The effect of Walterinnesia aegyptia venom proteins on TCA cycle activity and mitochondrial NAD(+)-redox state in cultured human fibroblasts

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:738147. doi: 10.1155/2015/738147. Epub 2015 Feb 1.

Abstract

Fibroblast cultures were used to study the effects of crude Walterinnesia aegyptia venom and its F1-F7 protein fractions on TCA cycle enzyme activities and mitochondrial NAD-redox state. Confluent cells were incubated with 10 μg of venom proteins for 4 hours at 37°C. The activities of all studied TCA enzymes and the non-TCA mitochondrial NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase underwent significant reductions of similar magnitude (50-60% of control activity) upon incubation of cells with the crude venom and fractions F4, F5, and F7 and 60-70% for fractions F3 and F6. In addition, the crude and fractions F3-F7 venom proteins caused a drop in mitochondrial NAD(+) and NADP(+) levels equivalent to around 25% of control values. Whereas the crude and fractions F4, F5, and F7 venom proteins caused similar magnitude drops in NADH and NADPH (around 55% of control levels), fractions F3 and F6 caused a more drastic drop (60-70% of control levels) of both reduced coenzymes. Results indicate that the effects of venom proteins could be directed at the mitochondrial level and/or the rates of NAD(+) and NADP(+) biosynthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Citric Acid Cycle / drug effects*
  • Elapidae
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • NAD / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects*
  • Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Snake Venoms / administration & dosage*
  • Snake Venoms / chemistry

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Snake Venoms
  • NAD