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PubMed1988

Comparison of the kinetics of the papain-catalyzed hydrolysis of glycine- and alanine-based esters and thiono esters.

The kinetic constants for the papain-catalyzed hydrolysis of a series of substrates with glycine or alanine in the P1 position are discussed. The substrates have N-benzoyl, N-(p-nitrobenzoyl), N-(beta-phenylpropionyl), or N-(methyloxycarbonyl)phenylalanine attached to the P1 moiety, and kinetic constants are obtained for both esters and thiono esters. The results for the hydrolysis of esters can be readily interpreted in terms of the known specificity of papain. For any glycine ester the change in kcat/Km upon substituting C=S for C=O or upon substituting an alpha-CH3 group is minimal. However, upon making both these substitutions, i.e., going from a glycine ester to an alanine thiono ester substrate, larger changes are seen for this ratio. Data for N-benzoyl- and N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)glycine and -alanine methyl thiono esters show that k2 is the parameter most affected by the double C=S and alpha-CH3 substitution. A further conclusion is that the deacylation rate constants for any pair of glycine and alanine dithioacyl papains are similar; e.g., for the intermediates based on the "good" substrates PheAla and PheGly k3 differs by only 20%. This is a surprising finding in light of the very different conformations and interactions of the bound acyl groups revealed by resonance Raman spectroscopy and raises the possibility that specific stereochemical effects, such as the oxyanion hole and general base catalysis, are not operating in the hydrolysis of dithioacyl papains.

Alanine↗
PubMed1990

A protein engineering study of the role of aspartate 158 in the catalytic mechanism of papain.

The controversy concerning the various suggested roles for the side chain of Asp158 in the active site of papain has been clarified by using site-directed mutagenesis. Both wild-type papain and an Asp158 Asn variant were produced in a baculovirus-insect cell expression system, purified to homogeneity from the culture, and characterized kinetically. With CBZ-Phe-Arg-MCA as substrate, the kcat/KM and kcat values obtained for the Asp158Asn papain are 20,000 M-1.s-1 and 34 s-1, respectively, as compared with values of 120,000 M-1.s-1 and 51 s-1 obtained for the wild-type papain. In addition, the pH-(kcat/KM) profile for the Asp158Asn enzyme is shifted relative to that for the wild-type enzyme to lower values by approximately 0.3 pH unit. This shows clearly that Asp158 is not, as previously postulated, an essential catalytic residue. In addition, the pH dependency data are interpreted to indicate that, contrary to earlier suggestions, the negatively charged side chain of Asp158 does not significantly stabilize the active-site thiolate-imidazolium ion pair. However, its presence does influence the pKa's associated with ion-pair formation in a manner compatible with electrostatic considerations.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Kinetics of the action of papain on fluorescent peptide substrates.

Kinetic measurements have been performed on the action of papain on mansyl-Gly-Val-Glu-Leu-Gly and on mansyl-Gly-Gly-Val-Glu-Leu-Gly, both of which are cleaved solely at the Glu-Leu bond under the conditions of our experiments. Stopped-flow experiments have shown that, under conditions of enzyme excess, the enhancement of the fluorescence of the mansyl group upon association of each of the oligopeptide substrates with papain is a biphasic process. A very rapid initial increase in fluorescence is followed by a slower first-order fluorescence enhancement. The observed rate constant for the latter process is greater with the mansyl pentapeptide than with the mansyl hexapeptide. A similar biphasic fluorescence change is seen upon the interaction of the mansyl peptides with mercuripapain, but the second step is much slower than in the case of the active enzyme. The rate of the second step in the association of active papain with the mansyl paptides shows saturation with increasing enzyme concentration, supporting the view that an initial enzyme-substrate complex (ES) is converted in a first-order process to the complex (ES) that undergoes cleavage to form products. The hydrolysis of the Glu-Leu bond is associated with a first-order decrease in fluorescence, as a consequence of the formation of the mansyl peptide product, which is bound less strongly than the substrate. The rate constant for this process is about 140 times greater with the mansyl hexapeptide than with the mansyl pentapeptide, thus giving further indication of the importance of secondary enzyme-substrate interactions in the efficiency of papain catalysis. For each of the two mansyl peptides, the values of the rate constants and the apparent Michaelis constants associated with the cleavage of the Glu-Leu bond, as determined by stopped-flow measurements under conditions of enzyme excess, were the same, within the precision of the data, as those estimated from experiments under conditions of substrate excess, where the formation of Leu-Gly was determined by means of the fluorescamine reaction. This indicates that, with these substrates, the rate-limiting step in the overall catalytic process is associated with the breakdown of ES. Estimates are given of the dissociation constant of ES and of the rate constants in the interconversion of ES and ES.

Fluorescence↗
PubMed1976

Papain-catalyzed reactions at subzero temperatures.

As a first step in the investigation of papain catalysis using subzero temperatures to detect, accumulate, and characterize enzyme-substrate intermediates, we have studied some potential cryosolvents and carried out preliminary intermediate trapping experiments. The effects of subzero temperatures and aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide solutions on the papain-catalyzed hydrolysis of Nalpha-carbobenzoxy-L-lysine p-nitrophenyl ester have been investigated in detail. At 0 degrees C, the value of kcat decreases with increasing dimethyl sulfoxide concentration, decreasing in proportion to the decreased water concentration; however, the value of Km increases exponentially. The effect on Km can be accounted for by a combination of both dielectric and competitive inhibition effects. The Arrhenius plot for the deacylation reaction in 7.65 M (60% v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide is linear over the temperature range 0 to -45 degrees C and extrapolates to a calculated value of kcat at 25 degrees C in excellent agreement with that obtained in the absence of organic solvent. The pH-rate profile is not substantially perturbed by the presence of 7.65 M dimethyl sulfoxide. At -45 degrees C and below, turnover occurs extremely slowly, and is essentially negligible, although acylation is still quite rapid. Consequently, the acyl enzyme, Na-carbobenzoxy-L-lysyl-papain, can be readily accumulated and trapped at temperatures below -50 degrees C. At these low temperatures, under conditions of excess substrate, the amount of p-nitrophenol liberated in the acylation reaction is equivalent to the active-site normality of the enzyme, indicating a 1:1 stoichiometry in formation of the acyl enzyme. The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide up to 7.65 M, on the intrinsic ultraviolet, fluorescence, and circular dichroic properties of the enzyme shows no evidence of any solvent-induced structural changes. All experimental observations are consistent with the conclusion that 7.65 M dimethyl sulfoxide and subzero temperatures have no deleterious effects on papain-catalyzed reactions. A related series of experiments indicate that aqueous ethanol cryosolvents up to 13.7 M (80% v/v) are also suitable. Preliminary experiments at subzero temperatures using Na-carbobenzoxy-L-lysine methyl ester suggest the existence of three enzyme-substrate intermediates which can be detected and accumulated.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1998

The role of Gly-4 of human cystatin A (stefin A) in the binding of target proteinases. Characterization by kinetic and equilibrium methods of the interactions of cystatin A Gly-4 mutants with papain, cathepsin B, and cathepsin L.

The importance of the evolutionarily conserved Gly-4 residue for the affinity and kinetics of interaction of cystatin A with several cysteine proteinases was assessed by site-directed mutagenesis. Even the smallest replacement, by Ala, resulted in approximately 1000-, approximately 10- and approximately 6000-fold decreased affinities for papain, cathepsin L, and cathepsin B, respectively. Substitution by Ser gave further 3-8-fold reductions in affinity, whereas the largest decreases, >10(5)-fold, were observed for mutations to Arg and Glu. The kinetics of inhibition of papain by the mutants with small side chains, Ala and Ser, were compatible with a one-step bimolecular reaction similar to that with wild-type cystatin A. The decreased affinities of these mutants for papain and cathepsin L were due exclusively to increased dissociation rate constants, but the reduced affinities for cathepsin B were due also to decreased association rate constants. The latter finding indicates that the intact N-terminal region serves as a guide directing cystatin A to the active site of cathepsin B, as has been proposed for cystatin C. The kinetics of binding of the mutants with charged side chains, Arg and Glu, to papain were consistent with a two-step binding mechanism, in which the mutant side chains are accommodated in the complex by a conformational change. The NMR solution structure of the Ala and Trp mutants showed only minor changes compared with wild-type cystatin A, indicating that the large reductions in affinity for proteinases are not due to altered structures of the mutants. Instead, a side chain larger than a hydrogen atom at position 4 affects the interaction with the proteinase most likely by interfering with the binding of the N-terminal region.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1999

The contribution of N-terminal region residues of cystatin A (stefin A) to the affinity and kinetics of inhibition of papain, cathepsin B, and cathepsin L.

The affinity and kinetics of binding of three N-terminally truncated variants of the cysteine proteinase inhibitor cystatin A to cysteine proteinases were characterized. Deletion of Met-1 only minimally altered the inhibitory properties of the protein. However, deletion also of Ile-2 resulted in reduced affinities of 900-, >/=3-, and 200-fold for papain and cathepsins L and B, respectively. Further truncation of Pro-3 substantially increased the inhibition constants to approximately 0.5 microM for papain and cathepsin L and to 60 microM for cathepsin B, reflecting additionally 2 x 10(3)-, 2 x 10(4)-, and 400-fold decreased affinities, respectively. The reductions in affinity shown by the latter mutant indicate that the N-terminal region contributes about 40% of the total free energy of binding of cystatin A to cysteine proteinases. Moreover, Pro-3 and to a lesser extent Ile-2 are the residues responsible for this binding energy. The reduced affinities for papain and cathepsin L were due only to higher dissociation rate constants, whereas both lower association and higher dissociation rate constants contributed to the decreased affinity for cathepsin B. These differential effects indicate that the N-terminal portion of cystatin A primarily functions by stabilizing the complexes with enzymes having easily accessible active-site clefts, e.g., papain and cathepsin L. In contrast, the N-terminal region is required also for an initial binding of cystatin A to cathepsin B, presumably by promoting the displacement of the occluding loop and allowing facile interaction of the rest of the inhibiting wedge with the active-site cleft of the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Mechanistic studies on the inactivation of papain by epoxysuccinyl inhibitors.

Analogs of the epoxysuccinyl peptide cysteine proteinase inhibitor, EP-475 (2a), in which the free carboxylate has been replaced by hydroxamic acid, amide, methyl ketone, hydroxyl, and ethyl ester functionalities, have been synthesized. Individual rate constants of inhibition of papain were determined for these inhibitors. The results show that a carbonyl-containing functionality is necessary for good activity. The pH dependence of the inhibition of papain was determined for a nonionizable EP-475 (2a) analog; inhibition was found to depend on two acidic ionizations (pKas of 3.93 and 4.09) of papain. Implications for the mechanism of action of epoxysuccinyl peptides with papain are discussed.

Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1973

Investigation of the active site of papain with fluorescent probes.

7-Chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD chloride) and 7-(2'-hydroxyethylthio)-NBD (obtained from NBD chloride and mercaptoethanol) undergo a reversible spectral change in alkaline solution that depends respectively on a single apparent pK(a) 9.76 (at 25 degrees C) and 8.81 (at 32 degrees C). In acid solution however no spectral change was observed. NBD chloride reacts slowly with papain at pH7, but the rate of inhibition increases at lower pH and depends on an apparent pK(a) of 3.7 (at 35 degrees C), which has been tentatively assigned to the carboxyl group of aspartic acid-158. The spectral properties of NBD-papain indicate that the thiol group of cysteine-25 is the site of reaction. The intensity of the fluorescence-emission spectrum of NBD-papain depends on a single pK(a) of 4.2 (at 26.7 degrees C). The intensity of the fluorescence-emission spectrum of the mixed disulphide formed from papain and 7-(2'-mercaptoethylamino)-NBD (obtained from NBD chloride and cysteamine) depended on a single pK(a) of 3.94 in water and 3.89 in aq. 19.2% (v/v) dioxan (at 27 degrees C). This small change to lower pK(a) value in a medium of lower dielectric constant is characteristic of a cationic acid. The only acid of this type in the active-site region is the conjugate acid of histidine-159.

Aspartic Acid↗
PubMed1974

A kinetic and fluorimetric investigation of papain modified at tryptophan-69 and -177 by N-bromosuccinimide.

A systematic study of the modification of papain (its thiol group protected as a disulphide with mercaptoethanol) by N-bromosuccinimide, showed that 2 molar equiv. modified tryptophan-69 and 4 molar equiv. modified tryptophan-69 and -177. The Michaelis parameters for the catalysed hydrolysis of N-benzyloxycarbonylglycine p-nitrophenyl ester by these modified enzymes were determined. The enzymic activity of the modified enzymes was not seriously impaired, but modification of tryptophan-177 raised the apparent pK(a) of the acidic limb of the pH profile by more than 1 pH unit for both k(cat.) and k(cat.)/K(m). The fluorescence spectra (excitation at 288nm) of the modified enzymes showed that tryptophan-69 contributed about 8% to the fluorescence intensity, whereas tryptophan-177 contributed about 46% at neutral pH. However, the contribution of tryptophan-177 was quenched at low pH and its fluorescence intensity showed sigmoidal pH-dependence, with an apparent pK(a) of 4.2. Histidine-159, which is in close contact with tryptophan-177, is considered to be the residue responsible for the fluorescence quenching. When tryptophan-177 was modified, presumably generating a less hydrophobic micro-environment, the apparent pK(a) determined kinetically was raised to about 5.4. By comparing the Michaelis parameters of native papain, papain modified at tryptophan-69 and papain modified at tryptophan-69 and -177 with N-benzyloxycarbonylglycylglycine amide and N-benzyloxycarbonylglycyltryptophan amide, tryptophan-69 and tryptophan-177 were shown to be structural features of the S(2) and S(1)' subsites respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole as a reactivity probe for the investigation of the thiol proteinases. evidence that ficin and bromelain may lack carboxyl groups conformationally equivalent to that of aspartic acid-158 of papain.

1. 4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (Nbd chloride) was used as a reactivity probe to characterize the active centres of papin (EC 3.4.22.2), ficin (EC 3.4.22.3) and bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4). 2. In the pH range 0-8 Nbd chloride probably exists mainly as a monocation, possibly with the proton located on N-1 of the oxadiazole ring. 3. Spectroscopic evidence is presented for the intermediacy of Meisenheimer-type adducts in the reaction of Nbd chloride with nucleophiles. 4. The pH-dependence of the second-order rate constants (k) of the reactions of the three enzymes with Nbd chloride was determined at 25 degrees C, I = 0.1 mol/litre in 6.7% (v/v) ethanol in the pH range 2.5-5, where, at least for papain and ficin, the reactions occur specifically with their active-centre thiol groups. The pH-k profile for the papain reaction is bell-shaped (pKaI = 3.24, pKaII = 3.44 and k = 86M(-1)-s(-1), whereas that for ficin is sigmoidal (pKa = 3.6, k = 0.36M(-1)-s(-1), the rate increasing with increasing pH. The profile for the bromelain reaction appears to resemble that for the ficin reaction, but is complicated by amino-group labelling. 5. The bell-shaped profile of the papain reaction is considered to arise from the reaction of the thiolate ion of cysteine-25, maintained in acidic media by interaction with the side chain of histidine-159, with the Nbd chloride monocation hydrogen-bonded at its nitro group to the un-ionized form of the carboxyl group of aspartic acid-158. The lack of acid catalysis in the corresponding reactions of ficin and probably of bromelain suggests that these enzymes may lack carboxyl groups conformationally equivalent to that of aspartic acid-158 of papain. The possible consequences of this for the catalytic sites of these enzymes is discussed.

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan↗
PubMed2002

A 13C-NMR study of the inhibition of papain by a dipeptide-glyoxal inhibitor.

Z-Phe-Ala-glyoxal (where Z is benzyloxycarbonyl) has been synthesized and shown to be a competitive inhibitor of papain with a K(i)=3.30+/-0.25 nM. (13)C-NMR has been used to show that in aqueous media, Z-Phe-[2-(13)C]Ala-glyoxal gives signals at 207.7 p.p.m. and 96.3 p.p.m. showing that both the alpha-keto carbon and its hydrate are present. When this inhibitor is bound to papain a single signal at 209.7 p.p.m. is observed due to the (13)C-enriched carbon. This demonstrates that the glyoxal alpha-keto carbon is not hydrated when it is bound to papain and that it does not form a thiohemiketal with the thiol group of Cys-25. Z-Phe-[1-(13)C]Ala-glyoxal has also been synthesized and its aldehyde carbon is fully hydrated in aqueous solution giving signals at 88.7 p.p.m. and 90.2 p.p.m. when the alpha-keto carbon and its hydrate are present respectively. When this inhibitor is bound to papain a single signal at 71.04 p.p.m. was observed due to the (13)C-enriched carbon showing that the (13)C-enriched aldehyde carbon forms a thiohemiacetal with Cys-25.

Alanine↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of chito-oligosaccharides prepared by chitosanolysis with the aid of papain and Pronase, and their bactericidal action against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli.

Papain (from papaya latex; EC 3.4.22.2) and Pronase (from Streptomyces griseus; EC 3.4.24.31) caused optimum depolymerization of chitosan at pH 3.5 and 37 degrees C, resulting in LMMC (low molecular mass chitosan) and chito-oligomeric-monomeric mixture. The yield of the latter was 14-16% and 14-19% respectively for papain- and Pronase-catalysed reactions, depending on the reaction time (1-5 h). HPLC revealed the presence of monomer(s) and oligomers of DP (degree of polymerization) 2-6, which was also confirmed by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight MS. Along with the chito-oligomers, the appearance of only GlcNAc (N-acetylglucosamine) in Pronase-catalysed chitosanolysis was indicative of its different action pattern compared with papain. Fourier-transform infrared, liquid-state 13C-NMR spectra and CD analyses of chito-oligomeric-monomeric mixture indicated the release of GlcNAc/GlcNAc-rich oligomers. The monomeric sequence at the non-reducing ends of chito-oligomers was elucidated using N-acetylglucosaminidase. The chito-oligomeric-monomeric mixture showed better growth inhibitory activity towards Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli compared with native chitosan. Optimum growth inhibition was observed with chito-oligomers of higher DP having low degree of acetylation. The latter caused pore formation and permeabilization of the cell wall of B. cereus, whereas blockage of nutrient flow due to the aggregation of chito-oligomers-monomers was responsible for the growth inhibition and lysis of E. coli, which were evidenced by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The spillage of cytoplasmic enzymes and native PAGE of the cell-free supernatant of B. cereus treated with chito-oligomeric-monomeric mixture further confirmed bactericidal activity of the latter. Use of papain and Pronase, which are inexpensive and easily available, for chitosanolysis, is of commercial importance, as the products released are of considerable biomedical value.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

Identification of signalling and non-signalling binding contributions to enzyme reactivity. Alternative combinations of binding interactions provide for change in transition-state geometry in reactions of papain.

1. 2-(N'-Acetyl-L-phenylalanyl)hydroxyethyl 2'-pyridyl disulphide (compound V) was synthesized, and a study of the pH-dependence of the second-order rate constant (k) for its reaction with the catalytic-site thiol group of papain (EC 3.4.22.2) was used to evaluate the consequences for transition-state geometry of the presence of a hydrophobic occupant for the S2 subsite of the enzyme in the absence of the N-H component of the P1-P2 amide bond. 2. Comparison of the pH-dependences of K for reactions of compound (V), 2-(acetamido)ethyl 2'-pyridyl disulphide (compound I) and 2-(acetoxy)ethyl 2'-pyridyl disulphide (compound III) with the cysteine-proteinase minimal catalytic-site model, benzimidazol-2-ylmethanethiol, established the activation of all of these pyridyl disulphides by hydronation and that their reactivities are relatively insensitive to structural change in the non-pyridyl part of the molecule. The marked differences in their reactivities towards papain therefore derive from binding, either directly, or indirectly via signalling mechanisms. 3. Comparison of the kinetic data for the reaction of papain with compound (V) with those for analogous reactions with reactivity probes that provide opportunities for a variety of binding interactions in the S1-S2 intersubsite region and in the S2 subsite itself lead to the following conclusions: (a) the (Gly-66) N-H...O = C less than (P1-P2 ester) interaction of papain with compound (III) provides for better binding relative to that for a probe with a simple hydrocarbon side chain, but no signalling to the catalytic site to provide a (His-159)-ImH+-assisted transition state; (b) when this interaction is augmented either by a (P1-P2 amide) N-H...O = C less than (Asp-158) interaction (compound I) or hydrophobic P2/S2 contacts (compound V), signalling to the catalytic region occurs to provide the assisted transition state; (c) when both the P2/S2 contacts and the interaction involving Gly-66 exist, provision additionally of the (P1-P2 amide) N-H...O = C less than (Asp-158) interaction [as in 2-(N'-acetyl-L-phenylalanylamino)ethyl 2'-pyridyl disulphide] serves only to assist the binding without an additional signalling effect. 4. Such studies promise to allow binding interactions that merely locate substrates in appropriate enzyme loci to be distinguished from those that transmit signals with a chemical consequence to catalytic sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Structure-function relationships in the cysteine proteinases actinidin, papain and papaya proteinase omega. Three-dimensional structure of papaya proteinase omega deduced by knowledge-based modelling and active-centre characteristics determined by two-hydronic-state reactivity probe kinetics and kinetics of catalysis.

1. A model of the three-dimensional structure of papaya proteinase omega, the most basic cysteine proteinase component of the latex of papaya (Carica papaya), was built from its amino acid sequence and the two currently known high-resolution crystal structures of the homologous enzymes papain (EC 3.4.22.2) and actinidin (EC 3.4.22.14). The method used a knowledge-based approach incorporated in the COMPOSER suite of programs and refinement by using the interactive graphics program FRODO on an Evans and Sutherland PS 390 and by energy minimization using the GROMOS program library. 2. Functional similarities and differences between the three cysteine proteinases revealed by analysis of pH-dependent kinetics of the acylation process of the catalytic act and of the reactions of the enzyme catalytic sites with substrate-derived 2-pyridyl disulphides as two-hydronic-state reactivity probes are reported and discussed in terms of the knowledge-based model. 3. To facilitate analysis of complex pH-dependent kinetic data, a multitasking application program (SKETCHER) for parameter estimation by interactive manipulation of calculated curves and a simple method of writing down pH-dependent kinetic equations for reactions involving any number of reactive hydronic states by using information matrices were developed. 4. Papaya proteinase omega differs from the other two enzymes in the ionization characteristics of the common (Cys)-SH/(His)-Im+H catalytic-site system and of the other acid/base groups that modulate thiol reactivity towards substrate-derived inhibitors and the acylation process of the catalytic act. The most marked difference in the Cys/His system is that the pKa for the loss of the ion-pair state to form -S-/-Im is 8.1-8.3 for papaya proteinase omega, whereas it is 9.5 for both actinidin and papain. Papaya proteinase omega is similar to actinidin in that it lacks the second catalytically influential group with pKa approx. 4 present in papain and possesses a catalytically influential group with pKa 5.5-6.0. 5. Papaya proteinase omega occupies an intermediate position between actinidin and papain in the sensitivity with which hydrophobic interaction in the S2 subsite is transmitted to produce changes in transition-state geometry in the catalytic site, a fact that may be linked with differences in specificity in P2-S2 interaction exhibited by the three enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Interaction of recombinant human cystatin C with the cysteine proteinases papain and actinidin.

The interaction between recombinant human cystatin C and the cysteine proteinases papain and actinidin was studied by spectroscopic, kinetic and equilibrium methods. The absorption, near-u.v.c.d. and fluorescence-emission difference spectra for the cystatin C-proteinase interactions were all found to be similar to the corresponding spectra for chicken cystatin. The kinetics of binding of cystatin C to the two enzymes were best described by a simple reversible one-step bimolecular mechanism, like the kinetics of the reaction of chicken cystatin with several cysteine proteinases. Moreover, the second-order association rate constants at 25 degrees C, pH 7.4 and I0.15, of 1.1 x 10(7) and 2.4 x 10(6) M-1.s-1 for the reactions of cystatin C with papain and actinidin respectively, were similar to the corresponding rate constants for the chicken inhibitor and close to the value expected for a diffusion-controlled rate. The dissociation equilibrium constants, approx. 11 fM and approx. 19 nM for the binding of cystatin C to papain and actinidin respectively, were also comparable with the dissociation constants for chicken cystatin. The affinity between cystatin C and several inactivated papains or actinidins decreased with increasing size of the inactivating group in a manner similar to that in earlier studies with the chicken inhibitor. Together, these results strongly indicate that the mechanisms of the reactions of cystatin C and chicken cystatin with cysteine proteinases are identical or highly similar, but differ from that of reactions between serine-proteinase inhibitors and their target enzymes. The model for the proteinase-inhibitor interaction, based on the X-ray structure of chicken cystatin, therefore should be largely applicable also to human cystatin C.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Structure of chymopapain M the late-eluted chymopapain deduced by comparative modelling techniques and active-centre characteristics determined by pH-dependent kinetics of catalysis and reactions with time-dependent inhibitors: the Cys-25/His-159 ion-pair is insufficient for catalytic competence in both chymopapain M and papain.

Chymopapain M, the monothiol cysteine proteinase component of the chymopapain band eluted after chymopapains A and B in cation-exchange chromatography, was isolated from the dried latex of Carica papaya and characterized by kinetic and chromatographic analysis. This late-eluted chymopapain is probably a component of the cysteine proteinase fraction of papaya latex discovered by Schack [(1967) Compt. Rend. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg 36, 67-83], named papaya peptidase B by Lynn [(1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 569, 193-201] and partially characterized by Polgár [(1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 658, 262-269] and is the enzyme with unusual specificity characteristics (papaya proteinase IV) that Buttle, Kembhavi, Sharp, Shute, Rich and Barrett [Biochem. J. (1989) 261, 469-476] claimed to be a previously undetected cysteine proteinase eluted from a cation-exchange column near to the early-eluted chymopapains. A study of the time-dependent chromatographic consequences of thiol-dependent proteolysis of the components of papaya latex is reported. Chymopapain M was isolated by (i) affinity chromatography followed by separation from papain using cation-exchange f.p.l.c. on a Mono S HR5/5 column and (ii) cation-exchange chromatography followed by an unusual variant of covalent chromatography by thiol-disulphide interchange. The existence in chymopapain M of a nucleophilic interactive Cys/His catalytic-site system analogous to those in papain (EC 3.4.22.2) and other cysteine proteinases was deduced from the characteristics shape of the pH-second-order rate constant (k) profiles for its reactions with 2,2'-dipyridyl disulphide and ethyl 2-pyridyl disulphide. Analysis of the pH-k data for the reactions of chymopapain M with the 2-pyridyl disulphides and with 4,4'-dipyridyl disulphide permits the assignment of molecular pKa values of 3.4 and 8.7 to the formation and subsequent dehydronation of the Cys-S-/His-Im+H state of the catalytic site and reveals three other kinetically influential ionizations with pKa values 3.4, 4.3 and 5.6. The pH-dependences of kcat./Km for the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-L-Phe-Gly-4-nitroanilide at 25.0 degrees C and I0.1 M catalysed by chymopapain M and papain were determined. For both enzymes, little catalytic activity (5-7% of the maximal) develops consequent on formation of the catalytic site Cys-S-/His-Im+H ion-pair state (across pKa 3.4 for both enzymes). For papain, full expression of Kcat./Km for the uncharged substrate requires only the additional hydronic dissociation with pKa 4.2. By contrast, full expression of kcat./Km for chymopapain M requires additional hydronic dissociation with pKa values of 4.3 and 5.6.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Demonstration of fragments with thyroid stimulating activity from thyroid stimulation blocking antibodies-IgG molecules by papain digestion.

OBJECTIVES: Thyroid stimulation blocking antibodies (TSBAb) inhibit TSH action and may have a role in the pathogenesis of hypothyroidism. In order to study the relationship between blocking and stimulating activities we have examined the biologically active fragments in TSBAb-IgG molecules after papain digestion. DESIGN: Both thyroid stimulating (TS) activity (cAMP production in thyroid cells) and TSH binding inhibitory (TBI) activity (determined by TSH receptor assay) in sera from patients with primary hypothyroidism were examined after digestion with papain-Sepharose in the presence of cysteine. The digested IgG was separated into unbound (UF) and bound (BF) fractions on a Protein A-Sepharose column. Each fraction was then gel-filtrated on a Sephadex G-100 column. RESULTS: TS activity was found within one hour after hydrolysis in 5 out of 7 antibodies, then gradually decreased after more prolonged incubation. Both TS and TBI activities in the UF and the BF from Protein A were found in Feb (Mr 50 kD) and the second protein peak (Fc with trace amounts of Fab), respectively. The biological activity in the second protein peak was suggested as being derived from Fab fraction, because the activity bound to the anti-F(ab')2 column. However, the first peak (undigested IgG) in the BF had neither TS nor TSB activity. The TS activity in the retarded fraction (less than Mr 20 kD) in the UF gradually increased with prolonged digestion. CONCLUSIONS: The conversion of Thyroid stimulation blocking antibodies activity to thyroid stimulating activity by papain digestion suggests that the inherent thyroid stimulating activity located in the Fab portion of the IgG molecule is unmasked by papain cleavage. We also suggest that the thyroid stimulating activity in the retarded fraction in the unbound fraction may be released from hydrolysis of the Fab portion of the IgG molecule.

Antibodies, Blocking↗
PubMed1979

Interaction of papain with derivatives of phenylalanylglycinal: fluorescence studies.

Fluorescence studies have been performed on the interaction of papain with active-site-directed inhibitors of the type mansyl-(Gly)n-Phe-glycinal, where n = 0, 1, 2. It has been found that whereas the mansyl [6-(N-methylantilino)-2-naphthalene sulfonyl] fluorescence of mansyl-Phe-glycinal is greatly enhanced, that of the two longer mansyl compounds is not, although all three are equally effective as inhibitors of papain action. Measurements of fluorescence polarization and rotational relaxation time support the conclusion that the fluorescent probe group of the two longer mansyl compounds protrudes into the solvent to a greater degree than that of mansyl-Phe-glycinal. Considerable energy transfer from papain tryptophan to the mansyl group is evident for all three inhibitors, however, although it is most marked with mansyl-Phe-glycinal. Stopped-flow fluorescence measurements have shown that, after initial rapid interaction, the first-order conformational changes in the active-site region of papain in the complex with mansyl-Phe-glycinal are approximately 1/10(4) those observed with comparable mansyl oligopeptide substrates, and approximately 1/10(2) those with acetyl-Phe-glycinal.

Dipeptides↗