Who knows not where an anemone does wear his sting? Could polypeptides released from the columnar vesicles of Bunodosoma cangicum induce apoptosis in the ZF-L cell line?

Abstract

We provide ultrastructural and cytological evidence that the tentacles of the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum does not contain cytotoxic venom. However, we show that the stimulated secretion of an apparent mixture of biomolecules containing polypeptides from the columnar vesicles of Bunodosoma cangicum is apparently a potent inducer of apoptosis in the zebrafish cell line, ZF-L. Microscopic fluorescence, cell morphology and flow cytometric assays confirm the apoptotic activity. Crude vesicle venom was partially purified by size exclusion chromatography. PAGE analysis shows that this venom contains low weight polypeptides but no measurable protein. The apoptotic activity is heat labile, and the observed peptides concurrent with this activity have a molecular weight of approximately 2000 Da. This manuscript is the first report of biologically active molecules and peptides associated with columnar vesicles of anemones, and the first to confirm that the tentacles of B. cangicum do not contain cytotoxic venom, and express spirocytes exclusively.

Polypeptides secreted from the columnar vesicles of the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum and their in vivo effects on Caenorhabditis elegans

“…Our group has previously identified that the active compounds of the crude venom are in the low weight fraction (Bastos et al, 2016). The column was mounted in a 10 mL syringe and equilibrated with deionized water at room temperature.…”

“…Anemone venom extracts, for example, have been identified with nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, hemolytic, apoptotic, and channel blocking activities (Bosmans and Tytgat, 2007;Beeton et al, 2011;Nedosyko et al, 2014;Ramezanpour et al, 2014b;Bastos et al, 2016). A general feature of Cnidaria are the presence of cnidocytes of different types, located in different regions of the body, but usually concentrated in the catch tentacles.…”

“…Cnidocyte venom as a whole is a complex mixture of proteins and peptides with different biological activities that warrant the focus of investigation. Anemone venom extracts, for example, have been identified with nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, hemolytic, apoptotic, and channel blocking activities (Bosmans and Tytgat, 2007;Beeton et al, 2011;Nedosyko et al, 2014;Ramezanpour et al, 2014b;Bastos et al, 2016).…”

“…Its tentacles express spirocyst-type cnidocytes, which when ejected, form an adhesive mesh capable of attaching to prey (Norton, 1991;Zamponi et al, 1998). These animals also have on their body column, numerous vesicles, our group has shown that the extracts of these structures are capable of inducing apoptosis in vitro (Bastos et al, 2016). In this current work, we will begin the process of characterization of the compounds present in these structures.…”

“…Our group has recently shown that vesicle extracts from the anemone Bunodosoma cangicum are capable of inducing apoptosis in vitro (Bastos et al, 2016). In this current work, we will begin the process of characterization of the compounds present in these structures.…”