Biochemical characterization of fibrinogenolytic serine proteinases from Vipera lebetina snake venom.

Two glycosylated serine fibrinogenases isolated from Vipera lebetina venom have homologous N-terminal sequences and antigenic determinants but can be clearly differentiated according to substrate specificity, glycosylation levels, molecular mass and fibrinogen degradation. alpha-Fibrinogenase has no homolog among known serine proteinases. It has N-terminal similarity with snake venom arginine esterases but does not hydrolyze the esters of arginine, lysine and tyrosine. The enzyme has strong proteolytic activity and degrades alpha-chain of fibrinogen altering its clottability by thrombin. beta-Fibrinogenase is a typical arginine esterase which hydrolyzes esters and amides of arginine and attacks the beta-chain of fibrinogen.