title: A direct-acting fibrinolytic enzyme from the venom of Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix: effects on various components of the human blood coagulation and fibrinolysis systems.
abstract: A direct acting fibrinolytic enzyme (fibrolase) has been isolated from venom of the southern copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix). Time-course experiments established that the venom enzyme cleaves primarily the A alpha-chain of human fibrinogen and fibrin between the Lys-413 and Leu-414 position. The B beta-chain is cleaved more slowly, while the gamma-chain is minimally affected. The cleavage pattern of fibrinogen and fibrin clearly varies from plasmin cleavage of the same molecules. The enzyme does not activate plasminogen or protein c and it is thus different from "Protac", a protein c activator isolated from the same venom.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Retzios
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Markland
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D011486:Protein C; D005340:Fibrinogen; D010958:Plasminogen; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C058789:fibrolase