L-amino acid oxidases are enzymes found in several organisms, including venoms of snakes, where they contribute to the toxicity of ophidian envenomation. Their toxicity is primarily due to enzymatic activity, but other mechanisms have been proposed recently which require further investigation. L-amino acid oxidases exert biological and pharmacological effects, including actions on platelet aggregation and the induction of apoptosis, hemorrhage, and cytotoxicity. These proteins present a high biotechnological potential for the development of antimicrobial, antitumor, and antiprotozoan agents. This review provides an overview of the biochemical properties and pharmacological effects of snake venom L-amino acid oxidases, their structure/activity relationship, and supposed mechanisms of action described so far.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visual outcome of chronic occupational exposure to a mixture of organic solvents by measuring color discrimination, achromatic contrast sensitivity and visual fields in a group of gas station workers. We tested 25 workers (20 males) and 25 controls with no history of chronic exposure to solvents (10 males). All participants had normal ophthalmologic exams. Subjects had worked in gas stations on an average of 9.6±6.2 years. Color vision was evaluated with the Lanthony D15d and Cambridge Colour Test (CCT). Visual field assessment consisted of white-on-white 24–2 automatic perimetry (Humphrey II-750i). Contrast sensitivity was measured for sinusoidal gratings of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 cycles per degree (cpd). Results from both groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. The number of errors in the D15d was higher for workers relative to controls (p<0.01). Their CCT color discrimination thresholds were elevated compared to the control group along the protan, deutan and tritan confusion axes (p<0.01), and their ellipse area and ellipticity were higher (p<0.01). Genetic analysis of subjects with very elevated color discrimination thresholds excluded congenital causes for the visual losses. Automated perimetry thresholds showed elevation in the 9°, 15° and 21° of eccentricity (p<0.01) and in MD and PSD indexes (p<0.01). Contrast sensitivity losses were found for all spatial frequencies measured (p<0.01) except for 0.5 cpd. Significant correlation was found between previous working years and deutan axis thresholds (rho = 0.59; p<0.05), indexes of the Lanthony D15d (rho = 0.52; p<0.05), perimetry results in the fovea (rho = −0.51; p<0.05) and at 3, 9 and 15 degrees of eccentricity (rho = −0.46; p<0.05). Extensive and diffuse visual changes were found, suggesting that specific occupational limits should be created.

Phospholipases A(2) (Asp49-PLA(2)s) are enzymes responsible for cellular membrane disruption through Ca(2+)-dependent hydrolysis of phospholipids. A class of these proteins (Lys49-PLA(2)s) does not show catalytic activity but can exert a pronounced local myotoxic effect that is not neutralized by serum therapy. In this work, we present five structures of Lys49-PLA(2)s from snakes of the Bothrops genus in apo form, complexed with PEG molecules and chemically modified by p-bromofenacil bromide (BPB), a classic inhibitor of PLA(2). We present herein an extensive structural analysis including: (i) the function of hydrophobic long-chain molecules as Lys49-PLA(2)s inhibitors, (ii) the role of Lys122, previously indicated as being responsible for Lys49-PLA(2)s catalytic inactivity and, (iii) a structural comparison of the Ca(2+)-binding loop region between Lys49 and Asp49-PLA(2)s. The Lys122 analysis of 30 different monomers for apo and complexed Lys49-PLA(2)s structures shows that this residue is very flexible and may bind to different carboxyl groups giving stability to the crystal structures. The structural comparisons of the Ca(2+)-binding loop region between Lys49 and Asp49-PLA(2)s reveal the importance of the Tyr28 residue conservation in Asp49-PLA(2)s to the integrity of this loop. The Tyr28 residue stabilizes this region by an interaction with Gly35 residue. In Lys49-PLA(2)s and low-catalytic Asp49-PLA(2)s this interaction does not occur, preventing the binding of Ca(2+).

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The L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs) constitute a major component of snake venoms and have been widely studied due to their widespread presence and various effects, such as apoptosis induction, cytotoxicity, induction and/or inhibition of platelet aggregation, hemorrhage, hemolysis, edema, as well as antimicrobial, antiparasitic and anti-HIV activities. The isolated and characterized snake venom LAAOs have become important research targets due to their potential biotechnological applications in pursuit for new drugs of interest in the scientific and medical fields. The current study discusses the antitumor effects of snake venom LAAOs described in the literature to date, highlighting the mechanisms of apoptosis induction proposed for this class of proteins.

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