title: Identification of novel serum proteins in a Japanese viper: homologs of mammalian PSP94.
abstract: Three small serum proteins (SSP-1, -2, and -3), with molecular masses of 6.5-10kDa, were isolated from Habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis) serum, and the amino acid sequences were determined by protein and cDNA analysis. Despite only limited sequence identity to any mammalian prostatic secretory protein of 94 amino acids (PSP94), all of the Cys residues in these SSPs were well conserved. SSPs are the first PSP94 family proteins to be identified in reptiles. SSP-1 and -3 weakly inhibited the proteolytic activity of a snake venom metalloproteinase. On the other hand, SSP-2 formed a tight complex with triflin, a snake venom-derived Ca(2+) channel blocker that suppresses the smooth muscle contraction. This suggests a role for SSP-2 in the self defense system of venomous snakes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1 Nanakuma, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Narumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Akie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakiyama
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deshimaru
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terada
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D017841:Trimeresurus / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; C043076:beta-microseminoprotein