Role of Proteolytic Enzymes in the Interaction of Phytopathogenic Microorganisms with Plants.

Various forms of participation of proteolytic enzymes in pathogenesis and defense in plants are reviewed. Along with extracellular proteinases, phytopathogenic microorganisms produce specific effectors having proteolytic activity and capable of acting on proteins inside plant cells. In turn, for defense against pathogens, plants use both extracellular and intracellular proteinases.

[Effect of the Hydrogel Carrier Structure on the Activity of Immobilized Trypsin].

The dependence of the activity of trypsin immobilized in polyacrylamide hydrogel on the hydrogel swelling ratio, the size distribution of its pores, and the means of enzyme binding has been studied. It has been shown that the most favorable conditions for immobilized trypsin are provided upon its binding to hydrogel via trypsin macromonomer copolymerization with acrylamide and a linking agent in the presence of a modifier that limits polymer chain growth.

[Novel antiproteinase hemosorbent].

A method has been developed for producing a biospecific hydrogel hemosorbent by the radical copolymerization of an unsaturated derivative of ovomucoid from duck egg white with acrylamide and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide in an aqueous solution in the presence of mercaptoacetic acid serving as a chain transfer agent. The use of a chain transfer agent has been shown to result in changes in the structure of the hydrogel formed, namely, an increase in the degree of swelling in aqueous solutions and a decrease in the number of large pores. This creates favorable conditions for the functioning of immobilized ovomucoid and allows for an increase in the serine proteinase absorption capacity of the hemosorbent.

[Thromboresistance of glucose-containing hydrogels].

The thromboresistance of glucose-sensitive polymer hydrogels, modeling one of the functions of the pancreas, namely, the ability to secrete insulin in response to the introduction of glucose into the environment, has been studied. Hydrogels were synthesized by the copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with N-acryloyl glucosamine in the presence of a cross-linking agent and subsequently treated with concanavalin A. Introduction of glucose residues into the hydrogel did not result in significant changes in either the number of trombocytes adhered to the hydrogel or the degree of denaturation of blood plasma proteins interacting with the hydrogel. Consequently, the biological activity of insulin did not change after release from the hydrogel. The use of glucose-sensitive hydrogels is supposed to contribute to the development of a novel strategy for the treatment of diabetes.

[Secretion of proteolytic enzymes by three phytopathogenic microorganisms].

Serine proteinases from three phytopathogenic microorganisms that belong to different fungal families and cause diseases in potatoes were studied and characterized. The oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary and the fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium culmorum were shown to secrete serine proteinases. An analysis of the substrate specificity of these enzymes and their sensitivity to synthetic and protein inhibitors allowed us to refer them to trypsin- and subtilisin-like proteinases. The correlation between the trypsin- and subtilisin-like proteinases depended on the composition of the culture medium, particularly on the form of the nitrogen source. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out. In contrast to basidiomycetes R. solani, ascomycetes F. culmorum and oomycetes P. infestans produced a similar set of exoproteinases, although they had more distant phylogenetic positions. This indicated that the secretion of serine proteinases by various phytopathogenic microorganisms also depended on their phylogenetic position. These results allowed us to suggest that exoproteinases from phytopathogenic fungi play a different role in pathogenesis. They may promote the adaptation of fungi if the range of hosts is enlarged. On the other hand, they may play an important role in the survival of microorganisms in hostile environements outside their hosts.

[Fragment of the gene encoding chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitor protein of potato tubers].

Product of polymerase chain reaction designated as PKPIJ-B was isolated after amplification from genomic DNA of potato (Solarium tuberosum L., Zhukov Jubilee cultivar) using the designed primers. Nucleotide sequence of PKPIJ-B was determined and amino acid sequence of protein was restored. Analysis of this sequence has allowed us to suggest that isolated gene fragment encodes chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitor protein (PKCI-23 potato Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor) of potato tubers.

[Chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitor isolated from potato tubers].

Potato Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor (PKCI-23) was isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., Zhukov's Jubilee breed) 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 Carlsberg subtilisin. 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.

[Inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes under abiotic stresses in plants (review)].

Data on the role of proteolytic enzyme inhibitors in plant adaptation to various unfavorable environmental abiotic factors--water deficiency, salinization of soil, extreme temperatures, etc.--and also probable functions of proteinases inhibitors in natural plant senescense are considered.

[The influence of cultural medium composition on the proteolytic enzyme secretion of fungus Rhizoctonia solani].

It was shown that change of medium growth composition of photopathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, especially accessible sources of nutrition, leads to change of both quantity of produced proteinases and their action specificity. The mineral source of nitrogen suppressed the fungus proteinase secretion on cultivation medium containing potato thermostable proteins but an organic source of nitrogen accelerated mycelium growth and increased proteinase secretion. On the basis of an analysis of a fungus extracellular proteinase substrate-specificity, it is established that the presence of thermostable proteins of a potato in the cultural liquid induces the secretion of trypsin-like proteinases mainly, and the addition of yeast extract to this growth medium induces the secretion of subtilisin-like ones, thus suppressing the trypsin-like enzymes production. This fact can indicate that mycelium of fungus R. solani loses pathogenic properties and becomes saprophytes when the growth medium was enriched by an organic source of nitrogen.

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.

[Chemical modification of proteins by "smart" polymers].

The modification of proteinase inhibitor ovomucoid from duck eggs white by poly-N,N-diethylacrylamide having a low critical solution temperature (LCST) have been studied. Modification of free amino groups of lysine and N-terminal residue of ovomucoid is resulted in a significant decrease in the activity of the inhibitor toward trypsin and small decrease in the activity toward α-chymotrypsin. At heating of the solution of modified ovomucoid above the LCST transformation of the antitryptic centers of ovomucoid in antichymotryptic centers was observed. It was shown that this phenomenon is due to the hydrophobization the lysine residues localized in the reactive centers of the inhibitor while maintaining the structure of the "linkage loops". Therefore the α-chymotrypsine molecules began to interact with these residues, mistaking them for the residues of hydrophobic amino acids of antichymotryptic centers.

[Thermoregulation of catalytic activity of enzymes polymeric derivatives].

Trypsin was immobilized on polymeric carriers with low critical solution temperature (LCST). Homopolymer of N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAA), random copolymers of DEAA and acrylamide (AA), and block copolymers polyDEAA-polyAA were used as the carriers. It was shown that at a temperature above LCST all carriers have a conformation change and trypsin's polymeric derivatives precipitate. The maximal activity after phase transition keeps trypsin, immobilized on polyDEAA block in polyDEAA-polyAA block-copolymer.

[Oral insulin preparations for the regulation of the glucose level in the blood].

Oral administration of diluted solutions of insulin results in the absorption of the hormone into bloodstream. After oral administration of diluted insulin solutions to healthy volunteers and animals with experimental diabetes insulin does not undergo hydrolytic degradation under the action of proteolytic enzymes and its absorption is sufficient to produce the hypoglycemic effect. This approach gives a chance of creating of novel strategy for diabetes treatment.

[Wound healing and induced resistance in potato tubers].

It was demonstrated that biogenic elicitors, arachidonic acid and chitosan, locally and systemically stimulated wound healing in potato tuber tissues by increasing the number of wound periderm layers, accelerating the development of cork cambium (phellogen), and inducing proteinase inhibitors. The signal molecules, jasmonic and salicylic acids, had different effects on the development of wound periderm: jasmonic acid locally and systemically stimulated potato wound healing and elevated the level of proteinase inhibitors, whereas salicylic acid did not have any effect on wound healing and even blocked the formation of proteinase inhibitors.

[Activation of elicitor defensive properties by systemic signal molecules during the interaction between potato and Phytophthora].

The elicitor arachidonic acid in combination with jasmonic acid (JA) induced a higher level of defense against the late blight agent in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tissues than in combination with salicylic acid (SA). On the contrary, the elicitor chitosan displayed a higher inductive effect in combination with SA as compared with JA. The optimal concentrations of tested compounds were selected for designing the compositions activating wound repair, induction of proteinase inhibitors, and resistance to the biotrophic pathogen Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. It was demonstrated that the compositions of elicitor and systemic signal molecules provided a faster spreading of an inducing effect in the potato tissues.

[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-N8. 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.

[Proteinase inhibitors in plant biotechnology: a review].

Possible utilities for natural inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes in plant biotechnology have been reviewed. Among the potential areas of use of the inhibitors are (1) construction of transgenic plants with increased resistance to insects and other pests and (2) development of procedures for biosynthesis of recombinant proteins. In the latter case, the inhibitors will serve to prevent the protein degradation by proteinases.

[Effect of proteinaceous proteinase inhibitors from potato tubers on the growth and development of phytopathogenic microorganisms].

We studied the effect of two proteins, PSPI-21 and PKSI, on the growth and development of phytopathogenic microorganisms (Phytophthora infestans oomycete and Fusarium culmorum fungus). Both proteins were isolated from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii) and served as inhibitors of serine proteinases. These proteins differed in the ability to inhibit growth of Phytophthora infestans oomycete and Fusarium culmorum fungus. PSPI-21 was the most potent in modulating the growth of oomycete mycelium. PKSI primarily affected the growth of the fungal mycelium. The proteins under study induced complete destruction of oomycete zoospores and partial destruction of fungal macroconidia. Our results suggest that these proteins are involved in the protection of potato plants from phytopathogenic microorganisms.

[Protein inhibitors of fibrin stabilizing factor FXIII].

The ability of cysteine proteinase inhibitors (CPIs) isolated from tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum) to suppress transpeptidase activity of fibrin stabilizing factor (FXIIIa) through the direct effect on the essential SH group of the enzyme active site has been studied. The formation of fibrin clots soluble in 5 M urea and 2% acetic acid as well as spectrophotometric turbidity analysis of the stabilization and resistance of fibrin clots formed in the presence of FXIIIa and CPIs from potato tubers to plasmin, and electrophoresis of reduced fibrin samples indicate the decrease or absence of covalent crosslinking of fibrin chains. In addition, CPIs added to the substrate proved to decelerate fibrinogen polymerization almost twice relative to control. It is concluded that natural CPIs can both take part in the regulation of FXIIIa transpeptidase activity in vitro and modify the substrate.