Protein deamidase from germinating wheat grains.

A new enzyme catalyzing the deamidation of seed storage proteins was found in germinating wheat grains and was partially purified. It also acts on egg lysozyme, horse hemoglobin and reduced RNAse, glutamine and Gly-L-Gln-L-Tyr. No activity was observed when using ovalbumin, serum albumin, RNAse, insulin, asparagine and an asparagine-containing peptide. Only glutaminyl residues appear to be deamidated by this enzyme. It differs from transglutaminase and proved to be a true protein deamidase.     

A membrane-bound metallo-endopeptidase from rat kidney. Characteristics of its hydrolysis of peptide hormones and neuropeptides.

A membrane-bound metallo-endopeptidase that hydrolyzes human parathyroid hormone (1-84) and reduced hen egg lysozyme between hydrophilic amino acid residues was isolated from rat kidney [Yamaguchi et al. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 200, 563-571]. In this study, the hydrolyses of various peptide hormones and neuropeptides by the metallo-endopeptidase were examined using an automated gas-phase protein sequencer. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed the oxidized insulin B chain and substance P most rapidly, followed by big endothelin 1, neurotensin, angiotensin 1, endothelin 1, rat alpha-atrial natriuretic peptide and bradykinin, in this order. The enzyme mainly cleaved these peptides at bonds involving a hydrophilic amino acid residue. However, it cleaved bonds between less hydrophilic amino acid pairs in several short peptides, e.g. at the His5-Leu6 bond in oxidized insulin B chain, the Ile28-Val29 bond in big endothelin-1 and the Ile5-His6 and Phe8-His9 bonds in angiotensin 1. The enzyme cleavage sites of oxidized insulin B chain and angiotensin 1 were different from the reported sites cleaved by meprin and by endopeptidase 2, respectively. Kinetic determination of bradykinin hydrolysis by the purified enzyme yielded values of Km = 18.1 microM and kcat = 0.473 s-1, giving a ratio of kcat/Km = 2.62 x 10(4) s-1.M-1. The Km value was about 20-fold lower than that reported for meprin and endopeptidase 2. These results indicate that the membrane-bound metallo-endopeptidase from rat kidney is distinguished from meprin and endopeptidase 2 in its substrate specificity and is not parathyroid hormone specific, but has potential capacities to inactivate various biologically active peptide hormones and neuropeptides in vivo.     

Proteinase Enzyme System of Lactic Streptococci III. Substrate Specificity of Streptococcus lactis Intracellular Proteinase

The substrate specificity of an intracellular proteinase from Streptococcus lactis was investigated in an effort to understand the role of the enzyme in the cell. Peptides in which the N-terminal residue was glycine were not hydrolyzed by the enzyme (exceptions were glycyl-alanine, glycyl-aspartic acid, and glycyl-asparagine), but the peptide was hydrolyzed if the N-terminal residue was alanine. The enzyme also showed activity toward peptides containing aspartic acid or asparagine. Hydrolysis of only the peptide bonds of alanyl, aspartyl, or asparaginyl residues was confirmed by the action of the enzyme on oxidized bovine ribonuclease A- and B- chain insulin. The N-terminal residues of the peptide fragments liberated were identified. The enzyme attacked both substrates only at alanyl, aspartyl, and asparaginyl residues, releasing these as free amino acids. In addition to alanine, aspartic acid, and asparagine, certain other amino acids were liberated from ribonuclease A, but these were accounted for by the relation of their position to alanine, aspartic acid, and asparagine residues.     

Isolation, characterization and molecular cloning of a lipolytic enzyme secreted from Malassezia pachydermatis

Lipophilic Malassezia species may induce catheter-associated sepsis in premature neonates and immunocompromised patients receiving parenteral lipid emulsions. To assess the participation of lipolytic enzymes in the pathogenesis of this yeast, we cloned a gene encoding the enzyme. A lipolytic enzyme in the culture supernatant of Malassezia pachydermatis was purified 210-fold to homogeneity. The enzyme showed high esterase activity toward p-nitrophenyl octanoate. The cDNA encoding the enzyme was cloned using a degenerate oligonucleotide primer constructed from the N-terminal amino acid sequence. The cDNA consisted of 1582 bp, including an open reading frame encoding 470 amino acids. The first 19 amino acids and the following 13 amino-acid sequence were predicted to be the signal peptides for secretion and prosequence, respectively. The predicted molecular mass of the 438-amino acid mature protein was 48 kDa. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that it contains the consensus motif (Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly), which is conserved among lipolytic enzymes. Homology investigations showed that the enzyme has similarities principally with 11 lipases produced by Candida albicans (29-34% identity) and some other yeast lipases.     

Purification, characterization, gene cloning, sequencing, and overexpression of aminopeptidase N from Streptococcus thermophilus A.

The general aminopeptidase PepN from Streptococcus thermophilus A was purified to protein homogeneity by hydroxyapatite, anion-exchange, and gel filtration chromatographies. The PepN enzyme was estimated to be a monomer of 95 kDa, with maximal activity on N-Lys-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin at pH 7 and 37 degrees C. It was strongly inhibited by metal chelating agents, suggesting that it is a metallopeptidase. The activity was greatly restored by the bivalent cations Co2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+. Except for proline, glycine, and acidic amino acid residues, PepN has a broad specificity on the N-terminal amino acid of small peptides, but no significant endopeptidase activity has been detected. The N-terminal and short internal amino acid sequences of purified PepN were determined. By using synthetic primers and a battery of PCR techniques, the pepN gene was amplified, subcloned, and further sequenced, revealing an open reading frame of 2,541 nucleotides encoding a protein of 847 amino acids with a molecular weight of 96,252. Amino acid sequence analysis of the pepN gene translation product shows high homology with other PepN enzymes from lactic acid bacteria and exhibits the signature sequence of the zinc metallopeptidase family. The pepN gene was cloned in a T7 promoter-based expression plasmid and the 452-fold overproduced PepN enzyme was purified to homogeneity from the periplasmic extract of the host Escherichia coli strain. The overproduced enzyme showed the same catalytic characteristics as the wild-type enzyme.     

Gene cloning and characterization of a Bacillus vietnamensis metalloprotease

A Bacillus vietnamensis metalloprotease (BVMP) with high affinity toward collagen was isolated and purified from the culture supernatant of Bacillus vietnamensis 11-4 occurring in Vietnamese fish sauces. The BVMP gene was cloned and its nucleotide and coded amino acid sequences determined. BVMP consists of 547 amino acid residues, with the zinc-binding sites conserved in common metalloproteases. It shares 57% amino acid identity with thermolysin originating from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus. The three-dimensional structure of BVMP was deduced by computer-aided modeling with the use of the known three-dimensional thermolysin structure as a template. Like thermolysin, BVMP cleaved the oxidized insulin B-chain at the peptide bonds involving the N-terminal sides of hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids. BVMP also showed high hydrolytic activity toward gelatin, collagen, casein, and elastin, especially toward the skeletal proteins at increased NaCl concentration. The high activity was found to be due to enhanced affinity to the substrates. Kinetical data on BVMP indicated that the Km values for the hydrolysis of Cbz-GPGGPA as a collagen model decreased as the concentration of added NaCl increased. Some contribution of this enzyme during the aging of fish sauces at high salt concentrations can thus be expected.     

The primary structure of porcine liver acylamino acid-releasing enzyme deduced from cDNA sequences

Two overlapping cloned cDNAs encoding the entire amino acid sequences of the subunits of acylamino acid-releasing enzyme (AARE) [EC 3.4.19.1] have been isolated from porcine liver cDNA lambda gt10 cDNA libraries and sequenced. Sequence analyses of the cDNA and several Achromobacter protease I-digested peptides of the purified protein revealed that porcine liver AARE consists of four identical subunits, and each comprising a single chain of 732 amino acids with acetylmethionine at the N-terminus.     

Some Enzymatic Properties and Substrate Specificities of Peptidoglutaminase-I and II

Some enzymatic properties and substrate specificities of the two peptidoglutaminases (peptidoglutaminase-I (PGase-I) and II (PGase-II) isolated from Bacillus circulans were investigated.

The both resembled each other with respect to optimum pH and temperature for their activities, susceptibility to various reagents and effects of many metal ions. But, the pH-rate profile of PGase-II was more broad than that of PGase-I. Thermal stability of PGase-I was better than that of PGase-II at a degree of about 5°C.

However, they were definitively different each other with respect to their substrate specificities. PGase-I specifically deamidated the γ-amide of L-glutamine residing at the carboxyl terminal on peptides, and was inactive to glutamine derivative substituted at both α-amino and α-carboxyl groups. On the other hand, the best substrate for PGase-II was tri-peptides, X-Gln-Y, where X was carbobenzoxy-,t-amyloxycarbonxy- or amino acid residues, and Y was amino acids. Though L-glutamine presented in polypeptide chains composed of more than four amino acid residues was a poor substrate, two L-glutamines in oxidized insulin A chain were well attacked by the enzyme.

The both PGase were inactive to asparagine and asparaginyl peptides.     

蛋白质谷氨酰胺酶的发酵及初步分离和应用研究

研究了不同发酵条件对于产吲哚金黄杆菌（Chryseobacterium indologenes）生产蛋白质谷氨酰胺酶能力的影响,酶的分离和初步的应用。通过考察种子的生长曲线,发酵的温度、转速、摇瓶装液量,碳源和氮源,得出最大产酶能力的发酵条件为：30℃,200r/min,装液量25ml/250ml,蔗糖为碳源,多聚蛋白胨为氮源,发酵10~12h。初步分离研究表明在4倍超滤浓缩和4倍乙醇沉淀条件下,酶活力回收率均为最高,分别为84.99%和76.07%。该酶与酪蛋白37℃温育2h时,酪蛋白的脱酰胺度为41.03%,到24h后,脱酰胺度不再增加,并且酪蛋白的溶解性也有所增加。     

Purification and characterization of a thermostable proteinase isolated from Thermus sp. strain Rt41A.

Thermus sp. strain Rt41A produces an extracellular thermostable alkaline proteinase. The enzyme has a high isoelectric point (10.25-10.5) which can be exploited in purification by using cation-exchange chromatography. The proteinase was purified to homogeneity and has a molecular mass of 32.5 kDa by SDS/PAGE. It is a glycoprotein, containing 0.7% carbohydrate as glucose equivalents, and has four half-cystine residues present as two disulphide bonds. Maximum proteolytic activity was observed at pH 8.0 against azocasein and greater than 75% of this activity was retained in the pH range 7.0-10.0. Substrate inhibition was observed with casein and azocasein. The enzyme was stable in the pH range 5.0-10.0 and maximum activity, in a 10-min assay, was observed at 90 degrees C with 5 mM CaCl2 present. No loss of activity was observed after 24 h at 70 degrees C and the half-lives at 80 degrees C and 90 degrees C were 13.5 h and 20 min, respectively. Removal of Ca2+ reduced the temperature for maximum proteolytic activity against azocasein to 60 degrees C and the half-life at 70 degrees C was 2.85 min. The enzyme was stable at low and high ionic strength and in the presence of denaturing reagents and organic solvents. Rt41A proteinase cleaved a number of synthetic amino acid p-nitrophenol esters, the kinetic data indicating that small aliphatic or aromatic amino acids were the preferred residue at the P1 position. The kinetic data for the hydrolysis of a number of peptide p-nitroanilide substrates are also reported. Primary cleavage of the oxidized insulin B chain occurred at sites where the P1' amino acid was aromatic. Minor cleavage sites (24 h incubation) were for amino acids with aliphatic side chains at the P1' position. The esterase and insulin cleavage data indicate the specificity is similar for both the P1 and P1' sites.     

Purification, Characterization, and Genetic Analysis of Cu-Containing Dissimilatory Nitrite Reductase from a Denitrifying Halophilic Archaeon, Haloarcula marismortui

Cu-containing dissimilatory nitrite reductase (CuNiR) was purified from denitrifying cells of a halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula marismortui. The purified CuNiR appeared blue in the oxidized state, possessing absorption peaks at 600 and 465 nm in the visible region. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy suggested the presence of type 1 Cu (g(II) = 2.232; A(II) = 4.4 mT) and type 2 Cu centers (g(II) = 2.304; A(II) = 13.3 mT) in the enzyme. The enzyme contained two subunits, whose apparent molecular masses were 46 and 42 kDa, according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis indicated that the two subunits were identical, except that the 46-kDa subunit was 16 amino acid residues longer than the 42-kDa subunit in the N-terminal region. A nirK gene encoding the CuNiR was cloned and sequenced, and the deduced amino acid sequence with a residual length of 361 amino acids was homologous (30 to 41%) with bacterial counterparts. Cu-liganding residues His-133, Cys-174, His-182, and Met-187 (for type 1 Cu) and His-138, His-173, and His-332 (for type 2 Cu) were conserved in the enzyme. As generally observed in the halobacterial enzymes, the enzymatic activity of the purified CuNiR was enhanced during increasing salt concentration and reached its maximum in the presence of 2 M NaCl with the value of 960 microM NO(2)(-) x min(-1) x mg(-1).     

Molecular cloning, sequencing, and expression of the gene encoding alkaline ceramidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cloning of a ceramidase homologue from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

We previously reported the purification and characterization of a novel type of alkaline ceramidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain AN17 (Okino, N., Tani, M., Imayama, S., and Ito, M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 14368-14373). Here, we report the molecular cloning, sequencing, and expression of the gene encoding the ceramidase of this strain. Specific oligonucleotide primers were synthesized using the peptide sequences of the purified ceramidase obtained by digestion with lysylendopeptidase and used for polymerase chain reaction. DNA fragments thus amplified were used as probes to clone the gene encoding the ceramidase from a genomic library of strain AN17. The open reading frame of 2,010 nucleotides encoded a polypeptide of 670 amino acids including a signal sequence of 24 residues, 64 residues of which matched the amino acid sequence determined for the purified enzyme. The molecular weight of the mature enzyme was estimated to be 70,767 from the deduced amino acid sequence. Expression of the ceramidase gene in Escherichia coli, resulted in production of a soluble enzyme with the identical N-terminal amino acid sequence. Recombinant ceramidase was purified to homogeneity from the lysate of E. coli cells and confirmed to be identical to the Pseudomonas enzyme in its specificity and other enzymatic properties. No significant sequence similarities were found in other known functional proteins including human acid ceramidase. However, we found a sequence homologous to the ceramidase in hypothetical proteins encoded in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Dictyostelium discoideum, and Arabidopsis thaliana. The homologue of the ceramidase gene was thus cloned from an M. tuberculosis cosmid and expressed in E. coli, and the gene was demonstrated to encode an alkaline ceramidase. This is the first report for the cloning of an alkaline ceramidase.     

Purification and characterization of aspartic proteinase from sunflower seeds

Aspartic proteinases were purified from sunflower seed extracts by affinity chromatography on a pepstatin A-EAH Sepharose column and by Mono Q column chromatography. The final preparation contained three purified fractions. SDS-PAGE showed that one of the fractions consisted of disulfide-bonded subunits (29 and 9 kDa), and the other two fractions contained noncovalently bound subunits (29 and 9 kDa). These purified enzymes showed optimum pH for hemoglobinolytic activity at pH 3.0 and were completely inhibited by pepstatin A like other typical aspartic proteinases. Sunflower enzymes showed more restricted specificity on oxidized insulin B chain and glucagon than other aspartic proteinases. The cDNA coding for an aspartic proteinase was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that the mature enzyme consisted of 440 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 47,559 Da. The difference between the molecular size of purified enzymes and of the mature enzyme was due to the fact that the purified enzymes were heterodimers formed by the proteolytic processing of the mature enzyme. The derived amino acid sequence of the enzyme showed 30-78% sequence identity with that of other aspartic proteinases.     

Todarepsin, a new cathepsin D from hepatopancreas of Japanese common squid (Todarodes pacificus)

An intracellular aspartic proteinase obtained from the hepatopancreas (liver) of Japanese common squid (Todarodes pacificus) was purified to homogeneity. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 36,500 Da on SDS-PAGE, and the isoelectric point was 8.29 by isoelectric focusing. The enzyme activity was optimal at pH 3.5, pH 2.2 and pH 3.0 for the substrates acid-denatured hemoglobin, acid-denatured casein, and MOCAc-GKPILFFRLK(Dnp)-D-R-NH2, respectively. Enzyme activity decreased rapidly at 50 degrees C. The Km and kcat values of the enzyme were estimated to be 3.2 mM and 46 s(-1) with MOCAc-GKPILFFRLK(Dnp)-D-R-NH2, and 1.7 mM and 1.1 s(-1) with MOCAc-SEVNLDAEFRK(Dnp)RR-NH2. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by pepstatin A, but only partially inhibited by DAN and EPNP. The Ki values for pepstatin A, DAN and EPNP were 0.5 nM, 0.5 mM and 0.2 mM, respectively. A cDNA encoding the enzyme was cloned by RT-PCR and subjected to nucleotide sequencing. The entire open reading frame was 1179 bp and coded for a protein of 392 amino acid residues. The mature enzyme consisted of 334 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the enzyme showed a high degree of identity to the sequences of cathepsins D found in various species.     

Molecular cloning and expression of a thermostable xylose (glucose) isomerase gene, xylA, from Streptomyces chibaensis J-59

In the present study, the xylA gene encoding a thermostable xylose (glucose) isomerase was cloned from Streptomyces chibaensis J-59. The open reading frame of xylA (1167 bp) encoded a protein of 388 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of about 43 kDa. The XylA showed high sequence homology (92% identity) with that of S. olivochromogenes. The xylose (glucose) isomerase was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified recombinant XylA had an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa, which corresponds to the molecular mass calculated from the deduced amino acid and that of the purified wild-type enzyme. The N-terminal sequences (14 amino acid residues) of the purified protein revealed that the sequences were identical to that deduced from the DNA sequence of the xylA gene. The optimum temperature of the purified enzyme was 85 degrees C and the enzyme exhibited a high level of heat stability.     

Catabolic alanine racemase from Salmonella typhimurium: DNA sequence, enzyme purification, and characterization

The alanine racemase encoded by the Salmonella typhimurium dadB gene was purified to 90% homogeneity from an overproducing strain. At 37 degrees C the enzyme has a specific activity of 1400 units/mg (V max, L- to D-alanine). Active enzyme molecules are monomers of Mr 39 000 with one molecule of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate bound per subunit. The Km's for L- and D-alanine are 8.2 and 2.1 mM, respectively. Measurement of turnover numbers yielded the expected Keq value of 1.0. Determination of 22 of the 25 N-terminal amino acid residues of the purified polypeptide allowed localization of cloned DNA encoding the structural gene. Sequencing of subcloned DNA revealed that the dadB gene encodes a polypeptide of 356 amino acids whose calculated molecular weight (apoenzyme) was 39 044.     

Expression of the transglutaminase gene in Escherichia coli.

1. The cDNA gene coding for the enzyme transglutiminase (EC 2.3.2.13) was cloned into the pUC18 oriented for expression from the lac promoter. 2. DNA sequencing of the 5' end showed that the cDNA was missing the sequence coding of the N-terminal 30 amino acids. 3. The truncated gene was then cloned into pKK233-2, and the recombinant product was produced in Escherichia coli. 4. A gene construct coding for the complete protein was generated by inserting an oligonucleotide for the missing 30 amino acids into the Eco RI site of the pUC18 clone. 5. A consensus Shine-Dalgarno sequence and translational start codon were positioned at the 5' end of the linker. 6. Immunoblotting experiments of E. coli JM105(pUC18-TGase) indicated the expression of the transglutaminase gene. 7. The cell lysate as well as the partially purified transglutaminase showed no detectable enzyme activity.     

Characterization of the pcp gene of Pseudomonas fluorescens and of its product, pyrrolidone carboxyl peptidase (Pcp).

The gene pcp, encoding pyrrolidone carboxyl peptidase (Pcp), from Pseudomonas fluorescens MFO was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. This sequence contains a unique open reading frame (pcp) coding for a polypeptide of 213 amino acids (M(r) 22,441) which has significant homology to the Pcps from Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Comparison of the four Pcp sequences revealed two highly conserved motifs which may be involved in the active site of these enzymes. The cloned Pcp from P. fluorescens was purified to homogeneity and appears to exist as a dimer. This enzyme displays a Michaelis constant of 0.21 mM with L-pyroglutamyl-beta-naphthylamide as the substrate and an absolute substrate specificity towards N-terminal pyroglutamyl residues. Studies of inhibition by chemical compounds revealed that the cysteine and histidine residues are essential for enzyme activity. From their conservation in the four enzyme sequences, the Cys-144 and His-166 amino acids are proposed to form a part of the active site of these enzymes.     

Purification and properties of a neutral thiol protease from larval trematode parasite Paragonimus westermani metacercariae

1. A neutral thiol protease was isolated from the extract of larvae of the mammalian trematode parasite, Paragonimus westermani metacercariae, by arginine-Sepharose, Ultrogel AcA-54 and DEAE-toyopearl column chromatography, measuring its activity by the hydrolysis of Boc-Val-Leu-Lys-MCA as a substrate. 2. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 22,000 as a single polypeptide by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was estimated to be 20,000 by size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. 3. The activity was suppressed by antipain, E-64, leupeptin, chymostatin, N-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, but was not affected by metallo protease inhibitors or serine protease inhibitors. 4. Studies on the substrate specificity showed that the enzyme hydrolyzed Boc-Val-Leu-Lys-MCA, Z-Phe-Arg-MCA, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled collagen, azocoll and casein. 5. The enzyme was found to hydrolyze peptide bonds of oxidized insulin B chain preferentially at the carboxy side of hydrophobic and basic amino acids.