Batroxobin

• UniProt: P04971

Reptilase as batroxobin called ( BX) or Defibrase, is an isolated from the venom of belonging to the family of American Bothrops atrox Terciopelos snake species Bothrops jararaca and enzyme. Biochemically, it is a species-specific variant of the Venombin A classified serine proteinase. It affects the blood clotting in vertebrates by promoting cleavage of fibrinogen to fibrin and fibrinopeptide A. reptilase thus acts similar to the body's enzyme thrombin, but via a different mechanism. It was first described in 1957 and is one of a Snake Venom as a thrombin -like enzyme ( SVTLE; thrombin -like enzymes from snake venom ) designated class of enzymes.

Medical Application

Reptilase promotes in vitro ( outside the body ) by the reaction of fibrinogen to fibrin clotting and is used in the field of laboratory medicine for the detection of coagulation disorders. This is measured by adding reptilase to a blood sample, the time until coagulation, and reported as reptilase time. The reference range is between 15 and 23 seconds. Falling below the lower limit has no diagnostic relevance, values ​​above the reference range indicate a delayed clotting. In contrast to the analog test with thrombin induced by reptilase clotting is not inhibited by heparin or hirudin, so that the reptilase time can also be determined in heparinized blood. Moreover indicate differences between the reptilase and thrombin to the presence of therapeutically employed heparin, as well as certain disorders of Fibrinogenbildung.

Since 1968 it is known that reptilase in vivo ( in a living organism ), in contrast to the effect in vitro, has a moderate anticoagulant effect. The reason for this is that in contrast to thrombin, reptilase not coagulation factor XIII is activated, which causes the cross-linking of fibrin monomers formed from fibrinogen to fibrin. The fibrin formed by reptilase is therefore more easily degradable than the thrombi caused by thrombin. Reptilase thus leads in the body by conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and its subsequent rapid enzymatic degradation to a called or defibrination Defibrinogenation fibrinogen in the blood circuit through which blood coagulation is reduced. Such preparations are therefore example for supplementary treatment in dissolving blood clots and to prevent thrombosis and embolism used therapeutically and commercially available drugs. The use is limited for cost reasons and because of the stronger effect of other substances.