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Identity of the Phosphodiesterase and Deoxyribonuclease in Rattle-Snake Venom

Abstract

AS part of a programme on different phosphoesterases, the behaviour of the phosphodiesterase activity in rattle-snake venom has been studied by anion exchange chromatography. The adsorbent was the diethylaminoethyl cellulose of Sober and Peterson1, and in order to utilize possible displacement effects a one-step-elution technique was used. This procedure has been applied earlier for the detection and separation of two acid phosphomonoesterases from horse radish2,3. However, the chromatographic experiments described here differ owing to the fact that we now have been working at a pH near the pK of the ion exchanger1. Although the investigation is being continued, this communication may be justified by two unexpected findings: the venom seems to contain two phosphodiesterases and both of them digest deoxyribonucleic acid.

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BOMAN, H., KALETTA, U. Identity of the Phosphodiesterase and Deoxyribonuclease in Rattle-Snake Venom. Nature 178, 1394–1395 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/1781394a0

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