Myotoxic activity of a Gln-49 phospholipase A_2 from Agkistrodon blomhoffii ussurensis snake venom

摘要

A novel myotoxic protein phospholipase A_2(PLA_2), denoted as Gln49-PLA_2, has been isolated from snake venom of Agkistrodon blomhoffii ussurensis, which has weak lethal effect and apparent anticoagulant activity, but lacks the PLA_2 and hemorrha-genic activity. Gln49-PLA_2 obviously increases of plasma creatine-kinase (CK) upon intramuscular injection in mice, suggesting that it may induce a dose-dependent myonecrosis. Histological studies also reveal morphological changes in mouse skeletal muscles, including extensive myonecrosis, hemorrhage and neutrophil infiltration in the treated animals. The myotoxic ability induced by Gln49-PLA_2 can be partially inhibited by heparin.