1. Autocatalytic acylation of phospholipase-like myotoxins
- Author
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Pedersen, J.Z., Lomonte, B., Massoud, R., Gubensek, F., Gutierrez, J.M., and Rufini, S.
- Subjects
Poisonous snakes -- Venom ,Toxins -- Research ,Biological sciences ,Chemistry - Abstract
Three phospholipase-like myotoxins, Bothrops asper myotoxin II, Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus K49 and Vipera ammodytes ammodytin L, can bind to long-chain fatty acids in a spontaneous autocatalytic reaction without the presence of calcium ions as cofactors. A phospholipase A2, with lysine or serine at position 49 in the active site instead of the expected aspartate residue, is found in several snake venoms. Membrane leakage is caused by these myotoxins through a unique cytolitic mechanism despite their lack of catalytic activity or calcium binding.These myotoxins are the first protein group that undergo acylation spontaneously with free fatty acids.
- Published
- 1995