Exploration of the antithrombotic effect of a C type lectin purified from Cerastes cerastes venom by protein-protein docking

Abstract

Background: Thromboembolic diseases are a major clinical problem due to their high prevalence and their often fatal consequences. In the present study, an anticoagulant galactoside binding C type lectin “Cc-Lec” was purified and characterized.

Methods: Cc-Lec was purified by affinity chromatography on a column of Sepharose 4B coupled with D-lactose. Its homogeneity was verified by SDS-PAGE and ESI-MS. Cc-Lec 3D structure modelization was achieved by homology to Convulxin a snake venom C type lectin. Cc-Lec anticoagulant effect was explored in vivo by i.p. administration to mice, in vitro by native PAGE analysis and in silico by protein-protein docking approach.

Results: Cc-Lec is a 34 271,59 Da protein, composed of 160 residues of amino acids for each subunit. Its 3D structure is organized into a homodimer cross-linked with a disulfide bridge and composed of three alpha helices and seven beta strands for each monomer. Cc-Lec functional characterization revealed a durable anticoagulant effect in vivo after 6 and 48h of i.p. administration to mice. This anticoagulant effect is mediated by interaction with FXa and FIXa as showed by native PAGE analysis. Moreover, protein-protein docking results reinforced this data and showed that Cc-Lec interacts with coagulation factors X and IX through their -carboxyglutamic domains. The interaction with factors X and IX requires calcium or calcium and magnesium ions respectively.

Conclusion: The anticoagulant effect of Cc-Lec makes it a promising pharmacological target for the diagnosis and/or the therapy of the thromboembolic diseases.