ANALYSIS OF SNAKE-VENOMS BY SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE-POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS AND 2-DIMENSIONAL ELECTROPHORESIS

The protein composition of snake venom has been analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). SDS-PAGE suggests differences between species and similarities between related species. As expected, silver staining greatly enhanced detection sensitivity whilst 2-DE dramatically improved separation to reveal multiple strings of spots indicative of molecular heterogeneity. It is recommended that similarities (or differences) in the SDS-PAGE patterns of venoms from the same (or different) species of snake should be further characterized by 2-DE.