Purification and molecular cloning of a novel serine protease from the centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans

A novel serine protease, named as scolonase, was purified and characterized from the tissue of the Korean centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. Purified scolonase showed an apparent molecular weight of 25 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and an isoelectric point of 4.8 on isoelectric focusing gel. Scolonase was able to preferentially hydrolyze arginine over lysine at the cleavage site among the several synthetic peptide substrates. Scolonase has also a potent fibrinolytic activity by converting human Glu-plasminogen to activated plasmin due to the specific cleavage of the molecule at the peptide bond Arg(561)-Val(562). The enzyme activity of scolonase was completely inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and difluorophosphate. The cDNA encoding scolonase was cloned from the cDNA library of the centipede constructed with oligonucleotide probe, which was designed on the basis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of scolonase. The deduced complete amino acid sequence of scolonase demonstrated that the protein is composed of 277 amino acids including 33 amino acids as a leader sequence, and that it has significant sequence homology with other serine proteases.     

Purification of a factor from the granules of a rat natural killer cell line (RNK) that reduces tumor cell growth and changes tumor morphology. Molecular identity with a granule serine protease (RNKP-1).

We have purified a protein from the granules of the rat NK leukemia cell line (RNK) that is cytostatic to a variety of tumor cells. This protein shows no species specificity because certain tumor cell lines of mouse, rat, and human origin were equally sensitive to its growth inhibitory effects. Treatment of sensitive cells resulted in a rounding of the cells followed by homotypic aggregation into large aggregates. The granule protein was distinct from cytolysin, Na-Cbz-Lys-thiobenzylester-esterase, or leukolexin. It had a molecular mass of 29 to 31 kDa, bound strongly to heparin, was inactivated by heating at 70 degrees C for 5 min or reduction, but was stable to trypsin treatment. By using molecular sieve chromatography, heparin agarose chromatography, and reverse phase HPLC, this protein was purified to homogeneity. The first 33 amino acids of the N-terminal amino acid sequence showed complete identity to the sequence predicted from a rat serine protease gene recently cloned and designated RNKP-1. Therefore we have purified a novel serine protease and demonstrated that it has effects on the growth and morphology of certain tumor cells. Other serine proteases that were structurally related and have substantial homology with RNKP-1 at the amino acid level showed neither growth inhibitory properties nor affected the morphology of the tumor target cells we used.     

Purification and molecular cloning of a serine protease from the mushroom Hypsizigus marmoreus

A protease with a molecular mass of 28 kDa, designated as hmsp, was isolated from fresh fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Hypsizigus marmoreus. The purification protocol entailed ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose, and FPLC-gel filtration on Superdex 75. The protease was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose but adsorbed on CM-cellulose. hmsp was thermolabile, and exhibited a temperature optimum at 50 °C and a pH optimum at pH 7.5. The activity of the protease was adversely affected by PMSF, EGTA and aprotinin, indicating that it is a serine protease. Based on the N-terminal sequence, the cDNA of hmsp was cloned by using RACE combined with the TAIL-PCR method. The deduced protease sequence contained a signal peptide with 19 amino acids, a pro-region with 82 amino acids, and a mature protease with 285 amino acids and a molecular mass of 28.07 kDa. It possessed the three active sites characteristic of the subtilisin family (S8A). hmsp demonstrated 63%, 57% and 44% identity in amino acid sequence respectively to Absp1, Absp2, and Gf-spr1, which are serine proteases from Agaricus bisporus and Grifola frondosa.     

Molecular cloning,expression, and anti-tumor activity of a novel serine protease from Arenicola cristata

Arenicola cristata, a marine annelid, is a wellknown and prized traditional Chinese medicine. However, the serine protease gene of A. cristata has not been cloned yet. In this study, a novel protease ofA. cristata was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the functions of this recombinant protease were also investigated. The whole complementary DNA （cDNA） of this novel protease was of 980 bp in length and consisted of an open reading frame of 861 bp encoding 286 aa. Sequence analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that the protease belongs to the serine protease family. The active enzyme of the pro posed A. cristata protease is composed of a signal peptide, a propeptide, and a mature polypeptide. The molecular weight of the recombinant mature protein was 26 kDa after overexpression in E. coli. The recombinant pro tein significantly inhibited cell growth and induced cell apoptosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC） in vitro, and reduced tumorigenicity in vivo. Furthermore, administration of the recombinant protein led to the activa tion of caspase9 as well as downregulation of Mcl1 and Bcl2. Taken together, our findings indicated that the recom binant serine protease ofA. cristata could inhibit ESCC cell growth by mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and might act as a potential pharmacological agent for ESCC therapy.     

RNKP-1, a novel natural killer-associated serine protease gene cloned from RNK-16 cytotoxic lymphocytes

From an RNK-16 lambda-gt11 library, we have isolated and sequenced a novel cDNA rat NK cell protease 1 (RNKP-1) that has characteristics unique to serine proteases. The cDNA clone is 1102 bp and contains a complete open reading frame with an AUG start codon and a TAA stop codon. The open reading frame translates into a protein of 248 amino acids that has one glycosylation site. The characteristic N-terminal Ile-Ile-Gly-Gly and the His, Asp, and Ser amino acid residues that form the catalytic triad of serine proteases are present. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences have 87 and 80% identity, respectively, with the murine CTL-specific serine protease CCPI. However, there are extensive differences in the substrate binding regions of these proteases. Comparison of hydropathic profiles and amino acid sequences of other proteases indicate that RNKP-1 is distinct and belongs to the subfamily of serine proteases of bone marrow origin. Northern blot analysis of poly A+ RNA from rat splenocytes cultured with Con A showed 1000 and 1400 nucleotide mRNA are detected with RNKP-1 after 1 day of Con A-stimulation. The expression of the two mRNA bands continues through day 5 of culture with the lectin and may represent RNKP-1 mRNA plus related sequences due to cross-hybridization. RNKP-1 is also expressed in RNK-16 cells, but is not expressed in freshly isolated rat splenocytes, brain, lung, or lymph node tissues. The induction of RNKP-1 expression in the Con A-cultured spleen cells is accompanied by increases in both NK and lymphokine-activated killer lymphocyte activities. These data indicate that RNKP-1 is a unique serine protease that may be preferentially expressed in NK cells.     

Purification and cloning of an extracellular serine protease from the nematode-trapping fungus Monacrosporium cystosporium

An extracellular protease (Mc1) was isolated from the nematode-trapping fungus Monacrosporium cystosporium by gel filtration, anion-exchange, and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies. This protease had a molecular mass of approximately 38 kDa and displayed an optimal activity at pH 7-9 and 56 degrees (over 30 min). Its proteolytic activity was highly sensitive to the serine protease inhibitor PMSF (phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, 0.1 mM), indicating that it belonged to the serine-type peptidase group. The Michaelis constant (Km) and Vmax for substrate N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA were 1.67x10-4 M and 0.6071 OD410 per 30 s, respectively. This protease could degrade a broad range of substrates including casein, gelatin, BSA (bovine serum albumin), and nematode cuticle. Moreover, the enzyme could immobilize the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus and the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, suggesting that it might play a role in infection against nematodes. The encoding gene of Mc1 was composed of one intron and two exons, coding for a polypeptide of 405 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of Mc1 showed 61.4-91.9% identity to serine proteases from other nematode-trapping fungi. Our results identified that Mc1 possessed biochemical properties including optimal reaction condition and substrate preference that are different from previously identified serine proteases.     

Thrombocytin, a serine protease from Bothrops atrox venom. 1. Purification and characterization of the enzyme.

Thrombocytin, a platelet-activating enzyme from Bothrops atrox venom, has been purified to homogeneity by precipitation with sodium salicylate and chromatography on heparin--agarose. Thrombocytin is a single-chain glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 36 000 which contains 5.6% carbohydrate. It causes platelet aggregation, release of platelet serotonin, and activation of factor XIII. The most sensitive substrate for the amidolytic activity of thrombocytin was Tos-Gly-Pro-Arg-p-nitroanilide hydrochloride. The activity of thrombocytin on this substrate and on platelets was inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), soybean trypsin inhibitor, and several arginine chloromethyl ketones. Active site titration with nitrophenyl guanidinobenzoate demonstrated that approximately 86% of the preparation was in the active form. These experiments demonstrate the presence of serine and histidine in the active site of thrombocytin and suggest that thrombocytin is a classical serine protease with a platelet-activating activity similar to thrombin.     

Purification and properties of a serine protease from Pseudomonas matophilia.

The extracellular protease of Pseudomonas maltophilia was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and Bio-rex 70. Gel electrophoresis revealed minor impurities. The enzyme exhibited the following properties: (i) molecular weight, 35,000; (ii) A see article; 10.8; (iii) isoelectric point, 9.3; (iv) pH optimum, 10.0; (v)s20, w equal 3.47. The enzyme was rapidly inactivated by ethylenediaminetetracetate, but activity could be partially restored with divalent cations. Of those tested, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+ were all effective. Both phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and diisopropylfluorophosphate were powerful inhibitors of protease activity, but L-1-tosylamide-2-phenylethylchloromethyl ketone, iodoacetic acid, and iodoacetamide were without effect. The enzyme hydrolyzed the esters N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester and alpha-N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) with Km values of 10.4 and 3.4 mM, respectively. The hydrolysis of BAEE was also inhibited by phenylarsonic acids. The kinetics of inhibition by m-nitrophenylarsonate were of the mixed type, and the K1 was 1.8 mM. The data followed a theoretical curve for a 1:1 enzyme-inhibitor complex with a dissociation constant of 1.8 mM. Inhibition by m-nitrophenylarsonate was pH dependent and followed a theoretical curve for the titration of a protonated group with a pKa of 7.0.     

Purification and characterization of hevain,a serine protease from Hevea brasiliensis

A serine protease of MW 69000 has been isolated, in homogeneous form, from the latex of Hevea brasiliensis. The enzyme, named hevain, has only limited esterolytic and proteolytic abilities, a maximum activity in the pH range 6.5–7.5, and a pI of 4.3. Hevain has a notably high content of acidic amino acids, while the aromatic residues are present in relatively minor amounts.     

Complement factor D, a novel serine protease.

Factor D is unique among serine proteases in that it requires neither enzymatic cleavage for expression of proteolytic activity nor inactivation by a serpin for its control. Regulation of factor D activity is instead attained by a novel mechanism that depends on reversible conformational changes for expression and control of catalytic activity. These conformational changes are believed to be induced by the single natural substrate, C3bB, and to result in realignment of the catalytic triad, the specificity pocket, and the nonspecific substrate binding site, all of which have atypical conformations. Mutational studies have defined structural determinants responsible for these unique structural features of factor D and for the resultant low reactivity with synthetic esters.     

Purification and properties of serine protease from Halobacterium halobium.

Pure extracellular serine protease was isolated from the culture filtrate of Halobacterium halobium by bacitracin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The enzyme activity was completely and irreversibly lost if the NaCl concentration fell below 2 M. The protease consists of one polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 41,000. It is characteristically enriched in Asx and Glx content, whereas the level of basic amino acids in the enzyme molecule is unusually low. The protease shows a preference for leucine in the carboxylic side of the scissile bond of the substrate, cleaving the B-chain of oxidized bovine insulin only at the Leu15-Tyr16 bond and liberating p-nitroaniline from L-pyroglutamyl-L-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-leucine-p-nitroanilide.     

Two novel Streptomyces protein protease inhibitors. Purification, activity, cloning, and expression.

In contrast to the Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptomyces lack a mucopolysaccharide cell wall which allows them to produce and secrete a variety of proteins directly into their environment. In an effort to understand and eventually exploit the synthesis and secretion of proteins by Streptomyces, we identified and characterized two naturally occurring abundantly produced proteins in culture supernatants of Streptomyces lividans and Streptomyces longisporus. We purified these 10-kDa proteins and obtained partial amino acid sequence information which was then used to design oligonucleotide probes in order to clone their genes. Analysis of the sequence data indicated that these proteins were related to each other and to several other previously characterized Streptomyces protein protease inhibitors. We demonstrate that both proteins are protein protease inhibitors with specificity for trypsin-like enzymes. The presumptive signal peptidase cleavage sites and subsequent aminopeptidase products of each protein are characterized. Finally, we show that the cloned genes contain all of the information necessary to direct synthesis and secretion of the proteins by Streptomyces spp. or Escherichia coli.     

Function and cell distribution of KC-1, a novel natural killer cell-associated antigen

Natural killer (NK) cell have been implicated in immune responses to tumor and viral antigens. We describe here a monoclonal antibody, anti-KC-1, that blocks lysis of NK targets by fresh but not activated NK cells. Anti-KC-1 has no effect on cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity or on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. This antibody may be useful in the analysis of NK cell activation and the mechanism of lysis.     

Characterization, cloning, and heterologous expression of a subtilisin-like serine protease gene VlPr1 from Verticillium lecanii

The entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii is a well-known biocontrol agent. V. lecanii produces subtilisin-like serine protease (Pr1), which is important in the biological control activity of some insect pests by degrading insect cuticles. In this study, a subtilisin-like serine protease gene VlPr1 was cloned from the fungus and the VlPr1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. The VlPr1 gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) interrupted by three short introns, and encodes a protein of 379 amino acids. Protein sequence analysis revealed high homology with subtilisin serine proteases. The molecular mass of the protease was 38 kDa, and the serine protease exhibited its maximal activity at 40°C and pH 9.0. Protease activity was also affected by Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration. The protease showed inhibitory activity against several plant pathogens, especially towards Fusarium moniliforme.     

Purification and characterization of a serine protease (esterase B) from rat submandibular glands

A new protease has been purified to homogeneity from rat submandibular gland homogenate by using DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, chromatofocusing, aprotinin-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The enzyme has been named esterase B, since it represents the second major esterolytic peak on DEAE-Sephadex chromatography of submandibular gland homogenate. It is an acidic protein (pI = 4.45) with an apparent molecular weight of 27 000. It is heat-stable and has an optimum pH of 9.5. Esterase B hydrolyzed the synthetic substrates tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and Val-Leu-Arg-p-nitroanilide (S2266). It also cleaved dog plasma kininogen to produce a kinin, identified as bradykinin on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Esterase B, however, is only a weak kininogenase, since it had only 5% of the kininogenase activity of equimolar concentrations of glandular kallikrein and had no effect on rat mean blood pressure or on the isolated rat uterus. Esterase B activated plasminogen and had caseinolytic activity. It was inhibited by aprotinin, soybean trypsin inhibitor, lima bean trypsin inhibitor, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, antipain, leupeptin, and p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone. On double immunodiffusion, when reacted with kallikrein and tonin antisera, esterase B showed partial identity with kallikrein but not with tonin. On immunoelectrophoresis against kallikrein antisera, esterase B formed a precipitin arc at a position different from that of kallikrein. Esterase B appears to be a trypsin-like serine protease having some homology with glandular kallikrein.     

Purification and characterization of a cathepsin D protease from bovine chromaffin granules.

Purification and potential tachykinin and enkephalin precursor cleaving enzymes from bovine chromaffin granules was undertaken using as substrates the model precursors 35S-(Met)-beta-preprotachykinin [35S-(Met)-beta-PPT] and 35S-(Met)-preproenkephalin [35S-(Met)-PPE]. Purification by concanavalin A-Sepharose, Sephacryl S200, and chromatofocusing resulted in a chromaffin granule aspartyl protease (CGAP) that preferred the tachykinin over the enkephalin precursor. CGAP was composed of 47-, 30-, and 16.5-kDa polypeptides migrating as a single band in a nondenaturing electrophoretic gel system, and coeluting with an apparent molecular mass of 45-55 kDa by size-exclusion chromatography. These results suggest that two forms exist: a single 47-kDa polypeptide and a complex of 30 + 16.5-kDa-associated subunits. CGAP was optimally active at pH 5.0-5.5, indicating that it would be active within the acidic intragranular environment. Cleavage at basic residues was suggested by HPLC and HVE identification of 35S-(Met)-NKA-Gly-Lys as the major acid-soluble product generated from 35S-(Met)-beta-PPT. Neuropeptide K was cleaved at a Lys-Arg basic residue site, as determined by identification of proteolytic products by microsequencing and amino acid composition analyses. Structural studies showed that the three CGAP polypeptides were similar to bovine cathepsin D in NH2-terminal sequences and amino acid compositions, indicating that CGAP appears to be a cathepsin D-related protease or cathepsin D itself. The 47- and 16.5-kDa polypeptides of CGAP possessed identical NH2-terminal sequences, suggesting that the 16.5-kDa polypeptide may be derived from the 47-kDa form by proteolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)