Peptide T, a novel bradykinin potentiator isolated from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom.

A bradykinin-potentiating peptide was isolated and characterized from venom of the scorpion Tityus serrulatus by chromatographic techniques followed by biological assays. The complete amino acid sequence (13 residues) of peptide is presented. The peptide potentiated the contractile activity of bradykinin on the isolated guinea-pig ileum, and inhibited the hydrolysis of bradykinin by angiotensin-converting enzyme from B. jararaca plasma and the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II by kininase II from guinea-pig ileum tissue. The peptide also increased the depressor effect of bradykinin on arterial blood pressure in the anaesthetized rat.

A new bradykinin-potentiating peptide (peptide P) isolated from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu (jararacuçu tapete, urutu dourado).

Several bradykinin potentiators were identified in the venom of Bothrops jararacussu by chromatographic techniques and biological assays. One of them which was isolated inhibited the angiotensin-converting enzyme in vitro and potentiated the bradykinin-induced lowering of the arterial pressure in the rat.

Antivenom and biological effects of ar-turmerone isolated from Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae)

A potent antivenom against snakebite was isolated from Curcuma longa, a plant commonly used in traditional Brazilian medicine. The fraction consisting of ar-turmerone neutralized both the hemorrhagic activity present in Bothrops jararaca venom, and the lethal effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in mice. Immunological studies demonstrated that this fraction also inhibited the proliferation and the natural killer activity of human lymphocytes.

Kallikrein isolated from commercial crystalline pepsin preparations.

1. An experiment designed to study the relationship between pH and kininogenase activity of three commercial preparations of porcine crystallized pepsin showed that each preparation had two well separated pH optima, pH 4 and 8. 2. From the inhibition spectrum of the pH 8 kininogenase it was concluded that it is a kallikrein of the glandular type, since it proved to be a serine protease and was insensitive to protein trypsin inhibitors. 3. Kallikrein activity can be separated from pepsin by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-4B-Pro-Phe-agmatine. This separation permitted us to obtain purified material with kallikrein specific activity 43 times higher than that of crude pepsin and which showed a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 4. The kallikrein activity was found to have a molecular weight of 36 kDal and a Michaelis constant of 25 microM when acting on Bz-Pro-Phe-Arg-p-nitroanilide at pH 8.6. 5. On the basis of these properties, kallikrein from commercial pepsin resembles the kallikreins previously described from rat or human stomach.

Isolation of a bradykinin-potentiating factor from scorpion Tityus serrulatus venom.

A bradykinin-potentiating factor was isolated and characterized from the scorpion Tityus serrulatus venom by chromatographic techniques and reverse phase followed by biological assays. This factor showed to be able to potentiate the contractile activity of the isolated guinea-pig ileum, inhibited the angiotensin-converting enzyme and potentiated the bradykinin-induced lowering of the arterial blood pressure in the rat.

[Purification of kininogen II (LMW) from human plasma]. / Purificacion del quininogeno II (LMW) del plasma humano.

Plasma supernatant in which kallikrein has been activated and removed by glass powder whilst kininogen I (HMW) has been consumed by the activated kallikrein, was used for the preparation of kininogen II. It was purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose followed by gel filtration on G-200 Sephadex. The purification of kininogen II was assessed from determinations of the amount of kinin released (expressed as bradykinin) as measured on the isolated guinea pig ileum, using samples incubated with human salivary kallikrein or trypsin. A preparation of kininogen II containing an activity equivalent to 8 microgram Br/mg protein, was obtained. Salivary kallikrein released approximately three times more kinin from the substrate as compared to trypsin.

[Purification and enzyme study of kininogens I and II from human plasma]. / Purificacion y estudio enzimatico de los quininogenos I y II del plasma humano.

Kininogens I (HMW) and II (LMW) were isolated and partially purified from human plasma. The disappearance of kininogen I was prevented by the use of hexadimethrine bromide, which inhibits the activation of plasma prekallikrein. The two kininogens were separated by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Further purification of kininogen I and II was achieved by separate chromatographic steps of the partially purified kininogens on SP-Sephadex. The purification of the kininogens was controlled by incubation of the respective samples with different kininogenases: human plasma kallikrein, human salivary kallikrein and trypsin. As determined by gel filtration, a molecular weight of 250 000 daltons was found for kininogen I (HMW) and 48 000 daltons for kininogen II (LMW).

Isolation and properties of a T-kininogenase from bovine erythrocyte membranes.

A kininogenase from bovine erythrocyte membranes has been purified 140-fold by affinity chromatography on pepstatin A-Agarose followed by ion exchange chromatography on CM Cellulose. The purified enzyme showed an apparent molecular weight of 31,000 daltons as measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its pH optimum is 7.5, and it was totally inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor, phenylmethyl-sulfonylfluoride, aprotinin, pepstatin, and dithiotreitol, suggesting the presence of a disulfide bond(s) whose integrity is(are) essential for maintaining the native three-dimensional structure. The referred enzyme was able to release kinin from a substrate partially purified from rat plasma. The kininogenase was activated by Zn2+, Ca2+, and cysteine-HCl.