Project description:Top-down Proteomics of Venom from Naja haje from the Berlin Zoo. 4 technical replicates from TCEP reduced crude venom and 1 replicate from native venom.
Project description:Characterizing whole proteins by top-down proteomics avoids a step of inference encountered in the dominant bottom-up methodology when peptides are assembled computationally into proteins for identification. The direct interrogation of whole proteins and protein complexes from the venom of Ophiophagus hannah (king cobra) provides a sharply clarified view of toxin sequence variation, transit peptide cleavage sites and post-translational modifications (PTMs) likely critical for venom lethality. A tube-gel format for electrophoresis (called GELFrEE) and solution isoelectric focusing were used for protein fractionation prior to LC-MS/MS analysis resulting in 131 protein identifications (18 more than bottom-up) and a total of 184 proteoforms characterized from 14 protein toxin families. Operating both GELFrEE and mass spectrometry to preserve non-covalent interactions generated detailed information about two of the largest venom glycoprotein complexes: the homodimeric L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO, ~130 kDa) and the multi-chain toxin cobra venom factor (~147 kDa). The LAAO complex exhibited two clusters of multi-proteoform complexes corresponding to the presence of 5 or 6 N-glycans moieties, each consistent with a distribution of N-acetyl hexosamines. Employing top-down proteomics in both native and denaturing modes provides unprecedented characterization of venom proteoforms and their complexes. A precise molecular inventory of venom proteins will propel the study of snake toxin variation and the targeted development of new anti-venoms or other biotherapeutics.
Project description:In this study two Viperidae species, living in two different habitats, the horned desert viper (Cerastes cerastes) native to the deserts in North Africa and in turn the mangrove pit viper (Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus), which can be found in South/Southeast Asia, were studied in terms of the identification of the venom proteome.
Project description:Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease and a globally important driver of death and morbidity. Vipers of the genus Macrovipera (Viperidae: Viperinae) are among the snakes of higher medical importance in the Old World. Despite the medical relevance of Macrovipera venoms, the knowledge regarding them is heterogeneously distributed with virtually all works conducted so far focusing on subspecies of Macrovipera lebetinus, while other species within the genus are largely overlooked. Here we present the first proteomic evaluation of the venom from the Greek endemic Milos viper (Macrovipera schweizeri). In line with clinical symptoms typically elicited by Macrovipera envenomations, Milos viper venom primarily comprises coagulotoxic and cytotoxic protein families, such as metalloproteinases (svMP) and serine proteases (svSP). We conducted comparative bioactivity assays on venoms from M. schweizeri and the M. lebetinus subspecies M. lebetinus cernovi, M. lebetinus obtusa, and M. lebetinus turanica, and showed that they all exhibit similarities in levels of cytotoxicity proteolytic activity, and inhibition of prokaryotic growth. Lastly, we compared 1D-SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC Macrovipera spp. venom profiles, as well as our proteomic data with previously published Macrovipera venom proteomes. The analyses performed reveal that a general venom profile seems to be conserved across blunt-nosed vipers, and that, similarly to M. lebetinus venom, M. schweizeri venom is able to cause significant tissue damage. The present work represents an important starting point to the development of comparative studies across the full taxonomic range of Macrovipera spp., and can potentially help optimize the treatment of envenomations caused by M. schweizeri.
Project description:Top-down proteomics of venom protein of venom-gland organoids aspidelaps. Samples were extracted with MilliQ water and proteins reduced with TCEP before top-down LC-MS/MS analysis.
Project description:Top-down proteomics of venom protein of venom-gland organoids aspidelaps. Samples were extracted with MilliQ water and proteins reduced with TCEP before top-down LC-MS/MS analysis.
Run 2