E-A new scenario of bioprospecting of Hymenoptera venoms through proteomic approach

Full text

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis.

V.17, n.3, p.249-263 2011.

Review article - ISSN 1678-9199.

A new scenario of bioprospecting of Hymenoptera venoms through proteomic approach

Santos LD (1), Pieroni M (2), Menegasso ARS (1), Pinto JRAS (1), Palma MS (1)

(1) Center of Study of Social Insects, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Rio Claro, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) University of Sorocaba, UNISO, Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Abstract: Venoms represent a huge and essentially unexplored reservoir of bioactive components that may cure diseases that do not respond to currently available therapies. This review select advances reported in the literature from 2000 to the present about the new scenario of Hymenoptera venom composition. On account of new technologies in the proteomic approach, which presents high resolution and sensitivity, the combination of developments in new instruments, fragmentation methods, strategic analysis, and mass spectrometry have become indispensable tools for interrogation of protein expression, molecule interaction, and post-translational modifications. Thus, the biochemical characterization of Hymenoptera venom has become a major subject of research in the area of allergy and immunology, in which proteomics has been an excellent alternative to assist the development of more specific extracts for diagnosis and treatment of hypersensitive patients to Hymenoptera venoms.

Key words: Hymenoptera, bee venoms, allergens, phospholipases A1, white-faced hornet venom antigen 5, hyaluronoglucosaminidase, mass spectrometry, proteomics.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are thankful to FAPESP, CNPq and CAPES for providing financial support.

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: January 12, 2011.

Accepted: April 18, 2011.

Abstract published online: April 26, 2011.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2011.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

There is no conflict.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

This work was supported by BIOprospecTA/FAPESP program (process number 06/57122-7), INCT/CNPq and CAPES.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

LUCILENE DELAZARI DOS SANTOS, Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais (CEIS), Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Av. 24A, n. 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brasil. Fax: +55 19 3534 8523. Email: lucilene@cevap.org.br.