Citrate is an endogenous inhibitor of snake venom enzymes by metal-ion chelation.

Citrate levels in selected snake venoms were determined by an enzymatic assay coupled to NADP+ reduction. Citrate concentrations in different viper venoms (n = 5) varied from 95 to 150 mM, in crotalids (n = 3) from 63 to 142 mM, and in elapids (n = 4) from 17 to 163 mM. In Bothrops asper venom Ca(2+)-ion concentrations varied from 2.5 to 3.6 mM, suggesting that the high relative citrate levels may serve to chelate endogenous divalent metal cations, thereby inactivating divalent cation requiring enzymes. Control experiments with B. asper phospholipase A2 MIII in the presence of 2.5 mM Ca2+, showed that the enzyme is completely inhibited by 20 mM citrate. Crotalus adamanteus 5'-nucleotidase and phosphodiesterase are also inhibited 100 and 75%, respectively, by 100 mM citrate. By forming complexes with divalent metal ions, citrate markedly reduces the activities of selected enzymes in snake venoms. Secretion of high concentrations of citrate may represent an important mechanism by which snakes protect themselves against the toxic effects of their own venoms.