Crystal structure of a myotoxic Asp49-phospholipase A(2) with low catalytic activity: Insights into Ca(2+)-independent catalytic mechanism.
Correa, L.C., Marchi-Salvador, D.P., Cintra, A.C., Sampaio, S.V., Soares, A.M., Fontes, M.R.(2008) Biochim Biophys Acta 1784: 591-599
- PubMed: 18261474 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2008.01.007
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2OQD - PubMed Abstract: 
A myotoxic Asp49-phospholipase A2 (Asp49-PLA2) with low catalytic activity (BthTX-II from Bothrops jararacussu venom) was crystallized and the molecular-replacement solution has been obtained with a dimer in the asymmetric unit. The quaternary structure of BthTX-II resembles the myotoxic Asp49-PLA2 PrTX-III (piratoxin III from B. pirajai venom) and all non-catalytic and myotoxic dimeric Lys49-PLA2S. Despite of this, BthTX-II is different from the highly catalytic and non-myotoxic BthA-I (acidic PLA2 from B. jararacussu) and other Asp49-PLA2S. BthTX-II structure showed a severe distortion of calcium-binding loop leading to displacement of the C-terminal region. Tyr28 side chain, present in this region, is in an opposite position in relation to the same residue in the catalytic activity Asp49-PLA2S, making a hydrogen bond with the atom O delta 2 of the catalytically active Asp49, which should coordinate the calcium. This high distortion may also be confirmed by the inability of BthTX-II to bind Na+ ions at the Ca2+-binding loop, despite of the crystallization to have occurred in the presence of this ion. In contrast, other Asp49-PLA2S which are able to bind Ca2+ ions are also able to bind Na+ ions at this loop. The comparison with other catalytic, non-catalytic and inhibited PLA2S indicates that the BthTX-II is not able to bind calcium ions; consequently, we suggest that its low catalytic function is based on an alternative way compared with other PLA2S.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Departamento de Física e Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil.