Functional evolution and therapeutic potential of snake venom coagulotoxins

该项目旨在确定和了解影响澳大利亚蛇毒凝血毒素中关键残留物（较大化合物的部分）的有用功能的因素，这些残留物会改变凝血能力。近年来，蛇毒化合物已被证明是合成治疗药物以改善健康和福祉的有用模型。该项目将在代表天然猎物的模型系统上测试这些重要毒素，以确定血液凝块形成酶的分子和功能演变。预期成果包括对进化生物学知识体系做出实质性贡献，以及缩小对最终候选药物的搜索范围。

This project aims to identify and understand the factors that influence the useful function of key residues (parts of larger compounds) in Australian snake venom coagulotoxins, which alter blood-clotting ability. In recent years, snake venom compounds have been demonstrated as useful models from which to synthesise therapeutic drugs to improve health and well-being. This project will test these important toxins on model systems that represent natural prey items in order to determine the molecular and functional evolution of blood-clot forming enzymes. Expected outcomes include substantial contributions to the body of evolutionary biology knowledge, as well as narrowing the search for the ultimate drug candidates.