Processing of Snake Venom Metalloproteinases: Generation of Toxin Diversity and Enzyme Inactivation.
Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are abundant in the venoms of vipers and rattlesnakes, playing important roles for the snake adaptation to different environments, and are related to most of the pathological effects of these venoms in human victims. The effectiveness of SVMPs is greatly due to their functional diversity, targeting important physiological proteins or receptors in different tissues and in the coagulation system. Functional diversity is often related to the genetic diversification of the snake venom. In this review, we discuss some published evidence that posit that processing and post-translational modifications are great contributors for the generation of functional diversity and for maintaining latency or inactivation of enzymes belonging to this relevant family of venom toxins.
Laborat&#243;rio de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, S&#227;o Paulo CEP 05503-900, Brazil. ana.moura@butantan.gov.br.
Ana M
AM
Moura-da-Silva
Laborat&#243;rio de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, S&#227;o Paulo CEP 05503-900, Brazil. michelle.almeida@butantan.gov.br.
Michelle T
MT
Almeida
Laborat&#243;rio de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, S&#227;o Paulo CEP 05503-900, Brazil. portes.junior@butantan.gov.br.
José A
JA
Portes-Junior
Laborat&#243;rio de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21040-360, Brazil. carolnicolau.bio@gmail.com.
Carolina A
CA
Nicolau
Laborat&#243;rio de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21040-360, Brazil. gomes.netof@gmail.com.
Francisco
F
Gomes-Neto
Laborat&#243;rio de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21040-360, Brazil. richardhemmi@gmail.com.
Richard H
RH
Valente
D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D059748:Proteolysis; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000201:enzymology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D012910:Snake Venoms; D045726:Metalloproteases
enzyme inhibitor; hemorrhage; metalloproteinase; post-translational processing; snake venom