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PROTEIN ANALYSIS OF SAW-SCALED VIPER (ECHIS CARINATUS) VENOM OBTAINED FROM GHANA
Gideon Asumadu, Mariamah Musah, Jeffery Ansong Obeng, Mark Opoku, Caleb Kesse Firempong
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
E-mail: calebuse @yahoo.com / ckfirempong.cos@knust.edu.gh
ABSTRACT
Snakebites remain a significant public health threat in Ghana and the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus), as one of the medically important snake species, has contributed to it. The study was therefore aimed at characterizing the protein composition of Echis carinatus venom obtained from Ashanti Region, Ghana, using standard protocols. Protein concentration was determined using Bradford assay while the venom protein separation was carried out using SDS-PAGE. FTIR spectroscopy was performed to determine the functional characteristics of the venom proteins at different wavelengths. Venom toxicity in mice was also assessed via intravenous LD₅₀ determination. The results showed that the protein concentration of the snake venom was 0.5038 mg/mL with FTIR analysis revealing distinct amide I and II bands, which indicated the presence of well-folded protein structures. SDS-PAGE resolved multiple protein bands (71.5/62.9 kDa, 13,9 kDa and 11.5kDa) in the venom with some being consistent with snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂s) and disintegrin, respectively, which are key toxin families implicated in tissue damage, hemorrhage, and coagulopathy. The LD₅₀ value was determined as 1.07 mg/kg, which confirmed the venom’s high toxicity. The findings provided baseline biochemical, toxicological and structural data on E. carinatus venom from Ghana and underlined the importance of considering geographical variation in venom profiles for the development of effective antivenoms and improved clinical management of snakebite envenomation.
Keywords: Echis carinatus, Venom, Snakebite, Envenomation, Protein assay, SDS-PAGE, Mean lethal dose; Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy.