Purification and amino acid sequence of Kunitz-type protease inhibitor found in the hemocytes of horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus)

A low molecular weight protein protease inhibitor was purified from Japanese horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) hemocytes. It consisted of a single polypeptide with a total of 61 amino acid residues. This protease inhibitor inhibited stoichiometrically the amidase activity of trypsin (Ki = 4.60 X 10(-10) M), and also had inhibitory effects on alpha-chymotrypsin (Ki = 5.54 X 10(-9) M), elastase (Ki = 7.20 X 10(-8) M), plasmin, and plasma kallikrein. However, it had no effect on T. tridentatus clotting enzyme and factor C, mammalian blood coagulation factors (activated protein C, factor Xa and alpha-thrombin), papain, and thermolysin. The complete amino acid sequence of this inhibitor was determined and its sequence was compared with those of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and other Kunitz-type inhibitors. It was found that the amino acid sequence of this inhibitor has a high homology of 47 and 43% with those of sea anemone inhibitor 5-II and BPTI, respectively. Thus, this protease inhibitor appeared to be one of the typical Kunitz-type protease inhibitors.     

Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and homologous polypeptide inhibitors in nephron cells.

Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI, aprotinin) is a fifty-eight amino acid polypeptide, which is present together with related molecular isoforms in various bovine organs. In the present study these protease inhibitors were isolated from bovine kidney by affinity chromatography on immobilized trypsin and a subsequent FPLC step. Due to their electrophoretic, structural, and inhibitory properties, the inhibitors were strictly similar to the polypeptides identified previously in other bovine organs. Immunohistochemical experiments showed a widespread localization of these polypeptides in nephron epithelial cells (proximal and distal tubules, loop of Henle, collecting tubules).     

Production of native, correctly folded bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor by Escherichia coli

A gene for bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) was fused to the coding sequence for the Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase signal peptide and expressed in E. coli under the control of the alkaline phosphatase promoter. When induced in phosphate-depleted medium such cells produced a trypsin inhibitor that was indistinguishable from native, properly folded BPTI. In particular, the BPTI produced by E. coli had three disulfide bonds that appeared to be identical to those found in native BPTI, as assayed by sensitivity to iodoacetate, dithiothreitol, and urea. This expression/secretion system will make possible the production of variant BPTI molecules, thus allowing the perturbing effects of amino acid substitutions on BPTI folding, structure, and function to be assessed.     

Selective oxidation of methionine residues in Kunitz-type protease inhibitors

Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI, also known as aprotinin or Kunitz inhibitor, a mini-protein composed of 58 amino-acid residues, containing a single methionine residue at position 52) has been selectively oxidized by treatment with chloramine T, under mild conditions, to the methionyl sulfoxide derivative. Spleen inhibitor II (SI II, an isoform of BPTI containing two methionine residues at positions 18 and 52) has been oxidized under the same conditions. Oxidation affects the functional properties of the two inhibitors differently: the antiproteolytic activity of BPTI towards bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin, porcine kallikrein and human leukocyte elastase is not changed upon oxidation, while in the oxidized SI II, the affinity for both chymotrypsin and elastase decreases, with respect to the native protein. These results have been directly related to the oxidation of Met18 in SI II, located at the P'3 site in the contact area with the proteases.     

A synthetic operon containing 14 bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor genes is expressed in E. coli.

A synthetic gene encoding the protein sequence of mature bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) has been cloned into a novel E. coli expression vector. After in vitro gene amplification by successive DNA duplications, more than 600 000 mostly inactive inhibitor molecules may be recovered from a single cell. After purification the inhibitory activity can be reconstituted almost completely. The specificity of BPTI for trypsin is abolished by a single amino acid exchange from lysine to isoleucine at position 15. The altered protein is shown to be an efficient inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase.     

Crystal structure of alpha-dendrotoxin from the green mamba venom and its comparison with the structure of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor.

The three-dimensional structure of alpha-dendrotoxin (alpha-DTX) from the green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) venom has been determined crystallographically using the method of isomorphous replacement and refined at 2.2 A resolution using a restrained least-squares method. The crystallographic R-factor is 0.169 for all 3451 measured reflections between 7.0 and 2.2 A. Although the main-chain fold of alpha-DTX is similar to that of homologous bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), there are significant differences involving segments of the polypeptide chain close to the "antiprotease site" of BPTI. Comparison of the structure of alpha-DTX with the existing models of BPTI and its complexes with trypsin and kallikrein reveals structural differences that explain the inability of alpha-DTX to inhibit trypsin and chymotrypsin.     

Binding of native and [homoserine lactone-52]-52,53-seco-bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (kunitz inhibitor) to porcine pancreatic β-kallikrein-B and bovine α-chymtorpsin: Thermodynaic study

Values of the association equilibrium constant (K_a) for the binding of the native and of the cyanogen bromide-cleaved bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (native BPTI and [Hse lactone-52]-52,53-seco-BPTI, respectively) to neuraminidase-treated porcine pancreatic β-Kallikrein-B (kallikrein) and bovine α-chymotrypsin (chymotrypsin) have been determined between pH4.0 and 9.0, and 20.0°C. Over the whole pH range explored, native BPTI and [Hse lactone-52]-52,53-seco-BPTI show the same affinity for kallikrein. On the other hand, the affinity of [se lactone-52]-52,53-seco-BPTI for chymotrypsin is high4er, around neutrality, than that found for native BPTI by about one order of magnitude, coverging in the acidic pH limb. The simplest mechanism accounting for the observed data implies that, on lowering the pH from 9.0 to 4.0 (i) the decrease in affinity for the binding of native BPTI to kalikrein and chymotrypsin, as well as for the association of [Hse lactone-52]-52,53-seco-BPTI to kalikrein, reflects the acidic pK shift, upon inhibitor association, of a single inozing group; and (ii) the decrease of K_a values for [Hse lactone-52]-52,53-seco-BPTI binding to chymotrypsin appears to be modulated by the acidic pK shift, upon inhibitor association, of two non-equivalent proton-binding residues. On the basis of the stereochemistry of the serine proteinase/inhibitor contact region(s), these data indicate that long-rang structural changes in [Hse lactone-52]-52,53-seco-BPTI are energetically linked to the chymotrypsin: inhibitor complex formation. This observation represents an important aspect for the mechanism of molecular recognition and regulation in BPTI.     

Labeling proteins via hole burning of their aromatic amino acids: pressure tuning spectroscopy of BPTI

We demonstrate hole burning on a protein by using an intrinsic aromatic amino acid as a probe. The protein is bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), the labeled amino acid is tyrosine. Only one of the four tyrosines could be burned. As an application we present pressure tuning experiments from which the local compressibility around the burned tyrosine probe is determined.     

Preparation of chemically 'mutated' aprotinin homologues by semisynthesis. P1 substitutions change inhibitory specificity

The semisynthesis of homologues of aprotinin (BPTI) is described. The P1 amino acid residue of these homologues was substituted by other amino acids using peptide synthetic methods. The reactive-site-modified inhibitor (with the Lys15-Ala16 peptide bond hydrolyzed) was used as starting material. All carboxyl groups of the modified inhibitor were esterified with methanol, then the Lys15 methyl ester group was hydrolyzed selectively. Afterwards, Lys15 itself was split off. A new amino acid residue was incorporated by using water-soluble carbodiimide combined with an acylation catalyst. tert-Butyl-ester-protected amino acids were used for reinsertion. The method was tested by re-insertion of Lys15 to reconstitute the original inhibitor. Thirteen BPTI homologues with coded (Lys, Glu, Gly, Ala, Val, Ile, Leu) or uncoded amino acids (Abu, Ape, aIle, Ahx, tLeu, Neo) in position 15 were synthesized and the specificity of the inhibitors investigated. Amongst these, [Val15]BPTI was shown to be an excellent inhibitor for human polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase having a complex dissociation constant of 0.11 nM. This inhibitor showed no detectable affinity to bovine pancreatic trypsin.     

Homonyms, synonyms and mutations of the sequence/structure vocabulary

The effect of pH and temperature on the association equilibrium constant (Ka) for bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI, Kunitz inhibitor) binding to human urinary kallikrein and porcine pancreatic beta-kallikreins A and B has been investigated. Ka values decrease with decreasing pH, reflecting the acid-midpoint and pK shifts, upon BPTI binding, of a three-proton co-operative transition, between pH 3 and 5, and of a single ionizable group, between pH 5 and 9. At pH 8, the values of delta H degree (between 7 degrees C and 42 degrees C) and delta S degree (at 21 degrees C) for BPTI binding to the glandular kallikreins considered were determined. In particular, the delta H degree values have been found to be independent of temperature and the following values have been obtained by van't Hoff plots: +1.8 kcal/mol, +2.3 kcal/mol and +2.4 kcal/mol (1 kcal = 4184 J) for the inhibitor binding to human urinary kallikrein and porcine pancreatic beta-kallikreins A and B, respectively. Considering the known molecular structures of free porcine pancreatic beta-kallikrein A and BPTI, and of their complex, the stereochemistry of the enzyme : inhibitor contact regions was analysed for the three serine proteinases, in relation to their respective types of behaviour.     

Identification and immunohistochemical localization of various bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor-isoforms in bovine pituitary gland

Summary Three isoinhibitors of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) have been identified and isolated from bovine pituitary gland. The results of the purification process by affinity chromatography on immobilized trypsin, the electrophoretic mobility in non-denaturing conditions, the antiproteolytic activity and the immunochemical reactions indicate that these inhibitors correspond to those previously isolated from bovine spleen and lung. In addition, immunohistochemical experiments show that the isoinhibitors and BPTI are exclusively localized in the mast cells, and not in the endocrine cells, of the pars intermedia and posterior lobe (neurohypophysis) of the pituitary gland. The physiological implications of these findings are discussed.     

Folding of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) variants in which almost half the residues are alanine

Recent studies indicate that a fraction of the information contained in an amino acid sequence may be sufficient for specifying a native protein structure. An earlier alanine-scanning experiment conducted on bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI; 58 residues) suggested that if cumulative mutations have additive effects on protein stability, a native protein structure could be built from BPTI sequences that contained many alanine residues distributed throughout the protein. To test this hypothesis, we designed and produced six BPTI mutants containing from 21 to 29 alanine residues. We found that the melting temperature of mutants containing up to 27 alanine residues (48 % of the total number of residues) could be predicted quite well by the sum of the change in melting temperature for the single mutations. Additionally, these same mutants folded into a native-like structure, as judged by their cooperative thermal denaturation curves and heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation (HMQC) NMR spectra. A BPTI mutant containing 22 alanine residues was further shown by 2D and 3D-NMR to fold into a structure very similar to that of native BPTI, and to be a functional trypsin inhibitor. These results provide insight into the extent to which native protein structure and function can be achieved with a highly simplified amino acid sequence.     

Binding of the Ile-Val and Val-Val effector dipeptides to the binary adducts of bovine trypsinogen with Kunitz and Kazal inhibitors as well as the acylating agent p-nitrophenyl p-guanidinobenzoate. A thermodynamic and kinetic study

Thermodynamics and kinetics of binding of the Ile-Val and Val-Val effector dipeptides to the binary adducts of bovine trypsinogen with the bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI, Kunitz inhibitor), the porcine pancreatic secretory inhibitor (PSTI, Kazal inhibitor) and the acylating agent p-nitrophenyl p-guanidinobenzoate have been investigated at pH 7.4 and 21(+/- 0.5) degrees C. The affinity of both effector dipeptides for bovine trypsinogen: BPTI and bovine trypsinogen: PSTI binary adducts is higher than that observed for the formation of the dipeptide: bovine trypsinogen: p-guanidinobenzoate ternary complexes; moreover, the affinity of Ile-Val for the zymogen binary adducts is higher than that observed for Val-Val association. Binding of Ile-Val and Val-Val to the bovine trypsinogen binary complexes conforms to the induced-fit model, which consists of a fast pre-equilibrium followed by intramolecular isomerization change(s), the latter fast pre-equilibrium followed by intramolecular isomerization change(s), the latter representing the rate-limiting first-order process. For the three bovine trypsinogen systems considered, the rate of the intramolecular isomerization change(s) is essentially independent of the nature of the dipeptide and of the proenzyme binary complex.     

Characterization of the proteinase inhibitors from bull seminal plasma and spermatozoa.

Two acid stable proteinase inhibitors are present in bull seminal plasma and washed ejaculated bull spermatozoa. Inhibitor I with a molecular weight of about 8700 (estimated by gel filtration) is a very strong inhibitor of bull sperm acrosin but also inhibits bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin and porcine plasmin; inhibition of porcine pancreatic and urinary kallikrein was not observed. In this respect inhibitor I resembles the well known cow colostrum trypsin inhibitor. Inhibitor II with a molecular weight near 6800 (estimated by gel filtration) inhibits bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin, porcine plasmin and pancreatic and urinary kallikrein as well as bull acrosin. The inhibition specificity of inhibitor II is thus very similar to that of the basic inhibitor from bovine organs (Kunitz-type). In view of the inhibition strength and other characteristics, however, the acid stable bull seminal inhibitors are not identical with the inhibitor from cow colostrum or bovine lung (organs).     

The pancreatic islet β-cell-enriched transcription factor Pdx-1 regulates Slc30a8 gene transcription through an intronic enhancer

PRSS3/mesotrypsin is an atypical isoform of trypsin, the up-regulation of which has been implicated in promoting tumour progression. Mesotrypsin inhibitors could potentially provide valuable research tools and novel therapeutics, but small-molecule trypsin inhibitors have low affinity and little selectivity, whereas protein trypsin inhibitors bind poorly and are rapidly degraded by mesotrypsin. In the present study, we use mutagenesis of a mesotrypsin substrate, APPI (amyloid precursor protein Kunitz protease inhibitor domain), and of a poor mesotrypsin inhibitor, BPTI (bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor), to dissect mesotrypsin specificity at the key P(2)' position. We find that bulky and charged residues strongly disfavour binding, whereas acidic residues facilitate catalysis. Crystal structures of mesotrypsin complexes with BPTI variants provide structural insights into mesotrypsin specificity and inhibition. Through optimization of the P(1) and P(2)' residues of BPTI, we generate a stable high-affinity mesotrypsin inhibitor with an equilibrium binding constant K(i) of 5.9 nM, a >2000-fold improvement in affinity over native BPTI. Using this engineered inhibitor, we demonstrate the efficacy of pharmacological inhibition of mesotrypsin in assays of breast cancer cell malignant growth and pancreatic cancer cell invasion. Although further improvements in inhibitor selectivity will be important before clinical potential can be realized, the results of the present study support the feasibility of engineering protein protease inhibitors of mesotrypsin and highlight their therapeutic potential.     

Immunolocalisation of BPTI-like serine proteinase inhibitory proteins in mast cells, chondrocytes and intervertebral disc fibrochondrocytes of ovine and bovine connective tissues. An immunohistochemical and biochemical study

A polyclonal anti-bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) IgY was raised in chickens immunised with aprotinin. The anti-BPTI IgY was subsequently isolated from egg yolks and purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on immobilised aprotinin and by Superose 6 size exclusion fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Immunoblotting with the chicken IgY demonstrated its specificity for BPTI; 3.9 ng BPTI could be detected by this technique. There was no crossreactivity against alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (human and sheep), inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (human and sheep), secretory leucocyte proteinase inhibitor or a range of serine proteinase inhibitory proteins (SPIs) isolated from plant sources (soybean and lima bean trypsin inhibitor, potato trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors) or serum SPIs (antithrombin-III, alpha2-macroglobulin). Immunoblotting using the anti-BPTI IgY identified the 6- to 12- and 58-kDa forms of endogenous ovine cartilage SPIs in cartilage extracts, confirming the interrelationship of the ovine cartilage SPIs with BPTI. BPTI-domain SPIs were immunolocalised within mast cells of ovine and bovine duodenum, lung and pancreas, and in ovine and bovine bronchial cartilage chondrocytes, chondrocytes of the superficial and intermediate zones of articular cartilage and in the fibrochondrocytes/chondrocytes of the nucleus     

A protease inhibitor of the Kunitz family from skin secretions of the tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti (Microhylidae)

Norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions of the tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti, contained a trypsin inhibitor whose primary structure was established as: SPAEVCF LPK(10) ESGLCRARAL(20) RYYYDRGDGK(30) CEEFIYGGCG(40) GNGNNY KSLL(50) TCKISCE. This amino acid sequence identifies the peptide as a member of the Kunitz/bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) family and demonstrates that selective evolutionary pressure has acted to conserve those domains in the molecule (corresponding to positions 12-18 and 34-39 in BPTI) that interact with trypsin. Extracellular proteases produced by pathogenic microorganisms play important roles in facilitating invasion of the host and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of BPTI has been described. Cationic, amphipathic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides of the magainin type, important in the defense strategy of several species of frog, were not detected in the skin secretions. We speculate, therefore, that synthesis of a proteinase inhibitor in the skin of the tomato frog may be a component of an alternative strategy of this animal to defend itself against microorganisms.     

Proteinase inhibitors and dendrotoxins. Sequence classification, structural prediction and structure/activity

The amino acid sequences of four presynaptically active toxins from mamba snake venom (termed 'dendrotoxins') were compared systematically with homologous sequences of members of the proteinase inhibitor family (Kunitz). A comparison based on the complete sequences revealed that relatively few amino acid changes are necessary to abolish antiprotease activity and convert a proteinase inhibitor into a dendrotoxin. When comparison centred only on the sequence segments known to comprise the antiprotease site of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, the dendrotoxins were clearly classified apart from all the known inhibitors. Since the mode of action of the bovine pancreatic trypsin/kallikrein inhibitor involves beta sheet formation with the enzyme, predictions were obtained for this secondary structure in the region of the 'antiprotease site' throughout the homologues. Again, the dendrotoxins were clearly distinguished from the inhibitors. Structure/activity analyses, based on the crystal structures of inhibitor/enzyme complexes, suggest that unlike proteinase inhibitors, dendrotoxins might specifically co-ordinate the active-site 'catalytic' histidine residues of serine proteases. Although the significance of this remains to be studied, the presynaptic target is expected to involve an as yet uncharacterised member of the serine protease family.     

Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and related isoinhibitors in bovine liver. A biochemical and histochemical study

A Kunitz-type inhibitor family has been biochemically and histochemically characterized in bovine liver. This family includes the well-known pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and three BPTI-related molecular forms (isoinhibitors I, II and III). The purification of the inhibitors was performed by affinity chromatography on immobilized trypsin followed by fast protein liquid chromatography. The inhibitors were identical to those identified previously in bovine spleen and lung. Light immunohistochemical experiments were done by a streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method using two different immunoglobulin preparations, which selectively discriminated between BPTI and the other isoinhibitors. BPTI-related immunoreactivity was found exclusively at the level of isolated cells, of which many were identified as mast cells by toluidine blue staining. By contrast, isoinhibitor-related immunoreactivity showed a more widespread distribution, including hepatocytes, mast cells and biliary duct epithelial cells. Finally, specific immunoreactivity was also present in plasma. These results suggest that: i) BPTI and related isoinhibitors may be involved in the regulation of the activity of some mast cell proteases, as it happens in other bovine organs (Businaro et al. 1987, 1988); ii) BPTI isoinhibitors, but not BPTI itself, may also control proteolytic activities in hepatic specific structures (hepatocytes and biliary duct epithelial cells).     

Heterogeneity of the basic pancreatic inhibitor (Kunitz) in various bovine organs

Four protein protease inhibitors (I, II, III, IV) having low molecular weights (10 600-6500) and basic isoelectric points were isolated by affinity chromatography from bovine spleen. Inhibitor IV was identified as the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz inhibitor); the presence and distribution of components I, II and III vary in the different bovine organs. Spleen inhibitors I, II, III and IV were purified by ion-exchange chromatography; they form 1:1 complexes with trypsin and inhibit enzymatic activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin and kallikrein. Inhibitors I, II and III contain carbohydrate moieties (7-4%) covalently bound to the polypeptide chain. Specific basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor antiserum has shown the complete identity between inhibitor IV and the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, while partial cross-reactivity between the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and inhibitors I, II and III can be seen from a double immunodiffusion test.