[New mass spectrometry techniques applied to the study of venoms].

Mass spectrometry is a technique for the analysis and very sensitive identification of molecules. It allows one to determine the mass of the studied product, whether pure or in a mixture, and provides some information on its molecular structure. In the particular case of peptides, this method can, under certain conditions, also provide information on the amino acid sequence. There are two complementary methods in mass spectrometry for the study of the biological molecules: i) ionisation by laser desorption assisted by matrix (MALDI) coupled to a mass analyser of the time of flight type (TOF), which is very effective for the direct study of a mixture of products and ii) ionisation by electronebulisation (ESI) coupled to mass analysers of the quadripolar type and time of flight (Qq-TOF), which allows the interfacing between high phase liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. These two complementary techniques were already used to draw up toxin charts of snake and spider venoms. The purpose is to be able to characterise species based on an actual peptide print of poisonous gland secretions.