Isolation and characterization of nerve growth factor from Vipera berus berus (common viper) venom.

Nerve growth factor from Vipera berus berus venom was purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 (superfine), ion-exchange-chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and chromatofocusing on PBE 118. The Vipera berus berus venom NGF consists of multiple molecular forms with pls in the interval 9.1-9.7. All isoforms have identical mol. wts approximately 35,000 +/- 3000 (in gel filtration) and 17,000 +/- 2000, 15,000 +/- 2000 (by SDS electrophoresis with beta-mercaptethanol). V. berus berus venom NGF reacted with monoclonal antibodies against Viper lebetina NGF and caused differentiation of pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.