title: Molecular cloning of phospholipases A(2) from venom glands of Echis carpet vipers.
abstract: Venom toxin-specific antibodies offer a more rational treatment of snake envenoming than conventional antivenom. Here, we describe novel cDNAs encoding phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) isoforms from venom gland RNA of Echis pyramidum leakeyi (Epl), Echis sochureki (Es) and Echis ocellatus (Eo). The deduced amino acid sequences of these cDNAs encoded proteins with high overall sequence identity to the viper group II PLA(2) protein family, including the 14 cysteine residues capable of forming seven disulphide bonds that characterize this group of PLA(2) enzymes. Comparison of the PLA(2) sequences from Echis with those from related vipers failed to make significant geographic, taxonomic or PLA(2)-function distinctions between these Echis PLA(2) isoforms. However, their deduced hydrophilicity profiles revealed a conserved tertiary structure that we will exploit, by epidermal DNA immunization, to generate PLA(2)-neutralizing antibodies with polyspecific potential.
authors.affiliation: Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bharati
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hasson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Laing
authors.forename: R D G
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Theakston
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017819:Viperidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007527:Isoenzymes; D012910:Snake Venoms; D010741:Phospholipases A