Abstract
A study has been made of the action of phospholipase A in heated sea-snake venom on purified phospholipids, and the phospholipids of plasma and intact muscle cell. The enzyme required activation by deoxycholate in order to achieve maximal hydrolysis of purified lecithin, phosphatidylserine and the phospholipids of human plasma. The hydrolysis of purified phosphatidylethanolamine is inhibited by deoxycholate. The choline, serine and ethanolamine phosphatides of the intact muscle cell were also hydrolyzed. The results are discussed in relation to the myolytic action of sea-snake bite.