Caseinolytic and esteratic activities of Malayan pit viper venom and its proteolytic and thrombin-like fractions

Some enzymic activities of the venom of the Malayan pit viper (Agkistrodon rhodostoma) and its two major components were studied. The proteolytic component had strong caseinolytic activity but little esteratic activity using $\text{p-}\text{toluene sulphonyl-}\text{L}\text{-arginine methyl}$ ester (TAME) and N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) as substrates. On the other hand, the thrombin-like component had marked activity on TAME and BAEE but no caseinolytic activity.