BackgroundScorpion venoms are rich bioactive peptide libraries that offer promising molecules that may lead to the discovery and development of new drugs. Leiurus abdullahbayrami produces one of the most potent venoms among Turkish scorpions that provokes severe symptoms in envenomated victims.MethodsIn the present study, the peptide profile of the venom was investigated by electrophoretic methods, size-exclusion and reversed-phase chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects were evaluated on a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and various bacterial and fungal species.ResultsProteins make up approximately half of the dry weight of L. abdullahbayrami crude venom. Microfluidic capillary electrophoresis indicated the presence of 6 to 7 kDa peptides and proved to be a highly practical peptidomics tool with better resolution when compared to conventional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Mass spectroscopy analysis helped us to identify 45 unique peptide masses between 1 to 7 kDa with a bimodal mass distribution peaking between molecular weights of 1 to 2 kDa (29%) and 3 to 4 kDa (31%). L. abdullahbayrami crude venom had a proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells, which may be explained by the high concentration of polyamines as well as potassium and calcium ions in the arachnid venoms. Antimicrobial effect was stronger on gram-negative bacteria.ConclusionsThis work represents the first peptidomic characterization of L. abdullahbayrami venom. Considering the molecular weight-function relationship of previously identified venom peptides, future bioactivity studies may lead to the discovery of novel potassium and chloride ion channel inhibitors as well as new antimicrobial peptides from L. abdullahbayrami venom.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1678-9199-20-48) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This study aims removal of phenols in wastewater by enzymatic oxidation method. In this study, Trametes versicolor laccase was covalently immobilized onto a cryogel matrix by the nucleophilic attack of amino groups of laccase to epoxy groups of matrix. Glycidyl methacrylate was chosen as functional monomer to prepare poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) [p(HEMA-co-GMA)] cryogels. The enzyme immobilized matrix was characterized by FTIR, SEM, and swelling tests. The effect of pH, reaction time, temperature, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and storage period on immobilized enzyme activity was determined and compared with those of free enzyme. The model substrate was 2,2 0 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS). Lineweaver-Burk plots were used to calculate K m and V m values. K m values were 165.1 and 156.0 mM while V m values were 55.2 mM min 21 and 1.57 mM min 21 for free and immobilized laccase, respectively. Immobilized enzyme was determined to retain 82.5% and 72.0% of the original activity, respectively, after 6 consecutive use and storage period of 4 weeks. The free enzyme retained only 24.0% of its original activity following the same storage period. Lastly, decomposition products resulting from enzymatic oxidation of a model phenolic compound (3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid) in aqueous solution were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Several indole-thiazolidinedione derivatives (9–24) were designed and synthesized as CDK6 inhibitors, and their anticancer activity was probed on the MCF-7 cell line and the effects on gene expression profiles were elucidated.

Protoiurus kraepelini is a scorpion species found in parts of Turkey and Greece. In this study, the peptide profile of its venom was determined for the first time. The electrophoretic profile of the crude venom showed a protein distribution from 2 to 130 kDa. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the venom peptide fraction yielded 27 peptides between 1059 and 4623 Da in mass. Several ion channelblocking and antimicrobial peptides were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting analysis. Cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects of the venom were also demonstrated on Jurkat cells and Escherichia coli, respectively. As the first peptidomic characterization study on P. kraepelini venom, this report lays the foundation for detailed future studies that may lead to the discovery of novel bioactive peptides.

Objective: Genotoxic potentials of six selected nitrobutane (I) derivatives designed as drug agents were tested here for the first time using umu-microplate test system. An important principle in drug development is to perform safety tests of previously determined significant drug activity in in vitro assays. This may be even more crucial than its efficiency in terms of experimental conditions, since it is important in chemotherapy to treat without risk for the patient. Methods: Umu-microplate test system is especially designed for detecting the mutagenicity of nitro compounds. 1-[(2-aminophenyl)thio]-1-phenyl-2-nitrobutane (I) derivatives involve nitro groups. Therefore umu-microplate test system has been chosen for our analysis. Evaluation of the SOS inducing activity of the tested compounds was examined with the umu-microplate test system using Salmonella typhimurium NM1011 (overexpressed NR (nitroreductase)) and S.typhimurium NM2009 (overexpressed O-At (O-acethyltransferase))strains which are sensitive to nitro compounds. Chlorophenol red-β-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG) and O-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) were used as substrate in the enzyme assays and also the well-known genotoxic nitro compound, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO), was the positive control in the test. Results: Although the β-galactosidase activities with using CPRG were three fold higher than ONPG, parallel results were obtained for both substrates and strains with all compounds tested. For all compounds, the induction of umuC gene expression was found to be almost the same for the strains that overexpress NR and O-At. The derivatives tested didn't caused an evident induction in both strains overexpressed NR and O-At enzymes which have a role in metabolic activation mechanism of nitro compunds. Conclusion: Our study showed that, 1-[(2-aminophenyl)thio]-1-phenyl-2-nitrobutane derivatives have no genotoxic effects in this test system. This result is a very important data making them a potential drug candidate. Key Words: Nitro compounds, umu-microplate, genotoxicity, drug Conflict of Interest: Authors have no conflict of interest. ÖZETAmaç: Bu çalışmada, ilaç etken maddesi olarak tasarlanmış altı adet nitrobütan türevinin genotoksik potansiyelleri, umu-mikroplak test sistemi ile değerlendirilmiştir. İn vitro testlerde anlamlı bir ilaç aktivitesinin saptanması durumunda, güvenlik testlerinin uygulanması, ilaç geliştirmede çok önemli bir ilkedir. Kemoterapide hastayı risk oluşturmadan tedavi etmek esas olduğundan, güvenlik testleri ilacın deneysel koşullardaki etkinliğinden bile daha fazla önem taşıyabilir. Metod: Umu-mikroplak test sistemi özel olarak nitrolu bileşiklerin mutajenitesini saptamak için tasarlanmıştır. 1-[(2-aminofenil)tiyo]-1-fenil-2-nitrobütan (I) türevleri de nitro grubu içermektedir, bu nedenle çalışmamızda bu test sistemi seçilmiştir. SOS indükleme aktivitelerinin değerlendirildiği umu-mikroplak test sisteminde, nitrolu bileşiklere hassas olarak geliştirilmiş, NR (nitroredüktaz) enzimini normalden fazla ifade e...