Phospholipase A2 inhibitors (βPLIs) are encoded in the venom glands of Lachesis muta (Crotalinae, Viperidae) snakes

Abstract: Phospholipase A2 inhibitors (PLIs) are glycoproteins secreted by snake liver into the circulating blood aiming the self-protection against toxic venom phospholipases A2. In the present study, we describe the first complete nucleotide sequence of a βPLI from venom glands of a New World snake, Lachesis muta. The deduced primary structure was compared to other known βPLIs and recent literature findings of other possible roles of PLIs in snakes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]