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Polypeptide toxin pi-AnmTX Hcr 1b-1 with a molecular weight 4537 Da was isolated from the whole body extract of sea anemone by a multistage liquid chromatography. The BLAST search algorithm revealed homology of the novel toxin amino acid sequence to the group of the known sea anemone toxins including BDS and APETx with similarity less then 50%. The toxin pi-AnmTX Hcr 1b-1 inhibited the amplitude of the fast component of integral ASIC3 current in electrophysiological studies on receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The calculated IC50 value was 5.5 +/- 1.0 microM. Among the known polypeptide toxins interacted with ASICs channels, the micro-AnmTX Hcr 1b-1 toxin is the least potent inhibitor that in our opinion correlates with a small amount of charged amino acid residues in its structure.

The influence of different environmental values of the pH and temperature on the spatial organization of serine proteinase inhibitor from the sea anemone Heteractis crispa (=Radianthus macrodactylus) on the level of tertiary and secondary structure was studied by CD spectroscopy. The molecule InhVJ was shown to possess a high conformational thermo- and pH-stability. We determined the point of conformational thermotransition of polypeptide (70 degrees C) after which the molecule gets denaturational stable state with conservation of 80% proteinase inhibitory activity. The significant partial reversible changes of molecule spatial organization were established to occur at the level of tertiary structure in the process of acid-base titration in the range of pH 11.0-13.0. This can be explained by of ionization of tyrosine residues. The molecule InhVJ is conformationally stable at the low pH values (2.0). The quenching of tyrosine residues by acrylamide showed that two of these residues are accessible to the quencher in full, while the third part is available.

Experiments on C57B1/6 mice showed that ginsenoside Rh2 inhibited the growth and metastasis process of Lewis lung tumor and increased the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of cyclophosphamide. On the model of transferred melanoma B-16, ginsenoside Rh2 showed a tendency to increase the antiblastome effect of the cytostatic drug.

Luromarin, extracted from the sea alga Zostera asiatica, showed no cytotoxic activity when incubated with the SPEV cell culture and was characterized by virulicidal properties against highly pathogenic strain of TBE virus and the ability to inhibit the virus replication at the early stages of the infection.

A serine protease inhibitor with a molecular mass of 6106 +/- 2Da (designated as InhVJ) was isolated from the tropical anemone Radianthus macrodactylus by a combination of liquid chromatography methods. The molecule of InhVJ consists of 57 amino acid residues, has three disulfide bonds, and contains no Met or Trp residues. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the inhibitor (19 aa residues) was established. It was shown that this fragment has a high degree of homology with the N-terminal amino acid sequences of serine protease inhibitors from other anemone species, reptiles, and mammals. The spatial organization of the inhibitor at the levels of tertiary and secondary structures was studied by the methods of UV and CD spectroscopy. The specific and molar absorption coefficients of InhVJ were determined. The percentage of canonical secondary structure elements in the polypeptide was calculated. The inhibitor has a highly ordered tertiary structure and belongs to mixed alpha/beta or alpha + beta polypeptides. It was established that InhVJ is highly specific toward trypsin (Ki 2.49 x 10(-9) M) and alpha-chymotrypsin (Ki 2.17 x 10(-8) M) and does not inhibit other proteases, such as thrombin, kallikrein, and papain. The inhibitor InhVJ was assigned to the family of the Kunitz inhibitor according to its physicochemical properties.

The interaction of inhibitor VJ (InhVJ), isolated from sea anemone R. macrodactylus, with different proteases was investigated. The following enzymes were tested: serine proteases (trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, plasmin, thrombin, kallikrein), cysteine protease (papain) and aspartic protease (pepsin). Inhibitor VJ interacted only with trypsin and 6-chymotrypsin. Kinetic and thermodynamics parameters of intermolecular complexes formation were determined: KD = 7,38 x 10(-8) M and 9,93 x 10(-7) M for pairs InhVJ/trypsin and InhVJ/alpha-chymotrypsin, respectively.

Partial amino acid sequences of the actinoporins Or-A (136 aa) and Or-G (144 aa) isolated from the Sea of Japan sea anemone Oulactis orientalis were determined by sequencing the clones obtained by the amplification of genomic DNA and cDNA with specific primers to the N-terminal regions of the 0. orientalis actinoporin sequences and to the C-terminal region, which is known to be highly conservative in all the known actinoporin sequences. The complete structures of Or-A (165 aa) and Or-G (173 aa) were established by sequencing the cDNA clones obtained by the fast amplification of 3'-ends of cDNA. A comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences of the Oulactis actinoporins with those of actinoporins from tropical species revealed considerable differences in the structures of their N-terminal fragments and their membrane-binding sites. We believe that these differences could explain lower hemolytic activities of Or-A and Or-G than that of actinoporins from the tropical species.

Protective properties of a syrup balm "Herbamarin" and food hydrolysates of scallop, octopus and crab were investigated using experimental toxic hepatitis and ethanol intoxication. Preventive administration of the balm and hydrolysates to animals subjected to an intoxications by 40% alcohol and CCl4 normalized clinical-diagnostic parameters of liver and blood plasma of experimental animals.

Two cytolytic toxins (cytolysins Or-A and Or-G) were isolated from the Sea of Japan anemone Oulactis orientalis and characterized. Their purification scheme involved a hydrophobic chromatography on Polychrom 1, a gel filtration on Akrilex P-4, a cation-exchange chromatography on CM-32 cellulose, and a reversed-phase HPLC on a Nucleosil C18 column. The molecular masses of Or-A and Or-G were determined by SDS-PAGE in 14% PAG to be ca. 18 kDa. The absence of Cys residues and a high content of basic amino acid residues are characteristic of their amino acid compositions. The hemolytic activities of Or-A and Or-G were found to be 295.86 and 322.58 HU/mg, respectively; these are by three orders of magnitude lower than those of sphingomyelin-inhibitable cytolysins from the tropic sea anemones. The amino acid sequences of the N-terminal fragments of Or-A and Or-G were determined to be ATFRVLAK and GAIIAGAA, respectively. Action of the cytolysins on the erythrocyte membrane is inhibited by exogenous sphingomyelin. They form ion channels in bilayer lipid membranes with the conductivity of 16, 32, and 40 pSm in 0.1 M NaCl and 168, 240, and 320 pSm in 1 M NaCl at pH 7.2. Therefore, they were attributed to the group of actinoporins.

The effects two balms of "Herbamarin" T series on some parameters of cardiovascular and hepatobiliary systems were studied in mice either kept on the cholesterol diet or treated with CCl4. The results allow to recommend these balms as additional components to the therapy of various cardiovascular and hepatic diseases.

An experimental model of gastroduodenitis combined with hyperlipidemia was used to study the effects of the product Zolotoi rog (Golden Horn) which is a composition of biologically active substances of marine organisms and honey. It was found that a course administration of Zolotoi rog in a dose 2.5 mg/kg b.w. improves histomorphology of gastric mucosa, acts hypolipidemically, raises reserves of the antioxidant system of the body and suppresses intensity of lipid peroxidation.

At an experimental model of alimentary hyperlipoproteinemia the medical effect of specialized product "Zolotoi Rog", a composition of biologically active substances, antioxidants and honey, isolated from marine organisms, was analysed. The hypolipidemic effect of this product was defined at violations of lipid metabolism of blood and liver of animals. Deterioration of the processes of lipids peroxidation and raising activity of antioxidant system of an organism, were revealed.

Three cytolytic toxins (RTX: RTX-A, RTX-S, and RTX-G) were isolated from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus and characterized. The purification scheme involved hydrophobic chromatography on Polychrom-1, batch-chromatography on CM-23 cellulose, gel filtration on Akrilex P-4, cation-exchange chromatography on CM-32 cellulose, and HPLC on an ion-exchange Ultropac TSK CM-3SW column and a reversed-phase Silasorb C18 column. The molecular masses of RTXs (ca. 20 kDa) were determined by SDS-PAGE in a density gradient of PAG. They are highly basic polypeptides (pI of 9.8 for RTX-A and RTX-S and 10.5 for RTX-G) containing similar amino acid compositions with a high content of basic and hydrophobic residues and the absence of Cys residues. The hemolytic activities of RTX-A, RTX-S, and RTX-G were determined to be 3.5, 5.0, and 1.0 x 10(4) HU/mg, respectively. Exogenous sphingomyelin inhibits their action on the erythrocyte membrane. The N-terminal sequence of RTX-A was determined to be ALAGAIIAGAGL/KGLKI/FLIEVLGEG--V/NKVKI-.

Two low-molecular cytolytic toxins (RmI and RmII) and four trypsin inhibitors were isolated from the aqueous extract of sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus. The method of isolation involved precipitation with acetone, gel filtration on acrylex P-4, ion-exchange chromatography on CM-32 cellulose, affinity chromatography on trypsin-binding sepharose 4B, ion exchange chromatography on an Ultrapore TSK CM-3SW column, and reversed phase HPLC on a Silasorb C18 column. RmI, RmII, and JnI inhibitor displayed molecular masses 5100, 6100, and 7100 Da, respectively, when subjected to SDS-PAGE. The isoelectric points were 9.2 and 9.3 for RmI and RmII, respectively. The amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid residue (glycine) were determined for RmI, RmII, and JnI. Both proteins were nontoxic to mice and crabs. Hemolytic activity was determined to be 25 and 20 HU/mg for RmI and RmII, respectively, and their action on erythrocyte membrane was not inhibited by exogenous sphingomyelin. RmI and RmII exhibited antihistamine activity.

A chemical modification was used for studying the organization of antigenic determinants of neurotoxin Rm-III from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus. Immunochemical experiments were performed using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with polyclonal antibodies to Rm-III. The modification affected N-terminal amino group of Gly1, Lys4, Arg13, Trp30 residues, a residue in the Lys46-Lys47-Lys48 sequence, two different residues in the Asp6-Asp7-Glu8 sequence in two samples of the toxin, and two disulphide bonds. Only the modification of the disulphide bonds led to a considerable change in the toxin's affinity to antibodies. The modification of Trp30 resulted in two-fold decrease of the toxin concentration necessary for 50% inhibition of the test-system, whereas upon modification of any other amino acid residue this concentration increased but not more than by 2.2 times. It is suggested that Rm-III sequence lacks individual residues which are of great importance for the toxin's antigenic activity, its conformation being of vital importance for the formation of the toxin's antigenic determinants.

Polyclonal antibodies to neurotoxin Rm-III from sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus have been obtained. Constants of inhibition of the Rm-III binding to its antibodies by the homologous toxins have been determined. Antigenic activity of the second type toxins is shown to depend not only on the degree of homology but also no the type of substitution in the amino acid sequence. As shown by the calculation methods, the antigenic determinants of all the homologues have similar positions. Amino acid residues at positions 2, 11, 20, 28, and 46-48 seem to be included into the antigenic sites of the toxins studied.

The influence of chemical modification on neurotoxin RTX-III toxicity in mice has been studied. The toxicity was not affected by modification of Trp30 residue with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide but was diminished by a factor of 100 after reduction of the toxin's two disulfide bonds with 2-mercaptoethanol followed by derivatization with iodoacetamide. Blocking carboxyl groups with [3H]glycine methyl ester in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide led to only a two-fold drop in toxicity in the case of monocarboxylate-modified derivatives and a six-fold decrease for dimodified derivatives. A conception of multipoint attachment of the toxin to sodium channel is discussed.

Amino acid sequences of neurotoxins RTX-IV and RTX-V isolated from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus were determined by the automated Edman degradation; their polypeptide chains consist of 48 and 47 amino acid residues, respectively. For identification of tryptophan-30 in toxin RTX-IV, its trypsin and chymotrypsin digests were investigated. Amino acid sequences of the above toxins show that they belong to a new structural class and that C-terminal positive charge and tyrosine-25 are important for toxic activity of sea anemone polypeptides.

The effect of toxin from sea anemone Homostichantus duerdemi (HTX-1) on the inward sodium current was studied on the isolated neurons of spinal ganglia of a rat. The experiments were carried out under conditions of voltage clamp and intracellular perfusion at 20 degree C. HTX-1, when added to the extracellular solution, slowed down the inactivation process of sodium channels with no action on activation process. The dependence of the fraction of modified channels upon the concentration of HTX-1 could be described by Langmuir isotherm with the dissociation constant 1.1 +/- 0.1.10(-7) M (at holding potential --100 mV). HTX-1 caused an increase in the peak of early inward current up to 80%. The binding of HTX-1 with sodium channel was strongly potential-dependent. After a short time of application (up to 5 min) the effect of HTX-1 was completely reversible. However, if the action of the toxin exceeded 30 min, the following washing for 90 min did not lead to pronounced removal of the effect.

Amino acid sequence of neurotoxin II isolated from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus was determined by analysis of peptides obtained after its digestion with trypsin and staphylococcal proteinase. It is shown that the polypeptide chain of the toxin consists of 48 amino acid residues, including six cysteines.

Positions of the three disulfide bridges in neurotoxin-III (RTX-III) from sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus were determined: Cys3--Cys43, Cys5--Cys33, Cys26--Cys44. The cystine-containing peptides obtained by the staphylococcal proteinase/trypsin digestion of the intact RTX-III were investigated.

Upon modification of neurotoxin RTX-III at amino groups with [3H]acetic anhydride, four monoacetyl and four diacetyl derivatives have been obtained. Acetylation of the N-terminal amino group led to 12-fold decrease of toxicity in mice. Monoderivatives of the toxin with either Lys or two out of three C-terminal Lys residues modified showed a 2-fold drop in toxicity as compared with the native RTX-III. Diacetylation caused a 30 to 35-fold decrease in toxicity, the N-terminal amino group being modified in all the derivatives. As assessed by circular dichroism method, the modification of amino groups, except for N-terminal one, affected secondary structure of the toxin. The data suggest the N-terminal amino group to be essential for toxicity of RTX-III.

Amino acid sequence of neurotoxin I isolated from the anemone Radianthus macrodactylus, and consisted of 48 amino acid residues, including six cysteines, was determined by analysis of products of its trypsin and chymotrypsin digestion.