Abstract

In a previous study, it was shown that the hornet venom or, more specifically, its venom sac extract (VSE) possesses deoxyribonuclease activity that exerts an effect both on insects as well as on mammals. We have now examined the effect of hornet VSE on primary culture of rat cortical neurons. Judging on the basis of our results, VSE induces a rapid cell death by a) permeabilizing the cell membrane, b) inducing DNA breaks, and c) cleaving the nuclear protein poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP-1), thereby preventing DNA repair.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call