Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analyses of cDNAs Encoding Seven C-type Lectin-like Protein Subunits from Daboia russellii siamensis

Total mRNA was extracted from a venom gland of snake Daboia russellii siamensis following the manufacturers protocol of the PolyATtract System 1000 kit purchased from Promega Biotech. cDNAs encoding C-type lectins were amplified by RT-PCR and subcloned into a pMD18-T vector. Fourteen positive clones were selected for nucleotide sequencing and seven cDNAs encoding various snake venom C-type lectin-like protein precursors, designated as DRS-L1, DRS-L2, DRS-L3, DRS-L4 DRS-L5, DRS-L6 and DRS-L7, were obtained. Amino acid sequences of these proteins were deduced and each contains a carbohydrate recognition domain. Of all the deduced protein sequences, only DRS-L1 seemed to represent a closer sequence similarity to α subunits of other known snake venom C-type lectin-like proteins using the BLAST program. Homology comparison combined with analysis of cysteine position indicate that DRS-L1 and DRS-L2 are probably the light chain LC2 and LC1 of factor Ⅹ activator from Daboia russellii siamensis venom, respectively. DRS-L3 and DRS-L4 might be the β subunits of higher molecular weight C-type lectin-like proteins while DRS-L5 and DRS-L6 might be β subunits of lower molecular weight C-type lectin-like proteins. DRS-L7 might be the β subunit of a platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib-binding protein similar to echicetin.