Identification of proteins similar to Bothrops jararaca coagulation inhibitor (BjI) in the plasmas of Bothrops alternatus, Bothrops jararacussu and Crotalus durissus terrificus snakes.
Bothrops jararaca coagulation inhibitor (BjI), a protein isolated from B. jararaca plasma, specifically inhibits the coagulant activity of thrombin. Our group previously identified proteins similar to BjI in the plasma of other snakes [Tanaka-Azevedo, A.M., Tanaka, A.S., Sano-Martins I.S., 2003. A new blood coagulation inhibitor from the snake Bothrops jararaca plasma: isolation and characterization. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 308, 706-712.]. In the present study, we analyzed the presence of BjI-like proteins in the plasmas of three different species of viperid snakes, Bothrops alternatus, Bothrops jararacussu and Crotalus durissus terrificus. These proteins exhibited 109 and/or 138 kDa and were immunologically related to BjI. They also inhibited the coagulant activity of thrombin, evaluated by the thrombin time test. These findings demonstrate the presence of proteins similar to BjI in these three species, although such inhibitor could not be observed in all samples of the specimens tested. Moreover, the presence of these proteins in the plasma is related to prolongation of thrombin time, implying a relationship between these proteins and their inhibitory coagulant activity upon thrombin. Our results suggest that BjI-like proteins are widely distributed among Crotalinae snakes found in Brazil.
de Morais
Karen Batista
KB
Laboratório de Fisiopatologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP 05503-900 São Paulo SP, Brazil.
Fernandes Grego
Kathleen
K
Tanaka-Azevedo
Anita Mitico
AM
D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017837:Bothrops / Q000097:blood*; D017839:Crotalus / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013918:Thrombin Time
D001798:Blood Proteins; C477871:Bothrops jararaca inhibitor; D011506:Proteins