Publication Date:
2024-04-18
Description:
This study provides a new methodology for the rapid analysis of numerous venom samples
in an automated fashion. Here, we use LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry) for
venom separation and toxin analysis at the accurate mass level combined with new in-house written
bioinformatic scripts to obtain high-throughput results. This analytical methodology was validated
using 31 venoms from all members of a monophyletic clade of Australian elapids: brown snakes
(Pseudonaja spp.) and taipans (Oxyuranus spp.). In a previous study, we revealed extensive venom
variation within this clade, but the data was manually processed and MS peaks were integrated
into a time-consuming and labour-intensive approach. By comparing the manual approach to
our new automated approach, we now present a faster and more efficient pipeline for analysing
venom variation. Pooled venom separations with post-column toxin fractionations were performed
for subsequent high-throughput venomics to obtain toxin IDs correlating to accurate masses for
all fractionated toxins. This workflow adds another dimension to the field of venom analysis by
providing opportunities to rapidly perform in-depth studies on venom variation. Our pipeline opens
new possibilities for studying animal venoms as evolutionary model systems and investigating
venom variation to aid in the development of better antivenoms.
Keywords:
LC-MS
;
snake venom
;
high throughput
;
data analysis
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
