During the generation of abundant expressed sequence tags from the Viperidae snake Bothrops insularis venom glands, we identified for the first time a cDNA coding for a putative vascular endothelial growth factor-like (VEGF-like) protein. The deduced primary sequence, after complete sequencing of the longest snake venom VEGF (svVEGF) cDNA, displayed similarity with vertebrate VEGFs and with the...

We analyzed the origin and evolution of snake venom toxin families represented in both viperid and elapid snakes by means of phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequences of the toxins and related nonvenom proteins. Out of eight toxin families analyzed, five provided clear evidence of recruitment into the snake venom proteome before the diversification of the advanced snakes (Kunitz-type pr...

Surprisingly little is known of the toxic arsenal of cnidarian nematocysts compared to other venomous animals. Here we investigate the toxins of nematocysts isolated from the jellyfish Olindias sambaquiensis. A total of 29 unique ms/ms events were annotated as potential toxins homologous to the toxic proteins from diverse animal phyla, including cone-snails, snakes, spiders, scorpions, wasp, be...

This report describes a method of preparing samples of phosphodiesterase suitable for some chemical studies of desoxyribonucleic acid. A study of the use of purified phosphodiesterase in hydrolyzing thymonucleic acid has already been made (1). The source of our phosphodiesterase (snake venoms) was suggested by the work of Gulland and Jackson (2), although it now seems to us that their conclusio...

Testing whether venoms may aid in digestion of the prey, eleven snake venoms were compared for the presence of proteases and endopeptidases that function in alkaline pH conditions. In vitro experiments examined the relative protease and endopeptidase activity of the venoms, which involved combining bovine muscle and snake venom in a buffered solution, encased within dialysis tubing. This mixtur...

The goal of this study was to identify new compounds from venoms able to modulate sperm physiology and more particularly sperm motility. For this purpose, we screened the effects of 16 snake venoms cleared of molecules higher than 15 kDa on sperm motility. Venoms rich in neurotoxins like those from Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus or Daboia russelii, were highly potent inhibitors of sperm moti...

This report describes a method of preparing samples of phosphodiesterase suitable for some chemical studies of desoxyribonucleic acid. A study of the use of purified phosphodiesterase in hydrolyzing thymonucleic acid has already been made (1). The source of our phosphodiesterase (snake venoms) was suggested by the work of Gulland and Jackson (2), although it now seems to us that their conclusio...

This report describes a method of preparing samples of phosphodiesterase suitable for some chemical studies of desoxyribonucleic acid. A study of the use of purified phosphodiesterase in hydrolyzing thymonucleic acid has already been made (1). The source of our phosphodiesterase (snake venoms) was suggested by the work of Gulland and Jackson (2), although it now seems to us that their conclusio...