Purification and properties of a proteinase from Vipera lebetina (snake) venom.

A proteinase from the venom of Vipera lebetina was purified by chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and CM-cellulose. The purified proteinase was homogeneous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and consisted of a single chain with molecular weight of 37,000 +/- 1500. The isoelectric point of the proteinase was over 10. The enzyme was active on casein but not on esters and amides of arginine. It split the oxidized insulin B-chain at the peptide bonds of Tyr16-Leu17, Phe24-Phe25 and Phe25-Tyr26, and glucagon at the bonds Tyr10-Ser11, Leu14-Asp15 and Leu26-Met27. The enzyme was inhibited by DFP and PMSF, and partially by soybean trypsin inhibitor, but not with EDTA.