Molecular evolution of snake venom toxins

Summary Phylogenetic trees were constructed for 62 venom toxins of snakes ofProteroglyphae suborder using matrix method. The resulting tree fromMinimum Spanning Tree-Cluster Analysis technique had the lowest percent deviation (8.55). The taxonomic relationship of these toxins agrees very well with zoological opinions. However, the appearance of the tree did not directly provide a plausible evolutionary model for the toxins. A model was derived from nodal ancestral sequence calculations, comparisons between intra-and inter-generical rates of amino acid change, and generally held ideas about protein evolution. According to the model, short neurotoxin is the ancient form of snake venom toxins. The courses of evolution leading to the present intraspecific homologous toxins are explained by gene duplication and allelomorphism.     

蛇毒抗肿瘤作用研究进展

蛇毒含有多种酶类和毒性蛋白,具有广泛的生物学活性。对蛇毒各种组分的研究,发现蛇毒具有抗血栓,止血,镇痛及抗肿瘤的作用。本就其抗肿瘤方面的研究进展进行了综述,介绍了蛇毒的抑瘤机制,抑瘤活性成分的分离纯化,理化特性及研究方向和应用前景。     

蛇毒类凝血酶的分子生物学研究进展及其应用

蛇毒类凝血酶在体外可以作用于纤维蛋白原使其凝固,具有类似凝血酶的功能。但在体内却表现出抗凝、降纤的功能。本概述了蛇毒类凝血酶对纤维蛋白原的识别和作用、序列同源性特点、cDNA克隆的表达以及在临床中的应用。     

Proteome analysis of snake venom toxins: pharmacological insights

Snake venoms are an extremely rich source of pharmacologically active proteins with a considerable clinical and medical potential. To date, this potential has not been fully explored, mainly because of our incomplete knowledge of the venom proteome and the pharmacological properties of its components, in particular those devoid of enzymatic activity. This review summarizes the latest achievements in the determination of snake venom proteome, based primarily on the development of new strategies and techniques. Detailed knowledge of the venom toxin composition and biological properties of the protein constituents should provide the scaffold for the design of new more effective drugs for the treatment of the hemostatic system and heart disorders, inflammation, cancer and consequences of snake bites, as well as new tools for clinical diagnostic and assays of hemostatic parameters.     

半夏和滴水珠抗五步蛇毒中毒作用的实验研究

目的研究滴水珠与半夏生药及其提取物抗五步蛇毒的作用。方法将ICR小鼠随机分为半夏生药组、半夏醇提物组、滴水珠生药组、滴水珠醇提物组、空白对照组、阳性对照组及模型组,各组小鼠均灌胃给药7天,并观察各给药组小鼠的体重变化情况;在末次给药1h后于小鼠腹腔注射五步蛇毒,观察各组小鼠的中毒表现,并统计各组小鼠的死亡率,比较各组小鼠的肝脏指数、脾脏指数及胸腺指数,并对各组小鼠血浆纤维蛋白原（FIB）、血浆凝血酶原时间（PT）、凝血酶时间（TT）、活化部分凝血酶时间（APTT）以及血小板（PLT）、红细胞（RBC）和白细胞（WBC）计数进行比较。结果半夏和滴水珠醇提物、半夏和滴水珠生药均可降低五步蛇毒中毒小鼠的死亡率,对五步蛇毒引起的小鼠PT、TT、APTT上升和FIB下降具有显著的抑制作用,与模型组相比P〈0.05;并可影响五步蛇毒中毒小鼠外周血血小板（PLT）、红细胞（RBC）和白细胞（WBC）计数,与模型组相比P〈0.05。但滴水珠和半夏生药可引起小鼠体重下降,并影响肝脏、胸腺和脾脏指数,与空白对照组相比P〈0.05。结论半夏和滴水珠醇提物及半夏和滴水珠生药均具有一定的抗五步蛇毒作用,乙醇提取能降低半夏和滴水珠的毒性。     

后毒牙类毒蛇

长期以来,人们仅把具有沟牙和管牙的蛇视为毒蛇,然而,近年来发现游蛇科中的虎斑颈槽蛇、红脖颈槽蛇、颈棱蛇、赤链蛇等既无管牙,也无沟牙,却频频发生这类蛇咬伤人后引起中毒的事例,甚至出现被咬伤致严重出血休克死亡的事件。经深入研究后发现,这些蛇虽没有沟牙和管牙,但却具有产生毒性分泌物的毒腺—杜氏腺(Duvernoy′s gland)及皮下腺,且不同的毒腺具有不同的毒性作用,可表现为出血不止、溶血、呼吸困难、肾损害等。这类蛇与毒腺的导管有联系的上颌牙明显粗大,上颌牙与上颌骨、横骨连接牢固,毒腺里的毒液可顺着粗大的上颌牙流入伤口,因此,应视为"后毒牙类毒蛇"。     

Coevolution of diet and prey-specific venom activity supports the role of selection in snake venom evolution

The processes that drive the evolution of snake venom variability, particularly the role of diet, have been a topic of intense recent research interest. Here, we test whether extensive variation in venom composition in the medically important viper genus Echis is associated with shifts in diet. Examination of stomach and hindgut contents revealed extreme variation between the major clades of Echis in the proportion of arthropod prey consumed. The toxicity (median lethal dose, LD₅₀) of representative Echis venoms to a natural scorpion prey species was found to be strongly associated with the degree of arthropod feeding. Mapping the results onto a novel Echis phylogeny generated from nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data revealed two independent instances of coevolution of venom toxicity and diet. Unlike venom LD₅₀, the speed with which venoms incapacitated and killed scorpions was not associated with the degree of arthropod feeding. The prey-specific venom toxicity of arthropod-feeding Echis may thus be adaptive primarily by reducing venom expenditure. Overall, our results provide strong evidence that variation in snake venom composition results from adaptive evolution driven by natural selection for different diets, and underscores the need for a multi-faceted, integrative approach to the study of the causes of venom evolution.     

腰带长体茧蜂毒液器官和卵巢的形态学及其超微结构

应用超薄切片和电镜技术,观察内寄生蜂腰带长体茧蜂Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke毒液器官和卵巢的形态结构。腰带长体茧蜂毒液器官由1个毒囊和2条毒腺组成,毒腺接于毒囊的顶端。毒腺由单层分泌细胞、退化的外胚层细胞和环腔的内膜构成,分泌细胞主要由1个明显的细胞核和1个较大囊状细胞器构成,囊状细胞器的功能是分泌毒液。毒囊由肌肉鞘和扁平细胞层构成,但没有分泌细胞。腰带长体茧蜂卵巢1对,每个卵巢由10条左右卵巢小管组成,与侧输卵管相接处略微膨大形成卵巢萼区。2条侧输卵管在产卵管基部会合形成1条总输卵管与产卵管相接。毒液器官通过毒囊的毒液导管附着在总输卵管上。对寄生蜂毒液器官的生物学、细胞学及在分类进化上的意义进行研究。     

Crystal structure determination of alkaline haemorrhagin AaHⅢ from snake venom of Agkistrodon acutus

The haemorrhagin AaH III isolated from the snake venom ofAgkistrodon acutus is one of the few alkaline ones in snake venoms. Its crystals belong to space group P2₁2₁2₁ witha = 9. 573 4 nm,b = 4. 996 7 nm andc = 4.728 8 nm. Its crystal structure was determined by the molecular replacement method according to the model of metalloproteinase Adamalysin II from eastern rattlesnake venom. The AaH III structure has been refined by PROLSQ. The finalR factor was 0.254 and the RMS deviations of bond lengths and angles were 0.001 8 nm and 1.5°. The structure comparison suggested that AaH III has a similar structure to other snake venom zinc-metalloproteinases. They all belong to matrix metalloproteinases super-family. Project supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules and State Education Commission of China.     

Structure and function of skin in the pelagic sea snake,Hydrophis platurus

We describe and interpret the functional morphology of skin of the Yellow-bellied sea snake, Hydrophis platurus. This is the only pelagic sea snake, and its integument differs from what is known for other species of snakes. In gross appearance, the scales of H. platurus consist of non-overlapping, polygonal knobs with flattened outer surfaces bearing presumptive filamentous sensillae. The deep recesses between scales (‘hinge’) entrap and wick water over the body surface, with mean retention of 5.1 g/cm of skin surface, similar to that determined previously for the roughened, spiny skin of marine file snakes, Acrochordus granulatus. This feature possibly serves to maintain the skin wet when the dorsal body protrudes above water while floating on calm oceanic slicks where they forage. In contrast with other snakes, including three species of amphibious, semi-marine sea kraits (Laticauda spp.), the outer corneous β-protein layer consists of a syncytium that is thinner than seen in most other species. The subjacent α-layer is also thin, and lipid droplets and lamellar bodies are seen among the immature, cornifying α-cells. A characteristic mesos layer, comprising the water permeability barrier, is either absent or very thin. These features are possibly related to (1) permeability requirements for cutaneous gas exchange, (2) reduced gradient for water efflux compared with terrestrial environments, (3) less need for physical protection in water compared with terrestrial ground environments, and (4) increased frequency of ecdysis thought to be an anti-fouling mechanism. The lipogenic features of the α-layer possibly compensate for the reduced or absent mesos layer, or produce layers of cells that comprise what functionally might be termed a mesos layer, but where the organization of barrier lipids nonetheless appears less robust than what is characteristically seen in squamates.     

舟山眼镜蛇毒抗肿瘤有效组分分离及其抑瘤作用研究初探

目的从舟山眼镜蛇(Naja atraCantor)蛇毒(snake venom,SV)中分离得蛇毒组分,探讨SV及其分离组分的LD50和抑制肿瘤的作用。方法采用凝胶柱层析方法从蛇毒中分离得到了前Ⅰ1、Ⅰ1、Ⅱ1、Ⅱ2、Ⅲ1、Ⅲ2及Ⅳ等7种组分。采用急性毒性实验、MTT法,研究SV及其7种SV分离组分的LD50和抑制肿瘤的作用。结果 SV经Sephadex G-50层析,可分离为前Ⅰ、Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ及Ⅳ5个组分,根据峰面积大小排列:ⅢⅡⅠⅣ前Ⅰ。5个组分再经Sephadex G-25柱层析,可获得7个脱盐组分:前Ⅰ1、Ⅰ1、Ⅱ1、Ⅱ2、Ⅲ1、Ⅲ2及Ⅳ。通过急性毒性实验,明确Ⅳ的毒性最大,其次为Ⅲ2及Ⅲ1,三者的LD50值均低于SV;而Ⅰ1、Ⅱ1、Ⅱ2的毒性均小于SV,前Ⅰ1几乎无毒。SV组分Ⅲ2和Ⅳ的抑瘤作用最强,在高浓度(20μg/ml)时对实验中的2种人肿瘤细胞的抑制率均达到60%以上。结论从SV中分离得到了前Ⅰ1、Ⅰ1、Ⅱ1、Ⅱ2、Ⅲ1、Ⅲ2以及Ⅳ7种组分;组分Ⅳ毒性最强,依次为Ⅲ2Ⅲ1SVⅡ2Ⅱ1Ⅰ1前Ⅰ1;SV及其7种分离组分对2种人肿瘤细胞株(SGC-7901、A549)的生长抑制有一定的特异性,而不同的SV分离组分对同一肿瘤细胞抑制作用亦有差异。     

Purification and characterization of jararassin-I, A thrombin-like enzyme from Bothrops jararaca snake venom

Snake venoms of the Viperidae family contain a numberof proteins that cause hemostatic disturbances. Enveno-mation of this family is characterized by hemorrhage,edema, local tissue damage, myonecrosis, fibrinolytic andkinin releasing activities [1]. In southeastern Brazil, theviper Bothrops jararaca (Viperidae) is responsible for 90%of snakebite accidents [2]. The enzymes that have proteolytic, coagulate andhemorraghic activities can activate or interfere withthe process of coagulation, and…     

Amino acid sequence of the alpha- and beta-globin chains of the Hiroo sea snake (Laticauda laticaudata)

We determined the hemoglobin complete amino acid sequences of the Hiroo sea snake (Laticaudia laticuada) from the intact globin chain, enzymatically digested fragments, and chemical cleavage fragments to analyze molecular evolution for classification of the sea snake. The Hiroo sea snake has two hemoglobin components, Hb-I and Hb-II, which contain different - and -chains, respectively. This is the first report of the complete primary structure of a snake hemoglobin. The sequences were compared with those of other reptilian hemoglobins. Amino acid replacements at positions critical for structure and physiological role of hemoglobin were loosely conserved. The requirements for binding of ATP and of diphosphoglycerate as allosteric effectors at -globins seemed to be fullfilled.     

Snake venom: From fieldwork to the clinic: Recent insights into snake biology, together with new technology allowing high-throughput screening of venom, bring new hope for drug discovery

Snake venoms are recognized here as a grossly under-explored resource in pharmacological prospecting. Discoveries in snake systematics demonstrate that former taxonomic bias in research has led to the neglect of thousands of species of potential medical use. Recent discoveries reveal an unexpectedly vast degree of variation in venom composition among snakes, from different species down to litter mates. The molecular mechanisms underlying this diversity are only beginning to be understood. However, the enormous potential that this resource represents for pharmacological prospecting is clear. New high-throughput screening systems offer greatly increased speed and efficiency in identifying and extracting therapeutically useful molecules. At the same time a global biodiversity crisis is threatening the very snake populations on which hopes for new venom-derived medications depend. Biomedical researchers, pharmacologists, clinicians, herpetologists, and conservation biologists must combine their efforts if the full potential of snake venom-derived medications is to be realized.     

Amino acid sequence of the alpha- and beta-globin chains of the Erabu sea snake (Laticaudia semifasciata)

We determined the complete amino acid sequences of the Erabu sea snake (Laticaudia semifasciata) hemoglobin by analyzing the intact globin chains, enzymatically digested fragments, and chemical cleavage fragments to clarify the molecular evolution and phylogenetic classification of the sea snake. The Erabu sea snake has two types of hemoglobin components, Hb-I and Hb-II, which contain different alpha- and beta-chains. This is the second report of the complete primary structure for hemoglobin of snakes. The sequences were compared with those of other reptilian hemoglobins. Amino acids at positions critical for the structure and physiological functions of hemoglobin were loosely conserved. The requirements for binding of ATP and of diphosphoglycerate as allosteric effectors of beta-globins seemed to be fulfilled.     

平颏海蛇碱性磷脂酶A_2的融合表达、纯化及活性特征

 将编码平颏海蛇碱性磷脂酶A2 的基因 (PLA2 9)克隆于硫氧还蛋白基因融合表达载体pPETTRX的trxA基因的 3′末端 ,构建符合读码框的融合基因 .2 5℃下经IPTG诱导 ,该融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中以可溶形式表达 ,表达量达 2 0 %以上 .利用金属螯合亲和层析和凝胶过滤层析两步纯化 ,得到纯度 85%的融合蛋白 .经肠激酶切割和离子交换柱层析进一步纯化后 ,得到浓度 95%以上的成熟PLA2 9.对重组PLA2 9进行了Western印迹检测 .重组PLA2 9具有与天然PLA2 相近的酶活性 ;并具有对HL60等几种肿瘤细胞的细胞毒作用 ,这在海蛇PLA2 中是首次报道 .平颏海蛇碱性PLA2 融合表达及快速纯化系统的建立 ,为深入开展其结构与功能关系研究奠定了基础     

State of functionally essential Trp-29 in snake venom neurotoxins: A proton nuclear magnetic resonance study

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra have been recorded of various neurotoxins from snake venoms.pH dependence of the chemical shifts and resonance intensity has been followed for the functionally essential Trp-29. The indole N-1 proton of Trp-29 in -bungarotoxin, toxin B, and cobrotoxin exhibits appreciably large upfield shifts as thepH is lowered and the suppressed exchange with the solvent hydrogen atpH 3–4, but not inNaja haje annulifera 10 where Asp-31 is replaced with Gly-31. This observation strongly suggests the presence of a hydrogen bond between Trp-29 and Asp-31 that is probably important in stabilizing the arrangement of the functionally essential residues to form a distinct binding region for the receptor.     

平颏海蛇毒磷脂酶A2基因的多样性

通过对平颏海蛇毒腺cDNA文库的随机测序和PCR筛选,分离到3种未曾报道的磷脂酶A2（PLA3）cDNA,分别命名为PLA2－8,PLA2－9,PLA2－384。这些cDNA均含有完整的读码框（长度分别为456bp、438bp和438bp）,编码含27个氨基酸残基的信号肽和长度分别为4．8、7．8和8．4。氨基酸序列分析和二级结构预测表明,3种PLA2均属I类磷酯酶A2家族,其中PLA2－8与来自澳大利亚虎蛇Notechis scutatus scutatus的PLA2有81％的同源性;而PLA2－9和PLA2－384则与来自海蛇Enhydrina schistosa的肌毒PLA2有90％的同源性,这不仅预示着他们在功能上可能存在某些相似性,也反映出平颏海蛇PLA2的结构多样性。这组海蛇PLA2同功酶基因的成功克隆为进一步揭示PLA2的结构与功能关系及的分子机制提供了新的信息。