Novel Insights Into Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis In Vitro Fitness Guided by Temperature Changes Along With Its Subtilisins and Oligopeptidase B.

Proteases are virulence factors with a recognized impact on the Leishmania spp. life cycle. This study considers a set of analyses measuring phenotypic factors of L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates as promastigotes growth curves, murine peritoneal macrophages infection, inflammatory mediators production, and serine proteases gene expression (subtilisin 13: S13, subtilisin 28: S28, oligopeptidase B: OPB) assessing these isolates' fitness on in vitro conditions. Parasites had different behavior during the early growth phase from day zero to day three, and all isolates reached the stationary growth phase between days four and seven. Macrophages infection showed two tendencies, one of decreased infection rate and number of parasites per macrophage (Infection Index <1000) and another with a constant infection index (≥1400). TNF-α (≥10 pg/mL) detected in infections by 75% of isolates, IL-6 (≥80 pg/mL) by 30% of isolates and low levels of NO (≥0.01µM) in almost all infections. Gene expression showed higher values of S13 (≥2RQ) in the intracellular amastigotes of all the isolates evaluated. On the contrary, S28 expression was low (≤1RQ) in all isolates. OPB expression was different between promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, being significantly higher (≥2RQ) in the latter form of 58% of the isolates. Predictive structural assays of S13 and OPB were performed to explore temperature influence on gene expression and the encoded proteases. Gene expression data is discussed based on in silico predictions of regulatory regions that show plasticity in the linearity index of secondary structures of S13 and OPB 3'-untranslated regions of mRNA, dependent on temperature changes. While hairpin structures suggest an active region of mRNA for both genes above 26°C, pseudoknot structure found in S13 is an indication of a particular profile of this gene at mammalian host temperatures (37°C). Furthermore, the predicted 3D structures are in accordance with the influence of these temperatures on the catalytic site stability of both enzymes, favoring their action over peptide substrates. Data gathered here suggest that L. (V.) braziliensis serine proteases can be influenced by the temperature conditions affecting parasite fitness throughout its life cycle.

The fungal elicitor AsES requires a functional ethylene pathway to activate the innate immunity in strawberry.

Acremonium strictum Elicitor Subtilisin (AsES) is a fungal elicitor that activates innate immunity, conferring disease resistance in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), Arabidopsis and other plant species. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the involvement of the ethylene (ET) signalling pathway in AsES-mediated immune response in strawberry. Ethylene production and expression of the genes responsible for ET synthesis, perception and response were measured after AsES treatment. ROS (H2 O2 ) accumulation and immunity induced by AsES were studied after ET perception was blocked by 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Biochemical and molecular results showed that AsES induced a marked increase in local and systemic biosynthesis of ET, both in a biphasic manner. Blocking of ET perception by 1-MCP prior to AsES induction reduced production of ROS (H2 O2 ) and prevented AsES from eliciting defence against fungal pathogens having different lifestyles, such as Botrytis cinerea (necrotrophic) and Colletotrichum acutatum (hemibiotrophic). These findings contribute to elucidate the mode of action of the novel elicitor subtilase, AsES, specifically regarding the role of ET signalling in the activation of plant innate immunity, in addition to the multitude of processes regulated by ET in plants.

The fungal subtilase AsES elicits a PTI-like defence response in Arabidopsis thaliana plants independently of its enzymatic activity.

Acremonium strictum elicitor subtilisin (AsES) is a 34-kDa serine-protease secreted by the strawberry fungal pathogen A. strictum. On AsES perception, a set of defence reactions is induced, both locally and systemically, in a wide variety of plant species and against pathogens of alternative lifestyles. However, it is not clear whether AsES proteolytic activity is required for triggering a defence response or if the protein itself acts as an elicitor. To investigate the necessity of the protease activity to activate the defence response, AsES coding sequences of the wild-type gene and a mutant on the active site (S226A) were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Our data show that pretreatment of Arabidopsis plants with inactive proteins, i.e. inhibited with phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) and mutant, resulted in an increased systemic resistance to Botrytis cinerea and expression of defence-related genes in a temporal manner that mimics the effect already reported for the native AsES protein. The data presented in this study indicate that the defence-eliciting property exhibited by AsES is not associated with its proteolytic activity. Moreover, the enhanced expression of some immune marker genes, seedling growth inhibition and the involvement of the co-receptor BAK1 observed in plants treated with AsES suggests that AsES is being recognized as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern by a leucine-rich repeat receptor. The understanding of the mechanism of action of AsES will contribute to the development of new breeding strategies to confer durable resistance in plants.

Serine Proteinases in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Promastigotes Have Distinct Subcellular Distributions and Expression.

Serine proteinases in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigotes were assessed in this work. This study included the investigation of the enzymatic activity of subcellular fractions obtained from benzamidine affinity chromatography, reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions, and in silico assays of subcellular localization of subtilisin. Promastigote serine proteinases showed gelatinolytic activity with molecular masses of 43 kDa to 170 kDa in the cytosolic fraction and 67 kDa to 170 kDa in the membranous fraction. Serine proteinase activities were detected using N-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanyl-l-arginine 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Z-FR-AMC) and N-succinyl-l-alanine-l-phenylalanine-l-lysine 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Suc-AFK-AMC) as substrates in the cytosolic fraction (Z-FR-AMC = 392 ± 30 µmol.min-1 mg of protein-1 and Suc-AFK-AMC = 252 ± 20 µmol.min-1 mg of protein-1) and in the membranous fraction (Z-FR-AMC = 53 ± 5 µmol.min-1 mg of protein-1 and Suc-AFK-AMC = 63.6 ± 6.5 µmol.min-1 mg of protein-1). Enzyme specificity was shown by inhibition with aprotinin (19% to 80% inhibition) and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (3% to 69%), depending on the subcellular fraction and substrate. The expression of subtilisin (LbrM.13.0860 and LbrM.28.2570) and tryparedoxin peroxidase (LbrM.15.1080) genes was observed by the detection of RNA transcripts 200 bp, 162 bp, and 166 bp long, respectively. Subsequent in silico assays showed LbrM.13.0860 can be located in the cytosol and LbrM.28.2570 in the membrane of the parasite. Data obtained here show the subcellular distribution and expression of serine proteinases, including the subtilisin-like serine proteinases in L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes.

Repertório de serina proteases como componentes do degradoma de Leishmania spp / Serine protease repertoire as components of Leishmania spp degradation

Esta tese faz uma abordagem in silico e experimental sobre as serina proteases de Leishmania spp. Na primeira etapa do estudo são descritas as serina proteases como parte do degradoma destes parasitos. Os genes de serina protease (n = 26 a 28) em Leishmania spp que codificam proteínas com uma ampla faixa de massa molecular, são descritos juntamente com seus graus de sintenia cromossômica e alélica. Em meio a 17 serina proteases putativas de Leishmania spp apenas 18 % possuem duas funções descritas experimentalmente como propriedades para remover o peptídeo sinal de pro-proteínas secretoras (clã SF), como maturases de outras proteínas (clã SB) e com atividades similares as metacaspase (clã SC). Análises in silico indicaram que o conjunto de serina proteases de Leishmania spp pode estabelecer interrelações funcionais com outras proteínas de Leishmania spp significando atuações essenciais na fisiologia do parasito. Padrões de redes distintos podem ocorrer e a complexidade destas redes difere entre as espécies relacionadas ao subgênero Viannia e Leishmania: Leishmania (V.) braziliensis (n = 215); Leishmania (L.) mexicana (n = 130); L. (L.) donovani (n=56) Leishmania (L.) major (n = 45); Leishmania (L.) infantum (n = 23). O fato das serina proteases de L. (V.) braziliensis indicarem mais possibilidades de interações com outras proteínas do parasito foi a motivação para segunda etapa deste estudo

Esta etapa consistiu em uma abordagem experimental e in silico investigando as serina proteases deste parasito, incluindo atividade enzimática de serina proteases de frações subcelulares obtidas por cromatografia de afinidade com benzamidina, reações em cadeia da polimerase com transcrição reversa e ensaios in silico de localização subcelular de subtilisinas. Promastigotas apresentaram serina proteases com atividade gelatinolítica na fração citosólica (43 kDa a 170 kDa) e na fração membrana (67 kDa a 170 kDa). Ambas as frações também demostraram propriedades de catálise sobre os substratos peptídicos N-benziloxicarbonil-L-fenilalanil-L-arginina 7-amino-4-metilcumarina (fração citosólica = 392 ± 30 mol.min-1 mg of protein-1; fração de membrana = 53 ± 5 mol.min-1 mg of protein-1) e N-succinil-L-alanina-L-fenilalanina-L-lisina 7-amino-4-metilcumarina (fração citosólica = 252 ± 20 mol.min-1 mg of protein-1; fração de membrana = 63.6 ± 6.5 mol.min-1 mg of protein-1) com diferentes perfis de especificidade demonstrada pela inibição com aprotinina (19 % a 80 %) e fluoreto de fenilmetilsulfonil (3 % a 69 %), dependendo da fração subcelular e do substrato. A expressão dos genes das subtilisinas (LbrM.13.0860 e LbrM28.270) e da triparedoxina peroxidase (LbrM.15.1080) também foram observadas, com a detecção dos transcritos de 200 pb, 162 pb e 166 pb, respectivamente. Ensaios subsequentes indicaram que a enzima codificada pelo gene LbrM.13.0860 tem localização no citosol e a codificada pelo gene LbrM.28.2570 na membrana do parasito. Coletivamente, os dados aqui obtidos indicam relevantes contribuições das serina proteases na fisiologia da Leishmania spp, incluindo as subtilisinas das promastigotas de L. (V.) braziliensis. (AU)

The Elicitor Protein AsES Induces a Systemic Acquired Resistance Response Accompanied by Systemic Microbursts and Micro-Hypersensitive Responses in Fragaria ananassa.

The elicitor AsES (Acremonium strictum elicitor subtilisin) is a 34-kDa subtilisin-like protein secreted by the opportunistic fungus Acremonium strictum. AsES activates innate immunity and confers resistance against anthracnose and gray mold diseases in strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) and the last disease also in Arabidopsis. In the present work, we show that, upon AsES recognition, a cascade of defense responses is activated, including: calcium influx, biphasic oxidative burst (O2⋅- and H2O2), hypersensitive cell-death response (HR), accumulation of autofluorescent compounds, cell-wall reinforcement with callose and lignin deposition, salicylic acid accumulation, and expression of defense-related genes, such as FaPR1, FaPG1, FaMYB30, FaRBOH-D, FaRBOH-F, FaCHI23, and FaFLS. All these responses occurred following a spatial and temporal program, first induced in infiltrated leaflets (local acquired resistance), spreading out to untreated lateral leaflets, and later, to distal leaves (systemic acquired resistance). After AsES treatment, macro-HR and macro-oxidative bursts were localized in infiltrated leaflets, while micro-HRs and microbursts occurred later in untreated leaves, being confined to a single cell or a cluster of a few epidermal cells that differentiated from the surrounding ones. The differentiated cells initiated a time-dependent series of physiological and anatomical changes, evolving to idioblasts accumulating H2O2 and autofluorescent compounds that blast, delivering its content into surrounding cells. This kind of systemic cell-death process in plants is described for the first time in response to a single elicitor. All data presented in this study suggest that AsES has the potential to activate a wide spectrum of biochemical and molecular defense responses in F. ananassa that may explain the induced protection toward pathogens of opposite lifestyle, like hemibiotrophic and necrotrophic fungi.

Purification and characterization of AsES protein: a subtilisin secreted by Acremonium strictum is a novel plant defense elicitor.

In this work, the purification and characterization of an extracellular elicitor protein, designated AsES, produced by an avirulent isolate of the strawberry pathogen Acremonium strictum, are reported. The defense eliciting activity present in culture filtrates was recovered and purified by ultrafiltration (cutoff, 30 kDa), anionic exchange (Q-Sepharose, pH 7.5), and hydrophobic interaction (phenyl-Sepharose) chromatographies. Two-dimensional SDS-PAGE of the purified active fraction revealed a single spot of 34 kDa and pI 8.8. HPLC (C2/C18) and MS/MS analysis confirmed purification to homogeneity. Foliar spray with AsES provided a total systemic protection against anthracnose disease in strawberry, accompanied by the expression of defense-related genes (i.e. PR1 and Chi2-1). Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (e.g. H2O2 and O2(˙)) and callose was also observed in Arabidopsis. By using degenerate primers designed from the partial amino acid sequences and rapid amplification reactions of cDNA ends, the complete AsES-coding cDNA of 1167 nucleotides was obtained. The deduced amino acid sequence showed significant identity with fungal serine proteinases of the subtilisin family, indicating that AsES is synthesized as a larger precursor containing a 15-residue secretory signal peptide and a 90-residue peptidase inhibitor I9 domain in addition to the 283-residue mature protein. AsES exhibited proteolytic activity in vitro, and its resistance eliciting activity was eliminated when inhibited with PMSF, suggesting that its proteolytic activity is required to induce the defense response. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a fungal subtilisin that shows eliciting activity in plants. This finding could contribute to develop disease biocontrol strategies in plants by activating its innate immunity.

NaStEP: a proteinase inhibitor essential to self-incompatibility and a positive regulator of HT-B stability in Nicotiana alata pollen tubes.

In Solanaceae, the self-incompatibility S-RNase and S-locus F-box interactions define self-pollen recognition and rejection in an S-specific manner. This interaction triggers a cascade of events involving other gene products unlinked to the S-locus that are crucial to the self-incompatibility response. To date, two essential pistil-modifier genes, 120K and High Top-Band (HT-B), have been identified in Nicotiana species. However, biochemistry and genetics indicate that additional modifier genes are required. We recently reported a Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor, named NaStEP (for Nicotiana alata Stigma-Expressed Protein), that is highly expressed in the stigmas of self-incompatible Nicotiana species. Here, we report the proteinase inhibitor activity of NaStEP. NaStEP is taken up by both compatible and incompatible pollen tubes, but its suppression in Nicotiana spp. transgenic plants disrupts S-specific pollen rejection; therefore, NaStEP is a novel pistil-modifier gene. Furthermore, HT-B levels within the pollen tubes are reduced when NaStEP-suppressed pistils are pollinated with either compatible or incompatible pollen. In wild-type self-incompatible N. alata, in contrast, HT-B degradation occurs preferentially in compatible pollinations. Taken together, these data show that the presence of NaStEP is required for the stability of HT-B inside pollen tubes during the rejection response, but the underlying mechanism is currently unknown.

Cloning, expression and decoding of the cold adaptation of a new widely represented thermolabile subtilisin-like protease.

AIMS: Cloning, expression and characterization of a new cold-adapted protease with potential biotechnological application, isolated from Antarctic bacteria. METHOD AND RESULTS: A subtilisin-like gene was isolated from several Antarctic bacterial genus using CODPEHOP-designed primers and a genome walking method. This gene encodes a precursor protein, which undergoes an autocatalytic cleavage resulting in a 34.6 kDa active cold-adapted protease with a maximum activity at 25-35°C and optimum pH of 8.0-9.0. It showed a higher catalytic efficiency at lower temperatures compared to its mesophilic counterpart. Heat-induced inactivation resulted in a very low melting point. Local packing analysis using the homology model indicated Ala284 as an important cold-adaptation determinant, which was corroborated by the site-directed mutagenesis. CONCLUSIONS: A new thermolabile subtilisin-like protease has been successfully cloned and analysed, and an important hot spot in the evolution of the cold adaptation and substrate specificity of this enzyme was identified and tested. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work reports a new cold-adapted protease with a vast representation amongst Antarctic genus, suggesting therefore its evolutionary success in this cold environment. Likewise, important sites for genetic potentiation have been identified, which are extrapolated to other enzymes of the same kind.

DEVDase activity is induced in potato leaves during Phytophthora infestans infection.

Programmed cell death (PCD) occurs in plants, animals and several branches of unicellular eukaryotes as a part of developmental and/or defense processes. Caspase proteases are universal mediators of animal apoptosis, a type of PCD. In plants, there are not animal caspase homologs; therefore, the characterization of caspase-like activities is of considerable importance to our understanding of PCD in plants. Here we report for the first time the involvement of caspase-3-like activity in the resistance mechanism of potato to Phytophthora infestans infection. We showed that disease development in infected potato leaves is dependent of caspase-3-like activity. Unlike plant DEVDases previously reported, this DEVDase activity was sensitive to the serine protease inhibitor PMSF. As reported for other subtilisin- like proteases with caspase activity, potato DEVDase activity was mainly localized in the apoplast. We demonstrated that in total protein extract DEVDase activity accounts for a 60% of serine proteases; however, this percentage increases to 100% in the apoplast. Additionally, this caspase-3-like activity is constitutively expressed in the apoplast of potato leaves. Total DEVDase activity is induced only in potato cultivars with high field resistance to P. infestans. These results show that potato caspase-3-like protease could constitute a tool in the potato defense mechanisms resulting in partial resistance, although further assays would be necessary in order to elucidate its role.

Kinetic stability modelling of keratinolytic protease P45: influence of temperature and metal ions.

The activity and kinetic stability of a keratinolytic subtilisin-like protease from Bacillus sp. P45 was investigated in 100 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0; control) and in buffer with addition of Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) (1-10 mM), at different temperatures. Addition of 3 mM Ca(2+) or 4 mM Mg(2+) resulted in a 26% increment on enzyme activity towards azocasein when compared to the control (100%; without added Ca(2+) or Mg(2+)) at 55 °C. Optimal temperature for activity in the control (55 °C) was similar with Mg(2+); however, temperature optimum was increased to 60 °C with 3 mM Ca(2+), displaying an enhancement of 42% in comparison to the control at 55 °C. Stability of protease P45 in control buffer and with Mg(2+) addition was assayed at 40-50 °C, and at 55-62 °C with Ca(2+) addition. Data were fitted to six kinetic inactivation models, and a first-order equation was accepted as the best model to describe the inactivation of protease P45 with and without metal ions. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters obtained showed the crucial role of calcium ions for enzyme stability. As biocatalyst stability is fundamental for commercial/industrial purposes, the stabilising effect of calcium could be exploited aiming the application of protease P45 in protein hydrolysis.

Infestin 1R, an intestinal subtilisin inhibitor from Triatoma infestans able to impair mammalian cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Infestins are Kazal-type serine protease inhibitors described in the midgut of Triatoma infestans, Chagas disease vector. Of all infestins, only infestin 1R (INF1R) does not control host blood coagulation, due to its inhibitory specificity for chymotrypsin-like proteases. We further investigated the effect of INF1R on cell infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. The importance of INF1R reactive site to inhibit T. cruzi cell invasion was confirmed using 1RSFTI, a synthetic cyclic peptide containing the inhibitor reactive site region hybridized to the Sunflower Trypsin Inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1). Our results suggest that INF1R efficiently inhibited parasite cell invasion. For the first time, a serine protease inhibitor, derived from T. infestans, was shown to impair cell invasion by T. cruzi, representing possible new target in parasite cell invasion.

Memory impairment in rats by hippocampal administration of the serine protease subtilisin.

Since the serine protease subtilisin has been reported to generate a novel form of long-term depression (LTD) in rat hippocampal slices, the present work was designed to determine whether it has any effect on learning and memory processes. Rats were used to examine the effects of subtilisin, injected directly into the dorsal hippocampus, on task performance in a step-through inhibitory avoidance of a mild footshock. The administration of 100 ng of subtilisin into each hippocampus, immediately after training, was sufficient to induce a detectable learning deficit with a footshock stimulus of 0.5 mA. Higher doses produced dose-related impairments in memory consolidation. These effects were not the result of irreversible toxicity, since rats trained with a higher amplitude footshock (0.75 mA) were able to perform as control animals; therefore, the amnesic effect was not further evident. Furthermore, the administration of subtilisin before avoidance training did not produce any detectable effect on performance during the training or test sessions, indicating that neither acquisition nor consolidation was affected. It is concluded that the post-training administration of a serine protease inhibitor is able to produce robust deficits of memory consolidation consistent with its ability to generate LTD, raising the possibility that related molecules could play physiological or pathological roles in the modulation of learning and memory.

Emprego da hidrólise enzimática utilizando subtilisina para elevar o valor nutricional do soro de leite / Use of enzymatic hydrolysis using subtilisin for increasing the nutritional value of whey

With the aim of increasing the nutritional value of whey, a subtilisin was used for hydrolysing its proteins and obtaining high di-tripeptide and free amino acid contents, besides small amounts of large peptides. The whey protein concentrate was used as raw material and different hydrolytic conditions were tested such as reaction time (5, 10 and 15h), enzyme:substrate ratio (1:100, 2:100 and 4:100) and raw material concentration (10% and 15%). The peptide profi les were initially characterized using a fractionation method by a size-exclusion-HPLC followed by a rapid Corrected Fraction Area method for quantifying the peptides. The action of subtilisin showed varied effects depending on the hydrolysis parameters used. The best peptide profi le was obtained using a raw material concentration of 10%, an enzyme:substrate ratio of 4:100, after 5h reaction, reaching 13.34% ofdi-tripeptides, 45.56% of free amino acids and just 12.28% of large peptides.

Con el propósito de mejorar el valor nutricional del suero lácteo, fue empleada una subtilisina para hidrolizar sus proteínas y obtener un alto contenido de di-tri péptidos, aminoácidos libres con reducción del tenor de grandes péptidos.La materia prima fue el concentrado proteico del suero lácteo y diferentes condiciones de hidrólisis fueron probadas: tiempo de hidrólisis(5, 10 y 15h), la relación enzima: substrato (1:100, 2:100 y 4:100) y la concentración de la materia prima (10% y 15%). Se caracterizó elperfi l peptídico por medio de fraccionamiento de los hidrolizados utilizando cromatografía líquida de alta efi ciencia de exclusión moleculary la cuantifi cación de los componentes de las fracciones cromatográfi cas fue realizada por el método rápido del área corregida de la fracción. Para los parámetros estudiados, se observaronefectos variados de la subtilisina en la obtención de los hidrolizados, y el mejor perfi l peptídico fue encontrado cuando se utilizó la concentración de materia prima de 10%, relación enzima: substrato de 4:100 y 5 horas de reacción. Estas condiciones dieron origen a un hidrolizado compuesto de 13,34% de di-tripeptídeos, 45,56%de aminoácidos libres y sólo 12,28% de grandes péptidos.

Com o intuito de elevar o valor nutricional do soro de leite, foi empregada uma subtilisinapara hidrolisar suas proteínas e obter alto teor de di-tripeptídios, e de aminoácidos livres, alémde pequena quantidade de grandes peptídios. A matéria-prima utilizada foi o concentrado proteico do soro de leite e diferentes condições hidrolíticas foram testadas, tais como o tempo dereação (5, 10 e 15h), a relação enzima:substrato (1:100, 2:100 e 4:100) e a concentração damatéria-prima (10% e 15%). Caracterizou-se o perfil peptídico pelo fracionamento dos hidrolisados por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência de exclusão molecular e, para a quantificação dos componentes das frações cromatográficas, empregou-se o método rápido da Área Corrigida da Fração. Para os parâmetros estudados, observaram-se efeitos variados da subtilisina na obtenção dos hidrolisados, sendo que o melhor perfil peptídico foi encontrado ao se empregar a concentração da matéria-primade 10%, relação enzima:substrato de 4:100, após 5 h de reação, tendo obtido 13,34% de ditripeptídeos, 45,56% de aminoácidos livres e, apenas, 12,28% de grandes peptídios.

Kinetic analysis of salting activation of a subtilisin-like halophilic protease.

The secreted extracellular subtilase SR5-3 from Halobacillus sp. bacterium, isolated from the high-salt environment of Thai fish sauce, was utilized as a model halophilic serine protease. The dependence of salt activation on the size and structure of substrates was evaluated assaying the enzyme with Suc-AAPF-MCA and with the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) peptide Abz-AAPFSSKQ-EDDnp. Solvent isotope effects (SIE) and the thermodynamic parameters for activation of the hydrolysis of Suc-AAPF-MCA and Abz-AAPFSSKQ-EDDnp by SR5-3 protease in the presence of salts were also performed. All the obtained results support the notion that the salting out effect is responsible for the halophilic character of SR5-3, and the magnitude of its hydrolytic activity is mainly derived from the improvement of catalytic and/or interaction steps depending on the nature and size of the substrates, principally if they occupy the substrate prime subsites.

BmSI-7, a novel subtilisin inhibitor from Boophilus microplus, with activity toward Pr1 proteases from the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae.

BmSI-7 and BmSI-6, two Boophilus microplus subtilisin inhibitors (BmSI) were purified and characterized from eggs. The inhibitors isolated by classical purification methods presented molecular masses of 7408 and 7271Da, respectively, by MALDI-TOF-MS. Both BmSI-7 and BmSI-6 inhibited neutrophil elastase (K(i) 0.4 and 0.3nM) and subtilisin A (K(i) 1.4nM for both inhibitors). They also strongly inhibited Pr1 proteases from the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae; BmSI-7 (K(i) 50nM) and BmSI-6 (K(i) 2.2nM). The BmSI-7 full length cDNA was obtained using amino acid sequence information of BmSI-7 peptides generated by proteolytic digestion. BmSI-7 belongs to trypsin inhibitor like cysteine rich domain family (TIL), and it is transcribed in ovary, fat body, gut, salivary gland and haemocytes. BmSI-7 is the first TIL inhibitor described with inhibitory activity toward subtilisin A and Pr1 proteases of entomopathogenic fungi.

Cloning of complete genes for novel hydrolytic enzymes from Antarctic sea water bacteria by use of an improved genome walking technique.

The increased demand for enzymes with new properties makes indispensable the development of easy and rapid strategies to obtain complete genes of new enzymes. Here a strategy is described which includes screening by PCR of new subtilases mediated by Consensus-Degenerate Hybrid Oligonucleotide Primers (CODEHOP) and an improved genome walking method to obtain the complete sequence of the identified genes. Existing methods of genome walking have many limitations, which make them inefficient and time consuming. We have developed an improved genome walking method with novel advances to get a simple, rapid and more efficient procedure based on cassette-ligation. Improvements consist basically in the possibility of a genomic DNA digestion with any restriction enzyme, blunting and 3' adenylation of digested DNA by Taq DNA polymerase to avoid self-circularization, followed by TA ligation of the adenine 3' overhanging end to the same unphosphorylated oligo-cassette. The efficiency of the genome walking method was demonstrated by finding the unknown ends of all gene fragments tested, previously obtained by CODEHOP-mediated PCR, including three subtilases (P4, P6 and P7), one xylanase and one lipase, from different strains of Antarctic marine bacteria.

Ligand-dependent structural changes and limited proteolysis of Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase-2.

Binding of MgATP to the allosteric site of phosphofructokinase-2 promotes a dimer to tetramer conversion. In the presence of Fru-6-P the enzyme remains as a dimer. Limited proteolysis in the presence of MgATP completely protects the enzyme against inactivation and cleavage, while Fru-6-P provides a partial protection. A 28-kDa proteolytic fragment containing the N-terminus of the protein is inactive, but retains the ability to bind Fru-6-P and the allosteric effector MgATP. The fragment remains as a dimer but does not form a tetramer in the presence of MgATP. The results suggest major conformational changes of the enzyme upon ligand binding that confer a higher degree of compactness to the monomers in the dimer and in the tetramer, demonstrate the presence of the active and allosteric sites in this N-terminus fragment, and stress the importance of the C-terminus region of the protein for catalytic activity and ligand-induced oligomerization.

Susceptibility to proteolysis of triosephosphate isomerase from two pathogenic parasites: characterization of an enzyme with an intact and a nicked monomer.

The susceptibility to subtilisin of homodimeric triosephosphate isomerase from Trypanosoma brucei (TbTIM) and Trypanosoma cruzi (TcTIM) was studied. Their amino sequence and 3D structure are markedly similar. In 36 h of incubation at a molar ratio of 4 TIM per subtilisin, TcTIM underwent extensive hydrolysis, loss of activity, and large structural alterations. Under the same conditions, only about 50% of the monomers of TbTIM were cleaved in two sites. The higher sensitivity of TcTIM to subtilisin is probably due to a higher intrinsic flexibility. We isolated and characterized TbTIM that had been exposed to subtilisin. It exhibited the molecular mass of the dimer, albeit it was formed by one intact and one nicked monomer. Its k(cat) with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was half that of native TbTIM, with no change in K(m). The intrinsic fluorescence of nicked TbTIM was red-shifted by 5 nm. The association between subunits was not affected. The TbTIM data suggest that there are structural differences in the two monomers or that alterations of one subunit change the characteristics of the other subunit. In comparison to the action of subtilisin on TIMs from other species, the trypanosomal enzymes appear to be unique.