Abstract

) to the alpha-1 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor orthosteric (active) site for amphibian, lizard, snake, bird, and rodent targets. Our results detected prey-selective, intraspecific, and geographical differences of a-neurotoxic binding. The results also suggest that crude venom that shows prey selectivity is likely driven by the proportions of prey-specific a-neurotoxins with differential selectivity within the crude venom. Our results also suggest that since the a-neurotoxic prey targeting does not always account for the full dietary breadth of a species, other toxin classes with a different pathophysiological function likely play an equally important role in prey immobilisation of the crude venom depending on the prey type envenomated. The use of this innovative and taxonomically flexible diverse assay in functional venom testing can be key in attempting to understanding the evolution and ecology of a-neurotoxic snake venoms, as well as opening up biochemical and pharmacological avenues to explore other venom effects.

Authors	Harris, Richard J; Zdenek, Christina N; Harrich, David; Frank, Nathaniel; Fry, Bryan G
Journal	Toxins
Pages
Volume	12
Date	1/03/2020
Grant ID	DP190100304
Funding Body	Australian Research Council
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.3390/toxins12030205