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  • Title: Isolation and structural characterization of a new fibrin(ogen)olytic metalloproteinase from Bothrops moojeni snake venom.
    Author: Bernardes CP, Santos-Filho NA, Costa TR, Gomes MS, Torres FS, Costa J, Borges MH, Richardson M, dos Santos DM, de Castro Pimenta AM, Homsi-Brandeburgo MI, Soares AM, de Oliveira F.
    Journal: Toxicon; 2008 Mar 15; 51(4):574-84. PubMed ID: 18187176.
    Abstract:
    A proteinase, named BmooMPalpha-I, from the venom of Bothrops moojeni, was purified by DEAE-Sephacel, Sephadex G-75 and heparin-agarose column chromatography. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity as judged by its migration profile in SDS-PAGE stained with coomassie blue, and showed a molecular mass of about 24.5 kDa. Its complete cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR and the 615 bp codified for a mature protein of 205 amino acid residues. The multiple alignment of its deduced amino acid sequence and those of other snake venom metalloproteinases showed a high structural similarly, mainly among class P-IB proteases. The enzyme cleaves the Aalpha-chain of fibrinogen first, followed by the Bbeta-chain, and shows no effects on the gamma-chain. On fibrin, the enzyme hydrolyzed only the beta-chain, leaving the gamma-dimer apparently untouched. It was devoid of phospholipase A(2), hemorrhagic and thrombin-like activities. Like many venom enzymes, it is stable at pH values between 4 and 10 and stable at 70 degrees C for 15 min. The inhibitory effects of EDTA on the fibrinogenolytic activity suggest that BmooMPalpha-I is a metalloproteinase and inhibition by beta-mercaptoethanol revealed the important role of the disulfide bonds in the stabilization of the native structure. Aprotinin and benzamidine, specific serine proteinase inhibitors, had no effect on BmooMPalpha-I activity. Since the BmooMPalpha-I enzyme was found to cause defibrinogenation when administered i.p. on mice, it is expected that it may be of medical interest as a therapeutic agent in the treatment and prevention of arterial thrombosis.
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