title: Snake venom L-amino acid oxidases.
abstract: L-amino acid oxidases are widely found in snake venoms and are thought to contribute to the toxicity upon envenomation. The mechanism of these toxic effects and whether they result from the enzymatic activity are still uncertain although many papers describing the biological and pharmacological effects of L-amino acid oxidases have appeared recently, which provide more information about their action on platelets, induction of apoptosis, haemorrhagic effects, and cytotoxicity. This review summarizes the physiochemical properties, structural characteristics and various biological functions of snake venom L-amino acid oxidases (SV-LAAOs). In addition, the putative mechanisms of SV-LAAO-induced platelet aggregation and apoptosis of cells are discussed in more detail.
authors.affiliation: Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Berne, Freiestrasse 1, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Clemetson
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D050830:L-Amino Acid Oxidase; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000201:enzymology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D012910:Snake Venoms; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D050830:L-Amino Acid Oxidase