North-south regional variation in phospholipase A activity in the venom of Crotalus ruber

Comp Biochem Physiol B. 1992 Nov;103(3):635-9. doi: 10.1016/0305-0491(92)90382-2.

Abstract

1. Twenty-seven individual venoms from the rattlesnake species Crotalus ruber from different regions were comparatively analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC and analyzed for phospholipase A (PLA) content using a polarographic assay. 2. Two fractions containing PLA activity were detected by HPLC in the venoms of all the C. ruber specimens from southern Baja, Mexico, but specimens from southern California, U.S.A., were lacking corresponding fractions and were extremely low or lacking in PLA activity in their venoms. 3. The north-south regional variation in PLA content in C. ruber venom does not correlate with the north-south ranges (based on external morphology) of the subspecies C. ruber ruber and C. ruber lucasensis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • California
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Crotalid Venoms / chemistry*
  • Mexico
  • Phospholipases A / analysis*
  • Snakes
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Crotalid Venoms
  • Phospholipases A