Snake venomics of Micrurus alleni and Micrurus mosquitensis from the Caribbean region of Costa Rica reveals two divergent compositional patterns in New World elapids.
Protein composition, toxicity, and neutralization of the venoms of Micrurus alleni and Micrurus mosquitensis, two sympatric monadal coral snakes found in humid environments of the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, were studied. Proteomic profiling revealed that these venoms display highly divergent compositions: the former dominated by three-finger toxins (3FTx) and the latter by phospholipases A2 (PLA2). Protein family abundances correlated with enzymatic and toxic characteristics of the venoms. Selective inhibition experiments showed that PLA2s play only a marginal role in the lethal effect of M. alleni venom, but have a major role in M. mosquitensis venom. Proteomic data gathered from other Micrurus species evidenced that the two divergent venom phenotypes are recurrent, and may constitute a general trend across New World elapids. Further, M. mosquitensis, but not M. alleni, venom contains PLA2-like/Kunitz-type inhibitor complex(es) that resemble the ASIC1a/2-activating MitTx heterodimeric toxin isolated from Micrurus tener venom. The evolutionary origin and adaptive relevance of the puzzling phenotypic variability of Micrurus venoms remain to be understood. An antivenom against the PLA2-predominant Micrurus nigrocinctus venom strongly cross-recognized and neutralized M. mosquitensis venom, but only weakly M. alleni venom.
Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
Julián
J
Fernández
Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
Nancy
N
Vargas-Vargas
Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Davinia
D
Pla
Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
Mahmood
M
Sasa
Programa de Ofidismo y Escorpionismo, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
Paola
P
Rey-Suárez
Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Libia
L
Sanz
Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
José María
JM
Gutiérrez
Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Juan J
JJ
Calvete
Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. Electronic address: bruno.lomonte@ucr.ac.cr.
Bruno
B
Lomonte
D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000494:pharmacology; D003364:Costa Rica; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D017815:Elapidae; D051379:Mice; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D040901:Proteomics; D030162:Reptilian Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D030162:Reptilian Proteins; C053972:micrurus venom; D054467:Phospholipases A2
Antivenom; Coral snake; Elapidae; Micrurus alleni; Micrurus mosquitensis; Venom