Purification and characterization of a novel anticoagulation factor (ACF II) from the venom of Agkistrodon acutus

A novel anticoagulation factor (ACF II) was first isolated from the venom of Agkistrodon acutus by DEAE-Sephadex A-50, Sephadex G-75 and CM-Sephadex C-50 column chromatography. The purified ACF II showed a single band in PAGE, SDS-PAGE and IEF-PAGE, respectively. ACF II consisted of two peptide chains linked together by disulfide bond(s) and the molecular weights of the two peptide chains were about 14.6 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE. The isoelectric point of ACF II was 7.0. ACF II possessed distinct anticoagulant activity and its minimum concentration to prolong plasma prothrombin time in vitro was 0.4 mg/L. No thrombin-like activity, fibrinolytic activity, phospholipase Az activity, haemorrhagic activity, or lethal activity was detected in ACF II, which may be useful as an effective venom-based anticoagulant.