Purification and characterization of BmooAi: a new toxin from Bothrops moojeni snake venom that inhibits platelet aggregation

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:920942. doi: 10.1155/2014/920942. Epub 2014 May 29.

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the purification/characterization of BmooAi, a new toxin from Bothrops moojeni that inhibits platelet aggregation. The purification of BmooAi was carried out through three chromatographic steps (ion-exchange on a DEAE-Sephacel column, molecular exclusion on a Sephadex G-75 column, and reverse-phase HPLC chromatography on a C2/C18 column). BmooAi was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and shown to be a single-chain protein of 15,000 Da. BmooAi was analysed by MALDI-TOF Spectrometry and revealed two major components with molecular masses 7824.4 and 7409.2 as well as a trace of protein with a molecular mass of 15,237.4 Da. Sequencing of BmooAi by Edman degradation showed two amino acid sequences: IRDFDPLTNAPENTA and ETEEGAEEGTQ, which revealed no homology to any known toxin from snake venom. BmooAi showed a rather specific inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by collagen, adenosine diphosphate, or epinephrine in human platelet-rich plasma in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it had little or no effect on platelet aggregation induced by ristocetin. The effect on platelet aggregation induced by BmooAi remained active even when heated to 100°C. BmooAi could be of medical interest as a new tool for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bothrops / metabolism*
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Collagen / pharmacology
  • Crotalid Venoms / chemistry
  • Crotalid Venoms / isolation & purification*
  • Crotalid Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Epinephrine / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Crotalid Venoms
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Collagen
  • Epinephrine