THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SNAKE-VENOMS USING CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ELECTROSPRAY MASS-SPECTROMETRY - BLACK-MAMBAS

Capillary electrophoresis has been used in conjunction with electrospr ay mass spectrometry using both full-scan and selected ion monitoring modes to supply as much information as possible about the venom of Den droaspis polylepis polylepis (Black Mamba). As an example of the appli cation of capillary electrophoresis/electrospray mass spectrometry (CE /ESI/MS) to the analysis of a complex mixture of small proteins, we ha ve analyzed the venom of Dendroaspis polylepis polylepis using the com bined techniques. Both full-scan and selected ion monitoring modes wer e employed. CE/ESI/MS provides a rapid and extremely sensitive method for molecular weight determination, particularly when selected ion mon itoring is employed. It has been utilized to provide sequence confirma tion for those toxins which have already been described in the literat ure. Our methodology indicates the presence of at least 70 peptides in the molecular weight range 6000-9000.