Shining a light on the photochemical stability of peptidic bioinsecticides

Volker Herzig; Andrew Ahabh; Alun Jones; Glenn F King

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108381

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Shining a light on the photochemical stability of peptidic bioinsecticides

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Shining a light on the photochemical stability of peptidic bioinsecticides

Volker Herzig, Andrew Ahabh, Alun Jones and Glenn F King

Toxicon, Vol.262, pp.1-6

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108381

PMID: 40334792

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Abstract

Spider

sunlight

venom peptide

photochemical degradation

bioinsecticide

ultraviolet light

Peptide toxins from spider venoms are being increasingly hailed as environmentally friendly alternatives to market-dominating small-molecule chemical insecticides. While the stability of knotted spider-venom peptides towards enzymatic degradation, temperature changes and varying pH conditions has already been examined, their susceptibility to sunlight remains unclear. Field applications of insecticides demand that the insecticidal component is active for at least a few days to ensure sufficient eradication of the targeted insect pests. We therefore exposed four insecticidal spider venom peptides (ω-Hv1a, ω/κ-Hv1a, Ta1a and Dc1a) to continuous artificial sunlight for up to 7 days. After certain incubation periods, we quantified the percentage of intact peptide and identified sites of peptide cleavage. We found that after 3 days of continuous exposure (= 6 days of 12 h/d sunlight), the amount of remaining intact peptide was 16% (Ta1a), 21% (Dc1a), 55% (ω-Hv1a), and 67% (ω/κ-Hv1a), whereas bovine serum albumin was completely degraded. Even after 7 days (= 14 days of 12 h/d sunlight) exposure, more than 50% of ω/κ-Hv1a and ω-Hv1a remained intact. Peptides with lower molecular mass tended to be less susceptible to sunlight, while cleavage of peptide bonds involving proline or cysteine were most susceptible to photochemical degradation. The photochemical changes detected by mass spectrometry mainly comprised oxidations, deamidations, and cysteine-targeted modifications.

Details

Title: Shining a light on the photochemical stability of peptidic bioinsecticides
Authors: Volker Herzig (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
Andrew Ahabh - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Alun Jones - The University of Queensland
Glenn F King - The University of Queensland
Publication details: Toxicon, Vol.262, pp.1-6
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108381
ISSN: 1879-3150
PMID: 40334792
Data Availability: Data will be made available on request.
Grants: Be(e) friendly venomous spiders! Novel biopesticides from arachnid venoms, FT190100482, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, CE200100012, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Venoms to drugs: translating venom peptides into human therapeutics, 2035090, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - NHMRC
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991129775302621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Pharmacology & Pharmacy; Toxicology

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