Summary
The activity of glutathione reductase (GR) was measured in haemolysates and red cell membranes of various species. The enzyme levels were compared with the susceptibility of the respective cells to the direct lytic factor (DLF) of cobra venom. A positive correlation was found in so far as cells having high (low) GR activity were highly (little) sensitive to DLF. Further results make it likely that GR is implicated in DLF-induced lysis:
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1.
By enzymatic assay an interaction of membrane bound GR and DLF was found, as evident from consumption of the coenzyme NADPH.
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2.
Glutathione in the reduced state (GSH) as well as in the oxidized form (GSSG) inhibited haemolysis by DLF in a dose-dependent manner. A chemical interaction between DLF and glutathione was excluded.
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3.
NADPH showed a dual effect: it accelerated DLF-induced haemolysis at low concentrations, whereas at high concentrations inhibition was evident.
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Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg.
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Schroeter, R., Lankisch, P.G., Lege, L. et al. Possible implication of glutathione reductase in haemolysis by the direct lytic factor of cobra venom (Naja naja). Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 275, 203–211 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508908
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508908