Proteogenomic approaches for snake venom protein-based drug development: current trends and challenges

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Genomics

Background:

• Snake venom proteins have significant therapeutic potential.
• Proteogenomic strategies are crucial for identifying and characterizing these proteins.
• Understanding venom diversity and complexity is vital for drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and future research and development options for snake venom protein-based drugs.
• To highlight the role of proteogenomic techniques in drug discovery.
• To discuss challenges and advancements in the field.

Main Methods:

• Proteogenomics (transcriptomics and proteomics)
• Mass spectrometry
• Next-generation sequencing
• Structural biology (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM)
• Bioinformatics

Main Results:

• Identification and characterization of key venom components and variants.
• Unveiling of species-specific variations in toxin composition.
• Insights into venom enzyme structures and mechanisms of action.
• Enhanced prediction of venom protein functions.

Conclusions:

• Proteogenomic techniques are critical for developing snake venom protein-based therapeutics.
• Advancements in analytical and structural biology techniques accelerate drug discovery.
• Overcoming challenges like toxicity and clinical validation is essential for therapeutic application.