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Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
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[Enzymes of snake venoms]
O V Gornitskaia1, T N Platonova, G L Volkov
1Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv. gornitskaya@mail.ru
Ukrains'Kyi Biokhimichnyi Zhurnal (1999 )
|October 28, 2003
Summary
Snake venom contains enzymes that interact with blood clotting and fibrinolysis. These enzymes from Agkistrodon halys halys venom have diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Context:
- Snake venom is a complex mixture of proteins and peptides.
- These components significantly interact with the hemostasis system.
- Enzymes within venom can act as procoagulants, anticoagulants, or fibrinolytic agents.
Purpose:
- To review enzymes from Agkistrodon halys halys venom.
- To highlight their roles in coagulation and fibrinolysis.
- To discuss their scientific and medical applications.
Summary:
- Focuses on four key enzymes from Agkistrodon halys halys venom: a thrombin-like enzyme (Ancystron-H), a fibrinogenolytic enzyme, a protein C activator, and a platelet aggregation inhibitor.
- Ancystron-H aids in fibrinogen level determination and monitoring heparin therapy.
- The fibrinogenolytic enzyme facilitates studies of fibrinogen-fibrin interactions.
- Protein C activator is used for diagnostic determination of protein C levels.
- Disintegrins, a type of platelet aggregation inhibitor, show potential for antithrombotic drug development.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the diagnostic utility of snake venom enzymes.
- Highlights the potential of venom components in developing novel therapeutic agents, particularly antithrombotics.
- Underscores the value of snake venoms as tools in biochemical research and clinical diagnostics.
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