Marked Loss of Muscle, Visceral Fat, or Subcutaneous Fat After Gastrectomy Predicts Poor Survival in Advanced Gastric Cancer: Single-Center Study from the CLASSIC Trial.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in the influence of body composition on oncological outcomes. We evaluated the role of skeletal muscle and fat among patients with gastric cancer (GC) who underwent gastrectomy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, as well as those changes' associations with survival outcomes. METHODS: The present study evaluated 136 patients with GC who were enrolled in the CLASSIC Trial at Yonsei Cancer Center. Baseline body compositions including skeletal muscle area, Hounsfield units (HU), visceral fat area, and subcutaneous fat area were measured by preoperative computed tomography (CT). CT before and after the gastrectomy were used to determine the 6-month relative changes in body composition parameters. Continuous variables were dichotomized according to the best cutoff values by Contal and O'Quigley method. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (53.7%) underwent surgery alone, and 63 patients (46.3%) underwent surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The baseline body composition parameters were not associated with disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS). Except for the HU, the marked loss of muscle, visceral fat, or subcutaneous fat significantly predicted shorter DFS and OS. Patients with a marked loss in at least one significant body composition parameter had significantly shorter DFS (hazard ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.7-4.8, P < 0.001) and OS (hazard ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.7-5.0, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Marked loss in body composition parameters significantly predicted shorter DFS and OS among patients with GC who underwent gastrectomy. Postoperative nutrition and active healthcare interventions could improve the prognosis of these GC patients.

Role of adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer with ypT0-3N0 after preoperative chemoradiation therapy and surgery.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore the clinical benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) with fluoropyrimidine in patients with ypT0-3N0 rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME). METHODS: Patients with ypT0-3N0 rectal cancer after preoperative CRT and TME were included using prospectively collected tumor registry cohort between January 2001 and December 2013. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the receipt of AC. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the adjuvant and observation groups. To control for potential confounding factors, we also calculated propensity scores and performed propensity score-matched analysis for DFS and OS. RESULTS: Of the 339 evaluated patients, 87 patients (25.7%) did not receive AC. There were no differences in DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.921; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.562-1.507; P = 0.742) and OS (HR, 0.835; 95% CI, 0.423-1.648; P = 0.603) between the adjuvant and observation groups. After propensity score matching, DFS (HR, 1.129; 95% CI, 0.626-2.035; P = 0.688) and OS (HR, 1.200; 95% CI, 0.539-2.669; P = 0.655) did not differ between the adjuvant and observation groups. Advanced T stage and positive resection margin were independently associated with inferior DFS and OS on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: AC did not improve DFS and OS for patients with ypT0-3N0 rectal cancer after preoperative CRT followed by TME in this cohort study. The confirmative role of AC in locally advanced rectal cancer should be evaluated in prospective randomized trials with a larger sample size.

Tropomyosin-Related Kinase Fusions in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

The canonical mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are typically activating mutations in KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA). GISTs with non-canonical mutations are a heterogeneous group. Here, we examined tropomyosin-related kinase (TRK) fusion in GIST cases without KIT/PDGFRA mutations (KIT/PDGFRA wild-type (WT) GISTs). We retrospectively analyzed patients who were diagnosed with GISTs at the Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, between January 1998 and December 2016. Thirty-one patients with KIT/PDGFRA WT GISTs were included in the analysis. TRK expression in tumor samples was assessed by pan-TRK immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK: the gene encoding TRK) rearrangement was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). IHC analyses revealed that five cases in this cohort exhibited a weak to moderate TRK expression. NTRK1 fusions were detected in three tumor samples, and two samples harbored NTRK3 fusions. The remaining 26 samples did not harbor NTRK fusions. Two types of NTRK fusions were detected, and the overall NTRK fusion frequency in KIT/PDGFRA WT GIST cases was 16% (5/31). Our data provide insights into the molecular alterations underpinning KIT/PDGFRA WT GISTs. More effort should be devoted to improve methods to identify this distinct disease subtype within the KIT/PDGFRA WT GIST group.

Correction: Lee et al. Tropomyosin-Related Kinase Fusions in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. Cancers 2022, 14, 2659.

In the original article [...].

Detection of asymptomatic recurrence improves survival of gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The effect of long-term surveillance for asymptomatic patients after curative resection of gastric cancer is being debated. We compared the prognosis of Korean patients with recurrent gastric cancer according to the presence or absence of cancer-related symptoms at the time of recurrence detection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 305 Korean patients who experienced recurrence after curative resection of primary gastric cancer between March 2002 and February 2017 at Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 169.8 months (1-267.2), and the median age at first recurrence was 58.1 years (23.4-81.9). Among 305 patients with recurrence, 97 of 231 (42.0%) patients with early recurrence (≤5 years after curative surgical resection) and 47 of 74 (63.5%) patients with late recurrence (>5 years after curative surgical resection) had cancer-related symptoms at recurrence (p = 0.001). For survival after recurrence, detection of asymptomatic recurrence was an independent favorable factor (hazard ratio, 0.527; 95% confidence interval, 0.409-0.681; p < 0.001) accompanied with the possibility of subsequent treatment, targeted-, or immunotherapy for recurrent disease, and locoregional recurrence only. In the late-recurrence group, the patients with asymptomatic detection of recurrence showed favorable post-recurrence survival (median, 33.3 months vs. 14.7 months; p = 0.002), overall survival (median, 136.3 months vs. 106.1 months; p = 0.010), and cancer-specific survival (median, 177.5 months vs. 106.1 months; p = 0.005) than the patients with symptomatic detection. CONCLUSION: The detection of gastric cancer recurrence in patients without cancer-related symptoms may be related to improved survival, suggesting the potential benefit of long-term surveillance.

Dynamic changes in PD-L1 expression and CD8+ T cell infiltration in non-small cell lung cancer following chemoradiation therapy.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is quite variable because stage III NSCLC is a heterogenous disease. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are thought to be related to treatment outcome in many tumors. To improve treatment outcome in stage III NSCLC, it is necessary to obtain data on PD-L1 expression and CD8+ TIL counts following CCRT and their relationship to treatment outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 43 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with neoadjuvant CCRT followed by surgery at Yonsei Cancer Center Severance Hospital in Korea between June 2008 and October 2010. PD-L1 level and CD8+ TIL numbers in tumors following CCRT were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and their association with patient survival was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: More than half patients (52%) showed up- or downregulation of PD-L1 expression, and most patients (81%) showed change in CD8+ TIL counts by CCRT. Patients with PD-L1 expression following CCRT tended to have shorter recurrence free survival (RFS) (P = 0.182) or overall survival (OS) (P = 0.215) compared to the ones without PD-L1 expression. In the survival analysis with pre-CCRT specimens, neither RFS nor OS showed statistically significant differences. Patients with increased CD8+ TIL counts following CCRT regardless of pathological response strongly showed longer OS (median: not reached vs. 14.2 months for others; P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: CCRT dynamically alters PD-L1 expression and CD8+ TIL numbers in stage III NSCLC. Our data provide a rationale for combining CCRT and immunotherapy for the treatment of potentially resectable NSCLC.

Neuronal morphogenesis is regulated by the interplay between cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and the ubiquitin ligase mind bomb 1.

Neuronal communication requires the coordinated assembly of polarized structures including axons, dendrites, and synapses. Here, we report the identification of a ubiquitin ligase mind bomb 1 (Mib1) in the postsynaptic density and the characterization of its role in neuronal morphogenesis. Expression of Mib1 inhibits neurite outgrowth in cell culture and its gene deletion enhances synaptic growth at the neuromuscular junction in Drosophila. The analysis of Mib1 interactome by mass spectrometry revealed that Mib1 primarily interacts with membrane trafficking proteins [e.g., EEA1 (early endosomal antigen 1), Rab11-interacting proteins, and SNAP25 (synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa)-like protein] and cell adhesion components (e.g., catenin, coronin, dystrobrevin, and syndecan), consistent with its previously reported function in protein sorting. More interestingly, Mib1 is associated with deubiquitinating enzymes, BRCC36 and the mammalian ortholog of fat facets, and a number of kinases, such as casein kinase II, MARK (microtubule affinity regulating kinase)/PAR1, and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5). Further characterization of the Mib1-CDK5 interaction indicated that the N-terminal domain of Mib1 directly binds to the regulatory subunit p35 of the CDK5 complex. In cell culture, Mib1 induces the relocalization of p35/CDK5 without affecting its degradation. Surprisingly, p35/CDK5 downregulates the protein level of Mib1 by its kinase activity, and completely rescues the Mib1-induced inhibitory effect on neurite morphology. p35/CDK5 also genetically interacts with Mib1 in the fly according to the rough-eye phenotype. The data strongly support that the negative interplay between Mib1 and p35/CDK5 may integrate the activities of multiple pathways during neuronal development.

YAP-Induced PD-L1 Expression Drives Immune Evasion in BRAFi-Resistant Melanoma.

Activation of YAP, a Hippo pathway effector, is an important resistance mechanism to BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) in melanoma. Emerging evidence also suggests that YAP is involved in suppression of the antitumor immune response. However, the potential direct impact of YAP activity on cytotoxic T-cell immune responses has not been explored yet. Here, we show that BRAFi-resistant melanoma cells evade CD8+ T-cell immune responses in a PD-L1-dependent manner by activating YAP, which synchronously supports melanoma cell survival upon BRAF inhibition. PD-L1 expression is elevated in BRAFi-resistant melanoma cells, in which YAP is robustly activated, and YAP knockdown decreases PD-L1 expression. In addition, constitutively active YAP (YAP-5SA) increases PD-L1 expression by binding to an upstream enhancer of the PD-L1 gene and potentiating its transcription. Both BRAFi-resistant and YAP-5SA-expressing melanoma cells suppress the cytotoxic function and cytokine production of Melan-A-specific CD8+ T cells, whereas anti-PD-1 antibody reverses the YAP-mediated T-cell suppression. Moreover, nuclear enrichment of YAP in clinical melanoma samples correlates with increased PD-L1 expression. Our findings show that YAP directly mediates evasion of cytotoxic T-cell immune responses in BRAFi-resistant melanoma cells by upregulating PD-L1, and targeting of YAP-mediated immune evasion may improve prognosis of melanoma patients. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(3); 255-66. ©2018 AACR.

Prognoses and Clinical Outcomes of Primary and Recurrent Uveal Melanoma.

PURPOSE: Uveal melanoma has a very poor prognosis despite successful local primary tumor treatment. In this study, we investigated prognostic factors that more accurately reflected the likelihood ofrecurrence and survival and delineated a prognostic model that could effectively identify different risk groups based on initial clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prognostic factors associated with distant recurrence, recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival, and overall survival from distant recurrence to death (OS2) were analyzed in 226 patients with stage I-III uveal melanoma who underwent primary local therapy. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients (21.7%) had distant recurrences, which occurred most frequently in the liver (87.7%). In a multivariate analysis, local radiotherapy improved RFS among patients with multiple recurrence risk factors relative to excision (not reached vs. 19.0 months, p=0.004). Patients with BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1)‒negative primary tumors showed a longer RFS duration after primary treatments, while those with BAP1-negative metastatic tissues had a shorter OS2 compared to those with BAP1-positive tumors, both not statistically insignificance (RFS: not reached vs. 82.0 months, p=0.258; OS2: 15.7 vs. 24.4 months, p=0.216). Male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 3.79; p=0.012), a short RFS (HR, 4.89; p=0.014), and a largest metastatic tumor linear diameter ≥ 45 mm (HR, 5.48; p=0.017) were found to correlate with worse post-recurrence survival. CONCLUSION: Risk factors could be used to classify uveal melanoma cases and subsequently direct individual treatment strategies. Furthermore, metastasectomy appears to contribute to improved survival outcomes.

Production of D-tagatose at high temperatures using immobilized Escherichia coli cells expressing L-arabinose isomerase from Thermotoga neapolitana.

Escherichia coli cells expressing L-arabinose isomerase from Thermotoga neapolitana (TNAI) were immobilized in calcium alginate beads. The resulting cell reactor (2.4 U, t (1/2) = 43 days at 70 degrees C) in a continuous recycling mode at 70 degrees C produced 49 and 38 g D-tagatose/l from 180 and 90 g D-galactose/l, respectively, within 12 h.

A thermodynamic study of mesophilic, thermophilic, and hyperthermophilic L-arabinose isomerases: the effects of divalent metal ions on protein stability at elevated temperatures.

To gain insight into the structural stability of homologous homo-tetrameric l-arabinose isomerases (AI), we have examined the isothermal guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl)-induced unfolding of AIs from mesophilic Bacillus halodurans (BHAI), thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GSAI), and hyperthermophilic Thermotoga maritima (TMAI) using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The GdnHCl-induced unfolding of the AIs can be well described by a two-state reaction between native tetramers and unfolded monomers, which directly confirms the validity of the linear extrapolation method to obtain the intrinsic stabilities of these proteins. The resulting unfolding free energy (DeltaGU) values of the AIs as a function of temperature were fit to the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation to determine their thermodynamic parameters based on a two-state mechanism. Compared with the stability curves of BHAI in the presence and absence of Mn2+, those of holo GSAI and TMAI were more broadened than those of the apo enzymes at all temperatures, indicating increased melting temperatures (Tm) due to decreased heat capacity (DeltaGp). Moreover, the extent of difference in DeltaCp between the apo and holo thermophilic AIs is larger than that of BHAI. From these studies, we suggest that the metal dependence of the thermophilic AIs, resulting in the reduced DeltaCp, may play a significant role in structural stability compared to their mesophilic analogues, and that the extent of metal dependence of AI stability seems to be highly correlated to oligomerization.

Cloning, expression and characterization of L-arabinose isomerase from Thermotoga neapolitana: bioconversion of D-galactose to D-tagatose using the enzyme.

Gene araA encoding an L-arabinose isomerase (AraA) from the hyperthermophile, Thermotoga neapolitana 5068 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene encoded a polypeptide of 496 residues with a calculated molecular mass of 56677 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence has 94.8% identical amino acids compared with the residues in a putative L-arabinose isomerase of Thermotoga maritima. The recombinant enzyme expressed in E. coli was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The thermophilic enzyme had a maximum activity of L-arabinose isomerization and D-galactose isomerization at 85 degrees C, and required divalent cations such as Co(2+) and Mn(2+) for its activity and thermostability. The apparent K(m) values of the enzyme for L-arabinose and D-galactose were 116 mM (v(max), 119 micromol min(-1) mg(-1)) and 250 mM (v(max), 14.3 micromol min(-1) mg(-1)), respectively, that were determined in the presence of both 1 mM Co(2+) and 1 mM Mn(2+). A 68% conversion of D-galactose to D-tagatose was obtained using the recombinant enzyme at the isomerization temperature of 80 degrees C.

Purification and characterization of a fibrinolytic subtilisin-like protease of Bacillus subtilis TP-6 from an Indonesian fermented soybean, Tempeh.

We have isolated a bacterium (TP-6) from the Indonesian fermented soybean, Tempeh, which produces a strong fibrinolytic protease and was identified as Bacillus subtilis. The protease (TPase) was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation and octyl sepharose and SP sepharose chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 27.5 kDa enzyme was determined, and the encoding gene was cloned and sequenced. The result demonstrates that TPase is a serine protease of the subtilisin family consisting of 275 amino acid residues in its mature form. Its apparent K (m) and V (max) for the synthetic substrate N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA were 259 microM and 145 micromol mg(-1) min(-1), respectively. The fibrinogen degradation pattern generated by TPase as a function of time was similar to that obtained with plasmin. In addition, N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the fibrinogen degradation products demonstrated that TPase cleaves Glu (or Asp) near hydrophobic acids as a P1 site in the alpha- and beta-chains of fibrinogen to generate fragments D', E', and D' similar to those generated by plasmin. On plasminogen-rich fibrin plates, TPase did not seem to activate fibrin clot lysis. Moreover, the enzyme converted the active plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 to the latent form.

Characterization of a thermoacidophilic L-arabinose isomerase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius: role of Lys-269 in pH optimum.

The araA gene encoding L-arabinose isomerase (AI) from the thermoacidophilic bacterium Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. Analysis of the sequence revealed that the open reading frame of the araA gene consists of 1,491 bp that encodes a protein of 497 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 56,043 Da. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of A. acidocaldarius AI (AAAI) with other AIs demonstrated that AAAI has 97% and 66% identities (99% and 83% similarities) to Geobacillus stearothermophilus AI (GSAI) and Bacillus halodurans AI (BHAI), respectively. The recombinant AAAI was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 6.0 to 6.5 and 65 degrees C under the assay conditions used, and it required divalent cations such as Mn2+, Co2+, and Mg2+ for its activity. The isoelectric point (pI) of the enzyme was about 5.0 (calculated pI of 5.5). The apparent Km values of the recombinant AAAI for L-arabinose and D-galactose were 48.0 mM (Vmax, 35.5 U/mg) and 129 mM (Vmax, 7.5 U/mg), respectively, at pH 6 and 65 degrees C. Interestingly, although the biochemical properties of AAAI are quite similar to those of GSAI and BHAI, the three AIs from A. acidocaldarius (pH 6), G. stearothermophilus (pH 7), and B. halodurans (pH 8) exhibited different pH activity profiles. Based on alignment of the amino acid sequences of these homologous AIs, we propose that the Lys-269 residue of AAAI may be responsible for the ability of the enzyme to act at low pH. To verify the role of Lys-269, we prepared the mutants AAAI-K269E and BHAI-E268K by site-directed mutagenesis and compared their kinetic parameters with those of wild-type AIs at various pHs. The pH optima of both AAAI-K269E and BHAI-E268K were rendered by 1.0 units (pH 6 to 7 and 8 to 7, respectively) compared to the wild-type enzymes. In addition, the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of each mutant at different pHs was significantly affected by an increase or decrease in Vmax. From these results, we propose that the position corresponding to the Lys-269 residue of AAAI could play an important role in the determination of the pH optima of homologous AIs.

Distinct metal dependence for catalytic and structural functions in the L-arabinose isomerases from the mesophilic Bacillus halodurans and the thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus.

L-Arabinose isomerase (AI) catalyzes the isomerization of L-arabinose to L-ribulose. It can also convert d-galactose to d-tagatose at elevated temperatures in the presence of divalent metal ions. The araA genes, encoding AI, from the mesophilic bacterium Bacillus halodurans and the thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzymes were purified to homogeneity. The purified enzymes are homotetramers with a molecular mass of 232 kDa and close amino acid sequence identity (67%). However, they exhibit quite different temperature dependence and metal requirements. B. halodurans AI has maximal activity at 50 degrees C under the assay conditions used and is not dependent on divalent metal ions. Its apparent K(m) values are 36 mM for L-arabinose and 167 mM for d-galactose, and the catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(m)) of the enzyme were 51.4 mM(-1)min(-1) (L-arabinose) and 0.4 mM(-1)min(-1) (d-galactose). Unlike B. halodurans AI, G. stearothermophilus AI has maximal activity at 65-70 degrees C, and is strongly activated by Mn(2+). It also has a much higher catalytic efficiency of 4.3 mM(-1)min(-1) for d-galactose and 32.5 mM(-1)min(-1)for L-arabinose, with apparent K(m) values of 117 and 63 mM, respectively. Irreversible thermal denaturation experiments using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed that the apparent melting temperature of B. halodurans AI (T(m)=65-67 degrees C) was unaffected by the presence of metal ions, whereas EDTA-treated G. stearothermophilus AI had a lower T(m) (72 degrees C) than the holoenzyme (78 degrees C). CD studies of both enzymes demonstrated that metal-mediated significant conformational changes were found in holo G. stearothermophilus AI, and there is an active tertiary structure for G. stearothermophilus AI at elevated temperatures for its catalytic activity. This is in marked contrast to the mesophilic B. halodurans AI where cofactor coordination is not necessary for proper protein folding. The metal dependence of G. stearothermophilus AI seems to be correlated with their catalytic and structural functions. We therefore propose that the metal ion requirement of the thermophilic G. stearothermophilus AI reflects the need to adopt the correct substrate-binding conformation and the structural stability at elevated temperatures.

Characterization of a thermostable L-arabinose (D-galactose) isomerase from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga maritima.

The araA gene encoding L-arabinose isomerase (AI) from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein containing a C-terminal hexahistidine sequence. This gene encodes a 497-amino-acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of 56,658. The recombinant enzyme was purified to homogeneity by heat precipitation followed by Ni(2+) affinity chromatography. The native enzyme was estimated by gel filtration chromatography to be a homotetramer with a molecular mass of 232 kDa. The purified recombinant enzyme had an isoelectric point of 5.7 and exhibited maximal activity at 90 degrees C and pH 7.5 under the assay conditions used. Its apparent K(m) values for L-arabinose and D-galactose were 31 and 60 mM, respectively; the apparent V(max) values (at 90 degrees C) were 41.3 U/mg (L-arabinose) and 8.9 U/mg (D-galactose), and the catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(m)) of the enzyme were 74.8 mM(-1).min(-1) (L-arabinose) and 8.5 mM(-1).min(-1) (D-galactose). Although the T. maritima AI exhibited high levels of amino acid sequence similarity (>70%) to other heat-labile mesophilic AIs, it had greater thermostability and higher catalytic efficiency than its mesophilic counterparts at elevated temperatures. In addition, it was more thermostable in the presence of Mn(2+) and/or Co(2+) than in the absence of these ions. The enzyme carried out the isomerization of D-galactose to D-tagatose with a conversion yield of 56% for 6 h at 80 degrees C.

Native-feather degradation by Fervidobacterium islandicum AW-1, a newly isolated keratinase-producing thermophilic anaerobe.

A native-feather-degrading thermophilic anaerobe was isolated from a geothermal hot stream in Indonesia. Isolate AW-1, identified as a member of the species Fervidobacterium islandicum, was shown to degrade native feathers (0.8%, w/v) completely at 70 degrees C and pH 7 with a maximum specific growth rate (0.14 h(-1)) in Thermotoga- Fervidobacterium(TF) medium. After 24 h of culture, feather degradation led to an increase in free amino acids such as histidine, cysteine and lysine. Moreover, nutritionally essential amino acids such as tryptophan and methionine, which are rare in feather keratin, were also produced as microbial metabolites. A homomultimeric membrane-bound keratinolytic protease (>200 kDa; 97 kDa subunits) was purified from a cell extract of F. islandicum AW-1. The enzyme exhibited activity toward casein and soluble keratin optimally at 100 degrees C and pH 9, and had a half-life of 90 min at 100 degrees C. The enzyme showed higher specific activity for the keratinous substrates than other proteases and catalyzed the cleavage of peptide bonds more rapidly following the reduction of disulfide bridges in feather keratin by 10 mM dithiothreitol. Therefore, the enzyme from F. islandicum AW-1 is a novel, thermostable keratinolytic serine protease.