Size Matters: An Evaluation of the Molecular Basis of Ontogenetic Modifications in the Composition of Bothrops jararacussu Snake Venom

Ontogenetic changes in venom composition have been described in snakes, but only a few studies have attempted to identify the targeted paralogues or the molecular mechanisms involved in modifications of gene expression during ontogeny. In this study, we decoded venom gland transcripts from six speci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Toxins Vol. 12; no. 12; p. 791
Main Authors:	Freitas-de-Sousa, Luciana A, Nachtigall, Pedro G, Portes-Junior, José A, Holding, Matthew L, Nystrom, Gunnar S, Ellsworth, Schyler A, Guimarães, Noranathan C, Tioyama, Emilly, Ortiz, Flora, Silva, Bruno R, Kunz, Tobias S, Junqueira-de-Azevedo, Inácio L M, Grazziotin, Felipe G, Rokyta, Darin R, Moura-da-Silva, Ana M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland MDPI 11-12-2020 MDPI AG
Subjects:	Bothrops jararacussu metalloproteinases ontogenetic variability phospholipases A2 proteome transcriptome metalloproteinases Bothrops jararacussu ontogenetic variability transcriptome phospholipases A2 proteome
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Summary:	Ontogenetic changes in venom composition have been described in snakes, but only a few studies have attempted to identify the targeted paralogues or the molecular mechanisms involved in modifications of gene expression during ontogeny. In this study, we decoded venom gland transcripts from six specimens of varying sizes and analyzed the variability in the composition of independent venom proteomes from 19 individuals. We identified 125 distinct putative toxin transcripts, and of these, 73 were detected in venom proteomes and only 10 were involved in the ontogenetic changes. Ontogenetic variability was linearly related to snake size and did not correspond to the maturation of the reproductive stage. Changes in the transcriptome were highly predictive of changes in the venom proteome. The basic myotoxic phospholipases A (PLA s) were the most abundant components in larger snakes, while in venoms from smaller snakes, PIII-class SVMPs were the major components. The snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) identified corresponded to novel sequences and conferred higher pro-coagulant and hemorrhagic functions to the venom of small snakes. The mechanisms modulating venom variability are predominantly related to transcriptional events and may consist of an advantage of higher hematotoxicity and more efficient predatory function in the venom from small snakes.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	2072-6651 2072-6651
DOI:	10.3390/toxins12120791