Acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities in snake venoms

Abstract

1. 1. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities of eight different snake venoms were determined quantitatively by using synthetic substrates, o-carboxyphenylphosphate and p-nitrophenylphosphate respectively. 2. 2. It was found that most of Elapidae venoms investigated had both acid and alkaline phosphatase activities. 3. 3. Three Crotalidae venoms investigated did not show any alkaline phosphatase activity. 4. 4. The strength of venom acid phosphatase activity is as follows: Agkistroden acutus > Naja haje > Naja naja samarensis > Naja naja atra > Naja melanoleuca. 5. 5. The strength of venom alkaline phosphatase activity by using p-nitrophenylphosphate is in the order of Naja hannah > Naja haje > Naja naja samarensis > Naja naja atra > Naja melanoleuca. When o-carboxyphenylphosphate was used as a substrate, the order of enzyme activity is Naja hannah > Naja haje > Naja naja samarensis > Naja melanoleuca > Naja naja atra. 6. 6. Acid phosphatase activity of all the Elapidae venoms was inhibited completely by fluoride. The alkaline phosphatase activity of Elapidae venoms was not inhibited by fluoride either using p-nitrophenylphosphate or o-carboxyphenylphosphate. 7. 7. The acid phosphatase of all the Elapidae venoms was not inhibited by zinc ion. However, most of the venom alkaline phosphatases were inhibited by zinc ion. 8. 8. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) had inhibitory action on venom phosphatase activity. However, tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminoethane had a counter effect on the inhibitory action of EDTA. 9. 9. Optimum pH studies of the snake venom phosphatases showed that the acid phosphatases of the snake venoms had their highest activity in the range of pH 4–5. The alkaline phosphatases of the snake venoms had their optimum pH at 9. 10. 10. Comparable experiments were also conducted by using chicken intestine alkaline phosphatase and wheat germ acid phosphatase.