Scales of biodiversity: integrated studies of snake evolution and venom function
| Grant number: | 18/15753-8 |
| Support type: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct) |
| Effective date (Start): | September 01, 2018 |
| Effective date (End): | August 31, 2021 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology |
| Cooperation agreement: | NSF - Dimensions of Biodiversity and BIOTA |
| Principal Investigator: | Ana Maria Moura da Silva |
| Grantee: | Noranathan da Costa Guimarães |
| Home Institution: | Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Associated research grant: | 16/50127-5 - Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: scales of biodiversity: integrated studies of snake venom evolution and function across multiple levels of diversity, AP.BTA.TEM |
Abstract Proteolytic and phospholipases enzymes are key components in snake venoms that act to capture prey through distinct mechanisms: proteolytic enzymes target important hemostasis control targets while phospholipases act on different muscle or neuronal receptors, inducing paralysis of prey and myotoxicity. Besides the capture of prey, these enzymes are supposedly involved in the digestion of prey tissues. In this project, we will select species representative of taxonomic groups of snakes of the family Viperidae that present phenotypic differences as to the expression pattern of these enzymes. In these groups we will compare the abundance and activities of phospholipases A2, serine proteinases and metalloproteinases in individual venom samples. The highly expressed venoms of each of these enzymes will be selected and used for pharmacological approaches aimed at identifying the disorders of the hemostatic system or neurotoxicity they induce and their main mechanisms of action. They will also be tested for their digestive properties of mammalian, lizards and arthropods tissues. (AU) | |