Animal Toxins: How Is Complexity Represented in Databases?
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Neurotoxic Effects of Venoms from Seven Species of Australasian Black Snakes (Pseudechis): Efficacy of Black and Tiger Snake Antivenoms
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology (2005) 32, 7–12 NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS OF VENOMS FROM SEVEN SPECIES OF AUSTRALASIAN BLACK SNAKES (PSEUDECHIS): EFFICACY OF BLACK AND TIGER SNAKE ANTIVENOMS Sharmaine Ramasamy,* Bryan G Fry† and Wayne C Hodgson* *Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton and †Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia SUMMARY the sole clad of venomous snakes capable of inflicting bites of medical importance in the region.1–3 The Pseudechis genus (black 1. Pseudechis species (black snakes) are among the most snakes) is one of the most widespread, occupying temperate, widespread venomous snakes in Australia. Despite this, very desert and tropical habitats and ranging in size from 1 to 3 m. little is known about the potency of their venoms or the efficacy Pseudechis australis is one of the largest venomous snakes found of the antivenoms used to treat systemic envenomation by these in Australia and is responsible for the vast majority of black snake snakes. The present study investigated the in vitro neurotoxicity envenomations. As such, the venom of P. australis has been the of venoms from seven Australasian Pseudechis species and most extensively studied and is used in the production of black determined the efficacy of black and tiger snake antivenoms snake antivenom. It has been documented that a number of other against this activity. Pseudechis from the Australasian region can cause lethal 2. All venoms (10 g/mL) significantly inhibited indirect envenomation.4 twitches of the chick biventer cervicis nerve–muscle prepar- The envenomation syndrome produced by Pseudechis species ation and responses to exogenous acetylcholine (ACh; varies across the genus and is difficult to characterize because the 1 mmol/L), but not to KCl (40 mmol/L), indicating activity at offending snake is often not identified.3,5 However, symptoms of post-synaptic nicotinic receptors on the skeletal muscle. -
Venom Gland Transcriptomic and Proteomic
toxins Article Venom Gland Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses of the Enigmatic Scorpion Superstitionia donensis (Scorpiones: Superstitioniidae), with Insights on the Evolution of Its Venom Components Carlos E. Santibáñez-López 1, Jimena I. Cid-Uribe 1, Cesar V. F. Batista 2, Ernesto Ortiz 1,* and Lourival D. Possani 1,* 1 Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico; [email protected] (C.E.S.-L.); [email protected] (J.I.C.-U.) 2 Laboratorio Universitario de Proteómica, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (E.O.); [email protected] (L.D.P.); Tel.: +52-777-329-1647 (E.O.); +52-777-317-1209 (L.D.P.) Academic Editor: Richard J. Lewis Received: 25 October 2016; Accepted: 1 December 2016; Published: 9 December 2016 Abstract: Venom gland transcriptomic and proteomic analyses have improved our knowledge on the diversity of the heterogeneous components present in scorpion venoms. However, most of these studies have focused on species from the family Buthidae. To gain insights into the molecular diversity of the venom components of scorpions belonging to the family Superstitioniidae, one of the neglected scorpion families, we performed a transcriptomic and proteomic analyses for the species Superstitionia donensis. The total mRNA extracted from the venom glands of two specimens was subjected to massive sequencing by the Illumina protocol, and a total of 219,073 transcripts were generated. -
Demansia Papuensis)
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology (2006) 33, 364–368 Blackwell Publishing Ltd NeuromuscularSOriginal Kuruppu ArticleIN et al. effects of D. papuensisVITRO venom NEUROTOXIC AND MYOTOXIC EFFECTS OF THE VENOM FROM THE BLACK WHIP SNAKE (DEMANSIA PAPUENSIS) S Kuruppu,* Bryan G Fry† and Wayne C Hodgson* *Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University and †Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia SUMMARY of Australian snakes whose venoms have not been pharmacologically characterized. Whip snakes (D. papuensis and D. atra, also called 1. Black whip snakes belong to the family elapidae and are D. vestigata) belong to the family elapidae and are found throughout found throughout the northern coastal region of Australia. The the northern coastal region of Australia.3 The black whip snake black whip snake (Demansia papuensis) is considered to be poten- (D. papuensis) is considered to be potentially dangerous due to its tially dangerous due to its size and phylogenetic distinctiveness. size (up to 2 m) and phylogenetic distinctiveness which may suggest Previous liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the presence of unique venom components.2 LC-MS analysis of D. papuensis venom indicated a number of components within D. papuensis venom indicated a number of components within the the molecular mass ranges compatible with neurotoxins. For the molecular mass ranges of 6–7 and 13–14 kDa.4 This may indicate the first time, this study examines the in vitro neurotoxic and myotoxic presence of short and long chain a-neurotoxins or PLA2 components, effects of the venom from D. -
Venom Week VI
Toxicon 150 (2018) 315e334 Contents lists availableHouston, at ScienceDirect TX, respectively. Toxicon journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/toxicon Venom Week VI Texas A&M University, Kingsville, March 14-18, 2018 North American Society of Toxinology Venom Week VII will be held in 2020 at the University of Florida, Gain- Abstract Editors: Daniel E. Keyler, Pharm.D., FAACT and Elda E. Sanchez, esville, Florida, and organized by Drs. Alfred Alequas and Michael Schaer. Ph.D. Venom Week VI was held at Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas, and Appreciation is extended to Elsevier and Toxicon for their excellent sup- was sponsored by the North American Society of Toxinology. The meeting port, and to all Texas A&M University, Kingsville staff for their outstanding was attended by 160 individuals, including 14 invited speakers, and rep- contribution and efforts to make Venom Week VI a success. resenting eight different countries including the United States. Dr. Elda E. Sanchez was the meeting Chair along with meeting coordinators Drs. Daniel E. Keyler, University of Minnesota and Steven A. Seifert, University of New Mexico, USA. Abstracts Newly elected NAST officers were announced and welcomed: President, Basic and translational research IN Carl-Wilhelm Vogel MD, PhD; Secretary, Elda E. Sanchez, PhD; and Steven THIRD GENERATION ANTIVENOMICS: PUSHING THE LIMITS OF THE VITRO A. Seifert, Treasurer. PRECLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF ANTIVENOMS * Invited Speakers: D. Pla, Y. Rodríguez, J.J. Calvete . Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Glenn King, PhD, University of Queensland, Australia, Editor-in-Chief, Lab, Biomedicine Institute of Valencia, Spanish Research Council, 46010 Toxicon; Keynote speaker Valencia, Spain Bruno Lomonte, PhD, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, University of Costa Rica * Corresponding author. -
Aspartic Acid Isomerization Characterized by High Definition
toxins Article Aspartic Acid Isomerization Characterized by High Definition Mass Spectrometry Significantly Alters the Bioactivity of a Novel Toxin from Poecilotheria Stephen R. Johnson 1,2,* and Hillary G. Rikli 3 1 Carbon Dynamics Institute LLC, Sherman, IL 62684, USA 2 Chemistry Department, University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703, USA 3 College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 2 March 2020; Accepted: 23 March 2020; Published: 25 March 2020 Abstract: Research in toxinology has created a pharmacological paradox. With an estimated 220,000 venomous animals worldwide, the study of peptidyl toxins provides a vast number of effector molecules. However, due to the complexity of the protein-protein interactions, there are fewer than ten venom-derived molecules on the market. Structural characterization and identification of post-translational modifications are essential to develop biological lead structures into pharmaceuticals. Utilizing advancements in mass spectrometry, we have created a high definition approach that fuses conventional high-resolution MS-MS with ion mobility spectrometry (HDMSE) to elucidate these primary structure characteristics. We investigated venom from ten species of “tiger” spider (Genus: Poecilotheria) and discovered they contain isobaric conformers originating from non-enzymatic Asp isomerization. One conformer pair conserved in five of ten species examined, denominated PcaTX-1a and PcaTX-1b, was found to be a 36-residue peptide with a cysteine knot, an amidated C-terminus, and isoAsp33Asp substitution. Although the isomerization of Asp has been implicated in many pathologies, this is the first characterization of Asp isomerization in a toxin and demonstrates the isomerized product’s diminished physiological effects. -
Scorpion Toxin Peptide Scaffolds
Toxins 2013, 5, 2456-2487; doi:10.3390/toxins5122456 OPEN ACCESS toxins ISSN 2072-6651 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins Article Evolution Stings: The Origin and Diversification of Scorpion Toxin Peptide Scaffolds Kartik Sunagar 1,2,†, Eivind A. B. Undheim 3,4,†, Angelo H. C. Chan 3, Ivan Koludarov 3,4, Sergio A. Muñoz-Gómez 5, Agostinho Antunes 1,2 and Bryan G. Fry 3,4,* 1 CIMAR/CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; E-Mails: [email protected] (K.S.); [email protected] (A.A.) 2 Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal 3 Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; E-Mails: [email protected] (E.A.B.U.); [email protected] (A.H.C.C.); [email protected] (I.K.) 4 Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia 5 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; E-Mail: [email protected] † These authors contributed equally to this work. * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +61-400-193-182. Received: 21 November 2013; in revised form: 9 December 2013 / Accepted: 9 December 2013 / Published: 13 December 2013 Abstract: The episodic nature of natural selection and the accumulation of extreme sequence divergence in venom-encoding genes over long periods of evolutionary time can obscure the signature of positive Darwinian selection. -
UC Davis UC Davis Previously Published Works
UC Davis UC Davis Previously Published Works Title Heterogeneity in Kv2 Channel Expression Shapes Action Potential Characteristics and Firing Patterns in CA1 versus CA2 Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2m94393j Journal eNeuro, 4(4) ISSN 2373-2822 Authors Palacio, Stephanie Chevaleyre, Vivien Brann, David H et al. Publication Date 2017-07-01 DOI 10.1523/ENEURO.0267-17.2017 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California New Research Neuronal Excitability Heterogeneity in Kv2 Channel Expression Shapes Action Potential Characteristics and Firing Patterns in CA1 versus CA2 Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons Stephanie Palacio,1 Vivien Chevaleyre,2 David H. Brann,3 Karl D. Murray,4 Rebecca A. Piskorowski,2 and James S. Trimmer1,5 DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0267-17.2017 1Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, 2INSERM U894, Team Synaptic Plasticity and Neural Networks, Université Paris Descartes, Paris 75014, France, 3Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, 4Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, and 5Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616 Abstract The CA1 region of the hippocampus plays a critical role in spatial and contextual memory, and has well- established circuitry, function and plasticity. In contrast, the properties of the flanking CA2 pyramidal neurons (PNs), important for social memory, and lacking CA1-like plasticity, remain relatively understudied. In particular, little is known regarding the expression of voltage-gated Kϩ (Kv) channels and the contribution of these channels to the distinct properties of intrinsic excitability, action potential (AP) waveform, firing patterns and neurotrans- mission between CA1 and CA2 PNs. -
Expression, Delivery and Function of Insecticidal Proteins Expressed by Recombinant Baculoviruses
Viruses 2015, 7, 422-455; doi:10.3390/v7010422 OPEN ACCESS viruses ISSN 1999-4915 www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses Review Expression, Delivery and Function of Insecticidal Proteins Expressed by Recombinant Baculoviruses Jeremy A. Kroemer 1,2, Bryony C. Bonning 1 and Robert L. Harrison 3,* 1 Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; E-Mails: [email protected] (J.A.K.); [email protected] (B.C.B.) 2 Current location and contact information: Monsanto Company, 700 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA 3 USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-301-504-5249; Fax: +1-301-504-5104. Academic Editor: John Burand and Madoka Nakai Received: 25 November 2014 / Accepted: 15 January 2015 / Published: 21 January 2015 Abstract: Since the development of methods for inserting and expressing genes in baculoviruses, a line of research has focused on developing recombinant baculoviruses that express insecticidal peptides and proteins. These recombinant viruses have been engineered with the goal of improving their pesticidal potential by shortening the time required for infection to kill or incapacitate insect pests and reducing the quantity of crop damage as a consequence. A wide variety of neurotoxic peptides, proteins that regulate insect physiology, degradative enzymes, and other potentially insecticidal proteins have been evaluated for their capacity to reduce the survival time of baculovirus-infected lepidopteran host larvae. Researchers have investigated the factors involved in the efficient expression and delivery of baculovirus-encoded insecticidal peptides and proteins, with much effort dedicated to identifying ideal promoters for driving transcription and signal peptides that mediate secretion of the expressed target protein. -
Life-Style Related Disease Antibodies Kits Diabetes & Obesities
BIO-No.2 Wako Product Update Bio-No.2 Life-style related Disease Kits Antibodies Diabetes & Obesities INDEX 1. Kits 3. Reagents for Diabetes Research 1Kit Index ............................................................ 3 3-a Kv2.1/Kv2.2 Channel Blocker / Enhancer of 1-a Adiponectin ...................................................... 4 Glucose-Dependent Insulin Secretion ......... 18 1-b A/G ratio............................................................ 4 3-b Sulfonylurea (SU) Antidiabetic Agents ......... 18 1-c Albumin ............................................................. 5 3-c Biguanide Antidiabetic Agents ...................... 18 1-d Alkaline Phosphatase ..................................... 6 3-d Diabetes Complication ................................... 19 1-e Apo B-48 ........................................................... 6 3-e Glucagon Like Peptides .................................. 19 1-f CETP .................................................................. 7 3-f Resistance to Insulin ....................................... 19 Research Diabetes Reagents for Reagents 1-g C-Peptide .......................................................... 8 3-g Others ............................................................... 20 C-Peptide 8 4. Reagents for Hyperlipidemia Research C-Peptide High Sensitive 8 4-a Reagents for Hyperlipidemia Research........ 21 1-h Creatinine ......................................................... 9 HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors 21 1-i Glucagon .......................................................... -
Proteomic and Genomic Characterisation of Venom Proteins from Oxyuranus Species
This file is part of the following reference: Welton, Ronelle Ellen (2005) Proteomic and genomic characterisation of venom proteins from Oxyuranus species. PhD thesis, James Cook University Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/11938 Chapter 1 Introduction and literature review Chapter 1 Introduction and literature review 1.1 INTRODUCTION Animal venoms are an evolutionary adaptation to immobilise and digest prey and are used secondarily as a defence mechanism (Tu and Dekker, 1991). Intriguingly, evolutionary adaptations have produced a variety of venom proteins with specific actions and targets. A cocktail of protein and peptide toxins have varying molecular compositions, and these unique components have evolved for differing species to quickly and specifically target their prey. The compositions of venoms differ, with components varying within the toxins of spiders, stinging fish, jellyfish, octopi, cone shells, ticks, ants and snakes. Toxins have evolved for the varying mode of actions within different organisms, yet many enzymes are common to different venoms including L-amino oxidases, esterases, aminopeptidases, hyaluronidases, triphosphatases, alkaline phosphomonoesterases, 2 2 phospholipases, phosphodiesterases, serine-metalloproteases and Ca +IMg +-activated proteases. The enzymes found in venoms fall into one or more pharmacological groups including those which possess neurotoxic (causing paralysis or interfering with nervous system function), myotoxic (damaging muscle), haemotoxic (affecting the blood, -
Marine Drugs ISSN 1660-3397 © 2006 by MDPI
Mar. Drugs 2006, 4, 70-81 Marine Drugs ISSN 1660-3397 © 2006 by MDPI www.mdpi.org/marinedrugs Special Issue on “Marine Drugs and Ion Channels” Edited by Hugo Arias Review Cnidarian Toxins Acting on Voltage-Gated Ion Channels Shanta M. Messerli and Robert M. Greenberg * Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA Tel: 508 289-7981. E-mail: [email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Received: 21 February 2006 / Accepted: 27 February 2006 / Published: 6 April 2006 Abstract: Voltage-gated ion channels generate electrical activity in excitable cells. As such, they are essential components of neuromuscular and neuronal systems, and are targeted by toxins from a wide variety of phyla, including the cnidarians. Here, we review cnidarian toxins known to target voltage-gated ion channels, the specific channel types targeted, and, where known, the sites of action of cnidarian toxins on different channels. Keywords: Cnidaria; ion channels; toxin; sodium channel; potassium channel. Abbreviations: KV channel, voltage-gated potassium channel; NaV, voltage-gated sodium channel; CaV, voltage-gated calcium channel; ApA, Anthopleurin A; ApB, Anthopleurin B; ATX II, Anemone sulcata toxin II; Bg II, Bunodosoma granulifera toxin II; Sh I, peptide neurotoxin I from Stichodactyla helianthus; RP II, polypeptide toxin II from Radianthus paumotensis; RP III, polypeptide toxin III from Radianthus paumotensis; RTX I, neurotoxin I from Radianthus macrodactylus; PaTX, toxin from Paracicyonis actinostoloides; Er I, peptide toxin I from Entacmaea ramsayi; Da I, peptide toxin I from Dofleinia armata; ATX III, Anemone sulcata toxin III; ShK, potassium channel toxin from Stichodactyla helianthus; BgK, potassium channel toxin from Bunodosoma granulifera; AsKS, kalciceptine from Anemonia sulcata; HmK, potassium channel toxin from Heteractis magnifica; AeK, potassium channel toxin from Actinia equina; AsKC 1-3, kalcicludines 1-3 from Anemonia sulcata; BDS-I, BDS-II, blood depressing toxins I and II Mar. -
Patterns in Protein Components Present in Rattlesnake Venom: a Meta-Analysis
Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 1 September 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202009.0012.v1 Article Patterns in Protein Components Present in Rattlesnake Venom: A Meta-Analysis Anant Deshwal1*, Phuc Phan2*, Ragupathy Kannan3, Suresh Kumar Thallapuranam2,# 1 Division of Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 3 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, Arkansas # Correspondence: [email protected] * These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: The specificity and potency of venom components gives them a unique advantage in development of various pharmaceutical drugs. Though venom is a cocktail of proteins rarely is the synergy and association between various venom components studied. Understanding the relationship between various components is critical in medical research. Using meta-analysis, we found underlying patterns and associations in the appearance of the toxin families. For Crotalus, Dis has the most associations with the following toxins: PDE; BPP; CRL; CRiSP; LAAO; SVMP P-I & LAAO; SVMP P-III and LAAO. In Sistrurus venom CTL and NGF had most associations. These associations can be used to predict presence of proteins in novel venom and to understand synergies between venom components for enhanced bioactivity. Using this approach, the need to revisit classification of proteins as major components or minor components is highlighted. The revised classification of venom components needs to be based on ubiquity, bioactivity, number of associations and synergies. The revised classification will help in increased research on venom components such as NGF which have high medical importance. Keywords: Rattlesnake; Crotalus; Sistrurus; Venom; Toxin; Association Key Contribution: This article explores the patterns of appearance of venom components of two rattlesnake genera: Crotalus and Sistrurus to determine the associations between toxin families.