Hypothesis
For this experiment, it was hypothesized that the toxicity of different types of PLA2 in snake venom could be determined by comparing the DNA sequences for those PLA2s to known PLA2 sequences.
Specifically, sequences for PLA2 proteins in C. s. tzabcan and C. basiliscus were compared to known crotoxins and crotoxin-like sequences (neurotoxins) from Crotalus durissus terrificus, (+ others), and it was hypothesized that PLA2 sequences which resembled the know sequences would also be neurotoxic.
Specifically, sequences for PLA2 proteins in C. s. tzabcan and C. basiliscus were compared to known crotoxins and crotoxin-like sequences (neurotoxins) from Crotalus durissus terrificus, (+ others), and it was hypothesized that PLA2 sequences which resembled the know sequences would also be neurotoxic.