Characterization of mucrotoxin A from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus (the Chinese habu snake).
Mucrotoxin A from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus was isolated in homogeneous form by a previously published method. Mucrotoxin A did not hydrolyze casein, however, when dimethylcasein was used as a substrate, the toxin cleaved the substrate. This toxin also hydrolyzed the oxidized B chain of insulin and fibrinogen. The sites of cleavage in the oxidized B chain of insulin were identified as Ser(9)-His(10), His(10)-Leu(11), Ala(14)-Leu(15), Leu(15)-Tyr(16) and Tyr(16)-Leu(17). The toxin digested the A alpha chain of fibrinogen first, followed by hydrolysis of the B beta chain. The fact that no fibrin clot formed indicates that the sites of cleavage in the A alpha and B beta chains of fibrinogen by the toxin must be different from those cleaved by thrombin. Mucrotoxin A produced systemic hemorrhage in internal organs such as the heart and stomach.
D000818:Animals; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D051379:Mice; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000494:pharmacology
D003435:Crotalid Venoms; C029748:Trimeresurus venoms; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases