cDNA cloning, structural, and functional analyses of venom phospholipases A2 and a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor from steppe viper Vipera ursinii renardi

Snake venom phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) display a wide array of biological activities and are each characteristic to the venom. Here, we report on the cDNA cloning and characterization of PLA2s from the steppe viper Vipera ursinii renardi venom glands. Among the five distinct PLA2 cDNAs cloned and sequenced, the most common were the clones encoding a basic Ser-49 containing PLA2 (Vur-S49). Other clones encoded either ammodytin analogs I1, I2d and I2a (designated as Vur-PL1, Vur-PL2 and Vur-PL3, respectively) or an ammodytoxin-like PLA2 (Vurtoxin). Additionally, a novel Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor for this venom species was cloned and sequenced. Comparison of these PLA2 and Kunitz inhibitor sequences with those in the sequence data banks suggests that the viper V. u. renardi is closely related to Vipera ammodytes and Vipera aspis. Separation of V. u. renardi venom components by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography showed the presence of many PLA2 isoforms. Remarkably, the most abundant PLA2 isolated was Vur-PL2 while Vur-S49 analog was in very low yield. There are great differences between the proportion of cDNA clones and that of the proteins isolated. Two Vur-PL2 isoforms (designated as Vur-PL2A and Vur-PL2B) indistinguishable by masses, peptide mass fingerprinting, N-terminal sequences and CD spectroscopy were purified from the pooled venom. However, when rechromatographed on cation-exchanger, Vur-PL2A showed only one peak corresponding to Vur-PL2B, suggesting the existence of conformers for Vur-PL2. Vur-PL2B was weakly cytotoxic to rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells and showed both strong anticoagulant and anti-platelet activities. This is the first case of a strong anticoagulating ammodytin I analog in Vipera venom.