Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model

The Mojave rattlesnake venom shows significant geographical variability. The venom of Type A animals primarily contains β-neurotoxin referred to as Mojave Toxin (MTX), which makes bites from this snake particularly feared. We performed a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of the neurocellular respo...

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Main Authors: Satish Kumar, Miriam Aceves, Jose Granados, Lorena Guerra, Felicia Juarez, Earl Novilla, Ana C. Leandro, Marcelo Leandro, Juan Peralta, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Elda E. Sanchez, Jacob A. Galan, John Blangero, Joanne E. Curran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/3/381
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author Satish Kumar
Miriam Aceves
Jose Granados
Lorena Guerra
Felicia Juarez
Earl Novilla
Ana C. Leandro
Marcelo Leandro
Juan Peralta
Sarah Williams-Blangero
Elda E. Sanchez
Jacob A. Galan
John Blangero
Joanne E. Curran
author_facet Satish Kumar
Miriam Aceves
Jose Granados
Lorena Guerra
Felicia Juarez
Earl Novilla
Ana C. Leandro
Marcelo Leandro
Juan Peralta
Sarah Williams-Blangero
Elda E. Sanchez
Jacob A. Galan
John Blangero
Joanne E. Curran
author_sort Satish Kumar
collection DOAJ
description The Mojave rattlesnake venom shows significant geographical variability. The venom of Type A animals primarily contains β-neurotoxin referred to as Mojave Toxin (MTX), which makes bites from this snake particularly feared. We performed a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of the neurocellular response to Mojave Type A rattlesnake venom using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying the damage caused by this snake’s envenomation. Our results suggest that snake venom metalloproteases, although having a limited repertoire in Type A venom, facilitate venom spread by digesting the tissue’s extracellular matrix. The MTX, which is composed of heterodimers of basic and acidic phospholipase-A2, co-opts the host arachidonic acid and Ca<sup>2+</sup> second messenger mechanisms and triggers multiple signaling cascades, such as the activation of MAPKs and NF-κB-regulated proinflammatory genes; the neurotransmitter overload in excitatory synapses leading to a presynaptic blockade of nerve signals; and the upregulation of unfolded protein response (UPR) due to the depletion of Ca<sup>2+</sup> from the endoplasmic reticulum. The upregulated UPR and the oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species generated in cytochromeP4501A1-mediated hydroxylation of arachidonic acid contribute to mitochondrial toxicity. The activation of UPR, mitochondrial toxicity, and oxidative stress synergistically contributed to apoptotic and ferroptotic cell death.
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spelling doaj-art-20bc1e57be8348f0b6bb31104a0b2d392025-08-20T02:42:39ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-03-0115338110.3390/biom15030381Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell ModelSatish Kumar0Miriam Aceves1Jose Granados2Lorena Guerra3Felicia Juarez4Earl Novilla5Ana C. Leandro6Marcelo Leandro7Juan Peralta8Sarah Williams-Blangero9Elda E. Sanchez10Jacob A. Galan11John Blangero12Joanne E. Curran13Division of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USANational Natural Toxin Research Center (NNTRC), Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USADivision of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USAThe Mojave rattlesnake venom shows significant geographical variability. The venom of Type A animals primarily contains β-neurotoxin referred to as Mojave Toxin (MTX), which makes bites from this snake particularly feared. We performed a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of the neurocellular response to Mojave Type A rattlesnake venom using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying the damage caused by this snake’s envenomation. Our results suggest that snake venom metalloproteases, although having a limited repertoire in Type A venom, facilitate venom spread by digesting the tissue’s extracellular matrix. The MTX, which is composed of heterodimers of basic and acidic phospholipase-A2, co-opts the host arachidonic acid and Ca<sup>2+</sup> second messenger mechanisms and triggers multiple signaling cascades, such as the activation of MAPKs and NF-κB-regulated proinflammatory genes; the neurotransmitter overload in excitatory synapses leading to a presynaptic blockade of nerve signals; and the upregulation of unfolded protein response (UPR) due to the depletion of Ca<sup>2+</sup> from the endoplasmic reticulum. The upregulated UPR and the oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species generated in cytochromeP4501A1-mediated hydroxylation of arachidonic acid contribute to mitochondrial toxicity. The activation of UPR, mitochondrial toxicity, and oxidative stress synergistically contributed to apoptotic and ferroptotic cell death.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/3/381human iPSCsNSCsMojave rattlesnake venomneurocellular responsemolecular mechanisms
spellingShingle Satish Kumar
Miriam Aceves
Jose Granados
Lorena Guerra
Felicia Juarez
Earl Novilla
Ana C. Leandro
Marcelo Leandro
Juan Peralta
Sarah Williams-Blangero
Elda E. Sanchez
Jacob A. Galan
John Blangero
Joanne E. Curran
Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model
Biomolecules
human iPSCs
NSCs
Mojave rattlesnake venom
neurocellular response
molecular mechanisms
title Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model
title_full Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model
title_fullStr Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model
title_full_unstemmed Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model
title_short Neurocellular Stress Response to Mojave Type A Rattlesnake Venom: Study of Molecular Mechanisms Using Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Model
title_sort neurocellular stress response to mojave type a rattlesnake venom study of molecular mechanisms using human ipsc derived neural stem cell model
topic human iPSCs
NSCs
Mojave rattlesnake venom
neurocellular response
molecular mechanisms
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/3/381
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