COMPARISON OF THE CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF PHOSPHOLIPASE-A2 FROM PANCREAS AND VENOM USING A CONTINUOUS FLUORESCENCE DISPLACEMENT ASSAY

Phospholipases A2 from pig pancreas and the venoms from bee, Naja naja and Crotalus atrox have been studied by using a new continuous fluorescence displacement assay that utilizes normal phospholipid substrates [Wilton (1990) Biochem. J. 266, 135-439]. With limiting amounts of substrate, the assay demonstrated stoichiometric conversion into products with both pancreatic and venom enzymes, and thus would allow phospholipid determination at concentrations down to about 0.1-mu-M. The substrate specificity of the enzyme was determined for the four enzymes in terms of both phospholipid head group and fatty acid selectivity. None of the enzymes demonstrated a preference for arachidonic acid-containing phospholipid under the conditions of this assay. No lag was observed with any enzyme with either phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylglycerol as substrate. With dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine as substrate, the assay clearly highlighted the different membrane-penetrating properties of the pancreatic and Naja naja enzymes and demonstrated maximal activity for the pancreatic enzyme in the region of the phase-transition temperature of this substrate, at about 35-degrees-C.