Vipera lebetina venom contains all types of snake venom metalloproteases.

Snake venoms contain four classes of metalloproteases that all have a typical zinc-chelating sequence (HEXXHGXXH). N-terminal sequences and internal sequences of different purified metalloproteases were determined using Edman sequencing and LC MS/MS technique. Oligonucleotides were designed and used as primers for cDNA cloning from Vipera lebetina venom gland cDNA library. We found that isoforms of fibrinolytic enzyme lebetase Le-4 and Le-3 are synthesized in different way: Le-4 is synthesized as P-I type metalloprotease, Le-3 is synthesized with disintegrin-like domain as P-II type protease and processed post-translationally. An endothelial cell apoptosis-inducing heterodimeric glycosylated metalloprotease, V. lebetina apoptosis-inducing protease (VLAIP), belongs to P-III type containing metalloprotease, disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains. All these enzymes hydrolyze the Aalpha-chain and more slowly the Bbeta-chain of fibrinogen. Treatment of HUVEC cells with VLAIP induces changes in the attachment of cells to the substrate and causes apoptosis. V. lebetina venom contains also P-IV type-specific coagulant factor X activator (VLFXA) that cleaves the Arg52-Ile53 bond in the heavy chain of human factor X. VLFXA is a glycoprotein composed of a heavy chain and two C-type lectin-like light chains linked by disulfide bonds. The heavy and light chains of VLFXA are synthesized from different genes.

Factor X activator from Vipera lebetina snake venom, molecular characterization and substrate specificity.

Our studies of the venom from the Levantine viper Vipera lebetina have demonstrated the existence of both coagulants and anticoagulants of the hemostatic system in the same venom. We showed that V. lebetina venom contains factor X activator (VLFXA) and factor V activator, fibrinolytic enzymes. VLFXA was separated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 superfine and ion exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose and on TSK-DEAE (for HPLC) columns. VLFXA is a glycoprotein composed of a heavy chain (57.5 kDa) and two light chains (17.4 kDa and 14.5 kDa) linked by disulfide bonds. VLFXA has multiple molecular forms distinguished by their isoelectric points. The differences in their pI values may be caused by dissimilarities in the respective charged carbohydrate content or in the primary sequence of amino acids. We synthesized 6-9 amino acid residues containing peptides according to physiological cleavage regions of human factor X and human factor IX. The peptides (Asn-Asn-Leu-Thr-Arg-Ile-Val-Gly-Gly - factor X fragment, and Asn-Asp-Phe-Thr-Arg-Val-Val-Gly-Gly - factor IX fragment) were used as substrates for direct assay of VLFXA. Cleavage products of peptide hydrolysis and the molecular masses of cleavage products of human factor X were determined by MALDI-TOF MS. The MALDI-TOF MS was highly efficient for the recovery and identification of peptides released by VLFXA hydrolysis. We can conclude that VLFXA cleaves the Arg(52)-Ile(53) bond in the heavy chain of human factor X and the Arg(226)-Val(227) bond in human factor IX precursor. VLFXA could not activate prothrombin nor had any effect on fibrinogen, and it had no arginine esterase activity toward benzoylarginine ethyl ester.

Proteases from Vipera lebetina venom affecting coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Our studies of the venom from the Levantine viper Vipera lebetina have demonstrated the existence of both coagulants and anticoagulants in the same venom. We showed that V. lebetina venom contains: (1) proteases that degrade fibrinogen, but not fibrin; (2) fibrinolytic enzyme (lebetase); (3) factor X activator (VLFXA); (4) factor V activator (VLFVA). Fibrinolytic enzyme and VLFXA are metalloproteases; the other studied enzymes are serine proteases. alpha-Fibrinogenase has no homolog among known serine proteases. Beta-fibrinogenase is a typical thermostable arginine esterase that hydrolyzes esters and amides of arginine and attacks the beta-chain of fibrinogen. Lebetase is a direct-acting fibrinolytic zinc metalloendopeptidase related in amino acid sequence to reprolysins. We used the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technique for the recovery and identification of peptides released by protease hydrolysis and for the detection of human factor X cleavage products after VLFXA hydrolysis. VLFXA cleaves the Arg(52)-Ile(53 )bond in the heavy chain of human factor X and the Arg(226)-Val(227) bond in human factor IX precursor; VLFVA cleaves Arg(1545)-Ser(1546) in factor V.

Adenosine-derived non-phosphate antagonists for P2Y(1) purinoceptors.

Novel type antagonists for P2Y(1) adenine nucleotide receptors were synthesized by coupling of adenosine 5'-OH group with oligo-aspartate chain via a carbonyl linker. All these conjugates (AdoOC(O)Asp(n), n = 1-4) inhibited the 2MeSADP-stimulated synthesis of inositol phosphates in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells stably expressing human P2Y(1) receptors. This inhibitory effect followed the rank order AdoOC(O)Asp(2)> AdoOC(O)Asp(3)> AdoOC(O)Asp(1)> AdoOC(O)Asp(4) with antagonistic constant pA(2) = 5.4 for AdoOC(O)Asp(2). Potency of this non-phosphate inhibitor was comparable with the previously known adenosine 3',5'- and 2', 5'-bisphosphates. Chemical and biological stabilities of these novel adenosine derived antagonists of the nucleotide receptor provide perspectives of their pharmacological implication.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis of substrate specificity of lebetase, a direct-acting fibrinolytic metalloproteinase from Vipera lebetina snake venom.

Lebetase is a direct-acting fibrinolytic zinc metalloendopeptidase related in amino acid sequence to reprolysins which include both hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic proteinases. Despite apparent structural similarities, fibrinolytic and hemorrhagic proteinases differ significantly in substrate specificity. In this study, we have examined the activity of lebetase I against biologically active peptides (bradykinin, kallidin, substance P) and 6-10 amino acid residues containing peptides synthesized according to cleavage regions of alpha(2)-macroglobulin, pregnancy zone protein (PZP) and fibrinogen. Lebetase was found to have no activity against studied hexapeptides. Surprisingly, the best substrates for lebetase were substance P, and peptide fragment of PZP, both were cleaved at position Pro-Gln. Identification of the hydrolysis products of 15 peptides by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis indicates that lebetase possesses broad substrate specificity. The MALDI-TOF MS technique was proven to be highly efficient for the recovery and identification of the peptides released by lebetase hydrolysis.

Identification of the reaction products of (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase in the marine sponge.

Previously we reported on the presence of a high (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase activity in the marine sponge Geodia cydonium [Kuusksalu, A., Pihlak, A., Müller, W. E. G. & Kelve, M. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 232, 351-357]. The presence of (2'-5')oligoadenylates [(2'-5')A] in crude sponge extract was shown by radioimmunoassay and by their HPLC comigration with authentic (2'-5')A oligomers. In addition, the sponge (2'-5')oligoadenylates displayed biological activity, as determined by inhibition studies of protein biosynthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysate. In the present study individual (2'-5')oligoadenylates synthesized by sponge enzyme were separated by HPLC. The exact composition of every oligonucleotide peak eluted was determined by matrix-assisted laser-desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis. The 2'-5' phosphodiester bond in oligoadenylates was verified by NMR analysis. Based on the high concentration of (2'-5')A oligomers in G. cydonium and their similarity with those found in mammals we propose that the (2'-5')A system is involved in a cytokine-mediated pathway and/or in a protection system against viruses, present in the marine environment.

Biochemical characterization of lebetase, a direct-acting fibrinolytic enzyme from Vipera lebetina snake venom.

Lebetase, the fibrinolytic enzyme isolated from Vipera lebetina (Levantine viper) snake venom is a metalloenzyme that contains one mole of Zn2+ and one mole of Ca2+ per mole of protein. Lebetase is inhibited by dithiothreitol, suggesting that disulfide bonds are necessary for holding the structure. Vipera lebetina venom contains several isoforms of lebetase in the interval of pI 4.6-5.4. Two lebetase fractions I (pI of the main component 5.0) and II (pI of the main component 5.3) degrade fibrin and fibrinogen by hydrolysis of the alpha and beta chains. The molecular weights of the cleavage products produced by the two different lebetase fractions are identical. The metal ions, Cd2+, Cu2+, Co2+, inhibit fibrinolytic and caseinolytic activity of lebetase I and II. Using mass spectrometry we characterized differences in molecular masses of lebetase I and II (22719 Da and 22912 Da). Vipera lebetina venom from a single snake contains mainly one form of lebetase. Lebetase I is more stable at low pH than lebetase II. The lebetases I and II inhibit platelet aggregation induced by ADP in a dose-dependent manner.

Isolation, properties and N-terminal amino acid sequence of a factor V activator from Vipera lebetina (Levantine viper) snake venom.

A factor V activator (VLFVA) was separated from Vipera lebetina venom by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 superfine, followed by chromatography on CM-cellulose and on heparin-agarose. This enzyme (VLFVA) with a molecular mass of 28.4 kDa, as determined by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, is a single-chain glycoprotein containing seven residues of neutral sugars, seven residues of hexosamines and three residues of neuraminic acid per molecule. The treatment with N-glycosidase F lowered the molecular mass approximately 6%. The N-terminal sequencing of VLFVA up to the 30th residue evidenced a high homology with Vipera russelli factor V activator RVV-Vgamma (90% identity). Aside from factor V, no other protein substrate for VLFVA has yet been identified. VLFVA hydrolyzes several synthetic arginine ester substrates, such as benzoylarginine ethyl ester (BAEE), tosylarginine methyl ester (TAME) and amide substrates such as Pro-Phe-Arg-MCA. The arginine ester hydrolase activity of the enzyme is markedly lower than that of the crude venom. The ability of VLFVA to activate factor V and its activity to BAEE and TAME were inhibited by the serine proteinase inhibitor, diisopropylfluorophosphate. VLFVA is thermostable protein, heating for 20 min at 70 degrees C does not alter the arginine esterase activity of the enzyme.