Application of Metabolomic Tools for Studying Low Molecular-Weight Fraction of Animal Venoms and Poisons

Abstract

Both venoms and poisonous secretions are complex mixtures that assist in defense, predation, communication, and competition in the animal world. They consist of variable bioactive molecules, such as proteins, peptides, salts and also metabolites. Metabolomics opens up new perspectives for the study of venoms and poisons as it gives an opportunity to investigate their previously unexplored low molecular-weight components. The aim of this article is to summarize the available literature where metabolomic technologies were used for examining the composition of animal venoms and poisons. The paper discusses only the low molecular-weight components of venoms and poisons collected from snakes, spiders, scorpions, toads, frogs, and ants. An overview is given of the analytical strategies used in the analysis of the metabolic content of the samples. We paid special attention to the classes of compounds identified in various venoms and poisons and potential applications of the small molecules (especially bufadienolides) discovered. The issues that should be more effectively addressed in the studies of animal venoms and poisons include challenges related to sample collection and preparation, species-related chemical diversity of compounds building the metabolome and a need of an online database that would enhance identification of small molecule components of these secretions.

Snake Venom Peptides: Tools of Biodiscovery

“…Apart from structural studies, different groups are working to generate large libraries of recombinant peptides by high-throughput expression of venom peptides in E. coli for drug discovery investigations [ 202 , 203 ]. Different metabolomics approaches are also used to analyze low-molecular-weight components of animal venoms [ 204 ]. In addition to these experimental approaches, bioinformatics and molecular modeling studies provide guidance for rational drug design, in understanding the complex formation of venom peptides and their receptors, and in delineating novel functions of venom peptides [ 205 , 206 ].…”

Extending Metabolomic Studies of Apis mellifera Venom: LC-MS-Based Targeted Analysis of Organic Acids

“…Venom metabolomics is a developing field of research, which provides an opportunity to explore new low-molecular-weight compounds by using modern approaches, such as mass spectrometry-based methodologies [19]. Venomics studies are still focused on the protein and peptide components of venoms and secretions [22][23][24].…”

“…Targeted strategy focuses on the isolation and quantification of a defined group of molecules and thus utilizes dedicated methodologies, whereas untargeted strategy enables obtaining global profile of molecules in a specimen, however, without quantitation data. Application of high-throughput, sensitive, and selective omics methodologies, mainly based on mass spectrometry, resulted in the more comprehensive characterization of venoms [19]. The use of state-of-the-art omics technologies has proven the pharmacological significance of HBV and enabled the optimization of therapeutic strategies by using selected, active components of HBV [20].…”

“…Analyses of various venoms and poisons indicated that some common constituents and also specific components occur in those secretions. Among unique components are acylpolyamines occurring in spider venoms, bufadienolides in toad poisons, and piperidine alkaloids in fire ant venoms, whereas monoamines and amino acids were found in many types of venomous and poisonous secretions [19]. The usefulness of the low-molecular-weight components in medicine was proved among other poisonous and venomous animals i.e., toads, frogs, snakes, and spiders [19].…”

“…Among unique components are acylpolyamines occurring in spider venoms, bufadienolides in toad poisons, and piperidine alkaloids in fire ant venoms, whereas monoamines and amino acids were found in many types of venomous and poisonous secretions [19]. The usefulness of the low-molecular-weight components in medicine was proved among other poisonous and venomous animals i.e., toads, frogs, snakes, and spiders [19]. However, the important active small molecules present in venoms and toxins are organic acids, which have not been fully explored yet [21].…”