A simple and rapid method for isolating small myotoxins from rattlesnake venoms

Many rattlesnake venoms (family Crotalidae) contain small, highly basic toxins which cause contracture and necrosis of skeletal muscle in experimental animals. Isolation of these myotoxins requires several chromatographic steps taking several days to complete. We report the isolation of crotamine, myotoxin a, and myotoxin a-like molecules from whole venom of three species of rattlesnakes using a Hydrazide Avidchrom Cartridge. Milligram amounts of highly purified and biologically active myotoxin can be obtained in 30 min to 2 hr.