Heterologous expression, purification, and properties of a chymotrypsin inhibitor isolated from potatoes

The PKPIJ-B gene encoding a chymotrypsin inhibitor from a subfamily of potato Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors (PKPI) in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Yubilei Zhukova) was cloned into a pET23a vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant PKPIJ-B protein obtained in the inclusion bodies was denatured, purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on Mono Q under denaturing conditions, and renaturated. The renaturated protein was additionally purified using HPLC on DEAE-ToyoPearl. The PKPIJ-B protein efficiently suppressed chymotrypsin activity, had a weaker effect on trypsin, and inhibited the growth and development of phytopathogenic microorganisms affecting potato plants.     

Chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitor isolated from potato tubers

Potato Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor (PKCI-23) was isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Zhukov’s Jubilee) and purified to a homogenous state. The protein was purified by gel-filtration chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography using Sephadex G-75 and CM-sepharose CL-6B, respectively. PKCI-23 protein has been shown to inhibit both chymotrypsin and trypsin with equal efficacy, forming equimolar complexes with these enzymes. However, much weaker inhibitory effect of PKCI-23 has been observed for subtilisin Carlsberg. The N-terminal 20 amino acid sequence of PKCI-23 has been sequenced. PKCI-23 has been shown to suppress, with different efficacy, the growth and development of pathogenic microorganisms Fusarium culmorum (Wm. G. Sm.) Sacc. and Phytophtora infestans (Mont.) de Bary that infect potato.     

Isolation and characterization from potato tubers of two polypeptide inhibitors of serine proteinases

Two polypeptides, isolated to electrophoretic homogeneity from Russet Burbank potato tubers, are powerful inhibitors of pancreatic serine proteinases. One of the inhibitors, called polypeptide trypsin inhibitor, PTI, has a molecular weight of 5100, and inhibits bovine trypsin. The inhibitor is devoid of methionine, histidine, and tryptophan and contains eight half-cystine residues as four disulfide bridges. The second inhibitor, polypeptide chymotrypsin inhibitor II, PCI-II, has a molecular weight of 5700 and powerfully inhibits chymotrypsin. This inhibitor is also devoid of methionine and tryptophan but it contains only six of half-cystines as three disulflde bonds. Both polypeptides strongly inhibit pancreatic elastase. In immunological double diffusion assays, polypeptide trypsin inhibitor and polypeptide chymotrypsin inhibitor II exhibit a high degree of immunological identity (a) with each other, (b) with a polypeptide chymotrypsin inhibitor (PCI-I, M_r 5400) previously isolated from potato tubers, and (c) with inhibitor II, a larger (monomer M_r ~ 12,000) inhibitor of both trypsin and chymotrypsin which has also been previously isolated from potato tubers. The four polypeptide proteinase inhibitors now isolated from Russet Burbank potato tubers cumulatively inhibit all five major intestinal digestive endo- and exoproteinases of animals. The inhibitors are thought to be antinutrients that are present as part of the natural chemical defense mechanisms of potato tubers against attacking pests.     

Protein trypsin inhibitor from potato tubers

A protein of 22 kDa designated as PKTI-22 was isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii) and purified to homogeneity using CM-Sepharose CL-6B ion-exchange chromatography. The protein efficiently suppressed the activity of trypsin, affected chymotrypsin less, and did not affect subtilisin Carlsberg. The N-terminal sequence of PKTI-22 (20 amino acid residues) was found to be highly homologous with the amino acid sequences of the potato Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors of group B (PKPI-B) that were aligned from the corresponding gene sequences and was identical to the sequence (from the 2nd to the 20th residue) of the recombinant protein PKPI-B10. These data together with the observed similarity of the properties of two proteins indicate that the PKTI-22 protein is encoded by the PKPI-B10 gene.     

WCI,a novel wheat chymotrypsin inhibitor: purification,primary structure,inhibitory properties and heterologous expression

A novel chymotrypsin inhibitor, detected in the endosperm of Triticum aestivum, was purified and characterized with respect to the main physical–chemical properties. On the basis of its specificity, this inhibitor was named WCI (wheat chymotrypsin inhibitor). WCI is a monomeric neutral protein made up of 119 residues and molecular mass value of 12,933.40 Da. Automated sequence and mass spectrometry analyses, carried out on several samples of purified inhibitor, evidenced an intrinsic molecular heterogeneity due to the presence of the isoform [des-(Thr)WCI], accounting for about 40% of the total sample. In vitro, WCI acted as a strong inhibitor of bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin as well as of chymotryptic-like activities isolated from the midgut of two phytophagous insects, Helicoverpa armigera (Hüb.) and Tenebrio molitor L., respectively. No inhibitory activities were detected against bacterial subtilisins, bovine pancreatic trypsin, porcine pancreatic elastase or human leukocyte elastase. The primary structure of WCI was significantly similar (45.7–89.1%) to those of several proteins belonging to the cereal trypsin/α-amylase inhibitor super-family and showed the typical sequence motif of this crowed protein group. The cDNA of the inhibitor (wci-cDNA) was isolated from wheat immature caryopses and employed to obtain a recombinant product in E. coli. Experimental evidences indicated that the recombinant inhibitor was localized in the inclusion bodies from which it was recovered as soluble and partially active protein by applying an appropriate refolding procedure. WCI reactive site localization, as well as its inhibitory specificity, was investigated by molecular modeling approach.     

Incorporation of Streptidine-C6-phosphate into Phosphorylated Streptomycin by Resting Cell of Streptomyces griseus

The Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors, ETIa and ETIb, and chymotrypsin inhibitor ECI were isolated from the seeds of Erythrina variegata. The proteins were extracted from a defatted meal of seeds with 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, containing 0.15 M NaCl, and purified by DEAE-cellulose and Q-Sepharose column chromatographies. The stoichiometry of trypsin inhibitors with trypsin was estimated to be 1:1, while that of chymotrypsin inhibitor with chymotrypsin was 1:2, judging from the titration patterns of their inhibitory activities.

The complete amino acids of the two trypsin inhibitors were sequenced by protein chemical methods. The proteins ETIa and ETIb consist of 172 and 176 amino acid residues and have M_r 19,242 and M_r 19,783, respectively, and share 112 identical amino acid residues, which is 65% identity. They show structural features characteristic of the Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor (i.e., identical residues at about 45%) with soybean trypsin inhibitor STI). Furthermore, the trypsin inhibitors show a significant homology to the storage proteins, sporamin, in sweet potato and the taste-modifying protein, miraculin, in miracle fruit, having about 30% identical residues.     

LTCI, a novel chymotrypsin inhibitor of the potato I family from the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris. Purification, cDNA cloning, and expression

A novel chymotrypsin inhibitor of the potato I protease inhibitor family from the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris was purified. The inhibitor, named LTCI, was isolated by methanol extraction, affinity chromatography on immobilized methylchymotrypsin, and ion exchange chromatography followed by RP–HPLC. The 7076 Da inhibitor consists of a single polypeptide chain of 64-amino-acid residues without disulfide bridges. LTCI is the first of the potato I protease inhibitors with Tyr in position P1 of the reactive site. cDNA analysis revealed that LTCI is produced as a 86-amino-acid precursor with a 22-amino-acid secretory signal peptide. RT–PCR analysis demonstrates that LTCI mRNA is expressed in body wall, intestine, and coelomocytes. The recombinant LTCI was produced in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with intein and chitin binding domain using IMPACT™–CN system.     

Subtilisin Protein Inhibitor from Potato Tubers

A protein with molecular weight of 21 kD denoted as PKSI has been isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii). The isolation procedure includes precipitation with (NH4)2SO4, gel chromatography on Sephadex G-75, and ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose CL-6B. The protein effectively inhibits the activity of subtilisin Carlsberg (Ki = 1.67 +/- 0.2 nM) by stoichiometric complexing with the enzyme at the molar ratio of 1 : 1. The inhibitor has no effect on trypsin, chymotrypsin, and the cysteine proteinase papain. The N-terminal sequence of the protein consists of 19 amino acid residues and is highly homologous to sequences of the known inhibitors from group C of the subfamily of potato Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors (PKPIs-C). By cloning PCR products from the genomic DNA of potato, a gene denoted as PKPI-C2 was isolated and sequenced. The N-terminal sequence (residues from 15 to 33) of the protein encoded by the PKPI-C2 gene is identical to the N-terminal sequence (residues from 1 to 19) of the isolated protein PKSI. Thus, the inhibitor PKSI is very likely encoded by this gene.     

Purification and characterization of a heat-stable serine protease inhibitor from the tubers of new potato variety "Golden Valley"

Potide-G, a small (5578.9 Da) antimicrobial peptide, was isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Golden Valley) through extraction of the water-soluble fraction, dialysis, ultrafiltration and DEAE-cellulose and C₁₈ reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. This antimicrobial peptide was heat-stable and almost completely suppressed the proteolytic activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin and papain, with no hemolytic activity. In addition, potide-G potently inhibited growth of a variety of bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Clavibacter michiganense subsp. michiganinse) and fungal (Candida albicans and Rhizoctonia solani) strains. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry revealed that the N-terminal sequence (residues from 1 to 11) of the protein is identical to that of potato proteinase inhibitor, a member of the Kunitz superfamily. And like other members of this class of protease inhibitor, potide-G may have a number of beneficial and therapeutic uses.     

Posttranslational modification of an isoinhibitor from the potato proteinase inhibitor II gene family in transgenic tobacco yields a peptide with homology to potato chymotrypsin inhibitor I.

A member of the potato proteinase inhibitor II (PPI-II) gene family under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter has been introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Purification of the PPI-II protein that accumulates in transgenic tobacco has confirmed that the N-terminal signal sequence is removed and that the inhibitor accumulates as a protein of the expected size (21 kD). However, a smaller peptide of approximately 5.4 kD has also been identified as a foreign gene product in transgenic tobacco plants. This peptide is recognized by an anti-PPI-II antibody, inhibits the serine proteinase chymotrypsin, and is not observed in nontransgenic tobacco. Furthermore, amino acid sequencing demonstrates that the peptide is identical to a lower molecular weight chymotrypsin inhibitor found in potato tubers and designated as potato chymotrypsin inhibitor I (PCI-I). Together, these data confirm that, as postulated to occur in potato, PCI-I does arise from the full-length PPI-II protein by posttranslational processing. The use of transgenic tobacco represents an ideal system with which to determine the precise mechanism by which this protein modification occurs.     

The potato granule bound starch synthase chloroplast transit peptide directs recombinant proteins to plastids

The chloroplast targeting transit sequence from potato granule bound starch synthase (gbss) was used to direct the accumulation of recombinant proteins to the plastid stroma. The potato gbss transit sequence was fused to the N-terminus of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the Catharanthus roseus strictosidine synthase (Str1) enzyme. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed that the recombinant gbss-GFP fusion protein was exclusively targeted to the plastid stroma in tobacco suspension cells, demonstrating that the transit sequence was functional in vivo. The Str1 fusion protein accumulated to high levels in plastids isolated from transgenic plants. We conclude that the potato gbss transit sequence is functional and directs import of recombinant proteins into the chloroplast stroma.     

Isolation, characterization, and properties of a trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor from amaranth seeds

A trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor was isolated from the seeds of amaranth—a highly nutritious protein source. The purification of the inhibitor (AmI) was carried out by affinity chromatography on trypsin-Sepharose and by HPLC. AmI is a single-chain protein of 8 kD, as determined by electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and by gel exclusion on Sephadex G-50 column. It is stable at neutral and alkalinepH and is relatively thermostable. AmI inhibits trypsin and chymotrypsin from the digestive system of insects such asTribolium castaneum andLocusta migratoria, supporting the hypothesis that inhibitors may have evolved as defense mechanisms of seeds against insects. AmI lost its inhibitory activities when submitted to limited proteolysis with trypsin, while limited proteolysis with chymotrypsin had almost no effect. The partial amino acid sequence of 45 amino acids from the amino terminus of AmI differs significantly from the known sequences of legume-seed and cereal-grain protease inhibitor families. Differences in the chemistry at the inhibitory site(s) and in the amino acid sequence of AmI in comparison to that of other cereal and legume inhibitors suggest that AmI is a member of a new family of serine protease inhibitors. AmI was found to inhibit the anchorage-independent growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, suggesting that AmI may have anticarcinogenic activity.     

Purification and characterization of a proteinase inhibitor from field bean, Dolichos lablab perpureus L

A proteinase inhibitor resembling Bowman-Birk family inhibitors has been purified from the seeds of cultivar HA-3 of Dolichos lablab perpureus L. The protein was apparently homogeneous as judged by SDS–PAGE, PAGE, IEF, and immunodiffusion. The inhibitor had 12 mole% 1/2-cystine and a few aromatic amino acids, and lacks tryptophan. Field bean proteinase inhibitor (FBPI) exhibited a pI of 4.3 and an M _r of 18,500 Da. CD spectral studies showed random coiled secondary structure. Conformational changes were detected in the FBPI–trypsin/chymotrypsin complexes by difference spectral studies. Apparent K _a values of complexes of inhibitor with trypsin and chymotrypsin were 2.1 × 10⁷ M^–1 and 3.1 × 10⁷ M^–1, respectively. The binary and ternary complexes of FBPI with trypsin and chymotrypsin have been isolated indicating 1:1 stoichiometry with independent sites for cognate enzymes. Amino acid modification studies showed lysine and tyrosine at the reactive sites of FBPI for trypsin and chymotrypsin, respectively.     

Accumulation of a chymotrypsin inhibitor in transgenic tobacco can affect the growth of insect pests

A member of the potato proteinase inhibitor II (PPI II) gene family that encodes for a chymotrypsin iso-inhibitor has been introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) usingAgrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated T-DNA transfer. Analysis of the primary transgenic plants (designated R₀) confirmed that the introduced gene is being expressed and the inhibitor accumulates as an intact and fully functional protein. For insect feeding trials, progeny from the self-fertilization of R₀ plants (designated R₁) were used. Leaf tissue, either from transgenic or from control (non-transgenic) plants, was fed to larvae ofChrysodeixis eriosoma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, green looper),Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) andThysanoplusia orichalcea (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and insect weight gain (increase in fresh weight) measured. Consistently,C. eriosoma larvae fed leaf tissue from transgenic plants expressing thePPI II gene grew slower than insects fed leaf tissue from non-transgenic plants or transgenic plants with no detectablePPI II protein accumulation. However, larvae of bothS. litura andT. orichalcea consistently demonstrated similar or faster growth when fed leaf tissue from transgenic plants compared with those fed non-transgenic plants. In agreement with the feeding trials, the chymotrypsin iso-inhibitor extracted from transgenic tobacco effectively retarded chymotrypsin-like activity measured inC. eriosoma digestive tract extracts, but not in extracts fromS. litura. We conclude, therefore, that for certain insects the use of chymotrypsin inhibitors should now be evaluated as an effective strategy to provide field resistance against insect pests in transgenic plants, but further, that a single proteinase inhibitor gene may not be universally effective against a range of insect pests. The significance of these observations is discussed with respect to the inclusion of chymotrypsin inhibitors in the composite of insect pest resistance factors that have been proposed for introduction into crop plants.     

Purification and characterization of a trypsin inhibitor from seeds of Murraya koenigii

A protein with trypsin inhibitory activity was purified to homogeneity from the seeds of Murraya koenigii (curry leaf tree) by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography on HPLC. The molecular mass of the protein was determined to be 27 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing conditions. The solubility studies at different pH conditions showed that it is completely soluble at and above pH 7.5 and slowly precipitates below this pH at a protein concentration of 1 mg/ml. The purified protein inhibited bovine pancreatic trypsin completely in a molar ratio of 1:1.1. Maximum inhibition was observed at pH 8.0. Kinetic studies showed that Murraya koenigii trypsin inhibitor is a competitive inhibitor with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 7 × 10^{? 9} M. The N-terminal sequence of the first 15 amino acids showed no similarity with any of the known trypsin inhibitors, however, a short sequence search showed significant homology to a Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor from Erythrina variegata.     

Taiwan cobra chymotrypsin inhibitor: cloning, functional expression and gene organization

A cDNA encoding chymotrypsin inhibitor was constructed from the cellular RNA isolated from the venom glands of Naja atra (Taiwan cobra). The resultant amino acid sequence showed that the mature protein is comprised of 57 amino acid residues with six cysteine residues. Cloned protein was expressed and isolated from the inclusion bodies of E. coli and refolded into a functional protein in vitro. Deleting the first three residues at its N-terminus caused a moderate increase in the inhibitory constant (K(i)) against chymotrypsin. The genomic DNA encoding the chymotrypsin inhibitor was amplified by PCR. The gene shares virtually an identical structural organization with the beta-bungarotoxin B1 chain (a snake Kunitz/BPTI neurotoxic homolog) gene. Moreover, the overall sequence identity of the N. atra chymotrypsin inhibitor and beta-bungarotoxin B1 chain genes was up to 83%. These findings strongly suggest that snake Kunitz/BPTI protease inhibitors and neurotoxic homologs may have originated from a common ancestor.     

Molecular cloning and expression of genes of Kunitz-type C protease inhibitors from potato

We cloned the products of polymerase chain reaction of the genome DNA of potato (Solanum tuberosum L., Istrinskii cultivar) and isolated 35 clones, which represent copies of eight genes encoding Kunitz type C proteases. Their nucleotide sequences were established. All the genes were found for the first time and designated as PKPI-C1-PKPI-C8. The gene PKPI-C2, which we had earlier presumed to encode the subtilisin PKSI inhibitor, was cloned into pQE30 vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant protein PKPI-C2 underwent spontaneous folding and transformation into a soluble state. We purified it to homogeneity by affinity chromatography. The PKPI-C2 protein efficiently inhibited subtilisin Carlsberg activity and did not act on trypsin, chymotrypsin, or papain.     

Role of Protease Inhibitors in Potato Protection

Mechanical wounding or infection of potatoes with Phytophthora infestans caused an accumulation of only serine protease inhibitors in exudates of potato tubers. Among them, proteins prevailed that are structurally similar to those present in healthy tubers: a 22-kDa trypsin inhibitor, a 21-kDa serine protease inhibitor consisting of two polypeptide chains, and a 8-kDa potato chymotrypsin I inhibitor produced de novo. The accumulated proteins inhibited the growth of hyphae and germination of zoospores of P. infestans. Treatment with elicitors, jasmonic and arachidonic acids, intensified the accumulation of these inhibitors in tubers in response to the wound stress, whereas salicylic acid blocked this process. These results suggest that lipoxygenase metabolism plays a substantial role in signal transduction of the protective system of resting potato tubers.     

WIP1, a wound-inducible gene from maize with homology to Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitors

We have cloned and sequenced a wound-inducible cDNA clone designated WIP1 (for wound-induced protein) from maize coleoptiles. It was isolated by differential screening of a cDNA library prepared from excised maize coleoptile segments. The deduced amino acid sequence predicts a secretory, cysteine-rich protein of 102 residues with a calculated molecular mass of 11 kDa and a typical N-terminal signal sequence. The protein has about 30% identity with various Bowman-Birk type proteinase inhibitors. Most interestingly, it is novel in that it is double-headed with exclusive specificity for chymotrypsin. WIP1 is strongly wound-induced in contrast to other members of the Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor family, which occur in seeds and are regulated during development. The response is fast, similar to defenceinduced genes, and measurable as early as 30 min after wounding. Induction can also be evoked in the intact coleoptiles and the signal is systemically transmitted in the coleoptile to adjacent regions of the wounded area. Isolation and analysis of the corresponding genomic clone reveals that WIP1 contains an intron of 90 nucleotides.