Enediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) but not by p-amidinophenyl methanesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (APMSF). The molecular mass of okinalysin was 22,202 Da measured by MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry. The primary structure of okinalysin was partially determined by Edman sequencing, and the putative zinc-binding domain HEXXHXXGXXH was found to become present in its structure. From these data, okinalysin is defined as a metalloproteinase belonging to a P-I class. The partial amino acid sequence of okinalysin was homologous for the C-terminus of MP ten, a putative metalloproteinase induced from transcriptome from the venom gland cDNA sequencing of O. okinavensis. Okinalysin possessed cytotoxic activity on cultured endothelial cells, plus the EC50 on human pulmonary artery endothelial cells was determined to be 0.6 g/mL. The histopathological study also showed that okinalysin causes the leakage of red blood cells and neutrophil infiltration. These benefits indicate that destruction of blood vessels by okinalysin is one of the primary causes of hemorrhage.Toxins 2014, 6 Keyword phrases: Ovophis okinavensis venom; vascular endothelial cell; CD158d/KIR2DL4 Protein manufacturer cytotoxicity hemorrhagic toxin; metalloproteinase;1. Introduction Among the a variety of types of enzyme and protein existing in snake venoms, metalloproteinase (SVMP: snake venom metalloproteinase) is among the most significant components. The function of SVMPs in the pathologies connected with Viperidae envenomation has extended been specifically studied. Varieties of SVMPs have been reported which cause symptoms such as hemorrhage, fibrinogenolysis, necrosis and apoptosis [1?0]. Fox and Serrano described the protein structural classification of SVMPs [11]; Class P-I has only a metalloproteinase domain, Class P-II consists of metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains, Class P-III is synthesized with metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains, and Class P-IV has the P-III domain structure and lectin-like domains. Venom gland cDNA sequencing studies indicated that these SVMPs were biosynthesized as latent precursor pro-proteinases [12,13]. Generally, the hemorrhagic activity of SVMPs of Class P-I is less active than P-III SVMPs, since disintegrin-like domains and cysteine-rich domains are regarded to have functions in interacting with cell surface or cell matrix [14]. Within the southern islands of Japan, most snake envenomation is as a consequence of Okinawa habu (Protobothrops flavoviridis). The frequency of envenomation by Himehabu (O. okinavensis) is low because of the brief venomous fangs and tiny content material of venom. Since the CD160 Protein web typical quantity of victims of Himehabu envenomation inside a year is approximately 10, this venom has not been studied in detail. Aird et al. [15] analyzed the venom gland cDNA transcripts of O. okinavensis and showed that 95 venom-related proteins are incorporated. The important venom constituents had been serine-proteinases (93.1 ) and also the percentage of metalloproteinases was only 4.2 . In contrast, the dominant constituents of P. flavoviridis venom glands are phospholipase A2 (32.1 ) and metalloproteinases (27.0 ). Since O. okinavensis and P. flavoviridis have various feeding habits; the former mostly feeds on small frogs whilst the latter preys on mammals for example mice [16?8], the venom components necessary for predation may be different. For the reasons given above, hemorrhagic toxins within the venom of O. okinavensis have not been effectively studied. Even so, it’s necessary to know the traits from the venom to provide far better.