Arisai C. Hernández-Sámano

Dr. Arisai C. Hernández-Sámano


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 July 2019 in Toxins
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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AHArisai C. Hernández-Sámano
Arisai C. Hernández-Sámano
AFAndrés Falcón
Andrés Falcón
FZFernando Zamudio
Fernando Zamudio
CBCesar V.F. Batista
Cesar V.F. Batista
JMJESUS EMILIO MICHEL-MORFIN
JESUS EMILIO MICHEL-MORFIN
Manuel B. AguilarManuel B. Aguilar
Manuel B. Aguilar
Conus snails produce venoms containing numerous peptides such as the α-conotoxins (α-CTXs), which are well-known nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists. Thirty-eight chromatographic fractions from Conus princeps venom extract were isolated by RP-HPLC. The biological activities of 37 fractions (0.07 µg/µL) were assayed by two-electrode voltage clamp on human α7 nAChRs expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Fractions F7 and F16 notably inhibited the response elicited by acetylcholine by 52.7 ± 15.2% and 59.6 ± 2.5%, respectively. Fraction F7 was purified, and an active peptide (F7-3) was isolated. Using a combination of Edman degradation, mass spectrometry, and RNASeq, we determined the sequence of peptide F7-3: AVKKTCIRSTOGSNWGRCCLTKMCHTLCCARSDCTCVYRSGKGHGCSCTS, with one hydroxyproline (O) and a free C-terminus. The average mass of this peptide, 10,735.54 Da, indicates that it is a homodimer of identical subunits, with 10 disulfide bonds in total. This peptide is clearly similar to αD-CTXs from species of the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, we called it αD-PiXXA. This toxin slowly and reversibly inhibited the ACh-induced response of the hα7 nAChR subtype, with an IC50 of 6.2 μM, and it does not affect the hα3β2 subtype at 6.5 μM.