title: Complementary DNA sequencing and identification of mRNAs from the venomous gland of Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma.
abstract: To advance our knowledge on the snake venom composition and transcripts expressed in venom gland at the molecular level, we constructed a cDNA library from the venom gland of Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma for the generation of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) database. From the randomly sequenced 2112 independent clones, we have obtained ESTs for 1309 (62%) cDNAs, which showed significant deduced amino acid sequence similarity (scores >80) to previously characterized proteins in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Ribosomal proteins make up 47 clones (2%) and the remaining 756 (36%) cDNAs represent either unknown identity or show BLASTX sequence identity scores of <80 with known GenBank accessions. The most highly expressed gene encoding phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) accounting for 35% of A. p. leucostoma venom gland cDNAs was identified and further confirmed by crude venom applied to sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) electrophoresis and protein sequencing. A total of 180 representative genes were obtained from the sequence assemblies and deposited to EST database. Clones showing sequence identity to disintegrins, thrombin-like enzymes, hemorrhagic toxins, fibrinogen clotting inhibitors and plasminogen activators were also identified in our EST database. These data can be used to develop a research program that will help us identify genes encoding proteins that are of medical importance or proteins involved in the mechanisms of the toxin venom.
authors.affiliation: Natural Toxins Research Center, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas A & M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Bruno A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cantu
authors.forename: Elda E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D017836:Agkistrodon / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D015723:Gene Library; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: C031442:Agkistrodon venoms; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010741:Phospholipases A