The synergism of cardiotoxin and phospholipase A2 in hemolysis.

The synergistic effect of exogenous cobra phospholipase A2 on the hemolysis brate of guinea pig erythrocytes by highly purified snake venom cardiotoxins was investigated. In the presence of phospholipase A2 the reaction was not only faster and had a lower activation energy but followed a sigmoidal instead of a linear time course. Similar results were obtained using porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2. Significantly, addition of even a trace of cobra phospholipase A2 (approx. 0.1%, w/w) was sufficient to bring about the full synergistic effect, emphasizing the stringent purity requirements for any meaningful investigation of cardiotoxin's own action. The possibility that the action of cardiotoxin on its own may involve the stimulation of an endogenous phospholipase is discussed in the light of the results obtained with exogenous cobra enzyme.