Abstract
A particular subgroup of toxins with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) structure, but devoid of this enzymatic activity, is commonly found in the venoms of snakes of the family Viperidae, and known as the PLA2 homologues. Among these, the most frequent type presents a lysine residue at position 49 (Lys49), in substitution of the otherwise conserved aspartate (Asp49) of catalytically-active PLA2s. A brief and updated overview of these toxic PLA2 homologues is presented, emphasizing their various biological activities, both in vivo and in vitro. The relevance of these bioactivities in relation to their possible adaptive roles for the snakes is discussed. Finally, experiments designed to assess the validity of such hypothetical roles are suggested, to stimulate future studies in this field.
Keywords: Snake, venom, myotoxin, phospholipase A2, Lys49 homologues
Protein & Peptide Letters
Title: The Phospholipase A2 Homologues of Snake Venoms: Biological Activities and Their Possible Adaptive Roles
Volume: 16 Issue: 8
Author(s): Bruno Lomonte, Yamileth Angulo, Mahmood Sasa and Jose Maria Gutierrez
Affiliation:
Keywords: Snake, venom, myotoxin, phospholipase A2, Lys49 homologues
Abstract: A particular subgroup of toxins with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) structure, but devoid of this enzymatic activity, is commonly found in the venoms of snakes of the family Viperidae, and known as the PLA2 homologues. Among these, the most frequent type presents a lysine residue at position 49 (Lys49), in substitution of the otherwise conserved aspartate (Asp49) of catalytically-active PLA2s. A brief and updated overview of these toxic PLA2 homologues is presented, emphasizing their various biological activities, both in vivo and in vitro. The relevance of these bioactivities in relation to their possible adaptive roles for the snakes is discussed. Finally, experiments designed to assess the validity of such hypothetical roles are suggested, to stimulate future studies in this field.
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Cite this article as:
Lomonte Bruno, Angulo Yamileth, Sasa Mahmood and Gutierrez Maria Jose, The Phospholipase A2 Homologues of Snake Venoms: Biological Activities and Their Possible Adaptive Roles, Protein & Peptide Letters 2009; 16 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986609788923356
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986609788923356 |
Print ISSN 0929-8665 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5305 |
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