Abstract
Following the exploration of biochemicals in amphibian defensive skin secretion, great attention has been focused on the novel bioactive peptides with unique molecular structures and complicated features and functions. In this study, the skin secretion of Oriental fire-bellied toad, Bombina orientalis, was acquired to search peptides with therapeutic potential. Using “shotgun” cloning technique, a full-length peptide precursor co-encoding two novel bombinin peptides was cloned from the skin secretion-derived cDNA library of B. orientalis. The deduced peptides were identified as one bombinin-like peptide (BLP) (GIGSAILSAGKSIIKGLAKGLAEHF-NH2) and one bombinin H-type peptide (BH) (IIGPVLGLVGKALGGLL-NH2). The primary structures of both peptides were confirmed through reverse-phase HPLC fractionation and mass spectrometry. Secondary structural prediction revealed Bombinin-BO1 and Bombinin H-BO1 adopted α-helical structural features. In addition, the two peptides exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeast. Meanwhile, the anticancer activity assay indicated both peptides exerted significant anticancer effects against human hepatoma cell lines tested (Hep G2/SK-HEP-1/Huh7). The peptides reported here for the first time may represent novel lead compounds for the design/development of new therapeutics for human infection and neoplastic disease.
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This work was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81402901, 81373441 and 81673464) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Funded Project (2014M551035).
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.
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Peng, X., Zhou, C., Hou, X. et al. Molecular characterization and bioactivity evaluation of two novel bombinin peptides from the skin secretion of Oriental fire-bellied toad, Bombina orientalis . Amino Acids 50, 241–253 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-017-2509-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-017-2509-z