• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 1995

The biochemical properties of the fibrinolytic protease of 50,800 Da isolated from the venom of Kgdistrodon blomhoffi brevicaudus were characterized. The enzyme hydrolyzed the carboxyl side of arginine in the synthetic chromogenic peptides, N-Benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-pNA and N-p-Tosyl-Gly-Pro-Arg-pNA, and the enzyme activity was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride indicating that the enzyme belongs to the serine protease family. The pretense showed maximum activity at pH 7.5 and inhibited by ZnCl$_2$, CuSO$_4$, but not by soybean trypsin inhibitor, pepstatin A, 2-mercaptoethanol and EDTA. The fm value determined with N-p-Tosyl-Gly-Pro-Arg-pNA was 0.2 mM. The thrombolytic activity of the purified enzyme was evaluated by platelet aggregation test in rabbits. While the platelet count ratio in blood of the rabbits injected with thrombin alone declined from 1.0 to 0.6 within 7 min and maintained around 0.6 for 24 hours thereafter, the ratio rapidly recovered from around 0.6 to 0.8 in 1 hr, to 1.0 in 24 hrs when the rabbits were sequentially treated with thrombin and the purified enzyme. The result showed that the serine protease from A. blomhoffi brevicoudus of 50,800 Da had a thrombolytic activity in vivo and the enzyme might be developed as a therapuetic agent for the treatment of thrombic disease.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.855-860
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• 2005

This study was designed to test the effects of changes in energy and protein intake levels on the maternal milk amino acid concentrations over the short-term in lactating mares. Three lactating mares were enrolled for the study 7 weeks after parturition. A low-energy and low-protein diet (LEP) was administered during the first week of the study, followed by administration of a high-energy and high-protein diet (HEP), again for a week (day 1 to day 7), and milk was sampled thrice daily at intervals of 8 h during the study period. The mean amino acid concentrations in the maternal milk, except for those of proline, serine and valine, were significantly higher in the HEP feeding period than during the LEP feeding period (p<0.05). The sum of the concentrations of all the amino acids (TAA) in the maternal milk samples during the HEP and LEP feeding periods was 1,644.9${\pm}$26.9 and 1,542.3${\pm}$36.0 mg/100 g, respectively, the difference between the two was not significant. When the ratio of each amino acid concentration to the TAA in the maternal milk was analyzed, there were significant differences between the HEP and LEP feeding periods for all amino acids, except glycine, serine, alanine and histidine. It was found that the concentrations of glutamic acid+glutamine, serine, threonine, arginine and valine were significantly higher (p<0.05) on day 1 than on day 7 during the LEP feeding period, and there were no such differences during the HEP feeding period. In regard to the effects of changes in the energy and protein intake levels in lactating mares, no changes in milk amino acid concentrations were found following administration of HEP for a week, whereas 7 days of administration of LEP was associated with a decrease in the amino acid concentrations.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.274-283
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• 1988

Aqualysin I is an alkaline serine protease which is secretet into the culture medium by Thermus aquaticus YT-1, an extreme thermophile. Aqualysin I was purified, and its partial amino acid sequence was determined. The gene encoding aqualysin I was cloned into E. coli using synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides as hybridization probes. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned DNA was determined. The primary structure of aqualysin I, deduced from the nucleotide sequenc, agreed with the determid amino acid sequences, including the $NH_2-$ and COOH terminal sequence of the tryptides derived from aqualysin I. Aqualysin I comprised 281 amino acid residues and its molecular mass was determined to be 28350. On alignment of the whole amino acid sequence, aqualysin I showed high sequence homology with the subtilisin type serine protease, and 43% identity with proteinase K, 37-30% with subtilisins and 34% with thermitase. Extremely high sequence identity was observed in the regions containing the active-site residues, corresponding to Asp32, His64 and Ser221 of subtilisin BPN'. Aqualysin I contains two disulfide bonds, Cys67-Cys99 and Cys163-Cys194, and these disulfide bonds seem to contribute to the heat stability of the enzyme. The determined positions of the twe disulfide bonds of aqualysin I agreed with those predicted previously on the basis of computer graphics of the crystallographic data for subtilisin BPN'. Therefore, these findings sugests that the three-dimensional structure of aqualysin I is similar to that of subtilisin BPN' Aqualysin I is produced as a lage precursor, which contains $NH_2-$ and COOH- terminal portions besides the mature protease sequence.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 1995

An alkaline protease-producing bacterium was isolated from Korean hot pepper paste and identified as Alteromonas sp. CN301. A alkaline protease was purified and characterized. The optimal pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were pH 12.0 and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. Molecular weight of the enzyme was determined as 31,000 dalton by the SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was stable in the range of $pH\;6.0{\sim}13.0$ showing the residual activity above 80% of the enzyme activity. The residual activity of the enzyme was 64% when the enzyme was incubated at $50^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. The activity of the enzyme was not affected by most metal ions tested except $Hg^{2+}$, and activated by Triton X-100, Tween 20 and Tween 80. The enzyme activity was severely inhibited by PMSF and EDTA, suggesting that the enzyme is serine protease having metal ion in its structure.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.293-303
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• 1999

The influences of specific protein phosphatase and protein kinase inhibitors on the ATP-sensitive $K^+\;(K_{ATP})$ channel-opening effect of pinacidil were investigated in single rat ventricular myocytes using patch clamp technique. In cell-attached patches, pinacidil $(100\;{\mu}M)$ induced the opening of the $K_{ATP}$ channel, which was blocked by the pretreatment with H-7 $(100\;{\mu}M)$ whereas enhanced by the pretreatment with genistein $(30\;{\mu}M)$ or tyrphostin A23 $(10\;{\mu}M)$. In inside-out patches, pinacidil $(10\;{\mu}M)$ activated the $K_{ATP}$ channels in the presence of ATP (0.3 mM) or AMP-PNP (0.3 mM) and in a partial rundown state. The effect of pinacidil $(10\;{\mu}M)$ was not affected by the pretreatment with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B $(PTP1B,\;10\;{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}),$ but blocked by the pretreatment of protein phosphatase 2A $(PP2A,\;1\;U\;ml^{-1})$. In addition, pinacidil $(10\;{\mu}M)$ could not induce the opening of the reactivated $K_{ATP}$ channels in the presence of H-7 $(100\;{\mu}M)$ but enhanced it in the presence of ATP (1 mM) and genistein $(30\;{\mu}M).$ These results indicate that the $K_{ATP}$ channel-opening effect of pinacidil is not mediated via phosphorylation of $K_{ATP}$ channel protein or associated protein, although it still requires the phosphorylation of serine/threonine residues as a prerequisite condition.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.387-392
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• 2011

To investigate the molecular scavenging capabilities of the larvae of Hermetia illucens, two serine proteases (SPs) were cloned and characterized. Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic tree analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of Hi-SP1 and Hi-SP2 were suggested that Hi-SP1 may be a chymotrypsin- and Hi-SP2 may be a trypsin-like protease. Hi-SP1 and Hi-SP2 3-D homology models revealed that a catalytic triad, three disulfide bonds, and a substrate-binding pocket were highly conserved, as would be expected of a SP. E. coli expressed Hi-SP1 and Hi-SP2 showed chymotrypsin or trypsin activities, respectively. Hi-SP2 mRNAs were consistently expressed during larval development. In contrast, the expression of Hi-SP1 mRNA fluctuated between feeding and molting stages and disappeared at the pupal stages. These expression pattern differences suggest that Hi-SP1 may be a larval specific chymotrypsin-like protease involved with food digestion, while Hi-SP2 may be a trypsin-like protease with diverse functions at different stages.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2002

For commercial production of Korean fermented anchovy sauce through rapid fermentation, a bacterial strain which showed the high protease activity was isolated from a commercially fermented anchovy sauce. The isolate was Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and named as B. amyloliquefaciens HTP-8. The incubation temperature, initial pH, and cultivation time for optimal production of protease by B. amyloliquefaciens HTP-8 were $30^{\circ}C$, 7.0, and 3 days, respectively. In jar fermenter, B. amyloliquefaciens HTP-8 showed higher protease activity when grown at pH 7.0. The protease was partially purified by 80% ammonium sulfate precipitation and CM-Sephadex C-50 ion exchange chromatography. The partially purified enzyme had specific activity of 103.3 units/mg, yield of 0.4%, and purification fold of 43.0. The optimal pH and temperature for the protease activity were 10.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The protease was relatively stable at the pH range of 7.0~12.0 and at the temperatures below 4$0^{\circ}C$. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by $Ag^{＋}$ /, $Ba^{2＋}$ and selectively inhibited by PMSF, suggesting that it is a serine protease.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 2021

The present study addresses isolation, optimization, partial purification, and characterization of a haloalkaline serine protease from a newly isolated haloarchaeal strain isolated from Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. We expected that a two-step sequential statistical approach (one variable at a time, followed by response surface methodology) might maximize the production of the haloalkaline serine protease. The enzyme was partially purified using Hiprep 16/60 sephacryl S-100 HR gel filtration column. Molecular identification revealed the newly isolated haloarchaeon to be Natrialba hulunbeirensis strain WNHS14. Among several tested physicochemical determinants, casamino acids, KCl, and NaCl showed the most significant effects on enzyme production as determined from results of the One-Variable-At-A-time (OVAT) study. The BoxBehnken design localized the optimal levels of the three key determinants; casamino acids, KCl, and NaCl to be 0.5% (w/v), 0.02% (w/v), and 15% (w/v), respectively, obtaining 62.9 U/ml as the maximal amount of protease produced after treatment at 40℃, and pH 9 for 9 days with 6-fold enhancement in yield. The enzyme was partially purified after size exclusion chromatography with specific activity, purification fold, and yield of 1282.63 U/mg, 8.9, and 23%, respectively. The enzyme showed its maximal activity at pH, temperature, and NaCl concentration optima of 10, 75℃, and 2 M, respectively. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF, 5 mM) completely inhibited enzyme activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2022

This study is the first report on production and characterization of the enzyme from an Ornithinibacillus species. A 4.2-fold increase in the extracellular protease (called L9^T) production from Ornithinibacillus caprae L9^T was achieved through the one-factor-at-a-time approach and response surface methodological optimization. L9^T protease exhibited a unique protein band with a mass of 25.9 kDa upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This novel protease was active over a range of pH (4-13), temperatures (30-80℃) and salt concentrations (0-220 g/l), with the maximal activity observed at pH 7, 70℃ and 20 g/l NaCl. Proteolytic activity was upgraded in the presence of Ag⁺, Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺, but was totally suppressed by 5 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, which suggests that this enzyme belongs to the serine protease family. L9^T protease was resistant to certain common organic solvents and surfactants; particularly, 5 mM Tween 20 and Tween 80 improved the activity by 63 and 15%, respectively. More importantly, L9^T protease was found to be effective in dehairing of goatskins, cowhides and rabbit-skins without damaging the collagen fibers. These properties confirm the feasibility of L9^T protease in industrial applications, especially in leather processing.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.450-461
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• 2022

Purpose: DNA damage and repair responses are induced by metabolic diseases and environmental stress. The balance of DNA repair response and the antioxidant system play a role in modulating the entire body's health. This study uses a high-fat and high-calorie (HFC) drink to examine the new roles of a plant-based multivitamin/mineral supplement with phytonutrients (PMP) for regulating the antioxidant system and cellular DNA repair signaling in the body resulting from metabolic stress. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, parallel-arm, and placebo-controlled trial, healthy adults received a capsule containing either a PMP supplement (n = 12) or a placebo control (n = 12) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at 0, 1, and 3 hours after consuming a HFC drink (900 kcal). The blood samples were analyzed for the following oxidative stress makers: areas under the curve reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocytes MDA, urinary MDA, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and the glutathione:oxidized glutathione ratio at the time points. We further examined the related protein levels of DNA repair signaling (pCHK1 (Serine 345), p-P53 (Serine 15), and 𝛄H2AX expression) in the plasma of subjects to evaluate the time-dependent effects of a HFC drink. Results: In a previous study, we showed that PMP supplementation for eight weeks reduces the ROS and endogenous DNA damage in human blood plasma. Results of the current study further show that PMP supplementation is significantly correlated with antioxidant defense. Compared to the placebo samples, the blood plasma obtained after PMP supplementation showed enhanced DNA damage response genes such as pCHK1(Serine 345) (a transducer of DNA response) and 𝛄H2AX (a hallmark of DNA damage) during the 8 weeks trial on metabolic challenges. Conclusion: Our results indicate that PMP supplementation for 8 weeks enhances the antioxidant system against oxidative stress and prevents DNA damage signaling in humans.