Title:Snake Venom Proteins Isolated from Tunisian Vipers: Pharmacological and Therapeutic Overview
Volume: 1
Author(s): Maram Morjen, Zaineb Abdelkafi-Koubaa, Jed Jebali, Erij Messadi, Najet Srairi-Abid, José Luis*Naziha Marrakchi
Affiliation:
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS UMR7051, INP, Marseille,France
Keywords:
Cancer, angiogenesis, cardiovascular disease, disintegrin, phospholipase A2, C-type lectin protein, kunitz-type
inhibitor, L-amino acid oxidase.
Abstract: The venoms of Tunisian wildlife snakes are complex mixtures containing proteins/
peptides and non-protein molecules. Proteins and peptides are the most abundant compounds
responsible for the biological effects of venoms. Snake venoms proteins have enzymatic or nonenzymatic
activities, which are grouped into different families, including C-type lectin proteins,
disintegrins (long, medium and short disintegrins), Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors, natriuretic-
like peptides, vascular endothelial growth factor-related proteins, L-amino acid oxidases,
phospholipases A2 and serine proteinases. With technological advancements, the toxic effects of
venoms were turned into potential benefits for clinical diagnosis, basic research and development of
new research tools and drugs of potential clinical use. Our research team has shown that Macrovipera
lebetina and Cerastes cerastes venom components of Tunisian wildlife snakes had great potential
for the development of new drugs for the treatment of cancer, angiogenesis disorders or cardiovascular
diseases. This review is an overview of snake venom proteins from Macrovipera lebetina
and Cerastes cerastes and their biochemical, pharmacological and molecular characterization
and their importance as protein resources with therapeutic potential.