家蝇半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂基因MdCPI的克隆、表达及活性检测

半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂是具有抑制半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性的一类蛋白超家族。本研究根据EST序列信息,通过RACE技术克隆得到1条家蝇Musca domestica半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂基因MdCPI,该基因含有1个357 bp开放阅读框,编码118个氨基酸残基,推导的多肽N端17个氨基酸残基为信号肽序列。同源分析表明,MdCPI 氨基酸序列与红尾肉蝇Sarcophaga crassipalpis的CPI相似性最高（identity=51%）。以邻接法（NJ）构建的系统树表明,家蝇与其他双翅目昆虫CPI起源于共同的祖先,属于I25A型蛋白家族。为了解家蝇CPI对半胱氨酸蛋白酶的抑制活性,构建pET-17b-MdCPI表达载体,并转入大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21（DE3）进行重组表达。研究发现1 μg重组家蝇CPI能够抑制约14 μg木瓜蛋白酶的水解活性。结果表明MdCPI确属CPI家族,可能同其他家族成员具有相似的功能,参与免疫及生理调控。这些结果为研究MdCPI在家蝇体内作用机制奠定了基础。     

Characterization of a novel otubain-like cysteine protease of Cryptosporidium parvum

Otubains are a recently discovered family of cysteine proteases that participate in the ubiquitin pathway. Here, we partially characterized the biochemical properties of a cysteine protease of Cryptosporidium parvum, which is closely related to otubains. The gene encoding otubain-like cysteine protease of C. parvum (CpOTU) contained the aspartate, cysteine and histidine residues that form the catalytic triad of otubains. The modified ubiquitin-associated domain and LxxL motif were identified in CpOTU. The recombinant CpOTU showed the isopeptidase activity at neutral pH values and its activity was effectively inhibited by ubiquitin aldehyde, N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetic acid. Interestingly, CpOTU had an unusual C-terminal extension of 217 amino acids compared to mammalian otubains, and the C-terminal extension is essential for the activity of the enzyme. Expression of CpOTU peaked in the oocyst stage of the parasite, which suggested its potential physiological role for the oocyst stage.     

陆地棉叶绿体铜锌超氧化物歧化酶基因的克隆与表达

以陆地棉‘CRI36＇的叶片为材料,使用RACE技术克隆到了棉花叶绿体Cu/Zn-SOD酶基因。基因序列全长共1 043 bp,含有完整的开放阅读框。推导的氨基酸序列分析显示含有叶绿体信号肽,和已知植物的叶绿体Cu/Zn-SOD酶蛋白的氨基酸残基的同源性在66%～74%之间。基因的表达谱分析显示：棉花叶绿体Cu/Zn-SOD酶基因主要在叶片、茎中表达,根、花和下胚轴中没有检测到信号,即基因的表达主要在棉花的绿色组织。不同生育期的表达谱结果证实：该基因主要在苗期表达,以后表达逐渐减少。用pET-21a（＋）构建了原核表达载体,在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）的表达结果显示：表达后得到一个29.0 kD的新蛋白,其分子量与预期目标一致。对SOD酶活性的分析证实,重组菌的酶活性显著增加,证明克隆的基因具有活性。     

Human recombinant CuZn-superoxide dismutase. Amino acid sequence and location of the disulfide bond

The complete amino acid sequence of recombinant human Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) is presented. The S-carboxymethylated protein was cleaved at lysine residues (with Achromobacter protease I) to provide a set of nine non-overlapping fragments accounting for 90% of the sequence. These fragments were then overlapped and aligned, and the sequence was completed by using peptides generated by cleavage at glutamic acid residues (with S. aureus V8 protease) and at arginine (with clostripain). The recombinant protein contains a single disulfide bond between cysteine residues 57 and 146. The primary sequence of recombinant human CuZnSOD is identical to that predicted by its cDNA sequence.     

苜蓿夜蛾丝氨酸蛋白酶基因cDNA序列的克隆与原核表达研究

【目的】丝氨酸蛋白酶(Serine protease,SP)是以丝氨酸为活性中心的重要的蛋白水解酶。在昆虫中,丝氨酸蛋白酶参与消化、发育、先天免疫反应和组织重建等重要的生理过程。本试验以苜蓿夜蛾Heliothis viriplaca为材料,克隆其丝氨酸蛋白酶基因的cDNA序列,再对该基因进行原核表达并对表达产物进行活性测定研究。【方法】从苜蓿夜蛾中肠中提取总RNA,通过RT-PCR和RACE技术,扩增获得丝氨酸蛋白酶基因cDNA全长序列,用大肠杆菌E.coli表达系统进行表达;再对表达的重组蛋白进行变性、纯化与复性,并以BTEE为底物进行活性测定。【结果】克隆得到的苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶基因命名为Hv SP,该基因已登录Gen Bank,登录号为KT907053。该基因全长1 017 bp,开放阅读框为886 bp,编码295个氨基酸,分子量约为30.8 ku,等电点为8.27,推导的氨基酸序列与其他昆虫丝氨酸蛋白酶氨基酸序列相似性在46%~92%之间。在Tris-HCl缓冲液中,p H为8.5时,复性的重组蛋白活性最高,为28.7 U/m L。荧光定量PCR结果表明,Hv SP基因的m RNA在苜蓿夜蛾的多个组织中特异性表达,且在中肠中表达量最高,但在唾腺中未检测到Hv SP的m RNA表达。【结论】该研究克隆了一个新的苜蓿夜蛾丝氨酸蛋白酶基因的cDNA序列,且原核表达后的重组蛋白经过变性、纯化及复性后具有活性,为进一步探索丝氨酸蛋白酶在昆虫体内的生理生化功能奠定了基础。     

Purification of a cysteine protease inhibitor from larval hemolymph of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) and functional expression of the recombinant protein

A cysteine protease inhibitor (CPI) with an apparent molecular mass of 11.5kDa was purified from larval hemolymph of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 followed by hydrophobic and ion-exchange column chromatographies. The purified cysteine proteinase inhibitor, denoted as MsCPI, strongly inhibited the plant cysteine protease, papain, with a K(i) value of 5.5 x 10(-9)M. Nucleotide sequence analysis of a partial cDNA encoding MsCPI indicated that MsCPI consists of 105 amino acid residues in a sequence that is similar to sarcocystatin A from Sarcophaga peregrina. However, northern blotting and PCR analyses using the specific primers of MsCPI suggested that the mRNA encoding MsCPI had a size of more than 12 kilobases, which included at least six tandemly repeated MsCPI segments. MsCPI was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein effectively inhibited cysteine proteases from plants as well as from animals such as cathepsins B (K(i), 6.8 nM), H (3.0 nM), and L (0.87 nM). There was no inhibition exhibited toward trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, pepsin or themolysin.     

Heterologous expression of an aspartic protease gene from biocontrol fungus Trichoderma asperellum in Pichia pastoris

Trichoderma asperellum parasitizes a large variety of phytopathogenic fungi. The mycoparasitic activity of T. asperellum depends on the secretion of complex mixtures of hydrolytic enzymes able to degrade the host cell wall and proteases which are a group of enzymes capable of degrading proteins from host. In this study, a full-length cDNA clone of aspartic protease gene, TaAsp, from T. asperellum was obtained and sequenced. The 1,185 bp long cDNA sequence was predicted to encode a 395 amino acid polypeptide with molecular mass of 42.3 kDa. The cDNA of TaAsp was inserted into the pPIC9K vector and transformed into yeast Pichia pastoris GS115 for heterologous expression. A clearly visible band with molecular mass about 42 kDa in the SDS-PAGE gel indicated that the transformant harboring the gene TaAsp had been successfully translated in P. pastoris and produced a recombinant protein. Enzyme characterization test showed that the optimum fermentation time for P. pastoris GS115 transformant was 72 h. Enzyme activity of the recombinant aspartic proteinase remained relatively stable at 25–60 °C and pH 3.0–9.0, which indicated its good prospect of application in biocontrol. The optimal pH value and temperature of the enzyme activity were pH 4.0 and 40 °C, and under this condition, with casein as the substrate, the recombinant protease activity was 18.5 U mL^?1. In order to evaluate antagonistic activity of the recombinant protease against pathogenic fungi, five pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Cytospora chrysosperma, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani, were applied to the test of in vitro inhibition of their mycelial growth by culture supernatant of P. pastoris GS115 transformant.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of cathepsin F gene from olive flounder Paralichthys Olivaceus

We isolated a homologue of cathepsin F from cDNA library of olive flounder liver. A 2,077 kb full-length cDNA encoding a predicted polypeptide of 474 amino acids was sequenced. The flounder cathepsin F exhibits a domain structure typical for papain-like cysteine proteases, a 17 amino acid N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence followed by an extraordinarily long propeptide of 244 amino acids and the domain of the mature protease comprising 213 amino acids. The mature region contains all features characteristic of a papain-like cysteine protease, including the highly conserved cysteine, histidine and asparagine residues of the ‘catalytic triad’. The cathepsin F protein showed 49–99% amino acid sequence identity with other known cathepsin F sequences. An in vivo expression study showed that cathepsin F mRNA was expressed predominantly in brain, liver, eye and heart, and moderately in other tissues. The accumulation of cathepsin F mRNA in early stage of development increased with development. This expression pattern suggests that flounder cathepsin F has been implicated in the growth and reproduction regulation.     

Cloning, expression, and characterization of a cDNA encoding snake venom metalloprotease

A cDNA clone, MT-c, encoding metalloprotease was isolated from snake (Agkistrodon halys brevicadus) venom gland cDNA library. Deduced amino acid sequence indicated that MT-c is composed of a signal sequence, amino-terminal propeptide, a central metalloprotease domain, and a Lys-Gly-Asp (KGD) disintegrin domain. The partial cDNA encoding metalloprotease and disintegrin domain was subcloned and expressed in E. coli. The expressed MT-c protein was purified and successfully refolded into functional form retaining the enzyme activity. Analyses of the purified recombinant protease activity revealed that the enzyme hydrolyzes extracellular matrix proteins including type I gelatin, type IV and type V collagen, while type I, II, III collagens and fibronectin were insensitive to the proteolytic digestion. The recombinant enzyme was also able to degrade fibrinogen by specifically cleaving A alpha chain of the protein.     

苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶cDNA的克隆、序列分析及原核表达

【目的】本研究旨在从苜蓿夜蛾Heliothis viriplaca中肠克隆出丝氨酸蛋白酶（serine protease, SP）基因的cDNA序列,测定原核表达后的蛋白经纯化及复性后的活性。【方法】运用RT-PCR和cDNA末端快速扩增方法（rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE）克隆苜蓿夜蛾幼虫中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶cDNA全序列,用大肠杆菌Escherichia coli表达系统进行表达。重组蛋白经纯化后,利用梯度透析法进行复性,以BApNA为底物,进行活性测定。【结果】克隆获得的苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶基因命名为HvSP（GenBank登录号：JX866720）,该基因全长880 bp,开放阅读框长762 bp,编码254个氨基酸,推测分子量和pI值分别为26.9 kDa和9.49。由HvSP推导的氨基酸与鳞翅目昆虫SP氨基酸序列的一致性在52%~95%之间,其中与棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera SP（GenBank登录号：CAA72962）的氨基酸序列一致性最高,达95%。成功构建重组载体pET21b-HvSP进行原核表达,Western-blot鉴定确定为目的蛋白。蛋白可溶性分析发现重组蛋白为包涵体。在Glycine-NaOH缓冲液中,当pH为10.0时,复性的重组蛋白活性达到最高,为35.74 U/mL。【结论】本研究在苜蓿夜蛾体内获得了一个新的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因,且原核表达后的重组蛋白经过变性、纯化及复性后具有活性。该结果为进一步研究丝氨酸蛋白酶在鳞翅目昆虫体内的生理功能奠定了基础。     

Circadian and senescence-enhanced expression of a tobacco cysteine protease gene

A cDNA clone encoding a cysteine protease was isolated from a tobacco cDNA library, utilizing as a probe a PCR fragment obtained from degenerated primers based on the conserved sequences of plant cysteine protease genes. A putative protein encoded by the clone NTCP-23 had an amino acid sequence with significant similarities to those of plant senescence-associated cysteine proteases and mammalian cathepsin H. Northern blot analysis showed that NTCP-23 mRNA is expressed in all organs and the mRNA and protein expression is enhanced during natural senescence. We propose that NTCP-23 is responsible for amino acid remobilization especially in senescencing leaves. Furthermore, it was found that the mRNA expression follows a circadian rhythm and is reduced by continuous darkness, wounding and hypersensitive reaction (HR). NTCP-23 is the first cysteine protease whose mRNA expression has been shown to be temporarily reduced by wounding.     

Yak (Bos Grunniens) Stomach Lysozyme: Molecular Cloning,Expression and its Antibacterial Activities

The cDNA coding for stomach lysozyme in yak was cloned. The cloned cDNA contains a 432 bp open reading frame and encodes 143 amino acids (16.24 KDa) with a signal peptide of 18 amino acids. Further analysis revealed that its amino acid sequence shares many common properties with cow milk lysozyme. Expression of this gene was also detected in mammary gland tissue by RT-PCR. Phylogenetic relationships among yak stomach lysozyme and 8 cow lysozymes indicated that the yak enzyme is more closely related to both cow milk lysozyme and the pseudogene ΨNS4 than cow stomach lysozyme. Recombinant yak lysozyme purified by Ni²⁺-column showed a molecular weight of 33.78 kDa and exhibited lytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, providing evidence of its antibacterial activities.     

Cloning, in silico characterization and interaction of cysteine protease and cystatin for establishing their role in early blight disease in tomato

Cysteine protease (CP) and Cysteine protease inhibitor (CPI) or cystatin constitute a critical point in programmed cell death (PCD), a basic biological phenomenon which takes place in the plants, when they are exposed to varying biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study we isolated and cloned cDNAs encoding cysteine protease and cystatin from early blight infected tomato plants. Using computational biology tools the sequence-structure-function relationships for the tomato cystatin and cysteine protease were elucidated. Interaction between the cystatin and cysteine protease of host and pathogen is higher as compared to interaction shown by cystatin and cysteine protease within the host. The interaction energy of (a)tomato cystatin—tomato cysteine protease, (b)tomato cystatin—fungal cysteine protease and (c)tomato cysteine protease—fungal cystatin are ?319.33 Kcal/mol, ?504.71 Kcal/mol and ?373.731 Kcal/mol respectively. Comparative protein sequence analysis with different plant cystatins and cysteine protease were also done with the sequences of cystatin and cysteine protease isolated from tomato. Structures for all the cystatin and cysteine protease were modeled along with their interactions with fungal cystatin and cysteine protease in order to explore the structural variability and its manifestation at the functional level. This helped to relate the already known functions of these proteins with their sequences as well as the predicted structures. This also served to better understand the CP-CPI interaction operational in developing this protein family and its implication in plant defense during fungal pathogenesis in tomato plants.     

Molecular cloning of a novel phosphorylation-dependent inhibitory protein of protein phosphatase-1 (CPI17) in smooth muscle: its specific localization in smooth muscle

The cDNA encoding a phosphorylation-dependent inhibitory protein of protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) was isolated from a porcine aorta library. The coding region represented the complete amino acid sequence of this protein comprised of a novel 147-residue polypeptide, which we termed CPI17, a 17-kDa PKC-potentiated inhibitory protein of PP1. As well as the native CPI17 from porcine aorta, the recombinant protein completely suppressed the PP1 activity (IC₅₀=0.18 nM) by the stoichiometric thiophosphorylation. The CPI17 mRNA is expressed in smooth muscle tissues such as aorta and bladder, whereas little expression was observed in heart, skeletal muscle, and non-muscle tissues. These results suggest a specific regulatory mechanism of the PP1 activity through CPI17 in smooth muscle.     

Identification, characterization and deduced amino acid sequence of the dominant protease from Kudoa paniformis and K. thyrsites: a unique cytoplasmic cysteine protease

Kudoa paniformis and Kudoa thyrsites (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) infections are associated with severe proteolysis of host muscle tissue post-mortem. The present study was undertaken to identify and characterize the protease responsible for myoliquefaction and determine mechanisms controlling protease function in vivo. N-terminal sequence analysis of partially purified protease from hake muscle infected with K. paniformis and K. thyrsites revealed a 23 amino acid sequence that aligned with cysteine proteases. Enzyme inhibition assays confirmed the presence of an essential active site cysteine residue. Using the above K. paniformis amino acid sequence data, a corresponding cDNA sequence from K. thyrsites plasmodia was elucidated revealing a cathepsin L proenzyme (Kth-CL). The translated amino acid sequence lacked a signal sequence characteristic of lysosomal and secreted proteins suggesting a unique cytoplasmic location. Only the proenzyme form of Kth-CL was present in Atlantic salmon muscle anti-mortem but this form became processed in vivo when infected muscle was stored at 4 degrees C. The proenzyme of Kth-CL showed uninhibited activity at pH 6.0, negligible activity at pH 6.5 and no measurable activity at pH 7.0 whilst the processed protease showed stability and function over a broad pH range (pH 4.5-8.8). The pH dependent processing and function of Kth-CL was consistent with histidine residues in the proregion playing a critical role in the regulation of Kth-CL.