title: Argininosuccinate synthetase is a functional target for a snake venom anti-hypertensive peptide: role in arginine and nitric oxide production.
abstract: Bj-BPP-10c is a bioactive proline-rich decapeptide, part of the C-type natriuretic peptide precursor, expressed in the brain and in the venom gland of Bothrops jararaca. We recently showed that Bj-BPP-10c displays a strong, sustained anti-hypertensive effect in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), without causing any effect in normotensive rats, by a pharmacological effect independent of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. Therefore, we hypothesized that another mechanism should be involved in the peptide activity. Here we used affinity chromatography to search for kidney cytosolic proteins with affinity for Bj-BPP-10c and demonstrate that argininosuccinate synthetase (AsS) is the major protein binding to the peptide. More importantly, this interaction activates the catalytic activity of AsS in a dose-de pend ent manner. AsS is recognized as an important player of the citrulline-NO cycle that represents a potential limiting step in NO synthesis. Accordingly, the functional interaction of Bj-BPP-10c and AsS was evidenced by the following effects promoted by the peptide: (i) increase of NO metabolite production in human umbilical vein endothelial cell culture and of arginine in human embryonic kidney cells and (ii) increase of arginine plasma concentration in SHR. Moreover, alpha-methyl-dl-aspartic acid, a specific AsS inhibitor, significantly reduced the anti-hypertensive activity of Bj-BPP-10c in SHR. Taken together, these results suggest that AsS plays a role in the anti-hypertensive action of Bj-BPP-10c. Therefore, we propose the activation of AsS as a new mechanism for the anti-hypertensive effect of Bj-BPP-10c in SHR and AsS as a novel target for the therapy of hypertension-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Toxinology-CAT/CEPID, Instituto Butantan, SP 05503-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliano R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.forename: Claudiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lameu
authors.forename: Eduardo F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Clécio F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Klitzke
authors.forename: Robson L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Edlaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.forename: Ohara
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.forename: Jay W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.forename: Solange M T
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Antonio C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001124:Argininosuccinate Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D017837:Bothrops; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; C037699:2-methylaspartic acid; D001120:Arginine; D001124:Argininosuccinate Synthase