title: Structural and functional characterization of two novel peptide toxins isolated from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista.
abstract: Two novel inflammatory peptides were isolated from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista. They had their molecular masses determined by ESI-MS and their primary sequences were elucidated by Edman degradation chemistry as: Polybia-MPI: I D W K K L L D A A K Q I L-NH2 (1654.09 Da), Polybia-CP: I L G T I L G L L K S L-NH2 (1239.73 Da). Both peptides were functionally characterized by using Wistar rat cells. Polybia-MPI is a mast cell lytic peptide, which causes no hemolysis to rat erythrocytes and presents chemotaxis for polymorphonucleated leukocytes (PMNL) and with potent antimicrobial action both against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Polybia-CP was characterized as a chemotactic peptide for PMNL cells, presenting antimicrobial action against Gram-positive bacteria, but causing no hemolysis to rat erythrocytes and no mast cell degranulation activity at physiological concentrations.
authors.affiliation: CEIS, Department of Biology/IBRC-UNESP (CAT-CEPID/FAPESP), Institute of Immunological Investigations (Millennium Institute-MCT/CNPq), Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bibiana M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Lucilene D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Maurício R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Lilian M M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: César
authors.forename: Roberta N A
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Fernando C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pagnocca
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Mario S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Palma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D014863:Wasps / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010455:Peptides; D014862:Wasp Venoms