Identification of hyaluronidase and phospholipase B in Lachesis muta rhombeata venom

• Purification and characterization of a new hyaluronidase from Lachesis muta rhombeata venom (LmrV).
• The hyaluronidase was identified in the venom by mass spectrometry and its N-glycosylation site was determined.
• A new serine proteinase was found in LmrV by RP-FPLC followed by Edman degradation.
• Phospholipases B are reported for the first time in Lachesis genus venom.
• LmrVs from distinct Brazil regions show different proportions of toxins which can affect the effectiveness of serotherapy.

Hyaluronidases contribute to local and systemic damages after envenoming, since they act as spreading factors cleaving the hyaluronan presents in the connective tissues of the victim, facilitating the diffusion of venom components. Although hyaluronidases are ubiquitous in snake venoms, they still have not been detected in transcriptomic analysis of the Lachesis venom gland and neither in the proteome of its venom performed previously. This work purified a hyaluronidase from Lachesis muta rhombeata venom whose molecular mass was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 60 kDa. The hyaluronidase was more active at pH 6 and 37 °C when salt concentration was kept constant and more active in the presence of 0.15 M monovalent ions when the pH was kept at 6. Venom was fractionated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Edman sequencing after RPLC failed to detect hyaluronidase, but identified a new serine proteinase isoform. The hyaluronidase was identified by mass spectrometry analysis of the protein bands in SDS-PAGE. Additionally, phospholipase B was identified for the first time in Lachesis genus venom. The discovery of new bioactive molecules might contribute to the design of novel drugs and biotechnology products as well as to development of more effective treatments against the envenoming.

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