Citation

Madrigal M, Sanz L, Flores-Díaz M, Sasa M, Núñez V, Alape-Giron A, Calvete JJ. J. Proteomics 2012; 77: 280-297.

Affiliation

Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jprot.2012.09.003

PMID

22982523

Abstract

We report the proteomic analysis of ontogenetic changes in venom composition of the Central American bushmaster, L. stenophrys, and the characterization of the venom proteomes of two congeneric pitvipers, L. melanocephala (black-headed bushmaster) and L. acrochorda (Chochoan bushmaster). Along with the previous characterization of the venom proteome of L. muta muta (from Bolivia), our present outcome enables a comparative overview of the composition and distribution of the toxic proteins across genus Lachesis. Comparative venomics revealed the close kinship of Central American L. stenophrys and L. melanocephala and support the elevation of L. acrochorda to species status. Major ontogenetic changes in the toxin composition of L. stenophrys venom involves quantitative changes in the concentration of vasoactive peptides and serine proteinases, which steadily decrease from birth to adulthood, and age-dependent de novo biosynthesis of Gal-lectin and snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs). The net result is a shift from a bradykinin-potentiating and C-type natriuretic peptide (BPP/C-NP)-rich and serine proteinase-rich venom in newborns and 2-years-old juveniles to a (PI>PIII) SVMP-rich venom in adults. Notwithstanding minor qualitative and quantitative differences, the venom arsenals of L. melanocephala and L. acrochorda are broadly similar between themselves and also closely mirror those of adult L. stenophrys and L. muta venoms. The high conservation of the overall composition of Central and South American bushmaster venoms provides the ground for rationalizing the "Lachesis syndrome", characterized by vagal syntomatology, sensorial disorders, hematologic, and cardiovascular manifestations, documented in envenomings by different species of this wide-ranging genus. This finding let us predict that monospecific Lachesic antivenoms may exhibit paraspecificity against all congeneric species.

Language: en