title: Bradykinin-potentiating peptides: beyond captopril.
abstract: The identification of novel endogenous and exogenous molecules acting in the complex mechanism of regulating the vascular tonus has always been of great interest. The discovery of bradykinin (1949) and the bradykinin-potentiating peptides (1965) had a pivotal influence in the field, respectively, in understanding cardiovascular pathophysiology and in the development of captopril, the first active-site directed inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme, and used worldwide to treat human hypertension. Both discoveries originated from studies of envenoming by the snake Bothrops jararaca. The aim of the present article is to reveal that the snake proline-rich oligopeptides, known as bradykinin-potentiating peptides, are still a source of surprising scientific discoveries, some of them useful not only to reveal potential new targets but also to introduce prospective lead molecules for drug development. In particular, we emphasize argininosuccinate synthetase as a new functional target for one of bradykinin-potentiating peptides found in B. jararaca, Bj-BPP-10c. This decapeptide leads to argininosuccinate synthetase activation, consequently sustaining increased nitric oxide production, a critical endogenous molecule to reduce the arterial blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Development, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil. acmcamargo@butantan.gov.br
authors.forename: Antonio C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ianzer
authors.forename: Juliano R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.forename: Solange M T
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Serrano
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001124:Argininosuccinate Synthase / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D017837:Bothrops; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D011392:Proline; D002216:Captopril; D001124:Argininosuccinate Synthase; D001920:Bradykinin