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Characterization of a cloned subtilisin-like serine proteinase from a psychrotrophic Vibrio species.

The gene encoding a subtilisin-like serine proteinase in the psychrotrophic Vibrio sp. PA44 has been successfully cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene is 1593 basepairs and encodes a precursor protein of 530 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 55.7 kDa. The enzyme is isolated, however, as an active 40.6-kDa proteinase, without a 139 amino acid residue N-terminal prosequence. Under mild conditions the enzyme undergoes a further autocatalytic cleavage to give a 29.7-kDa proteinase that retains full enzymatic activity. The deduced amino acid sequence of the enzyme has high homology to proteinases of the proteinase K family of subtilisin-like proteinases. With respect to the enzyme characteristics compared in this study the properties of the wild-type and recombinant proteinases are the same. Sequence analysis revealed that especially with respect to the thermophilic homologues, aqualysin I from Thermus aquaticus and a proteinase from Thermus strain Rt41A, the cold-adapted Vibrio-proteinase has a higher content of polar/uncharged amino acids, as well as aspartate residues. The thermophilic enzymes had a higher content of arginines, and relatively higher number of hydrophobic amino acids and a higher aliphatic index. These factors may contribute to the adaptation of these proteinases to different temperature conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Diazoacetyl subtilisin.

Subtilisin reacts at pH 6.8-7.8 with p-nitrophenyl diazoacetate to release p-nitrophenol and form diazoacetyl subtilisin. Although at pH 7.8 this derivative rapidly undergoes hydrolytic cleavage to regenerate active enzyme, the derivative can be trapped by rapidly lowering the pH to 5. Similarly, with (14)C-labeled p-nitrophenyl diazoacetate, the corresponding radiochemically labeled diazoacetyl enzyme can be prepared. Photolysis of this radioactive derivative incorporates radioactivity into the protein, and subsquent hydrolysis gives rise to several radioactive components, which, however, have not yet been identified.

Acetates↗

The subtilisin E gene of Bacillus subtilis is transcribed from a sigma 37 promoter in vivo.

A cloned Bacillus subtilis gene (sprE) expressed only during the stationary growth phase is shown to encode the subtilisin E protease, an enzyme associated with sporulation. We have determined the DNA sequence of the sprE promoter region and the promoter-proximal half of the structural gene. The sprE gene codes for a putative 29-residue signal peptide and a 77-residue leader peptide preceding the mature subtilisin sequence. By plasmid integration and phage PBS1 transduction, we have mapped the sprE locus between glyB and metD on the B. subtilis chromosome, a region also containing the hyperprotease-producing hpr gene. In vitro the sprE gene is transcribed by the minor form of RNA polymerase containing a 37,000-dalton sigma factor (sigma 37). We show by S1 nuclease mapping that sprE transcription initiates at dual start sites both in vitro and in vivo and that the promoter for the downstream site has a characteristic sigma 37 recognition sequence. We propose that the physiological role of the sigma 37 RNA polymerase is to transcribe a class of genes that are catabolite repressed, that encode extracellular enzymes, or that are expressed only during the stationary phase of growth.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of a new pathogen-induced member of the subtilisin-like processing protease family from plants.

By using biochemical, immunological, and molecular strategies we have identified and cloned a cDNA encoding a protease from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants (P69B) that is part of a proteolytic system activated in the plant as a result of infection with citrus exocortis viroid. This new protease is closely related, in terms of amino acid sequence and structural organization, to the previously identified pathogenesis-related subtilisin-like protease (Tornero, P., Conejero, V., and Vera, P. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93, 6332-6337). The 745-residue amino acid sequence of P69B begins with a cleavable signal peptide, contains a prodomain and a 631-residue mature domain which is homologous to the catalytic modules of bacterial subtilisins and eukaryotic Kex2-like proteases. Within the catalytic domain, the essential Asp, His, and Ser residues that conform the catalytic triad of this family of proteases are conserved in P69B. Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated widespread induced expression of the 2.5-kilobase hybridizing mRNA in plant tissues as a consequence of viroid infection. We propose that P69B is a member of a complex gene family of plant Kex2/subtilisin-like proteases presumably involved in a number of specific proteolytic events activated during pathogenesis in plants and that takes place in the extracellular matrix.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cold adaptation of a mesophilic subtilisin-like protease by laboratory evolution.

Enzymes isolated from organisms native to cold environments generally exhibit higher catalytic efficiency at low temperatures and greater thermosensitivity than their mesophilic counterparts. In an effort to understand the evolutionary process and the molecular basis of cold adaptation, we have used directed evolution to convert a mesophilic subtilisin-like protease from Bacillus sphaericus, SSII, into its psychrophilic counterpart. A single round of random mutagenesis followed by recombination of improved variants yielded a mutant, P3C9, with a catalytic rate constant (k(cat)) at 10 degrees C 6.6 times and a catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(M)) 9.6 times that of wild type. Its half-life at 70 degrees C is 3.3 times less than wild type. Although there is a trend toward decreasing stability during the progression from mesophile to psychrophile, there is not a strict correlation between decreasing stability and increasing low temperature activity. A first generation mutant with a >2-fold increase in k(cat) is actually more stable than wild type. This suggests that the ultimate decrease in stability may be due to random drift rather than a physical incompatibility between low temperature activity and high temperature stability. SSII shares 77. 4% identity with the naturally psychrophilic protease subtilisin S41. Although SSII and S41 differ at 85 positions, four amino acid substitutions were sufficient to generate an SSII whose low temperature activity is greater than that of S41. That none of the four are found in S41 indicates that there are multiple routes to cold adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

A conserved subtilisin-like protein TgSUB1 in microneme organelles of Toxoplasma gondii.

Proteolytic processing plays a significant role in the process of invasion by the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We have cloned a gene, TgSUB1, encoding for a subtilisin-type serine protease found in T. gondii tachyzoites. TgSUB1 protein is homologous to other Apicomplexan and bacterial subtilisins and is processed within the secretory pathway of the parasite. Initial cleavage occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum, after which the protein is transported to micronemes, vesicles that secrete early during host cell invasion. Upon stimulation of microneme secretion, TgSUB1 is cleaved into smaller products that are secreted from the parasite. This secondary processing is inhibited by brefeldin A and serine protease inhibitors. TgSUB1 is a candidate processing enzyme for several microneme proteins cleaved within the secretory pathway or during invasion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of recombinant Plasmodium falciparum subtilisin-like protease-1 in insect cells. Characterization, comparison with the parasite protease, and homology modeling.

Serine proteases play crucial roles in erythrocyte invasion by merozoites of the malaria parasite. Plasmodium falciparum subtilisin-like protease-1 (PfSUB-1) is synthesized during maturation of the intraerythrocytic parasite and accumulates in a set of merozoite secretory organelles, suggesting that it may play a role in host cell invasion or post-invasion events. We describe the production, purification, and characterization of recombinant PfSUB-1 and comparison with the authentic protease detectable in parasite extracts. The recombinant protease requires high levels of calcium for optimum activity and has an alkaline pH optimum. Using a series of decapeptide and protein substrates, PfSUB-1 was found to have a relaxed substrate specificity with regard to the P1 position but is unable to efficiently cleave substrates with a P1 leucine residue. Similarly, replacement of a P4 valine with alanine severely reduced cleavage efficiency, whereas its replacement with lysine abolished cleavage. In all respects investigated, the recombinant protease was indistinguishable from parasite-derived enzyme. Three-dimensional homology modeling of the PfSUB-1 catalytic domain based on an alignment with closely related bacterial subtilisins and an orthologue from the rodent malaria Plasmodium yoelii suggests that the protease has at least three potential calcium ion-binding sites, three intramolecular disulfide bridges, and a single free cysteine within the enzyme S1 pocket. A predicted highly polar S1 pocket and a hydrophobic S4 subsite are in broad agreement with the experimentally determined substrate specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The development of a fluorometric method for the assay of subtilisins.

An ultra-sensitive fluorometric method has been developed for quantitating subtilisins in aqueous solution. Using detergent solutions as blanks, the analytical sensitivity was estimated to be 0.002 microgram of 100% active enzyme per milliliter. The required sampling time for quantitating subtilisins in air at their TLV was estimated to be approximately two minutes.

Caseins↗

Mathematical modelling of electrostatic fluctuations in subtilisin active site.

The intensities of electrostatic fluctuations in subtilisin active site generated by conformational motion of charged side chains, polar side chains and peptide bonds of the main chain are calculated. The comparative analysis of all these fragments reveals that there are few of them which make the main contribution to the total value of the intensity, which has been found to be approximately 10(7) g.cm-1.s-2. These are Ser 125, Thr 220 and peptide bonds of aminoacids 125-126, 218-219. Our present analysis enables us to compare the relative contribution of different fragments but we do not pretend to obtain precise absolute values. The reason for this is the lack of the detailed selective information on the mean-square amplitudes and correlation times of conformational motion of the fragments and on the values of local dielectric constants in the interior of subtilisin. The possibility for electrostatic fluctuations in enzyme active site to be an efficient nonspecific source of substrate activation is discussed.

Binding Sites↗

Suitability of animals' purified milk caseins and their subunit kappa-caseins as substrates for subtilisin and trypsin.

Acid casein and kappa-casein were purified from different species of animal's milk, such as cow, sheep, goat, and water buffalo. These caseins were used as substrates for commercially available subtilisin and trypsin. It was established that, when acid caseins were used as a substrate for subtilisin, cow acid casein was found to be a better substrate for the enzymes, compared to other animals' milk casein. It was suggested that this acid casein has significantly more aromatic amino acids, as compared to arginine and lysine. K(M) and Vmax values, which were obtained for cow kappa-casein, showed that cow kappa-casein was a better susbstrate for trypsin than the others, suggesting that cow kappa-casein has a rich content of lysine, arginine, and aromatic amino acids by comparison with the others. The calculated C/N ratio also supports this suggestion.

Animals↗

Synthesis of N-protected peptide alcohols catalyzed by subtilisin or alpha-chymotrypsin in organic solvents.

A series of N-protected peptide alcohols were synthesized using amino alcohols with unprotected hydroxy groups as amino components by the catalysis of subtilisin or alpha-chymotrypsin in organic solvents. N-protected aromatic amino acid esters were more suitable as acyl donors for subtilisin. The influences of different N-protecting groups, organic solvents, and content of water on synthesis of N-protected peptide alcohols were systematically studied.

Alcohols↗

cDNA and gene structure for a human subtilisin-like protease with cleavage specificity for paired basic amino acid residues.

A cDNA encoding the human fur gene product was isolated from a human hepatoma cell line. The cDNA encodes a protein with significant amino acid sequence identity to the prokaryotic subtilisin family of serine proteases. More extensive sequence identity was found when the protein was compared with eukaryotic proteases such as PRB1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and with PC2 and PC3, the only other known mammalian subtilisin-like proteases. In contrast to these proteins, however, the fur gene product shares a more extensive topographic and functional homology with the KEX2 endoprotease of S. cerevisiae. Each protease contains a signal peptide, a glycosylated extra cytoplasmic domain, a hydrophobic membrane-spanning region, and a short, hydrophilic "tail" sequence. As with KEX2, the expressed human protease was shown to cleave mammalian proproteins at their paired basic amino acid processing sites. We have, therefore, proposed the function-based acronym PACE (paired basic amino acid cleaving enzyme) for this prototypic mammalian proprotein processing enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Subtilisin-like autotransporter serves as maturation protease in a bacterial secretion pathway.

Proteins of Gram-negative bacteria destined to the extracellular milieu must cross the two cellular membranes and then fold at the appropriate time and place. The synthesis of a precursor may be a strategy to maintain secretion competence while preventing aggregation or premature folding (especially for large proteins). The secretion of 230 kDa filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) of Bordetella pertussis requires the synthesis and the maturation of a 367 kDa precursor that undergoes the proteolytic removal of its approximately 130 kDa C-terminal intramolecular chaperone domain. We have identified a specific protease, SphB1, responsible for the timely maturation of the precursor FhaB, which allows for extracellular release of FHA. SphB1 is a large exported protein with a subtilisin-like domain and a C-terminal domain typical of bacterial autotransporters. SphB1 is the first described subtilisin-like protein that serves as a specialized maturation protease in a secretion pathway of Gram-negative bacteria. This is reminiscent of pro-protein convertases of eukaryotic cells.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Cloning, sequencing and expression of subtilisin Carlsberg from Bacillus licheniformis.

The gene encoding subtilisin Carlsberg from Bacillus licheniformis has been isolated by molecular cloning using a mixture of synthetic oligonucleotides. The entire nucleotide sequence of the coding sequence as well as 5' and 3' flanking sequences have been determined. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals an N-terminal signal peptide consisting of 29 residues, a pro-peptide of 76 residues followed by the mature protein comprising 274 residues. The ATG initiator codon is preceded by two putative overlapping ribosomal binding sequences. A palindromic sequence typical for transcription termination is found downstream from the TAA stop codon. Structural comparisons between different known subtilisin genes reveal extensive homology, particularly in the parts coding for the pro-region and the mature protein. Expression studies in Bacillus subtilis show that the cloned fragment produces a functional enzyme when inserted after a B. subtilis promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and designing of the S3 site of aqualysin I, a thermophilic subtilisin-related serine protease.

Aqualysin I is a bacterial subtilisin-related alkaline serine protease, originating in Thermus aquaticus YT-1. Based on computational analysis, we predicted that two residues, Ser102 and Gly131, form the S3 site of aqualysin I, and we proved that this prediction by site-directed mutagenesis. To alter the P3-specificity of the enzyme, we built a "wall" on the S3 site edge by introducing a bulky side chain at target sites. Six mutant proteins were prepared: S102H, S102K, S102E, G131H, G131K, and G131D. The mutant enzymes were examined with two kinetically typical peptides for aqualysin I, suc-X-Ala-Ala-pNA, where X is Ala or Phe. All mutations reduced the efficiency for the Phe-containing peptide, while they raised the k(cat) values for the Ala-containing peptide. Especially, the S102K mutant protein hydrolyzed the polyalanine peptide efficiently. The strategies we have adopted in this paper are applicable to all subtilisin-related enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Self association of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor: sedimentation equilibrium and 1H NMR studies.

The self association of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor, a dimeric protein molecule of MW 23,000 in an aqueous environment has been investigated by the combined use of sedimentation equilibrium analysis and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A significant degree of self association was found using the sedimentation equilibrium method in the concentration range between 5 and 20 mg/ml. Furthermore, the use of 1H NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with the sedimentation equilibrium method enabled us to study the self association in a much higher concentration range (up to 60 mg/ml or more). The self association reaction in the concentration range of 10-40 mg/ml fits reasonably well a "successive polymerization model" in which each step of the polymerization reaction consists of the addition of one intrinsic dimer of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor to the previously formed polymeric species, with an equilibrium constant common to all the steps of 400 M-1. The 1H NMR chemical shift and line broadening data show that the dimer-dimer interaction probably involves the reactive-site segment of this inhibitor without a significant conformational change in the major part of the protein structure.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Reconstitution of the active form from the amino- and carboxyl-terminal fragments of a reactive site-modified subtilisin inhibitor of adzuki beans (Vigna angularis).

The complex of an adzuki bean subtilisin inhibitor (ASI-II) with its target enzyme, prepared at pH 7.6, was subjected to reversed-phase HPLC in a trifluoroacetic acid-acetonitrile system. Two peptide fragments derived from the reactive site-modified ASI-II were obtained. The analyses of the amino acid composition and sequence of these two fragments revealed that one corresponded to the region from the amino-terminal Lys to the reactive site P1 Ala and the other, to the region from the reactive site P1' Asp to the carboxyl-terminal Gly of the inhibitor. Although neither fragment alone showed inhibitory activity against subtilisin, an equimolar mixture of both fragments was found to inhibit strongly the target enzyme, as did the intact inhibitor. Thus, it was suggested that the two fragments have strong specific affinity with each other, regenerating the reactive site-modified ASI-II, to inhibit the target enzyme.

Amino Acids↗

A protease inhibitor produced by Streptomyces lividans 66 exhibits inhibitory activities toward both subtilisin BPN' and trypsin.

A proteinaceous protease inhibitor was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces lividans 66 by a series of purification steps (salting out by ammonium sulfate, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, hydrophobic chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose, and gel-filtration on Sephacryl S-200), and was named S. lividans protease inhibitor (SLPI). The purified SLPI existed in a dimeric form consisting of two identical subunits, each of which was composed of 107 amino acids. SLPI exhibited strong inhibitory activity toward subtilisin BPN'. These features were similar to those of protein protease inhibitors produced by other Streptomyces (SSI family inhibitor). In addition, SLPI was capable of inhibiting trypsin with an inhibitor constant (Ki) of about 10(-9) M. The primary structure of SLPI and location of two disulfide bridges were homologous to those of the other serine protease inhibitors of Streptomyces. The reactive site of SLPI was found to be Arg67-Glu68 from the sequence analysis of cleaved SLPI which was produced by acidification of subtilisin-SLPI complex. An Arg residue at the P1 site was consistent with the trypsin-inhibitory property of SLPI. Sequence comparison with other members of the SSI family revealed that amino acid replacements in SLPI were mainly localized on the surface of the SLPI molecule, and many of the amino acid residues in beta-sheets and hydrophobic core were well conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗