Title:Study on the Analgesic Activity of Peptide from Conus achates
Volume: 30
Issue: 5
Author(s): Xiujie Liu, Fuli Wang, Huilan Yu, Changcai Liu, Junmei Xia, Yangde Ma and Hui Jiang*
Affiliation:
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, P.R. China
Keywords:
N-type calcium ion channel, peptide, analgesic, Conus achates, Cav2.2, Ac6.4.
Abstract:
Background: As a peptide originally discovered from Conus achates by mass spectrometry
and cDNA sequencing, Ac6.4 contains 25 amino acid residues and three disulfide bridges. Our
previous study found that this peptide possesses 80% similarity to MVIIA by BLAST and that MVIIA
is a potent and selective blocker of N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels in neurons.
Objective: To recognize the target protein and analgesic activity of Ac6.4 from Conus achates.
Methods: In the present study, we synthesized Ac6.4, expressed the Trx-Ac6.4 fusion protein, tested
Ac6.4 for its inhibitory activity against Cav2.2 in CHO cells and investigated Ac6.4 and Trx-Ac6.4 for
their analgesic activities in mice.
Results: Data revealed that Ac6.4 had strong inhibitory activity against Cav2.2 (IC50 = 43.6 nM). After
intracranial administration of Ac6.4 (5, 10, 20 μg/kg) and Trx-Ac6.4 (20, 40, 80 μg/kg), significant
analgesia was observed. The analgesic effects (elevated pain thresholds) were dose-dependent.
Conclusion: This study expands our knowledge of the peptide Ac6.4 and provides new possibilities for
developing Cav2.2 inhibitors and analgesic drugs.