Investigations of the interactions between human plasma proteinase inhibitors (PPI) and snake venom metalloproteinases will be continued. The bond cleaved during inactivation of human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (alpha 1-AC) by venom metalloproteinases will be established by structural studies of the reaction products. Detailed studies will be initiated, based upon the recent finding in this laboratory that opossum (Didelphis virginiana) PPI differ from known mammalian PPI and resist digestion by venom proteinases. These opossum PPI will be purified and characterized: oprin (opossum proteinase inhibitor), HTI (hemorrhagic toxin inhibitor), alpha1-PI (alpha1-proteinase inhibitor), alpha1-AC and TI (trypsin inhibitor). Inhibition of venom hemorrhagic toxins by HTI will be studied, and structural analyses will establish the reactive site of HTI and its relationship to known mammalian PPI. The antihemorrhagic factor will be isolated from Crotalus adamanteus serum, and studied in terms of inhibitor/enzyme complex formation with venom hemorrhagic factors. Resistance of opossum alpha1-PI to digestion by venom metalloproteinases under conditions in which human alpha1-PI is totally inactivated will be examined. Structural studies of opossum alpha1-PI will delineate the factors in the reactive site loop and amino-terminal regions which account for the resistance. Similar investigations will be done on opossum alpha1-AC. Cloning and sequencing of the cDNA's coding for oprin and HTI are in progress and will be continued. Investigations will be initiated, aimed at cloning and sequencing the cDNA's coding for two metalloproteinases from C. adamanteus venom, namely Proteinase H (the hemorrhagic factor from this venom) and Proteinase II (which inactivates human PPI). Deduced amino acid sequences will be compared with known protein sequences to homologous proteins, and to establish evolutionary relationships. The results with oprin and other opossum PPI will provide insights into the defense mechanisms involved in resistance to the localized and systemic effects of envenomation. The studies with HTI and snake serum antihemorrhagic factors will enhance understanding of mechanisms regulating localized hemorrhage. Structural analyses of the naturally occurring model (opossum alpha1-PI) will be applicable to the development, by genetic engineering of proteins-resistant human Alpha1-PI variants which may be of therapeutic use in diseases such as emphysema.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL022996-11
Application #
3337103
Study Section
Physiological Chemistry Study Section (PC)
Project Start
1978-04-01
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1988-09-01
Budget End
1989-08-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Buffalo
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14263
Gomis-Ruth, F X; Meyer, E F; Kress, L F et al. (1998) Structures of adamalysin II with peptidic inhibitors. Implications for the design of tumor necrosis factor alpha convertase inhibitors. Protein Sci 7:283-92
Bode, W; Kress, L F; Meyer, E F et al. (1994) The crystal structure of adamalysin II, a zinc-endopeptidase from the snake venom of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus. Braz J Med Biol Res 27:2049-68
Catanese, J J; Kress, L F (1993) Opossum serum alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor: purification, linear sequence, and resistance to inactivation by rattlesnake venom metalloproteinases. Biochemistry 32:509-15
Gomis-Ruth, F X; Kress, L F; Bode, W (1993) First structure of a snake venom metalloproteinase: a prototype for matrix metalloproteinases/collagenases. EMBO J 12:4151-7
Grams, F; Huber, R; Kress, L F et al. (1993) Activation of snake venom metalloproteinases by a cysteine switch-like mechanism. FEBS Lett 335:76-80
Catanese, J J; Kress, L F (1992) Isolation from opossum serum of a metalloproteinase inhibitor homologous to human alpha 1B-glycoprotein. Biochemistry 31:410-8
Kress, L F (1986) Inactivation of human plasma serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins) by limited proteolysis of the reactive site loop with snake venom and bacterial metalloproteinases. J Cell Biochem 32:51-8
Kurecki, T; Kress, L F (1985) Purification and partial characterization of the hemorrhagic factor from the venom of Crotalus adamanteus (eastern diamondback rattlesnake). Toxicon 23:657-68
Kruzel, M; Kress, L F (1985) Separation of Crotalus atrox (western diamondback rattlesnake) alpha-proteinase from serine proteinase and hemorrhagic factor activities. Anal Biochem 151:471-8
Catanese, J J; Kress, L F (1985) Enzymatic digestion of human plasma inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor by snake venom metalloproteinases. Comp Biochem Physiol B 80:507-12

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