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Why can snake venom completely paralyze prey? Explore the biochemical miracle of snake venom!
The mysterious ability of snake venom makes it one of the deadliest weapons in nature, specially used to capture prey and self-defense. Snake venom is a highly toxic form of saliva that contains a variety of complex biochemicals that work not only to paralyze prey but also to speed up digestion. Other advances in science are revealing the properties of various components in snake venom and are providing a deeper understanding of this wonder of biochemistry.
The venom glands of snakes are specialized structures related to the parotid glands of other vertebrates, mainly located on both sides of the head.
Snake venom is injected through special fangs, which are similar to needles and can inject venom directly into the prey. When snakes attack, their teeth quickly penetrate the skin of their prey, and at that moment, muscle contraction injects venom through the teeth. Such rapid movements leave the prey with almost no chance of escaping.
Snake venom contains more than 20 different compounds, mainly including proteins and peptides.
Discussing the toxicology of snake venom, we can see the diversity of its components. Research shows that 90-95% of the dry weight of snake venom is protein, and these proteins are the main source of biological effects in snake venom. The venom also contains a variety of enzymes, especially hydrolases, which play an important role in the snake's predation process. Enzymes in snake venom, such as L-amino acid oxidase and phospholipase, can significantly increase the lethality of venom to prey.
For example, alpha-neurotoxin specifically targets the nervous system and directly blocks the nerve conduction of prey by blocking the normal release of neurotransmitters. In addition, some snake venoms can paralyze prey by interfering with the blood coagulation process, so that the prey loses control of its own movements for a short period of time and is eventually captured.
Cardiotoxins affect the normal function of the heart by binding to specific cells in the heart, which may eventually lead to irregular or stopped heartbeats.
In addition to its lethal neurological effects, the lipase in snake venom can completely destroy the cell membrane of red blood cells, causing hemolysis. This reaction not only helps paralyze the prey, but also speeds up the snake's digestion and absorption of the prey. The specific biological functions of these toxins are the regulation of specific physiological processes, igniting researchers' enthusiasm for exploring the potential of snake venoms for medical applications.
As for the evolution of snake venom, research shows that as early as 170 million years ago, toxins first appeared in the ancestors of snakes, and then through a long evolutionary process, various toxic characteristics developed today. This process relies primarily on gene duplication and functional divergence, allowing different types of snakes to evolve specific toxins for their prey.
The evolution of vertebrates shows that the diversity of snake venom helps snakes adapt to different ecological environments and prey.
Not only that, the composition of the venom will vary significantly depending on the snake's habitat, prey species, and environmental changes. In some cases, snakes' venom gradually becomes less toxic as they adapt to their new diet. For example, the venom of some sea snakes became significantly less potent after they switched to eating only fish eggs. This evolutionary flexibility demonstrates the ability of organisms to adapt under natural selection.
At present, the medical application scenarios of snake venom are getting wider and wider, and scientists are conducting in-depth research on its ingredients in order to discover more pharmacological functions and even develop new drugs. With the deepening of research, it has been discovered that the various components in snake venom are not limited to toxic substances. Many non-toxic proteins also show potential medical value.
Although snake venom is extremely dangerous, if used in the right medical situation, it may still become a life-saving medicine. This contrast between inside and outside makes people wonder, can we make reasonable use of these deadly weapons from nature instead of just seeing them as threats?
