Bothrops C-type lectin-like protein (Snaclec) (Snaclec)

Bothrops C-type lectin-like proteins, often referred to as snaclecs, are a diverse group of non-enzymatic toxins found in the venom of lancehead snakes (Bothrops spp.) [Clemetson, 2010]. These proteins typically form heterodimeric structures that lack the carbohydrate-recognition domain's calcium-binding site, allowing them to bind specifically to various components of the hemostatic system [Morita, 2005]. They primarily target platelet receptors such as Glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) and Glycoprotein VI (GPVI), or coagulation factors like Factor X and Factor IX, leading to either the activation or inhibition of platelet aggregation and the coagulation cascade [UniProt P22029]. In the context of envenomation, these toxins contribute significantly to venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy (VICC), hemorrhage, and thrombocytopenia [Slagboom et al., 2017]. While they are the primary targets for neutralization by therapeutic antivenoms, they also serve as indispensable tools in diagnostic assays and pharmacological research to study platelet-vessel wall interactions [Clemetson, 2010; Slagboom et al., 2017].

Other names

Snake venom C-type lectin-like proteinBothrops CTLPBotrocetinConvulxinJararaca GPIb-binding proteinBothrops jararaca C-type lectin-like protein

These toxins bind to specific platelet receptors (such as GPIb, GPVI, or CLEC-2) or blood coagulation factors (such as Factor X or Factor IX), leading to the modulation of platelet activation and the coagulation cascade [Clemetson, 2010; Morita, 2005].