Proteolytic Activity of Viper Venoms

摘要

Proteolytic activities of venoms of vipers kept in a serpentarium for three years or captured in various environmental regions were estimated. Gurza venom contained cnsiderable amounts of protein (830-930 #mu#g/mg venom) and displayed a high proteolytic activity by tyrosine (80-140 #mu#g/min mg protein). The proteolytic activity did not depend on season, as well as age or physiological state of snakes in the reproductive period. The proteolytic activity of venom in gurza offspring was similar to that in parent specimens. Proteolytic activities (by tyrosine) of venoms produced by Radde's vipers and common vipers were 77-90 and 18-36 #mu#g/min mg protein,respectively. The proteolytic activity of venom in common vipers native to the north european part of Russia was 20-30% higher than that in common vipers inhabition southern European Russia. An inhibition assay found various ratios of metalloendopeptidase and serine endopeptidase activities in venoms of gurza, Radde's viper, and common viper.