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Post‐translational modification accounts for the presence of varied forms of nerve growth factor in Australian elapid snake venoms
Author(s) -
Earl Stephen T. H.,
Birrell Geoff W.,
Wallis Tristan P.,
St Pierre Liam D.,
Masci Paul P.,
de Jersey John,
Gorman Jeffrey J.,
Lavin Martin F.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
proteomics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.26
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1615-9861
pISSN - 1615-9853
DOI - 10.1002/pmic.200600263
Subject(s) - venom , nerve growth factor , gene isoform , biology , ophidia , complementary dna , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , biochemistry , gene , receptor
The Australian elapid snakes are amongst the most venomous snakes in the world, but much less is known about the overall venom composition in comparison to Asian and American snakes. We have used a combined approach of cDNA cloning and 2‐DE with MS to identify nerve growth factor (NGF) in venoms of the Australian elapid snakes and demonstrate its neurite outgrowth activity. While a single 730 nucleotide ORF, coding for a 243 amino acid precursor protein was detected in all snakes, use of 2‐DE identified NGF proteins with considerable variation in molecular size within and between the different snakes. The variation in size can be explained at least in part by N‐linked glycosylation. It is possible that these modifications alter the stability, activity and other characteristics of the snake NGFs. Further characterisation is necessary to delineate the function of the individual NGF isoforms.