Received: April 3, 2003.  Accepted: October 10, 2003.  Published online: September 10, 2004.

PURIFICATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PHOSPHOLIPASESA2 FROM Bothrops asper(BARBA AMARILLA) SNAKE VENOM FROM CHIRIGUANÁ (CESAR, COLOMBIA)

Ramírez-Avila J.¹, Quevedo B. E.², López E.³, Renjifo J. M.¹

1 Serum Group, National Institute of Health (INS), Bogotá, Colombia, South America; 2 Faculty of Engineering, National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, South America; 3 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, South America.

ABSTRACT. Components with phospholipase A2 activity were isolated by gel filtration and cationic exchange chromatography from the venom of Bothrops asper snakes from Chiriguaná, Colombia (9°22´N; 73°37´W). Five fractions were obtained by the gel filtration, and PLA2 activity was found in fraction 3 (F3). In the cationic exchange chromatography, F3 showed eight components with PLA2 activity. Six of these components appeared as one band in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Fractions II and VII exhibited an optimal activity at pH 9 and 52ºC. The optimum calcium concentration for fraction II was 48 mM and for fraction VII, 384 mM. Both fractions showed thermal stability. Fraction II was stable at pH values between 2.5 and 9, and fraction VII, between 2.5 and 8. The Michaelis Menten constant (KM) was 3.5x10^-3 M for fraction II and 1.6x10^-3 M for fraction VII. The molecular weight was 16,000 Dalton for fraction II and 17,000 Dalton for fraction VII. Both isoenzymes did not show any toxic activity (DL50) at 5.3 and 4 mg/g. The two fractions showed different kinetic constant (KM), calcium requirement, and substrate specificity for haemolytic activity.

KEY WORDS: phospholipase, isoenzymes, snake, venom, Bothrops asper, Colombia 

CORRESPONDENCE TO: J. Ramírez-Avila, Avenida calle 26, N° 51-60, Bogotá, D. C., Colombia, South America. Phone: (571) 220-77-00, Ext. 485. Fax: (571) 222-34-68. Email: jramirezavila61@yahoo.com