Procoagulant proteins from snake venoms.
Several procoagulant proteins from snake venoms have been isolated and characterized. They are either serine proteinases or metalloproteinases, which activate specific zymogens of coagulation factors and initiate the coagulation cascade. These procoagulant proteins are useful in treating various thrombotic and hemostatic conditions and contribute to our understanding of molecular details in the activation of specific coagulation factors. Recent studies have shown that the prothrombin activators with serine proteinase activity are structurally and functionally similar to mammalian coagulation factors. Their structural studies should provide us insight into prothrombinase complex formation. Here, we present an overview of snake venom procoagulant factors.
Kini
R M
RM
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Block S2 Room 04-11, 14 Science Drive, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543. dbskinim@nus.edu.sg
Rao
V S
VS
Joseph
J S
JS
D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D003029:Coagulants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D003029:Coagulants; D012910:Snake Venoms