An Investigation Of The Hemotoxicity Of The Duvernoy's Gland Secretion Of The Northern Water Snake (Nerodia Sipedon)
Open Access
Author:
Ranayhossaini, Daniel Jacob
Area of Honors:
Biology (Behrend)
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Margaret Voss, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Margaret Voss, Thesis Supervisor Michael A Campbell, Thesis Honors Advisor Roger F Knacke, Faculty Reader Michael A Campbell, Thesis Supervisor
Keywords:
Nerodia sipedon
Abstract:
The northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) preys primarily on fish and other aquatic organisms in an environment where constriction is no longer an effective method of killing prey. Previous research has linked the Duvernoy’s gland to toxin production. Salivary swabs and Duvernoy’s gland secretions from N. sipedon were collected and compared through biochemical techniques. Salivary swabs were quantified by a Bradford protein assay. It was established that there was between 5 and 10 ug of protein per salivary swab. The proteins from the salivary swabs were then subjected to a SDS-PAGE that yielded proteins of molecular weights 150, 59, 24, 22, 19, and 17 kDa. The 59 kDa protein was observed in much greater amounts in samples directly from the Duvernoy's gland. Hemolytic activity was observed though light microscopy of erythrocytes from Notropis atherinoides mixed with salivary samples from N. sipedon. Invaginations and cup-shaping of erythrocytes mimicked the toxic action of cyclodextrins, indicating that the toxic component of the saliva may not be a protein as originally thought. Future research will investigate this possibility.
