Phospholipase A2 inhibitors ( beta PLIs) are encoded in the venom glands of Lachesis muta (Crotalinae, Viperidae) snakes

摘要

Phospholipase A2 inhibitors (PLIs) are glycoproteins secreted by snake liver into the circulating blood aiming the self-protection against toxic venom phospholipases A2. In the present study, we describe the first complete nucleotide sequence of a beta PLI from venom glands of a New World snake, Lachesis muta. The deduced primary structure was compared to other known beta PLIs and recent literature findings of other possible roles of PLIs in snakes are discussed.