biostudies-literatureLiao ZInnovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaMinistry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of ChinaInstitute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeMinistry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of ChinaCultivating Plan Program for the Leader in Science and Technology of Yunnan ProvinceApplied Basic Research Foundation of Yunnan Province35https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11071750biostudies-literatureUnknown79(1)Multiple representatives of eulipotyphlan mammals such as shrews have oral venom systems. Venom facilitates shrews to hunt and/or hoard preys. However, little is known about their venom composition, and especially the mechanism to hoard prey in comatose states for meeting their extremely high metabolic rates. A toxin (BQTX) was identified from venomous submaxillary glands of the shrew Blarinella quadraticauda. BQTX is specifically distributed and highly concentrated (~ 1% total protein) in the organs. BQTX shares structural and functional similarities to toxins from snakes, wasps and snails, suggesting an evolutional relevancy of venoms from mammalians and non-mammalians. By potentiating thrombin and factor-XIIa and inhibiting plasmin, BQTX induces acute hypertension, blood coagulation andCellular and molecular life sciences : CMLSShrew's venom quickly causes circulation disorder, analgesia and hypokinesia.PMC110717502019FB127XDB3100000032070443817704642019ZF003KFJ-STS-SCYD-3042019FA006321009072018YFA080140331930015202003AD150008Liao ZHe KLi QDuan ZLv LKamau PMChen ZZhang ZJiang XHe XChen WLai RRong MTang XLv QfalseShrew's venom quickly causes circulation disorder, analgesia and hypokinesia.Multiple representatives of eulipotyphlan mammals such as shrews have oral venom systems. Venom facilitates shrews to hunt and/or hoard preys. However, little is known about their venom composition, and especially the mechanism to hoard prey in comatose states for meeting their extremely high metabolic rates. A toxin (BQTX) was identified from venomous submaxillary glands of the shrew Blarinella quadraticauda. BQTX is specifically distributed and highly concentrated (~ 1% total protein) in the organs. BQTX shares structural and functional similarities to toxins from snakes, wasps and snails, suggesting an evolutional relevancy of venoms from mammalians and non-mammalians. By potentiating thrombin and factor-XIIa and inhibiting plasmin, BQTX induces acute hypertension, blood coagulation and2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jan2026-06-02T08:38:38.021Z2026-05-25T03:06:45.022ZS-EPMC110717503498986610.1007/s00018-021-04116-x