Biochemical, pharmacological and structural characterization of a new PLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus (South American rattlesnake) venom.

Protein J

Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CP 6111, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Published: May 2005

A new PLA2 (F16) was purified from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom by molecular exclusion chromatography followed by analytical reverse phase HPLC. The PLA2 (14.86 kDa by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry) had an amino acid sequence of SLLQFNKMIKFETRKNAVPFYAFYGCYCGWGGRRRPKDATDRCCFVHDCCYEKVTKCNTKWDIYRYSLKSGYITCGKGTWCKEQICECDRVAAECLRRSLSTYKNGYMFYPDSRCRGPSETC, and showed highly conserved Ca2+-binding and catalytic sites. F16 showed allosteric behavior with 10 mM Ca2+ and had temperature and pH optima of 25 degrees C and 7.9, respectively. F16 (10 microg/ml) produced neuromuscular blockade in chick biventer cervicis preparations in the absence and presence of crotapotin, indicating that crotapotin was not essential for neuromuscular action in this preparation. In contrast, in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations, the neuromuscular blockade produced by the same concentration of toxin was dependent on crotapotin. Pre-incubation with heparin markedly reduced the neurotoxicity of F16. These results show that the biochemical and structural properties of F16 are similar to those of the PLA2 isoforms F15 and F17, but that the neurotoxicity and the requirement for crotapotin to form the crotoxin complex varies according to the neuromuscular preparation.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10930-005-6718-zDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

crotalus durissus
8
durissus terrificus
8
neuromuscular blockade
8
f16
5
biochemical pharmacological
4
pharmacological structural
4
structural characterization
4
pla2
4
characterization pla2
4
pla2 crotalus
4

Similar Publications

We compared the enzymatic, coagulant, and neuromuscular activities of two variants (yellow-CDRy and white-CDRw) of venom with a sample of (CDT) venom and examined their neutralization by antivenom against CDT venom. The venoms were screened for enzymatic and coagulant activities using standard assays, and electrophoretic profiles were compared by SDS-PAGE. Neutralization was assessed by preincubating venoms with crotalic antivenom and assaying the residual activity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Peripheral arterial chemoreceptors monitor the levels of arterial blood gases and adjust ventilation and perfusion to meet metabolic demands. These chemoreceptors are present in all vertebrates studied to date but have not been described fully in reptiles other than turtles. The goals of this study were to 1) identify functional chemosensory areas in the South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) 2) determine the neurochemical content of putative chemosensory cells in these areas and 3) determine the role each area plays in ventilatory and cardiovascular control.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We evaluated the efficacy of freeze-dried Bothrops-Lachesis-Crotalus antivenom and liquid Crotalus antivenoms to neutralize Crotalus durissus ruruima (Cdr) venom (Roraima, Brazil) comparing with C. d. terrificus (Cdt) venom.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Crotalus Neutralizing Factor (CNF) is a γ-type Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor present in the blood of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake. Particularly, CNF inhibits the toxic action of Crotoxin (CTX), which is a major neurotoxin found in C. d.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A 34-year-old man experienced severe symptoms after a rattlesnake bite and was treated with anticrotalic serum.
  • Three weeks post-bite, he developed nerve-related issues in his left hand that spread to all limbs, leading to a diagnosis of asymmetric axonal sensorimotor multiple mononeuropathy.
  • After receiving prednisone treatment, he showed significant improvement in nerve function after six months, marking a rare case of post-snake envenomation peripheral neuropathy that highlights the importance of timely recognition and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!