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The isolation of a component of the venom of Trimeresurus okinavensis that causes the aggregation of blood platelets.

1. A substance has been isolated from the venom of the Okinawan pit viper (Trimeresurus okinavensis) that causes the aggregation of human blood platelets. The reaction resembles that between platelets and thrombin or connective tissue, in that the platelets release ADP. 2. The purified venom fraction is a protein-polysaccharide, and after Pronase digestion had mol.wt. 4x10(6), containing 10% peptide, 85% neutral sugars and 5% hexosamines. It is distinct from the proteolytic, esterolytic and coagulant materials also present in the venom, and has not been shown to possess any enzymic activity. How it reacts with platelets is not yet known.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

A potent antiplatelet peptide, triflavin, from Trimeresurus flavoviridis snake venom.

The interaction of fibrinogen with its receptors on platelet surfaces leads to platelet aggregation. A snake-venom peptide, trigramin, has previously been demonstrated to inhibit platelet aggregation by acting as a fibrinogen-receptor antagonist. By means of gel filtration, ionic-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase h.p.l.c., a potent platelet-aggregation inhibitor, triflavin, has now been purified from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis. The purified triflavin is a single-chain polypeptide, consisting of about 71 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 7600 Da, and its N-terminal sequence is Gly-Glu-Glu-Cys-Asp. Triflavin dose-dependently inhibited human platelet aggregation stimulated by ADP, adrenaline, collagen, thrombin or prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue U46619 in preparations of platelet-rich plasma, platelet suspension and whole blood. Its IC50 ranged from 38 to 84 nM, depending on the aggregation inducer used and the platelet preparation. However, triflavin apparently did not affect the platelet shape change and ATP-release reactions caused by these agonists. Triflavin inhibited fibrinogen-induced aggregation of human elastase-treated platelets in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that it directly interferes with the binding of fibrinogen to its receptors on platelet membranes exposed by elastase treatment. Additionally, triflavin dose-dependently blocked 125I-labelled fibrinogen binding to ADP-activated platelets. In conclusion, triflavin inhibits platelet aggregation through the blockade of fibrinogen binding to fibrinogen receptors on platelet membranes.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Amino acid sequence and molecular modelling of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa and fibronectin receptor iso-antagonists from Trimeresurus elegans venom.

Low-molecular-mass Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing polypeptides were isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus elegans by a simple two-step procedure consisting of membrane filtration and reverse-phase HPLC. A combination of electrospray MS, fast-atom bombardment MS and Edman degradation allowed us to ascertain the presence in the venom of different isoforms and to determine their primary structures. The amino acid sequences resembled the structure of elegantin, the only disintegrin previously reported from the T. elegans venom [Williams, Rucinski, Holt and Niewiarowski (1990) Biochim. Biophys, Acta 1039, 81-89]. MS analyses indicated the occurrence of differential proteolytic processing at both the N-terminus and the C-termins of the polypeptide chains. The amino acid sequence alignment of the elegantin isoforms with known components of the disintegrin family demonstrated the complete conservation of the 12 cysteine residues involved in disulphide bridges. Molecular modelling of elegantins predicted an overall folding of these molecules quite similar to that reported for the kistrin solution structure. The newly identified polypeptide isoforms strongly inhibited ADP-induced aggregation in both human and canine platelet-rich plasma but showed a different species-dependent specificity. These molecules were also able to inhibit B16-BL6 murine melanoma cell adhesion to immobilized fibronectin. The comparison of the structures and biological activities of elegantin isoforms and kistrin allowed us to highlight some structural features that, in addition to the RGD locus might be involved in the interaction of these snake-venom polypeptides with the integrin receptors on the platelet and cell surface.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Flavoxobin, a serine protease from Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake) venom, independently cleaves Arg726-Ser727 of human C3 and acts as a novel, heterologous C3 convertase.

We have recently shown that crude Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake) venom has a strong capability for activating the human alternative complement system. To identify the active component, the crude venom was fractionated and purified by serial chromatography using Sephadex G-100, CM-cellulose C-52, diethylaminoethyl-Toyopearl 650M, and Butyl-Toyopearl, and the active fractions were evaluated by the C3a-releasing and soluble membrane attack complex-forming activities. Two peak fractions with the highest activities were detected after gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography, and the first fraction was purified to homogeneity. The homogeneous protein was examined for its N-terminal amino acid sequence by Edman degradation. The determined sequence of 25 amino acids completely coincided with that of a previously reported serine protease with coagulant activity, flavoxobin, purified from the same snake venom. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the complement activation, the reactive products of the mixture of the purified human C3 and flavoxobin were examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The digesting pattern revealed that flavoxobin cleaves the alpha chain of the C3 molecule into two fragments. The N-terminal amino acid sequences for the remnant fragments of C3 disclosed that flavoxobin severs the human C3 at the Arg726-Ser727 site to form C3b and C3a the way C3bBb, the human alternative C3 convertase, does. In conclusion, flavoxobin acts as a novel, heterologous C3 convertase that independently cleaves human C3 and kick-starts the complement cascade.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Unusually high conservation of untranslated sequences in cDNAs for Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2 isozymes.

As a step toward understanding the structure and function of phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), we isolated and sequenced several cDNAs encoding Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom PLA2 isozymes including two [Lys49]PLA2s called basic proteins I and II, [Thr37]PLA2, and PLX'-PLA2. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of these cDNAs with the previously isolated [Asp49]PLA2 cDNA revealed some interesting findings from the viewpoint of evolution. First, the homologies of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (98% and 89%, respectively) were much higher than that of the protein-coding regions (67%). The predicted secondary structure showed the characteristic stem-loop structures for both the untranslated regions of the mRNAs, suggesting that these regions play some functional role(s) in translation or stability of mRNAs. Second, base substitutions appeared to have occurred at similar rates for the three positions of codons among these PLA2s. The results are discussed in terms of evolution of PLA2s. Northern blot analysis showed that these PLA2s are specific to venom gland.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Accelerated evolution of Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom gland phospholipase A2 isozymes.

Six Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) venom gland phospholipase A2 (PLA2) isozyme genes were found to consist of four exons and three introns and to encode proteins of 138 amino acid residues, including the signal sequence of 16 amino acid residues. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences showed that the introns are much more homologous than the protein-coding regions of exons except for the signal peptide-coding region of the first exon. The numbers of nucleotide substitutions per site (KN) for introns are approximately one-fourth of the numbers of nucleotide substitutions per synonymous site (KS) for the protein-coding regions, indicating that the introns are unusually conserved. The absence of an apparent functional role for the introns suggests that the protein-coding regions, except for the signal peptide-coding domains, have evolved at greater substitution rates than introns. The fact that the numbers of nucleotide substitutions per nonsynonymous site (KA) are close to or larger than KS values for relevant pairs of genes revealed that Darwinian-type accelerated substitutions have occurred in the protein-coding regions or exons. This is compatible with the presence of PLA2 species with diverse physiological activities in the venom.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Trimeresurus stejnegeri snake venom plasminogen activator. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling.

The specific plasminogen activator from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom (TSV-PA) is a serine proteinase presenting 23% sequence identity with the proteinase domain of tissue type plasminogen activator, and 63% with batroxobin, a fibrinogen clotting enzyme from Bothrops atrox venom that does not activate plasminogen. TSV-PA contains six disulfide bonds and has been successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli (Zhang, Y., Wisner, A., Xiong, Y. L., and Bon, C. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 10246-10255). To identify the functional domains of TSV-PA, we focused on three short peptide fragments of TSV-PA showing important sequence differences with batroxobin and other venom serine proteinases. Molecular modeling shows that these sequences are located in surface loop regions, one of which is next to the catalytic site. When these sequences were replaced in TSV-PA by the equivalent batroxobin residues none generated either fibrinogen-clotting or direct fibrinogenolytic activity. Two of the replacements had little effect in general and are not critical to the specificity of TSV-PA for plasminogen. Nevertheless, the third replacement, produced by the conversion of the sequence DDE 96a-98 to NVI, significantly increased the Km for some tripeptide chromogenic substrates and resulted in undetectable plasminogen activation, indicating the key role that the sequence plays in substrate recognition by the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lysine-49-phospholipases A2 from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom are membrane-acting enzymes.

Basic proteins I and II (BP-I and BP-II) isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) are isozymes of highly active Asp-49 phospholipase A2 (Asp-49-PLA2) and classified into the group Lys-49-PLA2. BP-II was found to elicit a strong contraction of guinea pig ileum, and this activity was inhibited completely by 1 microM indomethacin, an inhibitor of the arachidonate cascade. BP-II was inactive in the Ca(2+)-free medium, and p-bromphenacylated His-48-BP-II was also inactive. BP-II exhibited no binding affinity for the cells expressing PLA2 receptors. These results indicated that the contraction elicited by BP-II is due to the hydrolytic action of BP-II, liberating arachidonic acid from the ileum phospholipid biomembranes. In spite of its limited lipolytic activities (av. 0.9% of Asp-49-PLA2) against monomers and micelles of synthetic phospholipids, BP-II hydrolyzed considerably strongly the phospholipids in the artificial bilayer vesicles. Arachidonic acid released from liposomes of beta-arachidonoyl-gamma-stearoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine was determined by HPLC, and the activity of BP-II was estimated to be about 75% as compared to Asp-49-PLA2. Liposomes encapsulating carboxyfluorescein exhibited a strong dye-leakage induced by BP-II in a concentration-dependent manner, only in the Ca(2+)-containing buffer. The net result from all these observations was that BP-II, a Lys-49-PLA2, is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the membrane phospholipids. In contrast to BP-II, BP-I was found to be considerably weak in hydrolyzing membrane phospholipids, although its activities were distinct. BP-I and BP-II share a common sequence with the sole exception of Asp-67 (BP-I) and Asn-67 (BP-II) in the aligned sequences. This implies that the amino acid at position 67 of Lys-49-PLA2s is the residue required for discriminatory recognition of beta-arachidonoyl-phospholipid membranes.

Animals↗

Blood coagulation factor IX-binding protein from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis: purification and characterization.

The coagulation factor IX/factor X-binding protein (IX/X-bp) from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis is a heterogeneous two-chain protein, and the structure of each chain is similar to that of the carbohydrate-recognition domain of C-type lectins, such as asialoglycoprotein receptors, pancreatic stone protein, and the Fc epsilon receptor for immunoglobulin E. Analysis of the binding properties of IX/X-bp revealed that it binds to the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-containing domains of factors IX and X [Atoda, H. et al. (1994) Eur. J. Biochem. 224, 703-708]. In the present study, we isolated another anticoagulant protein that binds to factor IX but is not to factor X. This protein, designated IX-bp, inhibited factor IXa-induced clotting but not factor Xa-induced clotting, whereas IX/X-bp inhibits both. The concentration of IX-bp for half-maximal binding to solid-phase bovine factor IX was 0.4 nM whereas IX-bp did not bind to factor X even at 40 nM. The binding of IX-bp to solid-phase factor IX was inhibited by the addition of Gla-domain peptide of factor IX, indicating that IX-bp binds to the Gla-domain region of factor IX. IX-bp had two Ca(2+)-binding sites with different affinities for Ca2+ ions. At pH 7.5, the apparent Kd values for these sites were 14 and 130 microM, respectively. IX-bp was a two-chain protein (27.5-kDa band before reduction and 16.8- and 15.7-kDa bands after reduction on SDS-PAGE) and it reacted with immunoglobulin G against IX/X-bp. The complete amino acid sequence of IX-bp was determined. The 16.8-kDa chain (A chain) of IX-bp consisted of 129 residues, of which 19 were different from those in the A chain of IX/X-bp (129 residues). The sequence of the 15.7-kDa chain (B chain) was identical to that of the B chain of IX/X-bp (123 residues). We conclude that IX-bp is a protein that is structurally similar to but functionally different from IX/X-bp. The difference of binding specificity between IX-bp and IX/X-bp presumably arises from the sequence differences in the A chains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the tryptophan residue located in the calcium binding site of Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2.

When phospholipase A2 from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (the Habu snake) was oxidized with N-bromosuccinimide at pH 4.0, its activity decreased linearly with increase in the extent of oxidation of tryptophan residues. Oxidation of two of the four tryptophan residues caused an apparent loss of activity. The accessibilities of the tryptophan residues were analyzed with differently oxidized phospholipase A2 preparations and were determined to be in the following order: Trp-3 approximately Trp-30 greater than Trp-68 greater than Trp-108. The magnitude of the difference spectrum with a negative peak at 292 nm which is produced upon the binding of Ca2+ in the vicinity of tryptophan residue(s) decreased in a concave manner with increase in the extent of oxidation of tryptophan residues and was greatly diminished when 2 mol of tryptophan residues were oxidized. The activity and Ca2+-induced difference spectrum are thus related to either Trp-3 or Trp-30 or both. Des-octapeptide(1-8)-phospholipase A2 (L-fragment) is 14% as active as phospholipase A2 and is able to give a Ca2+-induced difference spectrum which is smaller than, but similar to, that of phospholipase A2. Its activity and the magnitude of the Ca2+-induced difference spectrum decreased along similar paths with increase in the amount of tryptophan residues oxidized, but in a manner indicating that two tryptophan residues are apparently responsible for the activity and the Ca2+-induced difference spectrum. The order of accessibility of the tryptophan residues of L-fragment was Trp-30 approximately Trp-108 greater than Trp-68. Trp-108, however, could be excluded from the residues located in the active site by reference to the tertiary structure of homologous Crotalus atrox phospholipase A2. Thus, Trp-30 is located in the Ca2+ binding site and is responsible for the activity of L-fragment. It is thus concluded that in phospholipase A2 Trp-30 is located in the Ca2+ binding site. From the concave decrease of relative magnitude of the Ca2+-induced difference spectrum and the linear decrease of relative activity upon oxidation of phospholipase A2, it may be assumed that both Trp-3 and Trp-30 are required to produce the Ca2+-induced difference spectrum, while only Trp-30 need be intact for activity. Anomalous binding of Ca2+ was observed for oxidized phospholipase A2.

Amino Acids↗

Interactions of Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2 and its N-terminal octapeptide-removed and p-bromophenacylated derivatives with acridine and anilinonaphthalene dyes.

Interactions of dimeric Trimeresurus flavoviridis (the Habu snake) phospholipase A2 (PLA2), des-octapeptide(1-8)-PLA2 (L-fragment) (14% of PLA2 activity), and p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB)-inactivated PLA2 (BP-PLA2) with dyes, namely, proflavine, 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (Ans), and 2-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (Tns), were investigated. All dyes were bound in a 1:1 molar ratio to the subunit of the proteins. Proflavine was bound most strongly to PLA2 and Ans and Tns were bound to the three proteins with comparable affinities. Capabilities of the dyes for inhibiting alkylation of His-47 of PLA2 with BPB were in the following order: Ans greater than proflavine greater than Tns. Fluorescences of Ans and Tns that were increased in the presence of PLA2 were further greatly enhanced upon the addition of Ca2+, with concomitant formation of the ternary complexes. Ca2+, however, inhibited, competitively or noncompetitively, the bindings of the dyes to PLA2. All dyes were bound to the active site of PLA2 but with different orientations. Inactivation of L-fragment with BPB was inhibited by the dyes in the following order: Tns greater than proflavine approximately Ans. Addition of Ca2+ to the binary complexes formed from L-fragment and Ans or Tns caused no additional enhancement of fluorescence in spite of the formation of the ternary complexes. The active site structures are different between PLA2 and L-fragment, and the N-terminal octapeptide moiety of PLA2 possibly plays a role in maintaining the optimally arranged active site structure of the molecule. Comparison of the data suggests that the N-terminal moieties of PLA2S from snakes of an elapid family and from mammalian pancreas are essential for catalysis of a micellar substrate, whereas those of PLA2S from snakes of a viperid family, such as T. flavoviridis, are not. BP-PLA2 bound Ca2+ and was similar to L-fragment in terms of the fluorescence measurements. It appears that the active site of PLA2 has a space large enough to accommodate p-bromophenacyl, Ans or Tns, and Ca2+ together. Comparison of the emission maxima of Ans and Tns complexed with the three proteins indicated that Tns could be a useful fluorescent probe informing us of the state (disorder) of the active site of PLA2.

Acetophenones↗

Amino acid sequence of a coagulant enzyme, flavoxobin, from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom.

The amino acid sequence of a coagulant enzyme, named flavoxobin, isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (the habu snake) was determined by sequencing the S-pyridylethylated derivative of the protein and its peptides generated by chemical (cyanogen bromide and hydroxylamine) and enzymatic (clostripain, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, Achromobacter protease I, and elastase) cleavages. Hydrazinolysis was also employed to determine the C-terminal amino acid. The enzyme consisted of 236 amino acids and had a calculated molecular weight of 25,744. Flavoxobin was found to be highly (69%) homologous in sequence to batroxobin, a coagulant enzyme from the venom of Bothrops atrox, and 27, 39, and 31% homologous to bovine thrombin, bovine trypsin, and human kallikrein, respectively. The sequence around the active site serine residue deduced from the homology relationship was Phe-Asp-Ser-Gly-Thr, which is different from the common sequence, Gly-Asp-Ser-Gly-Gly, for most serine proteases. Flavoxobin appears to be similar in secondary structure composition to batroxobin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

pH dependence of the reaction rate of His 48 with p-bromophenacyl bromide and of the binding constant to Ca2+ of the monomeric forms of intact and alpha-NH2 modified phospholipases A2 from Trimeresurus flavoviridis.

The phospholipase A2 of Trimeresurus flavoviridis was found to show monomer-dimer equilibria. Under conditions where the enzyme exists predominantly in the monomeric form, the chemical reaction rate of p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) with the catalytic group, His 48, was studied at 25 degrees C and ionic strength 0.2 by measuring the residual enzymic activity using a fluorescent substrate, 1,2-bis[4-(1-pyreno)butanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (diPBPC). The pH-dependence curve of the reaction rate for the intact enzyme was practically the same as that for the modified enzyme, in which the N-terminal alpha-NH2 group had been selectively converted into an alpha-keto group. The pH-dependence curves were monophasic (sigmoidal) with a midpoint at pH 7.53, which corresponds to the pKa value of His 48. The pH dependences of the binding constants of Ca2+ to the intact and the alpha-NH2 modified enzymes were also studied at 25 degrees C and ionic strength 0.2 by measuring the changes in the tryptophyl fluorescence and/or aromatic CD spectra. The pH-dependence data for the modified enzyme were interpreted in terms of participation of Asp 49 (pKa 5.40) and His 48 (pKa 7.53), assuming that the protonation of Asp 49 competes with the Ca2+ binding. The pH-dependence data for the intact enzyme were similarly interpreted in terms of participation of the alpha-NH2 group (pKa 9.40) in addition to that of Asp 49 (pKa 5.40) and His 48 (pKa 7.53).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetophenones↗

Primary structure of hemorrhagic protein, HR2a, isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis.

The complete amino acid sequence and disulfide bridge location of HR2a, one of the hemorrhagic proteins isolated from the snake venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis, have been determined by analysis of peptides derived from digests with cyanogen bromide, lysyl endopeptidase, trypsin, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. Peptides were purified by gel filtration followed by reversed-phase HPLC. HR2a has the amino-terminal sequence of less than Glu-Gln-Arg- and consists of a total of 202 residues with a calculated molecular weight of 23,015. Sequence analysis indicates the presence of another isoform which lacks the amino-terminal residue, making 201 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 22,887. Three disulfide bridges of HR2a link Cys-118 to Cys-197, Cys-159 to Cys-181, and Cys-161 to Cys-164. HR2a contains a segment which is similar to the zinc-chelating sequences found in thermolysin and several mammalian metalloproteinases, suggesting that HR2a is a metalloproteinase with limited substrate specificity. However, there is no other significant sequence homology with thermolysin except for the zinc-ligand region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interactions of monodispersed and micellar substrates with a phospholipase A2 from Trimeresurus flavoviridis.

Bindings of the phospholipase A2 from Trimeresurus flavoviridis to the monodispersed and micellar n-alkylphosphorylcholines (n-CnPC) were studied at 25 degrees C and ionic strength 0.2 by the aromatic CD and tryptophyl fluorescence methods, respectively. The bindings to micelles of the substrate analog were analyzed by assuming that the micellar surface has multiple binding sites for the enzyme and that these sites are identical and mutually independent. The enzyme binding site was found to accommodate a constant number of the substrate (monomer) molecules, N = 9-13. The binding constant to the micelle was about 40 times greater than it was to the monodispersed substrate. The binding constant to the micellar substrate analog increased on the binding of Ca2+ to the enzyme and decreased on modification of the N-terminal alpha-NH2 group, whereas the binding to the monodispersed substrate analog was independent of pH, of the Ca2+ binding, and of the chemical modification of the alpha-NH2 group. The kinetics of the hydrolyses of monodispersed and micellar dihexanoylphosphatidylcholines (diC6PC) were studied at 25 degrees C and ionic strength 0.2 by the pH-stat method in the presence of saturating amounts of Ca2+. The catalytic center activity, kappa cat, as well as the binding constant, 1/Km, for the micellar substrate, were found to be much greater than those for the monodispersed substrate. The binding constant, 1/Km, of the monodispersed substrate was independent of pH; this was in good agreement with that of the substrate analog described above. The pH-dependence curve of kappa cat for the monodispersed substrate exhibited two transitions, one below pH 6.5 and the other above pH 9.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Primary structure of H2-proteinase, a non-hemorrhagic metalloproteinase, isolated from the venom of the habu snake, Trimeresurus flavoviridis.

The complete amino acid sequence of and the locations of disulfide bridges in H2-proteinase, a major non-hemorrhagic proteinase isolated from the venom of the habu Trimeresurus flavoviridis, have been determined and compared with those of HR2a, one of the hemorrhagic metalloproteinases in this venom. The strategy involved consisted of structural analysis of peptides in digests with cyanogen bromide, lysyl endopeptidase, trypsin, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and thermolysin. Peptides were purified by gel filtration followed by reversed-phase HPLC. H2-proteinase is a non-glycosylated single chain polypeptide consisting of 201 amino acids with an amino-terminal pyroglutamic acid, a calculated molecular weight of 22,991 and a net charge of +14 at neutral pH. There was no evidence of heterogeneity of the sequence. H2-proteinase has a typical zinc-chelating sequence and its overall sequence identity with HR2a is 73.6%. The 3 disulfide bridges in H2-proteinase link Cys-117 to Cys-196, Cys-158 to Cys-180, and Cys-160 to Cys-163, in the same manner as in the case of HR2a. In striking contrast to HR2a, it contains en extra free cysteine residue at position 94 which becomes reactive to a sulfhydryl reagent in the presence of a denaturant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel blood coagulation factor IX/factor X-binding protein with anticoagulant activity from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake): isolation and characterization.

Using affinity chromatography on a column of factor X-Cellulofine, we have isolated a novel blood coagulation factor X-binding protein with anticoagulant activity from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake). This anticoagulant protein was also purified by chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and S-Sepharose Fast Flow. The yield of the purified protein was approximately 16 mg from 400 mg of crude venom. The purified protein gave a single band on both analytical alkaline disc-gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE. This protein had a relative molecular weight (Mr) after SDS-PAGE of 27,000 before reduction of disulfide bonds and 14,000 after reduction of disulfide bonds. The protein prolonged the clotting time induced by kaolin or factor Xa. In the presence of Ca2+, it formed a complex with factor X, the molar ratio being 1 to 1. Similar complex formation was observed with factor Xa and factor IX/factor IXa, but not with other vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors, i.e., prothrombin, factor VII, protein C, protein S, and protein Z. The interaction of this anticoagulant protein with factor IX/factor X was dependent on gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domains, since Gla-domainless derivatives of factor X and factor IXa beta' did not interact with this anticoagulant protein.

Amino Acids↗

Investigation of an active site histidine-aspartate couple in Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2.

When Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2 was reacted with methyl p-nitrobenzenesulfonate, its activity decreased following first-order kinetics. The pH dependence of the rate constants of inactivation showed that His-48 with an apparent pKa of 6.5 controls the reaction. In the pH region below 6.5, N1-methylhistidine was predominantly formed. On the other hand, N1,N3-dimethylhistidine was almost exclusively produced in the pH region above 6.5. No N3-methylhistidine was detected at any pH tested. Such observations suggested that the first methylation occurred at the N1-position of the imidazole ring followed by a second methylation at the N3-position, and that His-48 couples the carboxylate of Asp-99 at the N3-position of the imidazole ring, in accord with the interaction observed in the crystal structure of homologous Crotalus atrox phospholipase A2. As it has been reported that, in the reaction of chymotrypsin with methyl p-nitrobenzenesulfonate at pH 7.8, only monomethylation occurred at the N1-position of the His-57 imidazole group (Nakagawa, Y. & Bender, M.L. (1970) Biochemistry 9, 259-267), the nature of the active site histidine-aspartate couple of T. flavoviridis phospholipase A2 seems not to be identical with that of chymotrypsin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗