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P-like conotoxins detected in Turris babylonia

Philippine Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2020; 1(1&2): 07-11
Authors
Allan L. Hilario and  Francisco M. Heralde III
Abstract
Toxin homologs are common across turrid species and reflect on similarities of their prey types. P-like conotoxin is one type isolated in various turrid snails, which exhibits conserved sequences in their precursor peptides with marked diversity and subtype variations in similar groups of turrid snails, a toxin repertoire patterning, termed as “P-coding” system, employed by turrid snails as a toxin diversification strategy to better target their prey. This study aimed to determine if P-like type 1 and type 3 conotoxin genes are present in Turris babylonia using gene-specific primers used in Gemmula species. Total RNA was extracted from venom duct and then used to prepare double-stranded (ds) cDNA. The ds cDNA was used as template for P-like type 1 and type 3 conotoxins amplification. Then, the amplicons generated were sent to Macrogen, Inc., Seoul, South Korea for sequencing and analyzed using DNAsis. Results showed that P-like conotoxin type 1 and type 3 were amplified from T. babylonia. The gene sequences showed similar framework IX scaffold. The P-like conotoxin type 1 has 85 amino acid residues with the characteristic six-cysteine residues and a conserve region of YEDGE similar to T. babylonia. The P-like conotoxin type 3 is the first of this type ever reported in this gastropod species. It has 62 amino acid residues with six-cysteine residues but with divergent amino acid sequence from the P-like type 1 conotoxin. P- like conotoxin type 1 and 3 were detected in T. babylonia using gene specific primers for Gemmula species. The detection of these P-like conotoxins provides support on the hypothesis of a possible “P-coding” system among the turrid snails. Similar approach can be done in other turrid species.
KEYWORDS: Turris babylonia, P-like conotoxins, venom peptides, conidae, turripeptide
To cite:  Hilario, AL; Heralde, FIIIM.2020. P-like conotoxins detected in Turris babylonia. PJBMB. Vol. 1, No. 1, 2020, pp. 07-11. 10.5555/pjbmb.ph.2020.01.01.07
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