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Abstract
Mistletoes are semiparasite plants containing pharmaceutical proteins with applications in cancer treatment. Previous research has demonstrated that somaclonal variation can lead to the biosynthesis of novel proteins from mistletoe callus cultures. The protein content of Viscum album subsp. abietis tissues and biotechnologically propagated calluses, was analyzed to identify proteins with putative anticancer properties. In addition, evolutionary relations among linked species to Viscum were studied. Calluses were propagated from stem explants. The protein extracts mass spectra were processed with Proteome Discoverer and a search was performed using as reference the Uniprot V. album reviewed database. A phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using the LG amino acid substitution model by homologous sequences for Beta galactoside-specific lectin 2. The homology modeling of the Beta-galactoside-specific lectin 2 was carried out using Modeller software. Considerable differences were observed by comparing the protein content of the calluses and the maternal tissues. Four mistletoe lectins, six viscotoxins and the chitin binding lectin-cbML were identified within the species tissues. An in silico phylogenetic and structural study provides insights to the role of these lectins and the mechanism of semiparasite survival and evolution, towards a novel anticancer and immune system modulation pipeline. Callogenesis exhibited protein biosynthesis alterations and novel protein isoforms expression. Phyllogenetic analysis revealed evolutionary relations primarily within the Viscum genus and other species containing 2-ribosome inactivating proteins. The homology modeling of the mistletoe lectin 2 revealed possible structure related anticancer properties. In conclusion, mistletoe calluses were shown to possess a unique protein biosynthetic profile compared to donor plant tissues.
Key message
Protein identification within V. album tissues and calluses highlighted evolutionary relations in species containing 2-RIP lectins and proteins with putative anti-malignant properties.
Details
; Vlachakis Dimitrios 2 ; Makridakis Manousos 3 ; Stroggilos Rafael 3 ; Zoidakis Jerome 3 ; Termentzi Aikaterini 4 ; Moschopoulou Georgia 1 ; Kintzios Spyridon 1 1 Agricultural University of Athens, Laboratory of Cell Technology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Athens, Greece (GRID:grid.10985.35) (ISNI:0000 0001 0794 1186)
2 Agricultural University of Athens, Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Genetics Laboratory, Biotechnology Department, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Athens, Greece (GRID:grid.10985.35) (ISNI:0000 0001 0794 1186)
3 Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Biotechnology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation, Athens, Greece (GRID:grid.417593.d) (ISNI:0000 0001 2358 8802)
4 Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Laboratory of the Toxicological Control of Pesticides, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Athens, Greece (GRID:grid.418286.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 0665 9920)