Organic Solvent-Tolerant Bacterium Which Secretes an Organic Solvent-Stable Proteolytic Enzyme

A bacterial strain which can be grown in a medium containing organic solvents and can secrete a proteolytic enzyme was isolated and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strain was derived by the following two-step procedures: high proteolytic enzyme producers were first isolated by the usual method, and then the organic solvent-tolerant microorganism was selected from these high-rate proteolytic enzyme producers. The proteolytic activity of the supernatant of the culture was stable in the presence of various organic solvents. The stability of the enzyme in the presence of organic solvents, of which the values of the logarithm of the partition coefficient (log P) were equal to or more than 3.2, was almost the same as that in the absence of organic solvents. It is expected that both the solvent-tolerant microorganism and the solvent-stable enzyme produced by this strain can be used as catalysts for reactions in the presence of organic solvents.     

Comparative study of the properties of a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the myelin of animals and from the biological fluids of disseminated sclerosis patients

A proteolytic enzyme with the activity of 8-26 U/mg protein was isolated from purified animal myelin preparation obtained by an original technique. The optimal pH of the enzyme was found to be 9.6-9.8. Its substrate specificity was studied. An enzyme with similar characteristics and identical electrophoretic mobility was isolated from the blood serum of patients with disseminated sclerosis and then purified. The major part of the enzyme activity in the blood and myelin was bound and was manifested only after special treatment. It is suggested that a similar proteolytic enzyme is present in human myelin, whose activation in demyelinating diseases may result in myelin destruction.     

Isolation and properties of enzyme preparations from the whale pancreas

A simple and convenient technique was developed for isolation of the proteolytic enzyme complexes from the whale (Balaenoptera) pancreas. The proposed techniques enables the proteolytic complexes to be obtained with the protein yield 2.6 times higher than the classical procedure. The proteolytic activity increased 3.2 times (casein as a substrate), esterase activities, 1.4 times (N-benzoyl-L-tyrosine methyl ester as a substrate) and 1.2 times (N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester as a substrate). Soybean and barley trypsin inhibitors and ovomycoid in free and immobilized state inhibit the esterase activities of the proteolytic complexes. An additional purification of the proteolytic complexes was carried out using the affinity sorbent Soybean trypsin inhibitor--Sepharose 4B. The molecular weight of the enzymes determined by means of PAAG electrophoresis was found to be 20 000-20 500. The hydrolysis of some synthetic substrates by the proteolytic enzyme complexes obtained according to the proposed techniques was being studied.     

木瓜蛋白酶PPAⅢ自水解作用

木瓜蛋白酶ＰＰＡⅢ自水解作用王秀艳,周慧,葛玉斌,李惟（吉林大学分子生物学系,长春１３００２３）ＰＰＡⅢ、ｐａｐａｉｎ、ｐｅｐｓｉｎｅ、ｓｔｅｍｂｒｏｍｅｌａｉｎ等都属于以Ｃｙｓ－ＳＨ为活性中心的酶,同种分子之间存在着一种相互切割的趋势,称为酶自水解...     

Purification and characterization of a milk clotting protease from Rhizomucor miehei

Benzamidine, an inhibitor of serine proteases, was used as an affinity ligand for the purification of aspartyl protease from culture filtrate of Rhizomucor miehei. The two step purification protocol (ion-exchange and affinity chromatography) resulted in a homogenous enzyme preparation with seven-fold purification and a final recovery of 22%. The purified enzyme was free of brown pigmentation, a factor inherently associated with the enzyme; it was stable and active at acidic pH (optimum pH 4.1 for proteolytic activity and 5.6 for milk clotting activity). The significant positive characteristic of the enzyme is its comparatively lower thermostability; the enzyme was comparable to calf rennet in its properties of thermostability, milk-clotting to proteolytic activity ratio and sensitivity to CaCl2. Limited protease digestion of the purified enzyme with proteinase K yielded a 20kDa fragment as shown by SDS–PAGE. Native gel electrophoresis of the digest showed an additional peak of activity corresponding to the 20kDa fragment on SDS–PAGE, this fragment retained both milk-clotting and proteolytic activities. It was also inhibited by pepstatin A and hence it is presumed that this fragment contained the active site of the enzyme.     

Proteolytic Enzyme Preparation from Pseudomonas fragi: Its Action on Pig Muscle

An extracellular preparation from Pseudomonas fragi with proteolytic enzyme activity was isolated, and its action on meat proteins and meat protein ultrastructure was studied. First, a suitable growth medium for proteolytic enzyme production was determined, and a method for partial purification of the proteolytically active fraction was developed. The enzyme preparation displayed optimal proteolytic activity at neutral pH and 35 C. Proteolytic activity was irreversibly lost by mild heat treatment. The enzyme preparation was tested for its ability to hydrolyze isolated pig muscle proteins. Myofibrillar protein was rapidly degraded, G-actin and myosin were broken down at a slower rate, and the sarcoplasmic proteins were least susceptible to hydrolysis. Electron micrographs of pork muscle showed that the proteolytic enzyme preparation caused a complete loss of dense material from the Z line. Similarities are discussed between the action of P. fragi extracellular proteolytic enzyme(s) on meat and normal bacterial spoilage of meat.     

Purification and properties of a proteolytic enzyme from French beans.

1. A proteolytic enzyme with some features of a carboxypeptidase has been purified some 1180-fold from the sap of French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Prince). A bright blue protein, plastocyanin, was separated from the enzyme by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. 2. Unlike carboxypeptidase A or B of animal origin, there is no evidence that the enzyme is a metalloprotein. There was no stimulation of activity by a number of metal ions, reducing agents or 2-mercapto-ethanol. Neither EDTA nor 1,10-o-phenanthroline inhibited the enzyme. 3. The proteolytic enzyme from beans, readily soluble at neutral or slightly acidic pH values, has a pH optimum of pH5.6 for the hydrolysis of leucine from benzyloxy-carbonylglycyl-l-leucine. Solutions of the enzyme in 0.1m-sodium acetate, pH5.5, lose about 2% of their activity/week at 4 degrees . Virtually no loss of activity results after prolonged storage at -15 degrees . 4. Incubation of the bean enzyme with peptides indicates that the enzyme will release acidic, neutral and basic amino acid residues as well as proline, although adjacent acidic residues in a peptide appear to inhibit the enzyme. The possibility of endopeptidase activity in the purified preparation requires further examination.     

Fungal Proteolytic Enzymes

Two kinds of proteolytic enzyme, tentatively named acid protease A and B which showed a single peak on electrophoresis individually, were isolated from the crude enzyme powder obtained from the broth filtrate cultured with Asper gillus niger var. macrosporus. Acid protease B is similar too the fungal acid protease previously reported, bccause the enzyme exhibits optimum activity on milk casein at about pH 2.6 and 55°C when the incubation was done at pH 2.6. Acid protease A is a new proteolytic enzyme, because the enzyme exhibits optimum activity on milk casein at about 2.0 and 70°C or 60°C when the incubation was done at pH 2.6 or 1.5 respectively.     

Characterization of a small proteolytic enzyme which lyses bacterial cell walls

Ensign, J. C. (University of Wisconsin, Madison), and R. S. Wolfe. Characterization of a small proteolytic enzyme which lyses bacterial cell walls. J. Bacteriol. 91:524-534. 1966.-An enzyme isolated from a myxobacter possesses both cell-wall lytic and proteolytic activity. The enzyme has been purified over 600-fold and is electrophoretically homogeneous upon cellulose acetate at several pH values and upon polyacrylamide gel columns. A single peak was obtained upon ultracentrifugation and density gradient centrifugation. Based upon Sephadex gel filtration, a molecular weight of 8,700 was determined for the enzyme. Albumin and casein were extensively degraded by the enzyme, with approximately one-third of the peptide bonds present in these proteins being hydrolyzed. The enzyme lyses cell walls by hydrolyzing peptide bonds in the glycosaminopeptide.     

Purification of a highly active protease from aMicrosporum species

A method is described for obtaining a highly active proteolytic enzyme from aMicrosporum species. This protease was purified (200-fold) from a cell-free culture medium by concentration with Carbowax, ammonium sulfate fractionation, charcoal and Celite filtration, calcium phosphate gel treatment, and column chromatography. The pH and temperature optima are 6.8 and 35 C respectively. Requirement of one or more free sulfhydryl group(s) for enzyme activity was indicated by inhibition withp-chloromercuric benzoate. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid also caused inhibition of proteolytic activity, which suggests involvement of a metal ion. The enzyme appears to be most active in the reduced form;l-cysteine and 2,3 dimercapto-l-propanol doubled the rate of activity. It has an approximate molecular weight of 51,000 to 69,000. The enzyme was highly active on all proteins examined.     

Modified properties of hexokinase from heart mitochondria prepared using proteolytic enzyme

Summary Isolation of muscle mitochondria is made easier by using proteolytic treatment of the tissue before homogenization. Normally, the proteolytic enzyme is discarded with the supernatant of the first centrifugation. However, our results show that a fraction of enzyme activity remains associated with mitochondria. As shown in experiments described in this paper, mitochondrial hexokinase from tissue treated or not with the proteolytic enzyme exhibits similar properties except that the solubilized enzyme from protease treated tissue is no longer able to rebind to mitochondrial membrane. This modification of the binding ability of the enzyme results from a partial hydrolysis of hexokinase during solubilization experiments by the proteolytic enzyme. Since, as pointed out here, proteolytic enzyme can remain associated with mitochondria, [either adsorbed on mitochondrial membrane or included in the mitochondrial pellet] its use for the isolation of muscle mitochondria should be avoided.     

Partial characterization of a nuclear proteolytic activity from fertilized sea urchin eggs

The nuclei from fertilized sea urchin eggs, obtained 80 min after fertilization, contains a neutral proteolytic activity. Optimal action on casein was observed at pH 7-8 and a Km value of 1.2 mg/ml was determined for this substrate. The proteolytic activity was stimulated 1.5 fold by the addition of 3 M urea and decreased at higher urea concentrations. NaCl and CaCl2 were inhibitory whereas MgCl2 increased the enzyme activity. Isolated histones from sea urchin sperms, and especially histones H1, H2A, H2B and H3, were degraded by the nuclear activity. A partial inhibition of histones degradation was caused by sodium bisulfite and NaCl. The proteolytic activity was found associated to the chromatin of fertilized sea urchin eggs.     

Response of type B and E Botulinum toxins to purified sulfhydryl-dependent protease produced by Clostridium botulinum type F.

A sulfhydryl-dependent protease (SHP) was purified from a culture of Clostridium botulinum type F. The enzyme can activate type E progenitor toxin completely but type B progenitor toxin only partially. This may suggest that SHP by itself could completely activate the toxin of proteolytic C. botulinum types A and F in culture. The toxicity of type E progenitor toxin potentiated by the treatment with SHP persisted, whereas that of derivative toxin decreased rapidly by further incubation with SHP. This may indicate that only the progenitor toxin, the complex of the toxic and nontoxic components, activated by SHP withstands the subsequent exposure to the enzyme in cultures of proteolytic C. botulinum.     

Characterization of a proteolytic enzyme from Lachesis muta venom (Serpentes: Viperidae).

A proteolytic enzyme from L. muta stenophrys was isolated by gel filtration on Bio Gel P-100 followed by FPLC on MONO S column. The enzyme exhibited proteolytic activity toward casein, hemoglobin and fibrinogen with a pH optimum around 10. The activity was inhibited by EDTA while trypsin inhibitors were not inhibitory. It is a glycoprotein, Mr 14 kDa with a high content of Asp, Glu, and Leu residues and a low content of Cys and Trp. The protease is devoid of myotoxic, hemorrhagic, esterolytic and amidolytic activities. It lyses the alfa and beta chains of human fibrinogen and releases kinin from L.M.W. kininogen. No release of histamine was observed upon incubation with mast cells.     

Fragmentation of a highly purified monoclonal antibody attributed to residual CHO cell protease activity

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) fragmentation can be a widespread problem across the biotechnology industry and there is a current need to better understand the underlying principles. Here, we report an example of a high-purity human IgG1 mAb prepared from CHO cells exhibiting fragmentation that can be attributed to residual proteolytic enzyme activity. The concomitant occurrence of proteolytic and non-proteolytic peptide bond cleavage is shown and the respective fragmentation patterns characterized using high-resolution LC-MS. Fragmentation rates are monitored by SE-HPLC and SDS-PAGE over the pH range 4-6 and characterized in the presence and absence of pepstatin A, an inhibitor of acidic proteases. After 20 days at 40°C, pH 4, ～60% decrease in BIIB-mAb monomer peak occurred attributed to residual proteolytic activity. At pH 5, this value was ～13%. These results have implications for formulation design studies and the interpretation of accelerated stability data. A simple method to screen for acidic protease activity using the proteolytic enzyme inhibitor pepstatin A is described.     

Proteolytic preparation from the culture of Bacillus polymyxa str. 13-13]

A proteolytic preparation has been isolated from the culture fluid filtrate Bacillus polymyxa str. 13-13 by salting out with (NH4)2SO4 (0.7 of complete saturation). The data characterizing the amino acid composition and the enzymic system of the resultant preparation are given. It has been shown that the proteolytic activity depends on the enzyme containing metal ion, i. e. metal enzyme.     

Forms of LonB protease from Archaeoglobus fulgidus devoid of the transmembrane domain: the contribution of the quaternary structure to the regulation of enzyme proteolytic activity

Deletion of the transmembrane domain (TM-domain) of Archaeoglobus flggidus LonB protease (AfLon) was shown to result in uncontrollable activation of the enzyme proteolytic site and in vivo autolysis yielding a stable and functionally inactive fragment consisting of both alpha-helical and proteolytic domains (alphaP). The deltaTM-AfLonTM-S590A enzyme form, obtained by site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic Ser residue, is capable of recombination with the alphaP fragment. The mixed oligomers were shown to be proteolytically active, which indicates a crucial role of subunit interactions in the activation of the AfLon proteolytic site. The thermophilic nature of AfLon protease was found to be due to the special features of the enzyme activity regulation, the structure of ATPase domain, and the quaternary structure.     

Proteolytic activity of a yeast cell wall lytic Arthrobacter species

AIMS: To investigate properties of the proteolytic activity of a yeast cell wall lytic soil bacterium identified as an Arthrobacter species. METHODS AND RESULTS: The organism was grown at pH 7.5 and 30 degrees C in shake flasks on media with different complex subtrates. Highest proteolytic activity assayed with azocaseine was detected in media with wheat gluten. In addition, l-leucine, l-alanine exopeptidase activity and esterase activity were found. The proteolytic activity showed stability up to pH 12, with a maximum at pH 11. The temperature optimum was at 55 degrees C, but there was a loss in enzyme activity of 50% within 2 h. The proteolytic activity was inhibited by 3,4-dichloroisocumarin, whereas there was little or no effect with EDTA, pepstatin A or E64. CONCLUSIONS: The proteolytic activity is highly alkaline stable. The formation of the enzyme can be induced by media with high protein content.     

Biochemical properties of p15-associated protease in an avian RNA tumor virus.

It was observed that the viral structural protein p15 from avian myeloblastosis virus emerges from ion-exchange column chromatography along with a proteolytic activity. p15 is apparently pure, as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl-amide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Increase and decrease in proteolytic activity coincided exactly with increasing and decreasing amounts of p15 during ion-exchange chromatography and during size fractionation by gell filtration. The proteolytic activity cleaved various substrates such as bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, concanavalin A, and casein after denaturation by sodium dodecyl sulfate and heat. Highest enzyme activity was observed around pH 5.7. As judged from its cleavage pattern and its response to proteolytic inhibitors, the proteolytic activity appears papain-like, and the protease responsible for it may be classified as a thiol protease. If added to immunoprecipitated viral polyprotein precursor Pr76, p15 resulted in cleavage of Pr76,which could be inhibited by antibodies against p15.     

Purification and characterization of a halotolerant serine proteinase from thermotolerant Bacillus licheniformis RKK-04 isolated from Thai fish sauce

A gram-positive thermotolerant bacterium, designated strain RKK-04, was isolated from a fermented Thai fish sauce broth as it demonstrated high proteolytic activity. A phylogenetic analysis based on comparisons of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain RKK-04 is Bacillus licheniformis. The proteolytic enzyme, which was purified 80-fold with 18% yield, has a molecular mass of 31 kDa and an isoelectric point higher than 9.3. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme activity were found to be 10.0 and 50°C, respectively. The addition of diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride completely inhibited enzymatic activity. These results showed that the enzyme is a subtilisin-like alkaline serine proteinase. On the other hand, the enzyme exhibited unique cleavage sites in oxidized insulin B-chain that differed from those of other subtilisin-like proteases. High enzymatic activity was also retained under high salt conditions (30% NaCl). The myosin heavy chain of fish protein was completely digested by reaction with this enzyme. Thus the halotolerant proteinase from B. licheniformis RKK-04 is a key enzyme for fish sauce fermentation.