A neutral DNase in venom sac extract of the oriental hornet Vespa orient alis: Characterization, specificity and mode of action

  • B. Ring*
  • , J. Ishay
  • , H. Slor
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

A neutral DNase was purified by acrylamide gel electrophoresis from venom sac extracts of the Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis). The DNase is active optimally at pH 7 in 0·05 M Tris-HCl buffer. Addition of NaCl inhibited the DNase activity, and with 0·15 M NaCl the enzyme was completely inhibited. RNA addition also inhibited the enzyme activity. Divalent cations were essential for enzymatic activity. At 1 mM concentrations, MgCl2 was the best activator while MnCl2 and CaCl2 activations were, respectively, about 75% and 25% that of the magnesium salt. EDTA completely inhibited DNase activity. The DNase was characterized as an endonuclease by its ability to nick circular supercoiled PM2 DNA. It is equally active on both native and single-stranded DNA as substrates and produces oligonucleotides terminated by 5′ phosphate and 3′ hydroxyl groups. The enzyme is free of RNase and of non-specific phosphodiesterase activities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)241-247
Number of pages7
JournalToxicon
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1981

Funding

Funders
Israel Cancer Association

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