The peptide secreted at the water to land transition in a model amphibian has antioxidant effects

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Barbosa, EA (Author) Other; Placido, A (Author) Other; Moreira, DC (Author) Other; Albuquerque, L (Author) Other; Dematei, A (Author) Other; Silva Carvalho, AE (Author) Other; Cabral, WF (Author) Other; Bao, SN (Author) Other; Saldanha Araujo, F (Author) Other; Kuckelhaus, SAS (Author) Other; Borges, TK (Author) Other; Portugal, CC (Author) Other; Socodato, R (Author) Other; Teixeira, C (Author) Other; Lima, FCDA (Author) Other; Batagin Neto, A (Author) Other; Sebben, A (Author) Other; Eaton, P (Author) Other; Paula Gomes (Author) FCUP; Brand, GD (Author) Other; Relvas, JB (Author) Other; Kato, MJ (Author) Other; Leite, JRSA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Vol. 288

ISSN: 0962-8452

Publisher: The Royal Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-PXC

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1531

Abstract (EN): In addition to the morphophysiological changes experienced by amphibians during metamorphosis, they must also deal with a different set of environmental constraints when they shift from the water to the land. We found that Pithecopus azureus secretes a single peptide ([M + H]+ = 658.38 Da) at the developmental stage that precedes the onset of terrestrial behaviour. De novo peptide and cDNA sequencing revealed that the peptide, named PaT-2, is expressed in tandem and is a member of the tryptophyllins family. In silico studies allowed us to identify the position of reactive sites and infer possible antioxidant mechanisms of the compounds. Cell-based assays confirmed the predicted antioxidant activity in mammalian microglia and neuroblast cells. The potential neuroprotective effect of PaT-2 was further corroborated in FRET-based live cell imaging assays, where the peptide prevented lipopolysaccharide-induced ROS production and glutamate release in human microglia. In summary, PaT-2 is the first peptide expressed during the ontogeny of P. azureus, right before the metamorphosing froglet leaves the aquatic environment to occupy terrestrial habitats. The antioxidant activity of PaT-2, predicted by in silico analyses and confirmed by cell-based assays, might be relevant for the protection of the skin of P. azureus adults against increased O-2 levels and UV exposure on land compared with aquatic environments.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10