Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

Molecular Characterization of Kunitz-Type Protease Inhibitors from Blister Beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

TitoloMolecular Characterization of Kunitz-Type Protease Inhibitors from Blister Beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae)
Tipo di pubblicazioneArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Anno di Pubblicazione2022
AutoriFratini, Emiliano, Rossi M.N., Spagoni L., Riccieri A., Mancini E., Polticelli F., Bologna M.A., Mariottini P., and Cervelli M.
RivistaBiomolecules
Volume12
ISSN2218273X
Abstract

Protease inhibitors are widely studied since the unrestricted activity of proteases can cause extensive organ lesions. In particular, elastase activity is involved in the pathophysiology of acute lung injury, for example during SARS-CoV-2 infection, while serine proteases and thrombin-like proteases are involved in the development and/or pathology of the nervous system. Natural protease inhibitors have the advantage to be reversible and with few side effects and thus are increasingly considered as new drugs. Kunitz-type protease inhibitors (KTPIs), reported in the venom of various organisms, such as wasps, spiders, scorpions, and snakes, have been studied for their potent anticoagulant activity and widespread protease inhibitor activity. Putative KTPI anticoagulants have been identified in transcriptomic resources obtained for two blister beetle species, Lydus trimaculatus and Mylabris variabilis. The KTPIs of L. trimaculatus and M. variabilis were characterized by combined transcriptomic and bioinformatics methodologies. The full-length mRNA sequences were divided on the base of the sequence of the active sites of the putative proteins. In silico protein structure analyses of each group of translational products show the biochemical features of the active sites and the potential protease targets. Validation of these genes is the first step for considering these molecules as new drugs for use in medicine. © 2022 by the authors.

Note

cited By 0

URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85136167148&doi=10.3390%2fbiom12070988&partnerID=40&md5=98c199ca36344f5082de892209d37216
DOI10.3390/biom12070988
Citation KeyFratini2022