Snake venom could help drug discovery

According to a new report, snake venom could be used to advance drug discovery. The claim, which is made by researchers at the University of Singapore, says that venom contains a protein that has the potential to advance the understanding of disease mechanisms.

Called haditoxin, the novel protein was reportedly discovered by Professor Manjunatha Kini at the National University of Singapore. Now, co-author of the report that characterises the pharmacological potentials of haditoxin, Dr. S. Niru Nirthanan, says that the protein boasts a unique structure and is therefore expected to have unique properties that can used in the drug discovery arena.

The findings come at an interesting time for the pharmaceutical industry, given that patent protection on many drugs are facing expiration and, with the rise in generics, pharmaceutical companies are now looking at a series of new measures to encourage drug discovery so they can "plug the gaps" that will be left after existing drugs lose their patent protection.

How it works

"This toxin is like a conjoined twin," explains Dr. Nirthanan. "It is a relatively large complex made up of two identical protein molecules known as three-finger toxins linked together.

"We know that the family of three-finger toxins display diverse biological actions on the human nervous system, cardiovascular system and blood clotting. Some have directly led to the development of compounds with potent analgesic and blood pressure reducing properties – so it is likely that haditoxin in its 'conjoined twin' state or as individual components will offer us more novel insights," he added.

The authors of the report also added how many common drugs, such as the widely prescribed blood pressure medication Captopril and anti-clotting drug Eptifibatide, have been developed from snake and other animal venoms.

Getting an understanding

"Researchers have been studying King Cobra venom for over 50 years and yet we are still identifying new compounds. It is a complex cocktail of biological molecules that can change composition depending on the environment, the season or even the snake's diet," Dr. Nirthanan added.

According to the study, the venom, which acts on neurotransmitter receptors that regulate communication between nerve cells and muscles, resulting in symptons such as paralysis and respiratory failure, may be able to be managing so the mechanism of action of these venoms can be better understood.

While researchers suggest that not every new toxin will convert directly into a clinically useful drug, there was potential for haditoxin to be a lead compound or template from which to design other drugs. "Because of the high specificity of these toxins, haditoxin may also be useful as a 'molecular probe'," Dr. Nirthanan concluded, "which will help us study neurotransmitter receptors and their role in disease."

The study has been described in the prestigious Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Matthew Buttell

Matt Buttell graduated from Bath Spa University in 2006. Since then he has written for several publications, before moving to the web. He now writes solely for the internet, continuing to cover key business issues while managing his own personal blog.

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