In Silico Characterization of the Venom-Derived LW-9 Peptide Using PreADMET-Based Predictions
The LW-9 peptide was previously identified through screening of purified molecules from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer and has been described as an immunomodulatory compound with potential application in cancer therapy. The molecule was biochemically characterized and subjected to in silico analyses to evaluate its toxicity and efficacy profiles. LW-9 exhibits a molecular mass of 1235.522 Da and the amino acid sequence PyrKKDRFLGLM-CONH2. Secondary and tertiary structures were modeled using computational approaches. The results indicated low permeability across biological membranes, including the blood–brain barrier. In silico predictions further suggested that LW-9 is neither carcinogenic nor mutagenic; however, it may act as a potent inhibitor of the CYP3A4 enzyme, raising concerns regarding potential drug–drug interactions. Overall, LW-9 shows promise as an immunomodulatory agent for cancer applications, while its pharmacokinetic properties and possible interactions with other drugs continue to be investigated.
Authors
- Catarina Rapôso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8804-497X)
- Clailson da Silva Pinheiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2858-5536)
- Juliana Mozer Sciani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7213-206X)
- Ingrid Mayara Cavalcante Trevisan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2178-4997)
Institutions
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Piauí (BR)
- Universidade São Francisco (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BioMedInformatics
- Published
- 2026-08-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedinformatics6040054
- Primary Topic
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico