The Venom of Some Rattlesnakes Contains Phospholipase A2

question 73

Essay

The venom of some rattlesnakes contains phospholipase A2. a) Explain why a snake bite causes rapid pain and inflammation. b) Based on your biochemical understanding of the mechanism of the pain, suggest a possible treatment. c) If too much phospholipase A2 enters the bloodstream, the significant accumulation of one of the products of the reaction acts as a powerful detergent, causing the lysis of red blood cells and potential death. What is this dangerous product and what makes it such a good detergent?

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Definitions:

Financial Intermediaries

Institutions that act as middlemen between savers and borrowers, helping to channel funds from those with surplus capital to those needing capital.

Print Money

The process by which a country's central bank creates new money, typically leading to an increase in the monetary base, used metaphorically for expansionary monetary policy.

Depository Institution

A financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and provides credit facilities and other financial services.

Pension Fund

A pool of assets forming an independent legal entity that is used to generate stable growth for future pension payments.