What Are the Neurotoxins in Hemotoxic Snake Venoms? 2023

Alexey Osipov, and Yuri Utkin
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia.

Snake venoms as tools for hunting are primarily aimed at the most vital systems of the prey, especially the nervous and circulatory systems. In general, snakes of the Elapidae family produce neurotoxic venoms comprising of toxins targeting the nervous system, while snakes of the Viperidae family and most rear-fanged snakes produce hemotoxic venoms directed mainly on blood coagulation. However, it is not all so clear. Some bites by viperids results in neurotoxic signs and it is now known that hemotoxic venoms do contain neurotoxic components. For example, viperid phospholipases A2 may manifest pre- or/and postsynaptic activity and be involved in pain and analgesia. There are other neurotoxins belonging to diverse families ranging from large multi-subunit proteins (e.g., C-type lectin-like proteins) to short peptide neurotoxins (e.g., waglerins and azemiopsin), which are found in hemotoxic venoms. Other neurotoxins from hemotoxic venoms include baptides, crotamine, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, Kunitz-type protease inhibitors, sarafotoxins and three-finger toxins. Some of these toxins exhibit postsynaptic activity, while others affect the functioning of voltage-dependent ion channels. This review represents the first attempt to systematize data on the neurotoxins from "non-neurotoxic" snake venom. The structural and functional characteristic of these neurotoxins affecting diverse targets in the nervous system are considered.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009498 Neurotoxins Toxic substances from microorganisms, plants or animals that interfere with the functions of the nervous system. Most venoms contain neurotoxic substances. Myotoxins are included in this concept. Alpha-Neurotoxin,Excitatory Neurotoxin,Excitotoxins,Myotoxin,Myotoxins,Neurotoxin,Alpha-Neurotoxins,Excitatory Neurotoxins,Excitotoxin,Alpha Neurotoxin,Alpha Neurotoxins,Neurotoxin, Excitatory,Neurotoxins, Excitatory
D004546 Elapid Venoms Venoms from snakes of the family Elapidae, including cobras, kraits, mambas, coral, tiger, and Australian snakes. The venoms contain polypeptide toxins of various kinds, cytolytic, hemolytic, and neurotoxic factors, but fewer enzymes than viper or crotalid venoms. Many of the toxins have been characterized. Cobra Venoms,Elapidae Venom,Elapidae Venoms,Naja Venoms,Cobra Venom,Elapid Venom,Hydrophid Venom,Hydrophid Venoms,King Cobra Venom,Naja Venom,Ophiophagus hannah Venom,Sea Snake Venom,Sea Snake Venoms,Venom, Cobra,Venom, Elapid,Venom, Elapidae,Venom, Hydrophid,Venom, King Cobra,Venom, Naja,Venom, Ophiophagus hannah,Venom, Sea Snake,Venoms, Cobra,Venoms, Elapid,Venoms, Elapidae,Venoms, Hydrophid,Venoms, Naja,Venoms, Sea Snake
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012910 Snake Venoms Solutions or mixtures of toxic and nontoxic substances elaborated by snake (Ophidia) salivary glands (Duvernoy's gland) for the purpose of killing prey or disabling predators and delivered by grooved or hollow fangs. They usually contain enzymes, toxins, and other factors. Duvernoy's Gland Secretion,Duvernoy's Secretion,Snake Toxin,Snake Toxins,Snake Venom,Duvernoy Gland Secretion,Duvernoy Secretion,Duvernoys Gland Secretion,Duvernoys Secretion,Secretion, Duvernoy's,Secretion, Duvernoy's Gland,Toxin, Snake,Venom, Snake
D014118 Toxins, Biological Specific, characterizable, poisonous chemicals, often PROTEINS, with specific biological properties, including immunogenicity, produced by microbes, higher plants (PLANTS, TOXIC), or ANIMALS. Biological Toxins
D054467 Phospholipases A2 Phospholipases that hydrolyze the acyl group attached to the 2-position of PHOSPHOGLYCERIDES. Lecithinase A2,Phospholipase A2
D017815 Elapidae A family of extremely venomous snakes which include coral snakes, cobras and sea snakes. They are widely distributed, occurring in the Southern United States, South America, Africa, Southern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Like viperids (VIPERIDAE), they have fangs in the front part of the upper jaw which discharge venom that is neurotoxic. Acanthophiinae,Notechis,Pseudonaja,Cobra,Elapid Snakes,Elapids,Cobras,Elapid,Elapid Snake,Snake, Elapid

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