ISSN:
1432-1432
Keywords:
Key words: Protein evolution — Snake venom — Surface accessibility — Natural substitutions — Toxin — Pharmacological effects
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract. Multiple phospholipase A2 (PLA2) isoenzymes found in a single snake venom induce a variety of pharmacological effects. These multiple forms are formed by gene duplication and accelerated evolution of exons. We examined the amino acid sequences of 127 snake venom PLA2 enzymes and their homologues to study in which location most natural substitutions occur. Our data show that hot spots of amino acid substitutions in this group of proteins occur mostly on the surface. A logistic model correlating the substitution rates of each amino acid residue with their surface accessibility indicates that the probability of natural substitutions occurring in the fully exposed residue is 2.6–3.5 times greater than that of substitutions occurring in buried residues. These surface substitutions play a significant role in the evolution of new PLA2 isoenzymes by altering the specificity of targeting to various tissues or cells, resulting in distinct pharmacological effects. Thus natural substitutions in PLA2 enzymes, in contrast to popular belief, are not random substitutions but appear to be directed toward modifying the molecular surface.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/PL00006450
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