Purification and characterization of tarantula, Dugesiella hentzi (girard) venom Hyaluronidase

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. B, Comparative biochemistry Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 389 - 396
• Main Authors: Schanbacher, F.L., Lee, C.K., Wilson, I.B., Howell, D.E., Odell, G.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 15.02.1973
• Subjects: amino acid composition; Amino Acids - analysis; Animals; Autoanalysis; Chromatography, Gel; Densitometry; Drug Stability; Dugesiella hentzi (Girard); Electrophoresis, Disc; Female; hyaluronidase; hyaluronidase assay; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase - analysis; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase - isolation & purification; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase - metabolism; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Isoelectric Focusing; isoelectric pH; Kinetics; Molecular Weight; pH optimum; Spectrophotometry; Spiders; spreading factor; tarantula; Venom; Venoms - analysis; amino acid composition; hyaluronidase; isoelectric pH; Venom; molecular weight; spreading factor; hyaluronidase assay; pH optimum; tarantula; Dugesiella hentzi (Girard)
• ISSN: 0305-0491
• DOI: 10.1016/0305-0491(73)90012-6

1. 1. Hyaluronidase has been identified as a major constituent of tarantula, Dugesiella hentzi (Girard), venom. The enzyme can be purified by either gel permeation chromatography or isoelectric focusing. 2. 2. Molecular weight estimates range to 39,600 and the isoelectric pH is 6.9. 3. 3. A 1 : 100 dilution of pure venom permits assay of the enzyme by a turbidimetric method and the venom contains approximately 225 turbidity reducing units of hyaluronidase per μl. 4. 4. The enzyme is stable for several months in the frozen state. 5. 5. A pH optimum of 3·5 is estimated and low molecular weight reaction products result from 24 hr digests. 6. 6. The amino acid composition has been determined.