A simple and practical technique for fish venom extraction - Protein content analysis for future biotechnological applications
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1
MARE/ISPA, Portugal
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2
UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Portugal
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3
MARE-FCUL, Portugal
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4
Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Spain
Toxinology, or the study of venoms and toxins, is a fascinating research area with different compounds being identified in unexpected high numbers of venomous species. The research potential is wide, going from drug development to the evolution of venom biological and pathophysiological properties. However, marine animals and fish, in particular, remain largely untapped as a source of novel bioactive molecules. The methods described in the literature to collect venom from fish either involve the sacrifice of the specimens or consist in the removal of the venomous spines. The spines regenerate, but it may take several months or years until they fully recover their original defensive role. European ichthyofauna includes several nonlethal venomous species belonging to different fish families (e.g. Dasyatidae, Trachinidae, Scorpaenidae). We describe a simple technique of venom extraction that allows the manipulated fish to fully recover its defensive apparatus a few days after manipulation. A synthetic sponge inserted within an eppendorf tube is used to apply pressure on the venomous spine and absorb the venom with no losses or contaminations. Ichthyocrinotoxins were also sampled using the sponge to collect skin secretions. The method is practical, since samples collected on the tubes are ready for laboratory use. It is also safer, reducing the risk that the researcher gets pierced by the venomous spines. Most relevant, SDS-PAGE analysis of the crude venom extracts revealed little or no apparent contaminations. The available literature revealed that fish venoms may induce cardiovascular effects, neurotoxic effects and hemodynamic changes (e.g. cytolysins with hemolytic effects and C-type lectins with hemagglutinating effect). Collecting venoms, quantifying their protein content, evaluating their composition and pathophysiological effects will allow researchers to evaluate the potential of fish venoms in a area that was recently coined “venomics”. This represents a powerful tool for the study of composition/activity correlations and venom evolution in fish, paving the way for future biotechnological and pharmacological applications.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the Eco-Ethology Research Unit’ Strategic Plan (PEst-OE/MAR/UI0331/2011) financed by national funds from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT (partially FEDER funded) and by the Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas-UCIBIO which is financed by national funds from FCT/MEC (UID/Multi/04378/2013) and co-financed by the ERDF under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007728). F.A. postdoctoral fellowship was supported by FCT (SFRH/BPD/63170/2009)
Keywords:
Fish Venoms,
Extraction method,
Proteins,
SDS-PAGE,
bioactive compounds
Conference:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016, Peniche, Portugal, 14 Jul - 15 Jul, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Oral presentation
Topic:
Blue Biotechnology
Citation:
Almada
F,
Duarte
AG,
Besson
S,
Rosa
BP,
Viegas
F,
Robalo
JI,
Moura
JJ,
Maia
LB,
Félix
P,
Costa
JV and
Calvete
JJ
(2016). A simple and practical technique for fish venom extraction - Protein content analysis for future biotechnological applications.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016.
doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.04.00124
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Received:
27 Apr 2016;
Published Online:
13 Jul 2016.
*
Correspondence:
PhD. Frederico Almada, MARE/ISPA, Lisbon, 1149-041, Portugal, frederico.almada@gmail.com