title: Privileged frameworks from snake venom.
abstract: Venom as a form of chemical prey capture is a key innovation that has underpinned the explosive radiation of the advanced snakes (Caenophidia). Small venom proteins are often rich in disulfide bonds thus facilitating stable molecular scaffolds that present key functional residues on the protein surface. New toxin types are initially developed through the venom gland over-expression of normal body proteins, their subsequent gene duplication and diversification that leads to neofunctionalisation as random mutations modify their structure and function. This process has led to preferentially selected (privileged) cysteine-rich scaffolds that enable the snake to build arrays of toxins many of which may lead to therapeutic products and research tools. This review focuses on cysteine-rich small proteins and peptides found in snake venoms spanning natriuretic peptides to phospholipase enzymes, while highlighting their three-dimensional structures and biological functions as well as their potential as therapeutic agents or research tools.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Reeks
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Alewood
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019483:Disintegrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016232:Endothelins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D019483:Disintegrins; D016232:Endothelins; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D012910:Snake Venoms; D023083:beta-Defensins; D054467:Phospholipases A2