Abstract
Venoms of Heloderma horridum and Heloderma suspectum were analyzed for the possible presence of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides. Adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, hypoxanthine, inosine, and uridine were found in μg quantities. These amounts are much smaller than those seen in many elapid or viperine venoms, but greater and more varied than those found in crotaline venoms. While their contribution to the hypotension induced by Heloderma venoms may be minor, venom nucleosides nonetheless act in concert with kallikreins/hemorrhagins, alkaline phosphomonoesterase, 5′-nucleotidase, helodermin, helospectins, helothermine, and serotonin. The use of nucleosides as toxins is therefore a generalized squamate strategy, rather than the exclusive province of snakes. Both Heloderma venoms were found to be devoid of NADase and phosphodiesterase activities. Enzymes to release endogenous purines in the prey, are not significant components of Heloderma venoms.
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