Isolation, stabilization, and characterization of a toxin from timber rattlesnake venom.
A rapid and convenient method for the purification of a toxin from timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus horridus, venom using carboxymethyl cellulose ion-exchange chromatography has been devised. The toxicity of this venom component is labile, but it is stabilized by the addition of 20+ V/V glycerol to the buffer solution. This toxin has a molecular weight of 15,000 +/- 700 as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis. It is both heat and protease resistant. Treatment of this venom component with 2-mercaptoethanol followed by G-50 Sephadex chromatography causes no loss of toxicity although incubation of the toxin with 1% SDS and 1% 2-mercaptoethanol prior to electrophoresis does result in a faster migrating species. The toxin does not affect neuromuscular junctions but does appear to act on the nervous system. It causes no local responses in mice.
D000818:Animals; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity
D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D014118:Toxins, Biological