ISSN:
1573-4943
Keywords:
snake venom
;
phospholipase A2
;
presynaptic neurotoxin
;
tryptophan modification of phospholipase A2
;
tryptophan modification of presynaptic neurotoxin
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Three phospholipases A2 purified from cobra venoms and two presynaptically acting neurotoxins that exhibit phospholipase A2 activity were subjected to tryptophan modification with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide. Associated with the modification of an increasing number of Trp residues were marked decreases in enzymatic activity and lethality, whereas antigenicity remained unchanged. The degree of exposure of tryptophanyl groups as determined by acrylamide quenching was consistent with the relative reactivity toward 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide, except for Hemachatushaemachatus phospholipase A2, which showed unusually high reactivity due to its characteristic dimeric conformation. Difference spectra of Trp-modified derivatives differed from those of their native enzymes by the presence of a new positive perturbation between 350 and 500 nm, with a maximum at 415 nm. Scatchard plots revealed only one type of binding site for Ca2+, and the binding abilities of the modified enzymes were not impaired. At pH 8.0, all native enzymes enhanced the emission intensity of 8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) dramatically, and the emission intensity of the ANS-enzyme complex increased or decreased in parallel with increasing concentration of Ca2+ for the respective enzyme. The Trp-modified derivatives did not enhance the emission intensity of ANS at all either in the presence or absence of Ca2+. By means of tryptophan modification, we were able to infer that the tryptophan residues are in the vicinity of the Ca2+ binding site and are directly involved in the binding with ANS. This, together with the suggestion that the hydrophobic pocket that interacts with ANS might be the site of binding of the phospholipase A2 enzyme with the substrate, suggests that the Trp residues in phospholipase A2 enzymes and presynaptic toxins are involved in substrate binding.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01040500
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