Rapid isolation and partial characterization of two phospholipases from Kenyan Echis carinatus leakeyi (Leakey's saw-scaled viper) venom.

The purification and partial sequencing of two phospholipase A2 toxins from the venom of Kenyan E. carinatus leakeyi is described. The two proteins exhibit sequence homology with other toxic phospholipases. Both have a molecular weight in the region of 16,000 and are purified to homogeneity from crude venom by a single high performance liquid chromatography. The role of these proteins in the toxicity of the venom remains to be established.