METHODS: 5'-phosphodiesterase (5'-PDE) enzyme was characterized from adzuki beans, in which the optimum pH and temperature were determined. In addition, the stability of 5'-PDE was assessed at different pH and temperature. The effects of cations and EDTA were evaluated to characterize the 5'-PDE enzymes further.
RESULTS: The alkaline 5'-phosphodiesterase has an optimum pH of 8.5. This enzyme is also thermostable, with an optimum temperature of 80°C. The stability in terms of temperature and pH was also determined, and was found to be stable in the pH range of 7.0-8.5. This enzyme was found to retain more than 80% of its activity for 4 days at 60 and 65°C. In addition, the effects of 14 different metal ions, 4 types of detergents and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on 5'-PDE were studied. Ca2+, K+, Mg2+ and Li+ activated 5'-PDE while Na+, Zn2+, Ni+, Hg+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Fe2+, Al3+, Ba2+ and Co2+ were inhibitory. EDTA, Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were strong inhibitors of 5'-PDE, while Tween 80 and Tween 20 were slightly inhibitory. The effects of cations and EDTA suggest that 5'-PDE from adzuki beans is a metalloenzyme.
CONCLUSIONS: Although 5'-PDE from adzuki beans has a high temperature optimum of 80°C, the enzyme is more stable at 60°C, and different cations affected the activity of the enzyme differently.
OBJECTIVE: This review highlights some of the general characteristics of PDEs and focuses mainly on the Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs) of selected PDE enzymes. The objective is to review the role of PPIs in the specific mechanism for activation and thereby regulation of certain biological functions of PDEs.
METHODS: The article discusses some of the PPIs of selected PDEs as reported in recent scientific literature. These interactions are critical for understanding the biological role of the target PDE.
RESULTS: The PPIs have shown that each PDE has a specific mechanism for activation and thereby regulation a certain biological function.
CONCLUSION: Targeting of PDEs to specific regions of the cell is based on the interaction with other proteins where each PDE enzyme binds with specific protein(s) via PPIs.
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Comprehensive venom proteomes of D. russelii from different locales will facilitate better understanding of the geographical variability of the venom in both qualitative and quantitative terms. This is essential to provide scientific basis for the interpretation of differences in the clinical presentation of Russell's viper envenomation. The study revealed a unique venom proteome of the Pakistani D. russelii from the wild (Indus Delta), in which PLA2 predominated (~60% of total venom proteins). The finding unveiled remarkable differences in the venom compositions between the wild (present study) and the captive specimens reported previously. The integration of toxicity tests enabled the correlation of the venom proteome with the envenoming pathophysiology, where the venom showed potent lethality mediated through coagulopathic activity. The Indian VINS Polyvalent Antivenom (VPAV) showed binding activity toward the venom protein antigens; however the immunorecognition of small proteins and PLA2-dominating fractions was low to moderate. Consistently, the antivenom neutralized the toxicity of the wild Pakistani Russell's viper venom at moderate efficacies. Our results suggest that it may be possible to enhance the Indian antivenom potency against the Pakistani viper venom by the inclusion of venoms from a wider geographical range including that from Pakistan into the immunogen formulation.