Abstract
In addition to the differences of morphology and toxicity between Eastern and Western Taiwan Cobra (Naja atra), it has recently been shown that the concentration of CTXs from Eastern and Western are also significantly different. However, it is not known whether high molecular weight proteins in snake venom. In this study, we compare and identify high molecular weight protein (over 20kD) components of venoms between Eastern and Western Taiwan Cobra. Three high molecular weight components (CVF, Cobrin-like and Kaouthiagin-like)in snake venom were separated by FPLC followed by SDS-PAGE and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Quantitative analysis showed that the Eastern Taiwan Cobra contains higher amount of CVF than the Western Taiwan Cobra (~4.5% and ~1.5%). However, there are no significant differences in Cobrin-like and Kaouthiagin-like. Three high molecular weight components (CVF, Cobrin-like and Kaouthiagin- like) are also found to be glycoprotein with N-linked glycosylation. Deglycosylation of Cobrin-like, a group of SVMP which hydrolyzes α-chain of fibrinogen, induce a protein aggregation and lose its enzyme activity. It was suggested that glycosylation might play an important role in regulating snake venom metalloproteinase activities of snake venom components. 1. CTX：Cardiotoxin 2. FPLC：Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography 3. SDS-PAGE：Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis 4. MALDI-TOF MS：Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry 5. CVF：Cobra Venom Factor 6. SVMP：Snake venom metalloproteinase