Blood coagulation is a highly specialized process that is required to prevent blood loss following vascular damage. Central to the formation of a blood clot are the blood coagulation proteins... Show moreBlood coagulation is a highly specialized process that is required to prevent blood loss following vascular damage. Central to the formation of a blood clot are the blood coagulation proteins factor V and factor X. Aside from preventing blood loss, the coagulation system can also be exploited to gain selective advantages. The procoagulant venom of the Australian Elapid snakes comprises a powerful prothrombin-activating enzyme complex consisting of FV- and FX-like proteins that are specifically expressed in the venom gland. These coagulation proteins have evolved into potent toxins due to some remarkable gain-of-function adaptations that enable this prothrombinase-like complex to initiate coagulation in an uncontrolled manner. In this thesis, we focus on the unique evolutionary adaptations of the P. textilis venom derived proteins v-ptFV and v-ptFX. By using biochemical approaches, we assess the structure-function relationships of several uniquely modified structural elements Show less
