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ABSTRACT: A phospholipase A(2) purified from the venom of Naja kaouthia (Guangxi cobra) exhibits anticoagulant activities. The structures of two crystal forms were determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.8A resolution with the Naja naja (India cobra) PLA(2) as an initial model. The enzyme exhibits a trimer structure, which is similar to that of India cobra PLA(2). This reinforces the physiological relevance of the oligomer. The trimer has a wide cavity, which allows the substrate to enter and interact with the catalytic site. The formation of the trimer may serve as a storage method to improve the solubility at high concentration in the venom gland. The Ca2+ binding loop in the absence of the cation can exist in different conformations depending on its surroundings.
Toxicon 08/2002; 40(7):917-22. · 2.51 Impact Factor
