cDNA and deduced primary structure of basic phospholipase A₂ with neurotoxic activity from the venom secretion of the Crotalus durissus collilineatus rattlesnake

To illustrate the construction of precursor complementary DNAs, we isolated mRNAs from whole venom samples. After reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we amplified the cDNA coding for a neurotoxic protein, phospholipase A₂ D49 (PLA₂ D49), from the venom of Crotalus durissus collilineatus (Cdc PLA₂). The cDNA encoding Cdc PLA₂ from whole venom was sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of this cDNA has high overall sequence identity with the group II PLA ₂ protein family. Cdc PLA₂ has 14 cysteine residues capable of forming seven disulfide bonds that characterize this group of PLA₂ enzymes. Cdc PLA₂ was isolated using conventional Sephadex G75 column chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The molecular mass was estimated using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. We tested the neuromuscular blocking activities on chick biventer cervicis neuromuscular tissue. Phylogenetic analysis of Cdc PLA₂ showed the existence of two lines of N6-PLA₂, denominated F24 and S24. Apparently, the sequences of the New World's N6-F24-PLA₂ are similar to those of the agkistrodotoxin from the Asian genus Gloydius. The sequences of N6-S24-PLA₂ are similar to the sequence of trimucrotoxin from the genus Protobothrops, found in the Old World.