The venom apparatus of Bothrops jararaca snake and venom production: the main venom gland and the contribution of assessory gland and primary duct

• Grant number: 13/21221-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Norma Yamanouye
• Grantee: Norma Yamanouye
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Jonas Enrique Aguilar Perales ; Patricia Bianca Clissa ; Richard Hemmi Valente

Abstract

The venom apparatus is constituted by main venom gland, primary duct , accessory glands and secondary duct. The main venom gland has been described as a responsible for venom production. However, recent data from our laboratory showed that the primary duct and accessory gland also produce toxins. Immunohistochemical assays detected venom in the primary duct and proteomic analysis of the accessory gland identified many toxins in this gland, as well as inhibitors of enzymes such as phospholipase A2 inhibitors, metalloproteinase inhibitors - Bj46a and precursor tripeptide pEKW. We also showed that the main venom gland synthesizes asynchronously the toxins and even secretory cells in the quiescent stage are able to produce toxins. In view of these novel findings, it was necessary to further investigate the presence of toxins in the primary duct and in the accessory gland of the venom apparatus and its contribution to the total venom. In addition the detection of the expression of the inhibitor of metalloproteinases, Bj46a and phospholipase A2 by accessory glands and main venom gland it is very important, specially because Bj46a has been seen synthesized only in the liver. Furthermore, it has become interesting to identify toxins produced by secretory cells in culture, because in the culture the toxin production also occurs in a non-synchronized way. The participation of accessory gland and duct primary to the formation of the whole venom, as well as the synthesis of toxins in vitro in a non-synchronized way will contribute significantly to the study of toxins and their diversity (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VALENTE, RICHARD HEMMI; SAKAI, FERNANDA; PORTES-JUNIOR, JOSE ANTONIO; VIANA, LUCIANA GODOY; CARNEIRO, SYLVIA MENDES; PERALES, JONAS; YAMANOUYE, NORMA. The Primary Duct of Bothrops jararaca Glandular Apparatus Secretes Toxins. TOXINS, v. 10, n. 3, MAR 2018. (13/21221-5)

VIANA, LUCIANA GODOY; VALENTE, RICHARD HEMMI; HELUANY, CINTIA SCUCUGLIA; SOUZA-IMBERG, ANDREIA; LUNA, MILENE SCHMIDT; PERALES, JONAS; YAMANOUYE, NORMA. Bothrops jararaca venom gland secretory cells in culture: Effects of noradrenaline on toxin production and secretion. Toxicon, v. 133, p. 1-9, JUL 2017. (13/21221-5)