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Alape-Girón A, Flores-Díaz M, Sanz L, Madrigal M, Escolano J, Sasa M, Calvete JJ. Studies on the venom proteome of Bothrops asper: Perspectives and applications. Toxicon 2009; 54:938-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2009] [Revised: 06/07/2009] [Accepted: 06/09/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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252
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253
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Fry BG, Roelants K, Winter K, Hodgson WC, Griesman L, Kwok HF, Scanlon D, Karas J, Shaw C, Wong L, Norman JA. Novel venom proteins produced by differential domain-expression strategies in beaded lizards and gila monsters (genus Heloderma). Mol Biol Evol 2009; 27:395-407. [PMID: 19837656 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msp251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin and evolution of venom proteins in helodermatid lizards were investigated by multidisciplinary techniques. Our analyses elucidated novel toxin types resultant from three unique domain-expression processes: 1) The first full-length sequences of lethal toxin isoforms (helofensins) revealed this toxin type to be constructed by an ancestral monodomain, monoproduct gene (beta-defensin) that underwent three tandem domain duplications to encode a tetradomain, monoproduct with a possible novel protein fold; 2) an ancestral monodomain gene (encoding a natriuretic peptide) was medially extended to become a pentadomain, pentaproduct through the additional encoding of four tandemly repeated proline-rich peptides (helokinestatins), with the five discrete peptides liberated from each other by posttranslational proteolysis; and 3) an ancestral multidomain, multiproduct gene belonging to the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)/glucagon family being mutated to encode for a monodomain, monoproduct (exendins) followed by duplication and diversification into two variant classes (exendins 1 and 2 and exendins 3 and 4). Bioactivity characterization of exendin and helokinestatin elucidated variable cardioactivity between isoforms within each class. These results highlight the importance of utilizing evolutionary-based search strategies for biodiscovery and the virtually unexplored potential of lizard venoms in drug design and discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan G Fry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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254
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A family of diverse Kunitz inhibitors from Echinococcus granulosus potentially involved in host-parasite cross-talk. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7009. [PMID: 19759914 PMCID: PMC2740865 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2009] [Accepted: 08/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The cestode Echinococcus granulosus, the agent of hydatidosis/echinococcosis, is remarkably well adapted to its definitive host. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the successful establishment of larval worms (protoscoleces) in the dog duodenum are unknown. With the aim of identifying molecules participating in the E. granulosus-dog cross-talk, we surveyed the transcriptomes of protoscoleces and protoscoleces treated with pepsin at pH 2. This analysis identified a multigene family of secreted monodomain Kunitz proteins associated mostly with pepsin/H(+)-treated worms, suggesting that they play a role at the onset of infection. We present the relevant molecular features of eight members of the E. granulosus Kunitz family (EgKU-1 - EgKU-8). Although diverse, the family includes three pairs of close paralogs (EgKU-1/EgKU-4; EgKU-3/EgKU-8; EgKU-6/EgKU-7), which would be the products of recent gene duplications. In addition, we describe the purification of EgKU-1 and EgKU-8 from larval worms, and provide data indicating that some members of the family (notably, EgKU-3 and EgKU-8) are secreted by protoscoleces. Detailed kinetic studies with native EgKU-1 and EgKU-8 highlighted their functional diversity. Like most monodomain Kunitz proteins, EgKU-8 behaved as a slow, tight-binding inhibitor of serine proteases, with global inhibition constants (K(I) (*)) versus trypsins in the picomolar range. In sharp contrast, EgKU-1 did not inhibit any of the assayed peptidases. Interestingly, molecular modeling revealed structural elements associated with activity in Kunitz cation-channel blockers. We propose that this family of inhibitors has the potential to act at the E. granulosus-dog interface and interfere with host physiological processes at the initial stages of infection.
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255
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Calvete JJ, Fasoli E, Sanz L, Boschetti E, Righetti PG. Exploring the venom proteome of the western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, via snake venomics and combinatorial peptide ligand library approaches. J Proteome Res 2009; 8:3055-67. [PMID: 19371136 DOI: 10.1021/pr900249q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We report the proteomic characterization of the venom of the medically important North American western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, using two complementary approaches: snake venomics (to gain an insight of the overall venom proteome), and two solid-phase combinatorial peptide ligand libraries (CPLL), followed by 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometric characterization of in-gel digested protein bands (to capture and "amplify" low-abundance proteins). The venomics approach revealed approximately 24 distinct proteins belonging to 2 major protein families (snake venom metalloproteinases, SVMP, and serine proteinases), which represent 69.5% of the total venom proteins, 4 medium abundance families (medium-size disintegrin, PLA(2), cysteine-rich secretory protein, and l-amino acid oxidase) amounting to 25.8% of the venom proteins, and 3 minor protein families (vasoactive peptides, endogenous inhibitor of SVMP, and C-type lectin-like). This toxin profile potentially explains the cytotoxic, myotoxic, hemotoxic, and hemorrhagic effects evoked by C. atrox envenomation. Further, our results showing that C. atrox exhibits a similar level of venom variation as Sistrurus miliarius points to a "diversity gain" scenario in the lineage leading to the Sistrurus catenatus taxa. On the other hand, the two combinatorial hexapeptide libraries captured distinct sets of proteins. Although the CPLL-treated samples did not retain a representative venom proteome, protein spots barely, or not at all, detectable in the whole venom were enriched in the two CPLL-treated samples. The amplified low copy number C. atrox venom proteins comprised a C-type lectin-like protein, several PLA(2) molecules, PIII-SVMP isoforms, glutaminyl cyclase isoforms, and a 2-cys peroxiredoxin highly conserved across the animal kingdom. Peroxiredoxin and glutaminyl cyclase may participate, respectively, in redox processes leading to the structural/functional diversification of toxins, and in the N-terminal pyrrolidone carboxylic acid formation required in the maturation of bioactive peptides such as bradykinin-potentiating peptides and endogenous inhibitors of metalloproteases. Our findings underscore the usefulness of combinatorial peptide libraries as powerful tools for mining below the tip of the iceberg, complementing thereby the data gained using the snake venomics protocol toward a complete visualization of the venom proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Calvete
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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256
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Fry BG, Roelants K, Champagne DE, Scheib H, Tyndall JD, King GF, Nevalainen TJ, Norman JA, Lewis RJ, Norton RS, Renjifo C, de la Vega RCR. The Toxicogenomic Multiverse: Convergent Recruitment of Proteins Into Animal Venoms. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2009; 10:483-511. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev.genom.9.081307.164356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 587] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Throughout evolution, numerous proteins have been convergently recruited into the venoms of various animals, including centipedes, cephalopods, cone snails, fish, insects (several independent venom systems), platypus, scorpions, shrews, spiders, toxicoferan reptiles (lizards and snakes), and sea anemones. The protein scaffolds utilized convergently have included AVIT/colipase/prokineticin, CAP, chitinase, cystatin, defensins, hyaluronidase, Kunitz, lectin, lipocalin, natriuretic peptide, peptidase S1, phospholipase A2, sphingomyelinase D, and SPRY. Many of these same venom protein types have also been convergently recruited for use in the hematophagous gland secretions of invertebrates (e.g., fleas, leeches, kissing bugs, mosquitoes, and ticks) and vertebrates (e.g., vampire bats). Here, we discuss a number of overarching structural, functional, and evolutionary generalities of the protein families from which these toxins have been frequently recruited and propose a revised and expanded working definition for venom. Given the large number of striking similarities between the protein compositions of conventional venoms and hematophagous secretions, we argue that the latter should also fall under the same definition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan G. Fry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010 Australia
| | - Kim Roelants
- Unit of Ecology and Systematics, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Donald E. Champagne
- Department of Entomology and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | | | - Joel D.A. Tyndall
- National School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Glenn F. King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - Janette A. Norman
- Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Richard J. Lewis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Raymond S. Norton
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3050, Victoria, Australia
| | - Camila Renjifo
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ricardo C. Rodríguez de la Vega
- Structural and Computational Biology/Gene Expression Units, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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257
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Mordvintsev DY, Polyak YL, Rodionov DI, Jakubik J, Dolezal V, Karlsson E, Tsetlin VI, Utkin YN. Weak toxin WTX from Naja kaouthia cobra venom interacts with both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. FEBS J 2009; 276:5065-75. [PMID: 19682302 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07203.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Iodinated [125I] weak toxin from Naja kaouthia (WTX) cobra venom was injected into mice, and organ-specific binding was monitored. Relatively high levels of [125I]WTX were detected in the adrenal glands. Rat adrenal membranes were therefore used for analysis of [125I]WTX-binding sites. Specific [125I]WTX binding was partially inhibited by both alpha-cobratoxin, a blocker of the alpha7 and muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), and by atropine, an antagonist of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR). Binding to rat adrenal nAChR had a Kd of 2.0+/-0.8 microM and was inhibited by alpha-cobratoxin but not by a short-chain alpha-neurotoxin antagonist of the muscle-type nAChR, suggesting a specific interaction with the alpha7-type nAChR. WTX binding was reduced not only by atropine but also by other muscarinic agents (oxotremorine and muscarinic toxins from Dendroaspis angusticeps), indicating an interaction with mAChR. This interaction was further characterized using individual subtypes of human mAChRs expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. WTX concentrations up to 30 microM did not inhibit binding of [3H]acetylcholine to any subtype of mAChR by more than 50%. Depending on receptor subtype, WTX either increased or had no effect on the binding of the muscarinic antagonist [3H]N-methylscopolamine, which binds to the orthosteric site, a finding indicative of an allosteric interaction. Furthermore, WTX alone activated G-protein coupling with all mAChR subtypes and reduced the efficacy of acetylcholine in activating G-proteins with the M1, M4, and M5 subtypes. Our data demonstrate an orthosteric WTX interaction with nAChR and an allosteric interaction with mAChRs.
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258
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Fry BG, Wroe S, Teeuwisse W, van Osch MJP, Moreno K, Ingle J, McHenry C, Ferrara T, Clausen P, Scheib H, Winter KL, Greisman L, Roelants K, van der Weerd L, Clemente CJ, Giannakis E, Hodgson WC, Luz S, Martelli P, Krishnasamy K, Kochva E, Kwok HF, Scanlon D, Karas J, Citron DM, Goldstein EJC, McNaughtan JE, Norman JA. A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) priscus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:8969-74. [PMID: 19451641 PMCID: PMC2690028 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0810883106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The predatory ecology of Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) has been a subject of long-standing interest and considerable conjecture. Here, we investigate the roles and potential interplay between cranial mechanics, toxic bacteria, and venom. Our analyses point to the presence of a sophisticated combined-arsenal killing apparatus. We find that the lightweight skull is relatively poorly adapted to generate high bite forces but better adapted to resist high pulling loads. We reject the popular notion regarding toxic bacteria utilization. Instead, we demonstrate that the effects of deep wounds inflicted are potentiated through venom with toxic activities including anticoagulation and shock induction. Anatomical comparisons of V. komodoensis with V. (Megalania) priscus fossils suggest that the closely related extinct giant was the largest venomous animal to have ever lived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan G Fry
- Venomics Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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259
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Chu CW, Tsai TS, Tsai IH, Lin YS, Tu MC. Prey envenomation does not improve digestive performance in Taiwanese pit vipers (Trimeresurus gracilis and T. stejnegeri stejnegeri). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2009; 152:579-85. [PMID: 19256079 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
It has been a common belief that snake venom may help in the digestion of its prey, although direct examples and supporting evidence have not been sufficient. To address this, the present study examined whether preinjecting natural amounts of pit viper venom into experimental mice may accelerate their digestion by the snakes or gain energy benefit as compared to the control without the envenomation. Live adults of two Asian pit viper species Trimeresurus gracilis and T. stejnegeri stejnegeri, which inhabit the cold and warm environment respectively, were the subjects studied herein. A natural dose of 1.2 mg of each of the pit viper venom in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was injected into the mouse (about 10% of the snake mass) before it was being fed to the same species of vipers, while the pit vipers in control group were given mouse injected with sterile PBS. The snakes were kept at 14 degrees C or 24 degrees C, and parameters of gut passage time, costs of digestion, and/or digestive efficiency were measured. The results did not support the hypotheses that envenomation facilitates prey digestion. The venom in fact caused longer first defecation time and lower assimilation energy at 14 degrees C. Besides, the time to reach the oxygen consumption peak, and the first defecation time of T. s. stejnegeri were longer than that of T. gracilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wei Chu
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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260
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Abstract
Toxins are detected in sporadic species along the evolutionary tree of the animal kingdom. Venomous animals include scorpions, snakes, bees, wasps, frogs and numerous animals living in the sea such as the stonefish, snail, jellyfish, hydra and more. Interestingly, proteins that share a common scaffold with animal toxins also exist in non-venomous species. However, due to their short length and primary sequence diversity, these, toxin-like proteins remain undetected by classical search engines and genome annotation tools. We construct a toxin classification machine and web server called ClanTox (Classifier of Animal Toxins) that is based on the extraction of sequence-driven features from the primary protein sequence followed by the application of a classification system trained on known animal toxins. For a given input list of sequences, from venomous or non-venomous settings, the ClanTox system predicts whether each sequence is toxin-like. ClanTox provides a ranked list of positively predicted candidates according to statistical confidence. For each protein, additional information is presented including the presence of a signal peptide, the number of cysteine residues and the associated functional annotations. ClanTox is a discovery-prediction tool for a relatively overlooked niche of toxin-like cell modulators, many of which are therapeutic agent candidates. The ClanTox web server is freely accessible at http://www.clantox.cs.huji.ac.il.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Naamati
- Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
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261
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Paesen GC, Siebold C, Dallas ML, Peers C, Harlos K, Nuttall PA, Nunn MA, Stuart DI, Esnouf RM. An ion-channel modulator from the saliva of the brown ear tick has a highly modified Kunitz/BPTI structure. J Mol Biol 2009; 389:734-47. [PMID: 19394347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2009] [Revised: 04/17/2009] [Accepted: 04/21/2009] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ra-KLP, a 75 amino acid protein secreted by the salivary gland of the brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus has a sequence resembling those of Kunitz/BPTI proteins. We report the detection, purification and characterization of the function of Ra-KLP. In addition, determination of the three-dimensional crystal structure of Ra-KLP at 1.6 A resolution using sulphur single-wavelength anomalous dispersion reveals that much of the loop structure of classical Kunitz domains, including the protruding protease-binding loop, has been replaced by beta-strands. Even more unusually, the N-terminal portion of the polypeptide chain is pinned to the "Kunitz head" by two disulphide bridges not found in classical Kunitz/BPTI proteins. The disulphide bond pattern has been further altered by the loss of the bridge that normally stabilizes the protease-binding loop. Consistent with the conversion of this loop into a beta-strand, Ra-KLP shows no significant anti-protease activity; however, it activates maxiK channels in an in vitro system, suggesting a potential mechanism for regulating host blood supply during feeding.
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262
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Calvete JJ, Sanz L, Angulo Y, Lomonte B, Gutiérrez JM. Venoms, venomics, antivenomics. FEBS Lett 2009; 583:1736-43. [PMID: 19303875 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2009] [Revised: 03/12/2009] [Accepted: 03/13/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Venoms comprise mixtures of peptides and proteins tailored by Natural Selection to act on vital systems of the prey or victim. Here we review our proteomic protocols for uncoiling the composition, immunological profile, and evolution of snake venoms. Our long-term goal is to gain a deep insight of all viperid venom proteomes. Knowledge of the inter- and intraspecies ontogenetic, individual, and geographic venom variability has applied importance for the design of immunization protocols aimed at producing more effective polyspecific antivenoms. A practical consequence of assessing the cross-reactivity of heterologous antivenoms is the possibility of circumventing the restricted availability of species-specific antivenoms in some regions. Further, the high degree of target specificity makes toxins valuable scaffolds for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Calvete
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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263
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Tentacles of venom: toxic protein convergence in the Kingdom Animalia. J Mol Evol 2009; 68:311-21. [PMID: 19294452 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-009-9223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2008] [Revised: 02/13/2009] [Accepted: 02/27/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The origin and evolution of venom in many animal orders remain controversial or almost entirely uninvestigated. Here we use cDNA studies of cephalopod posterior and anterior glands to reveal a single early origin of the associated secreted proteins. Protein types recovered were CAP (CRISP, Antigen 5 [Ag5] and Pathogenesis-related [PR-1]), chitinase, peptidase S1, PLA(2) (phospholipase A(2)), and six novel peptide types. CAP, chitinase, and PLA(2) were each recovered from a single species (Hapalochlaena maculosa, Octopus kaurna, and Sepia latimanus, respectively), while peptidase S1 transcripts were found in large numbers in all three posterior gland libraries. In addition, peptidase S1 transcripts were recovered from the anterior gland of H. maculata. We compare their molecular evolution to that of related proteins found in invertebrate and vertebrate venoms, revealing striking similarities in the types of proteins selected for toxic mutation and thus shedding light on what makes a protein amenable for use as a toxin.
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264
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Risch M, Georgieva D, von Bergen M, Jehmlich N, Genov N, Arni RK, Betzel C. Snake venomics of the Siamese Russell's viper (Daboia russelli siamensis) -- relation to pharmacological activities. J Proteomics 2009; 72:256-69. [PMID: 19457351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2009.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2008] [Revised: 01/08/2009] [Accepted: 01/08/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The venom proteome of Daboia russelli siamensis, a snake of medical importance in several Asian countries, was analysed by 2-D electrophoresis, subsequent MS/MS and enzymatic assays. The proteome comprises toxins from six protein families: serine proteinases, metalloproteinases, phospholipases A(2), L-amino acid oxidases, vascular endothelial growth factors and C-type lectin-like proteins. The venom toxin composition correlates with the clinical manifestation of the Russell's viper bite and explains pathological effects of the venom such as coagulopathy, oedema, hypotensive, necrotic and tissue damaging effects. The vast majority of toxins are potentially involved in coagulopathy and neurotoxic effects. The predominant venom components are proteinases capable of activating blood coagulation factors and promoting a rapid clotting of the blood, and neurotoxic phospholipase A(2)s. The analysis of the venom protein composition provides a catalogue of secreted toxins. The proteome of D. r. siamensis exhibits a lower level of toxin diversity than the proteomes of other viperid snakes. In comparison to the venoms of Vipera ammodytes ammodytes and Vipera ammodytes meridionalis, the venom from D. r. siamensis showed quantitative differences in the proteolytic, phospholipase A(2), L-amino acid oxidase and alkaline phosphatase activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Risch
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Department of Proteomics, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
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265
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Valente RH, Guimarães PR, Junqueira M, Neves-Ferreira AGC, Soares MR, Chapeaurouge A, Trugilho MR, León IR, Rocha SL, Oliveira-Carvalho AL, Wermelinger LS, Dutra DL, Leão LI, Junqueira-de-Azevedo IL, Ho PL, Zingali RB, Perales J, Domont GB. Bothrops insularis venomics: A proteomic analysis supported by transcriptomic-generated sequence data. J Proteomics 2009; 72:241-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2009.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2008] [Revised: 01/05/2009] [Accepted: 01/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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266
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Fry BG, Vidal N, van der Weerd L, Kochva E, Renjifo C. Evolution and diversification of the Toxicofera reptile venom system. J Proteomics 2009; 72:127-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2009.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2009] [Accepted: 01/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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267
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Whittington CM, Koh JM, Warren WC, Papenfuss AT, Torres AM, Kuchel PW, Belov K. Understanding and utilising mammalian venom via a platypus venom transcriptome. J Proteomics 2009; 72:155-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2008.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2008] [Accepted: 12/11/2008] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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268
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Kelly CMR, Barker NP, Villet MH, Broadley DG. Phylogeny, biogeography and classification of the snake superfamily Elapoidea: a rapid radiation in the late Eocene. Cladistics 2009; 25:38-63. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2008.00237.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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269
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Gibbs HL, Sanz L, Calvete JJ. Snake Population Venomics: Proteomics-Based Analyses of Individual Variation Reveals Significant Gene Regulation Effects on Venom Protein Expression in Sistrurus Rattlesnakes. J Mol Evol 2009; 68:113-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s00239-008-9186-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2008] [Accepted: 11/14/2008] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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270
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Braasch I, Volff JN, Schartl M. The endothelin system: evolution of vertebrate-specific ligand-receptor interactions by three rounds of genome duplication. Mol Biol Evol 2009; 26:783-99. [PMID: 19174480 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msp015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphological innovations like the acquisition of the neural crest as well as gene family expansions by genome duplication are considered as major leaps in the evolution of the vertebrate lineage. Using comparative genomic analyses, we have reconstructed the evolutionary history of the endothelin system, a signaling pathway consisting of endothelin ligands and their G protein-coupled receptors. The endothelin system plays a key role in cardiovascular regulation as well as in the development of diverse neural crest derivatives like pigment cells and craniofacial bone structures, which are hot spots of diversity in vertebrates. However, little is known about the origin and evolution of the endothelin system in the vertebrate lineage. We show that the endothelin core system, that is, endothelin ligands (Edn) and their receptors (Ednr), is a vertebrate-specific innovation. The components of the endothelin core system in modern vertebrate genomes date back to single genes that have been duplicated during whole-genome duplication events. After two rounds of genome duplication during early vertebrate evolution, the endothelin system of an ancestral gnathostome consisted of four ligand and four receptor genes. The previously unknown fourth endothelin ligand Edn4 has been kept in teleost fish but lost in tetrapods. Bony vertebrates generally possess three receptor genes, EdnrA, EdnrB1, and EdnrB2. EdnrB2 has been lost secondarily in the mammalian lineage from a chromosome that gave rise to the sex chromosomes in therians (marsupials and placentals). The endothelin system of fishes was further expanded by a fish-specific genome duplication and duplicated edn2, edn3, ednrA, and ednrB1 genes have been retained in teleost fishes. Functional divergence analyses suppose that following each round of genome duplication, coevolution of ligands and their binding regions in the receptors has occurred, adjusting the endothelin signaling system to the increase of possible ligand-receptor interactions. Furthermore, duplications of genes involved in the endothelin system are associated with functional specialization for the development of particular neural crest derivatives. Our results support an important role for newly emerging ligands and receptors as components of signaling pathways and their expansion through genome duplications in the evolution of the vertebrate neural crest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Braasch
- University of Würzburg, Biozentrum, Physiological Chemistry I, Germany.
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271
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Wagstaff SC, Sanz L, Juárez P, Harrison RA, Calvete JJ. Combined snake venomics and venom gland transcriptomic analysis of the ocellated carpet viper, Echis ocellatus. J Proteomics 2009; 71:609-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2008.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2008] [Revised: 10/16/2008] [Accepted: 10/16/2008] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Abstract
Over two centuries after the first platypus specimen stirred the scientific community in Europe, the whole-genome sequence of the duck-billed platypus has been completed and is publicly available. After publication of eutherian and marsupial genomes, this is the first genome of a monotreme filling an important evolutionary gap between the divergence of birds more that 300 million years ago and marsupials more than 140 million years ago. Monotremes represent the most basal surviving branch of mammals and the platypus genome sequence allows unprecedented insights into the evolution of mammals and the fascinating biology of the egg-laying mammals. Here, we discuss some of the key findings of the analysis of the platypus genome and point to new findings and future research directions, which illustrate the broad impact of the platypus genome project for understanding monotreme biology and mammalian genome evolution.
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273
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Matsunaga Y, Yamazaki Y, Hyodo F, Sugiyama Y, Nozaki M, Morita T. Structural Divergence of Cysteine-Rich Secretory Proteins in Snake Venoms†. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 145:365-75. [DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvn174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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274
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Gibbs GM, Roelants K, O'Bryan MK. The CAP superfamily: cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins--roles in reproduction, cancer, and immune defense. Endocr Rev 2008; 29:865-97. [PMID: 18824526 DOI: 10.1210/er.2008-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 364] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins (CAP) superfamily members are found in a remarkable range of organisms spanning each of the animal kingdoms. Within humans and mice, there are 31 and 33 individual family members, respectively, and although many are poorly characterized, the majority show a notable expression bias to the reproductive tract and immune tissues or are deregulated in cancers. CAP superfamily proteins are most often secreted and have an extracellular endocrine or paracrine function and are involved in processes including the regulation of extracellular matrix and branching morphogenesis, potentially as either proteases or protease inhibitors; in ion channel regulation in fertility; as tumor suppressor or prooncogenic genes in tissues including the prostate; and in cell-cell adhesion during fertilization. This review describes mammalian CAP superfamily gene expression profiles, phylogenetic relationships, protein structural properties, and biological functions, and it draws into focus their potential role in health and disease. The nine subfamilies of the mammalian CAP superfamily include: the human glioma pathogenesis-related 1 (GLIPR1), Golgi associated pathogenesis related-1 (GAPR1) proteins, peptidase inhibitor 15 (PI15), peptidase inhibitor 16 (PI16), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), CRISP LCCL domain containing 1 (CRISPLD1), CRISP LCCL domain containing 2 (CRISPLD2), mannose receptor like and the R3H domain containing like proteins. We conclude that overall protein structural conservation within the CAP superfamily results in fundamentally similar functions for the CAP domain in all members, yet the diversity outside of this core region dramatically alters target specificity and, therefore, the biological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard M Gibbs
- Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Australia.
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275
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Binford GJ, Bodner MR, Cordes MHJ, Baldwin KL, Rynerson MR, Burns SN, Zobel-Thropp PA. Molecular evolution, functional variation, and proposed nomenclature of the gene family that includes sphingomyelinase D in sicariid spider venoms. Mol Biol Evol 2008; 26:547-66. [PMID: 19042943 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msn274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The venom enzyme sphingomyelinase D (SMase D) in the spider family Sicariidae (brown or fiddleback spiders [Loxosceles] and six-eyed sand spiders [Sicarius]) causes dermonecrosis in mammals. SMase D is in a gene family with multiple venom-expressed members that vary in functional specificity. We analyze molecular evolution of this family and variation in SMase D activity among crude venoms using a data set that represents the phylogenetic breadth of Loxosceles and Sicarius. We isolated a total of 190 nonredundant nucleotide sequences encoding 168 nonredundant amino acid sequences of SMase D homologs from 21 species. Bayesian phylogenies support two major clades that we name alpha and beta, within which we define seven and three subclades, respectively. Sequences in the alpha clade are exclusively from New World Loxosceles and Loxosceles rufescens and include published genes for which expression products have SMase D and dermonecrotic activity. The beta clade includes paralogs from New World Loxosceles that have no, or reduced, SMase D and no dermonecrotic activity and also paralogs from Sicarius and African Loxosceles of unknown activity. Gene duplications are frequent, consistent with a birth-and-death model, and there is evidence of purifying selection with episodic positive directional selection. Despite having venom-expressed SMase D homologs, venoms from New World Sicarius have reduced, or no, detectable SMase D activity, and Loxosceles in the Southern African spinulosa group have low SMase D activity. Sequence conservation mapping shows >98% conservation of proposed catalytic residues of the active site and around a plug motif at the opposite end of the TIM barrel, but alpha and beta clades differ in conservation of key residues surrounding the apparent substrate binding pocket. Based on these combined results, we propose an inclusive nomenclature for the gene family, renaming it SicTox, and discuss emerging patterns of functional diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta J Binford
- Department of Biology, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR, USA.
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Discovery of a distinct superfamily of Kunitz-type toxin (KTT) from tarantulas. PLoS One 2008; 3:e3414. [PMID: 18923708 PMCID: PMC2561067 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2008] [Accepted: 09/16/2008] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Kuntiz-type toxins (KTTs) have been found in the venom of animals such as snake, cone snail and sea anemone. The main ancestral function of Kunitz-type proteins was the inhibition of a diverse array of serine proteases, while toxic activities (such as ion-channel blocking) were developed under a variety of Darwinian selection pressures. How new functions were grafted onto an old protein scaffold and what effect Darwinian selection pressures had on KTT evolution remains a puzzle. Principal Findings Here we report the presence of a new superfamily of KTTs in spiders (Tarantulas: Ornithoctonus huwena and Ornithoctonus hainana), which share low sequence similarity to known KTTs and is clustered in a distinct clade in the phylogenetic tree of KTT evolution. The representative molecule of spider KTTs, HWTX-XI, purified from the venom of O. huwena, is a bi-functional protein which is a very potent trypsin inhibitor (about 30-fold more strong than BPTI) as well as a weak Kv1.1 potassium channel blocker. Structural analysis of HWTX-XI in 3-D by NMR together with comparative function analysis of 18 expressed mutants of this toxin revealed two separate sites, corresponding to these two activities, located on the two ends of the cone-shape molecule of HWTX-XI. Comparison of non-synonymous/synonymous mutation ratios (ω) for each site in spider and snake KTTs, as well as PBTI like body Kunitz proteins revealed high Darwinian selection pressure on the binding sites for Kv channels and serine proteases in snake, while only on the proteases in spider and none detected in body proteins, suggesting different rates and patterns of evolution among them. The results also revealed a series of key events in the history of spider KTT evolution, including the formation of a novel KTT family (named sub-Kuntiz-type toxins) derived from the ancestral native KTTs with the loss of the second disulfide bridge accompanied by several dramatic sequence modifications. Conclusions/Significance These finding illustrate that the two activity sites of Kunitz-type toxins are functionally and evolutionally independent and provide new insights into effects of Darwinian selection pressures on KTT evolution, and mechanisms by which new functions can be grafted onto old protein scaffolds.
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278
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Tashima AK, Sanz L, Camargo AC, Serrano SM, Calvete JJ. Snake venomics of the Brazilian pitvipers Bothrops cotiara and Bothrops fonsecai. Identification of taxonomy markers. J Proteomics 2008; 71:473-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2008.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2008] [Revised: 07/28/2008] [Accepted: 07/29/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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279
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Juarez P, Comas I, Gonzalez-Candelas F, Calvete JJ. Evolution of Snake Venom Disintegrins by Positive Darwinian Selection. Mol Biol Evol 2008; 25:2391-407. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msn179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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280
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Sanz L, Ayvazyan N, Calvete JJ. Snake venomics of the Armenian mountain vipers Macrovipera lebetina obtusa and Vipera raddei. J Proteomics 2008; 71:198-209. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2008.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2008] [Accepted: 05/26/2008] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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281
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Galat A, Gross G, Drevet P, Sato A, Ménez A. Conserved structural determinants in three-fingered protein domains. FEBS J 2008; 275:3207-25. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06473.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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282
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Alape-Girón A, Sanz L, Escolano J, Flores-Díaz M, Madrigal M, Sasa M, Calvete JJ. Snake Venomics of the Lancehead Pitviper Bothrops asper: Geographic, Individual, and Ontogenetic Variations. J Proteome Res 2008; 7:3556-71. [DOI: 10.1021/pr800332p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Alape-Girón
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Libia Sanz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Escolano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Marietta Flores-Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Marvin Madrigal
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan J. Calvete
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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283
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Castoe TA, Jiang ZJ, Gu W, Wang ZO, Pollock DD. Adaptive evolution and functional redesign of core metabolic proteins in snakes. PLoS One 2008; 3:e2201. [PMID: 18493604 PMCID: PMC2376058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2007] [Accepted: 04/01/2008] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adaptive evolutionary episodes in core metabolic proteins are uncommon, and are even more rarely linked to major macroevolutionary shifts. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted extensive molecular evolutionary analyses on snake mitochondrial proteins and discovered multiple lines of evidence suggesting that the proteins at the core of aerobic metabolism in snakes have undergone remarkably large episodic bursts of adaptive change. We show that snake mitochondrial proteins experienced unprecedented levels of positive selection, coevolution, convergence, and reversion at functionally critical residues. We examined Cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) in detail, and show that it experienced extensive modification of normally conserved residues involved in proton transport and delivery of electrons and oxygen. Thus, adaptive changes likely altered the flow of protons and other aspects of function in CO, thereby influencing fundamental characteristics of aerobic metabolism. We refer to these processes as "evolutionary redesign" because of the magnitude of the episodic bursts and the degree to which they affected core functional residues. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The evolutionary redesign of snake COI coincided with adaptive bursts in other mitochondrial proteins and substantial changes in mitochondrial genome structure. It also generally coincided with or preceded major shifts in ecological niche and the evolution of extensive physiological adaptations related to lung reduction, large prey consumption, and venom evolution. The parallel timing of these major evolutionary events suggests that evolutionary redesign of metabolic and mitochondrial function may be related to, or underlie, the extreme changes in physiological and metabolic efficiency, flexibility, and innovation observed in snake evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A. Castoe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Zhi J. Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biological Computation and Visualization Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Wanjun Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Zhengyuan O. Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biological Computation and Visualization Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - David D. Pollock
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Warren WC, Hillier LW, Marshall Graves JA, Birney E, Ponting CP, Grützner F, Belov K, Miller W, Clarke L, Chinwalla AT, Yang SP, Heger A, Locke DP, Miethke P, Waters PD, Veyrunes F, Fulton L, Fulton B, Graves T, Wallis J, Puente XS, López-Otín C, Ordóñez GR, Eichler EE, Chen L, Cheng Z, Deakin JE, Alsop A, Thompson K, Kirby P, Papenfuss AT, Wakefield MJ, Olender T, Lancet D, Huttley GA, Smit AFA, Pask A, Temple-Smith P, Batzer MA, Walker JA, Konkel MK, Harris RS, Whittington CM, Wong ESW, Gemmell NJ, Buschiazzo E, Vargas Jentzsch IM, Merkel A, Schmitz J, Zemann A, Churakov G, Kriegs JO, Brosius J, Murchison EP, Sachidanandam R, Smith C, Hannon GJ, Tsend-Ayush E, McMillan D, Attenborough R, Rens W, Ferguson-Smith M, Lefèvre CM, Sharp JA, Nicholas KR, Ray DA, Kube M, Reinhardt R, Pringle TH, Taylor J, Jones RC, Nixon B, Dacheux JL, Niwa H, Sekita Y, Huang X, Stark A, Kheradpour P, Kellis M, Flicek P, Chen Y, Webber C, Hardison R, Nelson J, Hallsworth-Pepin K, Delehaunty K, Markovic C, Minx P, Feng Y, Kremitzki C, Mitreva M, Glasscock J, Wylie T, Wohldmann P, Thiru P, Nhan MN, Pohl CS, Smith SM, Hou S, Nefedov M, de Jong PJ, Renfree MB, Mardis ER, Wilson RK. Genome analysis of the platypus reveals unique signatures of evolution. Nature 2008; 453:175-83. [PMID: 18464734 PMCID: PMC2803040 DOI: 10.1038/nature06936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 476] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2007] [Accepted: 03/25/2008] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We present a draft genome sequence of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus. This monotreme exhibits a fascinating combination of reptilian and mammalian characters. For example, platypuses have a coat of fur adapted to an aquatic lifestyle; platypus females lactate, yet lay eggs; and males are equipped with venom similar to that of reptiles. Analysis of the first monotreme genome aligned these features with genetic innovations. We find that reptile and platypus venom proteins have been co-opted independently from the same gene families; milk protein genes are conserved despite platypuses laying eggs; and immune gene family expansions are directly related to platypus biology. Expansions of protein, non-protein-coding RNA and microRNA families, as well as repeat elements, are identified. Sequencing of this genome now provides a valuable resource for deep mammalian comparative analyses, as well as for monotreme biology and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley C Warren
- Genome Sequencing Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8501, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63108, USA.
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Whittington CM, Papenfuss AT, Bansal P, Torres AM, Wong ESW, Deakin JE, Graves T, Alsop A, Schatzkamer K, Kremitzki C, Ponting CP, Temple-Smith P, Warren WC, Kuchel PW, Belov K. Defensins and the convergent evolution of platypus and reptile venom genes. Genome Res 2008; 18:986-94. [PMID: 18463304 DOI: 10.1101/gr.7149808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
When the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) was first discovered, it was thought to be a taxidermist's hoax, as it has a blend of mammalian and reptilian features. It is a most remarkable mammal, not only because it lays eggs but also because it is venomous. Rather than delivering venom through a bite, as do snakes and shrews, male platypuses have venomous spurs on each hind leg. The platypus genome sequence provides a unique opportunity to unravel the evolutionary history of many of these interesting features. While searching the platypus genome for the sequences of antimicrobial defensin genes, we identified three Ornithorhynchus venom defensin-like peptide (OvDLP) genes, which produce the major components of platypus venom. We show that gene duplication and subsequent functional diversification of beta-defensins gave rise to these platypus OvDLPs. The OvDLP genes are located adjacent to the beta-defensins and share similar gene organization and peptide structures. Intriguingly, some species of snakes and lizards also produce venoms containing similar molecules called crotamines and crotamine-like peptides. This led us to trace the evolutionary origins of other components of platypus and reptile venom. Here we show that several venom components have evolved separately in the platypus and reptiles. Convergent evolution has repeatedly selected genes coding for proteins containing specific structural motifs as templates for venom molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla M Whittington
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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286
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Lomonte B, Escolano J, Fernández J, Sanz L, Angulo Y, Gutiérrez JM, Calvete JJ. Snake Venomics and Antivenomics of the Arboreal Neotropical Pitvipers Bothriechis lateralis and Bothriechis schlegelii. J Proteome Res 2008; 7:2445-57. [DOI: 10.1021/pr8000139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Escolano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Julián Fernández
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Libia Sanz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Yamileth Angulo
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan J. Calvete
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Bergmans H, Logie C, Van Maanen K, Hermsen H, Meredyth M, Van Der Vlugt C. Identification of potentially hazardous human gene products in GMO risk assessment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 7:1-9. [PMID: 18384725 DOI: 10.1051/ebr:2008001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), e.g. viral vectors, could threaten the environment if by their release they spread hazardous gene products. Even in contained use, to prevent adverse consequences, viral vectors carrying genes from mammals or humans should be especially scrutinized as to whether gene products that they synthesize could be hazardous in their new context. Examples of such potentially hazardous gene products (PHGPs) are: protein toxins, products of dominant alleles that have a role in hereditary diseases, gene products and sequences involved in genome rearrangements, gene products involved in immunomodulation or with an endocrine function, gene products involved in apoptosis, activated proto-oncogenes. For contained use of a GMO that carries a construct encoding a PHGP, the precautionary principle dictates that safety measures should be applied on a "worst case" basis, until the risks of the specific case have been assessed. The potential hazard of cloned genes can be estimated before empirical data on the actual GMO become available. Preliminary data may be used to focus hazard identification and risk assessment. Both predictive and empirical data may also help to identify what further information is needed to assess the risk of the GMO. A two-step approach, whereby a PHGP is evaluated for its conceptual dangers, then checked by data bank searches, is delineated here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Bergmans
- GMO Office, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
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Snake venomics of the South and Central American Bushmasters. Comparison of the toxin composition of Lachesis muta gathered from proteomic versus transcriptomic analysis. J Proteomics 2008; 71:46-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2007.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2007] [Revised: 10/17/2007] [Accepted: 10/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Rapid Evolution by Positive Selection and Gene Gain and Loss: PLA2 Venom Genes in Closely Related Sistrurus Rattlesnakes with Divergent Diets. J Mol Evol 2008; 66:151-66. [DOI: 10.1007/s00239-008-9067-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2007] [Revised: 10/26/2007] [Accepted: 12/24/2007] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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290
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Fry BG, Scheib H, van der Weerd L, Young B, McNaughtan J, Ramjan SFR, Vidal N, Poelmann RE, Norman JA. Evolution of an Arsenal. Mol Cell Proteomics 2008; 7:215-46. [PMID: 17855442 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m700094-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Venom is a key innovation underlying the evolution of advanced snakes (Caenophidia). Despite this, very little is known about venom system structural diversification, toxin recruitment event timings, or toxin molecular evolution. A multidisciplinary approach was used to examine the diversification of the venom system and associated toxins across the full range of the approximately 100 million-year-old advanced snake clade with a particular emphasis upon families that have not secondarily evolved a front-fanged venom system ( approximately 80% of the 2500 species). Analysis of cDNA libraries revealed complex venom transcriptomes containing multiple toxin types including three finger toxins, cobra venom factor, cysteine-rich secretory protein, hyaluronidase, kallikrein, kunitz, lectin, matrix metalloprotease, phospholipase A(2), snake venom metalloprotease/a disintegrin and metalloprotease, and waprin. High levels of sequence diversity were observed, including mutations in structural and functional residues, changes in cysteine spacing, and major deletions/truncations. Morphological analysis comprising gross dissection, histology, and magnetic resonance imaging also demonstrated extensive modification of the venom system architecture in non-front-fanged snakes in contrast to the conserved structure of the venom system within the independently evolved front-fanged elapid or viperid snakes. Further, a reduction in the size and complexity of the venom system was observed in species in which constriction has been secondarily evolved as the preferred method of prey capture or dietary preference has switched from live prey to eggs or to slugs/snails. Investigation of the timing of toxin recruitment events across the entire advanced snake radiation indicates that the evolution of advanced venom systems in three front-fanged lineages is associated with recruitment of new toxin types or explosive diversification of existing toxin types. These results support the role of venom as a key evolutionary innovation in the diversification of advanced snakes and identify a potential role for non-front-fanged venom toxins as a rich source for lead compounds for drug design and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan G Fry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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291
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Moran Y, Weinberger H, Sullivan JC, Reitzel AM, Finnerty JR, Gurevitz M. Concerted Evolution of Sea Anemone Neurotoxin Genes Is Revealed through Analysis of the Nematostella vectensis Genome. Mol Biol Evol 2008; 25:737-47. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msn021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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292
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Dutertre S, Croker D, Daly NL, Andersson A, Muttenthaler M, Lumsden NG, Craik DJ, Alewood PF, Guillon G, Lewis RJ. Conopressin-T from Conus tulipa reveals an antagonist switch in vasopressin-like peptides. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:7100-8. [PMID: 18174156 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m706477200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the discovery of conopressin-T, a novel bioactive peptide isolated from Conus tulipa venom. Conopressin-T belongs to the vasopressin-like peptide family and displays high sequence homology to the mammalian hormone oxytocin (OT) and to vasotocin, the endogenous vasopressin analogue found in teleost fish, the cone snail's prey. Conopressin-T was found to act as a selective antagonist at the human V 1a receptor. All peptides in this family contain two conserved amino acids within the exocyclic tripeptide (Pro7 and Gly9), which are replaced with Leu7 and Val9 in conopressin-T. Whereas conopressin-T binds only to OT and V 1a receptors, an L7P analogue had increased affinity for the V 1a receptor and weak V2 receptor binding. Surprisingly, replacing Gly9 with Val9 in OT and vasopressin revealed that this position can function as an agonist/antagonist switch at the V 1a receptor. NMR structures of both conopressin-T and L7P analogue revealed a marked difference in the orientation of the exocyclic tripeptide that may serve as templates for the design of novel ligands with enhanced affinity for the V 1a receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Dutertre
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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293
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Angulo Y, Escolano J, Lomonte B, Gutiérrez JM, Sanz L, Calvete JJ. Snake Venomics of Central American Pitvipers: Clues for Rationalizing the Distinct Envenomation Profiles of Atropoides nummifer and Atropoides picadoi. J Proteome Res 2007; 7:708-19. [DOI: 10.1021/pr700610z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yamileth Angulo
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Escolano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Libia Sanz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan J. Calvete
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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294
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Pahari S, Mackessy SP, Kini RM. The venom gland transcriptome of the Desert Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii): towards an understanding of venom composition among advanced snakes (Superfamily Colubroidea). BMC Mol Biol 2007; 8:115. [PMID: 18096037 PMCID: PMC2242803 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-8-115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2007] [Accepted: 12/20/2007] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Snake venoms are complex mixtures of pharmacologically active proteins and peptides which belong to a small number of superfamilies. Global cataloguing of the venom transcriptome facilitates the identification of new families of toxins as well as helps in understanding the evolution of venom proteomes. Results We have constructed a cDNA library of the venom gland of a threatened rattlesnake (a pitviper), Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii (Desert Massasauga), and sequenced 576 ESTs. Our results demonstrate a high abundance of serine proteinase and metalloproteinase transcripts, indicating that the disruption of hemostasis is a principle mechanism of action of the venom. In addition to the transcripts encoding common venom proteins, we detected two varieties of low abundance unique transcripts in the library; these encode for three-finger toxins and a novel toxin possibly generated from the fusion of two genes. We also observed polyadenylated ribosomal RNAs in the venom gland library, an interesting preliminary obsevation of this unusual phenomenon in a reptilian system. Conclusion The three-finger toxins are characteristic of most elapid venoms but are rare in viperid venoms. We detected several ESTs encoding this group of toxins in this study. We also observed the presence of a transcript encoding a fused protein of two well-characterized toxins (Kunitz/BPTI and Waprins), and this is the first report of this kind of fusion in a snake toxin transcriptome. We propose that these new venom proteins may have ancillary functions for envenomation. The presence of a fused toxin indicates that in addition to gene duplication and accelerated evolution, exon shuffling or transcriptional splicing may also contribute to generating the diversity of toxins and toxin isoforms observed among snake venoms. The detection of low abundance toxins, as observed in this and other studies, indicates a greater compositional similarity of venoms (though potency will differ) among advanced snakes than has been previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanta Pahari
- Center for Post Graduate Studies, Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College, 18/3, 9th Main, Jayanagar 3rd Block, Bangalore, India.
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295
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Calvete JJ, Juárez P, Sanz L. Snake venomics. Strategy and applications. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2007; 42:1405-14. [PMID: 17621391 DOI: 10.1002/jms.1242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Snake bites can be deadly, but the venoms also contain components of medical and biotechnological value. The proteomic characterization of snake venom proteomes, snake venomics, has thus a number of potential benefits for basic research, clinical diagnosis, and development of new research tools and drugs of potential clinical use. Snake venomics is also relevant for a deep understanding of the evolution and the biological effects of the venoms, and to generate immunization protocols to elicit toxin-specific antibodies with greater specificity and effectiveness than conventional systems. Our snake venomics approach starts with the fractionation of the crude venom by reverse-phase HPLC, followed by the initial characterization of each protein fraction by combination of N-terminal sequencing, SDS-PAGE, and mass spectrometric determination of the molecular masses and the cysteine (SH and S--S) content. Protein fractions showing a single electrophoretic band, molecular mass, and N-terminal sequence can be straightforwardly assigned by BLAST analysis to a known protein family. On the other hand, protein fractions showing heterogeneous or blocked N-termini are analyzed by SDS-PAGE and the bands of interest subjected to automated reduction, carbamidomethylation, and in-gel tryptic digestion. The resulting tryptic peptides are then analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass fingerprinting followed by amino acid sequence determination of selected doubly and triply charged peptide ions by collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry. The combined strategy allows us to assign unambiguously all the isolated venom toxins representing over 0.05% of the total venom proteins to known protein families. Protocols and applications of snake venomics are reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Calvete
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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296
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von Horsten HH, Johnson SS, SanFrancisco SK, Hastert MC, Whelly SM, Cornwall GA. Oligomerization and transglutaminase cross-linking of the cystatin CRES in the mouse epididymal lumen: potential mechanism of extracellular quality control. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:32912-23. [PMID: 17855342 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m703956200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
CRES (cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic), a member of the cystatin superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors, is expressed in the epididymis and spermatozoa, suggesting specialized roles in reproduction. Several cystatin family members oligomerize, including cystatin C that forms amyloid deposits associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Our studies demonstrate that CRES also forms oligomers. Size exclusion chromatography revealed the presence of multiple forms of CRES in the epididymal luminal fluid, including SDS-sensitive and SDS-resistant high molecular mass complexes. In vitro experiments demonstrated that CRES is a substrate for transglutaminase and that an endogenous transglutaminase activity in the epididymal lumen catalyzed the formation of SDS-resistant CRES complexes. The use of a conformation-dependent antibody that recognizes only the oligomeric precursors to amyloid, negative stain electron microscopy, and Congo Red staining showed that CRES adopted similar oligomeric and fibrillar structures during its aggregation as other amyloidogenic proteins, suggesting that CRES has the potential to form amyloid in the epididymal lumen. The addition of transglutaminase, however, prevented the formation of CRES oligomers recognized by the conformation antibody by cross-linking CRES into an amorphous structure. We propose that transglutaminase activity in the epididymal lumen may function as a mechanism of extracellular quality control by diverting proteins such as CRES from the amyloidogenic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans H von Horsten
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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297
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Graham RLJ, Graham C, Theakston D, McMullan G, Shaw C. Elucidation of trends within venom components from the snake families Elapidae and Viperidae using gel filtration chromatography. Toxicon 2007; 51:121-9. [PMID: 17936867 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2007.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2006] [Revised: 08/24/2007] [Accepted: 08/27/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Research into snake venom components has intensified over the last number of decades, particularly that work directed towards the discovery of novel agents with potential applications in clinical therapy. In the present study we report, for the first time, defined patterns observed in the G-50 chromatographic elution profiles from 30 snake venoms taken from Elapidae and Viperidae families, as well as previously unreported patterns within subfamilies of these snake species. Development of this chromatographic technique thus offers a rapid method for the general classification of snakes within these families as well as providing insights into hitherto uncharacterised trends within the venoms of snake subfamilies that have opened new avenues for further investigation.
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298
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Abstract
Since the discovery of atrial natriuretic factor by de Bold et al., there has been tremendous progress in our understanding of the physiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic roles of the natriuretic peptides (NPs) in health and disease. Natriuretic peptides are endogenous hormones that are released by the heart in response to myocardial stretch and overload. Three mammalian NPs have been identified and characterized, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP or atrial natriuretic factor), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). In addition, Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP) has been isolated from the venom of Dendroaspis angusticeps (the green mamba snake), and urodilatin from human urine. These peptides are structurally similar and they consist of a 17-amino-acid core ring and a cysteine bridge. Both ANP and BNP bind to natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A) that are expressed in the heart and other organs. Activation of NPR-A generates an increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which mediates natriuresis, inhibition of renin and aldosterone, as well as vasorelaxant, anti-fibrotic, anti-hypertrophic, and lusitropic effects. The NP system thus serves as an important compensatory mechanism against neurohumoral activation in heart failure. This provides a strong rationale for the use of exogenous NPs in the management of acutely decompensated heart failure. In this article, the therapeutic applications of NPs in the acute heart failure syndromes are reviewed. Emerging therapeutic agents and areas for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace Y W Lee
- Cardiorenal Research Laboratory, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55906, USA.
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299
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Hernández M, Scannone H, Finol HJ, Pineda ME, Fernández I, Vargas AM, Girón ME, Aguilar I, Rodríguez-Acosta A. Alterations in the ultrastructure of cardiac autonomic nervous system triggered by crotoxin from rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus cumanensis) venom. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 59:129-37. [PMID: 17616380 DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2007.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2007] [Accepted: 04/23/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study explored the toxic effects of crotoxin isolated from Crotalus durissus cumanensis venom on the ultrastructure of mice cardiac autonomic nervous system. Mice were intravenously injected with saline (control group) and crotoxin diluted in saline venom (study group) at a dose of 0.107 mg/kg mouse body weight. Samples from the inter-ventricular septum were prepared for electron microscopy after 6 h (G1), 12 h (G2), 24 h (G3) and 48 h (G4). The G1 group showed some cardiomyocyte with pleomorphic mitochondria. Capillary swollen walls, nerve cholinergic endings with depleted acetylcholine vesicles in their interior and other depletions were observed. A space completely lacking in contractile elements was noticed. The G2 group demonstrated a myelinic figure, a subsarcolemic region with few myofibrils and nervous cholinergic terminal with scarce vacuoles in their interior. The G3 group demonstrated a structure with a depleted axonic terminal, mitochondrias varying in size and enhanced electron density. In addition, muscular fibers with myofibrillar structure disorganization, a depleted nervous structure surrounded by a Schwann cell along with an abundance of natriuretic peptides, were seen. An amyelinic terminal with depleted Schwann cell and with scarce vesicles was also observed. Finally, axonic lysis with autophagic vacuoles in their interior and condensed mitochondria was observed in the G4 group. This work describes the first report of ultrastructural damage caused by crotoxin on mice cardiac autonomic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguelina Hernández
- Sección de Inmunoquímica del Instituto de Medicina Tropical Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 47423, Caracas 1041, Venezuela
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300
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Harrison RA, Ibison F, Wilbraham D, Wagstaff SC. Identification of cDNAs encoding viper venom hyaluronidases: Cross-generic sequence conservation of full-length and unusually short variant transcripts. Gene 2007; 392:22-33. [PMID: 17210232 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2006.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2006] [Revised: 10/20/2006] [Accepted: 10/25/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The immobilisation of prey by snakes is most efficiently achieved by the rapid dissemination of venom from its site of injection into the blood stream. Hyaluronidase is a common component of snake venoms and has been termed the "venom spreading factor". In the absence of nucleotide or protein sequence data to confirm the functional identity of this venom component, we interrogated a venom gland EST database for the saw-scaled viper, Echis ocellatus (Nigeria), using the gene ontology (GO) term "carbohydrate metabolism". A single hyalurononglucosaminadase-activity matching sequence (EOC00242) was found and used to design PCR primers to acquire the full-length cDNA sequence. Although very different from the bee venom and mammalian hyaluronidase sequences, the E. ocellatus sequence retained all the catalytic, positional and structural residues that characterise this class of carbohydrate metabolising hydrolases. An extraordinarily high level of sequence identity (>95%) was observed in analogous venom gland cDNA sequences isolated (by PCR) from another saw-scaled viper species, E. pyramidum leakeyi (Kenya), and from the sahara horned viper, Cerastes cerastes cerastes (Egypt) and the puff adder, Bitis arietans (Nigeria). Smaller amplicons, lacking hyaluronidase catalytic residues because of 768 bp or 855 bp central deletions, appear to encode either truncated peptides without hyaluronidase activity, or are non-translated transcripts because they lack consensus translation initiating motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Harrison
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
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