Isolation and Characterization of a Cysteine Protease of Freesia Corms

A protease, freesia protease (FP)-A, was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from regular freesia (Freesia reflacta) corms in harvest time. The M _r of FP-A was estimated to be 24 k by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH of the enzyme was 8.0 using a casein substrate. These enzymes were strongly inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid but not by phenylmethane-sulfonylfluoride and EDTA. These results indicate that FP-A belongs to the cysteine proteases. The amino terminal sequence of FP-A was similar to that of papain, and the sequences was regarded to the conservative residues of cysteine protease. From the hydrolysis of peptidyl-pNAs, the specificity of FP-A was found to be broad. It was thought that FP-A was a new protease from freesia corms.     

The development of cysteine proteases in freesia corms during responses to chilling

Freesia protease (FP)-A has been found in regular freesia corms (Kaneda et al., Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 61 (1997) 1554). New corms were generated from original corms that were kept for several months at 4°C. In this study, two proteases (FP-B and FP-C) have been found to new corms kept for 6 months at 4°C, and have increased during new corms enlargement.

 FPs were purified from the extracts of new corms, and the M_r of those were 24k (A), 25k (B), and 24.5k (C) by SDS-PAGE, respectively.

 The N-terminal sequences of FPs were identical to those of papain with respect to the conservative residues of cysteine protease. The sequence of FP-A was identical with those of FP-B within 20 residues of its N-terminal. It may be possible that FP-B was produced by some post-translational modifications from FP-A during the chilling. On the other hand, N-terminal sequence of FP-C was different from those of FP-A and FP-B. It was explained that FP-C was a new protease of freesia corm.     

Partial Purification and Properties of a Cysteine Protease from Citrus Red Mite Panonychus citri

Several studies have reported that the citrus red mites Panonychus citri were an important allergen of citrus-cultivating farmers in Jeju Island. The aim of the present study was to purify and assess properties of a cysteine protease from the mites acting as a potentially pathogenic factor to citrus-cultivating farmers. A cysteine protease was purified using column chromatography of Mono Q anion exchanger and Superdex 200 HR gel filtration. It was estimated to be 46 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography and consisted of 2 polypeptides, at least. Cysteine protease inhibitors, such as trans poxy-succinyl-L-leucyl-amido (4-guanidino) butane (E-64) and iodoacetic acid (IAA) totally inhibited the enzyme activities, whereas serine or metalloprotease inhibitors did not affect the activities. In addition, the purified enzyme degraded human IgG, collagen, and fibronectin, but not egg albumin. From these results, the cysteine protease of the mites might be involved in the pathogenesis such as tissue destruction and penetration instead of nutrient digestion.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Rice Cysteine Protease Gene, OsCP1, Using T-DNA Gene-Trap System

The T-DNA gene-trap system has been efficiently used to elucidate gene functions in plants. We report here a functional analysis of a cysteine protease gene, OsCP1, isolated from a pool of T-DNA insertional rice. GUS assay with the T-DNA tagged line indicated that the OsCP1 promoter was highly active in the rice anther. Sequence analysis revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of OsCP1 was homologous to those of papain family cysteine proteases containing the highly conserved interspersed amino acid motif, ERFNIN. This result suggested that the gene encodes a cysteine protease in rice. We also identified a suppressed mutant from T2 progeny of the T-DNA tagged line. The mutant showed a significant defect in pollen development. Taken together, the results demonstrated that OsCP1 is a cysteine protease gene that might play an important role in pollen development.     

Comparison of Phytolacain G,a Cysteine Protease from Fruit of Phytolacca americana,with Phytolacain R

The enzymatic properties of phytolacain G, a protease isolated from green fruit of pokeweed, were compared with those of phytolacain R, a protease obtained from ripe fruit. The optimum pH of phytolacain G was 7.5-8.0 at 37°C using casein as the substrate. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by iodoacetic acid and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, but not by diisopropyl fluorophosphate or EDTA. These results indicated that phytolacain G was a cysteine protease, like phytolacain R. Nine sites of oxidized insulin B-chain were cleaved by phytolacain G during 20 h of hydrolysis. The six sites cleaved by phytolacain G were also cleaved by phytolacain R. The substrate specificity of phytolacain G was broad, but the preference for hydrophobic residues at the P₂ position was similar to the substrate specificity of papain. The amino-terminal sequence of phytolacain G was not identical with that of phytolacain R; however, the amino acid residues conserved in the papain family were also conserved in this enzyme.     

Philibertain g I, the Most Basic Cysteine Endopeptidase Purified from the Latex of Philibertia gilliesii Hook. et Arn. (Apocynaceae)

A new papain-like cysteine peptidase isolated from latex of Philibertia gilliesii Hook. et Arn., Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae) has been purified and characterized. The enzyme, named philibertain g I, is the most basic component present in latex extracts and was purified by acetone fractionation followed by cation exchange chromatography (SP-Sepharose HR) using FPLC system. Homogeneity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and mass spectroscopy (MS). Molecular mass of the enzyme was 23,530 Da (MALDI-TOF MS), its isoelectric point was >10.25, and maximum proteolytic activity (casein) was achieved at pH 7–8. The new protease was inhibited by E-64 a cysteine peptidases inhibitor. K_m was 0.15 mM, using PFLNA as substrate. The N-terminal sequence of philibertain g I (LPASVDWRKEGAVLPIRHQGQCG) was compared with those of twenty plant proteases. Philibertain g I showed the higher degree of identity (73%) with caricain, one of the Carica papaya endopepetidases.     

In Search of Selective Inhibitors of Cysteine Protease,Cathepsin K

Two potential azapeptide inhibitors of cathepsin K were designed and synthesized. To analyze in detail interactions between these azainhibitors and the investigated cysteine protease, molecular dynamics simulations were performed. For the obtained compounds the equilibrium constants for dissociation of inhibitor – enzyme complex, K_i, were determined. The examined azapeptides proved to be not as potent inhibitors of cathepsin K as they were expected to be according to the results of simulations. However, these calculations provide valuable information about probable structures of this type of peptidomimetics in the catalytic pocket of cathepsin K, which could be useful in designing of more selective inhibitors of this cysteine protease.     

百合巯基蛋白酶抑制剂的纯化及部分性质研究

百合的鳞茎中含有一种对木瓜蛋白酶有强抑制作用的巯基蛋白酶抑制剂．百合的鳞茎经浸取加热处理,木瓜蛋白酶偶联的Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ４Ｂ柱亲和层析和ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００分子筛层析,可获得在ＰＡＧＥ和ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ均为单一蛋白带的百合巯基蛋白酶抑制剂（ＣＰＩ）．此ＣＰＩ为单链蛋白,含有０．３０７％的中性糖;Ｎ端氨基酸为Ｉｌｅ;ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测得亚基分子量为１２０００;ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００测得分子量为１２５００．百合ＣＰＩ在１００℃内和ｐＨ２～１２范围内非常稳定;对木瓜蛋白酶的抑制属竞争性抑制类型,其Ｋｉ值为１．１５×１０~（－９）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,对木瓜蛋白酶的抑制摩尔比为８．５：１．     

HcNPV半胱氨酸蛋白酶,几丁质酶基因失活分析

将含有美国白蛾核型多角体病毒（Ｈｙｐｈａｎｔｒｉａ ｃｕｍｅａ ｎｕｃｌｅａｒ ｐｏｌｙｈｅｄｒｏｓｉｓ ｖｉｒｕｓ,ＨｃＮＰＶ）半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因（ＣＰ）的自然和几丁质酶基因（ＣｈｉＡ）的片段克隆进ＰＣＲⅡ,构建了转移载体ｐＨｃＣＶｄｅｌ;将含有ＨｃＮＰＶ多角体蛋白全基因（ｐｏｌｈ）序列的片段插入到ｐＨｃＣＶｄｅｌ的ＥｃｏＲＩ位点,得到重组转移载体ｐＨｃＣＶｐｏｌｈ。通过重组转移载体与含有家蚕促     

原位杂交检测斯氏肺吸虫童虫半胱氨酸蛋白酶的基因表达部位

目的 从基因水平研究半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因在斯氏肺吸虫童虫的表达,并进行虫体定位。方法 利用地高辛标记原位杂交技术检测半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因在斯氏肺吸虫童虫的表达并定位。结果 在斯氏肺吸虫童虫的肠管上皮细胞中呈强阳性着色,在虫体皮层细胞中有弱阳性着色。结论 半胱氨酸蛋白酶主要在斯氏肺吸虫童虫的肠管上皮细胞中表达,在虫体皮层细胞中也有弱表达。     

Purification and Characterization of Aspartic Protease Derived from Sf9 Insect Cells

An aspartic protease that is significantly produced by baculovirus-infected Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 insect cells was purified to homogeneity from a growth medium. To monitor aspartic protease activity, an internally quenched fluoresce (IQF) substrate specific to cathepsin D was used. The purified aspartic protease showed a single protein band on SDS–PAGE with an apparent molecular mass of 40 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme had a high homology to a Bombyx mori aspartic protease. The enzyme showed greatest affinity for the IQF substrate at pH 3.0 with a K _m of 0.85 μM. The k _cat and k _cat?K _m values were 13 s^?1 and 15 s^?1 μM^?1 respectively. Pepstatin A proved to be a potent competitive inhibitor with inhibitor constant, K _i, of 25 pM.     

Extraction of Wheat Flour Proteins with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Their Molecular Weight Distribution

By extraction of wheat flour with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution at pH 6.8, about 76% of the total flour nitrogen solubilized into clear supernatant. This solvent was more effective for extraction of wheat protein than 0.01 m acetic acid, aluminium lactate-lactic acid buffer (pH 3.1), AUC-solvent (0.1 m acetic acid, 3 m urea and 0.01 m cetyltrimethyl-ammomum bromide) and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid lithium salt etc. The molecular weight distribution of the SDS-soluble proteins was studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by molecular sieve chromatography on controlled pore glass (CPG–10–500) without prior reduction of disulfide linkages of the proteins. Most of the SDS-soluble proteins had molecular weight of less than 75,000, suggesting single-chained proteins. A small amount of relatively high molecular weight proteins which contained intermolecular disulfide linkages was also detected in the gel of electrophoresis, while high molecular weight protein which did not migrate into gel matrix during electrophoresis without prior reduction of disulfide linkages existed in trace amount in the SDS-soluble fraction.

The SDS-insoluble proteins were almost completely extracted by further extraction with SDS in combination with 2-mercaptoethanol or with mercuric chloride.     

Purification and Some Properties of a Protease from the Sarcocarp of Musk Melon Fruit

A protease has been purified from sarcocarp of musk melon, Cucumis melo ssp. melo var. reticulatus Naud. Earl’s Favourite. The protease was mostly present in the placenta part of the fruit and next in the inside mesocarp. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be about 62kDa on SDS-PAGE. The enzyme had a carbohydrate moiety. The optimum pH of the enzyme was 11 at 35°C using casein as a substrate. The enzyme was stable between pH 6 and 11. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, but was not inhibited by EDTA or cysteine protease inhibitors. From the digestion of Ala-Ala-Pro-X-pNA (X = Phe, Leu, Val, Ala, Gly, Lys, Glu, Pro, and diaminopropionic acid (Dap) substrates the specificity of the protease was found to be approximately broad, but the preferential cleavage sites were C-terminal sites of hydrophobic or acidic amino acid residues at P, position. It was proved that the enzymatic properties of musk melon protease are similar to those of cucumisin [EC 3.4.21.25]. The enzyme was not inhibited by typical proteinous inhibitors such as STI or ovomucoid. Therefore, this enzyme seems to be a useful protease for the food industries.     

Diagnostic Efficacy of a Recombinant Cysteine Protease of Spirometra erinacei Larvae for Serodiagnosis of Sparganosis

The mature domain of a cysteine protease of Spirometra erinacei plerocercoid larva (i.e., sparganum) was expressed in Escherichia coli, and its value as an antigen for the serodiagnosis of sparganosis was investigated. The recombinant protein (rSepCp-1) has the molecular weight of 23.4 kDa, and strongly reacted with the sparganum positive human or mice sera but not with negative sera by immunoblotting. ELISA with rSepCp-1 protein or sparganum crude antigen (SeC) was evaluated for the serodiagnosis of sparganosis using patient''s sera. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA using rSepCp-1 protein were 95.0% (19/20) and 99.1% (111/112), respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA with SeC were 100% (20/20) and 96.4% (108/112), respectively. Moreover, in experimentally infected mice, the sensitivity and specificity of both ELISA assays were 100% for the detection of anti-sparganum IgG. It is suggested that the rSepCp-1 protein-based ELISA could provide a highly sensitive and specific assay for the diagnosis of sparganosis.     

1398中性蛋白酶的色谱柱纯化与分子鉴定

1398食品级蛋白酶是一种由枯草芽胞杆菌1398发酵产生的用于食品加工处理的中性蛋白酶。目前国内生产工艺制取的固体酶制剂存在菌体未分离、产品颜色深、酸臭味大等缺点。本文以开发无色无臭的液体蛋白酶制剂为目的,对蛋白酶的发酵后提取、纯化工艺等进行了深入研究,分别考察了离子交换树脂层析和工业级大孔树脂对发酵液中1398中性蛋白酶的分离纯化效果,对纯化后的蛋白酶进行了Maldi-Tof质谱分析,并对编码该蛋白酶的基因进行了测序和序列分析,为进一步利用基因工程重组技术生产该蛋白酶奠定了研究基础。     

Purification and Characterization of a Fibrinogen-Degrading Protease in Bacteroides fragilis Strain YCH46

A novel fibrinogenolytic protease was purified from Bacteroides fragilis strain YCH46. The protease was extracted from cells by ultrasonic treatment and was purified 425-fold with a recovery of 2.1% by sequential procedures using azocasein as a substrate. The purified protease showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an estimated molecular weight of 100 kDa, which was consistent with the value obtained by gel filtration, indicating a monomeric native structure. Its optimal pH, K_m, and V_max for azocasein were 7.5, 0.2%, and 286 U/min/mg, respectively. The protease activity was completely inhibited by addition of 1 mM Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, N-ethylmaleimide or p-chloromercuribenzoate but not by the inhibitors of metalloprotease or aspartic protease, suggesting that the enzyme is a serine-thiol-like protease. The protease hydrolyzed azocasein, casein, fibrinogen, gelatin, and azocoll, but not bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, fibrin, fibronectin, immunoglobulins, transferrin, hemoglobin or types I, III, and IV collagen. The enzyme also hydrolyzed the chromogenic substrates alanyl-alanine p-nitroanilide, L -valyl-alanine p-nitroanilide, alanyl-alanyl-valyl-alanine p-nitroanilide, and glycyl-proline p-nitroanilide, but was inert toward L -alanine p-nitroanilide, alanyl-alanyl-alanine p-nitroanilide, and N-α-benzoyl-DL -arginine p-nitroanilide. The protease completely hydrolyzed the α-chain of fibrinogen at 37 C within 10 hr and at the same time the time required for clotting of protease-treated fibrinogen by thrombin was prolonged. The fibrinogenolytic activity of a crude extract of B. fragilis was stronger than that of other species of the Bacteroides fragilis group tested: B. ovatus, B. distasonis, B. eggerthii, B. uniformis, and B. thetaiotaomicron. These results suggest that the fibrinogenolytic protease is an important biological factor in Bacteroides infection.     

Purification and Characterization of a Cysteine Protease Produced by Pathogenic Luminous Vibrio harveyi

The purification and characterization of an extracellular protease produced by pathogenic luminous Vibrio harveyi strain 820514, originally isolated from diseased tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), was presented in this paper. The purification steps included ammonium sulfate precipitation, with columns of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion exchange on fast protein liquid chromatography. The protease is an alkaline cysteine protease, heat labile, inhibited by iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and p-chloromercuribenzene-sulfonic acid, and showed maximal activities at pH 8 and 50°C, having a molecular mass of 38 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration column. In addition, the protease was also completely inhibited by CuCl₂ and HgCl₂, but not or only partially inhibited by other inhibitors tested. Furthermore, 2-mercaptoethanol was the most effective reducing agent in the activation of the enzyme. The present protease is the first cysteine protease found in Vibrio species. Received: 20 November 1996 / Accepted: 7 January 1997     

Purification and Characterization of Six Kiwifruit Proteases Isolated with Two Ion-exchange Resins,Toyopearl-SuperQ and Bakerbond WP-PEI

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) contains a cysteine protease, actinidin, and it was suggested to contain two components, A1 and A2. However, the separation of two components was not shown, and the comparison of the two components has not been thoroughly done.

We have now shown that actinidin can be separated into six proteases, named KP1, KP2, KP3, KP4, KP5, and KP6, by improved polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 4.0. Each kiwifruit protease was purified with two ion-exchange resins, Toyopearl-SuperQ and Bakerbond WP-PEI. Before the purification of kiwifruit proteases, excess p-chloromercuribenzoate was added to crude kiwifruit protease to prevent the autodigestion.

Each kiwifruit protease had a molecular mass of 23,500 and the same amino terminal sequences from the first to the thirteenth. They had different pI’s. These six kiwifruit proteases were divided into two groups by the effects of DTT and Zn²⁺ on the activity.

These results indicated that the six components must be A1, A2, and four previously unknown proteases. Thus we have separated the kiwifruit proteases which were thought to be two, into six components.     

Purification and partial characteristic of a major gliadin-degrading cysteine endopeptidase from germinating triticale seeds

The endopeptidase of the highest electrophoretic mobility was the main endopeptidase hydrolyzing gliadin in the endosperm of germinated triticale (X Triticosecale Wittm.) grains after three days of imbibition. Activity of this endopeptidase, named EP8 starts to be detectable after two days of imbibition. The appearance of its activity in the endosperm on a second day of imbibition may suggest that EP8 is synthesized in aleurone during germination and/or secreted into the starchy endosperm as an inactive polypeptide during grains development and then activated. EP8 was isolated from the endosperm of germinating triticale seeds and purified 257-fold using ammonium sulphate, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sepharose CL-6B and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme was totally inhibited by E-64—class-specific cysteine proteinases inhibitor and activated by thiol compounds. Molecular weight estimated by SDS-PAGE was 39.5 kDa. The optimum pH for the hydrolysis of gliadin was 4.2 and for hemoglobin 5.2. High activity of EP8 against wheat gliadin in vitro suggests that this cysteine endopeptidase plays a major role in the mobilization of storage proteins in the endosperm of germinating triticale grains.     

小桐子半胱氨酸蛋白酶家族和相应miRNAs的鉴定及其对低温锻炼的响应

小桐子(Jatropha curcas)是一种极具潜力的能源植物及冷敏植物,12°C低温锻炼可显著提高其耐冷性。在全基因组水平上对小桐子半胱氨酸蛋白酶家族及靶向其基因的miRNAs进行鉴定、生物信息学分析和表达特性分析,并对该基因家族成员与miRNAs互作参与调控小桐子对低温锻炼的响应进行解析。结果表明,在小桐子基因组...