Latarcins, antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides from the venom of the spider Lachesana tarabaevi (Zodariidae) that exemplify biomolecular diversity.
Seven novel short linear antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides named latarcins were purified from the venom of the spider Lachesana tarabaevi. These peptides were found to produce lytic effects on cells of diverse origin (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, erythrocytes, and yeast) at micromolar concentrations. In addition, five novel peptides that share considerable structural similarity with the purified latarcins were predicted from the L. tarabaevi venom gland expressed sequence tag data base. Latarcins were shown to adopt amphipathic alpha-helical structure in membrane-mimicking environment by CD spectroscopy. Planar lipid bilayer studies indicated that the general mode of action was scaled membrane destabilization at the physiological membrane potential consistent with the "carpet-like" model. Latarcins represent seven new structural groups of lytic peptides and share little homology with other known peptide sequences. For every latarcin, a precursor protein sequence was identified. On the basis of structural features, latarcin precursors were split into three groups: simple precursors with a conventional prepropeptide structure; binary precursors with a typical modular organization; and complex precursors, which were suggested to be cleaved into mature chains of two different types.
Kozlov
Sergey A
SA
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: serg@ibch.ru.
Vassilevski
Alexander A
AA
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
Feofanov
Alexei V
AV
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
Surovoy
Andrey Y
AY
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
Karpunin
Dmitry V
DV
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
Grishin
Eugene V
EV
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D006793:Houseflies; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013112:Spiders
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010455:Peptides; D013111:Spider Venoms