title: Biochemical and pharmacological screening of snake (Bothrops) venoms: characterization of components acting on blood coagulation and platelet aggregation.
abstract: Six venoms from snakes of the genus Bothrops were tested for coagulation, platelet aggregation and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. Almost all showed pro-coagulant and PLA2 activities while pro-aggregating properties were found only for some venoms. Bothrops jararaca venom showed different protein peaks associated with these activities. The pro-aggregating activity was inhibited by EDTA, leupeptin and mepacrine while the PLA2 activity was blocked by p-bromophenacyl bromide and 2-mercaptoethanol. Venom screening tests for clotting and platelet aggregation may represent a valuable tool for snake taxonomy and for monitoring the quality of antisera.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zingali
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Francischetti
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Carlini
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D010740:Phospholipases; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2