Evolutionary Interpretations of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Targeting Venom Effects by a Clade of Asian Viperidae Snakes
Harris, Richard J., Zdenek, Christina N., Debono, Jordan, Harrich, David, and Fry, Bryan G. (2020) Evolutionary Interpretations of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Targeting Venom Effects by a Clade of Asian Viperidae Snakes. Neurotoxicity Research, 38. pp. 312-318.
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Abstract
Ecological variability among closely related species provides an opportunity for evolutionary comparative studies. Therefore, to investigate the origin and evolution of neurotoxicity in Asian viperid snakes, we tested the venoms of Azemiops feae, Calloselasma rhodostoma, Deinagkistrodon acutus, Tropidolaeums subannulatus, and T. wagleri for their relative specificity and potency upon the amphibian, lizard, bird, rodent, and human α-1 (neuromuscular) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. We utilised a biolayer interferometry assay to test the binding affinity of these pit viper venoms to orthosteric mimotopes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors binding region from a diversity of potential prey types. The Tropidolaemus venoms were much more potent than the other species tested, which is consistent with the greater prey escape potential in arboreal niches. Intriguingly, the venom of C. rhodostoma showed neurotoxic binding to the α-1 mimotopes, a feature not known previously for this species. The lack of prior knowledge of neurotoxicity in this species is consistent with our results due to the bias in rodent studies and human bite reports, whilst this venom had a greater binding affinity toward amphibian and diapsid α-1 targets. The other large terrestrial species, D. acutus, did not display any meaningful levels of neurotoxicity. These results demonstrate that whilst small peptide neurotoxins are a basal trait of these snakes, it has been independently amplified on two separate occasions, once in Azemiops and again in Tropidolaemus, and with Calloselasma representing a third possible amplification of this trait. These results also point to broader sources of novel neuroactive peptides with the potential for use as lead compounds in drug design and discovery.
Item ID: | 84135 |
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Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
ISSN: | 1476-3524 |
Copyright Information: | © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020. |
Funders: | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
Projects and Grants: | ARC DP190100304 |
Date Deposited: | 28 Jan 2025 01:13 |
FoR Codes: | 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology > 310199 Biochemistry and cell biology not elsewhere classified @ 50% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3104 Evolutionary biology > 310405 Evolutionary ecology @ 50% |
SEO Codes: | 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences @ 100% |
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