Cloning and characterization of Trimeresurus gracilis venom phospholipases A(2): comparison with Ovophis okinavensis venom and the systematic implications.

This study focuses on the structural and functional characterizations of novel venom phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)s) from Trimeresurus gracilis, an endemic Taiwanese pitviper. The PLA(2) cDNAs were cloned from venom glands and sequenced. The majority of the clones encoded a Glu6-containing PLA(2) (designated as Tgc-E6) whose deduced amino acid sequence resembled those of other Crotalinae acidic PLA(2)s.