Caracterização estrutural da Mo-CBP3, uma albumina 2S de sementes de Moringa oleifera lamarck e seu modo de ação contra fungos fitopatogênicos.

Abstract

Mo-CBP3 is a chitin-binding protein purified from Moringa oleifera seeds that displays broad inhibitory activity against phytopathogenic fungi. In this work, we report new structural features of Mo-CBP3 that reveal a correlation between its structural stability and antifungal activity. In addition, to gain better insights into the mechanisms by which this protein acts as an antifungal agent, its ability to induce the endogenous production of reactive oxygen species and to trigger morphologic and ultrastructural alterations were analysed using Fusarium solani as a model. F. solani is an easy-to-handle and fast-developing species, making it ideal for in vitro assays, and it holds relevance as a phytopathogenic fungus that attacks economically important crop plants. To fully explore the biosafety of Mo-CBP3 as a chemical agent against fungi, its cytotoxic effects on eukaryotic cells were also investigated. Mo-CBP3 is a chitin-binding protein of 18.0 kDa, according to SDS-PAGE. However, by mass spectrometry analysis, it was observed that this protein consists of multiple isoforms with molecular masses ranging between 12.2 and 12.3 kDa. Mo-CBP3 is composed by two polypeptide chains of 5.0 and 9.0 kDa, named A and B chain, respectively. The B chain contains the following NH2-terminal sequence CPAIQRCCQQLRNIQPPCRCCQ while the A chain has a blocked NH2-terminal residue. cDNA encoding the B chain was obtained with primers of its NH2-terminal sequence. In silico analyses of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences confirmed the presence of isoforms and molecular mass of Mo-CBP3 and identified potential sites of O-glicosylation and phosphorilation. Moreover, similarities between Mo-CBP3 and other M. oleifera proteins as well as 2S albumins were detected. The secondary structure of Mo-CBP3 showed 30.3% α-helices, 16.3% β-sheets, 22.3% turns and 30.4% unordered forms. In the fluorescence spectroscopy, excitation of Mo-CBP3 solution at 280 nm and 295 nm gave emission maxima at 303 and 309 nm, respectively. The Mo-CBP3 structure is highly stable and retains its antifungal activity regardless of temperature and pH. Mo-CBP3 (0.05-0.1 mg/mL) was able to inhibit the conidia germination of several phytopathogenic fungi, including F. solani, F. oxysporum, Colletotrichum musae and C. gloeosporioides. Similarly, Mo-CBP3 was inhibitory to the mycelial mass development of F. solani at 0.05 mg/mL and has both fungistatic and fungicidal effects, depending on the concentration used. Binding of Mo-CBP3 to the fungal cell surface is achieved, at least in part, via electrostatic interactions, as 150 mM NaCl abolished its inhibitory effect. Mo-CBP3 induced the production of reactive oxygen species and caused in F. solani cells a marked loss of asymmetry, deformations and deep wrinkles in comparison to control cells. Disorganisation of the endomembrane system and condensation and shrinkage of cytosol with increased vacuolation and the loss of normal structure and content were also observed. Mo-CBP3 did not show haemolytic activity and it was not capable to alter de viability of both MCF-7 and Caco-2 cells, suggesting that this protein is not toxic for human cells. Based on its high stability and broad-spectrum efficacy against important phytopathogenic fungi at low inhibitory concentrations and absence of cytotoxicity to human cells, Mo-CBP3 has great potential in the development of new antifungal drugs or in transgenic crops with enhanced resistance to fungi.