title: Angiotensins processing activities in the venom and epidermic mucus of Scorpaena plumieri.
abstract: The venom of marine animals is a rich source of compounds with remarkable selectivity and functional diversity. Scorpaena plumieri is the most venomous fish in the Brazilian fauna and is responsible for relatively frequent accidents involving anglers and bathers. In humans, its venom causes edema, erythema, ecchymoses, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and syncope. The venom is chemically characterized by Sp-CTx, a enzyme able to generate an initial endothelium-dependent relaxation response, followed by a contraction response. This study sought to investigate the proteolytic activities regarding vasopeptides angiotensin I and II. Both the venom and the epidermal mucus presented angiotensin conversion activity for angiotensin I, as well as a capacity to form Ang 1-7 directly via Ang I and II. Captopril (10 μM) and EDTA (1 mM) were able to abolish the converting activity of the venom and the epidermal mucus, representing the first description of a converting activity in S. plumieri venom and epidermal mucus.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
authors.forename: Humberto de Araújo
authors.initials: Hde A
authors.lastname: Tenório
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Bezerra
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Elizabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Costa Marques
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudio Wilian
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Victor Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francis Soares
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil. Electronic address: hugobqi@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Hugo Juarez
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Vieira Pereira
mesh_terms: D000809:Angiotensins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005397:Fish Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000809:Angiotensins; D005397:Fish Venoms
keywords: ACE; Angiotensins; Scorpaena plumieri; Venom