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Mass Spectrometry of Proteins and Peptides pp 317–335Cite as

Identification of Snake Species by Toxin Mass Fingerprinting of Their Venoms

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 146))

Abstract

A new method is proposed to identify venomous snakes, which is based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) detection and is demonstrated with Asiatic snake venoms from the controversial genus Naja (cobras). Appropriate combinations of chromatographic techniques and ESI-MS are used to analyze the crude venom of single specimens. Highly specific toxin mass maps, which can be used as a unique fingerprint for the systematic classification of the snake, are obtained; these results are compared with those obtained using standard samples and with the calculated molecular weights of characterized toxins. By off-line ESI-MS analysis of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractions of two venom samples, one from Vietnam (undefined Naja sp.) and the other from Thailand (Naja kaouthia), it was found that both snakes belong to the same species, namely, Naja kaouthia. Using on-line liquid chromatography (LC)/ESI-MS, a direct analysis of crude venom from a single specimen of an unidentified white cobra from Thailand was performed. Two standard venom samples of Naja naja and Naja kaouthia were also analyzed using this improved strategy. By this approach, a peptide mass map of these three samples was obtained within a day and, in addition, an unambiguous systematic classification of the white cobra as Naja kaouthia was obtained. This method is able to identify clearly the origin and purity of crude or partially fractionated venom, which is an important advantage for medical use or in antivenom production.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atheris Laboratories,Research and Development, Geneva, Switzerland

    Reto Stöcklin

  2. Zentrum der Rechtsmedizin, Frankfurt, Germany

    Dietrich Mebs

  3. Département d’Ingénierie et d’Etude des Protéines, CEA-Saclay, France

    Jean-Claude Boulain

  4. Reptiles du Monde,Grandvaux, Switzerland

    Pierre-Alain Panchaud

  5. CEA Saclay, SPEA-SAIS, Cedex, France

    Henri Virelizier

  6. Département des Procédés d’Enrichissement,DCC/DPE/SPCP/LASO, CEA-Saclay, France

    Cécile Gillard-Factor

Authors
  1. Reto Stöcklin
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  2. Dietrich Mebs
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  3. Jean-Claude Boulain
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  4. Pierre-Alain Panchaud
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  5. Henri Virelizier
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  6. Cécile Gillard-Factor
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sale, Manchester, UK

    John R. Chapman

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© 2000 Humana Press Inc.

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Stöcklin, R., Mebs, D., Boulain, JC., Panchaud, PA., Virelizier, H., Gillard-Factor, C. (2000). Identification of Snake Species by Toxin Mass Fingerprinting of Their Venoms. In: Chapman, J.R. (eds) Mass Spectrometry of Proteins and Peptides. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 146. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-045-4:317

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-045-4:317

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-609-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-045-2

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