The effect of crude Cerastes cerastes gasperetti venom on the activity of key metabolic enzymes in cultured human fibroblasts.

Cultured human fibroblasts were used to study the effect of a crude extract of Cerastes cerastes gasperetti venom on the activity of a profile of key enzymes of metabolism. A single concentration of the crude venom was incubated with confluent fibroblasts established from six normal subjects for a period of three hours. A dramatic reduction in the specific activities of glucose and glycogen degradative enzymes was observed (23.7 +/- 3.9%, 36.3 +/- 8.7% and 71.1 +/- 5.7% of control for citrate synthase, glucose-6-phosphate and phosphofructokinase respectively). Furthermore, the specific activity of creatine kinase was doubled. No significant change in activity of three transaminases was noticed. Incubation of the same concentration of venom for the same period of time with serum did not result in any change in the activity of the enzymes studied. It is suggested that the cells mobilize stored phosphocreatine for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to compensate for the reduced rate of sugar catabolism. Furthermore, it is hereby suggested that the effects noticed on the enzyme activities are not directed at the enzyme protein itself, but are of mediated nature.