PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 3 ACIDIC, CYTOTOXIC PHOSPHOLIPASES A(2) FROM INDIAN COBRA (NAJA-NAJA NAJA) VENOM

Three acidic phospholipases A(2) (NN-I-2c-PLA(2), NN-I-2d-PLA(2) and N N-I-2e-PLA(2)) were purified by successive chromatography of Indian co bra (Naja naja naja) venom on CM-Sephadex C-25, Sephadex G-50 and QAE- Sephadex A-25 columns. They have molecular weights of 13 000-14 500 by sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They showe d tryptophan specific fluorescence emission spectra (similar to 345 nm ). All the three phospholipases A(2) were enzymatically highly active with specific activities 9-17 mu mol min(-1) mg(-1) They were non-leth al to mice when injected intraperitoneally in doses up to 10 mg kg(-1) body weight. They induced edema in mouse foot pads and were cytotoxic to Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. They did not exhibit direct haemolyt ic and anticoagulant activities. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.