The Hag-protease-II is a fibrin(ogen)ase from Hippasa agelenoides spider venom gland extract: Purification, characterization and its role in hemostasis

The current study describes the biochemical, biophysical and pharmacological properties of Hag-protease-II from Hippasa agelenoides spider venom gland extract. The Hag-protease-II was purified to homogeneity using gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The molecular mass was found to be 28.749 kDa by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. PMSF abolished the activity while EDTA, EGTA, IAA and 1, 10-phenanthrolene did not. Hag-protease-II hydrolyzed casein, fibrinogen and fibrin, however it did not hydrolyze gelatin, fibronectin and collagen types- I and IV. It was non-lethal and devoid of hemorrhagic, myotoxic and edema forming activities. It dose dependently reduced re-calcification time of citrated human plasma. Strikingly; the Hag-protease-II coagulated the factor X deficient congenital human plasma. It hydrolyzed Bβ-chain but, did not degrade Aα- and γ-chains of fibrinogen while, it hydrolyzed α-polymer and α-chain but not the β-chain and γ–γ dimers of partially cross-linked fibrin clot. The Hag-protease-II induced aggregation of human platelets in PRP dose dependently, however it did not interfere in collagen induced aggregation of PRP and washed human platelets.