Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of piratoxin II, a phospholipase A₂ isolated from the venom of Bothrops pirajai

The phospholipases A₂ (PLA₂, E.C. 3.1.1.4, phosphatide sn2 acylhydrolases) are the major components of the venom of several snakes. They are responsible for several important pharmacological effects observed in ophidian incidents. PLA₂ piratoxin II from Bothrops pirajai has been crystallized by the vapour-diffusion technique. X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 2.04 Å resolution (90.2% complete, R_merge = 0.070). The space group is P2₁ and the cell parameters are a = 46.19, b = 60.36, c = 58.74 Å and β = 96.05°. The structure has been solved by molecular replacement using the crystallographic structure of PLA₂ from Bothrops asper (PDB code 1CLP) as a search model.