Isolation and functional and structural characterization of antitumor peptides from the Bothrops jararacussu snake venom

• Grant number: 20/03674-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal researcher: Suely Vilela
• Grantee: Gabriel Neves Cezarette
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Snake venoms are complex mixtures of biologically active compounds, among these, the peptides, still little explored. Shaped by evolutionary processes, these peptides are characterized by presenting diverse structures with a high degree of selectivity, what became them important candidates for models of the development of new drugs and biological tools. Therefore, the present study proposes the isolation and the functional and structural characterization of bioactive peptides from the Bothrops jararacussu snake venom, with antitumor action. These peptides will be obtained by filtration with Vivaspin", molecular exclusion chromatography and reverse phase chromatography with HPLC. Fractions and peptides obtained will be monitored for cytotoxic activity by MTT assay. The bioactive natural peptide with the most biotechnological or qualified potential will be selected, and it will be synthesized for later structural and functional evaluation in vitro. Will be evaluated an antitumor activity, genotoxicity, as well as, a modulation of the gene expression profile and protein expression of the cell death induction pathway aiming the patent registration of the referred peptide. The results obtained in this project seek to understand a structure / function relationship of peptides from biological systems, contributing to the generation of new drugs with potential therapeutic application in the treatment of different types of cancer. (AU)