Comparative biochemistry of disintegrins isolated from snake venom: Consideration of the taxonomy and geographical distribution of snakes in the genus Echis

Species in the genus Echis have been classified mainly based on their morph ological appearance and the analytical patterns of their serum. However, re -classification of the genus Echis has recently been suggested by taxonomis ts, toxicologists, and clinicians, since there have been problems with the current classification, such as the efficacy of antivenoms used for treatin g bites and the broad geographical distribution of Echis snakes, In this st udy, we purified five novel disintegrins, the platelet aggregation inhibito rs pyramidin A and B from the venom of Echis pyramidum, ocellatin from the venom of Echis ocellatus, and leucogastin A and B from the venom of Echis l eucogaster, to compare their sequences and allow us to re-evaluate the clas sification of various species in the genus Echis. Comparison of the amino a cid sequences of five new and four known isolated disintegrins from snake v enoms of six Echis species and their distribution strongly support the rece nt re-classification of the genus Echis.