A Kunitz-type peptide from Dendroaspis polylepis venom as a simultaneous inhibitor of serine and cysteine proteases

Proteases play an important role for the proper physiological functions of the most diverse organisms. When unregulated, they are associated with several pathologies. Therefore, proteases have become potential therapeutic targets regarding the search for inhibitors. Snake venoms are complex mixtures of molecules that can feature a variety of functions, including peptidase inhibition. Considering this, the present study reports the purification and characterization of a Kunitz-type peptide present in the Dendroaspis polylepis venom as a simultaneous inhibitor of elastase-1 and cathepsin L. Methods: The low molecular weight pool from D. polylepis venom was fractionated in reverse phase HPLC and all peaks were tested in fluorimetric assays. The selected fraction that presented inhibitory activity over both proteases was submitted to mass spectrometry analysis, and the obtained sequence was determined as a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor homolog dendrotoxin I. The molecular docking of the Kunitz peptide on the elastase was carried out in the program Z-DOCK, and the program RosettaDock was used to add hydrogens to the models, which were re-ranked using ZRANK program. Results: The fraction containing the Kunitz molecule presented similar inhibition of both elastase-1 and cathepsin L. This Kunitz-type peptide was characterized as an uncompetitive inhibitor for elastase-1, presenting an inhibition constant (Ki) of 8 μM. The docking analysis led us to synthesize two peptides: PEP1, which was substrate for both elastase-1 and cathepsin L, and PEP2, a 30-mer cyclic peptide, which showed to be a cathepsin L competitive inhibitor, with a Ki of 1.96 µM, and an elastase-1 substrate. Conclusion: This work describes a Kunitz-type peptide toxin presenting inhibitory potential over serine and cysteine proteases, and this could contribute to further understand the envenomation process by D. polylepis. In addition, the PEP2 inhibits the cathepsin L activity with a low inhibition constant.(AU)

The potential of plant and fungal proteins in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes from animals / Potencial de proteínas de plantas e fungos no controle de nematoides gastrintestinais de animais

Abstract Gastrointestinal nematode infection is an important cause of high economic losses in livestock production. Nematode control based on a synthetic chemical approach is considered unsustainable due to the increasing incidence of anthelmintic resistance. Control alternatives such as the use of natural products are therefore becoming relevant from an environmental and economic point of view. Proteins are macromolecules with various properties that can be obtained from a wide range of organisms, including plants and fungi. Proteins belonging to different classes have shown great potential for the control of nematodes. The action of proteins can occur at specific stages of the nematode life cycle, depending on the composition of the external layers of the nematode body and the active site of the protein. Advances in biotechnology have resulted in the emergence of numerous protein and peptide therapeutics; however, few have been discussed with a focus on the control of animal nematodes. Here, we discuss the use of exogenous proteins and peptides in the control of gastrointestinal.

Resumo A infecção por nematoides gastrintestinais é uma importante causa de grandes perdas econômicas na pecuária. O controle de nematoides com compostos químicos sintéticos é considerado insustentável devido ao aumento da resistência anti-helmíntica. Alternativas de controle, como o uso de produtos naturais, estão se tornando relevantes do ponto de vista ambiental e econômico. As proteínas são macromoléculas com várias propriedades que podem ser obtidas de uma ampla gama de organismos, incluindo plantas e fungos. Proteínas pertencentes a diferentes classes têm mostrado grande potencial para o controle de nematoides. A ação das proteínas pode ocorrer em estágios específicos do ciclo de vida do nematoide, dependendo da composição das camadas externas do parasito e do sítio ativo da proteína. Avanços na biotecnologia resultaram no surgimento de numerosas terapias de proteínas e peptídeos; no entanto, pouco foi discutido com foco no controle de nematoides parasitos de animais. Na presente revisão foi discutido o uso de proteínas exógenas e peptídeos no controle de nematoides gastrintestinais, os mecanismos sugeridos de ação, e os desafios e perspectivas para o uso dessas biomoléculas como uma classe de anti-helmínticos.

Capability of in vitro digestibility methods to predict in vivo digestibility of vegetal and animal proteins

The purpose of this work was to establish predictive equations for the digestibility of proteins of animal and vegetal origin by correlating in vitro and in vivo methods. Proteins sources for animal and vegetable were used. To calculate in vitro digestibility, we used pH values obtained 10 min after a solution of enzymes was added to a protein solution (pH-drop method). We also used the pH-static method, which measures the volume of additional NaOH that is necessary to maintain a pH of 8.0 after the addition of an enzymatic solution. In vivo digestibility was measured in newly weaned male rats that were fed a diet of AIN-93G for growth with a modified protein content of 9.5% for 14 days. The equations developed using the pH-drop method allowed us to predict in vivo digestibility amounts that were more closely correlated with real in vivo digestibility than those obtained with equations using the pH-static method. In vitro techniques are less expensive, require less manpower and physical space, and use a smaller quantity of protein(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer equações de predição para a digestibilidade das proteínas de origem animal e vegetal, correlacionando métodos in vitro e in vivo. Foram utilizadas proteínas de origem animal e vegetal. Para o cálculo da digestibilidade in vitro foram utilizados os valores de pH obtidos em 10 min após a adição da solução de enzimas (método de queda de pH). Também foi utilizado o método de pH estático, o qual mede o volume de NaOH adicionado, necessário para manter o pH em 8,0 após a adição de uma solução enzimática. A digestibilidade in vivo foi medida em ratos machos recémdesmamados que foram alimentados com uma dieta AIN- 93G para crescimento com teor de proteína modificada de 9,5% durante 14 dias. As equações desenvolvidas utilizando o método de queda de pH permitiram prever em quantidades digestibilidade in vitro que foram mais estreitamente correlacionadas com a digestibilidade in vivo do que aqueles obtidas utilizando equações do método de pH estático. As técnicas in vitro são menos dispendiosas, exigem menos mão-de-obra e espaço físico, e utiliza uma menor quantidade de proteína(AU)

A biotechnology perspective of fungal proteases

Proteases hydrolyze the peptide bonds of proteins into peptides and amino acids, being found in all living organisms, and are essential for cell growth and differentiation. Proteolytic enzymes have potential application in a wide number of industrial processes such as food, laundry detergent and pharmaceutical. Proteases from microbial sources have dominated applications in industrial sectors. Fungal proteases are used for hydrolyzing protein and other components of soy beans and wheat in soy sauce production. Proteases can be produced in large quantities in a short time by established methods of fermentation. The parameters such as variation in C/N ratio, presence of some sugars, besides several other physical factors are important in the development of fermentation process. Proteases of fungal origin can be produced cost effectively, have an advantage faster production, the ease with which the enzymes can be modified and mycelium can be easily removed by filtration. The production of proteases has been carried out using submerged fermentation, but conditions in solid state fermentation lead to several potential advantages for the production of fungal enzymes. This review focuses on the production of fungal proteases, their distribution, structural-functional aspects, physical and chemical parameters, and the use of these enzymes in industrial applications.

Milk-deteriorating exoenzymes from Pseudomonas fluorescens 041 isolated from refrigerated raw milk

The practice of refrigerating raw milk at the farm has provided a selective advantage for psychrotrophic bacteria that produce heat-stable proteases and lipases causing severe quality problems to the dairy industry. In this work, a protease (AprX) and a lipase (LipM) produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens 041, a highly proteolytic and lipolytic strain isolated from raw milk obtained from a Brazilian farm, have been purified and characterized. Both enzymes were purified as recombinant proteins from Escherichia coli. The AprX metalloprotease exhibited activity in a broad temperature range, including refrigeration, with a maximum activity at 37 °C. It was active in a pH range of 4.0 to 9.0. This protease had maximum activity with the substrates casein and gelatin in the presence of Ca+2. The LipM lipase had a maximum activity at 25 °C and a broad pH optimum ranging from 7.0 to 10. It exhibited the highest activity, in the presence of Ca+2, on substrates with long-chain fatty acid residues. These results confirm the spoilage potential of strain 041 in milk due to, at least in part, these two enzymes. The work highlights the importance of studies of this kind with strains isolated in Brazil, which has a recent history on the implementation of the cold chain at the dairy farm.

Proteolytic enzyme mediated antagonistic potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against Macrophomina phaseolina.

A new antagonistic bacterial strain PGPR2 was isolated from the mungbean rhizosphere and documented for the production of hydrolytic enzymes with antifungal activity. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and phenotyping, this strain was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Maximum protease activity (235 U/mL) was obtained at 24 h of fermentation. The protease was purified to homogeneity in three steps: ammonium sulphate precipitation, anion exchange chromatography on DEAE- cellulose resin and gel filtration chromatography using P6 column. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of ~33 kDa. The purified protease exhibited maximum activity at pH 6.0 and retained 80% of activity in a pH range of 5.0 - 9.0. Proteolytic activity was maximum in a temperature range of 40–70 °C. However, the enzyme was stable at 40 °C for 60 min. Among the metals tested, Mg2+ enhanced the protease activity. Internal amino acid sequence of the protease obtained by MALDI -ToF and subsequent Mascot database search showed maximum similarity to the HtpX protease of P. aeruginosa strain PA7. Thus, by virtue of its early production time, thermostability and effective antifungal ability, the protease purified and characterized from P. aeruginosa PGPR2 has several potential applications as fungicidal agents in agriculture.

Una peptidasa ácida, insensible a inhibidores clásicos, en extractos proteicos de Trypanosoma cruzi, proveniente de una zona rural de Venezuela, endémica para la enfermedad de Chagas / Description of an acidic peptidase, insensitive to classical inhibitors, in protein extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi, from a rural area of Venezuela, where Chagas disease is endemic

Mediante dos métodos de ensayo de peptidasas, uno en fase líquida y otro en fase gel (zimografía en geles), se detectó una peptidasa, en extractos proteicos crudos de epimastigotes de Trypanosoma cruzi, provenientes de un área rural de Venezuela endémica para el mal de Chagas. La peptidasa mostró actividad en el intervalo de pH comprendido entre 2,0 y 2,9. Bajo las condiciones experimentales descritas, la peptidasa resultó insensible a concentraciones usuales de inhibidores clásicos de peptidasas de tipo: serina, cisteína, metalo-peptidasas y aspártico. No obstante, a semejanza de la pepsina porcina a pH 2,9, la peptidasa es inhibida en presencia de 5mM DTT.

Through two peptidase assay methods, one in liquid-phase and another, in gel-phase (gel zymography), an acid peptidase was detected in protein crude extracts of epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, from a rural area of Venezuela where Chagas disease is endemic. The peptidase shows activity at a pH range between 2.0 and 2.9. Under the experimental conditions described, the acid peptidase was insensitive to usual concentrations of peptidase inhibitors of the types: serine, cysteine, aspartic and metallo-peptidases. Nevertheless, like porcine pepsin at pH 2.9, the peptidase was inhibited in the presence of 5mM DTT.

Partial purification and characterization of extracellular protease from a halophilic and thermotolerant strain Streptomyces pseudogrisiolus NRC-15.

An alkaline protease was purified from a halophilic and thermotolerant potent alkaline protease-producing strain Streptomyces pseudogrisiolus NRC-15 using ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The enzyme was purified to 77.24-folds with a yield of 91.8% and the specific activity was 112 U/mg of protein. The protease showed a single band on SDS-PAGE with its molecular mass at 20 kDa and exhibited a maximum relative activity of 100% using casein as a substrate and. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 9.5 and displayed optimum activity at 50°C. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor PMSF, suggesting the presence of serine residue in the active site. The enzyme activity was increased by the metal ions Ca2+, Co2+, K+ and Mg2+. The enzyme significantly enhanced the removal of stains when used with wheel detergent, indicating the potential of the enzyme for using as a laundry detergent additive to improve the performance of heavy-duty laundry detergent.

An alternative method to isolate protease and phospholipase A2 toxins from snake venoms based on partitioning of aqueous two-phase systems

Snake venoms are rich sources of active proteins that have been employed in the diagnosis and treatment of health disorders and antivenom therapy. Developing countries demand fast economical downstream processes for the purification of this biomolecule type without requiring sophisticated equipment. We developed an alternative, simple and easy to scale-up method, able to purify simultaneously protease and phospholipase A2 toxins from Bothrops alternatus venom. It comprises a multiple-step partition procedure with polyethylene-glycol/phosphate aqueous two-phase systems followed by a gel filtration chromatographic step. Two single bands in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and increased proteolytic and phospholipase A2 specific activities evidence the homogeneity of the isolated proteins.

Culturable fungal diversity of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei boone from breeding farms in Brazil

Litopenaeus vannamei, which is the most common shrimp species cultivated in the northeast of Brazil, is very susceptible to microbial diseases, and this consequently affects productivity. There are reports of bacteria, viruses and protozoa in these shrimp, but not fungi. This study aims to isolate and identify fungi present in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, and in their nursery waters, at two breeding farms in Brazil. The pathogenic potential of the isolates was assessed through the qualitative detection of proteases and aflatoxin B production. The 146 isolated fungi comprised 46 species. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Furarium were the three most relevant genera and Aspergillus flavus was the predominant species with a total of 33 isolates. Most of the isolated species are known as potentially pathogenic to humans and other animals. Eighteen isolates of A. flavus and two of A. parasiticus were able to produce aflatoxin B and 33 out of the 46 species produced protease, indicating that these fungi may also become pathogenic to shrimp and their consumers.

Concomitant production of protease and lipase by Bacillus licheniformis VSG1: production, purification and characterization

This study was aimed at producing protease and lipase simultaneously on a common medium by Bacillus licheniformis VSG1, which was isolated from a tannery effluent. The effect of media composition with respect to protein source, lipid source and emulsifier on the production of protease and lipase was analysed. Both those enzymes were produced under optimized conditions like pH, temperature and incubation time. The enzyme mixture comprising of both protease and lipase was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis and gel filtration chromatography to obtain 20-fold pure enzymes. The purified enzyme mixture was characterized to determine the optimum pH and temperature of protease and lipase, the response of the enzymes to inhibitors, additives and solvents. The molecular weight of both the enzymes was determined as 40 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The concomitant production of protease and lipase and the purification of both the enzymes in a single mixture have industrial significance, as many industrial processes use both protease and lipase together.

Production of alkaline protease from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans / Produção de protease alcalina porCellulosimicrobium cellulans

Cellulosimicrobium cellulans is one of the microorganisms that produces a wide variety of yeast cell walldegradingenzymes, β-1,3-glucanase, protease and chitinase. Dried cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used as carbon and nitrogen source for cell growth and protease production. The medium components KH2PO4, KOH and dried yeast cells showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on the factorial fractional design. A second design was prepared using two factors: pH and percentage of dried yeast cells. The results showedthat the culture medium for the maximum production of protease was 0.2 g/l of MgSO4.7H2O, 2.0 g/l of(NH4)2SO4 and 8% of dried yeast cells in 0.15M phosphate buffer at pH 8.0. The maximum alkaline protease production was 7.0 ± 0.27 U/ml over the center point. Crude protease showed best activity at 50ºC and pH 7.0-8.0, and was stable at 50ºC.

Cellulosimicrobium cellulans é um microrganismo que produz uma variedade de enzimas que hidrolisam a parede celular de leveduras: β-1,3-glucanase, protease e quitinase. Célulasdesidratadas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae foram usadas como fonte de carbono e nitrogênio para o crescimento celular e produção de protease. Os componentes do meio de cultura: KH2PO4, KOH e células de levedura desidratadas mostraram efeitos significativos (p<0,05) no planejamento experimental fracionário. Um segundo planejamento foi preparado usandodois fatores: pH e porcentagem de células de levedura desidratadas. Os resultados mostraram que o meio de cultura para a produção máxima de protease foi 0,2 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O;2,0 g/L de (NH4)2SO4 e 8% de células de levedura desidratadas em tampão fosfato 0,15M e pH 8,0. A produção máxima de protease alcalina foi 7,0 ± 0,27 U/mL no ponto central. A proteasebruta apresentou atividade ótima a 50ºC e pH 7,0-8,0; e foi estável a 50ºC.

Efeito dos inibidores de aspártico protease do HIV sobre Leishmania amazonensis / The effect of HIV aspartyl peptidase inhibitors on the Leishmania amazonensis

O protozoário Leishmania é o agente etiológico da leishmaniose, doença cuja patogenicidade ainda não é bem compreendida. A terapêutica atual para a leishmaniose é pouco eficaz devido à toxicidade dos agentes terapêuticos disponíveis e à emergência de resistência aos medicamentos. Além disso, os países e regiões endêmicas são economicamente pobres e têm sua situação agravada devido ao aumento do número de casos de co-infecção Leishmania-HIV, devido à sobreposição das epidemias da Aids e da leishmaniose. No presente trabalho, foi investigado o efeito dos inibidores de aspártico protease do HIV (IPs-HIV) sobre a proliferação, ultraestrutura e diferenciação de Leishmania amazonensis. Além disso, foi avaliado o efeito dessas drogas sobre a interação com macrófagos, a atividade de aspártico protease e a expressão de proteases clássicas, que estão diretamente envolvidas na patogênese do parasito. Todos os IPs-HIV foram capazes de diminuir o crescimento do parasito de uma forma dose-dependente, especialmente nelfinavir e lopinavir, com o IC50 correspondendo a 15,12 (miu)M e 16,47, respectivamente. Análises por microscopia eletrônica revelaram que o tratamento com os inibidores causou mudanças profundas na ultraestrutura do flagelado, o encolhimento do citoplasma, aumento do número de inclusões lipídicas e núcleo intimamente envolto pelo retículo endoplasmático, bem como a condensação da cromatina, sendo esta última observação um indicativo de morte por apoptose. Os IPs-HIV não foram capazes de inibir a diferenciação do parasito da forma promastigota para amastigota nas condições utilizadas neste estudo, porém foram capazes de inibir diretamente a atividade de aspártico proteases contra substratos específicos em extratos brutos do parasito. O tratamento de formas promastigotas com os IPs-HIV antes da interação induziu a uma redução drástica dos índices de associação com macrófagos murinos.

O pós-tratamento também interferiu no desenvolvimento intracelular de L. amazonensis nos macrófagos, como avaliado, nos ensaios onde os IPs-HIV foram adicionados a culturas de células previamente infectadas. Apesar de todos estes efeitos benéficos, os inibidores induziram a um aumento na expressão de cisteíno proteases b (cpb) e da metaloprotease (gp63), dois fatores de virulência bem caracterizados de Leishmania spp. Diante da sobreposição leishmaniose/HIV, é fundamental compreender as sofisticadas interelações entre Leishmania, HIV e macrófagos. Além disso, há muitas questões não resolvidas, no que diz respeito ao tratamento de pacientes co-infectados com Leishmania-HIV, por exemplo, a eficácia do tratamento destinado a controlar cada patógeno nesses indivíduos continua indefinido. Os resultados in vitro apresentados adicionam novos conhecimentos sobre o vasto espectro de eficácia do IPs-HIV sobre patógenos oportunistas e sugerem que estudos adicionais devem ser realizados sobre os efeitos sinérgicos dos compostos classicamente utilizados no tratamento da leishmaniose e os inibidores da protease do HIV em macrófagos co-infectados.

Isolation of Mucorales from processed maize (Zea mays L. ) and screening for protease activity / Isolamento de Mucorales de milho processado (Zea mays L. ) e seleção quanto à atividade proteásica

Mucoraleswere isolated from maize flour, corn meal and cooked cornflakes using surface and depth plate methods. Rhizopus oryzae, Circinella muscae, Mucor subtilissimus,Mucor hiemalis f. hiemalis, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Rhizopus microsporus var. chinensis and Absidia cylindrospora showed protease activity.

Mucorales foram isolados da farinha de milho, fubá e flocos de milho pré-cozidos pelos métodos de plaqueamento em superfície e em profundidade. Rhizopus oryzae, Circinella muscae, Mucor subtilissimus,Mucor hiemalis f. hiemalis, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Rhizopus microsporus var. chinensis e Absidia cylindrospora exibiram atividade proteásica.

Partial characterization of proteolytic activity in Giardia duodenalis purified proteins

This report describes a preliminary characterization of proteolytic activity of proteins isolated from lysate of Giardia trophozoites of an axenic Brazilian strain. Fractions obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) were tested in SDS-polyacrylamide gel for the protein profiles, and the proteases activity was analyzed using gelatin impregnated SDS-PAGE. The proteases characterization was based on inhibition assays employing synthetic inhibitors for cysteine (E-64, IAA), serine (PMSF, TPCK, TLCK, and elastatinal), metalo (EDTA) and aspartic (pepstatin) proteases. Among thirty eluted fractions, polypeptide bands were observed in eight of them, however, proteolytic activity was detected in four ones (F23, F24, F25 and F26). Protein profiles of these fractions showed a banding pattern composed by few bands distributed in the migration region of 45 to < 18 kDa. The zymograms revealed proteolytic activity in all the four fractions assayed, mainly distributed in the migration region of 62 to 35 kDa. Among the profiles, the main pronounced zones of proteolysis were distinguished at 62, 55, 53, 50, 46 and 40 kDa. In inhibition assays, the protease activities were significantly inhibited by cysteine (E-64) and serine proteases (TPCK, TLCK and elastatinal) inhibitors. Gels incubated with other cysteine and serine protease inhibitors, IAA and PMSF, respectively, showed a decrease in the intensity of hydrolysis zones. Indeed, in the assays with the inhibitors EDTA for metalloproteases and pepstatin for aspartic proteases, none inhibition was detected against the substrate. These observations are relevants, especially if we consider that to define the real role of the proteases in host-parasite interaction, the purification of these enzymes for detailed studies may be warranted.

O presente estudo consiste em uma caracterização preliminar da atividade proteolítica de frações de proteínas purificadas a partir de lisados de trofozoítos de cepa isolada e axenizada no Brasil. Frações obtidas por cromatografia líquida (FPLC) foram analisadas quanto ao perfil eletroforético em géis de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE) e a atividade proteolítica foi avaliada em géis contendo gelatina como substrato. A caracterização das enzimas foi realizada a partir da análise do efeito de inibidores sintéticos de cisteína-proteases (E-64, IAA), serina-proteases (PMSF), serina e cisteína-proteases (TPCK, TLCK, elastatinal), metalo-proteases (EDTA) e aspartil proteases (pepstatina) sobre a degradação do substrato. Entre 30 frações eluídas, bandas de proteínas foram observadas em oito delas, entretanto, atividade proteolítica foi detectada apenas nas frações 23, 24, 25 e 26. O perfil eletroforético das proteínas revelou poucas bandas distribuídas na faixa de 45 a 18 kDa. Os zimogramas revelaram zonas de proteólise na faixa de aproximadamente 62 a 35 kDa, entretanto destacaram-se as bandas de hidrólise de 62, 55, 53, 50, 46 e 40 kDa. Nos ensaios de inibição, a proteólise foi marcantemente inibida por E-64, TPCK, TLCK e elastatinal. Redução discreta da proteólise foi observada com IAA e PMSF, enquanto que EDTA e pepstatina não promoveram alteração dos perfis de hidrólise. Estas observações são relevantes, especialmente se considerarmos que para elucidar o envolvimento das proteases na relação parasita-hospedeiro, a purificação dessas moléculas é um requisito importante.

Characterization of an intracellular protease from pseudomonas aeruginosa

An intracellular protease was extracted and purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose followed by CM"cellulose and rechromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The purified protease was found to be homogeneous as judged by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis [PAGE]. The molecular mass of the protease as determined by gel filtration on G-150 was about 48,000 and about 49,000 on SDS-PAGE. The enzyme is monomeric in nature. The purified protease is a glycoprotein with neutral sugar content of 0.6%. The Km value of the protease was found to be 0.48% against casein as substrate. The enzyme is stable up to 600C and showed maximum activity around 500C. The enzyme activity was affected with the changes of pH and the maximum proteolytic activity was observed at pH 8.0. The protease activity was inhibited in the presence of EDTA, Cu2+, Mn2+and Hg2+ whereas the presence of Ca2+, K+, Na+ and ascorbic acid enhanced the activity

Purification and characterization of two cysteine proteases from germinated barley seeds

Different stages during barley [Hordium vulgare cv. Giza 126] gennination showed endoproteolytic activity. The changes of endoproteolytic activity and protein were detected with different stages during germination. In presence of gibberellic acid [GA 3], no changes could be detected in the profile of protease activity except on day 4 where the pinteolytic activity was increased to a 1.25 fold over its value in absence of GA3. During purification of H. vulgare protease, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose led to five separate forms [from P1 to P5]. Proteases P3 and PS with the highest specific activities were pure after chromatography on Sephacryl 5-200. The molecular weights of P3 and PS were 25,000 and 30,000, respectively. By SDS-PAGE, the P3 and PS were composed of a single band of molecular weights of 24,000 and 30,000, respectively, indicating that the two proteases are brobably monomers. Barley P3 and P5 exhibited pH optima at 3.5 and 4.0, respectively. Km values for barley P3 and P5 were estimated to be 5.4 and 4.2 mg azocaseine/ml, respectively. Varying protease activity was detected for P3 and P5 when supplied with various proteins as substrates. P3 and P5 were found to have temperature optima at 30 and 40°C, respectively. P3 and P5 were stable up to 40°C and retained 45% and 35% of their activities at 60°C, respectively. The stability of P5 toward metal ions inactivation was considerably higher than the stability of P3. Only inhibitors of cysteine proteases significantly inhibited P3 and P5, while DTT as a reducing agent enhanced P3 and P5 activities. These results indicated unequivocally that P3 and P5 are cysteine proteases. With the purification of barley P3 and PS, the physiological roles of these specific proteases in germinating barley and the regulation of their expression by GA 3 can be addressed

Isolation and partial characterization of protease from adult ascaris suum

Protease isolated from Ascaris was characterized and its effect on blood clotting factors and platelets was studied. It was purified to homogeneity from the homogenate of Ascaris summ by 2 steps of fractionation using Sephadex G100 and DEAE-Sepnadex A50. The molecular weight of the enzyme was about 37,000 as determined by SDS- PAGE. It had an isoelectric point [pI] of 6.3. Using casein as a substrate, it had a Km of 1.9 mg, optimal temperature of 37C and optimal pH of 6. It had no carbohydrate content. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by iodoacetamide suggesting that it is sulfhydryl protease. The activity was partially inhibited by Ca ++, Co ++, Ba + and benzamedine, while it was not effected by EDTA, DFP, beta-mercaptoethanol, Mg ++ or Mn ++. The purified enzyme had no effect on plasma recalcification time or fibrinogen clotting time. It also had no effect on activation of human platelets or even on the aggregation induced by ADP. The isolated protease may be used in serodiagnostic, chemotherapeutic or immunological intervention