• Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sojo University, 4-22-1 Ikeda, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0082, Japan

Staff

Professor

Naoko ODA-UEDA, Ph. D.

Professor

Takatoshi OHKURI, Ph. D.

Senior Assistant Professor

Hitomi NAKAMURA, Ph. D.

Research Project

　Snake venom is a unique cocktail of more than 100 different proteins with a wide variety of pharmacological activities, and have evolved in an accelerated manner. Such accelerated evolution has rarely been known for general isozymes. In addition, it has been recently found that Protobothrops flavoviridis species (Habu snake) isolated in separate islands over a long period have undergone island specific changes in the genes of venom isozymes. We have been attracted to such snake venom or venomous system and have been doing various biological research as follows,

Recent publications

  • Interisland variegation of venom [Lys49]phospholipase A2 isozyme genes in Protobothrops genus snakes in the southwestern islands of Japan.
    K. Yamaguchi, T. Chijiwa, T. Yamamura, N. Ikeda, T. Yatsui, S. Hayama, S. Hattori, N. Oda-Ueda, M. Ohno
    Toxicon (2015) 107, 210-216.

  • The finding of a group IIE phospholipase A2 gene in a specified segment of Protobothrops flavoviridis genome and its possible evolutionary relationship to group IIA phospholipase A2 genes.
    K. Yamaguchi, T. Chijiwa, N. Ikeda, H. Shibata, Y. Fukumaki, N. Oda-Ueda, S. Hattori, M. Ohno
    Toxins (Basel)(2014) 12, 3471-3487.

  • Epithelium specific ETS transcription factor, ESE-3, of Protobothrops flavoviridis snake venom gland transactivates the promoters of venom phospholipase A2 isozyme genes.
    H. Nakamura, T. Murakami, S. Hattori, Y. Sakaki, T. Ohkuri, T. Chijiwa, M. Ohno, N. Oda-Ueda
    Toxicon(2014) 92, 133-139.

  • Discovery of a novel vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with no affinity to heparin in Gloydius tsushimaensis venom.
    H. Nakamura, T. Murakami, T. Imamura, M Toriba, T. Chijiwa, M. Ohno, N. Oda-Ueda
    Toxicon(2014) 86, 107-115.

  • Suppression of severe lesions, myonecrosis and hemorrhage, caused by Protobothrops flavoviridis venom with its serum proteins.
    T. Chijiwa, S. So, S. Hattori, A. Yoshida, N. Oda-Ueda, M. Ohno
    Toxicon(2013) 76, 197-205.

  • Structual characteristics and evolution of the Protobothrops elegans pancreatic phospholipase A2 gene in contrast with those of Protobothrops genus venom phospholipase A2 genes.
    T. Chijiwa, H. Nakasone, S. Irie, N. Ikeda, K. Tomoda, N. Oda-Ueda, S. Hattori, M. Ohno
    Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem.(2013) 77, 97-102.

  • Structural characteristics and evolution of a novel venom phospholipaseA2 gene from Protobothrops flavoviridis.
    T. Chijiwa, N. Ikeda, H. Masuda, H. Hara, N. Oda-Ueda, S. Hattori, M. Ohno. Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. (2012) 76, 551-558