biostudies-literatureLuddecke TBundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftFederal Ministry of Science and EducationEuropean Cooperation in Science and TechnologyHessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und KunstLOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics438https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11511112biostudies-literatureUnknown16(10)"True" cobras (genus <i>Naja</i>) are among the venomous snakes most frequently involved in snakebite accidents in Africa and Asia. The Cape cobra (<i>Naja nivea</i>) is one of the African cobras of highest medical importance, but much remains to be learned about its venom. Here, we used a shotgun proteomics approach to better understand the qualitative composition of <i>N. nivea</i> venom and tested its cytotoxicity and protease activity as well as its effect on intracellular Ca²⁺ release and NO synthesis. We identified 156 venom components representing 17 protein families, with the dominant ones being three-finger toxins, mostly of the short-chain type. Two-thirds of the three-finger toxin entries identified were assigned as cytotoxins, while the remainder were categorized as ToxinsThe Toxin Diversity, Cytotoxicity, and Enzymatic Activity of Cape Cobra (&lt;i&gt;Naja nivea&lt;/i&gt;) Venom.PMC1151111254083359350569647654504083701KI2024LOEWE-TBGLuddecke THenke MAvella IEichberg JSchulte LSchiffmann STimm TDamm MLochnit GHardes KVilcinskas AfalseThe Toxin Diversity, Cytotoxicity, and Enzymatic Activity of Cape Cobra (&lt;i&gt;Naja nivea&lt;/i&gt;) Venom."True" cobras (genus <i>Naja</i>) are among the venomous snakes most frequently involved in snakebite accidents in Africa and Asia. The Cape cobra (<i>Naja nivea</i>) is one of the African cobras of highest medical importance, but much remains to be learned about its venom. Here, we used a shotgun proteomics approach to better understand the qualitative composition of <i>N. nivea</i> venom and tested its cytotoxicity and protease activity as well as its effect on intracellular Ca²⁺ release and NO synthesis. We identified 156 venom components representing 17 protein families, with the dominant ones being three-finger toxins, mostly of the short-chain type. Two-thirds of the three-finger toxin entries identified were assigned as cytotoxins, while the remainder were categorized as 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2026-04-19T03:22:09.64Z2025-04-04T00:30:03.057ZS-EPMC115111123945321410.3390/toxins16100438