Title:Snake Venom Peptides and Low Mass Proteins: Molecular Tools and Therapeutic Agents
VOLUME: 24 ISSUE: 30
Author(s):J.R. Almeida, L.M. Resende, R.K. Watanabe, V.C. Carregari, S. Huancahuire-Vega, C.A. da S. Caldeira, A. Coutinho-Neto, A.M. Soares, N. Vale, P.A. de C. Gomes, S. Marangoni, L. de A. Calderon and S.L. Da Silva*
Affiliation:Universidad Regional Amazonica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Universidad Regional Amazonica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Fiocruz Rondonia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Porto Velho, RO, Fiocruz Rondonia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Porto Velho, RO, Fiocruz Rondonia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Porto Velho, RO, UCIBIOREQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, UCIBIOREQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Fiocruz Rondonia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Porto Velho, RO, Ikiam - Universidad Regional Amazonica, Km 7, via Muyuna, Tena - Napo
Keywords:Crotamine, sarafotoxin, natriuretic peptide, bradykinin-potentiating peptide, disintegrin, three-finger
toxin.
Abstract:Snake venoms are natural sources of biologically active molecules that are able to
act selectively and specifically on different cellular targets, modulating physiological functions.
Thus, these mixtures, composed mainly of proteins and peptides, provide ample and
challenging opportunities and a diversified molecular architecture to design and develop tools
and agents of scientific and therapeutic interest. Among these components, peptides and small
proteins play diverse roles in numerous physiological processes, exerting a wide range of
pharmacological activities, such as antimicrobial, antihypertensive, analgesic, antitumor, analgesic,
among others. The pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries have recognized the huge
potential of these privileged frameworks and believe them to be a promising alternative to
contemporary drugs. A number of natural or synthetic peptides from snake venoms have already
found preclinical or clinical applications for the treatment of pain, hypertension, cardiovascular
diseases and aging skin. A well-known example is captopril, whose natural peptide
precursor was isolated from Bothrops jararaca snake venom, which is a peptide-based drug
that inhibits the angiotensin-converting enzyme, producing an anti-hypertensive effect. The
present review looks at the main peptides (natriuretic peptides, bradykinin-potentiating peptides
and sarafotoxins) and low mass proteins (crotamine, disintegrins and three-Finger toxins)
from snake venoms, as well as synthetic peptides inspired by them, describing their biochemical,
structural and physiological features, as well as their applications as research tools
and therapeutic agents.
