Enzymatic properties of the Duvernoy's secretion of Blanding's tree snake ( Boiga blandingi) and of the mangrove snake ( Boiga dendrophila)

Abstract

Duvernoy's secretion from representatives of the colubrid genus Boiga has been shown by other workers: (1) to contain an α-bungarotoxin-like component (Blanding's tree snake, Boiga blandingi); (2) to exhibit acetylcholine receptor binding activity (the brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis); and (3) to react strongly ( B. blandingi and the mangrove snake, Boiga dendrophila) with antisera raised against elapid venoms. The present study provides the first evidence for the presence of acetylcholinesterase, a common elapid enzyme, in the Duvernoy's secretion of B. dendrophila and B. blandingi at levels of 122 ± 7 and 0.36 ± 0.02 International Enzyme Units, respectively. Constants for inhibition by eserine were 1.25 × 10 −7 M and 2.79 × 10 −7 M, respectively. The Duvernoy's secretion of B. dendrophila exhibited significant phospholipase and haemolytic activities, whereas phosphodiesterase was only weakly present and no thrombin-like activity was observed.