My partner and I both teach science and since we keep venomous and occasionally show them to our students, we get asked pretty complicated questions. I've yet to find a really good site elaborating on the physiology of snake venoms acting on a biological system but figure this is as good a place as any to start asking favors. I'll be e-mailing Bryan Fry when I get a second, but this might make for an interesting thread at any rate.
To start with, I understand that venoms are a complex mixture of various different proteins and enzymes, each of which has been evolved to target specific things or help the other components of the venom do their things. How do cytotoxins work to lyse cell membranes? I'm assuming the venom acts to increase permeability and allow water to flow in or out? But I very likely am incorrect.
Next, how about neurotoxins? How do they inhibit the communication between the synapses? Is it competitive inhibition? If so, what acts as a better competitor?
Finally, true hemotoxins, those that I suppose target red blood cells, how do they function to hit only those cells? Is it a marker on the cell membrane? What would happen in a person with sickle cell anemia?
Oh also, clotting factors. Snakes like Echis are famous, or infamous, for their ability to 'use up' one's clotting factors so that the slightest bump will bruise or bleed severely. What's going on there on a molecular level?
I realize the questions in this thread require some pretty complex answers, but I would appreciate anyone's input.
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com
