Phylogenetic conservation of a snake venom metalloproteinase epitope recognized by a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes hemorrhagic activity

Toxicon. 2003 Dec;42(7):809-16. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2003.10.011.

Abstract

Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are present in large quantities in venoms of viper snakes and also in some elapids. Jararhagin is a representative of a P-III multidomain hemorrhagic SVMP present in Bothrops jararaca venom. It is comprised of a catalytic, a disintegrin-like and a cysteine-rich domain. Seven anti-jararhagin monoclonal antibodies (MAJar 1-7) were produced, of which six reacted with the disintegrin domain. MAJar 3 recognized an epitope present at the C-terminal part of the disintegrin-like domain, and neutralized jararhagin-induced hemorrhage. In this study, we evaluated the reactivity of these monoclonal antibodies with venoms from 27 species of snakes belonging to different families. MAJar 3 recognized most of the hemorrhagic venoms. By ELISA, MAJar 3 reacted strongly with venoms from Viperidae family and weakly with Colubridae and Elapidae venoms. This recognition pattern was due to bands between 50 and 80 kDa, corresponding to P-III SVMPs. This antibody preferentially neutralized the hemorrhage induced by venoms of Bothrops snakes. This fact suggests that the epitope recognized by MAJar 3 is present in other metalloproteinases throughout snake phylogeny. However, slight structural differences in the epitope may result in insufficient affinity for neutralization of biological activities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bothrops / classification*
  • Bothrops / genetics
  • Bothrops / immunology
  • Bothrops jararaca Venom
  • Colubridae / genetics
  • Colubridae / immunology
  • Crotalid Venoms / chemistry
  • Crotalid Venoms / enzymology
  • Crotalid Venoms / genetics
  • Crotalid Venoms / immunology*
  • Crotalid Venoms / toxicity
  • Elapidae / genetics
  • Elapidae / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / immunology*
  • Hemorrhage / prevention & control
  • Metalloendopeptidases / chemistry
  • Metalloendopeptidases / genetics
  • Metalloendopeptidases / immunology
  • Metalloproteases / chemistry
  • Metalloproteases / genetics
  • Metalloproteases / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Viperidae / genetics
  • Viperidae / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Crotalid Venoms
  • Epitopes
  • Metalloproteases
  • Metalloendopeptidases