Molecular characterization of metalloproteases from Bothrops alternatus snake venom.

We have previously demonstrated that alternagin-C (ALT-C), a disintegrin-like, Cys-rich protein isolated from Bothrops alternatus snake venom, induces human vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation and angiogenesis in in vitro and in vivo assays. Therefore this protein could be interesting as a new approach for tissue regeneration studies. However, its primary sequence was not completely determined since the protein isolated from crude venom is usually a mixture of isoforms.