In this study, we report the isolation, characterization,
and synthesis
of the peptide BmT-2 belonging to the tryptophyllins family, isolated
from the venom of the snake Bothrops moojeni. This
is the first time a tryptophyllin is identified in snake venom. We
tested whether BmT-2 had cytotoxic effects and antioxidant activity
in a set of experiments that included both in vitro and cell-based
assays. BmT-2 presented a radical scavenging activity toward ABTS• and AAPH-derived radicals. BmT-2 protected fluorescein,
DNA molecules, and human red blood cells (RBCs) from free radicals
generated by the thermal decomposition of AAPH. The novel tryptophyllin
was not toxic in cell viability tests, where it (up to 0.4 mg/mL)
did not cause hemolysis of human RBCs and did not cause significant
loss of cell viability, showing a CC50 > 1.5 mM for
cytotoxic
effects against SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cells. BmT-2 prevented the
arsenite-induced upregulation of Nrf2 in Neuro-2a neuroblasts and
the phorbol myristate acetate-induced overgeneration of reactive oxygen
species and reactive nitrogen species in SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma
cells. Electronic structure calculations and full atomistic reactive
molecular dynamics simulations revealed the relevant contribution
of aromatic residues in BmT-2 to its antioxidant properties. Our study
presents a novel peptide classified into the family of the tryptophyllins,
which has been reported exclusively in amphibians. Despite the promising
results on its antioxidant activity and low cytotoxicity, the mechanisms
of action of BmT-2 still need to be further elucidated.