Thrombin-like enzymes from venom gland of Deinagkistrodon acutus: cDNA cloning, mechanism of diversity and phylogenetic tree construction.

Aim: To clone cDNAs of thrombin-like enzymes (TLEs) from venom gland of Deinagkistrodon acutus and analyze the mechanisms by which their structural diversity arose.

Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and gene cloning techniques were used, and the cloned sequences were analyzed by using bioinformatics tools.

Results: Novel cDNAs of snake venom TLEs were cloned.

cDNA cloning, sequence analysis, and recombinant expression of akitonin beta, a C-type lectin-like protein from Agkistrodon acutus.

Aim: To clone the cDNA of a new member of snake venom C-type lectin-like proteins, to study its structure-function relationships and to achieve its recombinant production.

Methods: PCR primers were designed based on the homology and cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR using total RNA from snake venom gland as the template. The PCR products were cloned into the plasmid pGEM-T and sequenced.