Extracellular protease production by Drosophila imaginal discs

We are investigating the role of extracellular proteases in imaginal disc eversion to understand the mechanism that controls cell rearrangements within epithelia. We have identified three cation-dependent neutral proteases released by Drosophila leg discs everting in culture. Serine protease inhibitors block disc eversion and inhibit activity of disc proteases. The pattern of extracellular proteases changes when eversion is blocked with added protease inhibitors. Changes in protease activity occur when released disc proteases are treated with trypsin. Trypsin treatment of intact imaginal discs releases protease and inhibitor activities to the medium, indicating their presence on the cell surface before release. Our results suggest that extracellular proteases are required for imaginal disc morphogenesis and are regulated by more than one mechanism.     

The effects of bioprocess parameters on extracellular proteases in a recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> B1-D

Although host proteases are often considered to have a negative impact upon heterologous protein production by filamentous fungi, relatively little is known about the pattern of their appearance in recombinant fungal bioprocesses. In the present study, we investigated extracellular proteases from a filamentous fungus, Aspergillus niger B1-D, genetically modified to secrete hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). Our findings indicate that extracellular protease activity is only detected after the carbon source is completely utilised in batch cultures. The proteases are predominantly acid proteases and have optimal temperature for activity at around 45°C. Their activity could be partially inhibited by protease inhibitors, indicating the existence of at least four kinds of proteases in these culture fluids, aspartic-, serine-, cysteine-, and metallo-proteases. Oxygen enrichment does not have any noticeable effects on extracellular protease activity except that the onset of protease activity appears earlier in oxygen enrichment runs. Oxygen enrichment stimulates HEWL production substantially, and we propose that it is related to fungal morphology. Thermal stress imposed by raising process temperature (from 25 to 30 and 35°C) in early exponential phase, led to appearance of protease activity in the medium following the heat shock. Continued cultivation at high temperatures significantly reduced HEWL production, which was associated with increased activity of the extracellular proteases in these cultures.     

Secretion processing and activation of Erwinia chrysanthemi proteases

E chrysanthemi, a phytopathogenic enterobacterium, secretes several enzymes into the medium such as pectinases cellulases and proteases. It also produces 3 distinct and antigenically related extracellular proteases. The proteases secretion pathway seems to be distinct from that of the other extracellular enzymes since pleiotropic mutants impaired in cellulase and pectinase secretion are unimpaired in protease secretion. E chrysanthemi proteases B and C secretion occurs without an N-terminal signal peptide and is dependent upon specific secretion functions which are encoded by genes adjacent to the protease structural genes. This secretion pathway might be analogous to the alpha-hemolysin secretion pathway in E coli. Protection against intracellular proteolytic activity is achieved by 2 distinct mechanisms: the proteases are synthesized as inactive precursors with an N-terminal extension of 15 aminoacids (protease B) and 17 aminoacids (protease C) absent in the mature active extracellular enzymes; an intracellular specific protease inhibitor is produced by some E chrysanthemi strains.     

Extracellular Protease Inhibition Alters the Phenotype of Chondrogenically Differentiating Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in 3D Collagen Microspheres

Matrix remodeling of cells is highly regulated by proteases and their inhibitors. Nevertheless, how would the chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) be affected, when the balance of the matrix remodeling is disturbed by inhibiting matrix proteases, is incompletely known. Using a previously developed collagen microencapsulation platform, we investigated whether exposing chondrogenically differentiating MSCs to intracellular and extracellular protease inhibitors will affect the extracellular matrix remodeling and hence the outcomes of chondrogenesis. Results showed that inhibition of matrix proteases particularly the extracellular ones favors the phenotype of fibrocartilage rather than hyaline cartilage in chondrogenically differentiating hMSCs by upregulating type I collagen protein deposition and type II collagen gene expression without significantly altering the hypertrophic markers at gene level. This study suggests the potential of manipulating extracellular proteases to alter the outcomes of hMSC chondrogenesis, contributing to future development of differentiation protocols for fibrocartilage tissues for intervertebral disc and meniscus tissue engineering.     

Proteases Released by Entomopathogenic Fungi Impair Phagocytic Activity, Attachment and Spreading of Plasmatocytes Isolated from Haemolymph of the Greater Wax Moth Galleria mellonella

Reliable assays for the in vitro quantification of the attachment and spreading of isolated Galleria mellonella plasmatocytes have been established. The effects of extracellular proteases released by the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana on the phagocytic activity, spreading, attachment and cytoskeleton formation of isolated plasmatocytes of G. mellonella were examined to elucidate their putative role in the suppression of cellular immune responses in infected insects. In addition, the influence of different commercially available proteases on isolated plasmatocytes was studied. Among the proteases tested, the metalloprotease thermolysin produced the strongest inhibitory activity on plasmatocytes. The results obtained support the conclusion that invading fungal cells could interfere with the insect immune system via the release of proteases which affect cellular defence reactions. Isolated G. mellonella plasmatocytes incubated with fungal proteases had an impaired ability to ingest yeast cells and exhibited alterations in morphology and cytoskeleton formation. The effects were similar to those observed in plasmatocytes from infected larvae. The role of extracellular fungal proteases in the interactions of entomopathogens with the insect immune system is discussed.     

ECM degrading proteases and tissue remodelling in the mammary gland

Matrix degradation and tissue remodelling directed by matrix-degrading proteases are activated in physiological situations such as wound healing and involution of the prostate, ovaries and uterus. Recently, other activities, in addition to the cleavage of matrix proteins, have been attributed to matrix proteases including the release of growth factors from the extracellular matrix and roles in the maturation of adipocytes. This review describes extracellular proteases, including MMPs, plasminogen and cathepsins involved in the tissue remodelling processes that occur in the breast during pubertal mammary development and the mammary cycle of pregnancy, lactation and weaning. It particularly focuses on development and weaning, termed mammary gland involution, when the majority of remodelling occurs. It also brings together recent findings on the exciting new functions of matrix-degrading proteases.     

The influence of NaCl and carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone on the production of extracellular proteases in a marine Vibrio strain

In general, the salinity of the ocean is close to 3.5% and marine vibrios possess the respiratory chain-linked Na+ pump. The influence of sodium chloride and the proton conductor carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) on the production of extracellular proteases in a marine Vibrio strain was examined. At the concentration of 0.5 M, sodium chloride minimally inhibited the activity of extracellular proteases by approximately 16%, whereas at the same concentration, the producton of extracellular proteases was severely inhibited. On the other hand, the production of extracellular proteases was completely inhibited by the addition of 2 microM CCCP at pH 8.5, where the respiratory chain-linked Na+ pump functions.     

Identification, gene cloning and expression of serine proteases in the extracellular medium of Nicotiana tabacum cells

Recombinant proteins secreted from plant suspension cells into the medium are susceptible to degradation by host proteases secreted during growth. Some degradation phenomena are inhibited in the presence of various protease inhibitors, such as EDTA or AEBSF/PMSF, suggesting the presence of different classes of proteases in the medium. Here, we report the results of a proteomic analysis of the extracellular medium of a Nicotiana tabacum bright yellow 2 culture. Several serine proteases belonging to a Solanaceae-specific subtilase subfamily were identified and the genes for four cloned. Their expression at the RNA level during culture growth varied depending on the gene. An in-gel protease assay (zymography) demonstrated serine protease activity in the extracellular medium from cultures. This was confirmed by testing the degradation of an antibody added to the culture medium. This particular subtilase subfamily, therefore, represents an interesting target for gene silencing to improve recombinant protein production. Key message The extracellular medium of Nicotiana tabacum suspension cells contains serine proteases that degrade antibodies.     

Cell surface complex of cathepsin B/annexin II tetramer in malignant progression

The cysteine protease cathepsin B is upregulated in a variety of tumors, particularly at the invasive edges. Cathepsin B can degrade extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen IV and laminin, and can activate the precursor form of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), perhaps thereby initiating an extracellular proteolytic cascade. Recently, we demonstrated that procathepsin B interacts with the annexin II heterotetramer (AIIt) on the surface of tumor cells. AIIt had previously been shown to interact with the serine proteases: plasminogen/plasmin and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). The AIIt binding site for cathepsin B differs from that for either plasminogen/plasmin or tPA. AIIt also interacts with extracellular matrix proteins, e.g., collagen I and tenascin-C, forming a structural link between the tumor cell surface and the extracellular matrix. Interestingly, cathepsin B, plasminogen/plasmin, t-PA and tenascin-C have all been linked to tumor development. We speculate that colocalization through AIIt of proteases and their substrates on the tumor cell surface may facilitate: (1) activation of precursor forms of proteases and initiation of proteolytic cascades; and (2) selective degradation of extracellular matrix proteins. The recruitment of proteases to specific regions on the cell surface, regions where potential substrates are also bound, could well function as a 'proteolytic center' to enhance tumor cell detachment, invasion and motility.     

Genetic or chemical protease inhibition causes significant changes in the Bacillus subtilis exoproteome

Bacillus subtilis is a prolific producer of enzymes and biopharmaceuticals. However, the susceptibility of heterologous proteins to degradation by (extracellular) proteases is a major limitation for use of B. subtilis as a protein cell factory. An increase in protein production levels has previously been achieved by using either protease-deficient strains or addition of protease inhibitors to B. subtilis cultures. Notably, the effects of genetic and chemical inhibition of proteases have thus far not been compared in a systematic way. In the present studies, we therefore compared the exoproteomes of cells in which extracellular proteases were genetically or chemically inactivated. The results show substantial differences in the relative abundance of various extracellular proteins. Furthermore, a comparison of the effects of genetic and/or chemical protease inhibition on the stress response triggered by (over) production of secreted proteins showed that chemical protease inhibition provoked a genuine secretion stress response. From a physiological point of view, this suggests that the deletion of protease genes is a better way to prevent product degradation than the use of protease inhibitors. Importantly however, studies with human interleukin-3 show that chemical protease inhibition can result in improved production of protease-sensitive secreted proteins even in mutant strains lacking eight extracellular proteases.     

Organogenesis: cutting to the chase

Gonad morphogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans requires two secreted proteases. Recent studies show that alterations of the extracellular matrix component fibulin-1 rescue gonadogenesis in the absence of these proteases. This finding is a critical step toward understanding the role of extracellular matrix in organogenesis.     

Cloning of genes encoding extracellular metalloproteases from Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16.

A 14-kilobase BamHI-EcoRI DNA fragment cloned from Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 contained a gene encoding a metalloprotease inhibitor as well as three tandem prt genes encoding metalloproteases. The prt genes were separated from the inhibitor gene by a ca. 4-kilobase region that was necessary for extracellular secretion of the proteases. When individually subcloned downstream from vector promoters, the three prt genes each led to substantial extracellular secretion of the proteases by Escherichia coli cells, provided that the 4-kilobase required region was supplied in cis or trans. One of the protease structural genes, prtC, was sequenced and had high homology to a metalloprotease gene previously described from Serratia species as well as to the prtB gene of E. chrysanthemi B374. Marker exchange mutants of E. chrysanthemi EC16 defective in production of one or all of the extracellular proteases were not impaired in virulence on plant tissue.     

Cellular lysis in Bacillus subtilis; the affect of multiple extracellular protease deficiencies

Cellular lysis properties of strains of Bacillus subtilis deficient in the synthesis of extracellular proteases was investigated. In all cases, extracellular protease deficiency was found to increase the extent of cellular lysis of batch cultured strains following the transition to stationary phase, the time at which extracellular degradative enzymes are secreted in large quantities. The data indicates that the major extracellular proteases, NprE and AprE, are primarily responsible for the control of this autolytic activity in B. subtilis and has implications for the use of extracellular protease-deficient strains as hosts for the production of heterologous proteins.     

Membrane proteases: roles in tissue remodeling and tumour invasion.

The coordinated control of extracellular matrix degradation on the cell surface involves three crucial elements: secreted proteases and their inhibitors, surface protease receptors and integral membrane proteases. The roles that each of these elements play in cell surface proteolysis are described. The localization of proteases to the cell surface, protease activation, and regulation of cell surface proteolysis by protease inhibitors are key issues for elucidating the role of membrane proteases in tissue remodeling and tumour invasion.     

Diversity of Both the Cultivable Protease-Producing Bacteria and Bacterial Extracellular Proteases in the Coastal Sediments of King George Island,Antarctica

Protease-producing bacteria play a vital role in degrading sedimentary organic nitrogen. However, the diversity of these bacteria and their extracellular proteases in most regions remain unknown. In this paper, the diversity of the cultivable protease-producing bacteria and of bacterial extracellular proteases in the sediments of Maxwell Bay, King George Island, Antarctica was investigated. The cultivable protease-producing bacteria reached 10⁵ cells/g in all 8 sediment samples. The cultivated protease-producing bacteria were mainly affiliated with the phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria, and the predominant genera were Bacillus (22.9%), Flavobacterium (21.0%) and Lacinutrix (16.2%). Among these strains, Pseudoalteromonas and Flavobacteria showed relatively high protease production. Inhibitor analysis showed that nearly all the extracellular proteases from the bacteria were serine proteases or metalloproteases. These results begin to address the diversity of protease-producing bacteria and bacterial extracellular proteases in the sediments of the Antarctic Sea.     

In search of partners: linking extracellular proteases to substrates

Proteases function as molecular switches in signalling circuits at the cell surface and in the extracellular milieu. In light of the many proteases that are encoded by the genome, and the even larger number of bioactive substrates, it is crucial to identify which proteases cleave a particular substrate and which substrates individual proteases cleave. Elucidating the substrate degradomes of proteases will help us to understand the function of proteases in development and disease and to validate proteases as drug targets.     

嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌胞外蛋白酶功能研究进展

嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas maltophilia)是广泛分布于自然界的革兰氏阴性杆菌。作为一种新型、与高死亡率相关的条件致病菌,嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌能够导致人类或其他生物感染多种疾病。近年来,越来越多的研究结果显示来自于细菌的胞外蛋白酶是导致宿主发病的关键蛋白质。因此,探究嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌胞外蛋白酶的组成成分和功能将不仅有助于阐明其致病机制,更为今后以其为靶点进行临床治疗奠定基础。本文试图对嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌胞外蛋白酶的性质、功能及其应用进行归纳总结。     

Extracellular proteases of Staphylococcus spp

Bacterial proteases secreted into an infected host may exhibit a wide range of pathogenic potentials. Staphylococci, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, are known to produce several extracellular proteases, including serine-, cysteine- and metalloenzymes. Their insensitivity to most human plasma protease inhibitors and, even more, the ability to inactivate some of these make the proteases potentially harmful. Indeed, several recent studies have shown that staphylococcal proteases are able to interact with the host defense mechanisms and tissue components as well as to modify other pathogen-derived virulence factors. A tight, cell density-dependent control of proteolytic activity expression, similar to that of the well-defined virulence determinants, further suggests the role of staphylococcal proteases in the infection process. Consistently, alterations in coordinated expression of extracellular proteins markedly diminished the virulence. However, despite these data and the fact that a strain deficient in sspABC operon coding for serine (sspA) and cysteine (sspB) proteases was highly attenuated in virulence in the animal infection model, it was impossible to unambiguously demonstrate the importance of any particular protease as a virulence factor. Therefore, it can be assumed that the orchestrated expression and interaction of a variety of extracellular and cell surface proteins rather than any particular one is responsible for the staphylococcal pathogenicity and that the proteases apparently play an important role in this complex process. Such redundant mechanism is very well suited for promoting the survival of staphylococci under diverse environmental conditions encountered in the infected host.     

Extracellular and membrane-bound proteases from Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis YY88 synthesizes increased amounts of extracellular and membrane-bound proteases. More than 99% of the extracellular protease activity is accounted for by an alkaline serine protease and a neutral metalloprotease. An esterase having low protease activity accounts for less than 1% of the secreted protease. These enzymes were purified to homogeneity. Molecular weights of approximately 28,500 and 39,500 were determined for the alkaline and neutral proteases, respectively. The esterase had a molecular weight of approximately 35,000. Amino-terminal amino acid sequences were determined, and the actions of a number of inhibitors were examined. Membrane vesicles contained bound forms of alkaline and neutral proteases and a group of previously undetected proteases (M proteases). Membrane-bound proteases were extracted with Triton X-100. Membrane-bound alkaline and neutral proteases were indistinguishable from the extracellular enzymes by the criteria of molecular weight, immunoprecipitation, and sensitivity to inhibitors. The M protease fraction accounted for approximately 7% of the total activity in Triton X-100 extracts of membrane vesicles. The M protease fraction was partially fractionated into four species (M1 through M4) by ion-exchange chromatography. Immunoprecipitation and sensitivity to inhibitors distinguished membrane-bound alkaline and neutral proteases from M proteases. In contrast to alkaline and neutral proteases, proteases M2 and M3 exhibited exopeptidase activity.