SNAKE

VENOM:
MECHANISM OF
ACTION AND
POTENTIAL USES

Adam Yunusa
SNAKE
VENOM:
MECHANISM OF
ACTION AND
POTENTIAL USES

Adam Yunusa
 WHY SNAKE VENOM?
Snake venom is fascinating due to its ability to target a wide
variety of cells.
Venoms are myotoxic, cytotoxic, neurotoxic and cardiotoxic.

Crystal structure of 5'-nucleotidase from venom of Naja atra i.e. Chinese

cobra
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 WHY SNAKE VENOM?
Snake venom is fascinating due to its ability to target a wide
variety of cells.
Venoms are myotoxic, cytotoxic, neurotoxic and cardiotoxic.

Meaning they target and have toxic effects on muscles, cells, the
nervous system and cardiac cells.
This wide range of targets makes it an ideal starting point for
modification

Crystal structure of 5'-nucleotidase from venom of Naja atra i.e. Chinese

cobra
4
 Serine Protease
Metalloprotease WHAT IS IN
SNAKE VENOM?
Snake venom is comprised of various
enzymes peptides and proteins.
The key components are the snake
venom metalloproteinases(SVMP),
3FTx (3 finger toxin)
serine protease(SVSP) phospholipase
A2(PLA2) and 3 finger toxin

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 HOW DOES VENOM
WORK?
Some of the actions of venom will digest cells and cell
membranes, while also disrupting procoagulant and
anticoagulant activates of blood, produces oxidizing agents,
breaks down the intercellular matrixes and disrupts nerve
tissues.

Some effects of the venom are listed in the diagram to the left

PRESENTATION TITLE 6
POTENTIAL MEDICAL
APPLICATIONS
Given the wide range of effects and targets snake venom has, it
isn’t unfeasible to try and repurpose the biochemical structure
to make the venom usable in different conditions.
Already there are some drugs on the market which stem from
snake venom, Captopril for example is an FDA approved drug
used to manage hypertension and ventricular dysfunction after
infarction (heart attacks)
A possible use could be for targeted drug application, as the
specific proteins in venom are known to be able to inhibit
activation of clotting.

2/11/20XX 7
THANK YOU
I HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND THIS PRESENTATION INTERESTING
Adam Yunusa| bt21899.qmul.ac.uk | SBBC