Venomcap Identifies Venom-Producing Genes In Snakes

The production of snake venom involves thousands of genes, and different species of venomous snakes use different combinations and versions of those genes to produce their toxins. “Knowing what’s in a certain kind of venom can help in the development of antivenom for treating that kind of snakebite,” notes Sara. In addition, compounds in snake venoms are used in pharmaceutical development and human medicine (e.g., the first ACE-inhibitor for high blood pressure was created from a compound found in the venom of a Brazilian pit viper). To identify the genes responsible for venom production in a given species, the team developed a technique called VenomCap, a set of exon-capturing probes—groups of molecules designed to interact with a specific group of genes. VenomCap was designed to bind with any of the several thousands of genes that previous studies have shown are involved with venom production in snakes. Rather than having to sequence a snake’s entire genome (a lengthy and expensive process) and comb through it for 2,000+ possible venom-making genes, VenomCap may provide a quicker, easier means for scientists to see which of these genes a snake possesses. The team tested VenomCap’s ability to bind with venom-producing genes, using tissue samples from the family Elapidae (cobras, mambas, coral snakes, etc.), and found that on average the tool was able to match those results with 76% accuracy. VenomCap could make it easier for scientists to study the relationships between these snakes’ lifestyles and the venoms they produce, as well as provide baseline data for developing effective treatments for snakebite. Read more in the press release, and the coverage in Popular Science.September 27. 2024