A novel platelet glycoprotein Ib-binding protein with human platelet aggregation-inhibiting activity from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom

Platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) is a primary adhesion receptor and involved in platelet-related disorders. However, it is difficult to study GPIb-specific platelet stimulation using physiological ligands in vivo. GPIb-binding snake C-type lectins (snaclecs) are useful tools for exploring GPIb in vitro because they act on platelets differently. In the present study, a novel GPIb-binding snaclec, named jerdonibitin, was purified, molecular cloned and characterized from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it showed a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 25 kDa under non-reducing conditions and two distinct bands with apparent molecular weights of 15 kDa (α-subunit) and 13 kDa (β-subunit) under reducing conditions. The cDNA sequences of each subunit of jerdonibitin were identified and both deduced amino acid sequences were confirmed by N-terminal protein sequencing and trypsin-digested peptide mass fingerprinting of MALDI-TOF. Sequence alignment showed that jerdonibitin is a snaclec and has sequence similarity with TSV-GPIb-BP (a GPIb-inhibitory snaclec). Jerdonibitin dose-dependently inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ristocetin or low-dose thrombin, but not by high-dose thrombin. The GPIbα was detected by affinity chromatography on jerdonibitin. In vivo, jerdonibitin also dose-dependently induced thrombocytopenia of mice and platelet counts remained at very low level after 18 h intravenous injection. In summary, a novel GPIb-inhibitory snaclec was molecular cloned and characterized, which might provide insights into investigation of how GPIb-inhibitory snaclecs work and development of new antiplatelet agents.