Cationic peptides from scorpion venom can stimulate and inhibit polymorphonuclear granulocytes

We have isolated two cationic peptides, sharing partial homology with each other, from the venom of South African scorpions. Both synthetic peptides—one containing 44 amino acids, the other containing 45 amino acids—were constructed. At submicromolar concentrations they can activate granulocytes as...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicon (Oxford) 2002-12, Vol.40 (12), p.1679-1683
Main Authors: Willems, Jean, Noppe, Wim, Moerman, Leentje, van der Walt, Jürg, Verdonck, Fons
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animal poisons toxicology. Antivenoms
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cations
Chemical Fractionation
Chemotaxis
Chemotaxis - drug effects
Circular Dichroism
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Exocytosis
Exocytosis - drug effects
Granulocytes
Humans
Medical sciences
Molecular Sequence Data
NADPH-oxidase
Neutrophils - drug effects
Neutrophils - metabolism
Peptides - chemistry
Peptides - pharmacology
Scorpion toxin
Scorpion Venoms - pharmacology
Scorpions - physiology
Superoxides - metabolism
Toxicology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We have isolated two cationic peptides, sharing partial homology with each other, from the venom of South African scorpions. Both synthetic peptides—one containing 44 amino acids, the other containing 45 amino acids—were constructed. At submicromolar concentrations they can activate granulocytes as evidenced by a concentration dependent chemotaxis and exocytosis. They also strongly inhibit the production of superoxide anions. At higher concentrations they act as pore formers and induce leakage of the cells. These different effects may be related to their amphipathic structure.
ISSN:0041-0101
1879-3150
DOI:10.1016/S0041-0101(02)00183-6