2006 - CASARE, M.S.; SPENCER, P.; CAMPOS, L.A.; NASCIMENTO, N.
Crotoxin is a 23 kDa neurotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus and is composed of a 9 kDa acidic subunit (crotapotin) and a 14 kDa basic subunit (phospholipase A2). Crotamine is 4882 Da, basic polypeptide with myotoxic activity. These toxins, when submitted to gamma-rays, in aqueous solution, present structural modifications, preserving their immunogenic properties. In the present work, we investigated some structural modifications on both crotoxin and crotamine after gamma-radiation using various doses, in the presence or not of "scavenger" substances. Our results indicate that irradiation leads to progressive changes in the structure of the toxin, which could explain the lower toxicity observed.