Possible role of calcium in the formation of active extracellular proteinase by Pseudomonas fluorescens

The requirement for calcium during synthesis of extracellular proteinase by Pseudomonas fluorescens B52 was examined. Synthesis was monitored using cells resuspended at high density in fresh growth medium. Optimum enzyme production was found with cells grown to mid-logarithmic phase in mineral salts medium containing calcium chloride (1.0 mmol/l). Inhibition of synthesis by EDTA addition was rapid, similar to the effect produced by chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of translation. Appearance of enzyme initiated by calcium addition to depleted cells was rapid and was dependent on de novo protein synthesis. Sephadex G-100 chromatography of L-[4,5-3H]leucine-labelled cell-free supernatant liquids revealed that, in the absence of calcium, a low molecular weight (12000-14000 daltons) irreversibly inactive 'precursor' of the proteinase was formed. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that calcium is required for structural integrity of the proteinase as well as for activity.     

Transformation of rat liver cell line by Rous sarcoma virus causes loss of cell surface fibronectin, accompanied with secretion of metallo-proteinase that preferentially digests the fibronectin

An epithelial cell line derived from the liver of a normal Buffalo rat (BRL) was transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). The RSV-transformed cells were separated into five clones (RSV-BRL1 through 5), which were morphologically different. RSV-BRL cells exhibited the following characteristics distinct from those of BRL cells: tumorigenicity, irregular cell arrangement, loose intercellular junction, growth in soft agar (anchorage-independent growth) except for RSV-BRL3 and 5, and loss of cell surface fibronectin. When BRL cells were cultured in the standard medium supplemented with the serum-free conditioned medium of RSV-BRL cells, the amount of the cell surface fibronectin decreased significantly. It was found that RSV-BRL cells secreted a proteinase capable of hydrolyzing the fibronectin, whereas BRL cells secreted hardly any of this proteinase. The fibronectin-hydrolyzing proteinase (FNase) could also hydrolyze plasma fibronectin added as an exogenous substrate. The hydrolysis of plasma fibronectin was inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetate, but stimulated by rho-chloromercuribenzoate and calcium ion. This indicates that FNase is a metallo-enzyme, but not a serine or thiol enzyme. In addition to the proteinase, RSV-BRL cells secreted plasminogen activator and a proteinase inhibitor which inhibited the activity of plasmin but not FNase.     

Nutritional requirements and nitrogen-dependent regulation of proteinase activity of Lactobacillus helveticus CRL 1062

The nutritional requirements of Lactobacillus helveticus CRL 1062 were determined with a simplified chemically defined medium (SCDM) and compared with those of L. helveticus CRL 974 (ATCC 15009). Both strains were found to be prototrophic for alanine, glycine, asparagine, glutamine, and cysteine. In addition, CRL 1062 also showed prototrophy for lysine and serine. The microorganisms also required riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxal, nicotinic acid, and uracil for growth in liquid SCDM. The growth rate and the synthesis of their cell membrane-bound serine proteinases, but not of their intracellular leucyl-aminopeptidases, were influenced by the peptide content of the medium. The highest proteinase levels were found during cell growth in basal SCDM, while the synthesis of this enzyme was inhibited in SCDM supplemented with Casitone, Casamino Acids, or beta-casein. Low-molecular-mass peptides (<3,000 Da), extracted from Casitone, and the dipeptide leucylproline (final concentration, 5 mM) play important roles in the medium-dependent regulation of proteinase activity. The addition of the dipeptide leucylproline (5 mM) to SCDM reduced proteinase activity by 25%.     

RAT BRAIN STEM TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE: MECHANISM OF ACTIVATION BY CALCIUM

Abstract— The activity of soluble tryptophan hydroxylase from rat brain stem was increased in presence of mm concentrations of calcium. Similarly to that observed by treating the enzyme with sodium dodecyl sulphate or trypsin, this activation resulted mainly from an increased affinity of tryptophan hydroxylase for both its substrate, tryptophan, and the cofactor 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridine (6-MPH₄). In addition, the optimal pH for the enzymic activity was shifted from 7.6 to 7.9 following activation by calcium, sodium dodecyl sulphate or trypsin.
Under the assay conditions used for measuring tryptophan hydroxylase activity, calcium also stimulated a neutral proteinase. This latter enzyme could be eliminated from the solution of tryptophan hydroxylase by filtration through Sephadex G 200. The resulting partially purified tryptophan hydroxylase could be activated by calcium only when the neutral proteinase was included in the assay mixture. In support of this conclusion, the effect of calcium on tryptophan hydroxylase was very small in the new born rat when the activity of the neutral proteinase was low. In addition, the activating effect of Ca²⁺ could be antagonized not only by a chelating agent like EGTA but also (partially) by specific inhibitors of proteinases such as benzethonium and PMSF.
These results strongly suggest that the activation of tryptophan hydroxylase by calcium is the consequence of a partial proteolysis of the enzyme by the calcium-dependent neutral proteinase. Therefore, the physiological significance of this irreversible effect is doubtful.     

Calmodulin stimulates DNA synthesis by rat liver cells

Incubation in low (0.02 mM)-calcium medium prevented T51B rat liver cells from initiating DNA synthesis. Raising the calcium concentration in the medium from 0.02 to 1.25 mM caused these arrested cells to initiate DNA synthesis 1–2 hours later. The possibility of this rapid DNA-synthetic response to calcium addition being mediated through Ca-calmodulin complexes was suggested by the following observations: It was blocked by the putative Ca-calmodulin blockers chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine; the trifluoperazine-inhibited cells were stimulated by purified rat calmodulin; and purified rat calmodulin itself (10^?7 to 10^?6 moles/l) mimicked calcium action, unless the already low ionic calcium concentration in the calcium-deficient medium was reduced further by adding the specific calcium chelator EGTA.     

The effect of nitrogen and carbon sources on proteinase production by Pseudomonas fluorescens

Some factors influencing the production of an extracellular proteinase by Pseudomonas fluorescens NCDO 2085 were studied. Proteinase production was optimal at 20C and pH 69 in static culture when calcium was included in the medium. Proteinase was not detectable in basal medium but could be induced by organic nitrogen compounds. The proteinase was produced in the exponential phase of growth on protein substrates but not until early stationary phase during growth on amino acids. The organism did not utilize lactose, the most abundant carbohydrate in milk. Citrate was readily utilized as an energy source but had a strong repressive effect on proteinase production. A medium containing sodium caseinate and pyruvate supported good growth and enzyme production. All the amino acids utilized as a sole carbon source, with the exception of serine, could induce proteinase production. Asparagine was the most effective amino acid inducer. Particular combinations of amino acids could induce or repress proteinase production. The regulation of proteinase production by Ps. fluorescens NCDO 2085 appears to be based on a balance between induction by low concentrations of low molecular weight degradation products and sensitivity to end product catabolite repression. The results suggest that the function of the proteinase is to ensure a supply of carbon rather than amino acids for protein synthesis.     

The effect of nitrogen and carbon sources on proteinase production by Pseudomonas fluorescens

Some factors influencing the production of an extracellular proteinase by Pseudomonas fluorescens NCDO 2085 were studied. Proteinase production was optimal at 20 degrees C and pH 6.9 in static culture when calcium was included in the medium. Proteinase was not detectable in basal medium but could be induced by organic nitrogen compounds. The proteinase was produced in the exponential phase of growth on protein substrates but not until early stationary phase during growth on amino acids. The organism did not utilize lactose, the most abundant carbohydrate in milk. Citrate was readily utilized as an energy source but had a strong repressive effect on proteinase production. A medium containing sodium caseinate and pyruvate supported good growth and enzyme production. All the amino acids utilized as a sole carbon source, with the exception of serine, could induce proteinase production. Asparagine was the most effective amino acid inducer. Particular combinations of amino acids could induce or repress proteinase production. The regulation of proteinase production by Ps. fluorescens NCDO 2085 appears to be based on a balance between induction by low concentrations of low molecular weight degradation products and sensitivity to end product catabolite repression. The results suggest that the function of the proteinase is to ensure a supply of carbon rather than amino acids for protein synthesis.     

Nutritional Requirements and Nitrogen-Dependent Regulation of Proteinase Activity of Lactobacillus helveticus CRL 1062

The nutritional requirements of Lactobacillus helveticus CRL 1062 were determined with a simplified chemically defined medium (SCDM) and compared with those of L. helveticus CRL 974 (ATCC 15009). Both strains were found to be prototrophic for alanine, glycine, asparagine, glutamine, and cysteine. In addition, CRL 1062 also showed prototrophy for lysine and serine. The microorganisms also required riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxal, nicotinic acid, and uracil for growth in liquid SCDM. The growth rate and the synthesis of their cell membrane-bound serine proteinases, but not of their intracellular leucyl-aminopeptidases, were influenced by the peptide content of the medium. The highest proteinase levels were found during cell growth in basal SCDM, while the synthesis of this enzyme was inhibited in SCDM supplemented with Casitone, Casamino Acids, or β-casein. Low-molecular-mass peptides (<3,000 Da), extracted from Casitone, and the dipeptide leucylproline (final concentration, 5 mM) play important roles in the medium-dependent regulation of proteinase activity. The addition of the dipeptide leucylproline (5 mM) to SCDM reduced proteinase activity by 25%.     

Stability and Specificity of the Cell Wall-Associated Proteinase from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris H2 Released by Treatment with Lysozyme in the Presence of Calcium Ions

The cell wall-associated proteinase from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris H2 (isolate number 4409) was released from the cells by treatment with lysozyme, even in the presence of 50 mM calcium chloride. Cell lysis during lysozyme treatment was minimal. The proteinase activity released by lysozyme treatment fractionated on ion-exchange chromatography as three main forms, the molecular masses of which were determined by gel exclusion chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two of the enzyme forms released, 137 and 145 kDa, were the same as those released by incubation of cells in calcium-free phosphate buffer. In the presence of calcium, lysozyme treatment also resulted in the release of a 180-kDa enzyme molecule. The total proteinase activity released by lysozyme treatment (in the presence or absence of calcium) was not only greater than that released by phosphate buffer but was also greater than that initially detectable on the surface of whole cells, suggesting an unmasking of enzyme on the cell surface. The presence of calcium during release treatment resulted in increased stability of the crude enzyme preparations. For the proteinase preparation released by using lysozyme with 50 mM CaCl₂, the half-life of proteinase activity at 37°C was 39 h, compared with 0.22 h for the calcium-free phosphate buffer-released preparation. In all cases, maximum stability was observed at pH 5.5. Comparison of β-casein hydrolysis by the three forms of the enzyme showed that the products of short-term (5- to 30-min) digestions were very similar, although subtle differences were detected with the 180-kDa form.     

Stimulation of proteinase biosynthesis by canavanine in streptococcus faecalis var. liquefaciens

l-Canavanine, an analogue of arginine, was found to stimulate the synthesis of an extracellular proteinase in Streptococcus faecalis var. liquefaciens. Cells grown in a synthetic medium containing 10(-4)m arginine and 10(-4)m canavanine produced almost twice as much proteinase as cells grown in 2 x 10(-3)m arginine alone; total growth was the same in both media. Hydrolyzed proteinase samples were analyzed for arginine and canavanine by means of paper chromatography and electrophoresis. Arginine, but not canavanine, was detected in the purified enzyme sample.     

The tumor promoter 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induces ornithine decarboxylase in proliferating basal cells but not in differentiating cells from mouse epidermis

The cultivation of mouse epidermal cells in medium of reduced calcium concentration (0.02–0.1 mM) selects for basal cell growth. Elevation of medium calcium levels above 0.1 mM results in rapid and well defined differentiative changes. This model was utilized to determine which cell type in mouse epidermis responds to the phorbol ester tumor promoter, 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), by an induction of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Previous data had shown that TPA induces ODC in primary mouse epidermal cells only during the first 36 hr after plating in medium containing 1.44 mM Ca²⁺. In contrast, the induction in cells grown in low calcium medium was 2–10-fold greater, and inducibility persisted for at least 4 weeks. The greater inducibility of ODC in low calcium cells is not paralleled by increased thymidine incorporation after TPA treatment, probably because these cells are already proliferating at a maximum rate. When low calcium cells grown in 0.07 mM Ca²⁺ medium were switched to 1.2 mM Ca²⁺, there was a rapid loss of ODC inducibility. These results strongly suggest that the basal cells of the epidermis constitute the major target cells for the induction of ODC by TPA. The induction of ODC by ultraviolet light was not enhanced by growth of cells in low calcium medium, indicating that extracellular calcium concentration per se does not determine ODC inducibility. When epidermal cells grown in 1.2 mM or 0.07 mM Ca²⁺ medium were exposed to both UV light and TPA, there was a significant synergistic effect of combined treatment over the sum of each individual response, suggesting that factors in addition to differentiation determine the extent of ODC induction.     

Mechanism of Excretion of a Bacterial Proteinase: Factors Controlling Accumulation of the Extracellular Proteinase of a Sarcina Strain (Coccus P)

It has been known that the extracellular proteinase of Coccus P is found only in cultures grown in the presence of Ca²⁺. It is now shown that this cation is required neither for synthesis, excretion, or activation of a zymogen nor as a prosthetic factor necessary for enzymatic activity. The only function of Ca²⁺ is to stabilize the active structure of the enzyme molecule, presumably by substituting for absence of S-S bridges. In the absence of Ca²⁺, the excreted proteinase undergoes rapid autodigestion and, instead of the active protein, its hydrolytic products are accumulated in the culture fluid. In minimal medium and under conditions of enzyme stability [presence of Ca²⁺ and Ficoll (Pharmacia)], Coccus P accumulates the proteinase at a gradually reduced speed although the rate of cultural growth remains constant. It is shown that this decline in rate of accumulation is caused by the excreted proteinase itself, possibly acting on its own precursor emerging from the cell in a form susceptible to proteolytic attack and not amenable to Ca²⁺ protection. A proteinase precursor is actually demonstrable in a calciumless culture at the onset of the enzyme accumulation which follows Ca²⁺ addition. It is suggested that excreted proteins require an unfolded (or incompletely folded) structure to cross the cell envelope.     

Various characteristics of growth kinetics and exohydrolase synthesis in Aspergillus foetidus and Zygofabospora marxiana

The kinetics of growth and synthesis of exohydrolases (polygalacturonases and proteinases) were studied in Aspergillus foetidus and Zygofabospora marxiana. The processes of growth and synthesis of polygalacturonases were found to be shifted in time. Endopolymethylgalacturonase of the micromycete and endopolygalacturonase of the yeast are not accumulated in the cells, but are mainly secreted into the growth medium. The maximal value of polygalacturonase bound to the cell coincides with the maximal rate of synthesis of the enzyme secreted into the medium and with the maximal level of cell-bound alkaline and acid proteinases. The activity of alkaline proteinase is not found in the growth medium of the cultures, and only traces of acid proteinase were detected. It is possible that proteinase are involved in processing of endopolygalacturonases.     

The production of extracellular thermostable neutral proteinase and α-amylase byBacillus stearothermophilus

Summary Extracellular thermostable neutral proteinase was produced byBacillus stearothermophilus strains NCIB 8924 and NRRL B-3880 growing at 55°C. The formation and stabilization of this proteinase was found to be dependent on the concentration of free calcium ions. Therefore, procedures that removed free calcium ions from the medium, such as the use of phosphate buffer, resulted in a lower production of proteinase. The calcium-deficient proteinase was denaturated or adsorbed by calcium phosphate compounds. During the sterilization procedure of the culture medium, the CaCO₃ precipitation, caused by the removal of CO₂, influenced the amount of proteinase produced in a phosphate buffered medium made with tap water. An improved medium without phosphate buffer was used for 10 and 300 l batch cultivations and the calcium requirement for proteinase formation by the two strains was determined.     

The secreted aspartate proteinase of Candida albicans: physiology of secretion and virulence of a proteinase-deficient mutant

It was established that Candida albicans grew rapidly in a simple medium containing yeast extract (0.2%, w/v) plus glucose (2%, w/v). These cultures were in or near to a state of nitrogen limitation and the concentration of secreted aspartate proteinase increased rapidly (within 3-4 h) on addition of BSA. Synthesis and secretion were apparently controlled both positively (induction by albumin or, more probably, the peptides produced from it) and negatively (repression by NH4Cl). A small intracellular pool of the enzyme was detected during production of the enzyme and this pool decreased with the cessation of synthesis and secretion. A stable mutant, IR24, was isolated which secreted less than 0.3% of the amount of the proteinase exported by the parent strain ATCC 10261. The LD50 values for mutant IR24 and the parent strain administered intravenously to mice were greater than 1.0 x 10(9) and 1.6 x 10(6) c.f.u. kg-1 respectively.     

Enzymes secreted by filamentous fungi: regulation of secretion and purification of an extracellular protease of Trichoderma harzianum

Extracellular proteases secreted by the filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum have been identified. A proteinase active towards Z-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNa--the substrate of subtilisin-like proteases--dominated in the culture medium. This proteinase is synthesized de novo in response to addition of a protein substrate to the medium. Changing the carbohydrate in the culture medium changed the quantitative and qualitative spectrum of secreted enzymes. The most active extracellular proteinase of Trichoderma harzianum was purified 322-foldfrom the culture medium and obtained with a yield of 7.2%. The molecular mass of this proteinase is 73 kD and its pI is 5.35. The isolated enzyme has two distinct activity maxima, at pH 7.5 and 10.0, and is stable in the pH range 6.0-11.0. The temperature optimum for enzyme activity is 40 degrees C at pH 8. 0. The proteinase is stable up to 45-50 degrees C (depending on the substrate used). Calcium ions stabilized the enzyme at 55-60 degrees C. According to data on the study of functional groups of the active center and substrate specificity, the enzyme isolated from the culture medium of Trichoderma harzianum is a subtilisin-like serine proteinase.     

Increase in proteinase activity in the cellular slime mould Polysphondylium pallidum induced by bacteria

Abstract Polysphondylium pallidum strain PPHU8 grown in association with bacteria contains aspartic and cysteine proteinases. When myxamoebae were grown in axenic medium the contribution of cysteine proteinases was much lower. The proteinase activity could be altered by addition of heat-killed bacteria to axenically growing cells. This was detected as an increase in the specific activity towards N -benzoyl-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine- p -nitroanilide, a cysteine proteinase substrate, and by the appearance of cysteine proteinase bands after electrophoretic analysis. The changes were inhibited by cycloheximide, azide and dinitrophenol. All the available evidence suggests that they are due to the de novo synthesis of cysteine proteinases.     

Lipoprotein lipase of cultured mesenchymal rat heart cells. I. Synthesis, secretion and releasability by heparin

Cell suspensions prepared from rat hearts were separated by replating into F1, F2 and M cultures, and cultured for 3--11 days. Lipoprotein lipase activity was highest in the F1 cultures which consisted mainly of non-beating, mesenchymal cells. The enzyme activity was released into the medium only after addition of heparin. The release occurred by an initial rapid phase and a continuous slow phase. Both the rapid and the slow release of enzyme activity by heparin were inhibited by about 70% after a 4 h pretreatment with colchicine. Thus, it seems that the vesicular transport is responsible for the translocation of lipoprotein lipase to the cell surface also during the slow process of release. The residual activity in the colchicine treated cultures was higher than in the controls indicating that no inhibition of enzyme synthesis occurred. The slow phase of enzyme release continued also after removal of heparin from the medium but was reduced markedly when protein synthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide. Thus the increase in total enzyme activity encountered after exposure to heparin resulted from stimulation of new enzyme synthesis. The half-time of lipoprotein lipase in the F1 cultures was 35 min and full restoration of enzyme activity was found 60 min after complete removal of cycloheximide from the system. These data indicate that the culture system can be used to study regulation of new enzyme synthesis and its turnover.