Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Trimeresurus”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Isolation and fundamental properties of a phospholipase A2 inhibitor from the blood plasma of Trimeresurus flavoviridis.

Phospholipase A2 inhibitor was purified from the blood plasma of Habu, Trimeresurus flavoviridis, by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and Blue-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography. The purified inhibitor was shown to be a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 100K. It was found to consist of four subunits whose molecular weights were around 20-24K. In order to examine the inhibition mechanism of the inhibitor, the interaction of the inhibitor with a phospholipase A2 from T. flavoviridis venom was examined by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. One inhibitor molecule was found to bind directly to one phospholipase A2 molecule in both the presence and absence of Ca2+. The inhibitor inhibited the phospholipase A2 from T. flavoviridis venom with an apparent dissociation constant, Ki, of 1.7 X 10(-10) M, but not the porcine pancreas enzyme or the Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii enzyme belonging to the same family, Crotalidae, as T. flavoviridis, or the phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus.

Animals↗

Preliminary crystallographic study of phospholipase A2 from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake).

Crystallization and a preliminary crystallographic study of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake) phospholipase A2 (PLA2) were carried out. Although crystals were obtained from various solutions, crystals suitable for X-ray analysis could be obtained from polyethylene glycol solutions only when a repeated seeding technique was applied starting from twinned crystals. The crystal is monoclinic with space group P21, with a = 44.1, b = 55.7, c = 48.8 A, and beta = 92.4 degrees. An asymmetric unit contains a dimer consisting of two identical subunits made of 122 amino acids. The crystal reflects X-rays beyond 2.5 A. A Pt derivative gave a good isomorphous crystal.

Animals↗

Purification and amino acid sequence of basic protein II, a lysine-49-phospholipase A2 with low activity, from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom.

A basic protein (pI 10.3), named basic protein II, was purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) after four chromatographic steps. The amino acid sequence of this protein was determined by sequencing the S-pyridylethylated derivative and its peptides produced by chemical (cyanogen bromide) and enzymatic (chymotrypsin, clostripain, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease) cleavages. The protein consisted of 122 amino acid residues and was found to be identical in sequence to basic protein I from the same source except that Asp-58 of basic protein I is replaced by asparagine. Like basic protein I, the structural feature of basic protein II is that Tyr-28 and Asp-49 common in phospholipases A2 from snake venoms and mammalian pancreas are replaced by asparagine and lysine, respectively. Thus, basic protein II belongs to the category of lysine-49-phospholipase A2. The action of basic protein II on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine released only oleic acid, indicating that it has phospholipase A2 activity. Its molar activity toward 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, however, was only 1.7% of that of T. flavoviridis phospholipase A2 isolated previously. Affinity for Ca2+ and reactivity toward p-bromophenacyl bromide of basic protein II were 8 and 5.3 times, respectively, smaller than those of phospholipase A2 from the same source, substantiating the low phospholipase A2 activity of basic protein II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA for Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2, and consequent revision of the amino acid sequence.

A cDNA clone of Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2 was isolated from the venom gland cDNA library using DNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction with oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the N- and C-terminal sequences of this enzyme. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA nucleotide sequence determined by the dideoxy termination method was found to be inconsistent in the segment comprising the 69th to 81st positions from that reported previously [Tanaka, S. et al. (1986) J. Biochem. 99, 281-289]. Reinvestigation of the amino acid sequence of the peptide covering the sequence in question showed that the amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence is correct. The sequence contains Asn-Asn-Gly (positions 69-71) and it was found that the Asn-Gly bond easily undergoes alpha-beta transpeptidation when digested with Achromobacter protease I at pH 9.0 but not seriously at pH 6.8. It is likely that the transpeptidation reaction caused a failure in the previous sequence determination. The cDNA clone obtained was 597 base pairs long and contained an open reading frame of 414 base pairs coding for 138 amino acid residues. A typical signal peptide sequence (16 amino acid residues long), located at the N-terminal moiety of the deduced sequence, was immediately followed by a polypeptide which corresponds to the mature enzyme. Northern blot analysis showed a single transcript only in the poly(A)+ RNA fraction of the venom gland but not in those of many other organs tested.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and characterization of a coagulant enzyme, okinaxobin I, from the venom of Trimeresurus okinavensis (Himehabu snake) which releases fibrinopeptide B.

A coagulant enzyme, named okinaxobin I, has been purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus okinavensis (Himehabu) by chromatographies on Sephadex G-100 and CM-Toyopearl 650M columns. The enzyme was a monomer with a molecular weight of 37,000 and its isoelectric point was 5.4. The enzyme acted on fibrinogen to form fibrin clots with a specific activity of 77 NIH units/mg. Fibrinopeptide B was released at a rate much faster than fibrinopeptide A. The enzyme exhibited 2 to 3 times higher activity toward tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide than bovine thrombin. The esterase activity was strongly inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, and to a lesser extent by tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, indicating that the enzyme is a serine protease like thrombin. The N-terminal sequence was highly homologous to those of coagulant enzymes from T. flavoviridis and Bothrops atrox, moojeni venoms which preferentially release fibrinopeptide A. In order to remove most, if not all, of the bonded carbohydrates, the enzyme was treated with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF), thereby reducing the molecular weight to 30,000. The protein contained approximately 260 amino acid residues when computation was based on this value. The HF-treated enzyme retained about 50% of the clotting and esterolytic (TAME) activities and preferentially released fibrinopeptide B from fibrinogen. The carbohydrate moiety is not crucial for enzyme activity but might be necessary for eliciting full activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Primary structures of cytotoxic factors isolated from habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis) venom.

The amino acid sequence of a cytotoxic factor, CTF-I, isolated from the venom of the Japanese habu snake (Trimeresurus flavoviridis) has been determined through automatic phenylisothiocyanate degradation of the PE-protein and derived proteolytic peptides. CTF-I consists of 72 amino acids and contains an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence present in trigramin-like peptides isolated from other snake venoms. The primary structure of another cytotoxic factor, CTF-II, consisting of 75 amino acids, was deduced to comprise that of CTF-1 with an additional Glu-Leu-Leu-sequence at its N-terminal.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An improved method for purifying antihemorrhagic factor in the serum of Habu snake (Trimeresurus flavoviridis).

A new method is presented for purifying antihemorrhagic factor in the serum of Japanese Habu snake (Trimeresurus flavoviridis). The method consists of specific binding of the factor to a hemorrhagic principle-conjugated Sepharose, gel filtration and reverse-phase HPLC. The improved method is simple and rapid, providing the factor with a great increase in specific activity and in a high yield.

Animals↗

Arrangement of the disulfide bridges in a blood coagulation factor IX/factor X-binding protein from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis.

Blood coagulation factor IX/factor X-binding protein (IX/X-bp) is a two-chain anticoagulant protein that was isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis. The amino acid sequence of IX/X-bp is homologous to the sequences of C-type lectin-like proteins, such as asialoglycoprotein receptor, tetranectin, and the low-affinity Fc epsilon receptor of immunoglobulin E. The amino acid composition and amino acid sequence of cystine-containing peptides, formed as a result of enzymatic digestion of CNBr-generated fragments of IX/X-bp, were analyzed to determine the location of the seven disulfide bridges in the protein. Three disulfide bridges in the A chain link Cys2 to Cys13, Cys30 to Cys127, and Cys102 to Cys119. Three disulfide bridges in the A chain link Cys2 to Cys13, Cys30 to Cys119, and Cys96 to Cys111. An interchain disulfide bond links Cys79 of the A chain and Cys75 of the B chain. The intrachain disulfide-bonding patterns of both the A and B chains of IX/X-bp are similar to those found in other C-type lectin-like proteins. We discuss in this report the sequence homology between IX/X-bp and other two-chain, C-type lectin-like proteins that have been isolated from snake venoms and we compare the S-S bonding patterns of proteins that are homologous to IX/X-bp.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Studies on phospholipase A in Trimeresurus flaoviridis venom. III. Purification and some properties of phospholipase A inhibitor in Habu serum.

Phospholipase A [EC 3.1.1.4] inhibitor was purified from Habu (Trimeresurus flavivurudls) serum by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, chromatography on DE-23 cellulose and affinity chromatography on a Sepharose 4B-phospholipase A column. By these procedures, a 31-fold increase in specific activity was attained with a yield of 15%. The purified material was homogeneous as judged by cellulose acetate and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It had an apparent molecular weight of 100,000 as measured by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The purified inhibitor was stable for 20 min at 80 degrees and was unstable below pH 6. It migrated before albumin in cellulose acetate electrophoresis and did not form any precipitin line with the crude venom or with purified phospholipase A in immunodiffusin tests. An 8-fold excess of the purified inhibitor by weight was required to inhibit completely both the egg yolk clearing action and the hemolytic action of phospholipase A.

Animals↗

Purification and properties of phospholipase A from venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake).

Phospholipase A was purified from venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) via three steps consisting of Sephadez G-100, CM-cellulose, and DEAE-cellulose column chromatographies. The apparent molecular weights determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 28,000 and 14,000, respectively, suggesting that the enzyme is composed of two identical subunits. The isoelectric point was 7.9. The enzyme is characterized by high contents of aspartic acid, glycine, tyrosine, and lysine and contains one residue each of histidine and methionine, three or four tryptophans, and eight disulfide bonds per subunit. The enzyme was inactivated by reaction with p-bromophenacyl bromide following pseudo first order kinetics. The loss of activity was accompanied by loss of histidine, indicating that a single histidine residue is essential for activity. Oxidation with N-bromosuccinimide decreased the enzymic activity. Tryptophan residues appear to play some role in catalysis.

Amino Acids↗

Cleavage of Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2 with cyanogen bromide: sequence of the short peptide fragment and formation of a noncovalently bonded complex from the fragments.

Phospholipase A2 from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) on treatment with cyanogen bromide is split into less than Glu-Gly-Leu-Trp-Gln-Phe-Asn-Hse greater than, which is derived from the N-terminal moiety and is designated as S-peptide, and the remaining large peptide, which is designated as L-peptide. It should be stressed that the N-terminal residue is pyroglutamyl, unlike other phospholipases A2. The L-peptide alone was about 6% as active as the parent molecule. It occurs in dimeric form, like the parent molecule. When L-peptide was mixed with increasing amounts of S-peptide, the activity increased in a hyperbolic manner, indicating the formation of an ordered complex between L-peptide and S-peptide. The dissociation constant of the complex was 2.1 x 10(-7) M and its specific activity was 2.8 times that of L-peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and characterization of a coagulant enzyme from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom.

An enzyme bearing thrombin-like specificity has been purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (the Habu snake). The enzyme is a monomer with a molecular weight of 23,500 as determined by analytical gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein contains approximately 210 amino acid residues and has a relatively high content of aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The isoelectric point was 4.8 and the extinction coefficient at 280 nm for a 1% solution was 11.5. The enzyme acted directly on fibrinogen to form a fibrin clot with 2.0 NIH units. Analysis by high performance liquid chromatography of enzyme-treated fibrinogen revealed the release of a peptide identical in composition to thrombin-induced fibrinopeptide A, but no peptide corresponding to fibrinopeptide B was detected. The enzyme showed esterase and amidase activities on synthetic substrates containing arginine. The enzyme exhibited higher activity toward tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME) but 6-times lower activity toward benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide when compared with bovin thrombin. The esterase activity was inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and at a slower rate by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, but was least affected by tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, showing that the enzyme is a serine protease like thrombin. The enzyme showed a bell-shaped pH dependence of kcat/Km for hydrolysis of TAME, with a maximum around pH 8.5.

Amino Acids↗

Amino acid sequence of Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2.

The amino acid sequence of phospholipase A2 from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (the Habu snake) was determined. The enzyme subunit has a molecular weight of 13,764 and consists of a single polypeptide chain of 122 amino acids and seven disulfide bonds. The fragmentation was conducted by digesting the reduced and S-carboxymethylated derivative of the protein with Achromobacter protease I, chymotrypsin, and trypsin, respectively. Achromobacter protease I peptides were used for alignment and to establish overlaps over chymotryptic and tryptic peptides. The automated Edman degradation of the S-carboxymethylated protein, which was extended to the N-terminal 30 amino acid residues, supplemented the deletions found with the enzymatic peptides alone. T. flavoviridis phospholipase A2 was found to be highly (65-67%) homologous in sequence to the enzymes from T. okinavensis, Crotalus adamanteus, and Crotalus atrox (viperid family) and less (35-44%) homologous to those from elapid snakes and mammalian pancreas. The T. flavoviridis enzyme appears to be similar in secondary structure composition to the C. atrox enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel peptide toxin from Trimeresurus wagleri acts pre- and post-synaptically to block transmission at the rat neuromuscular junction.

The neuromuscular effects of a peptide toxin (peptide I) from venom of Trimeresurus wagleri were investigated using the rat extensor digitorum longus muscle/peroneal nerve preparation. Sub-micromolar concentrations depressed endplate currents (EPCs) produced in response to nerve stimulation. Since quantal content of EPCs was not altered, it appears that the site of action is post-synaptic. However, higher concentrations (1.4-2.9 microM) also inhibited spontaneous release of transmitter. Nerve stimulation in the presence of peptide I caused 'rundown' of EPC amplitude, evidence that the peptide acts pre-synaptically to interfere with transmitter release. Recovery from this effect occurred within 3-5 min. of washing, but EPC amplitude took 20-30 min. to recover. The dual action of this peptide makes it unusual amongst naturally-occurring toxins, and these data suggest that further investigation of the peptide (and its analogues) could yield new information about neurotransmitter release.

Animals↗

Rat paw oedema and mast cell degranulation caused by two phospholipase A2 enzymes isolated from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom.

Two phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, TMVPLA2 I and TMVPLA2 II, isolated from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom (TMV) induce rat hind-paw oedema in a dose-dependent manner. This response is suppressed by pretreatment with diphenhydramine, methysergide or compound 48/80, which reduces tissue histamine content. In isolated mast cells, TMVPLA2 I and TMVPLA2 II cause concentration-, time- and calcium-dependent release of histamine and beta-glucuronidase. This effect is inhibited by disodium cromoglycate, mepacrine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, piriprost and BW 755C, but not by aspirin or indomethacin. These observations indicate that the mast cell plays a predominant role in TMVPLA2 I- and TMVPLA2 II-induced paw oedema, and that venom PLA2 enzyme needs an intact lipoxygenase pathway to induce mast cell degranulation.

Animals↗

Roles of PMN leucocytes, platelets and some mediators in rat hind-paw oedema induced by two phospholipase A2 enzymes from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom.

Two phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, TMVPLA2 I and TMVPLA2 II, isolated from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom induced rat hind-paw oedema. Recovered myeloperoxidase activity increased within 1 h and was greatly elevated in the rat paw 3-6 h after subplantar injection of these venom PLA2 enzymes. Methotrexate pretreatment significantly reduced not only the peripheral leucocyte count but also venom PLA2-induced paw oedema. In rat isolated PMN leucocyte suspension, venom PLA2 induced superoxide radical formation. Paw swelling caused by TMVPLA2 I or TMVPLA2 II was only slightly or not, respectively, reduced in the rats pretreated with anti-platelet plasma, which reduced peripheral blood platelet count by greater than 96%, suggesting platelets are not involved. In isolated platelet preparation, TMVPLA2 I induced platelet activation in a concentration-dependent manner, while TMVPLA2 II had no effect. Pretreatment with diphenhydramine/methysergide greatly suppressed the oedematous responses caused by the two venom PLA2 enzymes; the residual responses were significantly further depressed by aspirin. The oedematous responses caused by the enzymes were also suppressed by FPL 55712, BW 755C, dexamethasone, superoxide dismutase/catalase, isoprenaline and terbutaline. However, BN 52021 and L 652731, both platelet aggregating factor antagonists, were not effective on these responses. Thus, in addition to histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine release by the mast cells in PLA2-induced paw oedema (Wang & Teng 1990), the results of this study indicate minor, but significant, roles for neutrophils and inflammatory mediators including prostaglandins, leukotrienes and superoxide radicals.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Comparison of kinin-forming and amidolytic activities of four trimucases, oedema-producing and kinin-releasing enzymes, from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom.

Four kinin-releasing enzymes, trimucase I, II, III and IV, isolated from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom (TMV) caused rat hind-paw swelling. Trimucase I and III were less potent than trimucase II and IV in this effect. Pretreatment with diphenhydramine or methysergide significantly reduced trimucase-induced paw swelling, while aspirin had no effect. Cellulose sulphate pretreatment suppressed the oedematous responses elicited by trimucases. The residual response was further depressed by diphenhydramine and methysergide. Trimucases also caused kinin generation in-vitro from rat plasma. This kinin-forming activity was in the order of trimucase II greater than IV greater than or equal to III greater than I greater than TMV. All trimucases hydrolysed chromogenic peptides N-benzoyl-Pro-Phe-Arg p-nitroanilide, N-benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg p-nitroanilide and DL-Val-Leu-Arg p-nitroanilide; the order of this amidolytic activity was trimucase I greater than II greater than III greater than or equal to IV. These data indicate that the effects of venom kinin-releasing enzymes on plasma kininogen are not parallel to their amidolytic effects.

Amides↗

Snake venom proteinases as tools in hemostasis studies: structure-function relationship of a plasminogen activator purified from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom.

Snake venom serine proteinases affect many steps of the blood coagulation cascade. Each of them usually acts selectively on one coagulation factor. They are therefore potentially useful components to study the mechanisms of action, the regulation and the structure-function relationships of human serine proteinase coagulation factors. This strategy is illustrated for a plasminogen activator purified from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom.

Animals↗