title: Parabutoporin, a cationic amphipathic peptide from scorpion venom: much more than an antibiotic.
abstract: Parabutoporin (PP) from the South African scorpion Parabuthus schlechteri is a 45-mer lysine-rich and cysteine-free peptide. At micromolar concentrations it has antimicrobial effects against G+ and G- bacteria and is antifungal as well. However, at submicromolar concentrations, parabutoporin also directly interferes with cellular functions of the human innate immune system, especially polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN): parabutoporin acts as a chemoattractant for neutrophils, induces their degranulation, while delaying constitutive neutrophil apoptosis. In addition, it potently inhibits induced superoxide production. Different signalling pathways regulating these biochemical processes were identified as targets of parabutoporin. Therefore, parabutoporin is a well documented scorpion venom peptide with immuno-regulatory properties beyond its antibiotic effects.
authors.affiliation: IRC, Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, K.U.L. Campus Kortrijk, E. Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Remijsen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verdonck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willems
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012605:Scorpions / Q000737:chemistry; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; C496148:parabutoporin, Parabuthus schlechteri; D013481:Superoxides; D019255:NADPH Oxidases