Endogenous phospholipase A₂ inhibitors in snakes: a brief overview

Patrícia Cota Campos^1, Lutiana Amaral de Melo^1, Gabriel Latorre Fortes Dias^1, Consuelo Latorre Fortes Dias¹ 

 

1 Laboratory of Enzymology, Center of Research and Development, Ezequiel Dias Foundation (FUNED), Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro, 80, Gameleira, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30510-010, Brazil

 

ABSTRACT

The blood plasma of numerous snake species naturally comprises endogenous phospholipase A₂ inhibitors, which primarily neutralize toxic phospholipases A₂ that may eventually reach their circulation. This inhibitor type is generally known as snake blood phospholipase A₂ inhibitors (sbPLIs). Most, if not all sbPLIs are oligomeric glycosylated proteins, although the carbohydrate moiety may not be essential for PLA₂ inhibition in every case. The presently known sbPLIs belong to one of three structural classes – namely sbαPLI, sbβPLI or sbγPLI – depending on the presence of characteristic C-type lectin-like domains, leucine-rich repeats or three-finger motifs, respectively. Currently, the most numerous inhibitors described in the literature are sbαPLIs and sbγPLIs, whereas sbβPLIs are rare. When the target PLA₂ is a Lys49 homolog or an Asp49 myotoxin, the sbPLI is denominated a myotoxin inhibitor protein (MIP). In this brief overview, the most relevant data on sbPLIs will be presented. Representative examples of sbαPLIs and sbγPLIs from two Old World – Gloydius brevicaudus and Malayopython reticulatus – and two New World – Bothrops alternatus and Crotalus durissus terrificus – snake species will be emphasized.

 

Key words: PLA₂ inhibitor; Phospholipase A₂; Snake blood; Natural resistance; Snakes

 

Funding

The present study was funded by CAPES (Edital Toxinologia 063/2010, Process no. 230.38.006280/2011-07, AUXPE 1810/11), FAPEMIG, and CNPq/FAPESP through the National Institute of Science and Technology in Toxins (INCTTox). FAPEMIG granted productivity fellowships to CLFD, PCC and LAM. GLFD is an undergraduate student of Chemical Engineering at the Pontifical University of Minas Gerais (PUC/Minas) granted a scientific initiation fellowship from FAPEMIG (Program PIBIC/FAPEMIG/FUNED).

 

 

Correspondence: consuelo.latorre@funed.mg.gov.br

 

Authors’ contributions

PCC and LAM equally contributed to this review. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

 

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.