The Biochemistry of Snake Venom Essay Example
The Biochemistry of Snake Venom Essay Example

The Biochemistry of Snake Venom Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1279 words)
  • Published: December 3, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Venomous snakes produce and inject snake venom, a biological fluid that serves to immobilize or kill prey and function in defense. The venom can be clear, viscous, amber or straw-colored. There are two main types of snake venom namely neurotoxins which target the nervous system and hemotoxins which target the circulatory system. Some snakes however produce both types of venom. Snake venom comprises of various biological agents such as enzymes, proteases, hollandaise, metal ions, boogieing amines, lipids, free amino acids, proteins and polypeptides. Enzymes spur disruptive physiological processes while proteolysis dissolves cells causing pain and swelling at the bite site. Coordination alters heart contraction leading to failure while harmonicas destroy capillary walls causing hemorrhages near and distant from the bite. Retarding compounds prevent blood clotting whereas thromboses promote coagulation throughout the ci

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rculatory system. Venoms containing cytolytic agents destroy red and white blood cells while blocking nerve impulses to muscles including those associated with breathing.This report focuses on the venom of the Inland Taipan, which is known to be the most deadly snake in the world. The toxicity of a snake's venom depends on concentrations of various agents. Despite its lethality, the Inland Taipan is generally placid and shy, though it may bite if cornered or provoked. Its venom primarily contains neurotoxins and is found only in certain desert regions of central and central western Australia. Minor quantities of toxic proteins contribute to the bite pathology. Neurotoxins found in inland taipan venom include Adaptation, Paradoxical, Cutlasses fraction III and IV. Adaptation has three subunits (a,b,g) with an LADY of 2 MGM/keg (IV mouse), lethal properties present only in its very basic g-subunit; it is moderately acidic

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sisal-globetrotting prescription neurotic. Paradoxical accounts for 12% of rude venom with an LADY of 2 MGM/keg (IV mouse); it is a phosphates AY based prescription neurotic almost identical to Adaptation.Cutlasses fraction III and IV have minimal data; both are presumed posthypnotic neurotics with an LADY around 100 MGM/keg (IV mouse) and MM approximately 8,000 making up about 47% respectively, while accounting for 10% respectively.It should also be noted that composition may vary among utopian populations with prescription constituents being far more potent than posthypnotic ones.The prescription and posthypnotic neurotics work by affecting the terminal axon at the neuromuscular junction. In order to impact the terminal axon membrane, prescription neurotics need to attach to it and cause damage, which then results in toxin effects that destroy vesicles and block further Ach release. It typically takes 60-80 minutes for the neuromuscular block to become detectable and progress into complete paralysis due to a reduction in the number of choleric synaptic vesicles, organelle damage such as mitochondria, and an increase in free calcium levels. Posthypnotic neurotics hinder signal arrival at muscles by binding to or being adjacent to acetylene's receptor protein on the muscle end plate leading to paralysis before prescription neurotics. Antivenin is more effective against these toxins as their action is extracurricular. Neurotics neutralize Psychotherapist's enzyme resulting in nervous system paralysis. The venom from inland Taipei contains Diisopropylphosphorofluoridate, a reagent with this effect. Tenderloins present in O.Cutlasses and O.microelectronics venom act on the neuromuscular junction blocking some potassium channels causing initial stimulation followed by flaccid paralysis where protagonists have been isolated from both venoms mentioned above.According to Walker et al. (1980) and Supper et al. (1986),

certain proteins can convert promoting into thrombi, which then form fibrin clots. However, if blood vessels are damaged, these proteins may cause increased bleeding without spontaneous bleeding typically observed. Platelets are not usually used up in this process, but human studies have shown acute reductions in factors V, VIII, Protein C and plainspoken. While major clots do not occur in humans from this process, some fibrin cross linkage and stabilization does happen in vivo as XDMA levels increase sharply. The toxins responsible for activating these promoting processes are unknown but it is believed that they accelerate the production of thrombi without the need for cofactors such as calcium, factor V or phosphoric acid. As thrombi production accelerates, so does fibrin clotting which requires the formation of fibrin from thrombi. The splitting action of thrombi on the remainder boring molecule causes polymerases to form insoluble fibrin that structures the clot with adjacent fibrin monomers held together by covalent bonds strengthening titling strands. Venom overpopulation on humans induces vomiting or expectoration of blood while failure to administer antivenom in inland Taipei results in prolonged coagulation.The occurrence of major hemorrhages due to snakebite coagulates is common, and interracial bleeding is a concern. The disruption of calcium-activated Ca2+-Tapes (Catalpas), which are membrane proteins located in the muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum, by antitoxins leads to oscillation and eventual destruction of skeletal muscle. Catalpas regulate calcium balance within muscle cells and get activated by an electrical nerve signal that opens the calcium channels allowing calcium ions release into the cytoplasm for neurotransmitter release. Antitoxins interfere with this process by blocking the opening of the channel thereby reducing neurotransmitter release and slowing down

the nervous system. Additionally, antitoxin inhibits regeneration of calcium inside muscle cells leading to weakness and paralysis as it halts necessary chemical messages from crossing synapses. Furthermore, inland Taipan venom's antitoxins cause paralysis through their effect on phosphoric compounds in surface membranes found in muscles cells. The enzyme Phosphates AY exhibits two distinct actions: a non-lethal esters activity and toxic neurological activity resulting from hydrolysis reactions that break up phosphoric compounds destroying muscle tissue. These venomous effects are due to venom produced by a pair of large glands situated on either side of a snake's head causing weakness or paralysis in prey animals bitten by them.The venom is administered by means of fangs which have a canal that allows the venom to flow through. While some snakes can spit their venom, this will not be discussed since inland Taipei does not possess such capability. Antivenin is a serum produced commercially that is utilized to counteract the effects caused by poisonous snake bites. Fresh snake venom is obtained either manually or through electrical stimulation and collected every 20-30 days.

Manual milking involves holding the snake behind its head and having it bite down on a thin rubber diaphragm covering a receptacle while pressure is applied to its venom glands until no more venom can be discharged. Electrical stimulation includes placing electrodes on opposite sides of a snake's head, prompting the muscles surrounding its venom gland to contract and expel the venom into a collection container. The preferred method for drying out Venom is freeze-drying; however, other methods like using drying agents or vacuums are possible too.

Snake venom contains several compounds, offering potential medicinal applications in treating

blood disorders in Asia, South America, and Europe. Cobra Venom has two analgesics called Kickboxing and Nylon that reduce nerve transmission and arthritis pain respectively; whereas Irvin derived from Malay pit viper serves as an anticoagulant.

Venom compounds are also used in research fields like Physiology, Biochemistry & Immunology where they're employed for investigating cellular or biochemical processes.Various diseases such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, poliomyelitis, arthritis, rheumatism, hypertension, angina, cardiac arrhythmias, neuritis, conjunctivitis and cataracts are studied. The protagonists of the inland Taipei venom activate alpha thrombi promotion. Anticoagulants are used to prevent Mussolini interference with phosphoric-dependent in vitro coagulation tests. Due to limited knowledge of snake venom components there is vast potential for medical applications. Snake venom includes mainly proteins and enzymes that cause muscle paralysis, internal bleeding and tissue degeneration. Medical exploration of these compounds is hindered by lack of comprehension into snake venom biochemistry; however research into snake venom is expanding notably in Australia indicating a change is imminent.

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