1 research outputs found
Identification of New Snake Venom Metalloproteinase Inhibitors Using Compound Screening and Rational Peptide Design
The majority of snakebite envenomations in Central America
are
caused by the viperid species <i>Bothrops asper</i>, whose
venom contains a high proportion of zinc-dependent metalloproteinases
that play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of hemorrhage characteristic
of these envenomations. Broad metalloproteinase inhibitors, such as
the peptidomimetic hydroxamate Batimastat, have been shown to inhibit
snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP). However, the difficulty in
having open public access to Batimastat and similar molecules highlights
the need to design new inhibitors of SVMPs that could be applied in
the treatment of snakebite envenomations. We have chosen the SVMP
BaP1 as a model to search for new inhibitors using different strategies,
that is, screening of the Prestwick Chemical Library and rational
peptide design. Results from these approaches provide clues on the
structural requirements for efficient BaP1 inhibition and pave the
way for the design of new inhibitors of SVMP