Comparative study of three short-chain neurotoxins from the venom of Naja kaouthia (Yunnan, China)

Three short-chain neurotoxins named NT-I, NT-II, and NT-III were purified from the venom of Naja kaouthia, a snake distributed throughout the south of Yunnan province, China, by a series of chromatographic steps, including an FPLC Resource S column. Their molecular weights, determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS, were 6952.19 Da, 6854.92 Da, and 6828.80 Da, respectively. NT-I consisted of 62 amino acid residues, and the other two consisted of 61 amino acid residues, including 8 cysteines. After hydrolysis by endoproteinase Glu-C, their primary sequences were determined. A test of their activities demonstrated that they effectively inhibited muscle contractions induced by electric stimulation. Furthermore, the extent of inhibition caused by NT-II and NT-III was less than that of NT-I. The IC(50)s were 0.04 mug/ml, 0.20 mug/ml, and 0.23 mug/ml for NT-I, NT-II, and NT-III, respectively. Compared with NT-II and NT-III, the higher activity of NT-I may be a result of the amino acid residue substitution Ile36 to Arg36.

A novel disintegrin, jerdonatin, inhibits platelet aggregation and sperm-egg binding

A novel disintegrin, jerdonatin, was purified to homogeneity from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom by gel filtration and reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. We isolated the cDNA encoding jerdonatin from the snake venom gland. Jerdonatin cDNA precursor,;encoded pre-peptide, metalloprotease and disintegrin domain. Jerdonatin is composed of 72 amino acid residues including 12 cysteines and the tripeptide sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), a well-known characteristic of the disintegrin family. Molecular mass of jerdonatin was determined to be 8011 Da by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Jerdonatin inhibited ADP- and collagen-induced human platelet aggregation with IC50 of 123 and 135 nM, respectively. We also investigated the effect of jerdonatin on the binding of B6D2F1 hybrid mice spermatozoa to mice zona-free eggs and their subsequent fusion. Jerdonatin significantly inhibited sperm-egg binding in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no effect on the fusion of sperm-egg. These results indicate that integrins on the egg play a role in mammalian fertilization. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A novel high molecular weight metalloproteinase cleaves fragment F1 of activated human prothrombin

A hemorrhagic proteinase, jerdohagin, was purified from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatographies. It was a single chain polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 96 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE under the non-reducing and reducing conditions. Internal peptide sequencing indicated that it consisted of metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains and belonged to the class III snake venom metalloproteinases (class P-III SVMPs). Like other typical metalloproteinases, hemorrhagic activities of jerdohagin were completely inhibited by EDTA, but not by PMSF. Jerdohagin preferentially degraded a-chain of human fibrinogen. Interestingly, jerdohagin did not activate human prothrombin, whereas it cleaved human prothrombin and fragment F1 of activated human prothrombin. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Jerdonase, a novel serine protease with kinin-releasing and fibrinogenolytic activity from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom

A novel kinin-releasing and fibrin (ogen)olytic enzyme termed jerdonase was purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus jerdonii by DEAE Sephadex A-50 anion exchange, Sephadex G-100 (superfine) gel filtration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Jerdonase migrated as a single band with an approximate molecular weight of 55 kD under the reduced conditions and 53 kD under the non-reduced conditions. The enzyme was a glycoprotein containing 35.8% neutral carbohydrate. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of jerdonase was determined to be IIGGDECNINEHPFLVALYDA, which showed high sequence identity to other snake venom serine proteases. Jerdonase catalyzed the hydrolysis of BAEE, S-2238 and S-2302, which was inhibited by phenymethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), but not affected by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Jerdonase preferentially cleaved the Aalpha-chain of human fibrinogen with lower activity towards Bbeta-chain. Moreover, the enzyme hydrolyzed bovine low-molecular-mass kininogen and releasing bradykinin. In conclusion, all results indicated that jerdonase was a multifunctional venom serine protease.

Purification, characterization and biological activity of an L-amino acid oxidase from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom

An L-amino acid oxidase (TM-LAO) from the venom of Hunan Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus was purified to homogenicity by three steps including DEAE Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and Resourse Q ion-exchange chromatography. TM-LAO is composed of two identical subunits with a molecular weight of 55 kD by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight was different with that of LAO purified from the same species distributed in Taiwan that was 70 kD. The 24 N-terminal ammo acid sequence of TM-LAO is ADNKNPLEECFRETNYEEFLEIAR, which shares high similarity with other Viperid snake venom LAOs and has moderate similarity with Elapid snake venom LAOs. Further studies found that TM-LAO inhibited the growth of E. colt, S. aurues and B. dysenteriae. TM-LAO also showed cytotoxicity and platelet aggregation activity. All the biological activities were eliminated by catalase, a H2O2 scavenger. It shows that these biological effects are possibly due to the formation of H2O2 produced by TM-LAO.

A novel serine protease inhibitor from Bungarus fasciatus venom

By Sephadex G-50 gel filtration, cation-exchange CM-Sephadex C-25 chromatography and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a novel serine protease inhibitor named bungaruskunin was purified and characterized from venom of Bungarus fasciatus. Its cDNA was also cloned from the cDNA library of B. fasciatus venomous glands. The predicted precursor is composed of 83 amino acid (aa) residues including a 24-aa signal peptide and a 59-aa mature bungaruskunin. Bungaruskunin showed maximal similarity (64%) with the predicted serine protease inhibitor blackelin deduced from the cDNA sequence of the red-bellied black snake Pseudechis porphyriacus. Bungaruskunin is a Kunitz protease inhibitor with a conserved Kunitz domain and could exert inhibitory activity against trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase. By screening the cDNA library, two new B chains of beta-bungarotoxin are also identified. The overall structures of bungaruskunin and beta -bungarotoxin B chains are similar; especially they have highly conserved signal peptide sequences. These findings strongly suggest that snake Kunitz/BPTI protease inhibitors and neurotoxic homologs may have originated from a common ancestor. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

云南省蛇类新记录——菱斑小头蛇

介绍云南省绿春县气候及植被特点.对2008年5月在黄连山国家级自然保护区内采集的云南省蛇类新记录种--菱斑小夹蛇形态特征、生活环境进行描述,对其地理分布进行了讨论.

蛇毒Ⅱ类磷脂酶A2 功能分化的分析研究

研究蛇毒Ⅱ类磷脂酶A2 (PLA2 ) 中D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 的功能分化及其功能分化决定位点的鉴定。方法: 运 用序列比较分析, 进化树构建和DIVERGE v1104 软件计算研究D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 的功能分化情况及其分化位点。结果: 序列比较分析, 进化树构建和DIVERGE v1104 软件计算结果表明蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2 中D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 的确发生了功能分 化, 对于K49 PLA2 来说, 1S , 7K, 11Q , E12 , R34 , T56 , N88 , L92 , E108 , K116 , K128 可能为功能分化决定位点。对于 D49 PLA2 , L2 , G33 , G35 , F46 和Y118 可能为功能分化决定位点。结论: 我们首次通过序列比较分析, 进化树构建和DI2 VERGE v1104 软件计算鉴定出蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2 中D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 可能的功能分化位点, 为今后通过基因重组和定点突 变方法研究蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2 结构功能关系提供了线索。

Purification, characterization and primary structure of a chymotrypsin inhibitor from Naja atra venom

A chymotrypsin inhibitor, designated NA-CI, was isolated from the venom of the Chinese cobra Naja atra by three-step chromatography. It inhibited bovine (x-chymotrypsin with a K-i of 25 nM. The molecular mass of NA-CI was determined to be 6403.8 Da by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. The complete amino acid sequence was determined after digestion of S-carboxymethylated inhibitor with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and porcine trypsin. NA-CI was a single polypeptide chain composed of 57 amino acid residues. The main contact site with the protease (PI) has a Phe, showing the specificity of the inhibitor. NA-CI shared great similarity with the chymotrypsin inhibitor from Naja naja venom (identities = 89.5%) and other snake venom protease inhibitors. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence and the phylogenetic position of Achalinus meiguensis (Reptilia: Squamata)

The mitochondrial genome complete sequence of Achalinus meiguensis was reported for the first time in the present study. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. meiguensis is 17239 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA, and 2 non-coding regions (Control regions). On the basis of comparison with the other complete mitochondrial sequences reported, we explored the characteristic of structure and evolution. For example, duplication control regions independently occurred in the evolutionary history of reptiles; the pseudo-tRNA of snakes occurred in the Caenophidia; snake is shorter than other vertebrates in the length of tRNA because of the truncations of T psi C arm (less than 5 bp) and "DHU" arm. The phylogenic analysis by MP and BI analysis showed that the phylogenetic position of A. meiguensis was placed in Caenophidia as a sister group to other advanced snakes with the exclusion of Acrochordus granulatus which was rooted in the Caenophidia. Therefore we suggested that the subfamily Xenodermatinae, which contains A. meiguensis, should be raised to a family rank or higher rank. At the same time, based on the phylogenic statistic test, the tree of Bayesian was used for estimating the divergence time. The results showed that the divergence time between Henophidia and Caenophidia was 109.50 Mya; 106.18 Mya for divergence between Acrochordus granulatus and the other snakes of the Caenophidia; the divergence time of A. meiguensis was 103 Mya, and Viperidae diverged from the unilateral of Elapidae and Colubridae was 96.06 Mya.

Molecular phylogeography of endangered sharp-snouted pitviper (Deinagkistrodon acutus; Reptilia, Viperidae) in Mainland China

Using phylogenetic and population genetic approaches, the present study reports the phylogeographic structure of the sharp-snouted pitviper (Deinagkistrodon acutus), a threatened snake species with commercial and medicinal importance in China. The entire mitochondrial ND2 gene (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) sequences of 86 individuals of D. acutus from 14 localities across its range in China were determined. Based on the results of phylogenetic analyses, distribution of diagnostic sites, haplotype network, and AMOVA hierarchical analysis, an cast-west division of the whole D. acutus population could be observed. Geographically, a line formed by a lake, river, and mountain chain (the Poyang Lake, Gan River to the southern end of the Wuyi Mountains), results in vicariance and approximately vertically splits the range into two and the whole population into two main lineages (western and eastern). The bifurcating tree suggested generally west to east dispersal trend. The data fit the isolation by distance (IBD) model well. Star-like clusters in haplotype network, significantly negative values of Fs statistics, and unimodal mismatch distributions all suggest recent demographic expansions in four areas. The results show that isolation, dispersal, bottleneck, and expansion jointly constitute the history of D. acutus. In a haplotype network, the excessive predominance of central haplotypes, few medium-frequency haplotypes, predominance (73.1 %) of the singletons among the derived haplotypes, most of which are connected to the central haplotype by only one mutational step, unsymmetrical campanulate unimodal curve of mismatch distributions and leftwards shift of the peaks, all suggest that the whole D. acutus population is a young population with low genetic diversity. Based on the data, the first priority for conservation action should be given to the Huangshan unit. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

竹叶青蛇毒金属蛋白酶结构与功能的研究

出血性的蝰科蛇毒中含有丰富的蛇毒金属蛋白酶，本论文就竹叶青（Trimeresurus stejnegeri）蛇毒中的蛇毒金属蛋白酶的结构与功能进行研究。我们用生物化学手段从竹叶青（T.stejnegeri）的粗毒中分离纯化得到一个二聚体的P-IIIb亚型蛇毒金属蛋白酶，命名为TSV-DM。同时，用分子生物学方法从竹叶青（T.stejnegeri）的毒腺cDNA文库中克隆得到3个P-III型的蛇毒金属蛋白酶的cDNAs序列， 其中一个编码TSV-DM蛋白前体，另两个编码P-IIIc亚型的出血性蛇毒金属蛋白酶前体，分别命名为stejnihagin-A 和 stejnihagin-B。 经过阴离子层析和肝素亲和层析两步层析方法，我们从竹叶青（T. stejnegeri）蛇毒中分离纯化得到TSV-DM蛋白质，非还原条件下SDS-PAGE电泳表观分子量约110 kDa，还原条件下约为55 kDa。活性检测表明，TSV-DM降解牛纤维蛋白原Aα链快于Bβ链，且呈剂量依赖关系。但不降解明胶，不诱导出血，不具有促凝或者抗凝活性，以及不诱导或者抑制血小板聚集。蛋白质N-末端测序表明TSV-DM的成熟蛋白N-末端封闭。利用肽指纹图谱确证了TSV-DM的编码cDNA。TSV-DM的cDNA序列编码622个氨基酸残基的蛋白前体，包括信号肽、前肽、金属蛋白酶区域、间隔区、去整合素样区域和富含半胱氨酸区域。TSV-DM与其他P-III型蛇毒金属蛋白酶的一级结构序列比对发现TSV-DM和诱导血管内皮细胞凋亡的P-IIIb亚型蛇毒金属蛋白酶具有高度的同源性。但是用人脐带静脉血管内皮细胞系ECV304细胞作为靶细胞检测TSV-DM的诱导血管内皮细胞凋亡活性发现，TSV-DM只能抑制ECV304细胞的增殖和诱导细胞形态从多角形的内皮细胞向成纤维细胞样的梭形状改变。电泳检测抽提的片断化DNA以及流式细胞仪检测TSV-DM处理的ECV304细胞的DNA含量变化均表明TSV-DM不能诱导ECV304细胞的凋亡。 Stejnihagin-A 和stejnihagin-B是用PCR方法从竹叶青（T.stejnegeri）毒腺cDNA文库中克隆得到的两个P-III型蛇毒金属蛋白酶前体的cDNAs。这两个cDNA序列均编码600个氨基酸残基的蛋白前体，包括信号肽、前肽、金属蛋白酶区域、间隔区、去整合素样区域和富含半胱氨酸区域。推导成熟肽的氨基酸序列分析结果表明，stejnihagin-A 和stejnihagin-B不仅在一级结构序列上和来源于黄绿烙铁头（Trimeresurus flavoviridis）的HR1b具有高度同源性，高达79%， 而且在他们的金属蛋白酶区域的第100个氨基酸残基位置上均有一保守的半胱氨酸残基。结合序列比对和进化树的分析，我们推测stejnihagin-A、stejnihagin-B和HR1b有可能组成一个新的P-III型蛇毒金属蛋白酶亚型，命名为P-IIIc亚型。

菜花烙铁头蛇毒金属蛋白酶的研究

本论文结合生物化学与分子生物学手段对云南产菜花烙铁头蛇毒（几互刃eresrs户厂由刀打）的金属蛋白酶进行了系统深入的研究。从中分离纯化到两个新的蛇毒金属蛋白酶：二型蛇毒金属蛋白酶Jerdonit认和三型蛇毒金属蛋白酶jerdohagin。采用又卫PCR的方法得到了两个cDNA。通过蛋白质胰蛋白酶水解的内肚测序分析，其中一条为编码Jerdo址tin的，cDNA。序列分析发现，另外一条是一个含有RTS短链去整合素cDNA序列，命名为jerdos七atin，并对其进行了表达和活性鉴定。，Jerdonitin是一个表观分子量为为kDa的单链蛋白。它的c砚认全长1578bP，由金属蛋白酶、间隔区和去整合素区组成，说明它是二型蛇毒金属蛋白酶。但是与其它二型蛇毒金属蛋白酶不同的是，Jerdonitin的成熟蛋白由金属蛋白酶和去整合素结构域组成。与其它二型相比，Jerdonitin"多了两个半肤氨酸的（CysZ19andCys238）分别位于间隔区和去整合素区，Cys219可能和后面去整合素区的自由半眺氨酸残基Cys238形成一对二硫键，这对二硫键可能阻止了在后翻译加工过程中去整合素区的释放。通过Jerdonitin和其它二型蛇毒金属蛋白酶氨基酸序列比较和进化分析，结合天然蛋白结构数据，说明Jerdonitin是二型蛇毒金属蛋白酶的一个新亚型。和其它蛇毒金属蛋白酶一样，Jerdon九in是a一纤溶酶，并且它的活性都能被金属鳌合剂EDTA完全抑制，而不受丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂PMSF影响。像其独特的结构一样，Jerdonitin不仅具有纤维蛋白原降解的蛇毒金属蛋白酶活性，而且也有抑制ADP诱导的血小板聚集的非酶活性。Jerdohagin是一个表观分子量为96kDa单链蛋白。测定其内肤发现它有金属蛋白酶、去整合素样和富含半耽氨酸区组成，说明jerdohagig是三型蛇毒金属蛋白酶。像其它典型的蛇毒金属蛋白酶一样，jerdohagin的出血活性能完全被EDTA抑制，而不受R涯SF的影响。Jerdohagin是仪纤溶酶专一酶切人纤维蛋白原的。链。用氧化的胰岛素B链作底物，它可以水解仰r16一Leu17肤键。有趣的是，jerdohagin不激活人凝血酶原，但是它酶切人凝血酶原和凝血酶原激活后产生的激活片段F1。Jerdostotin的cDNA全长邹3bp，由信号肚、前肤和去整合素三个区组成，其与。btustotin和vieris七atin有较高的相似性（80％）。jerdostatin的序列是第一个报道的短链去整合素的cD以序列，它的产生机制和aCostatin一a有相似之处。值得注意的是，jerdostatin和obtus七atin八ipris，tatin不同的氨基酸残基（8／9）主要分布在含有整合素识别区的C末端。采用硫氧还蛋·白作为融合蛋白表达jerdostatin：，表达纯化后发现有两个j．erdostatin表达，，命名为：jerdo就。tin一1和'rjerdostotin一2。质谱分析显示它们的八个半肤氨酸都参与形成了四对二硫键，它俩可能是分别含有天然和非天然二硫键结构的多肚。但是jerdostatin一1的活性比rjerdostat还一2高两个数量级。和含有KTS的去整合素一样，重组jerdos七atin的异构体都选择性抑制整合素。lpl结合胶原IV，rjerdost就in一1的抑制活性分别是。b加stotin和viperistotill的1／1时和1／2500。氨基酸残基的组成不同尽管没有影响jerdost就in对整合素alpl的抑制选择性，但是它造成的化学环境不同可能导致抑制活性的差异。