Genes Encoding Snake Neurotoxins and Their Expression Products.

Abstract

The venom of the sea snake Laticauda semifasciata contains a-neurotoxins (erabutoxins) and phospolipases A2. a-Neurotoxins bind specifically to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and block the binding of acetylcholine to the receptor at neuromuscular junctions. Phospholipases A 2 inhibit to release neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, at neuromuscular junctions. The genes encoding these neurotoxins evolve via accelerated evolution including gene duplication and form multi-gene family. Thus there are many kinds of genes encoding these neurotoxins. However, some of the gene expression products could not be identified by the traditional methods. According to the development of analytical methods like on-line LC-ES-MS, we can detect the minor protein components in the venom of L. semifasciata.