Protein C activators in snake venoms

Venoms of 32 snake species were tested for protein C (PC) activating potency. As measured with the chromogenic PC substrate D-Pro-L-Pro-L-Arg-pNA, eleven venoms were able to generate amidolytic activity from purified bovine PC. In five venom solutions (Bothrops moojeni, B. pradoi, Cerastes cerastes, Vipera lebetina and V. russellii) the PC activating potency was destroyed during 10 min heating at 70 degrees C at pH 3, whereas in six venom solutions (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix, A. c. mokasen, A. c. pictigaster, Agkistrodon piscivorus, A. p. leucostoma and A. bilineatus) the PC activator was stable under these conditions. PC activator from A. c. contortrix (Protac) was purified to homogeneity and characterized as a single chain polypeptide with a molecular weight of approx. 39-42,000 Dalton. Protac does not exert proteinase activity and is not inhibited by proteinase inhibitors; PC activation with Protac seems to be a stoichiometric reaction. The use of Protac in quantitative PC determination bears significant advantages over the use of thrombin as an activator. In rabbits, i.v. injection of Protac caused a prolonged APTT and did not provoke acute toxic reactions.