Separation and Characterization of Polypeptides from the Venom of <i>Dendroaspis viridis</i>

Abstract

The venom of Dendroaspis viridis has been fractionated by chromatography on Sephadex G‐50 and SE‐Sephadex. Thirteen polypetides containing either 59–63 amino acid residues and four disulphide bridges or 71–73 amino acid residues and five disulphide bridges have been isolated and characterized by amino‐acid analysis and N‐terminal residue determination. The compositions of the polypeptides show many similarities but the toxicities vary in excess of 100‐fold, upwards from an LD 50 of 0.08 mg/kg in mice. Enzymic and nerve growth factor activities have been located in protein fractions associated with higher molecular‐weight material.