ABSTRACT
Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are members of a toxin family found widely distributed in the venom of advanced snakes, and they are major components in the venoms of viperids and some colubrids. This family of medically important venom toxins is well documented for their diverse structural variation and their ability to induce a breadth of life-threatening or morbidity-inducing pathologies, including hemorrhage, venom-induced consumption coagulopathy and tissue necrosis. Over the past decade, there has been a tremendous growth in the volume of knowledge about SVMPs. Whole sub-fields have emerged providing unprecedented detail on individual aspects of SVMP evolution, structure and function, culminating in a clearer understanding of how these toxins act to subdue prey rapidly and cause life-threatening pathologies following envenoming. This chapter serves as an introduction to SVMPs and attempts to summarize the many recent advances in the field. In addition to providing a thorough overview of the origin, evolution, diversity and functional activities of these toxins, we highlight the growing interest in approaches to neutralize SVMPs, ranging from conventional antibodies to the use of small-molecule inhibitors.
