Question

6. Lipids as signals, cofactors, and pigments The rattlesnake venom contains phospholipase A2. a) Explain why a snake bite causes rapid pain and inflammation. b) Based on your biochemical understanding of the mechanism of the pain, suggest a possible treatment. c) If too much phospholipase A2 enters the bloodstream, the significant accumulation of one of the products of the reaction acts as a powerful detergent, causing red blood cel lysis and potential death. What is this dangerous product and what makes it such a good detergent?

Answer 1

A2. a) When the snakes bites there will be rapid pain and inflammation. This occurs mainly due to the release of the prostaglandins from the cell.

b)The treatment can be done by using steroids.Steroids such as prednisolone,prednisone acts by inhibiting the arachidonate A2 from the cellular membrane and this will stop the synthesis and release of the prostaglandins

c)The phospholipase is an enzyme which transfer the molecule of phospholipid to a lysophosholipid ie..soap,this bind the fat and it will rupture the cell membrane. One of the major component of red blood cell membrane is phosphatidyl Choline.When the venom phospholipase A2 acts on this molecule the product formed is lysophospahtidyl choline.This will act as a detergent that dissolve RBC membrane and this leads to haemolysis.