Characterization of two peptides isolated from the venom of social wasp Chartergellus communis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): Influence of multiple alanine residues and C-terminal amidation on biological effects

• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.07.012
• Publication Date: 2017-07-26T03:00:29Z
• Authors: Kamila Soares Lopes; Gabriel Avohay Al...; Luana Cristina Ca...; Adolfo Carlos Bar...; Beatriz Vasconcel...; Ana Carolina Mart...; Lucas Ferreira da...; Alessa Bembom Garcia; Mosar Correa Rodr...; Dagon Manoel Ribeiro; Michelle Cruz Costa; Manuel Humberto M...; Luciana Marangni ...; Fernando Zamudio-...; Lourival Domingos...; Elisabeth Ferroni...; Márcia Renata Mor...
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Alanine; Wasps; Wasp Venoms; Hemolysis; Peptide Fragments; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Humans; Trypsin; Amino Acid Sequence; Peptides; Oligopeptides

Chatergellus communis is a wasp species endemic to the neotropical region and its venom constituents have never been described. In this study, two peptides from C. communis venom, denominated Communis and Communis-AAAA, were chemically and biologically characterized. In respect to the chemical characterization, the following amino acid sequences and molecular masses were identified: Communis: Ile-Asn-Trp-Lys-Ala-Ile-Leu-Gly-Lys-Ile-Gly-Lys-COOH (1340.9Da) Communis-AAAA: Ile-Asn-Trp-Lys-Ala-Ile-Leu-Gly-Lys-Ile-Gly-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Val-Xle-NH2 (1836.3Da). Furthermore, their biological effects were compared, accounting for the differences in structural characteristics between the two peptides. To this end, three biological assays were performed in order to evaluate the hyperalgesic, edematogenic and hemolytic effects of these molecules. Communis-AAAA, unlike Communis, showed a potent hemolytic activity with EC50=142.6μM. Moreover, the highest dose of Communis-AAAA (2nmol/animal) induced hyperalgesia in mice. On the other hand, Communis (10nmol/animal) was able to induce edema but did not present hemolytic or hyperalgesic activity. Although both peptides have similarities in linear structures, we demonstrated the distinct biological effects of Communis and Communis-AAAA. This is the first study with Chartegellus communis venom, and both Communis and Communis-AAAA are unpublished peptides.