BoaγPLI: Structural and functional characterization of the gamma phospholipase A2 plasma inhibitor from the non-venomous Brazilian snake Boa constrictor

PLoS One. 2020 Feb 27;15(2):e0229657. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229657. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Plasma in several organisms has components that promote resistance to envenomation by inhibiting specific proteins from snake venoms, such as phospholipases A2 (PLA2s). The major hypothesis for inhibitor's presence would be the protection against self-envenomation in venomous snakes, but the occurrence of inhibitors in non-venomous snakes and other animals has opened new perspectives for this molecule. Thus, this study showed for the first time the structural and functional characterization of the PLA2 inhibitor from the Boa constrictor serum (BoaγPLI), a non-venomous snake that dwells extensively the Brazilian territory. Therefore, the inhibitor was isolated from B. constrictor serum, with 0.63% of recovery. SDS-PAGE showed a band at ~25 kDa under reducing conditions and ~20 kDa under non-reducing conditions. Chromatographic analyses showed the presence of oligomers formed by BoaγPLI. Primary structure of BoaγPLI suggested an estimated molecular mass of 22 kDa. When BoaγPLI was incubated with Asp-49 and Lys-49 PLA2 there was no severe change in its dichroism spectrum, suggesting a non-covalent interaction. The enzymatic assay showed a dose-dependent inhibition, up to 48.2%, when BoaγPLI was incubated with Asp-49 PLA2, since Lys-49 PLA2 has a lack of enzymatic activity. The edematogenic and myotoxic effects of PLA2s were also inhibited by BoaγPLI. In summary, the present work provides new insights into inhibitors from non-venomous snakes, which possess PLIs in their plasma, although the contact with venom is unlikely.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Boidae / blood*
  • Bothrops / metabolism
  • Brazil
  • Crotalid Venoms / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Crotalid Venoms / chemistry
  • Group IV Phospholipases A2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Group IV Phospholipases A2 / chemistry
  • Molecular Weight
  • Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors / blood*
  • Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Snake Venoms / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Snake Venoms / chemistry
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Crotalid Venoms
  • Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors
  • Snake Venoms
  • Group IV Phospholipases A2

Grants and funding

Funded studies: C.F.B.R. - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001 K.M.Z. - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de São Paulo (FAPESP): 2017/16908-2 A.K.T. - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de São Paulo (FAPESP): 2017/20106-9 A.M.T.A. - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de São Paulo (FAPESP): 2018/25786-0. NO: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.