Abstract
Cupiennin 1a (GFGALFKFLAKKVAKTVAKQAAKQGAKYVVNKQME-NH2) is a potent venom component of the spider Cupiennius salei. Cupiennin 1a shows multifaceted activity. In addition to known antimicrobial and cytolytic properties, cupiennin 1a inhibits the formation of nitric oxide by neuronal nitric oxide synthase at an IC50 concentration of 1.3 +/- 0.3 microM. This is the first report of neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibition by a component of a spider venom. The mechanism by which cupiennin 1a inhibits neuronal nitric oxide synthase involves complexation with the regulatory protein calcium calmodulin. This is demonstrated by chemical shift changes that occur in the heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectrum of 15N-labelled calcium calmodulin upon addition of cupiennin 1a. The NMR data indicate strong binding within a complex of 1 : 1 stoichiometry.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology
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Calcium / chemistry
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Calcium / metabolism
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Calmodulin / chemistry
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Calmodulin / metabolism
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Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
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Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
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Models, Molecular
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis*
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / chemistry
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / metabolism
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Peptides / chemistry
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Peptides / metabolism
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Peptides / pharmacology*
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Protein Binding
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Spider Venoms / chemistry
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Spider Venoms / metabolism
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Spider Venoms / pharmacology*
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Spiders / chemistry
Substances
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
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Calmodulin
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Peptides
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Spider Venoms
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cupiennin 1a
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Nitric Oxide
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
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Calcium