QUB-1331: a bioactive peptide from the skin secretion of the Chinese piebald odorous frog (Odorrana schmackeri)

Among these peptides, bradykinin-related peptides (BRPs) stand out from the considerable number of peptide families due to their close relationship with the regulation of mammalian physiological and pathological processes. <br><br>Here, a BRP precursor-encoding transcripts was deduced from cDNA libraries from the skin secretions of the Chinese piebald odorous frog, Odorrana schmackeri, through the application of the molecular cloning method of ‘shotgun’ cloning and sequencing.

The mature peptide was subsequently synthesised by solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and its authenticity was confirmed using RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Later, several biological functions of this novel peptide were investigated.<br><br>Results indicated a dose-dependent contractile activity of the peptide on rat bladder smooth muscle, a dose-dependent relaxation on rat arterial smooth muscle and a BK inhibitor function on rat ileum.