Isolation and purification of BVⅠ-2H from bee venom and analysis of its biological action

The medical use of bee venom for rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) has a very long tradition. In this study, isolation and purification of polypeptides from bee venom were carried out on sephadex chromatography, heparin sepharose CL-6B chromatography and HPLC. Several fractions were extracted, and their effects on activation of splenocyte and THP-1 cell were studied. The inhibitory fraction was selected for further studies. Finally, BVⅠ-2H that the HPLC elution profiles was a single peak was isolated by C8 column. ESI- MS detection results showed that BVⅠ-2H was a fraction of bee venom, and the molecular weight of the major component was 644.8. BVⅠ-2H could inhibit ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation, IL-1 production and interfere with splenocyte cycle in mice. Moreover, BVⅠ-2H could inhibit PMA-induced TNFα production in THP-1 cells, which was due to its inhibitory effects on TNFα mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation of IκBα. Our studies indicated that BVⅠ-2H was one of the anti-inflammatory components of bee venom.     

中华眼镜蛇毒神经生长因子的研究

采用ＣＭ－ＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＣＬ－６Ｂ和ＳｅｐｈｏｓｉｌＣ８以及ＨＰＬＣ层析方法，自广西产中华眼镜蛇毒中分离纯化神经生长因子（ＮＧＦ），此ＮＧＦ经８ｄ鸡胚背根神经节体外培养证明具有促进神经纤维生长的活性。经ＨＰＬＣ及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳鉴定为单一组成，经ＳＤＳＰＡＧＥ及ＨＰＬＣ测定分子量分别为２４．１ＫＤ和２４．９ＫＤ，等电聚焦电泳测得ｐＩ为８．２，氨基酸组分分析表明ＮＧＦ含酸性氨基酸较少，通过１２５｜标记ＮＧＦ测定出ＮＧＦ在生物体内主要分布于肾、肺、及周围神经     

两种3-甲基吡咯烷蚂蚁毒素的不对称合成

以(S) 苹果酸衍生出的(2S,3R) 3 甲基苹果酸二甲酯7为原料,经过氯代、自由基还原脱氯和酯基还原得到(R) 2 甲基 1,4丁二醇10,对映体纯度为79.7?.进而合成了蚂蚁信息素生物碱(R) Leptothoracine1和(R) N (2' 苯基乙基) 3 甲基吡咯烷2.     

Isolation and purification of BVⅠ-2H from bee venom and analysis of its biological action

The medical use of bee venom for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a very long tradition. In this study, isolation and purification of polypeptides from bee venom were carried out on sephadex chromatography, heparin sepharose CL-6B chromatography and HPLC. Several fractions were extracted, and their effects on activation of splenocyte and THP-1 cell were studied. The inhibitory fraction was selected for further studies. Finally, BVⅠ-2H that the HPLC elution profiles was a single peak was isolated by C8 column. ESI- MS detection results showed that BVⅠ-2H was a fraction of bee venom, and the molecular weight of the major component was 644.8. BVⅠ-2H could inhibit ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation, IL-1 production and interfere with splenocyte cycle in mice. Moreover, BVⅠ-2H could inhibit PMA-induced TNFa production in THP-1 cells, which was due to its inhibitory effects on TNFa mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation of IkBa. Our studies indicated that BVⅠ-2H was one of the anti-inflammatory components of bee venom.     

Snake venom thrombin-like enzymes: from reptilase to now

The snake venom thrombin-like enzymes (SVTLEs) comprise a number of serine proteases functionally and structurally related to thrombin. Until recently, only nine complete sequences of this subgroup of the serine protease family were known. Over the past 5 years, the primary structure of several SVTLEs has been characterized, and now this family includes several members. Of particular interest is their possible use in pathologies such as thrombosis. The aim of the present review is to summarize the state of the art concerning the evolutionary, structural and biological features of the SVTLEs.Received 16 August 2003; received after revision 26 September 2003; accepted 1 October 2003     

A venomous arthropod in the Early Cambrian Sea

A number of recently evolved animals possess poison glands for feeding and/or defense.However,examples of such animals are rare in the fossil record.We report a fossil arthropod Isoxys curvirostratus from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang biota of China.This species is regarded as the oldest known venomous arthropod based on the presence of venomous glands in its head region.The adult animal is 2-5 cm long and the body is covered entirely with a carapace.The presence of large stalk eyes and a pair of stout grasping appendages with a terminal spine suggest it was raptorial.Interestingly,the two pear-shaped,three-dimensionally preserved objects that are present in the head region and at the base of the grasping appendages closely resemble the venom glands of some living arthropods in size,shape,and position.These features indicate that the presence of venomous predators could date back 520 million years.Furthermore,our observations suggest that the feeding strategies and organs adapted for this purpose had already reached a high level of diversity and anatomical sophistication in the Early Cambrian ecosystems.     

The oak processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea processionea L.) an urticating caterpillar related to the pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff.) (Lepidoptera,Thaumetopoeidae)

Summary The hairs ofThaumetopoea processionea caterpillars (Lepidoptera) provoke a cutaneous reaction in man and animals. The urticating apparatus, the urticating gland which produces hairs, and the urticating hairs, are similar to those of theT. pityocampa caterpillar. The irritant fraction extracted from hairs contains soluble proteins; one of these shows immunological identity with thaumetopoein, the urticating protein of theTh. pityocampa caterpillar. This thaumetopoein-like protein is currently undergoing isolation and will be subjected to dermatological tests.