Summary
A new snake protein, named bilinexin, has been purified from Agkistrodon bilineatus venom by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Under non-reducing
conditions it has a mass of 110 kDa protein on SDS-PAGE. On reduction, it can be separated
into five subunits with masses in the range 13-25 kDa. The N-terminal sequences of
these subunits are very similar to those of convulxin or the alboaggregins, identifying
bilinexin as a new member of the snake C-type lectin family, unusual in having multiple
subunits. Bilinexin agglutinates fixed platelets, washed platelets and platelet rich
plasma (PRP) without obvious activation (shape change) as confirmed by light microscope
examination. Both inhibitory and binding studies indicate that antibodies against
α2β1 inhibit not only platelet agglutination induced by bilinexin, but also bilinexin
binding to platelets. VM16d, a monoclonal anti-GPIbα antibody, completely inhibits
platelet agglutination induced by bilinexin, and polyclonal antibodies against GPIbα
prevent its binding to platelets. However, neither convulxin, polyclonal anti-GPVI
antibodies, nor GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors affect its binding to and agglutination of platelets.
Bilinexin neither activates GPIIb/IIIa integrin on platelets nor induces tyrosine
phosphorylation of platelet proteins, nor increases intracellular Ca2+ in platelets. Like alboaggregin B, bilinexin agglutinates platelets, which makes
it a good tool to investigate the differences in mechanism between snake C-type lectins
causing platelet agglutination and those that induce full activation.
Keywords
Bilinexin - platelet agglutination - GPIb - α
2β
1