Discovery of a novel vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with no affinity to heparin in Gloydius tsushimaensis venom.

Strong vascular permeability enhancing activity was found only in the venom of Gloydius tsushimaensis, in Tsushima island, Japan, when examined together with the venoms of G. blomhoffii snakes in several areas of Japan and of G. ussuriensis in South Korea.

Functional characterization of Kunitz-type protease inhibitor Pr-mulgins identified from New Guinean Pseudechis australis.

Kunitz-type protease inhibitors, which consist of around 60 amino acid residues and three distinctive disulfide bridges, exhibit a broad range of physiological functions such as protease inhibitor and ion channel blocker. In this study, we identified cDNAs encoding Kunitz-type protease inhibitors, Pr-mulgins 1, 2 and 3, from the venom gland cDNA library of Papuan pigmy mulga snake (New Guinean Pseudechis australis). The deduced amino acid sequences of the Pr-mulgins are 92.

Experimental manufacture of equine antivenom against yamakagashi (Rhabdophis tigrinus).

Yamakagashi, Rhabdophis tigrinus, is a natricine snake widely distributed in eastern Asia. Severe bite cases, some with fatal outcomes, occur regularly in Japan. Because previous production of R.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and chromosome mapping of reptilian estrogen receptors.

In many vertebrates, steroid hormones are essential for ovarian differentiation during a critical developmental stage as well as promoting the growth and differentiation of the adult female reproductive system. Although studies have been extensively conducted in mammals and a few fish, amphibians, and bird species, the molecular mechanisms of sex steroid hormone (estrogens) action have been poorly examined in reptiles. Here, we evaluate hormone receptor and ligand interactions in two species of snake, the Okinawa habu (Protobothrops flavoviridis, Viperidae) and the Japanese four-striped rat snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata, Colubridae) after the isolation of cDNAs encoding estrogen receptor α (ESR1) and estrogen receptor β (ESR2).

Regional divergence of phospholipase A(2)-like protein cDNAs between New Guinean and Australian Pseudechis australis.

Snake Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) exhibits diverse pharmacological effects, such as hemolysis, myotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. In this study, we identified 10 novel PLA(2)-like protein cDNAs, which we named Pr 1-10, from the venom gland cDNA library of Papuan pigmy mulga snake (New Guinean Pseudechis australis). The deduced amino acid sequence of Pr 1, which ortholog has not been reported in mulaga snake (Australian P.

Up-regulation of the expressions of phospholipase A2 inhibitors in the liver of a venomous snake by its own venom phospholipase A2.

Venomous snakes such as Gloydius brevicaudus have three distinct types of phospholipase A(2) inhibitors (PLIalpha, PLIbeta, and PLIgamma) in their blood so as to protect themselves from their own venom phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)s). Expressions of these PLIs in G. brevicaudus liver were found to be enhanced by the intramuscular injection of its own venom.

Identification and characterization of phospholipase A2 inhibitors from the serum of the Japanese rat snake, Elaphe climacophora.

Two distinct phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitory proteins (PLIs) were purified from the serum of the Japanese rat snake, Elaphe climacophora. The 150-kDa inhibitor, a trimer of a 50-kDa subunit, specifically inhibited the basic PLA2 purified from the venom of Gloydius brevicaudus, whereas the 120-kDa one composed of two distinct 25-kDa subunits. A and B, inhibited both the acidic and basic PLA2s of G.

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium sp. in snakes in Japan.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in snakes in Japan. Fecal samples or intestinal contents of 469 snakes, consisting of five species, were analyzed and Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected only from the Japanese grass snake Rhabdophis tigrinus. The mean prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp.

Evidence for different origin of sex chromosomes in snakes, birds, and mammals and step-wise differentiation of snake sex chromosomes.

All snake species exhibit genetic sex determination with the ZZ/ZW type of sex chromosomes. To investigate the origin and evolution of snake sex chromosomes, we constructed, by FISH, a cytogenetic map of the Japanese four-striped rat snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata) with 109 cDNA clones. Eleven of the 109 clones were localized to the Z chromosome.

Characterization of a novel metalloproteinase in Duvernoy's gland of Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus.

During the characterization of hemorrhagic factor in venom of Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus, so-called Yamakagashi in Japan, one of the Colubridae family, a novel metalloproteinase with molecular weight of 38 kDa in the Duvernoy's gland of Yamakagashi was identified by gelatin zymography and by monitoring its proteolytic activity using a fluorescence peptide substrate, MOCAc-PLGLA2pr(Dnp)AR-NH2, which was developed for measuring the well-known matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. After purification by gel filtration HPLC and/or column switch HPLC system consisting of an affinity column, which was immobilized with a synthetic BS-10 peptide (MQKPRCGVPD) originating from propeptide domain of MMP-7 and a reversed-phase column, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 38 kDa metalloproteinase was identified as FNTFPGDLK which shared a high homology to Xenopus MMP-9. The 38 kDa metalloproteinase required Zn2+ and Ca2+ ions for its proteolytic activity.