Purification and characterization of low molecular weight fibrinolytic/hemorrhagic enzymes from snake (Bothrops jararaca) venom.

Two low molecular weight fibrinolytic/hemorrhagic enzymes, jararafibrase III and jararafibrase IV, were purified from Bothrops jararaca venom using a fast protein liquid chromatography system. The purified jararafibrase III and jararafibrase IV were single chain proteins with molecular weights of 20,400 +/- 500 and 21,200 +/- 400, respectively, by SDS-PAGE. The isoelectric points of jararafibrase III and jararafibrase IV were 9.4 and 6.9, respectively. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline and EDTA, suggesting that both enzymes were metalloproteinases. The specific fibrinolytic activities of jararafibrase III and jararafibrase IV were 7.5 +/- 0.4 and 6.5 +/- 1.6 units/mg protein, respectively. The enzymes induced local hemorrhage in the skin of rats. The minimal hemorrhagic doses of jararafibrase III and IV were 31.0 and 34.0 micrograms/rat, respectively. The enzymes displayed broad substrate specificities like the previously purified jararafibrases I and II. Jararabrases III and IV degraded type-IV collagen, gelatin, laminin and fibronectin into smaller fragments. The specific activities of jararafibrase III for type-IV collagen and gelatin were 7.6 +/- 0.3 and 43 +/- 11 units/mg protein, respectively. The specific activities of jararafibrase IV for type IV-collagen and gelatin were 16.5 +/- 1.2 and 112 +/- 9 units/mg protein, respectively.