Mambalgins

Mambalgins are peptides found in the venom of the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis polylepis), an elapid snake. Mambalgins are members of the three-finger toxin (3FTx) protein family and have the characteristic three-finger protein fold. First reported by French researchers in 2012, mambalgins are unusual members of the 3FTx family in that they have the in vivo effect of causing analgesia without apparent toxicity. Their mechanism of action is potent inhibition of acid-sensing ion channels.[2]

Mambalgin-1
The structure of mambalgin-1, showing the three "finger" loops in red (loop I), blue (loop II), and green (loop III), with core disulfide bonds highlighted in yellow.[1]
Identifiers
Organism	Dendroaspis polylepis polylepis
Symbol	?
PDB	5DU1
UniProt	P0DKR6
Search for Structures Swiss-model Domains InterPro

Mambalgin-2
Identifiers
Organism	Dendroaspis polylepis polylepis
Symbol	?
PDB	2MFA
UniProt	P0DKS3
Search for Structures Swiss-model Domains InterPro

Mambalgin-3
Identifiers
Organism	Dendroaspis angusticeps
Symbol	?
UniProt	C0HJB0
Search for Structures Swiss-model Domains InterPro

Structure

Mambalgins known to date consist of 57 amino acid residues and fold into a characteristic three-finger toxin (3FTx) structure. Two isoforms were originally described, called mambalgin-1 and mambalgin-2, which differ by a single amino acid residue.[2] A third variant which differs by a single residue at another site, has subsequently been reported from venom profiling of the Eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis augusticeps).[3][4]

The X-ray structure of mambalgin-1 has been solved and consists of a three-finger protein fold with the typical three beta sheet-containing "finger" loops emanating from a central core stabilized by disulphide bonds; however, the structure differs from most 3FTx proteins in having an elongated second loop and shortened first and third loops.[1] Mambalgins have relatively low sequence similarity to other 3FTx proteins and are most closely related to the 3FTx subclass known as the non-conventional or "weak" toxins.[2][3][1]

Function

Mambalgins are potent inhibitors of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which are multimeric membrane proteins that respond to low pH and whose activation is thought to be involved in perception of pain. Mambalgins have been shown to interact specifically with ASIC subtypes present in the central nervous system (homomeric ASIC1a and heteromeric ASIC1a/ASIC2a or ASIC1a/ASIC2b), as well as those found in sensory neurons (ASIC1b and ASIC1a/ASIC1b). They have no effect on other ASICs or on other types of ion channel proteins.[2] These interactions are likely mediated in part by mambalgins' positive electrostatic potential facilitating binding to negatively charged ASICs.[2][5] Mambalgins are believed to trap ASICs in a closed conformation.[3][5][1]

In tests performed on laboratory mice, mambalgins have the in vivo effect of analgesia without the toxic effects seen with most 3FTx proteins, and in particular, without the clinical manifestations associated with inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, the targets of most 3FTx proteins including mambalgins' closest relatives. Furthermore, the analgesic effects of mambalgins does not confer side effects such as respiratory depression and drug tolerance, both associated with opioid analgesics.[2]

Summary of the different pathways that mambalgins and PcTx1 follow (non-opioid and opioid pathways)

In addition to mambalgins, at least three other peptides from three different taxa have been identified as interacting with ASICs: PcTx1, from the South American tarantula Psalmopoeus cambridgei; APETx2, from the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima; and MitTx, a heterodimer from the snake Micrurus tener tener. PcTx1 and APETx2, like mambalgins, are ASIC inhibitors, albeit with different subtype specificities; MitTx is an activator associated with causing pain in vivo. The four proteins have no detectable sequence similarity.[2][3] The natural function of ASIC-inhibiting analgesic peptides is unclear, as all are produced by predator animals yet have no known toxic effects on the corresponding prey.[3]

Applications

In laboratory experiments using laboratory mice, mambalgins appear to exert clinically significant analgesic effects without the side effects typically associated with opioid analgesics. Although this property has attracted interest as a basis for development of pharmaceutical drugs,[6][7] mambalgins or their derivatives are not in clinical use.[8]

References

1. Mourier G, Salinas M, Kessler P, Stura EA, Leblanc M, Tepshi L, et al. (February 2016). "Mambalgin-1 Pain-relieving Peptide, Stepwise Solid-phase Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Functional Domain for Acid-sensing Ion Channel 1a Inhibition". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 291 (6): 2616–29. doi:10.1074/jbc.m115.702373. PMC 4742732. PMID 26680001.
2. Diochot S, Baron A, Salinas M, Douguet D, Scarzello S, Dabert-Gay AS, et al. (October 2012). "Black mamba venom peptides target acid-sensing ion channels to abolish pain". Nature. 490 (7421): 552–5. Bibcode:2012Natur.490..552D. doi:10.1038/nature11494. PMID 23034652.
3. Baron A, Diochot S, Salinas M, Deval E, Noël J, Lingueglia E (December 2013). "Venom toxins in the exploration of molecular, physiological and pathophysiological functions of acid-sensing ion channels" (PDF). Toxicon. Special Issue: Toxins: from Threats to Benefits. 75: 187–204. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.04.008. PMID 23624383.
4. Lauridsen LP, Laustsen AH, Lomonte B, Gutiérrez JM (March 2016). "Toxicovenomics and antivenom profiling of the Eastern green mamba snake (Dendroaspis angusticeps)". Journal of Proteomics. 136: 248–61. doi:10.1016/j.jprot.2016.02.003. PMID 26877184.
5. Salinas M, Besson T, Delettre Q, Diochot S, Boulakirba S, Douguet D, Lingueglia E (May 2014). "Binding site and inhibitory mechanism of the mambalgin-2 pain-relieving peptide on acid-sensing ion channel 1a". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 289 (19): 13363–73. doi:10.1074/jbc.m114.561076. PMC 4036345. PMID 24695733.
6. Yong E (2012-10-03). "Painkilling chemicals with no side effects found in black mamba venom - Not Exactly Rocket Science". Not Exactly Rocket Science. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
7. Gallagher J (2012-10-03). "Black mamba venom is 'better painkiller' than morphine". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
8. Netirojjanakul C, Miranda LP (June 2017). "Progress and challenges in the optimization of toxin peptides for development as pain therapeutics". Current Opinion in Chemical Biology. Next Generation Therapeutics. 38: 70–79. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.03.004. PMID 28376346.

External links

• Media related to Mambalgins at Wikimedia Commons