FRACTIONATION OF VIPERA RUSSELLI VENOM BY GEL FILTRATION .I.

The venom of Vipera russelli was subjected to fractionation by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 using 0·05 M tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.6) and distilled water as eluents. The fractions so obtained were tested for the following enzyme activities. Phospholipase A, phosphodiesterase, phosphomonoesterase, 5′-nucleotidase, protease, coagulase, anticoagulase and l-amino acid oxidase. The fractions were also examined for lethal and necrotic actions. For further separation starch gel electrophoresis was carried out. It was suggested on the basis of some data that the toxic component required a co-factor. This co-factor was bound loosely to the protein molecule and had also the ability to form complexes with some other components of the venom (protease, 5′-nucleotidase, phosphodiesterase, phosphomonoesterase, l-amino acid oxidase), which were in a state of association-dissociation equilibrium. The molecular weight of the toxic factor was comparatively low as judged by its elution volume after gel filtration. © 1968.