Expression and characterization of a recombinant fibrinogenolytic serine protease from green pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) venom

Viper venom serine proteases (SPs) display several effects on hemostatic system. Molecular cloning showed that Trimeresurus albolabris venom comprised a mixture of five SPs with thrombin-like (2), fibrinogenase (2) and plasminogen-activating (1) activities. Because only few fibrinogenolytic SP sequences were reported, we decided to express albofibrase, a novel fibrinogenase from T. albolabris using Pichia pastoris system. The recombinant active form of enzyme was 30 kDa including 2.2 kDa of glycosylation. Albofibrase showed an α fibrinogenase activity. In addition, a plasminogen activating and clotting effect were detectable. Albofibrase prolonged APTT and PT in a time-dependent manner. The effect was neutralized by pre-incubation with equine antivenom to T. albolabris. Therefore, the protein is potentially useful as a new anticoagulant as the antidote is clinically available. Sequence analysis compared with other snake venom fibrinogenases and SPs could not find any unique residues responsible for their various effects. Structure-function relationship should be further studied using mutagenesis in order to explore the mechanisms of venom protease functional diversity.