Title:Protein Profile Analysis of Two Australian Snake Venoms by One- Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis and MS/MS Experiments
Volume: 24
Issue: 17
Author(s): Dessislava Georgieva, Diana Hildebrand, Rodrigo Simas, Monika A. Coronado, Marcel Kwiatkowski, Hartmut Schlüter, Raghuvir Arni, Patrick Spencer and Christian Betzel*
Affiliation:
- University of Hamburg, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg,Germany
Keywords:
Proteome, Snake venom, Pseudechis butleri, Pseudechis colletti, protein profile analysis.
Abstract: The Pseudechis colletti and Pseudechis butleri venoms were analyzed by 1-D gel
electrophoresis, followed by mass spectrometric analysis of tryptic peptides obtained from the
protein bands. Both venoms contain highly potent pharmacologically active components,
which were assigned to the following protein families: basic and acidic phospholipases A2
(PLA2s), L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs), P-III metalloproteinases (P-III SVMPs), 5’-
nucleotidases (5’-NTDs), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), venom nerve growth factors
(VNGFs) and post-synaptic neurotoxins. Considerable predominance of PLA2s over other
toxins is a characteristic feature of both venoms. The major differences in the venom compositions
are the higher concentration of SVMPs and CRISPs in the P. butleri venom, as well as
the presence of post-synaptic neurotoxins. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a high concentration
of proteins with myotoxic, coagulopathic and apoptotic activities. PLA2s are responsible
for the myotoxic and anticoagulant effects observed in patients after envenomation (4). The
other protein families, encountered in the two venoms, probably contribute to the major symptoms
described for these venoms. These results explain the observed clinical effects of the
black snake envenomation. The analyzed venoms contain group P-III metalloproteinases of
medical importance with the potency to be used for diagnostic purposes of von Willebrand
factor (vWF) disease, for regulation of vWF in thrombosis and haemostasis, for studying the
function of the complement system in host defense and in the pathogenesis of diseases. Comparison
of venomic data showed similarities in the major venom components of snakes from
the genus Pseudechis, resulting in common clinical effects of envenomation, and demonstrating
close relationships between venom toxins of Elapidae snakes.
