Soluble expression, purification and the role of C-terminal glycine residues in scorpion toxin BmK AGP-SYPU2

BMB Rep. 2010 Dec;43(12):801-6. doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2010.43.12.801.

Abstract

The existence of glycine residues in long-chain scorpion toxins has been well documented. However, their role as analgesics has not been evaluated. To address this issue, we investigated the functional role of glycines in the C-terminal end of Chinese-scorpion toxin from Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK AGP-SYPU2) using site-directed mutagenesis and analgesic activity assays. Recombinant BmK AGP-SYPU2 and its mutants were efficiently expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) and cation exchange chromatography. The mouse-twisting test was used to detect the analgesic activity of BmK AGP-SYPU2 and its mutants. As a result, we identified glycines at the C-terminal end that, when altered, significantly affected analgesic activity. Also, Mut6566 was significantly decreased compared to BmK AGP-SYPU2. These data indicate that the glycines at the C-terminal end are important for the analgesic activity of BmK AGP-SYPU2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Glycine / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Scorpion Venoms / chemistry*
  • Scorpion Venoms / genetics
  • Scorpion Venoms / metabolism
  • Scorpions / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Toxins, Biological / chemistry
  • Toxins, Biological / isolation & purification
  • Toxins, Biological / metabolism

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Scorpion Venoms
  • Toxins, Biological
  • Glycine