Electrospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry fingerprinting of Acanthophis (death adder) venoms: taxonomic and toxinological implications.
Death adders (genus Acanthophis) are unique among elapid snakes in both morphology and venom composition. Despite this genus being among the most divergent of all elapids, the venom has been historically regarded as relatively quite simple. In this study, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis has revealed a much greater diversity in venom composition, including the presence of molecules of novel molecular weights that may represent a new class of venom component. Furthermore, significant variation exists between species and populations, which allow for the LC/MS fingerprinting of each species. Mass profiling of Acanthophis venoms clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of this technique which underpins fundamental studies ranging from chemotaxonomy to drug design.
Fry
Bryan G
BG
Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic 3010 Australia. bgf@unimelb.edu.au
Wickramaratna
Janith C
JC
Hodgson
Wayne C
WC
Alewood
Paul F
PF
Kini
R M
RM
Ho
Hao
H
Wüster
Wolfgang
W
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D017815:Elapidae; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D013045:Species Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
D004546:Elapid Venoms