title: Proteomic characterization and comparison of venoms from two elapid snakes (Bungarus multicinctus and Naja atra) from China.
abstract: Bungarus multicinctus (many-banded krait) and Naja atra (Chinese cobra) are widely distributed and medically important venomous snakes in China; however, their venom proteomic profiles have not been fully compared. Here, we fractionated crude venoms and analyzed them using a combination of proteomic techniques. Three-finger toxins (3-FTx) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) were most abundant in both species, respectively accounting for 32.6% and 66.4% of total B. multicinctus venom, and 84.3% and 12.2% of total N. atra venom. Venoms from these two species contained one common protein family and six less abundant species-specific protein families. The proteomic profiles of B. multicinctus and N. atra venoms and analysis of toxicological activity in mice suggested that 3-FTx and PLA2 are the major contributors to clinical symptoms caused by envenomation. The venoms differed in enzymatic activity, likely the result of inter-specific variation in the amount of related venom components. Antivenomics assessment revealed that a small number of venom components (3-FTxs and PLA2s in B. multicinctus, and 3-FTxs in N. atra) could not be immunocaptured completely, suggesting that we should pay attention to enhancing the immune response of these components in designing commercial antivenoms for B. multicinctus and N. atra.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proteomic profiles of venoms from two medically important snake species - B. multicinctus and N. atra - have been explored. Quantitative and qualitative differences are evident in both venoms when proteomic profiles and transcriptomic results are compared; this is a reminder that combined approaches are needed to explore the precise composition of snake venom. Two protein families (3-FTx and PLA2) of high abundance in these snake venoms are major players in the biochemical and pharmacological effects of envenomation. Elucidation of the proteomic profiles of these snake venoms is helpful in understanding composition-function relationships and will facilitate the clinical application of antivenoms.
authors.affiliation: Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: gaojf308@163.com.
authors.forename: Jian-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: xji@mail.hz.zj.cn.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017838:Bungarus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017815:Elapidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D040901:Proteomics; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D004546:Elapid Venoms
keywords: Antivenomics; Bungarus multicinctus; Functional role; Naja atra; Proteomic profile; Snake venom