Allotides: Proline-Rich Cystine Knot α-Amylase Inhibitors from Allamanda cathartica

J Nat Prod. 2015 Apr 24;78(4):695-704. doi: 10.1021/np500866c. Epub 2015 Apr 2.

Abstract

Cystine knot α-amylase inhibitors belong to a knottin family of peptidyl inhibitors of 30-32 residues and contain two to four prolines. Thus far, only four members of the group of cystine knot α-amylase inhibitors have been characterized. Herein, the discovery and characterization of five cystine knot α-amylase inhibitors, allotides C1-C5 (Ac1-Ac5) (1-5), from the medicinal plant Allamanda cathartica are reported using both proteomic and genomic methods. Proteomic analysis showed that 1-5 are 30 amino acids in length with three or four proline residues. NMR determination of 4 revealed that it has two cis- and one trans-proline residues and adopts two equally populated conformations in solution. Determination of disulfide connectivity of 2 by differential S-reduction and S-alkylation provided clues of its unfolding process. Genomic analysis showed that allotide precursors contain a three-domain arrangement commonly found in plant cystine knot peptides with conserved residues flanking the processing sites of the mature allotide domain. This work expands the number of known cystine knot α-amylase inhibitors and furthers the understanding of both the structural and biological diversity of this type of knottin family.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Apocynaceae / chemistry*
  • Cystine / chemistry*
  • Cystine-Knot Miniproteins / chemistry
  • Cystine-Knot Miniproteins / isolation & purification*
  • Cystine-Knot Miniproteins / pharmacology*
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Proline / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteomics
  • Singapore
  • alpha-Amylases / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Cystine-Knot Miniproteins
  • Disulfides
  • Cystine
  • Proline
  • alpha-Amylases