Changes in the membrane surface charge and the potentiation of phospholipase A2 as affected by the cytotoxin from the venom of the Central Asian cobra

The interaction of iodine labelled cytotoxin of the middle-asian cobra venom with erythrocyte membranes has been studied. The pretreatment of erythrocytes by cytotoxin results in the sensitivity to the lytic action of pure phospholipase A2 of the same venom. Using I-labelled serum albumin it has been proved that cytotoxin promotes the binding of acid proteins on the membrane such as phospholipase A2 interacted with it synergetically. In the course of study of cytotoxin effect on the time of adhesion hemispheres of artificial bilayer phospholipide membranes it has been established that due to the basic properties cytotoxin neutralizes the negative charge of the membrane surface. This effect of cytotoxin plays an important role in the potentiation of membrane action of phospholipase A2.