The research group of Assistant Professor Minoru Shioi (Aoki) of the Faculty of Science, Fukuoka University, in collaboration with Professor Katsumi Maenaka of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, succeeded in analyzing the three-dimensional structure of the snake venom and poison-inactivated protein complex for the first time in the world.Development of a new drug against snake venom is expected.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than a dozen venomous snakes are damaged per minute, with an estimated annual death toll of more than 1, which has been reported as an international social problem.On the other hand, hemorrhagic venomous snake habu and pit viper do not die even if they bite each other.So far, the research group has elucidated the molecular mechanism of the self-defense system of venomous snakes, how the endogenous snake venom-inhibiting protein contained in the blood of venomous snakes can efficiently neutralize their venom. I have been conducting research aimed at.
This time, the research group discovered a poison-inactivating protein that poisonous snakes prepared to protect themselves from their own poison.This result, which elucidated how the venomous snake's poison-inactivating protein can exert its function efficiently and effectively, holds promise for the development of a therapeutic drug for venomous snake bites.
Paper information:[Journal of Biological Chemistry] Crystal structure of the complex between venom toxin and serum inhibitor from viperidae snake