• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.593-598
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• 2005

A collagenolytic enzyme, produced by Vibrio vulnificus CYK279H, was purified by ultrafiltration, dialysis, Q-Sepharose ion exchange and Superdex-200 gel chromatography. The enzyme from the supernatant was purified 13.2 fold, with a yield of 11.4%. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be approximately 35.0kDa. The N-terminal sequence of the enzyme was determined as Gly-Asp-Pro-Cys-Met-Pro-Ile-Ile-Ser-Asn. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme activity were $35^{\circ}C$ and 7.5, respectively. The enzyme activity was stable within the pH and temperature ranges 6.8-8.0 and $20{\sim}35^{\circ}C$, respectively. The purified enzyme was strongly activated by $Zn^{2+},\;Li^{2+},\;and\;Ca^{2+}$, but inhibited by $Cu^{2+}$. In addition, the enzyme was strongly inhibited by 1, 10-phenanthroline and EDTA. The purified enzyme was suggested to be a neutral metalloprotease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2003

This study describes the characterization of 80 kDa pretense showing gelationlytic property among three pretenses in the excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) from Toxoplasma gondii. The pretense activity was detected in the ESP but not in the somatic extract of RH tachyzoites. This pretense was active only in the presence of calcium ion but not other divalent cationic ions such as $Cu^{2+},{\;}Zn^{2+},{\;}Mg^{2+},{\;}and{\;}$Mn^{2+}$, implying that $Ca^{2+}$ is critical factor for the activation of the protease. The 80 kDa pretense was optimally active at pH 7.5. Its gelatinolytic activity was maximal at $37^{\circ}C$, and significant level of enzyme activity of the pretense remained after heat treatment at $56^{\circ}C$ for 30 min or $100^{\circ}C$ for 10 min, This thermostable enzyme was strongly inhibited by metal chelators, i.e., EDTA, EGTA, and 11 10-phenanthroline. Thus, the 80 kDa pretense in the ESP secreted by T. gondii was classified as a calcium dependent neutral metalloprotease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.214-222
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• 2015

Aeromonas hydrophila is the most common water fish pathogen and cause diseases such as hemorrhagic septicemia, dropsy, ulceration and asymptomatic septicemia. A. hydrophila secretes many extracellular products (ECPs) which contribute to effective infection, wide distribution and great adaptability to environmental changes. Crude ECPs of A. hydrophila CK257, a strain used in this study, exhibits a toxic activity to the animals including mouse, rabbit and fish. Toxic symptoms were indicated by tissue damage and skin injuries in animal. When ECPs were subcutaneously injected to animals, skin damages were observed, appearing like necrosis. Preliminary research demonstrated that the active factors are protein component. The crude ECPs were collected after ammonium sulfate precipitation of cell-free culture supernatant. ECPs were fractionated with the use gel filtration chromatography. Five ECP fractions were obtained, of which one fraction was found to be toxic to goldfish. MALDI-TOF analyses provided two interesting proteases called M35 and M28. Both M35 and M28 are known as metalloprotease. Accordingly, proteins in an active fraction exhibited caseinolytic activity. These proteins were difference of caseinolytic activity under different metallic ions. Also active fraction has elastolytic activity. These results suggested that peptidase M28 and M35 may be a candidate factor for tissue necrosis activity about infection with A. hydrophila.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2009

Mutations in DLX3 are associated with both autosomal dominant hypoplastic hypomaturation amelogenesis imperfecta (ADHHAI) and tricho-dento-osseous (TDO) syndrome. ADHHAI is caused by a c.561_562delCT (2bp-del DLX3) mutation whereas TDO syndrome is associated with a c.571_574delGGGG (4bp-del DLX3) mutation. However, although the causal relationships between DLX3 and an enamel phenotype have been established, the pathophysiological role of DLX3 mutations in enamel development has not yet been clarified. In our current study, we prepared expression vectors for wild type and deletion mutant DLX3 products (4bp-del DLX3, 2bp-del DLX3) and examined the effects of their overexpression on the expression of the enamel matrix proteins and proteases. Wild type DLX3 enhanced the expression of matrix metalloprotease 20 (MMP20) mRNA and protein in murine ameloblast-like cells. However, neither a 4bp-del nor 2bp-del DLX3 increased MMP20 expression. Wild type DLX3, but not the above DLX3 mutants, also increased the activity of reporters containing 1.5 kb or 0.5 kb of the MMP20 promoter. An examination of protein stability showed that the half-life of wild type DLX3 protein was less than 12 h whilst that of both deletion mutants was longer than 24 h. Endogenous Dlx3 was also found to be continuously expressed during ameloblast differentiation. Since inactivating mutations in the gene encoding MMP20 are associated with amelogenesis imperfecta, the inability of 4bp-del or 2bp-del DLX3 to induce MMP20 expression suggests a possible involvement of such mutations in the enamel phenotype associated with TDO syndrome or ADHHAI.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.193-194
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• 2002

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor was purified from Crassostrea gigas. The ACE belongs to the class of metalloprotease. This enzyme plays an important physiological role in regulating blood pressure of the rennin-angiotensin system by converting from angiotensin I to octapeptide angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor and by inactivating bradykinin, which has depressor action. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.225-225
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.143-143
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• 2003

The matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) play important roles in invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis in various cell types. An endogenous inhibitor of MMP, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-2 (TIMP-2), has high specificity for MMP-2. An imbalance between MMP-2 and TIMP-2 causes the degradation of the extracellular matrix associated with pathological events including invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis.(omitted)

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2012

To investigate the biochemical nature of changes in vaginal physiology during estrus and pregnancy, we examined the cytology and viscosity, and monitored the protein expression profile in vaginal mucus during estrus and pregnancy. The viscosity progressively decreased from estrus to pregnancy. Cell type analysis revealed that white blood cells progressively increased from estrus to pregnancy, while red blood cells progressively decreased during pregnancy. The cornification index (CI) was higher in estrus than in pregnancy. Protein mass spectrumetry identified the presence of ribosome-binding protein 1, GRIP 1 (Glutamate receptor-interacting protein 1)-associated protein 1, DUF729 (Domain of unknown function729) domain-containing protein 1, prolactin precursor, dihydrofolatereductase, and MMP (Matrix metalloprotease)-9 in vaginal mucus. MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in the vaginal mucus were active throughout estrus and gestation, as measured by a gelatinase assay, but most abundant in the vaginal mucus on day 0 of estrus. Results from ELISA of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were in accordance with the gelatinase assay. In light of the crucial role of metalloproteinases in extracellular matrix remodeling, the level of MMP-9 in vaginal mucus might be useful as an indicator of estrus and pregnancy to increase the efficiency of reproduction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1784-1791
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the effects of ethyl alcohol extracts of Hizikia fusiforme (EHF) on the correlation between tightening of tight junctions (TJs) and anti-invasive activity in human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells. Inhibitory effects of EHF on cell proliferation, motility, and invasiveness were found to be associated with increased tightness of the TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance. Activities of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and -9 in AGS cells were dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with EHF, and this was also correlated with a decrease in expression of their mRNA and proteins; however, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2 mRNA levels were increased. Additionally, immunoblotting results indicated that EHF repressed the levels of claudin proteins (claudin-1, -3, and -4), major components of TJs that play key roles in control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Furthermore, EHF decreased expression of insulin such as growth factor-1 receptor proteins, while concurrently increasing that of thrombospondin-1 and E-cadherin. In conclusion, these results suggest that EHF treatment may inhibit tumor cell motility and invasion, and therefore act as a dietary source to decrease the risk of cancer metastasis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2003

A keratinolytic protease was purified from the culture medium of Pseudomonas sp. KP-364 by use of an assay of the hydrolysis of feather keratin. Membrane ultrafiltration and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange resin and Sephadex G-150 gel chromatographies were used to purify the enzyme. The specific activity of the purified keratinolytic protease relative to that in the original medium was approximately 72-fold high. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephadex G-150 chromatography indicated that the purified keratinolytic protease is monomeric and has a molecular weight of 36 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature of the keratinolytic protease activity were 6.6 and 37 C, respectively, and the keratinolytic protease was relatively stable at pH value from 3.0 to 10.0 at 37 C for 1hour. The keratinolytic protease was inhibited by EDTA and EGTA, indicating that the keratinolytic protease was a kind of metalloprotease that require Li+ for cofactor.