THE ROLE OF ACETIC-ACID IN THE PREVENTION OF SALT-INDUCED AGGREGATIONOF SNAKE-VENOM CARDIOTOXINS

Snake venom cardiotoxins (CTXs) exhibit a strong tendency to aggregate upon desalting and hence it is extremely difficult to prepare salt-fr ee cardiotoxin(s). In the present study, we describe a new method for preparation of salt-free CTX based on dialysis against acetic acid. Ba sed on experimental observation and the three dimensional solution str ucture of cardiotoxin analogue III from the Taiwan cobra (Naja naja at ra), a molecular mechanism for the prevention of aggregation of cardio toxins by acetic acid is discussed. In our opinion, the results obtain ed in the present study would pave way for elucidating the structural basis for the broad spectrum of biological activities exhibited by sna ke venom cardiotoxins.