Multifunctional snake C-type lectins affecting platelets

Snake venoms contain a wide range of components, many of which affect haemostasis by activation or inhibition of platelets or coagulation factors. They can be classified into groups based on structure and mode of action. One group is the snake C-type lectins, so called because of the typical folding which closely resembles that found in classical C-type lectins, such as selectins and mannose-binding proteins. Unlike the classic C-type lectins, those from snakes are generally heterodimeric with two subunits, alpha and beta. Some are multimeric heterodimers. The subunits have homologous sequences and are generally linked by a disulphide bond as well as by swapping loops. One of the first C-type lectins with a defined function was echicetin which was demonstrated to bind to platelet GPIb and block several functions of this receptor. Since then, many proteins with similar structure have been reported to act on platelet receptors or coagulation factors and several have been crystallized. These proteins were thought to be specific for a single platelet receptor or coagulation factor, i.e. they had only one receptor per heterodimer. Recent studies show that most of these C-type lectins have binding sites for more than one ligand and have complex mechanisms of action.