Venom Ontogeny in the Mexican Lance-Headed Rattlesnake (Crotalus polystictus).

ABSTRACT: As trophic adaptations, rattlesnake venoms can vary in composition depending on several intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Ontogenetic changes in venom composition have been documented for numerous species, but little is known of the potential age-related changes in many rattlesnake species found in México. In the current study, venom samples collected from adult and neonate Crotalus polystictus from Estado de México were subjected to enzymatic and electrophoretic analyses, toxicity assays (LD₅₀), and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and a pooled sample of adult venom was analyzed by shotgun proteomics. Electrophoretic profiles of adult males and females were quite similar, and only minor sex-based variation was noted. However, distinct differences were observed b

SUBMITTER: Mackessy SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6070973 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature