Convulxin, a powerful platelet activator, was isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus
venom, and 20 amino acid N-terminal sequences of both subunits were determined. These
indicated that convulxin belongs to the heterodimeric C-type lectin family. Neither antibodies
against GPIb nor echicetin had any effect on convulxin-induced platelet aggregation
showing that, in contrast to other venom C-type lectins acting on platelets, GPIb is not
involved in convulxin-induced platelet activation. In addition, partially reduced/denatured …