Proteomic Analysis of the Ontogenetic Variability in Plasma Composition of Juvenile and AdultBothrops jararacaSnakes

Abstract

The ontogenetic variability in venom composition of some snake genera, including Bothrops, as well as the biological implications of such variability and the search of new molecules that can neutralize the toxic components of these venoms have been the subject of many studies. Thus, considering the resistance of Bothrops jararaca to the toxic action of its own venom and the ontogenetic variability in venom composition described in this species, a comparative study of the plasma composition of juvenile and adult B. jararaca snakes was performed through a proteomic approach based on 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, which allowed the identification of proteins that might be present at different levels during ontogenetic development. Among the proteins identified by mass spectrometry, antihemorrhagic factor Bj46a was found only in adult plasma. Moreover, two spots identified as phospholipase A2 inhibitors were significantly increased in juvenile plasma, which can be related to the higher catalytic PLA2 activity shown by juvenile venom in comparison to that of adult snakes. This work shows the ontogenetic variability of B. jararaca plasma, and that these changes can be related to the ontogenetic variability described in its venom.

Peer Review #2 of "Differential transcript profile of inhibitors with potential anti-venom role in the liver of juvenile and adult Bothrops jararaca snake (v0.1)"

“…Manuscript to be reviewed A previous study evaluating the ontogenetic changes in the plasma proteomic profile of B. jararaca snakes showed that BJ46a is present in a higher relative abundance in the plasma of adult specimens (de Morais-Zani et al 2013) suggesting a positive association with the higher hemorrhagic activity described in the venom of adult snakes (Antunes et al 2010). However, the results presented herein showed no significant differences in BJ46a-like transcript levels between juvenile and adult B. jararaca snakes.…”

“…qPCR results showed that the levels of transcripts encoding to γ-PLI was 30-fold higher in adult than those observed in juvenile specimens. At a first glance, these are unexpected results, since a previous plasma proteomic analysis indicated that γ-PLI are found in a higher relative abundance in the plasma of juvenile B. jararaca (de Morais-Zani et al 2013) and the venom of juvenile specimens also displayed higher catalytic PLA 2 activity (Antunes et al 2010). However, a study conducted by Kinkawa et al (2010) showed that the gene expression of α-, βand γ-PLIs was induced by the intramuscular injection of venom in the venomous snake Gloydius brevicaudus.…”

“…Manuscript to be reviewed Omori-Satoh et al 1972;Straight et al 1976). This inter-and intra-species resistibility make snake plasma an interesting and rich source of bioactive compounds, since it can be explored for the isolation of proteins that can neutralize the toxic components of snake venoms and can contribute to the development of new approaches for the treatment of ophidic accidents (de Morais-Zani et al 2013;Lizano et al 2003).…”

“…Manuscript to be reviewed PAGE and mass spectrometry) (de Morais-Zani et al 2013). Interestingly, a comparative study of the plasma composition of juvenile and adult B. jararaca snakes showed that the inhibitors aforementioned (Bj46a and PLIs) might be present at different levels during ontogenetic development and that this variability can be related to the ontogenetic shift described in its venom (de Morais-Zani et al 2013).…”

The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Human Body

“…Some important elements which included to the composition of the snake venom are isolated for the medicinal purpose. The BJ46a compound which belongs to the composition of the snake venom has inhibition effect; it inhibits MMPs which is activated in cancer metastasis [15].…”