title: Purification and characterization of arginine ester hydrolases from the venom of the Chinese habu snake (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus).
abstract: An arginine ester hydrolase (ME-5) was isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus by column chromatography on Sephadex G-100, CM-Sephadex C-50, DEAE-Sephacel and by isoelectric focusing, obtaining 1.4 mg of purified enzyme from 1 g of crude venom. The enzyme was homogeneous by SDS disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel at pH 8.3. ME-5 is a glycoprotein which possesses both TAME hydrolase and capillary permeability-increasing activity, but it did not show clotting or bradykinin-releasing activities. Its molecular weight is approximately 33,000 and its isoelectric point is 6.48. The enzyme is stable to heat treatment and to pH changes between 5 and 9. Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom contains five arginine ester hydrolases, designated as ME-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Three of the five (ME-1 , 4 and 5) are inactivated by DFP, suggesting that the serine hydroxyl group is involved in enzymatic activity. All five arginine ester hydrolases showed capillary permeability-increasing activity, but none of the enzymes showed clotting activity. Their amino acid compositions were determined and all appear to be unique and distinct from those of other snake venoms.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000378:metabolism; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000032:analysis*; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; C029748:Trimeresurus venoms; C019724:arginine esterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D001920:Bradykinin