Tonin, an esteroprotease from rat submaxillary glands

Tonin is an enzyme found in the rat submaxillary glands which liberates angiotensin II from angiotensinogen, the Skeggs tetradecapeptide renin substrate, and angiotensin I. Tonin hydrolyzes benzoyl-arginine ethyl ester, benzoyl-arginine methyl ester, tosyl-arginine methyl ester, benzoyl-arginine p-nitroanilide and other small synthetic substrates at an optimum ph of 9.0. Tonin shows, however, a great specificity with respect to angiotensin I. Tonin is inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride at high concentrations (greater than 10(-2) M) and by soybean trypsin inhibitor and aprotinin. Tonin is thus an esteroprotease of the class of the serine protease with trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like activity. Tonin belongs to the same family of enzyme as glandular kallikrein and the gamma subunit of the nerve growth factor.     

Differential effects of oleic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and protease inhibitors on the endopeptidase activities of the lobster multicatalytic proteinase.

1. Lobster muscles contain a latent multicatalytic proteinase; heating at 60 degrees C for 1-2 min converts the latent form to a heat-activated form with enhanced proteolytic activity. Both forms have three endopeptidase activities, which are classified as the trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like, and peptidylglutamylpeptide bond hydrolyzing activities. 2. Sulfhydryl reagents (mersalyl acid, N-ethylmaleimide, hemin, iodoacetamide, and p-chloromercurisulfonic acid), benzamidine, and chloromethyl ketones inhibited all three activities of the heat-activated form. Leupeptin and antipain inhibited only the trypsin-like activity, while the chymotrypsin-like activity was the most sensitive to diisopropyl fluorophosphate, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, aprotinin, and soybean trypsin inhibitor. Pepstatin and L-trans-epoxysuccinylpeptides had little effect on the peptidase activities. 3. Sodium dodecyl sulfate and oleic acid preferentially activated the peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolyzing activity of the latent form, whereas N-ethylmaleimide stimulated both the trypsin-like and peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolases. These results suggest that the lobster enzyme is an atypical serine proteinase.     

Kallikrein-like enzyme from the venom of Agkistrodon p. piscivorus

1. A kallikrein-like enzyme was isolated from Agkistrodon p. piscivorus venom by Sephadex G-100, DEAE-Sephacel and S-Sepharose column chromatographies. 2. A kallikrein-like enzyme was shown to be homogeneous as demonstrated by a single band on acrylamide gel electrophoresis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. 3. Its molecular weight is approx. 29,000 with an isoelectric point of 7.8. 4. A kallikrein-like enzyme is able to cleave a kininogen analog to release bradykinin, and the B beta chain of fibrinogen. These proteolytic and tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester hydrolytic activities were inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, suggesting that the serine hydroxyl group is involved in enzymatic activities.     

O-acetylation and de-O-acetylation of sialic acids. Purification, characterization, and properties of a glycosylated rat liver esterase specific for 9-O-acetylated sialic acids

We have previously described the preparation and use of 9-O-[acetyl-3H]acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid to identify sialic acid O-acetylesterases in tissues and cells (Higa, H. H., Diaz, S., and Varki, A. (1987) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 144, 1099-1108). All tissues of the adult rat showed these activities, with the exception of plasma. Rat liver contained two major sialic acid esterases: a cytosolic nonglycosylated enzyme and a membrane-associated glycosylated enzyme. The two enzymes were found in similar proportions and specific activities in a buffer extract of rat liver acetone powder. By using the latter as a source, the two enzymes were separated, and the glycosylated enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity by multiple steps, including ConA-Sepharose affinity chromatography and Procion Red-agarose chromatography (yield, 13%; fold purification, approximately 3000). The homogeneous enzyme is a 61.5-kDa disulfide-linked heterodimeric protein, whose serine active site can be labeled with [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Upon reduction, two subunits of 36 kDa and 30 kDa are generated, and the 30-kDa subunit carries the [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate label. The protein has N-linked oligosaccharides that are cleaved by Peptide N-glycosidase F. These chains are cleaved to a much lesser extent by endo-beta-N-acetylglycosaminidase H, indicating that they are mainly complex-type glycans. The enzyme activity has a broad pH optimum range between 6 and 7.5, has no divalent cation requirements, is unaffected by reduction, and is inhibited by the serine active site inhibitors, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (Paraoxon). Kinetic studies with various substrates show that the enzyme is specific for sialic acids and selectively cleaves acetyl groups in the 9-position. It shows little activity against a variety of other natural compounds bearing O-acetyl esters. It appears to deacetylate di-O-acetyl- and tri-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acids by first cleaving the O-acetyl ester at the 9-position. The 7- and 8-O-acetyl esters then undergo spontaneous migration to the 9-position, where they can be cleaved, resulting in the production of N-acetylneuraminic acid. In view of its interesting substrate specificity, complex N-linked glycan structure, and neutral pH optimum, it is suggested that this enzyme is involved in the regulation of O-acetylation in membrane-bound sialic acids.     

Distribution patterns of membrane-bound and soluble enzymes in mitochondrial populations.

Mitochondria were isolated from normal rat liver, kidney, and heart, and from mouse liver and ascites tumor cells, and were dispersed through linear sucrose density gradients in a zonal centrifuge. Distributions of the enzyme activity with respect to mean particle size were constructed. The medians of the distributions for the activities of several enzymes associated with the membranes were significantly different from the medians of the distributions of the soluble mitochondrial enzymes when the mean particle diameters of the fractions were used as the measure of particulate size. On the other hand, when the activity of an outer-membrane enzyme was determined as a function of the area of the mitochondria and the activities of the soluble enzymes were expressed as a function of the volume, the calculated particle diameters corresponding to the respective midpoints of these distributions were in better agreement. This congruence suggests that mitochondria are more nearly homogeneous with respect to the enzyme activities examined than previously proposed. Furthermore, since the distribution of the inner membrane activities was similar to those of the outer membrane enzymes, the area of the inner membrane may be proportional, not to the volume of the mitochondria, but to the area of the outer membrane.     

Studies on triacylglycerol ester hydrolase from bat adipose tissue

Triacylglycerol ester hydrolase was isolated from bat adipose tissue and characterized. The partially purified enzyme had pH optimum of 8.6 and a K_m value of 0.6 mM. The enzyme was denaturated upon freezing and thawing, which was prevented by 25% glycerol. The enzyme was activated by EDTA and NaCl, while it was inhibited by serum and bovine serum albumin. Heparin, sodium fluoride and diisopropyl fluorophosphate had no effect on triacylglycerol ester hydrolase activity. It hydrolyzed triglycerides partially. Triacylglycerol ester hydrolase lost its activity during delipidation but it was reactivated by endogenous lipids and phospholipids, viz. phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl choline and sphingomyelin. The enzyme shows kinetic properties altogether different from lipoprotein lipase and hormone sensitive lipase     

The predominant protein of canine seminal plasma is an enzyme

One protein in canine seminal plasma accounts for over 90% of the total protein and is present at the high concentration of approximately 10 mg/ml. We demonstrate that this predominant protein is a proteolytic enzyme. The enzyme has been purified and migrates as a single symmetrical peak of apparent molecular mass of 29,000 daltons on a column of Sephadex G-75 and as a single band of approximately 30,000 daltons when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the enzyme dissociates into subunits of 15,000 and 12,000-14,000 daltons. The 15,000-dalton subunit contains the enzyme active site as determined by labeling with [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The enzyme hydrolyzed the synthetic ester substrates N alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester and N alpha-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester with maximum specific activities at 25 degrees C of 105 mumol/min/mg and 33 mumol/min/mg, and Km values of 7.4 and 9.1 mM, respectively. The enzyme exhibited a pH optimum of 8.0. The metal ions, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Co2+ were reversible inhibitors and diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride irreversible inhibitors of enzymatic activity. By immunofluorescence, the enzyme can be detected on the tail and postacrosomal regions of washed ejaculated canine sperm, but it is absent from epididymal sperm.     

Extracellular proteinases of the isolate of Botrytis cinerea virulent to apple tissues

B. cinerea produces extracellular acid proteinases: aspartic proteinase and carboxypeptidase, separable on CM-Sepharose CL-6B. Aspartic proteinase showed the maximum activity at pH 2.5-3.0, was inactivated by diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester and was unable to hydrolyse carbobenzoxy Glu-Tyr. Carboxypeptidase showed the maximum activity at pH 4.7-5.0, was inactivated by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, and carbobenzoxy-Glu-Tyr served as an efficient enzyme substrate. The isolated aspartic proteinase hydrolysed proteins in the preparations of apple cell walls. Excretion of aspartic proteinase by B. cinerea preceded that of carboxypeptidase.     

Cell surface-associated proteinases in NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity: enhancement of enzyme expression is unique to activation with interferon-alpha

The human NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity reaction is sensitive to proteinase inhibitors with specificity for chymotrypsin-like enzymes inhibitable by 1-tosylamide 2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK). Evidence is presented in support of previous data suggesting that this type of cytotoxicity is attributable to enzymes associated with the surface membrane of the NK cell. Activation of the cells with IFN-alpha results in increased cytolytic activity, the suppression of which requires an almost two- to threefold increase in the concentration of proteinase inhibitors. Treatment of NK cells with IFN-alpha results in increased surface binding of [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate ([ 3H]DFP). This effect is not inhibited by cycloheximide (50 micrograms/ml), suggesting translocation of preexisting enzymes to the surface membrane. TPCK can compete with [3H]-DFP for binding to the cell surface and can abrogate the increase in [3H]DFP binding observed after IFN-alpha stimulation of the cells. Treatment with IFN-gamma does not increase cell surface-associated proteolytic activity and stimulation with IL-2 results in much smaller increments. The sensitivity of cytotoxicity to proteinase inhibitors is confined to the initial 2-5 min of the reaction. This suggests that cell surface-associated proteinases play a role in the programming of NK cells for lysis, whereas subsequent events may be dependent on secreted enzyme moieties.     

Kinin-releasing enzyme from the venom of Bitis arietans (puff adder)

A kinin-releasing enzyme was isolated from Bitis arietans (puff adder) venom by Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose column chromatographies. The kinin-releasing enzyme was shown to be homogeneous as demonstrated by a single band on acrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. Its molecular mass is approximately 45 kDa with an isoelectric point of 6.5. Kinin-releasing enzyme possesses proteolytic activity which hydrolyzes the Leu⁶-Cys⁷, His¹⁰-Leu¹¹ and Ala¹⁴-Leu¹⁵ bonds of the B chain of oxidized insulin and the Aα and Bβ chain of fibrinogen. Kinin-releasing and benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester hydrolytic activities of this enzyme were inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, suggesting that the serine hydroxyl group is involved in enzymatic activities.     

Purification of Two Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidases II from Rat Brain and Their Action on Proline-Containing Neuropeptides

From the soluble and membrane fractions of rat brain homogenate, two enzymes that liberate dipeptides of the type Xaa-Pro from chromogenic substrates were purified to homogeneity. The two isolated dipeptidyl peptidases had similar molecular and catalytic properties: For the native proteins, molecular weights of 110,000 were estimated; for the denatured proteins, the estimate was 52,500. Whereas the soluble peptidase yielded one band of pI 4.2 after analytical isoelectric focusing, two additional enzymatic active bands were detected between pI 4.2 and 4.3 for the membrane-associated form. As judged from identical patterns after neuraminidase treatment, both peptidases contained no sialic acid. A pH optimum of 5.5 was estimated for the hydrolysis of Gly-Pro- and Arg-Pro-nitroanilide. Substrates with alanine instead of proline in the penultimate position were hydrolyzed at comparable rates. Acidic amino acids in the ultimate N-terminal position of the substrates reduced the activities of the peptidases 100-fold as compared with corresponding substrates with unblocked neutral or, especially, basic termini. The action of the dipeptidyl peptidase on several peptides with N-terminal Xaa-Pro sequences was investigated. Tripeptides were rapidly hydrolyzed, but the activities considerably decreased with increasing chain length of the peptides. Although the tetrapeptide substance P 1-4 was still a good substrate, the activities detected for the sequential liberation of Xaa-Pro dipeptides from substance P itself or casomorphin were considerably lower. Longer peptides were not cleaved. The peptidases hydrolyzed Pro-Pro bonds, e.g., in bradykinin 1-3 or 1-5 fragments, but bradykinin itself was resistant. The enzymes were inhibited by serine protease inhibitors, like diisopropyl fluorophosphate or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and by high salt concentrations but not by the aminopeptidase inhibitors bacitracin and bestatin. Based on the molecular and catalytic properties, both enzymes can be classified as species of dipeptidyl peptidase II (EC 3.4.14.2) rather than IV (EC 3.4.14.5). However, some catalytic properties differentiate the brain enzyme from forms of dipeptidyl peptidase II of other sources.     

Intramitochondrial localization of alanine aminotransferase in rat-liver mitochondria: comparison with glutaminase and aspartate aminotransferase

Summary The removal of the outer mitochondrial membrane and hence of constituents of the intermembrane space in rat-liver mitochondria using digitonin showed that phosphate-dependent glutaminase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase were localized in the mitoplasts. Further fractionation of mitoplasts following their sonication resulted in 90% of glutaminase, 98% of alanine aminotransferase and 48% of aspartate aminotransferase being recovered in the soluble fraction while the remainder of each enzyme was recovered in the sonicated vesicles fraction. These results indicated that glutaminase and alanine aminotransferase were soluble matrix enzymes, the little of each enzyme recovered in the sonicated vesicles fraction being probably due to entrapment in the vesicles. Aspartate aminotransferase had dual localization, in the inner membrane and matrix with the high specific activity in sonicated vesicles confirming its association with the membrane. Activation experiments suggested that the membrane-bound enzyme was localized on the inner side of the inner mitochondrial membrane.     

Etude de l'evolution des activites des enzymes mitochondriaux de l'hepatocyte au cours du developpement du rat

Study on the evolution of mitochondrial enzyme activities in hepatocyte during rat development

Some constitutive enzymes of the three isolated fractions of mitochondria outer membrane, inner membrane and matrix, have been investigated in rat hepatocyte during a period varying from the foetal state to the 15th day after birth.

In the three mitochondrial fractions, activities of the studied enzymes present different evolutions. In the matrix, the tricarboxylic enzyme activities have already reached their normal values before birth. In the outer membrane, the NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity increases regularly, in the same way as that of the endoplasmic reticulum NADH-cytochrome c reductase. In the inner membrane, the oxygen consumption is very low before birth, then increases suddenly from the 5th to the 8th day after birth, when it reaches the normal values. The limiting factor of the respiratory chain activities is neither cytochrome oxidase nor the first dehydrogenases.     

Inner- and outer-membrane enzymes of mitochondria during liver regeneration

1. Marker enzymes for the mitochondrial matrix, inner membrane, inter-membrane space and outer membrane were measured in mitochondria isolated from control and regenerating rat liver. The specific activity of these enzymes was then followed for up to 30 days after operation. 2. The specific activity of marker enzymes for the matrix, inner membrane and inter-membrane space remained constant during liver regeneration. 3. However, the specific activities of monoamine oxidase and kynurenine hydroxylase, both outer-membrane markers, fell by 67% and 49% respectively from their control values at 4 days after operation, and returned to normal by about 3 weeks. 4. The repression of kynurenine hydroxylase activity was shown to be unrelated to any independent variation in tryptophan catabolism, based on tryptophan pyrrolase assays. 5. These results are considered to indicate that enzymes of the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes are synthesized asynchronously during morphogenesis. 6. The enzyme complement of purified outer membrane at 4 days after operation was about 50% of that of the appropriate control. Thus the composition of the outer membrane itself may vary dramatically, and supports the concept that constitutive enzymes may turn over independently of a membrane's existence. 7. The behaviour of the rotenone-insensitive, NADH cytochrome c reductase did not parallel the other outer-membrane enzymes for intact mitochondria, but did so when assayed in highly purified fractions of outer membrane. This suggests a labile binding to the outer membrane during the early stages of morphogenesis. 8. Electrophoresis of inner- and outer-membrane proteins revealed little difference between control and experimental mitochondria at 4 days, except for an increase in several, high-molecular-weight components of the outer membrane. These bands closely correspond to similar bands derived from smooth endoplasmic reticulum. 9. The results are discussed in relation to the biogenesis and turnover of mitochondria, and are considered to provide evidence for turnover as a unit, at least for the matrix, inner membrane, inter-membrane space and possibly some form of primary outer membrane.     

Acyl-peptide hydrolase from rat liver. Characterization of enzyme reaction

Acyl-peptide hydrolase, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of an N-terminally acetylated peptide to release an N-acetylamino acid, was isolated from rat liver and found to be N-terminally blocked. The kinetics of the hydrolysis of acetyl (Ac)-Ala-Ala, Ac-Ala-Ala-Ala, acetylalanine p-nitroanilide, and acetylalanine beta-naphthylamide were investigated. The Km values were between 1 and 9 mM, and the Vmax values were between 100 and 500 nmol/min/micrograms of enzyme. The enzyme activity toward acetylalanine p-nitroanilide and acetylalanine beta-naphthylamide was activated by the presence of Cl- and SCN- at concentrations between 0.1 and 0.5 M. By contrast, the activity toward Ac-Ala-Ala and Ac-Ala-Ala-Ala was inhibited by these anions. Among a series of divalent cations, Zn2+ was demonstrated to be the most potent inhibitor. The enzyme was inactivated by the addition of diisopropyl fluorophosphate, diethyl pyrocarbonate. Woodward's Reagent K, and glycine methyl ester/carbodiimide. Titration by diisopropyl fluorophosphate showed 0.7 mol of active serine/mol of enzyme subunit, which was confirmed by the incorporation of [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate into the enzyme. Acetylalanine chloromethyl ketone inactivated the enzyme following pseudo-first order kinetics; and Ac-Ala, a competitive inhibitor, protected the enzyme from this inactivation. Acyl-peptide hydrolase appears to be a serine protease utilizing a charge relay system involving serine, histidine, and, probably, a carboxyl group(s). Two series of acetyl dipeptides, acetylamino acid p-nitroanilides and acetylamino acid beta-naphthylamides, were prepared in order to determine enzyme specificity. The enzyme preferentially removed Ac-Ala, Ac-Met, and Ac-Ser, the most common acetylated N-terminal residues (Persson, B., Flinta, C., von Heijne, G., and J?rnvall, H. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 152, 523-527). The enzyme was shown to be useful for deblocking peptides (e.g. alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and acetyl-renin substrate), and the crude enzyme/substrate mixtures were amenable to direct protein sequence analysis.     

Isolation and characterization of an enzyme with esterase activity from Micropolyspora faeni.

The isolation and the characterization of one of the enzymes of Micropolyspora faeni that hydrolyzes the substrate N-benzoyl-DL-phenylalanine-beta-naphthyl ester and that seems to be of medical importance are described. This enzyme (enzyme 1) was isolated with an 86-fold purification by using the following seven steps: ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration through Sephadex G-150, heat treatment, chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose, rechromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex, gel filtration through Sephadex G-200, and affinity chromatography. Enzyme 1 has a molecular weight of approximately 500,000 and maximum activity at pH 7.8 to 8.0 and at 20 degrees C. The enzyme is stable between pH 7.5 and 10.5 and at temperatures up to 60 degrees C. Its activity is not inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It is, however, sensitive to diisopropyl phosphofluoride and phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride. These properties and the ability to hydrolyze the esters of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan without endopeptidasic activity and no marked proteolytic activity suggest that the enzyme is an esterase.     

Isolation and characterization of an enzyme with esterase activity from Micropolyspora faeni.

The isolation and the characterization of one of the enzymes of Micropolyspora faeni that hydrolyzes the substrate N-benzoyl-DL-phenylalanine-beta-naphthyl ester and that seems to be of medical importance are described. This enzyme (enzyme 1) was isolated with an 86-fold purification by using the following seven steps: ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration through Sephadex G-150, heat treatment, chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose, rechromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex, gel filtration through Sephadex G-200, and affinity chromatography. Enzyme 1 has a molecular weight of approximately 500,000 and maximum activity at pH 7.8 to 8.0 and at 20 degrees C. The enzyme is stable between pH 7.5 and 10.5 and at temperatures up to 60 degrees C. Its activity is not inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It is, however, sensitive to diisopropyl phosphofluoride and phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride. These properties and the ability to hydrolyze the esters of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan without endopeptidasic activity and no marked proteolytic activity suggest that the enzyme is an esterase.     

Cell-bound peptidase activities of Treponema denticola ATCC 33520 in continuous culture.

The oral spirochaete Treponema denticola ATCC 33520 was grown at a mean generation time of 10 h in anaerobic continuous culture in a serum- and carbohydrate-free medium at pH 7.0. The extracellular proteolytic activities of this spirochaete were then investigated by incubating washed cells with 68 2-naphthylamide derivatives of the Extended API System. Chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like, elastase-like and iminopeptidase activities were demonstrated. The phenylalanine peptidase or chymotrypsin-like activity of T. denticola ATCC 33520, estimated with N-succinyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine-thiobenzyl ester (SPLP) had a pH optimum at pH 8.5, a specific activity of 36.6 nmol min-1 (mg dry wt)-1 and was inhibited only slightly by HgCl2. The trypsin-like activity, estimated with benzoyl-DL-arginine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (BAMC), had a pH optimum at pH9, and a specific activity of 0.3 nmol min-1 (mg dry wt)-1; inhibition by HgCl2 indicated the involvement of active thiol groups. The activity should preferably be termed arginine peptidase activity, according to the carboxy-terminal amino acid of the test substrate. The extracellular proline peptidase activity, estimated with L-proline-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin. HBr (PRAMC), had an activity of 1.5 nmol min-1 (mg dry wt)-1, an optimum at pH 8.5 and the properties of a thiol protease. The main cell-bound and extracellular active peptidase activities of fast-growing cells of T. denticola ATCC 33520 are phenylalanine peptidase, proline peptidase, arginine peptidase and an oligopeptide-dependent alanine peptidase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Isolation and characterization of horridum toxin with arginine ester hydrolase activity from Heloderma horridum (beaded lizard) venom

A hemorrhagic toxin with lethal and arginine ester hydrolytic activities was isolated from Heloderma horridum (beaded lizard) venom by Sephadex G-75, DEAE-Sephacel, and Q-Sepharose column chromatography. The hemorrhagic toxin was shown to be homogeneous as demonstrated by a single band on acrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. Its molecular weight is approximately 31,000 with an isoelectric point of 3.9. Hemorrhagic, lethal, and benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester hydrolytic activities of this preparation were inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), N-bromosuccinimide, and beta-mercaptoethanol, suggesting that serine, tryptophan, and disulfide bonds are involved in these activities. Also there was an increase in creatine kinase activity in mice serum which is an indicator that the toxin is involved in muscle damage. This protein was stable to heat and pH ranges between 2 and 11. The Michaelis constant (Km), for benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester, and inhibition constant (Ki), for DFP, were found to be 6.9 X 10(-3) and 1.93 X 10(-4) M, respectively.     

Cry2Ab及Cry1Ac杀虫蛋白对棉铃虫中肠蛋白酶活性的影响

为明确Cry2Ab和Cry1Ac2种Bt杀虫蛋白单用与混用对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera（Htibner）中肠主要蛋白酶活性的影响,本文测定了取食含不同Bt蛋白人工饲料后棉铃虫中肠总蛋白酶、类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性的差异。结果发现：Cry2Ab处理12h后对棉铃虫中肠总蛋白酶影响不大;对类胰蛋白酶的影响最大,除最高浓度处理外,其他浓度处理后棉铃虫类胰蛋白酶的活性明显高于对照;但对类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性的影响呈倒“V”字型,只有6．67ug／gCry2Ab处理后的棉铃虫酶活力显著高于对照,其他浓度处理与对照差异不显著或略低于对照;随着取食含Cry2Ab饲料时间的增加,棉铃虫中肠类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶的活性比对照显著增加;与对照相比,处理36h后类胰蛋白酶活性最高可增加到6．43倍。Cry1Ac处理棉铃虫12h后总蛋白酶、类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性都明显增加,而且与处理浓度呈正相关;但是24h后,处理后棉铃虫的总蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性明显降低,只有类胰蛋白酶活性仍高于对照,但活性增长倍数低于12h时的处理。Cru2Ab和Cry1Ac2种蛋白混用处理棉铃虫后,2种酶的酶活力基本低于Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab单用的酶活力之和;只有2种蛋白浓度均为2．22ug／g混用时,处理12h后类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶的活性高于2种蛋白单用时酶活力之和,且都显著的高于对照。