Solution structure of a sponge-derived cystine knot peptide and its notable stability

J Nat Prod. 2014 Feb 28;77(2):304-10. doi: 10.1021/np400899a. Epub 2014 Feb 5.

Abstract

A novel cystine knot peptide, asteropsin E (ASPE), was isolated from an Asteropus sp. marine sponge. The primary, secondary, and tertiary structures of ASPE were determined by high-resolution 2D NMR spectroscopy (900 MHz). With the exception of an N-terminal modification, ASPE shares properties with the previously reported asteropsins A-D, that is, the absence of basic residues, a highly acidic nature, conserved structurally important residues (including two cis-prolines), and a highly conserved tertiary structural framework. ASPE was found to be remarkably stable to gastrointestinal tract enzymes (chymotrypsin, elastase, pepsin, and trypsin) and to human plasma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chymotrypsin / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cystine / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Marine Biology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Pancreatic Elastase / metabolism
  • Pepsin A / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Porifera / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Trypsin / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides
  • asteropsin E
  • Cystine
  • Chymotrypsin
  • Pancreatic Elastase
  • Trypsin
  • Pepsin A

Associated data

  • PDB/2M3J