PnPP-19 potentiates erection in vivo and ex vivo via the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway. It does not affect sodium channels or rat hearts and shows no toxicity and low immunogenicity. These findings make it a promising candidate as a novel drug in the therapy of erectile dysfunction.
Venom variability in specimens of Tityus serrulatus scorpion was assessed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) analyses. An expanded time lag venom extraction protocol was carried out using ten scorpions to study individual variations that might occur due to different rates in protein expression and/or processing. The first extraction of venom was made from the animals after 20 days of starvation, which allowed the venom gland to be filled up. The second extraction event was carried out 24 hours after the first one. The third was 8 days after the first extraction. By means of MALDI-TOF analyses, important variations were observed in venoms of a single specimen extracted at different times, especially in latter extraction events. These variations are most probably related to dynamics in cell gland production. Since T. serrulatus is a parthenogenetic species, sexual variations are naturally excluded and we did not expect intra-specific variations, which was confirmed. Knowledge of individual venom variability is extremely important to avoid misunderstandings in the use of venom proteomic analysis as a taxonomic tool.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been found in all organism taxa and may play an essential
role as a host defense system. AMPs are organized in various conformations, such as linear
peptides, disulfide bond-linked peptides, backbone-linked peptides and circular peptides. AMPs apparently
act primarily on the plasma membrane, although an increasing number of works have shown that
they may also target various intracellular sites. Spider venoms are rich sources of biomolecules that
show several activities, including modulation or blockage of ion channels, anti-insect, anti-cancer,
antihypertensive and antimicrobial activities, among others. In spider venoms from the Lycosidae
family there are many linear AMPs with a wide range of activities against several microorganisms.
Due to these singular activities, some Lycosidae AMPs have been modified to improve or decrease
desirable or undesirable effects, respectively. Such modifications, especially with the aim of increasing
their antibiotic activity, have led to the filing of many patent applications. This review explores the
abundance of Lycosidae venom AMPs and some of their derivatives, and their use as new drug models.
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