Inhibition of batroxobin, a serine proteinase from Bothrops snake venom, by derivatives of benzamidine.

Benzamidine derivatives which are competitive inhibitors of trypsin-like serine proteinases also inhibited the enzymatic activity of batroxobin, a thrombin-like snake venom proteinase. Structure-activity relationships showed that primary amides of 4-amidinophenyl-alpha-aminobutyric acid have pronounced, relatively selective antibatroxobin activity. Identical effects were found on batroxobin isolated from the venoms of Bothrops atrox or Bothrops moojeni. Esters containing a benzamidine moiety acylated the active centre serine hydroxyl of either batroxobin, however, the inhibition was temporary. Such compounds, especially 4-amidinophenyl esters of substituted benzoic acids, are a particularly useful tool for designing acyl-batroxobin intermediates with different deacylation rates. With 4-nitrophenyl 4'-guanidinobenzoate, the acyl enzyme was formed so rapidly that titration of the active site of batroxobin was possible. Irreversible inhibition of batroxobin was caused only by the selective thrombin inhibitor D-Phe-Pro-ArgCH2Cl.