Purification and characterization of bitiscetin, a novel von Willebrand factor modulator protein from Bitis arietans snake venom

Jiharu Hamako, Taei Matsui, Masami Suzuki, Masayuki Ito, Kaori Makita, Yoshihiro Fujimura, Yasuhiro Ozeki, Koiti Titani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have screened 20 snake venoms and purified a novel snake venom protein, named bitiscetin, from Bitis arietans venom that specifically binds to human von Willebrand factor (vWF) and induces platelet agglutination. Bitiscetin showed a heterodimeric structure composed of disulfide-linked α (16 kDa) and β (13 kDa) subunits on SDS-PAGE and showed a basic nature with pI value of 9.1, in contrast to botrocetin (pI 4.6), a vWF modulator isolated from another snake (Bothrops jararaca) venom. Bitiscetin-induced platelet agglutination was dependent on vWF and platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib, but not on Ca2+ and GPIIb/IIIa. vWF bound to bitiscetin but not to botrocetin electroblotted to a PVDF membrane after SDS-PAGE and this binding was diminished after reduction of disulfide bonds of bitiscetin. Bitiscetin did not cross-react to anti-botrocetin monoclonal antibodies. These results suggest that bitiscetin directly interacts with vWF and requires the protein conformation for its interaction as well as botrocetin, but its interaction manner with vWF appears to be different from that of botrocetin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)273-279
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume226
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 04-09-1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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