Comparative compositional and functional analyses of Bothrops moojeni specimens reveal several individual variations

Author(s)

Aguiar, Weslei da Silva ^{[1, 2]} ; Galizio, Nathalia da Costa ^{[1, 2]} ; Serino-Silva, Caroline ^{[1, 2]} ; Sant'Anna, Savio Stefanini ^[1] ; Grego, Kathleen Fernandes ^[1] ; Tashima, Alexandre Keiji ^[3] ; Nishiduka, Erika Sayuri ^[3] ; de Morais-Zani, Karen ^{[1, 2]} ; Tanaka-Azevedo, Anita Mitico ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Butantan, Lab Herpetol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Pesquisas Tecnol, Inst Butantan, Interunidades Biotecnol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Bioquim, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 14, n. 9 SEP 12 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Snake venoms are complex protein mixtures with different biological activities that can act in both their preys and human victims. Many of these proteins play a role in prey capture and in the digestive process of these animals. It is known that some snakes are resistant to the toxicity of their own venom by mechanisms not yet fully elucidated. However, it was observed in the Laboratory of Herpetology of Instituto Butantan that some Bothrops moojeni individuals injured by the same snake species showed mortalities caused by envenoming effects. This study analyzed the biochemical composition of 13 venom and plasma samples from Bothrops moojeni specimens to assess differences in their protein composition. Application of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed distinct venom protein profiles, but very homogeneous plasma profiles. Western Blotting (WB) was performed with plasma samples, which were submitted to incubation with the respective venom. Some individuals showed an immunorecognized band zone around 25 kDa, indicating interaction between the same individual plasma and venom proteins. Crossed-WB assay using non-self-plasma and venom showed that this variability is due to venom protein composition instead of plasma composition. These venoms presented higher caseinolytic, collagenolytic and coagulant activities than the venoms without these regions recognized by WB. Mass spectrometry analyses performed on two individuals revealed that these individuals present, in addition to higher protein concentrations, other exclusive proteins in their composition. When these same two samples were tested in vivo, the results also showed higher lethality in these venoms, but lower hemorrhagic activity than in the venoms without these regions recognized by WB. In conclusion, some Bothrops moojeni specimens differ in venom composition, which may have implications in envenomation. Moreover, the high individual venom variability found in this species demonstrates the importance to work with individual analyses in studies involving intraspecific venom variability and venom evolution. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/01890-0 - Comparative study of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venoms born in captivity in the Laboratory of Herpetology of Butantan Institute and the national crotalic reference venom
• Grantee: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/16908-2 - Proteomic characterization and enzymatic and pathophysiological activities of the venom of the snake species that compose the Bothrops neuwiedi group
• Grantee: Karen de Morais Zani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11108-0 - Comparative study of biomolecules composition of Bothrops jararaca and Crotalus durissus terrificus venom born and maintained at the Butantan Institute and newly arrived from nature
• Grantee: Karen de Morais Zani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/20106-9 - Peptidomics of Brazilian snake and spider venoms
• Grantee: Alexandre Keiji Tashima
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/20651-0 - Analysis of the ontogenetic and seasonal variability of Bothrops jararacussu's (Serpentes: Viperidae; Lacerda 1884) snake venom
• Grantee: Weslei da Silva Aguiar
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/14724-4 - Proteomic and functional characterization of the venom of two species of snakes of the genus Bothrops submitted to diet change
• Grantee: Nathália da Costa Galizio
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/25786-0 - Phospholipase A2 inhibitors (PLIs) present in venomous and non-venomous snake plasmas and evaluation of the neutralizing activity of these inhibitors on the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities of snake venoms
• Grantee: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants