The intriguing world of prothrombin activators from snake venom

Activation of prothrombin to mature thrombin occurs by the proteolytic action of the prothrombinase complex consisting of a serine proteinase factor Xa, and cofactors factor Va, Ca 2+ ions and phospholipids. Several exogenous prothrombin activators are found in snake venom. They are classified into...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicon (Oxford) 2005-06, Vol.45 (8), p.1133-1145
Main Author: Kini, R. Manjunatha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anticoagulant
Blood clotting
Calcium - metabolism
Enzyme Activation - physiology
Factor V - metabolism
Factor Va - metabolism
Factor Xa
Factor Xa - metabolism
Metalloproteases - metabolism
Phospholipids - metabolism
Procoagulant proteins
Prothrombin - metabolism
Prothrombin activator
Prothrombinase complex
Serine Endopeptidases - metabolism
Serine proteinase
Snake Venoms - enzymology
Snakes
Structure-Activity Relationship
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Summary:Activation of prothrombin to mature thrombin occurs by the proteolytic action of the prothrombinase complex consisting of a serine proteinase factor Xa, and cofactors factor Va, Ca 2+ ions and phospholipids. Several exogenous prothrombin activators are found in snake venom. They are classified into four groups based on their cofactor requirements. Group A and B prothrombin activators are metalloproteinases whereas group C and D prothrombin activators are serine proteinases. Group C prothrombin activators resemble the mammalian factor Xa-factor Va complex, while Group D activators are structurally and functionally similar to factor Xa. This review provides a detailed description of the current knowledge on all prothrombin activators and highlights several intriguing questions that are yet to be answered.
ISSN:0041-0101
1879-3150
DOI:10.1016/j.toxicon.2005.02.019