Structure, molecular evolution, and hydrolytic specificities of largemouth bass pepsins.

The nucleotide sequences of largemouth bass pepsinogens (PG1, 2 and 3) were determined after molecular cloning of the respective cDNAs. Encoded PG1, 2 and 3 were classified as fish pepsinogens A1, A2 and C, respectively. Molecular evolutionary analyses show that vertebrate pepsinogens are classified into seven monophyletic groups, i.

Comparison of the primary structures, cytotoxicities, and affinities to phospholipids of five kinds of cytotoxins from the venom of Indian cobra, Naja naja.

The molecular mechanism underlying the hemolytic and cytolytic processes of cobra cytotoxins (CTXs) is not yet fully elucidated. To examine this, we analyzed the amino acid sequences, hemolytic and cytotoxic activities, and affinities to phospholipids of the five major CTXs purified from the venom of Indian cobra, Naja naja. CTX2, CTX7, and CTX8 belonged to S-type, and CTX9 and CTX10 to P-type.