Latarcin-3a

Two antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), named La47 and Css54, were isolated from the venom of the spider Lachesana sp. and from the scorpion Centruroides suffusus suffusus, respectively. The primary structures of both La47 and Css54 were determined using N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry. La47 is identical to the AMP latarcin 3a obtained previously from the venom of the spider Lachesana tarabaevi, but the primary structure of Css54 is unique having 60% identities to the AMP ponericin-W2 from the venom of the ant Pachycondyla goeldii. Both La47 and Css54 have typical α-helix secondary structures in hydrophobic mimicking environments. The biological activities of both La47 and Css54 were compared with the AMP Pin2 isolated from the venom of the scorpion Pandinus imperator. La47 has lower antimicrobial and hemolytic activities compared with Css54 and Pin2. In addition, La47 and Pin2 were evaluated in the presence of the commercial antibiotics, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, novobiocin, streptomycin and kanamycin. Interestingly, the best antimicrobial combinations were obtained with mixtures of La47 and Pin2 with the antibiotics chloramphenicol, streptomycin and kanamycin, respectively. Furthermore, the novel peptide Css54 was evaluated in the presence of antibiotics used for the treatment of tuberculosis, isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Although the mixtures of Css54 with isoniazid, pyrazinamide or ethambutol inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, the best effect was found with rifampicin. Overall, these data show a motivating outlook for potential clinical treatments of bacterial infections using AMPs and commercial antibiotics.

Venom peptides anoplin, cupiennin 1a, latarcin 1, latarcin 3a, latarcin 5, melittin, and pandinin 2 are known to have antibacterial properties. In the current study, we examined whether the antimicrobial properties of these venom peptides have any connection to the binding and inhibition of bacterial ATP synthase. Venom peptides inhibited Escherichia coli wild type and mutant membrane-bound F1Fo ATP synthase to varying degrees. Although significant loss of oxidative phosphorylation was observed for wild type, very little loss occurred for null and mutant E. coli strains in the presence of venom peptides. This study also reaffirms that βDELSEED-motif residues of ATP synthase are required for peptide binding. Modified venom peptides with C-terminal amide (NH2) groups caused augmented inhibition of ATP synthase and E. coli cell death. Growth patterns of wild type, null, and mutant strains in the presence of melittin, anoplin, cupiennin 1a, latarcin 1, latarcin 3a, latarcin 5, pandinin 2, and their modified variants suggested the possibility of additional molecular targets. Our results demonstrate that the antimicrobial properties of venom peptides are connected to the binding and inhibition of bacterial ATP synthase. Moreover, selective inhibition of ATP synthase by venom peptides suggests a viable alternative to combat antibiotic-resistant microbial infections.

The need for discovering new compounds that can act selectively on pathogens is becoming increasingly evident, given the number of deaths worldwide due to bacterial infections or tumor cells. New multifunctional biotechnological tools are being sought, including compounds present in spider venoms, which have high biotechnological potential. The present work aims to perform the rational design and functional evaluation of synthetic peptides derived from Lachesana tarabaevi spider toxin, known as latarcin-3a. The antimicrobial activity was tested against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) between 4 and 128 μg.ml-1. Anti-biofilm tests were then performed to obtain MICs, where the peptides demonstrated activity from 4 to 128 μg.ml-1. In vitro cell cytotoxicity assays were carried out from tumor cell lines, lineages C1498, Kasumi-1, K-562, Jurkat, MOLT4, and Raji. Erythrocyte integrity was evaluated in the presence of synthetic peptides analog, which did not promote hemolysis at 128 μg.ml-1. The peptide that showed the best antibacterial activity was Lt-MAP3 and the best antitumor was Lt-MAP2. In conclusion, rational design of multifunctional antimicrobial peptides may be promising alternative tools in the treatment of emerging diseases such as bacterial infections and tumor cells.