Canopy Venom: Proteomic Comparison among New World Arboreal Pit-Viper Venoms

• Main Authors: Jordan Debono, Chip Cochran, Sanjaya Kuruppu, Amanda Nouwens, Niwanthi W. Rajapakse, Minami Kawasaki, Kelly Wood, James Dobson, Kate Baumann, Mahdokht Jouiaei, Timothy N. W. Jackson, Ivan Koludarov, Dolyce Low, Syed A. Ali, A. Ian Smith, Andrew Barnes, Bryan G. Fry
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-07-01
• Series: Toxins
• Subjects: venom; evolution; pit-viper; enzyme
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/7/210

Central and South American pitvipers, belonging to the genera Bothrops and Bothriechis, have independently evolved arboreal tendencies. Little is known regarding the composition and activity of their venoms. In order to close this knowledge gap, venom proteomics and toxin activity of species of Bothriechis, and Bothrops (including Bothriopsis) were investigated through established analytical methods. A combination of proteomics and bioactivity techniques was used to demonstrate a similar diversification of venom composition between large and small species within Bothriechis and Bothriopsis. Increasing our understanding of the evolution of complex venom cocktails may facilitate future biodiscoveries.