Effect of Organic Solvents on the Activity, Stability and Secondary Structure of asclepain cI, Using FTIR and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

The present study aims at understanding the effect of organic solvents on the specific proteolytic activity and operational stability of asclepain cI in aqueous-organic media, using correlations between geometrical and structural parameters of asclepain cI. These correlations were determined by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the secondary structure of the enzyme validated by Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Asclepain cI exhibited significantly higher catalytic potential in 29 of the 42 aqueous-organic media tested, composed by 0.1 mM TRIS hydrochloride buffer pH 8 (TCB) and an organic solvent, than in buffer alone. Asclepain cI in water-organic miscible systems showed high FTIR spectral similarity with that obtained in TCB, while in immiscible systems the enzyme acquired different secondary structures than in buffer. Among the conditions studied, asclepain cI showed the highest catalytic potential in 50% v/v ethyl acetate in TCB. According to MD simulations, that medium elicited solvation and flexibility changes around the active center of asclepain cI and conducted to a new secondary structure with the active center preserved. These results provide valuable insights into the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of asclepain cI tolerance to organic solvents and pave the way for its future application for the synthesis of peptides in aqueous-organic media.

Enzymatic synthesis of new antimicrobial peptides for food purposes.

Growing consumer awareness of the potential negative health effects of synthetic antibiotics has prompted the search for more natural preservatives that can improve the safety and quality of food. In this study we report the enzymatic synthesis of N-α-[Carbobenzyloxy]-Ile-Gln (Z-IQ) which is the precursor of Ile-Gln (IQ), a new antibacterial dipeptide, using an aqueous-organic biphasic system formed by 50% (v/v) ethyl acetate in 0.1 M Tris - HCl buffer pH 8. A partially purified proteolytic extract from the fruits of Solanum granuloso leprosum, named granulosain, proved to be a robust biocatalyst for the synthesis of Z-IQ, eliciting 71 ± 0.10% maximal peptide yield in the above described conditions. After cleaving and purifying IQ dipeptide, antimicrobial activity was assayed against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus hominis A17771, and Staphylococcus aureus C00195, and MIC values between 118 ± 0.01 µg/mL and 133.7 ± 0.05 µg/mL were obtained. In addition, IQ showed MIC of 82.4 ± 0.01 µg/mL and 85.0 ± 0.00 µg/mL against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Escherichia coli A17683, respectively. IQ did not show inhibitory activity against single-drug resistance (SDR) strains, such as Klebsiella oxytoca A19438 (SDR) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa C00213 (SDR), and against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis I00125 (MDR). IQ also caused growth inhibition of Helicobacter pylori NCTC 11638 and three wild-type H. pylori strains, which are sensitive to AML, MTZ, LEV and CLA (H. pylori 659), resistant to LEV (H. pylori 661 SDR), and resistant to MTZ (H. pylori 662 SDR). Finally, this study contributes with a new dipeptide (IQ) that can be used as an antimicrobial agent for food preservation or as a safe ingredient of functional foods.

Asclepain cI, a proteolytic enzyme from Asclepias curassavica L., a south American plant, against Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacterium most frequently associated with human gastrointestinal infections worldwide. The increasing occurrence of antibiotic-resistant isolates of H. pylori constitutes a challenge. The eradication of the microorganism is currently being considered a "high priority" by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this context, bioactive compounds found in natural products seem to be an effective therapeutic option to develop new antibiotics against the pathogen. In this study, we investigated the effect of asclepain cI, the main purified proteolytic enzyme of the latex of petioles and stems from Asclepia curassavica L. (Asclepiadaceae), a South American native plant, against H. pylori; in order to obtain a natural therapeutic adjuvant and a safe nutraceutical product. Asclepain cI showed antibacterial activity against reference strains and drug-resistant clinical isolates of H. pylori in vitro. A range of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) from 1 to 2 µg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) from 2 to 4 µg/ml was obtained, respectively. The action of asclepain cI on the transcription of omp18, ureA, flaA genes showed a significantly decreased expression of the selected pathogenic factors. Furthermore, asclepain cI did not induce toxic effects at the concentrations assayed. Asclepain cI could be considered a highly feasible option to be used as a natural therapeutic adjuvant and a safe nutraceutical product against H. pylori.

Biosynthesis of a Novel Antibacterial Dipeptide, Using Proteases From South American Native Fruits, Useful as a Food Preservative.

Antiacanthain and granulosain are the partially purified proteolytic extracts from the South American native fruits of Bromelia antiacantha (Bertol. ) and Solanum granuloso leprosum, respectively. The aim of this work was to compare the ability of both soluble and immobilized antiacanthain and granulosain f or the synthesis of Z-Tyr-Val-OH, a novel antibacterial dipeptide, in different reaction systems formed by almost anhydrous organic solvents (Xw: 1 × 10-5) and several percentages of immiscible organic solvents in 100 mM Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride buffer pH 8.0. Soluble antiacanthain in half of the 24 different organic biphasic media showed higher catalytic potential than in 100 mM Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrolchloride buffer pH 8.0. Soluble granulosain showed lower catalytic potential in all liquid-liquid biphasic media than in the same buffer. However, 50% (v/v) ethyl ethanoate in 100 mM Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrolchloride buffer pH 8.0 allowed to express the highest catalytic potential of both soluble enzymes. In 50% v/v ethyl ethanoate, soluble antiacanthain and granulosain catalyzed the synthesis of Z-Tyr-Val-OH with 72 ± 0.15 and 60 ± 0.10% maximal peptide yields, respectively. Multi-point immobilization in glyoxyl-silica did not lead to better peptide yields than soluble enzymes, in that liquid-liquid biphasic medium under the same reaction conditions. Soluble and glyoxyl-silica immobilized antiacanthain in almost anhydrous ethyl ethanoate (Xw: 1 × 10-5) were able to retain 17.3 and 45% of the initial proteolytic activity of antiacanthain in 100 mM Tris hydrolchloride buffer pH 8.0, respectively, at 40°C under agitation (200 rpm). Soluble and glyoxyl-silica immobilized granulosain were inactivated under the same reaction conditions. Glyoxyl-silica immobilized antiacanthain showed to be a robust biocatalyst in almost anhydrous ethyl ethanoate (Xw: 1 × 10-5), eliciting the best peptide yield (75 ± 0.13%). The synthesis reaction of Z-Tyr-Val-OH could not proceed when soluble antiacanthain was used under the same conditions. Both peptidases only catalyzed the synthesis reaction under kinetic control, using activated acyl donor substrates. Finally, this work reports a novel broad-spectrum antibacterial peptide that significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) the specific growth rates of Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms at very low concentrations (≥15 and 35 µg/ml, respectively); contributing with a new safe food preservative of applying for different food systems.

Antimicrobial Effect of a Proteolytic Enzyme From the Fruits of Solanum granuloso-leprosum (Dunal) Against Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, helix-shaped, and microaerophilic bacteria that colonizes the human gastric mucosa, causing chronic infections, gastritis, peptic ulcer, lymphomas associated with lymphoid mucosa tissue, and gastric cancer. H. pylori is considered a Type 1 human carcinogen by WHO. The prevalence of the infection is estimated in more than half of the world population. Treatment of H. pylori infection includes antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, but the increasing antibiotic resistance promotes the research of novel, more effective, and natural antibacterial compounds. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the partially purified proteolytic extract (RAP) of the fruits from Solanum granuloso-leprosum (Dunal), a South American native plant, and a purified fraction named granulosain I, against H. pylori, to obtain natural food additives for the production of anti-H. pylori functional foods. Furthermore, granulosain I and RAP could be used as natural adjuncts to conventional therapies. Granulosain I and RAP antibacterial activity was evaluated as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against H. pylori NCTC 11638 (reference strain) and twelve H. pylori wild strains, using a microdilution plating technique (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute). All the strains tested were susceptible to granulosain I with MIC from 156.25 to 312.5 µg/mL and MBC from 312.5 to 625 µg/mL, respectively. Besides, all the strains tested were susceptible to the RAP with MIC from 312.5 to 625 µg/mL and MBC from 625 to 1,250 µg/mL, respectively. The effect of granulosain I and RAP on the transcription of H. pylori genes encoding pathogenic factors, omp18, ureA, and flaA, with respect to a housekeeping gene (16S rRNA), was evaluated by RT-PCR technique. The band intensity between pathogenic factors and control gene was correlated under treated or untreated conditions, using the ImageJ program. Granulosain I and RAP significantly decreased the expression of pathogenic factors: omp18, ureA, and flaA. The combined inhibitory effect of granulosain I or RAP and an antibiotic such as, amoxicillin (AML, 10 µg), clarithromycin (CLA, 15 µg), levofloxacin (LEV, 5 µg), and metronidazole (MTZ, 5 µg) was evaluated, using the agar diffusion technique. Granulosain I and RAP showed significant synergistic effect on AML, CLA, and LEV, but no significant effect on MTZ was observed. Besides, granulosain I and RAP did not show toxicological effects at the concentrations studied. Finally, granulosain I and RAP could be used as safe natural food additives and as adjuvants for conventional therapies against H. pylori.

Acaciain peptidase: The first South American pollen peptidase potentially involved in respiratory allergy.

Acacia caven (Mol.) Molina pollen causes pollinosis in South America. The aim of this work was to isolate, purify, and characterize the proteolytic enzymes of A. caven pollen, and study their influence on allergy. A series of chromatographic steps were applied to purify the proteolytic extract of A. caven pollen. The purified fraction was partially characterized, and then it was assayed on airway bioactive peptides (substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and bradykinin), and peptide degradation was visualized by direct protein sequencing. The cellular detachment of an airway-derived epithelial cell line (A-549) was measured by methylene blue binding assay. The degradation of proteins from intercellular junctions (occludin, claudin, and E-cadherin) was visualized by Western blot. A 75-kDa peptidase, named acaciain peptidase, was purified and classified as a serine peptidase. Acaciain peptidase degraded bioactive peptides involved in the maintenance and recovery of the bronchomotor tone; it caused cellular detachment of A-549 cell line, and degradation of intercellular junction proteins. Acaciain peptidase can alter the integrity of the epithelium barrier, causing cell permeability, increasing the allergic sensitization and exacerbating the overall bronchoconstrictive effect detected in asthmatic lungs. This novel serine peptidase constitutes a relevant therapeutic target in the treatment of allergic disorders.

Enzymatic and chemical synthesis of new anticoagulant peptides.

In this study we report the enzymatic synthesis of N-α-[Carbobenzyloxy]-Tyr-Gln-Gln (Z-YQQ), a new anticoagulant tripeptide. It was obtained using phytoproteases from the stems and petioles of Asclepias curassavica L. as catalyst in an aqueous-organic biphasic system formed by 50% (v/v) ethyl acetate and 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer pH 8. The resulting peptide was compared with the analogous peptide Tyr-Gln-Gln (YQQ) produced by solid-phase chemical synthesis. The in vitro anticoagulant activity of the aforementioned peptides was determined using Wiener Lab Test (Wiener, Argentina). The toxicological activity of the peptides was also determined. The enzymatically synthesized Z-YQQ peptide acted on the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, delaying the conversion time of prothrombin to thrombin and fibrinogen to fibrin by 136 and 50%, respectively, with respect to the controls. The chemically synthesized YQQ peptide acted specifically on the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, affecting factors VIII, IX, XI, and XII from such cascade, and increasing the coagulation time by 105% with respect to the control. The results suggest that two new anticoagulant peptides (Z-YQQ and YQQ) can be useful for safe pharmaceutical applications. Nevertheless, some aspects related to peptide production should be optimized. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2018 © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:1093-1101, 2018.

Effect of laundry detergent formulation on the performance of alkaline phytoproteases

Background: Proteases constitute the largest product segment in the global industrial enzymes market; they are used in food, pharmaceutical, leather, textile, wood and detergent industries. Alkaline proteases improve the cleaning efficiency of detergents and represent one of the most successful applications of modern industrial biotechnology. The aim of this work was to study the performance of two alkaline phytoproteases, araujiain (Araujia hortorum Fourn.) and asclepain (Asclepias curassavica L.), for their potential application as additive in laundry detergent formulations. Results: The effect of pure non-ionic and ionic surfactants on proteolytic activity of araujiain and asclepain was analyzed measuring the remaining activity after 1 hr of incubation of those enzymes in aqueous solutions of surfactants at different concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1% v/v) and temperatures (25, 40 and 60ºC). Besides, the compatibility of the enzymes with six commercial laundry detergents was also studied measuring the remaining proteolytic activity at 37ºC after 1 hr. Commercial detergent components influenced in different ways on araujiain and asclepain, in spite of the similar behaviour of the two enzymes in buffer. In commercial detergent solutions, araujiain expressed between 60% and 140% of its remaining proteolytic activity in buffer (pH 8.5) at 37ºC after 1 hr, while asclepain, was practically inactivate in most of them at the same conditions. Conclusions: Proteolytic extract of Araujia hortorum fulfilled all the requirements for its application as additive for laundry detergents: high stability in a broad temperature range (25-70ºC), high activity in alkaline pH (7.5-9.5) and very good compatibility with the commercial detergent additives. Nevertheless, in spite of its high stability and activity in buffer, the proteolytic extract of Asclepias curassavica did not show the same performance than araujiain.

Peptide synthesis: chemical or enzymatic

Peptides are molecules of paramount importance in the fields of health care and nutrition. Several technologies for their production are now available, among which chemical and enzymatic synthesis are especially relevant. The present review pretends to establish a non-biased appreciation of the advantages, potentials, drawbacks and limitations of both technologies. Chemical synthesis is thoroughly reviewed and their potentials and limitations assessed, focusing on the different strategies and challenges for large-scale synthesis. Then, the enzymatic synthesis of peptides with proteolytic enzymes is reviewed considering medium, biocatalyst and substrate engineering, and recent advances and challenges in the field are analyzed. Even though chemical synthesis is the most mature technology for peptide synthesis, lack of specificity and environmental burden are severe drawbacks that can in principle be successfully overcame by enzyme biocatalysis. However, productivity of enzymatic synthesis is lower, costs of biocatalysts are usually high and no protocols exist for its validation and scale-up, representing challenges that are being actively confronted by intense research and development in this area. The combination of chemical and enzymatic synthesis is probably the way to go, since the good properties of each technology can be synergistically used in the context of one process objective.

Behavior of Araujiain, a new cysteine phytoprotease, in organic media with low water content

In this paper we studied the effect of different organic solvents (1-octanol, trichloroethylene, ethanol, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexane, propanone, acetonitrile, dichloromethane, chlorobenzene, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetophenone, diethyl ether, methanol, ethylene glycol and toluene) with low and constant water content on substrate preferences, thermostability and stability (caseinolytic activity retention after 4 h) of proteases of Araujia hortorum Fourn. (Asclepiadaceae). The stability of araujiain was high in N,N-dimethylformamide and ethanol at 40 ºC, but decreased at higher temperature. Araujiain substrates preferences in buffer Tris-HCl (pH 8), ethylene glycol and N,N-dimethylformamide exhibited different patterns, but the enzyme showed a high preference by glutamine derivative in all cases. According to FTIR spectroscopy studies, araujiain changed its secondary structure and as a consequence, it also changed its substrate preferences. This enzyme showed lower beta-helical character and greater beta-sheet folding in buffer than in organic media. A larger amount of antiparallel beta-sheet residues indicates the formation of tighter intermolecular hydrogen bonds and enzymatic aggregates. These facts could explain the higher esterolytic activities, the greater stability and good hydrolytic potential of araujiain in some organic media such as N,N-dimethylformamide.