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Dehghani R, Monzavi SM, Mehrpour O, Shirazi FM, Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Keyler DE, Wüster W, Westerström A, Warrell DA. Medically important snakes and snakebite envenoming in Iran. Toxicon 2023; 230:107149. [PMID: 37187227 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite is a common health condition in Iran with a diverse snake fauna, especially in tropical southern and mountainous western areas of the country with plethora of snake species. The list of medically important snakes, circumstances and effects of their bite, and necessary medical care require critical appraisal and should be updated regularly. This study aims to review and map the distributions of medically important snake species of Iran, re-evaluate their taxonomy, review their venomics, describe the clinical effects of envenoming, and discuss medical management and treatment, including the use of antivenom. Nearly 350 published articles and 26 textbooks with information on venomous and mildly venomous snake species and snakebites of Iran, were reviewed, many in Persian (Farsi) language, making them relatively inaccessible to an international readership. This has resulted in a revised updated list of Iran's medically important snake species, with taxonomic revisions of some, compilation of their morphological features, remapping of their geographical distributions, and description of species-specific clinical effects of envenoming. Moreover, the antivenom manufactured in Iran is discussed, together with treatment protocols that have been developed for the hospital management of envenomed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhollah Dehghani
- Department of Environmental Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Seyed Mostafa Monzavi
- Medical Toxicology Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Mehrpour
- Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran; Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, CO, USA.
| | - Farshad M Shirazi
- Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Hossein Hassanian-Moghaddam
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daniel E Keyler
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Wolfgang Wüster
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | | | - David A Warrell
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Baîram D, Aissa I, Louati H, Othman H, Abdelkafi-Koubaa Z, Krayem N, El Ayeb M, Srairi-Abid N, Marrakchi N, Gargouri Y. Biochemical and monolayer characterization of Tunisian snake venom phospholipases. Int J Biol Macromol 2016; 89:640-6. [PMID: 27164498 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated the kinetic and interfacial properties of two secreted phospholipases isolated from Tunisian vipers'venoms: Cerastes cerastes (CC-PLA2) and Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea (MVL-PLA2). Results show that these enzymes have great different abilities to bind and hydrolyse phospholipids. Using egg-yolk emulsions as substrate at pH 8, we found that MVL-PLA2 has a specific activity of 1473U/mg at 37°C in presence of 1mM CaCl2. Furthermore the interfacial kinetic and binding data indicate that MVL-PLA2 has a preference to the zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine monolayers (PC). Conversely, CC-PLA2 was found to be able to hydrolyse preferentially negatively charged head group phospholipids (PG and PS) and exhibits a specific activity 9 times more important (13333U/mg at 60°C in presence of 3mM CaCl2). Molecular models of both CC-PLA2 and MVL-PLA2 3D structures have been built and their electrostatic potentials surfaces have been calculated. A marked anisotropy of the overall electrostatic charge distribution leads to a significantly difference in the dipole moment intensity between the two enzymes explaining the great differences in catalytic and binding properties, which seems to be governed by the electrostatic and hydrophobic forces operative at the surface of the two phospholipases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douja Baîram
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques LR11IPT08, 13, Place Pasteur, BP 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Imen Aissa
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie Enzymatique des Lipases, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, BP 1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia; Université de Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Hanen Louati
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie Enzymatique des Lipases, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, BP 1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia; Université de Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Houcemeddine Othman
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques LR11IPT08, 13, Place Pasteur, BP 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Zaineb Abdelkafi-Koubaa
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques LR11IPT08, 13, Place Pasteur, BP 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Najeh Krayem
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie Enzymatique des Lipases, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, BP 1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia; Université de Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed El Ayeb
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques LR11IPT08, 13, Place Pasteur, BP 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Najet Srairi-Abid
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques LR11IPT08, 13, Place Pasteur, BP 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Naziha Marrakchi
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire des Venins et Biomolécules Thérapeutiques LR11IPT08, 13, Place Pasteur, BP 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Youssef Gargouri
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Génie Enzymatique des Lipases, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, BP 1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia; Université de Sfax, Tunisia.
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3
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García-Arredondo A, Rojas-Molina A, Bah M, Ibarra-Alvarado C, Gallegos-Corona MA, García-Servín M. Systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora complanata and partial purification of thermostable neurotoxins with lethal effects in mice. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2015; 169:55-64. [PMID: 25572857 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Millepora complanata is a cnidarian widely distributed in the coral reefs of the Mexican Caribbean. This species is popularly known as "fire coral", since contact with it causes severe pain, skin eruptions and blisters. Intravenous administration of of M. complanata aqueous extract induces violent convulsions and death in mice within 1 min (LD50=4.62µgprotein/g of body weight). Doses less than the LD50 produced histopathological damage in kidneys and lungs. Such histopathological damage was completely eliminated after incubation of the extract in heat denaturing conditions. Unexpectedly, the denatured extract conserved its lethal effect. These findings demonstrated that the extract contained hemolytic and phospholipase activities that might be responsible for the histopathological damage, and additionally it contained other unidentified thermostable toxins with lethal effects in mice. Chromatographic analysis of the extract led to the isolation of a 61 kDa vasoconstrictor protein. Furthermore, several non-peptidic vasoconstrictor fractions were separated. Particularly interesting was the fraction MC1-IIA obtained as a result of three-step chromatography processes (ion exchange, gel filtration and reverse phase). Like the original crude extract, this fraction induced vasoconstriction and delayed hemolysis and lethal effects in mice. A subsequent chromatographic analysis of MC1-IIA showed that this fraction contained at least four non-peptidic compounds. MS and NMR spectroscopic data analyses indicated that these metabolites were poly-oxygenated alkylbenzenes. The present study constitutes the first report of the presence of non-peptidic lethal toxins in an organism of the class Hydrozoa, and evidences the great structural diversity of the toxins produced by the Millepora species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro García-Arredondo
- Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, México
| | - Alejandra Rojas-Molina
- Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, México.
| | - Moustapha Bah
- Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, México
| | - César Ibarra-Alvarado
- Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, México
| | - Marco Antonio Gallegos-Corona
- Laboratorio de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76176, México
| | - Martín García-Servín
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro 76201, México
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Saikia D, Majumdar S, Mukherjee AK. Mechanism of in vivo anticoagulant and haemolytic activity by a neutral phospholipase A(2) purified from Daboia russelii russelii venom: correlation with clinical manifestations in Russell's Viper envenomed patients. Toxicon 2013; 76:291-300. [PMID: 24125661 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A 13.0 kDa neutral phospholipase A2 (NEUPHOLIPASE) purified from venom of Daboia russelii russelii from eastern India was identified by peptide mass fingerprinting analysis. It exerted dose-dependent PLA2, anticoagulant and indirect haemolytic activities. NEUPHOLIPASE showed preferential binding followed by hydrolysis of phosphatidylserine > phosphatidylcholine >> phosphatidylethanolamine. Circular dichroism analysis of NEUPHOLIPASE showed a high content of alpha helix (54.6%) followed by beta-turn (29.7%) in its secondary structure. Gas-chromatographic analysis of plasma from PLA2-treated mice suggested preferential hydrolysis of pro-coagulant phospholipid PS was the primary mechanism to account for in vivo anticoagulant effect of NEUPHOLIPASE. The NEUPHOLIPASE-treated mice blood showed a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in WBC as well as RBC counts with a corresponding decline in Hb content due to indirect damage to erythrocyte membranes by plasma phospholipids hydrolysis products rather than the direct haemolytic activity of PLA2 under study. NEUPHOLIPASE was non-lethal to BALB/c mice, however; it was detrimental to liver of treated-mice. Pathological symptoms observed in NEUPHOLIPASE-treated mice were correlated with the actual clinical manifestations in Russell's Viper envenomed patients from eastern India indicating some contribution of NEUPHOLIPASE in Russell's Viper venom induced toxicity and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashree Saikia
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam 784028, India
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Pires CL, Rodrigues SD, Bristot D, Hessel Gaeta H, de Oliveira Toyama D, Ronald Lobo Farias W, Hikari Toyama M. Sulfated polysaccharide extracted of the green algae Caulerpa racemosa increase the enzymatic activity and paw edema induced by sPLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA 2013. [DOI: 10.1590/s0102-695x2013005000050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Differential mode of attack on membrane phospholipids by an acidic phospholipase A2 (RVVA-PLA2-I) from Daboia russelli venom. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2012; 1818:3149-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2012] [Revised: 07/20/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Cavazzini D, Meschi F, Corsini R, Bolchi A, Rossi GL, Einsle O, Ottonello S. Autoproteolytic Activation of a Symbiosis-regulated Truffle Phospholipase A2. J Biol Chem 2012. [PMID: 23192346 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.384156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal phospholipases are members of the fungal/bacterial group XIV secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s). TbSP1, the sPLA(2) primarily addressed in this study, is up-regulated by nutrient deprivation and is preferentially expressed in the symbiotic stage of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii. A peculiar feature of this phospholipase and of its ortholog from the black truffle Tuber melanosporum is the presence of a 54-amino acid sequence of unknown functional significance, interposed between the signal peptide and the start of the conserved catalytic core of the enzyme. X-ray diffraction analysis of a recombinant TbSP1 form corresponding to the secreted protein previously identified in T. borchii mycelia revealed a structure comprising the five α-helices that form the phospholipase catalytic module but lacking the N-terminal 54 amino acids. This finding led to a series of functional studies that showed that TbSP1, as well as its T. melanosporum ortholog, is a self-processing pro-phospholipase A(2), whose phospholipase activity increases up to 80-fold following autoproteolytic removal of the N-terminal peptide. Proteolytic cleavage occurs within a serine-rich, intrinsically flexible region of TbSP1, does not involve the phospholipase active site, and proceeds via an intermolecular mechanism. Autoproteolytic activation, which also takes place at the surface of nutrient-starved, sPLA(2) overexpressing hyphae, may strengthen and further control the effects of phospholipase up-regulation in response to nutrient deprivation, also in the context of symbiosis establishment and mycorrhiza formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Cavazzini
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Protein Engineering, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biosciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
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Sokolowska I, Ngounou Wetie AG, Woods AG, Darie CC. Automatic determination of disulfide bridges in proteins. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 17:408-16. [PMID: 22885790 DOI: 10.1177/2211068212454737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Precise determination of disulfide linkages between cysteine (Cys) residues in proteins is essential in the determination of protein structure. Therefore, a reliable automated method for the identification of disulfide bridges can serve as an important tool in the analysis of the tertiary structure of proteins of interest. Here, we describe the current and past methods used to identify disulfide bridges in proteins, with a focus on mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods and a particular emphasis on nanoliquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS)-based methods. We also show the development of an easy method based on the separation of disulfide-linked proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing and nonreducing conditions and selective in-gel digestion of proteins using reducing and nonreducing conditions, followed by analysis of the resulting peptide mixture by nanoACQUITY UPLC coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) Micro mass spectrometer (nanoLC-MS/MS). Data-dependent analysis (DDA) nanoLC-MS/MS and information-dependent analysis (IDA) nanoLC-MS/MS were used for random and targeted identification of disulfide-linked peptides. Finally, an example of electrospray-MS (ESI-MS) and ESI-MS/MS-based determination of disulfide-linked peptides is shown.
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Karthikeyan R, Karthigayan S, Sri Balasubashini M, Somasundaram S, Balasubramanian T. Inhibition of Hep2 and HeLa cell proliferation in vitro and EAC tumor growth in vivo by Lapemis curtus (Shaw 1802) venom. Toxicon 2008; 51:157-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2007.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2007] [Revised: 08/29/2007] [Accepted: 08/29/2007] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Karthikeya R, Karthigaya S, Balasubash MS, Vijayalaks S, Somasundar S, Balasubram T. Antitumor Effect of Snake Venom (Hydrophis spiralis) on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Bearing Mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.3923/ijcr.2007.167.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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12
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Karthikeya R, Karthigaya S, Balasubash MS, Vijayalaks S, Somasundar S, Balasubram T. Inhibition of Cancer Cell Proliferation in vitro and Tumor Growth in vivo by Hydrophis spiralis Sea Snake Venom. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.3923/ijcr.2007.186.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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13
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Karthikeya R, Karthigaya S, Balasubash MS, Vijayalaks S, Balasubram T. Histopathological Changes Induced in Mice after Inramuscular and Intra Peritoneal Injections of Venom from Spine-bellied Sea Snake, Lapemis curtus (Shaw, 1802). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.3923/jpt.2007.307.318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Mukherjee AK. Correlation between the phospholipids domains of the target cell membrane and the extent of Naja kaouthia PLA2-induced membrane damage: Evidence of distinct catalytic and cytotoxic sites in PLA2 molecules. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2007; 1770:187-95. [PMID: 17127009 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2006.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2006] [Revised: 09/28/2006] [Accepted: 09/28/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Two phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) enzymes (NK-PLA(2)-A and NK-PLA(2)-B) were purified from the venom of the monocled cobra Naja kaouthia. The molecular weights of NK-PLA(2)-A and NK-PLA(2)-B, as estimated by mass spectrometry, were 13,619 and 13,303 Da respectively. Both phospholipases were highly thermostable, had maximum catalytic activity at basic pH, and showed preferential hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. Intravenous injection of either PLA(2) up to a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight was non-toxic to mice and did not show neurotoxic symptoms. The N. kaouthia PLA(2)s displayed anticoagulant and cytotoxic activity, but poor hemolytic activity. Both the PLA(2)s were more toxic to Sf9 and Tn cells compared to VERO cells. NK-PLA(2) exhibited selective lysis of wild-type baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells compared to normal cells. Amino acid modification studies and heating experiments suggest that separate sites in the NK-PLA(2) molecules are responsible for their catalytic, anticoagulant and cytotoxic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashis K Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur-784 028, Assam, India.
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Debashish G, Malay S, Barindra S, Joydeep M. Marine enzymes. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2005; 96:189-218. [PMID: 16566092 DOI: 10.1007/b135785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Marine enzyme biotechnology can offer novel biocatalysts with properties like high salt tolerance, hyperthermostability, barophilicity, cold adaptivity, and ease in large-scale cultivation. This review deals with the research and development work done on the occurrence, molecular biology, and bioprocessing of marine enzymes during the last decade. Exotic locations have been accessed for the search of novel enzymes. Scientists have isolated proteases and carbohydrases from deep sea hydrothermal vents. Cold active metabolic enzymes from psychrophilic marine microorganisms have received considerable research attention. Marine symbiont microorganisms growing in association with animals and plants were shown to produce enzymes of commercial interest. Microorganisms isolated from sediment and seawater have been the most widely studied, proteases, carbohydrases, and peroxidases being noteworthy. Enzymes from marine animals and plants were primarily studied for their metabolic roles, though proteases and peroxidases have found industrial applications. Novel techniques in molecular biology applied to assess the diversity of chitinases, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia-metabolizing, and pollutant-degrading enzymes are discussed. Genes encoding chitinases, proteases, and carbohydrases from microbial and animal sources have been cloned and characterized. Research on the bioprocessing of marine-derived enzymes, however, has been scanty, focusing mainly on the application of solid-state fermentation to the production of enzymes from microbial sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghosh Debashish
- Environmental Science Programme and Department of Life Science & Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, 700 032 Kolkata, India
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Doley R, King GF, Mukherjee AK. Differential hydrolysis of erythrocyte and mitochondrial membrane phospholipids by two phospholipase A2 isoenzymes (NK-PLA2-I and NK-PLA2-II) from the venom of the Indian monocled cobra Naja kaouthia. Arch Biochem Biophys 2004; 425:1-13. [PMID: 15081888 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2004.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2003] [Revised: 02/11/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that venom from the Indian monocled cobra Naja kaouthia is a rich source of phospholipase A2 enzymes, and we purified and characterized a major PLA2 isoenzyme (NK-PLA2-I) from N. kaouthia venom. In the present study, we report the purification and biochemical characterization of a second PLA2 isoenzyme (NK-PLA2-II) from the same venom. A comparison of the membrane phospholipid hydrolysis patterns by these two PLA2s has revealed that they cause significantly more damage to mitochondrial membranes (NK-PLA2-I > NK-PLA2-II) as compared to erythrocyte membranes due to more efficient binding of the enzymes to mitochondrial membranes. Fatty acid release patterns by these PLA2s from the membrane phospholipid PC-pools indicate that NK-PLA2-I does not discriminate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids whereas NK-PLA2-II shows a preference for unsaturated fatty acids during the initial phase of attack. The current investigation provides new insight into the molecular arrangement of NK-PLA2-sensitive domains in erythrocyte and mitochondrial membranes and highlights the contribution of polar, but uncharged, amino acids such as serine and cysteine in NK-PLA2 induced membrane damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Doley
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784 028, India
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Doley R, Mukherjee AK. Purification and characterization of an anticoagulant phospholipase A(2) from Indian monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) venom. Toxicon 2003; 41:81-91. [PMID: 12467665 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-0101(02)00213-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
An anticoagulant, non-toxic phospholipase A(2) was isolated from the venom of Indian monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50 and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. This purified protein named NK-PLA(2)-I, had a subunit molecular mass of 13.6 kDa and migrated as a dimer under non-reduced condition in SDS-PAGE. NK-PLA(2)-I was a highly thermostable protein requiring basic pH optima for its catalytic activity and showed preferential hydrolysis of phosphotidylcholine. This protein exhibited higher anticoagulant, indirect hemolysis, liver and heart tissue damaging activity but exerted less toxicity, direct hemolysis, edema and lung tissue damaging activity as compared to whole venom. Treatment of NK-PLA(2)-I with rho-BPB, TPCK, PMSF, antivenom and heating had almost equal effect on PLA(2), and other pharmacological properties except in vitro tissue damaging activity. Current investigation provides a fairly good indication that NK-PLA(2)-I induces various pharmacological effects by mechanisms, which are either dependent or independent of its catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Doley
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, 784028, Tezpur, India
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Soragni E, Bolchi A, Balestrini R, Gambaretto C, Percudani R, Bonfante P, Ottonello S. A nutrient-regulated, dual localization phospholipase A(2) in the symbiotic fungus Tuber borchii. EMBO J 2001; 20:5079-90. [PMID: 11566873 PMCID: PMC125632 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/20.18.5079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Important morphogenetic transitions in fungi are triggered by starvation-induced changes in the expression of structural surface proteins. Here, we report that nutrient deprivation causes a strong and reversible up-regulation of TbSP1, a surface-associated, Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipase from the mycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii. TbSP1 is the first phospholipase A(2) to be described in fungi and identifies a novel class of phospholipid-hydrolyzing enzymes. The TbSP1 phospholipase, which is synthesized initially as a pre-protein, is processed efficiently and secreted during the mycelial phase. The mature protein, however, also localizes to the inner cell wall layer, close to the plasma membrane, in both free-living and symbiosis-engaged hyphae. It thus appears that a dual localization phospholipase A(2) is involved in the adaptation of a symbiotic fungus to conditions of persistent nutritional limitation. Moreover, the fact that TbSP1-related sequences are present in Streptomyces and Neurospora, and not in wholly sequenced non-filamentous microorganisms, points to a general role for TbSP1 phospholipases A(2) in the organization of multicellular filamentous structures in bacteria and fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Soragni
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, I-43100 Parma and
Centro di Studio sulla Micologia del Terreno (CNR) and Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Vialle Mattioli 25, I-10125 Torino, Italy Present address: Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0634, USA Corresponding author e-mail:
| | | | - Raffaella Balestrini
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, I-43100 Parma and
Centro di Studio sulla Micologia del Terreno (CNR) and Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Vialle Mattioli 25, I-10125 Torino, Italy Present address: Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0634, USA Corresponding author e-mail:
| | | | | | - Paola Bonfante
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, I-43100 Parma and
Centro di Studio sulla Micologia del Terreno (CNR) and Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Vialle Mattioli 25, I-10125 Torino, Italy Present address: Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0634, USA Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Simone Ottonello
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 23/A, I-43100 Parma and
Centro di Studio sulla Micologia del Terreno (CNR) and Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Vialle Mattioli 25, I-10125 Torino, Italy Present address: Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0634, USA Corresponding author e-mail:
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Li QB, Huang GW, Kinjoh K, Nakamura M, Kosugi T. Hematological studies on DIC-like findings observed in patients with snakebite in south China. Toxicon 2001; 39:943-8. [PMID: 11223082 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-0101(00)00232-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
To clarify the characteristics of the hematological disturbances evoked by snakebite, we measured the antithrombin III (AT-III) activity, alpha2-plasmin inhibitor (alpha2-PI) activity, fibrinogen concentration (Fg) and level of fibrin degradation products (FDP) in 21 patients envenomed by several snakes in south China between August 1998 and October 1999. The hematological changes observed were as follows: the mean activities of AT-III were decreased in patients bitten by Ophiophagus hannah (Oh.), Bungarus fasciatus (Bf.), Hydrophis cyanocinctus (Hc.), Rhabdophis subminiatus (Rs.), and Trimeresurus stejnegeri (Ts.), while those of alpha2-PI were decreased in all patients in the present study; Fg was not detectable in the case of Rs. bite, and the Fg concentration after Ts., Oh., Hc. and Bf. bites also decreased markedly thereby increasing the mean levels of FDP in all patients. It thus appeared that DIC-like syndrome was caused in patients envenomed by snakebite. In the present study, we found that patients who were bitten by Rs., which is still being classified as a non-venomous snake, exhibited complete defibrinogenation and severe hemorrhage without any evidence of severe multiple organ damage. We also found that patients with Ts. bite showed marked hemostatic disturbance without severe multiple organ damage. It is considered that such a discrepancy between the hematological findings and clinical symptoms could be a characteristic phenomenon of the DIC-like syndrome induced by snakebite, especially by Rs. and Ts. bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q B Li
- Section of Snakebite Research, Department of Emergency, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
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Ali SA, Stoeva S, Abbasi A, Alam JM, Kayed R, Faigle M, Neumeister B, Voelter W. Isolation, structural, and functional characterization of an apoptosis-inducing L-amino acid oxidase from leaf-nosed viper (Eristocophis macmahoni) snake venom. Arch Biochem Biophys 2001; 384:216-26. [PMID: 11368308 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.2000.2130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The enzyme L-amino acid oxidase (LAO) from the leaf-nosed viper (Eristocophis macmahoni) snake venom was purified to homogeneity in a single step using high performance liquid chromatography on a Nucleosil 7C18 reverse phase column. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 58734.0 Da, as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The N-terminal amino acid sequence (ADDKNPLEEAFREADYEVFLEIAKNGL) and the chemical composition of the purified LNV-LAO shows close structural homology with other L-amino acid oxidases isolated from different snake venoms. The secondary structural contents analysis of LAO, established by means of circular dichroism, revealed ca. 49% alpha-helix, 19% beta-sheet, 10% beta-turn, and 22% random coil structure. The purified LNV-LAO not only retained its specific enzymatic activity (73.46 U/mg), determined against L-leucine as a substrate, but also exhibited potent haemolytic (1-10 microg/ml), edema- (MED 4.8 microg/ml) and human platelet aggregation-inducing (ED50 33 microg/ml) properties. Unlike other haemorrhagic snake venom L-amino acid oxidases, the LNV-LAO does not produce haemorrhage. In addition to these local effects, the purified LNV-LAO showed apoptosis-inducing activity in the MM6 cell culture assay. After 18 h treatment with 25-100 microg/ml of LAO, the typical DNA fragmentation pattern of apoptotic cells was observed by means of fluorescent microscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Ali
- International Center for Chemical Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
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Ali SA, Abbasi A, Stoeva S, Kayed R, Dolashka-Angelova P, Schwarz H, Voelter W. Oxygen transport proteins: III. Structural studies of the scorpion (Buthus sindicus) hemocyanin, partial primary structure of its subunit Bsin1. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2000; 126:361-76. [PMID: 11007178 DOI: 10.1016/s0305-0491(00)00189-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The hemocyanin (Hc) from Buthus sindicus, studied in the native state, demonstrated to be an aggregate of eight different types of subunits arranged in four cubic hexamers. Both, the 'top' and the 'side' views of the native molecule have been identified from the negatively stained specimens using transmission electron microscopy. Out of these, eight different polypeptide chains, the partial primary structure (68%) of a subunit Bsin1 (Mr = 72422.7 Da) was established using a combination of automated Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. A multiple sequence alignment with other closely related cheliceratan Hc subunits revealed average identities of ca. 60%. Most of the structurally important residues, i.e. copper and calcium-binding ligands, as well as the residues involved in the presumed oxygen entrance pathway, proved to be strictly conserved in Bsin1. Sequence variations have been observed around the functionally important chloride-binding site, not only for the B. sindicus subunit Bsin1, but also for the subunit Aaus-6 of the scorpion A. australis and the subunit Ecal-a from the spider Eurypelma californicum Hcs. Deviation in the primary structure related to the chloride-binding site suggest that the effect of chloride ions may vary in different hemocyanins. Furthermore, the secondary structural contents of the Hc subunit Bsin1 were determined by circular dichroism revealing ca. 33% alpha-helix, 18%, beta-sheet, 19% beta-turn, and 30% random coil composition. These values are in good agreement with the crystal structure of the closely related Hc subunit Lpol-II from horseshoe crab L. polyphemus. Electron microscopic studies of the purified Hc subunit under native conditions revealed that Bsin1 has self aggregation properties. Results of these studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Ali
- International Centre for Chemical Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
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Ali SA, Alam JM, Abbasi A, Zaidi ZH, Stoeva S, Voelter W. Sea snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus venom. II. Histopathological changes, induced by a myotoxic phospholipase A2 (PLA2-H1). Toxicon 2000; 38:687-705. [PMID: 10673160 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-0101(99)00184-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A toxic phospholipase A2 (PLA2-H1), isolated from the venom of the sea snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus, was tested for its ability to induce myonecrosis and histopathological changes in albino rats and mice. Induction of myonecrosis was demonstrated by their ability to release creatine kinase (CK) from damaged muscle fibers and direct histopathological examination of the injected muscles (i.m.). PLA2-H1 exhibits intense myonecrosis characterized by the changes including, necrosis and edematous appearance with cellular infiltrate, vacuolation and degenerated muscle cells with delta lesions and heavy edema in between the cells. No myoglobinuria was noted in any group of animals. The purified PLA2-H1 was also administered intraperitoneally into the experimental animals and tissue samples were taken at several time intervals. Light microscopic examination of the kidney sections revealed severe damage, evident by focal tubular necrosis, complete disquamation of epithelial lining and epithelial degeneration of tubules in all test animals. Light micrographs of liver sections after 24 h of injection shows fatty infiltration in parenchyma and squashed hepatocytes, while after 48 h, fatty vacuolation of parenchyma in a generalized pattern was observed. Furthermore, sections of the lungs of the same group of animals (48 h) show dilated bronchia and marked infiltration of inflammatory cells within alveoli. Our results suggest that the purified PLA2-H1 induced moderate myotoxicity in muscles and mild histopathological changes in other vital organs without myoglobinuria.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Ali
- International Centre for Chemical Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
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