Determining the pharmacological potential and biological role of linear pseudoscorpion toxins via functional profiling

Autor: Pelin Erkoc, Susanne Schiffmann, Thomas Ulshöfer, Marina Henke, Michael Marner, Jonas Krämer, Reinhard Predel, Till F. Schäberle, Sabine Hurka, Ludwig Dersch, Andreas Vilcinskas, Robert Fürst, Tim Lüddecke
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: iScience, Vol 27, Iss 7, Pp 110209- (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2589-0042
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110209
Popis: Summary: Arthropod venoms contain bioactive molecules attractive for biomedical applications. However, few of these have been isolated, and only a tiny number has been characterized. Pseudoscorpions are small arachnids whose venom has been largely overlooked. Here, we present the first structural and functional assessment of the checacin toxin family, discovered in the venom of the house pseudoscorpion (Chelifer cancroides). We combined in silico and in vitro analyses to establish their bioactivity profile against microbes and various cell lines. This revealed inhibitory effects against bacteria and fungi. We observed cytotoxicity against specific cell types and effects involving second messengers. Our work provides insight into the biomedical potential and evolution of pseudoscorpion venoms. We propose that plesiotypic checacins evolved to defend the venom gland against infection, whereas apotypic descendants evolved additional functions. Our work highlights the importance of considering small and neglected species in biodiscovery programs.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals