Pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) was extracted from the skin of sea cucumber Holothuria parva and was fractionally characterized. The PSC from H. parva skin consisted of three α1 chains (α1)3, in contrast to calf skin collagen type I with two α1 and one α2 chains (α1)2α2 with approximately 130 kDa each. The maximum transition (Tm) and denaturation temperature (Td) of PSC were determined to be 46.94 and 32.5 °C, respectively. The amino acid composition analysis revealed that glycine, proline, alanine, and hydroxyproline were the abundant amino acids available in extracted PSC. The results showed that the isolated collagen from H. parva has some similar characteristics to previously reported collagens used in food and pharmaceutical industries.

No abstract

Almost all conopeptides purified from Conus venoms are cysteine-rich peptides. Among them, omega-conotoxin MVIIA, FDA approved peptide drug (Prialt(®)), selected as a cysteine-rich model that its protection from oxidation is critical during solid phase synthesis. Deprotection of cysteines is a crucial step after peptide synthesis. The current study aimed to set up a new highly efficient deprotection protocol for omega-conotoxin MVIIA. Deprotection was performed based on mercury acetate with significant major modification. The protocol accomplished based on the best molar ratio of peptide/mercury/2-ME that adjusted to 0.2 mm/3 mm/10 mm (50 μg/1 mg/10 μL). The yield and purity of omega-conotoxin MVIIA obtained at 93 and 95%, respectively. The total time of protocol shortened to 90 min instead of 6-20 h in routine methods. In this study, omega-conotoxin MVIIA was recovered in high yield and in the shortest time. Despite of other known protocols, molar ratio adjusted to minimum amount. In conclusion, this protocol would be suggested to cost-effective deprotection of thiol groups for similar cysteine-rich peptides.

No abstract

The use of chemical pesticides has increased environmental pollution and affects fishes as non-target organisms. To investigate the toxic effects of the widely used herbicide atrazine on Caspian kutum Rutilus frisii kutum fingerlings, fish were exposed to a sublethal concentration of half LC 50 for 96 h. The main alterations visible in the gill tissue were detachment of the epithelium of the lamellae, necrosis, lamellar fusion, hyperplasia, club shaped lamellae, collapse of the lamellae, shrinkage and curling of the lamellae, and ultrastructural alterations such as necrosis of the apical microridges of the pavement cells. Results also showed that the gill ionocytes were fewer in number and larger in size in the atrazine-exposed fish. Atrazine appears to be highly toxic to Caspian kutum fingerlings even at a sublethal concentration (12.47 mg l