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Asp-49 is not an absolute prerequisite for the enzymic activity of low-M(r) phospholipases A2: purification, characterization and computer modelling of an enzymically active Ser-49 phospholipase A2, ecarpholin S, from the venom of Echis carinatus sochureki (saw-scaled viper).

ABSTRACT: Several studies have shown that Asp-49 is the residue that controls calcium binding in, and so plays a critical role in the calcium-mediated activation of, low-M(r) group I-III phospholipases A2 (PLA2s). The present paper provides experimental evidence that Asp-49 is not an absolute prerequisite for the enzymic activity of PLA2s, and that proteins with amino acid(s) other than Asp at position 49 can exhibit significant phospholipase activity. The purification, complete amino acid sequence and characterization of ecarpholin S, a PLA2 from Echis carinatus sochureki (saw-scaled viper) venom, is described. This single-chain, 122-amino-acid, basic (pI 7.9) protein is a group II PLA2. Although Asp-49 is replaced by Ser and Tyr-28 by Phe (both of these positions being involved in the Ca(2+)-binding site of PLA2s), the lipolysis of soybean phosphatidylcholine and egg yolk in the presence of 10 mM CaCl2 was 1.5 times and 2.9 times greater respectively with ecarpholin S than with recombinant human group II PLA2. The Ca(2+)-dependencies of the enzymic activities of ecarpholin S and rPLA2 were found to be similar. Ecarpholin S added to washed platelets induced aggregation; the presence of Ca2+ was a prerequisite for this platelet-aggregating effect. Computer modelling of the Ca(2+)-binding site of Ser-49 PLA2 compared with the Asp-49 and Lys-49 forms, for which crystallographic data exist, shows that the Ca(2+)-binding site is sterically blocked by Lys-49 but not by Ser-49; in the latter, the Ser hydroxy group may replace the Asp carboxylate in stabilization of Ca2+ binding. Sequence comparisons of ecarpholin S and other low-M(r) PLA2s predicts the presence of a Ser-49 group in the protein family of low-M(r) PLA2s that is distinct from the Asp-49 and Lys-49 groups.

SUBMITTER: Polgar J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1217882 | biostudies-other | 1996 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:BackgroundIn West Africa, envenoming by saw-scaled or carpet vipers (Echis ocellatus) causes great morbidity and mortality, but there is a crisis in supply of effective and affordable antivenom (ISRCTN01257358).MethodsIn a randomised, double-blind, controlled, non-inferiority trial, "EchiTAb Plus-ICP" (ET-Plus) equine antivenom made by Instituto Clodomiro Picado was compared to "EchiTAb G" (ET-G) ovine antivenom made by MicroPharm, which is the standard of care in Nigeria and was developed from the original EchiTAb-Fab introduced in 1998. Both are caprylic acid purified whole IgG antivenoms. ET-G is monospecific for Echis ocellatus antivenom (initial dose 1 vial) and ET-Plus is polyspecific for E. ocellatus, Naja nigricollis and Bitis arietans (initial dose 3 vials). Both had been screened by pre-clinical and preliminary clinical dose-finding and safety studies. Patients who presented with incoagulable blood, indicative of systemic envenoming by E. ocellatus, were recruited in Kaltungo, north-eastern Nigeria. Those eligible and consenting were randomly allocated with equal probability to receive ET-Plus or ET-G. The primary outcome was permanent restoration of blood coagulability 6 hours after the start of treatment, assessed by a simple whole blood clotting test repeated 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 hr after treatment. Secondary (safety) outcomes were the incidences of anaphylactic, pyrogenic and late serum sickness-type antivenom reactions.FindingsInitial doses permanently restored blood coagulability at 6 hours in 161/194 (83.0%) of ET-Plus and 156/206 (75.7%) of ET-G treated patients (Relative Risk [RR] 1.10 one-sided 95% CI lower limit 1.01; P = 0.05). ET-Plus caused early reactions on more occasions than did ET-G [50/194 (25.8%) and 39/206 (18.9%) respectively RR (1.36 one-sided 95% CI 1.86 upper limit; P = 0.06). These reactions were classified as severe in 21 (10.8%) and 11 (5.3%) of patients, respectively.ConclusionAt these doses, ET-Plus was slightly more effective but ET-G was slightly safer. Both are recommended for treating E. ocellatus envenoming in Nigeria.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN01257358.

Project description:Saw-scaled or carpet vipers (genus Echis) are considered to cause a higher global snakebite mortality than any other snake. Echis carinatus sochureki (ECS) is a widely distributed snake species, also found across the thirteen provinces of Iran, where it is assumed to be responsible for the most snakebite envenomings. Here, we collected the Iranian specimens of ECS from three different geographically distinct populations, investigated food habits, and performed toxicity assessment and venom proteome profiling to better understand saw-scaled viper life. Our results show that the prey items most commonly found in all populations were arthropods, with scorpions from the family Buthidae particularly well represented. LD50 (median lethal dose) values of the crude venom demonstrate highly comparable venom toxicities in mammals. Consistent with this finding, venom characterization via top-down and bottom-up proteomics, applied to both crude venoms and size-exclusion chromatographic fractions, revealed highly comparable venom compositions among the different populations. By combining all proteomics data, we identified 22 protein families from 102 liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) raw files, including the most abundant snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs, 29-34%); phospholipase A2 (PLA2s, 26-31%); snake venom serine proteinases (SVSPs, 11-12%); l-amino acid oxidases (LAOs, 8-11%), C-type lectins/lectin-like (CTLs, 7-9%) protein families, and many newly detected ones, e.g., renin-like aspartic proteases (RLAPs), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIs), and venom vasodilator peptides (VVPs). Furthermore, we identified and characterized methylated, acetylated, and oxidized proteoforms relating to the PLA2 and disintegrin toxin families and the site of their modifications. It thus seems that post-translational modifications (PTMs) of toxins, particularly target lysine residues, may play an essential role in the structural and functional properties of venom proteins and might be able to influence the therapeutic response of antivenoms, to be investigated in future studies.

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Asp-49 is not an absolute prerequisite for the enzymic activity of low-M(r) phospholipases A2: purification, characterization and computer modelling of an enzymically active Ser-49 phospholipase A2, ecarpholin S, from the venom of Echis carinatus sochureki (saw-scaled viper).

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