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Origin and Evolution of Snake Venom Prothrombin Activators

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Toxins and Hemostasis

Abstract

Snake venom is a mixture of various proteins and peptides with distinct pharmacological properties. They have the unique aptitude to attack specific physiological systems of the prey with remarkable specificity and thereby obstruct the natural function culminating in death and debilitation of the victim. The origin of snake venom toxins is one of the most interesting question that intrigued scientists for a long time. In this chapter, we will discuss the origin of a particular group of venom proteins, namely prothrombin activators. The results from our recent studies provide molecular evidence that this class of deadly toxins have evolved by gene duplication and recruitment of blood coagulation factor gene. Thus a new toxin has evolved after recruitment from a simple body protein that is involved in its own lifesaving haemostasis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

    Md. Abu Reza

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117 543, Singapore

    Md. Abu Reza

  3. Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore

    R. Manjunatha Kini

  4. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 13298, USA

    R. Manjunatha Kini

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Correspondence to Md. Abu Reza .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4 14, Singapore, 117543, Singapore

    R. Manjunatha Kini

  2. , Department of Haematology, University of Berne, Inselspital, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland

    Kenneth J Clemetson

  3. , Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Health Sciences Campus/9270, Los Angeles, 90089, USA

    Francis S. Markland

  4. , Medical Technology, University of Delaware, 305G Willard Hall Educ Bld, Newark, 19716, Delaware, USA

    Mary Ann McLane

  5. , Biochemistry, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Nishio Kiyose 2-522-1, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan

    Takashi Morita

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Reza, M.A., Kini, R.M. (2010). Origin and Evolution of Snake Venom Prothrombin Activators. In: Kini, R., Clemetson, K., Markland, F., McLane, M., Morita, T. (eds) Toxins and Hemostasis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9295-3_29

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