An electrophoretic study on phospholipase A 2 isoenzymes in the venoms of Central American crotaline snakes (original) (raw)

An electrophoretic study on phospholipase A2 isoenzymes in the venoms of Central American crotaline snakes . Toxicon 30, 815-823, 1992 .-The number and isoelectric points of phospholipase A2 isoenzymes were studied in the venoms of 12 Central American crotaline snakes of the genera Bothrops, Crotalus, Lachesis and Agkistrodon . The study was carried out by using a methodology based on electrophoretic separation of venoms, transfer to nitrocellulose and detection of activity of the bands by an indirect hemolytic assay in agarose~rythrocyte~gg yolk gels . All venoms tested had indirect hemolytic activity, although they varied in the number and isoelectric point of their phospholipases A, . Most venoms had predominantly acidic isoenzymes, with the exception of Ä . bilineatus which had mainly basic isoenzymes and B. schlegelü which had both acidic and basic isoenzymes . Analysis of interindividual variability in B. riper venom demonstrated that two phospholipase A2 isoenzymes are present in some venoms but absent in others . Polyvalent antivenom was effective in neutralizing phospholipase A2 activity of the 12 venoms tested, when venoms and antivenom were incubated in the fluid phase. This work demonstrates a conspicuous interspecific variability in the number and isoelectric points of phospholipases A2 present in Central American crotaline snake venoms,