Baupain, a plant cysteine proteinase that hinders thrombin-induced human platelet aggregation.

Bauninia forficata is trivially known as cow paw, and popularly used in Brazil for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Denominated baupain a cysteine proteinase was purified from B. forficata leaves. In this study, we investigated the baupain effect on aggregation of isolated human platelets in vitro and the results show that baupain hinders thrombin - but not ADP- and collagen- induced platelet aggregation. With synthetic quenched-fluorescent peptides, the kinetics of the cleavage site of human proteinase-activated receptor 1 / 2 / 3 and 4 [PAR-1 / 2 / 3 and 4] by baupain was determined. In conclusion, similar to bromelain and papain, baupain hinders human platelets aggregation, probably through an unspecific cleavage in the Phe-Leu bond of PAR1.

Gene expression in the salivary complexes from Haementeria depressa leech through the generation of expressed sequence tags

A survey of the transcriptional profile of Haementeria depressa Ringuelet, 1972 (Annelida, Hirudinea) salivary complexes was produced through expressed sequence tag (EST). Sequences from 898 independent clones were assembled in 555 clusters, representing the transcript profile of this tissue. The repertoire of possible proteins involved in feeding and host interaction processes of the leech corresponded to 10.6% of all identified transcripts (67 clusters), being the carbonic anhydrases (30%), several coagulation inhibitors (25%) and hemerythrin-like molecules (19%), the major components. Among the 387 clusters matching cellular proteins, the majority represents molecules involved in gene and protein expression, reflecting a high specialization of this tissue for protein synthesis. Our H. depressa dbEST was also compared to those from other blood-feeding organisms, providing evidences that among the secreted proteins, the coagulation inhibitors present a profile very characteristic of this animal class

Antioxidant dietary deficiency induces caspase activation in chick skeletal muscle cells

Apoptosis and necrosis are two distinct forms of cell death that can occur in response to different agents and stress conditions. In order to verify if the oxidative stress induced by dietary selenium and vitamin E deficiencies can lead muscle cells to apoptosis, one-day-old chicks were reared using diets differing in their vitamin E (0 or 10 IU/kg) and selenium (0 or 0.15 ppm) supplementation. Chick skeletal muscle tissue was obtained from 28-day-old animals and used to verify apoptosis occurrence based on caspase activity detection and DNA fragmentation. Antioxidant deficiency significantly increased caspase-like activity assessed by the hydrolysis of fluorogenic peptide substrates (Abz-peptidyl-EDDnp) at lambdaexc = 320 nm and lambdaem = 420 nm. Proteolytic activation was not accompanied by typical internucleosomal DNA fragmentation detected by field inversion gel electrophoresis. Although the general caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(O-Me) fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-fmk) (0 to 80 muM) did not block caspase-like activity when preincubated for 30 min with muscle homogenates, the hydrolyzed substrates presented the same cleavage profile in HPLC (at the aspartic acid residue) when incubated with the purified recombinant enzyme caspase-3. These data indicate that oxidative stress causes caspase-like activation in muscle cells and suggest that cell death associated with exudative diathesis (dietary deficiency of selenium and vitamin E) can follow the apoptotic pathway

Glycosaminoglycans affect the interaction of human plasma kallikrein with plasminogen, factor XII and inhibitors

Human plasma kallikrein, a serine proteinase, plays a key role in intrinsic blood clotting, in the kallikrein-kinin system, and in fibrinolysis. The proteolytic enzymes involved in these processes are usually controlled by specific inhibitors and may be influenced by several factors including glycosaminoglycans, as recently demonstrated by our group. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of glycosaminoglycans (30 to 250 æg/ml) on kallikrein activity on plasminogen and factor XII and on the inhibition of kallikrein by the plasma proteins C1-inhibitor and antithrombin. Almost all available glycosaminoglycans (heparin, heparan sulfate, bovine and tuna dermatan sulfate, chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates) reduced (1.2 to 3.0 times) the catalytic efficiency of kallikrein (in a nanomolar range) on the hydrolysis of plasminogen (0.3 to 1.8 æM) and increased (1.9 to 7.7 times) the enzyme efficiency in factor XII (0.1 to 10 æM) activation. On the other hand, heparin, heparan sulfate, and bovine and tuna dermatan sulfate improved (1.2 to 3.4 times) kallikrein inhibition by antithrombin (1.4 æM), while chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates reduced it (1.3 times). Heparin and heparan sulfate increased (1.4 times) the enzyme inhibition by the C1-inhibitor (150 nM)

Antioxidant dietary deficiency induces caspase activation in chick skeletal muscle cells.

Apoptosis and necrosis are two distinct forms of cell death that can occur in response to different agents and stress conditions. In order to verify if the oxidative stress induced by dietary selenium and vitamin E deficiencies can lead muscle cells to apoptosis, one-day-old chicks were reared using diets differing in their vitamin E (0 or 10 IU/kg) and selenium (0 or 0.15 ppm) supplementation. Chick skeletal muscle tissue was obtained from 28-day-old animals and used to verify apoptosis occurrence based on caspase activity detection and DNA fragmentation. Antioxidant deficiency significantly increased caspase-like activity assessed by the hydrolysis of fluorogenic peptide substrates (Abz-peptidyl-EDDnp) at lambda exc = 320 nm and lambda em = 420 nm. Proteolytic activation was not accompanied by typical internucleosomal DNA fragmentation detected by field inversion gel electrophoresis. Although the general caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(O-Me) fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-fmk) (0 to 80 muM) did not block caspase-like activity when preincubated for 30 min with muscle homogenates, the hydrolyzed substrates presented the same cleavage profile in HPLC (at the aspartic acid residue) when incubated with the purified recombinant enzyme caspase-3. These data indicate that oxidative stress causes caspase-like activation in muscle cells and suggest that cell death associated with exudative diathesis (dietary deficiency of selenium and vitamin E) can follow the apoptotic pathway.

Glycosaminoglycans affect the interaction of human plasma kallikrein with plasminogen, factor XII and inhibitors.

Human plasma kallikrein, a serine proteinase, plays a key role in intrinsic blood clotting, in the kallikrein-kinin system, and in fibrinolysis. The proteolytic enzymes involved in these processes are usually controlled by specific inhibitors and may be influenced by several factors including glycosaminoglycans, as recently demonstrated by our group. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of glycosaminoglycans (30 to 250 micro/ml) on kallikrein activity on plasminogen and factor XII and on the inhibition of kallikrein by the plasma proteins C1-inhibitor and antithrombin. Almost all available glycosaminoglycans (heparin, heparan sulfate, bovine and tuna dermatan sulfate, chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates) reduced (1.2 to 3.0 times) the catalytic efficiency of kallikrein (in a nanomolar range) on the hydrolysis of plasminogen (0.3 to 1.8 microM) and increased (1.9 to 7.7 times) the enzyme efficiency in factor XII (0.1 to 10 microM) activation. On the other hand, heparin, heparan sulfate, and bovine and tuna dermatan sulfate improved (1.2 to 3.4 times) kallikrein inhibition by antithrombin (1.4 microM), while chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates reduced it (1.3 times). Heparin and heparan sulfate increased (1.4 times) the enzyme inhibition by the C1-inhibitor (150 nM).

Kinetic characterization of factor Xa binding using a quenched fluorescent substrate based on the reactive site of factor Xa inhibitor from Bauhinia ungulata seeds.

The specific Kunitz Bauhinia ungulata factor Xa inhibitor (BuXI) and the Bauhinia variegata trypsin inhibitor (BvTI) blocked the activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasmin, plasma kallikrein and factor XIIa, and factor Xa inhibition was achieved only by BuXI (K(i) 14 nM). BuXI and BvTI are highly homologous (70%). The major differences are the methionine residues at BuXI reactive site, which are involved in the inhibition, since the oxidized protein no longer inhibits factor Xa but maintains the trypsin inhibition. Quenched fluorescent substrates based on the reactive site sequence of the inhibitors were synthesized and the kinetic parameters of the hydrolysis were determined using factor Xa and trypsin. The catalytic efficiency k(cat)/K(m) 4.3 x 10(7) M(-1)sec(>-1) for Abz-VMIAALPRTMFIQ-EDDnp (lead peptide) hydrolysis by factor Xa was 10(4)-fold higher than that of Boc-Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg-AMC, widely used as factor Xa substrate. Lengthening of the substrate changed its susceptibility to factor Xa hydrolysis. Both methionine residues in the substrate influence the binding to factor Xa. Serine replacement of threonine (P(1)') decreases the catalytic efficiency by four orders of magnitude. Factor Xa did not hydrolyze the substrate containing the reactive site sequence of BvTI, that inhibits trypsin inhibitor but not factor Xa. Abz-VMIAALPRTMFIQ-EDDnp prolonged both the prothrombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time, and the other modified substrates used in this experiment altered blood-clotting assays.

Mapping of human plasma kallikrein active site by design of peptides based on modifications of a Kazal-type inhibitor reactive site.

Human plasma kallikrein (huPK) is a proteinase that participates in several biological processes. Although various inhibitors control its activity, members of the Kazal family have not been identified as huPK inhibitors. In order to map the enzyme active site, we synthesized peptides based on the reactive site (PRILSPV) of a natural Kazal-type inhibitor found in Cayman plasma, which is not an huPK inhibitor. As expected, the leader peptide (Abz-SAPRILSPVQ-EDDnp) was not cleaved by huPK. Modifications to the leader peptide at P'1, P'3 and P'4 positions were made according to the sequence of a phage display-generated recombinant Kazal inhibitor (PYTLKWV) that presented huPK-binding ability. Novel peptides were identified as substrates for huPK and related enzymes. Both porcine pancreatic and human plasma kallikreins cleaved peptides at Arg or Lys bonds, whereas human pancreatic kallikrein cleaved bonds involving Arg or a pair of hydrophobic amino acid residues. Peptide hydrolysis by pancreatic kallikrein was not significantly altered by amino acid replacements. The peptide Abz-SAPRILSWVQ-EDDnp was the best substrate and a competitive inhibitor for huPK, indicating that Trp residue at the P'4 position is important for enzyme action.

Structure of cruzipain/cruzain inhibitors isolated from Bauhinia bauhinioides seeds.

The saline extract of Bauhinia bauhinioides dry seeds was shown to inhibit cruzipain, a cysteine proteinase from Trypanosoma cruzi. The inhibitory activity was assigned to a protein with 164 amino acid residues and molecular mass of 18 034 Da that was purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex, trypsin-Sepharose (removal of trypsin inhibitors), Mono Q and a reversed-phase C4 column. The primary structure is homologous to other plant Kunitz-type inhibitors, but it lacks cysteine residues and therefore the disulfide bridges. No methionine residue was identified by amino acid sequencing. The inhibition of cruzipain fits into a slow-tight binding mechanism with a low dissociation constant (Ki 1.2 nM). The studied Bauhinia protein also inhibits cruzain (Ki 0.3 nM), a C-terminally truncated recombinant species of cruzipain. Cathepsin L, a cysteine proteinase with high homology to cruzipain, is also inhibited (Ki 0.22 nM), but not cathepsin B, papain, bromelain or ficin.

Bauhinia bauhinioides plasma kallikrein inhibitor: interaction with synthetic peptides and fluorogenic peptide substrates related to the reactive site sequence.

A serine proteinase inhibitor was purified from Bauhinia bauhinioides seeds after extraction with 0.15M NaCl by ion-exchange column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex, gel filtration on Superose 12 column, Mono Q chromatography or alternatively by affinity chromatography on trypsin- Sepharose. The inhibitor is a single polypeptide chain with molecular mass 20 kDa by gel filtration on Superose 12, but was resolved into two peaks by ion - exchange chromatography on Mono Q (FPLC system). The main eluted peak inhibits trypsin (Ki = 0.6 nM), plasma kallikrein (Ki = 0.35 nM), plasmin (Ki = 33.1 nM), and weakly chymotrypsin (Ki = 2,700 nM), being the most effective plasma kallikrein inhibitor isolated from Bauhinia seeds. Therefore, it was denominated Bauhinia bauhinioides kallikrein inhibitor (BbKI). Activity is thermolabile and on trypsin inhibition optimum pH is 8.0. BbKI displays high homology to other plant Kunitz inhibitors, except for the absence of disulfide bridges, and the only cysteine residue is at the C-terminal position (residue 154) characterizes a distinct member of the Kunitz family. The affinity of the inhibitor to trypsin was confirmed by adsorption to trypsin-Sepharose resin and by isolation of the trypsin-inhibitor complex by gel filtration. Peptides with variations around the reactive site of BbKI (GLPVRFESPLRINIIKESY) were synthesized containing a quenched fluorogenic group. Trypsin but not plasma kallikrein substrates, these peptides strongly inhibited plasma kallikrein.

Synthetic peptides and fluorogenic substrates related to the reactive site sequence of Kunitz-type inhibitors isolated from Bauhinia: interaction with human plasma kallikrein.

We have previously described Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitors purified from Bauhinia seeds. Human plasma kallikrein shows different susceptibility to those inhibitors. In this communication, we describe the interaction of human plasma kallikrein with fluorogenic and non-fluorogenic peptides based on the Bauhinia inhibitors' reactive site. The hydrolysis of the substrate based on the B. variegata inhibitor reactive site sequence, Abz-VVISALPRSVFIQ-EDDnp (Km 1.42 microM, kcat 0.06 s(-1), and kcat/Km 4.23 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)), is more favorable than that of Abz-VMIAALPRTMFIQ-EDDnp, related to the B. ungulata sequence (Km 0.43 microM, kcat 0.00017 s(-1), and kcat/Km 3.9 x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1)). Human plasma kallikrein does not hydrolyze the substrates Abz-RPGLPVRFESPL-EDDnp and Abz-FESPLRINIIKE-EDDnp based on the B. bauhinioides inhibitor reactive site sequence, the most effective inhibitor of the enzyme. These peptides are competitive inhibitors with Ki values in the nM range. The synthetic peptide containing 19 amino acids based on the B. bauhinioides inhibitor reactive site (RPGLPVRFESPL) is poorly cleaved by kallikrein. The given substrates are highly specific for trypsin and chymotrypsin hydrolysis. Other serine proteinases such as factor Xa, factor XII, thrombin and plasmin do not hydrolyze B. bauhinioides inhibitor related substrates.

Preliminary crystallographic studies of EcTI, a serine proteinase inhibitor from Enterolobium contortisiliquum seeds.

Enterolobium contortisiliquum trypsin inhibitor (EcTI) belongs to the Kunitz family of plant inhibitors, which are widely distributed in nature, especially in plant seeds. EcTI is composed of two polypeptide chains with a total of 174 residues, homologous to other inhibitors from the same family. EcTI crystals, which were obtained with the acupuncture-gel technique, diffract to 2.0 A resolution and belong to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 37.12, b = 38.42, c = 54.08 A, beta = 98.08 degrees. Molecular-replacement techniques using Erythrina caffra trypsin inhibitor (PDB code 1tie) as the search model indicate one monomer in the asymmetric unit. The secondary-structure content of EcTI was determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy, yielding values compatible with the expected topology.

Leucaena leucocephala serine proteinase inhibitor: primary structure and action on blood coagulation, kinin release and rat paw edema.

A serine proteinase inhibitor isolated from Leucaena leucocephala seeds (LlTI) was purified to homogeneity by acetone fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration and reverse phase chromatography (HPLC). SDS-PAGE indicated a protein with M(r) 20000 and two polypeptide chains (alpha-chain, M(r) 15000, and beta-chain, M(r) 5000), the sequence being determined by automatic Edman degradation and by mass spectroscopy. LlTI is a 174 amino acid residue protein which shows high homology to plant Kunitz inhibitors, especially those double chain proteins purified from the Mimosoideae subfamily. LlTI inhibits plasmin (K(i) 3.2 x 10(-10) M), human plasma kallikrein (K(i) 6.3 x 10(-9) M), trypsin (K(i) 2.5 x 10(-8) M) and chymotrypsin (K(i) 1.4 x 10(-8) M). Factor XIIa activity is inhibited but K(i) was not determined, and factor Xa, tissue kallikrein and thrombin are not inhibited by LlTI. The action of LlTI on enzymes that participate in the blood clotting extrinsic pathway is confirmed by the prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time, used as clotting time assay. The inhibition of the fibrinolytic activity of plasmin was confirmed on the hydrolysis of fibrin plates. LlTI inhibits kinin release from high molecular weight kininogen by human plasma kallikrein in vitro and, administered intravenously, causes a decrease in paw edema induced by carrageenin or heat in male Wistar rats. In addition, lower concentrations of bradykinin were found in limb perfusion fluids of LlTI-treated rats.

Human plasma kallikrein and tissue kallikrein binding to a substrate based on the reactive site of a factor Xa inhibitor isolated from Bauhinia ungulata seeds.

Kunitz type Bauhinia ungulata factor Xa inhibitor (BuXI) was purified from B. ungulata seeds. BuXI inactivates factor Xa and human plasma kallikrein (HuPK) with Ki values of 18.4 and 6.9 nM, respectively. However, Bauhinia variegata trypsin inhibitor (BvTI) which is 70% homologous to BuXI does not inhibit factor Xa and is less efficient on HuPK (Ki = 80 nM). The comparison between BuXI and BvTI reactive site structure indicates differences at Met59, Thr66 and Met67 residues. The hydrolysis rate of quenched fluorescence peptide substrates based on BuXI reactive site sequence, Abz-VMIAALPRTMFIQ-EDDnp (leading peptide), by HuPK and porcine pancreatic kallikrein (PoPK) is low, but hydrolysis is enhanced with Abz-VMIAALPRTMQ-EDDnp, derived from the leading peptide shortened by removing the dipeptide Phe-Ileu from the C-terminal portion, for HuPK (Km = 0.68 microM, k(cat)/Km = 1.3 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)), and the shorter substrate Abz-LPRTMQ-EDDnp is better for PoPK (Km = 0.66 microM, k(cat)/Km = 2.2 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)). The contribution of substrate methionine residues to HuPK and PoPK hydrolysis differs from that observed with factor Xa. The determined Km and k(cat) values suggest that the substrates interact with kallikreins the same as an enzyme and inhibitor interacts to form complexes.

Characterization of a tissue kallikrein inhibitor isolated from Bauhinia bauhinioides seeds: inhibition of the hydrolysis of kininogen related substrates.

Trypsin inhibitors were purified from a saline extract of Bauhinia bauhinioides seeds by ion-exchange column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex, gel filtration on Superose 12 column, Mono Q ion-exchange chromatography or, alternatively, by affinity chromatography on trypsin-Sepharose. Both B. bauhinioides isolated inhibitors, BbTI-I and BbTI-II, inhibit trypsin being the dissociation constant 0.6 and 0.36 nM, respectively. BbTI-II only inhibits porcine pancreatic kallikrein hydrolysis of H-Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC (Ki 2.0 nM); the bradykinin-containing sequence LGMISLMKRPPGFSPFRSSRI-NH2 and the two kininogen related flanking quenched substrates Abz-MISLMKRP-EDDnp (Ki 2.0 nM) and Abz-FRSSRQ-EDDnp (Ki 2.5 nM).

A double headed serine proteinase inhibitor--human plasma kallikrein and elastase inhibitor--from Boophilus microplus larvae.

Preying on cattle, the hard tick Boophilus microplus causes heavy economical losses to Brazil. Tick proteins are a good target to be used as tools for tick control. Serine protease inhibitors from B. microplus larvae (BmTI) were preliminarily characterized. One-week-old larvae were the source of a 2% protein solution in 5 mM Tris-HCl, 20 mM NaCl, pH 7.4. The inhibitors were purified by affinity chromatography on trypsin-Sepharose, and ion-exchange chromatography on Resource Q column, and they separated in two major active peaks, corresponding to 10-kDa and 18-kDa proteins (BmTI-B and BmTI-A, respectively). Both purified proteins inhibited trypsin with Ki of 0.3 and 3.0 nM, respectively, but only the 18-kDa protein inhibited elastase (Ki 1.4 nM) and plasma kallikrein (Ki 120 nM). BmTI-A did not change prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT), but it increased activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was dose-dependent. The partial amino acid sequence indicated that BmTI-A belongs to the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI)-Kunitz type inhibitor family. These inhibitors (by their properties) play a role in the feeding process of the tick. Development of antibodies against these proteins may be used to impair the normal feeding and consequently, the parasite would be no longer viable.

Preliminary characterization of a Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor from Caiman crocodilus yacare plasma.

Blood serine protease inhibitors are becoming better understood and increasingly applied in blood clotting, cancer and other diseases. Reptiles are suitable models for blood coagulation and related processes, moreover, caiman is a good comparative model of a non-poisonous reptile. Recently, we reported the purification of a kininogen, the presence of proteases involved in blood clotting, and a serine protease inhibitor in Caiman crocodilus yacare plasma. In this paper, we described the partial sequence of an inhibitor (CcTI). The inhibitor is an 80-kDa protein, and it inactivates trypsin and chymotrypsin the hydrolysis of specific chromogenic substrates and in the degradation of gelatin. The inhibitor is member of Kazal-type inhibitor family and consists of several domains, its putative reactive site is Arg-His.

Purification and primary structure determination of a Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor from Torresea cearensis seeds.

A Bowman-Birk-type trypsin inhibitor (TcTI) was purified from seeds of Torresea cearensis, a Brazilian native tree of the Papilionoideae sub-family of Leguminosae. Three forms of the inhibitor were separated by anion exchange chromatography. The major form with 63 amino acids was entirely sequenced; it shows a high structural similarity to the Bowman-Birk inhibitors from other Leguminosae. The putative reactive sites of the inhibitor are a lysine residue at position 15 and a histidine at position 42 as identified by alignment to related inhibitors, direct chemical modification and specific enzymatic degradation. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies raised in rats is reduced significantly if TcTI is complexed with chymotrypsin and, to a lesser degree, if complexed with trypsin. TcTI forms a ternary complex with trypsin and chymotrypsin. The binary complexes with trypsin or chymotrypsin were isolated by gel filtration. Dissociation constants of the complexes with trypsin, plasmin, chymotrypsin, and factor XIIa are 1, 36, 50, 1450 nM, respectively; human plasma kallikrein, human factor Xa, porcine pancreatic kallikrein and bovine thrombin are not inhibited. TcTI prolongs blood clotting time of the contact phase activation pathway by inhibition of FXIIa.

Sequence of a new Bowman-Birk inhibitor from Torresea acreana seeds and comparison with Torresea cearensis trypsin inhibitor (TcTI2).

TaTI (Torresea acreana trypsin inhibitor), a new member of the Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor family, was purified from seeds of Torresea acreana, one of the two known species of Torresea, a Brazilian native Leguminosae of the Papilionoideae subfamily. Purification was performed by acetone fractionation, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The TaTI appears as M(r) 7000 in SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. There are 63 amino acid residues present in the TaTI sequence, which was confirmed by mass spectrometry (8388 daltons). The putative reactive sites residues were Lys-15 and Arg-42 at the first and second site, respectively. The antibodies raised against TcTI2, Torresea cearensis trypsin inhibitor 2, showed a cross-reaction with TaTI, but not with other Bowman-Birk inhibitors purified from Leguminosae. The inhibition constants of TaTI and TcTI2 were comparable when measured against trypsin, chymotrypsin, and factor XIIa, but not on plasmin. The latter was tenfold more effectively inhibited by TcTI2 then by TaTI. Neither TaTI nor TcTI2 affects thrombin, plasma kallikrein, or factor Xa.