A unique snake venom neuritogenesis mechanism: A cornerstone in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases?: An Editorial Highlight for "Transcriptomic, proteomic, and biochemical analyses reveal a novel neuritogenesis mechanism of Naja naja venom α-elapitoxin post binding to TrkA receptor of rat pheochromocytoma cells" on 612.

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are a worldwide health problem and are a major cause of death and disability. A progressive loss of defined neuronal populations is triggered by a diverse array of stimuli that converge in deficient neurotrophic signaling. Therefore, much effort has been placed in recent years in the characterization of the molecular mechanisms associated with the structure and function of neurotrophins, its receptors, signaling strategies, and their target genes. This Editorial highlights an impressive study by the group of Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee, a renowned specialist in snake venoms, in which a component of the Indian Cobra N.naja venom with no significant similarity to nerve growth factor, is shown to induce sustained neuritogenesis. An elegant transcriptomic and functional analysis of this component, named Nn-α-elapitoxin, mapped novel domains in mammalian neurotrophic receptors that trigger both conventional and novel signal cascades that support neurite extension in the PC-12 neuronal model system. The authors discuss their findings in the context of the paradoxical neurite outgrowth properties of this toxin which originate in their unique receptor binding site. This study takes an important step towards a better understanding of the complexity of neuronal development and maintenance of the nervous system and provides a potential target to improve neurotrophic signaling, independent of endogenous growth factors, in the diseased brain.

• Authors: Luisa C Hernández-Kelly, Arturo Ortega
• Journal: Journal of neurochemistry (J Neurochem) Vol. 155 Issue 6 Pg. 599-601 (12 2020) ISSN: 1471-4159 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33075150 (Publication Type: Editorial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2020 International Society for Neurochemistry.

Chemical References

• Elapid Venoms
• Proteome
• Snake Venoms
• Receptor, trkA

Topics

• Animals
• Elapid Venoms (genetics, metabolism)
• Naja
• Neurodegenerative Diseases (genetics, metabolism)
• PC12 Cells
• Protein Binding (physiology)
• Proteome (genetics, metabolism)
• Rats
• Receptor, trkA (genetics, metabolism)
• Snake Venoms
• Transcriptome (physiology)