title: Minor snake venom proteins: Structure, function and potential applications.
abstract: Snake venoms present a great diversity of pharmacologically active compounds that may be applied as research and biotechnological tools, as well as in drug development and diagnostic tests for certain diseases. The most abundant toxins have been extensively studied in the last decades and some of them have already been used for different purposes. Nevertheless, most of the minor snake venom protein classes remain poorly explored, even presenting potential application in diverse areas. The main difficulty in studying these proteins lies on the impossibility of obtaining sufficient amounts of them for a comprehensive investigation. The advent of more sensitive techniques in the last few years allowed the discovery of new venom components and the in-depth study of some already known minor proteins. This review summarizes information regarding some structural and functional aspects of low abundant snake venom proteins classes, such as growth factors, hyaluronidases, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, nucleases and nucleotidases, cobra venom factors, vespryns, protease inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides, among others. Some potential applications of these molecules are discussed herein in order to encourage researchers to explore the full venom repertoire and to discover new molecules or applications for the already known venom components.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: joharafran@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Johara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boldrini-França
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: camilatcbio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Camila Takeno
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Cologna
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Roraima, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil. Electronic address: manupucca@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Manuela Berto
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pucca
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: karla@fcfrp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Karla de Castro Figueiredo
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bordon
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: fernandagamorim@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernanda Gobbi
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: fanjolette@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Fernando Antonio Pino
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Anjolette
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: fran_acordeiro@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Francielle Almeida
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: gisele.wiezel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gisele Adriano
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wiezel
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: felipe_cerni@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Felipe Augusto
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Cerni
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: ernesto.pinheiro@usp.br.
authors.forename: Ernesto Lopes
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Pinheiro-Junior
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: priscila.shibao@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Priscila Yumi Tanaka
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Shibao
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: igobboferreira@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Isabela Gobbo
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: isadora_so@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Isadora Sousa
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: iara_cardoso@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Iara Aimê
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: ecabraga@fcfrp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Eliane Candiani
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Arantes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012910:Snake Venoms; D014118:Toxins, Biological
keywords: Drug discovery; Snake venoms; Toxins