Cloning and functional expression of secreted phospholipases A2 from Bothrops diporus (Yarará Chica)

Bothrops diporus is a very common viper in Argentina. At present, no complete sequence of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) from this snake has been reported. We have cloned two sPLA2 isoenzymes as well as a putative sPLA2-like myotoxin from venom gland. The two sPLA2 were expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli with an N-terminal tag of ubiquitin. After in vitro renaturation and cleavage step, using an ubiquitin specific peptidase, the recombinants exhibited sPLA2 activity when analyzed by means of Langmuir dilauroylphosphatidylcholine monolayers as substrate. Both enzymes have a similar surface pressure-activity profile when compared with non-recombinant purified isoforms. To our knowledge, this is the first time that analysis of optimal lateral pressure of substrate monolayers by using the surface barostat technique is performed on recombinant sPLA2s.

► sPLA2s and a putative myotoxin from Bothrops diporus were cloned for the first time.
► Active recombinants were obtained after specific cleavage of ubiquitin-sPLA2 fusions.
► This is the first time the ubiquitin peptidase system was used to obtain active sPLA2.
► Lipolytic action of recombinant sPLA2 was analyzed against lipid monolayers substrate.
► This is the first time that recombinant sPLA2 activity is analyzed by using Langmuir films.