A5032577144- Ion channel regulation and function
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Healthcare and Venom Research
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Beetle Biology and Toxicology Studies
- Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
- Plant-based Medicinal Research
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
KU Leuven
2016-2025
University of Ljubljana
2021
Universidade Vila Velha
2020
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
2018-2020
University of Toyama
2020
Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies
2020
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
2020
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry
2020
Universidade de São Paulo
2020
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
2020
Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are large transmembrane proteins that conduct ions across the membrane and by doing so they generate signals of communication between many kinds tissues. They responsible for generation propagation action potentials in excitable cells, close collaboration with other like potassium channels. Therefore, genetic defects channel genes can cause a wide variety diseases, generally called "channelopathies." The first insights into mechanism involvement...
APETx3, a novel peptide isolated from the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima, is naturally occurring mutant APETx1, only differing by Thr to Pro substitution at position 3. APETx1 believed be selective modulator of human ether-á-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channels with Kd 34 nM. In this study, 2, and 3 have been subjected an electrophysiological screening on wide range 24 ion expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes: 10 cloned voltage-gated sodium (NaV 1.2–NaV1.8, insect DmNaV1,...
Scorpion K+ channel toxins and insect defensins share a conserved three-dimensional structure related biological activities (defense against competitors or invasive microbes by disrupting their membrane functions), which provides an ideal system to study how functional evolution occurs in structural scaffold. Using experimental approach, we show that the deletion of small loop parasitoid venom defensin possessing "scorpion toxin signature" (STS) can remove steric hindrance peptide-channel...
Abstract The cnidarian Nematostella vectensis has become an established lab model, providing unique opportunities for venom evolution research. system is multimodal: involving both nematocytes and ectodermal gland cells, which produce a toxin mixture whose composition changes throughout the life cycle. Additionally, their modes of interaction with predators prey vary between eggs, larvae, adults, likely shaped by dynamics system. Nv1 major component adult venom, activity against arthropods...
Crotamine, a 5-kDa peptide, possesses unique biological versatility. Not only has its cell-penetrating activity become of clinical interest but, moreover, potential selective antitumor is great pharmacological importance. In the past, several studies have attempted to elucidate exact molecular target responsible for crotamine-induced skeletal muscle spasm. The aim this study was investigate whether crotamine affects voltage-gated potassium (K<sub>V</sub>) channels in an effort explain vivo...
Venom from the scorpion Pandinus cavimanus was obtained by electrical stimulation of telson (stinger). Total venom toxic to crickets at 7-30 μg and a paralysis or lethal effect observed 30 (death 1.5 μg/mg cricket). Electrophysiological analyses showed cytolytic activity total on oocytes 7 μg. HPLC allowed separation components. A 38 fractions were tested voltage-gated Na(+) K(+) channels. Some block currents in different degrees. By using MS analysis, we more than 700 molecular masses (by...
Sea anemone venoms comprise multifarious peptides modulating biological targets such as ion channels or receptors. The sequence of a new Kunitz-type peptide, HCRG21, belonging to the Heteractis crispa RG (HCRG) peptide subfamily was deduced on basis gene obtained from cDNA. HCRG21 shares high structural homology with APHC1-APHC3 H. crispa, and clusters so named "analgesic cluster" HCGS but forms separate branch NJ-phylogenetic tree. Three unique point substitutions at N-terminus molecule,...
α-Scorpion toxins constitute a family of peptide modulators that induce prolongation the action potential excitable cells by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channel inactivation. Although they all adopt conserved structural scaffold, potency and phylogentic preference these largely vary, which render them an intriguing model for studying evolutionary diversification among members. Here, we report molecular characterization new multigene α-toxins comprising 13 members (named MeuNaTxα-1 to...
The bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI)-Kunitz-type protein ShPI-1 (UniProt: P31713) is the major protease from sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus. This molecule used in biotechnology and has biomedical potential related to its anti-parasitic effect. A pseudo wild-type variant, rShPI-1A, with additional residues at N- C-terminal, a similar three-dimensional structure comparable inhibition strength. Further insights into structure-function relationship of rShPI-1A are required order...
In Brazil, Tityus serrulatus (Ts) is the species responsible for most of scorpion related accidents. Among Ts toxins, neurotoxins with action on potassium channels (α-KTx) present high interest, due to their effect in envenoming process and ion channel specificity they display. The α-KTx toxins family relevant because its can be used as therapeutic tools specific target cells. improved isolation method provided resolution, obtaining pure Ts6 Ts7 two chromatographic steps. effects were...
Polycystic kidney diseases (PKDs) are genetic disorders that can cause renal failure and death in children adults. Lowering cAMP cystic tissues through the inhibition of type-2 vasopressin receptor (V2R) constitutes a validated strategy to reduce disease progression. We identified peptide from green mamba venom exhibits nanomolar affinity for V2R without any activity on 155 other G-protein-coupled receptors or 15 ionic channels. Mambaquaretin-1 is full antagonist activation pathways studied:...
Abstract Snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs) are complex and multifunctional enzymes, acting primarily on hemostasis. In this work, we report the hitherto unknown inhibitory effect of a SVSP, named collinein-1, isolated from Crotalus durissus collilineatus , cancer-relevant voltage-gated potassium channel (hEAG1). Among 12 ion channels tested, collinein-1 selectively inhibited hEAG1 currents, with mechanism independent its enzymatic activity. Corroboratively, demonstrated that reduced...