Biophysical properties and amino acid composition of Bothrops protease A, a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the venom of the snake Bothrops jararaca (jararaca).

Bothrops protease A, an arginine-ester hydrolase, is active on protamine, gelatin and insulin and was isolated from the venom of Bothrops jararaca in a homogeneous state, as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugal analyses. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 65,000 and a pI of 3.55. The enzyme is a glycoprotein whose amino acid content corresponds to 55% of the molecular weight.