promising peptides, underscored the importance of cationicity for their antimicrobial activity as well as the amphipathicity of these molecules and their tendency to form alpha helices. This is the first report of scorpion-derived AMPs against C. neoformans and our results underline the potential of scorpion venom as a source of antimicrobials. Further characterization of their mechanism of action, followed by molecular optimization to decrease their cytotoxicity and increase antimicrobial activity, is needed to fully clarify their real potential as antifungals.