Biological and biochemical characterization of venom from the broad-banded copperhead (): isolation of two new dimeric disintegrins.

Disintegrins represent a family of effective cell-cell and cell-matrix inhibitors by binding to integrin receptors. Integrins are heterodimeric, transmembrane receptors that are the bridges for these cell interactions. Disintegrins have been shown to have many therapeutic implications for the treatment of strokes, heart attacks, and cancer.

The characterization of trans-pecos copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster) venom and isolation of two new dimeric disintegrins.

The vast amounts of toxins within the venom of snakes, while known to cause medical emergencies, display various biological functions. Trans-pecos copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster) crude venom separated by cation-exchange chromatography showed several fractions with fibrinolytic, hemorrhagic, gelatinase and platelet activities. Venom fractions 1, 2, 4, 5, and 12-17 contained fibrinolytic activity.