title: The C-terminal region of a Lys49 myotoxin mediates Ca2+ influx in C2C12 myotubes.
abstract: Myotoxins are abundant components of snake venoms, being a significant public health problem worldwide. Among them, Lys49 phospholipase A(2) homologue myotoxins cause extensive necrosis in skeletal muscle tissue. Their mechanisms of action are still poorly understood, but there is evidence that the C-terminal region is involved in membrane damage leading to myotoxicity. To investigate the effect of the C-terminal peptide 115-129 of Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus myotoxin on the plasma membrane of myoblasts and myotubes, the entry of Ca(2+) was monitored by fluorescence imaging, and the ensuing cytotoxicity was determined. The myotoxin synthetic peptide was found to act selectively on myotubes, which were rapidly overloaded with Ca(2+) with ensuing necrosis. The profile of intracellular Ca(2+) increase induced by the C-terminal peptide, but not by its scrambled version control, reproduces the second, prominent wave of the biphasic response documented in previous studies using whole Lys49 myotoxins. These observations provide relevant insights into the mechanism of action of this family of toxins, with implications for the understanding of their structure-function relationships.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Universitá di Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cintra-Francischinelli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pizzo
authors.forename: Yamileth
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Angulo
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montecucco
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lomonte
mesh_terms: D017836:Agkistrodon; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000633:toxicity*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D014757:Viper Venoms; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D002118:Calcium