Affinity adsorbent based on combinatorial phage display peptides that bind α-cobratoxin

Combinatorial phage display was used to discover peptides that selectively bind to the α-cobratoxin (neurotoxin) component of the multi-component venom of the Thai cobra, Naja kaouthia. Peptide sequences determined in this way were synthesized chemically and were covalently attached to agarose through the α-amino terminus. Such affinity chromatography supports selectively bound the α-cobratoxin component from crude venom, while passage of the crude venom over the support selectively depleted the venom of this component. The selective binding of α-cobratoxin to peptide-based solid-phase supports suggests that a limitless variety of peptides similarly obtained by combinatorial phage display can be used to craft specific analytical and preparative tools.