• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1133-1140
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• 2006

Human HtrA1 (High temperature requirement protein A1) is a homologue of the E. coli periplasmic serine protease HtrA. A recent study has demonstrated that HtrA1 is a serine protease involved in processing of insulin like growth factor binding protein (ICFBP), indicating that it serves as an important regulator of IGF activity. Additionally, several lines of evidence suggest a striking correlation between proteolytic activity of HtrA1 serine protease and the pathogenesis of several diseases; however, physiological roles of HtrA1 remain to be elucidated. We used the pGEX bacterial expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying HtrA1, and the recombinant HtrA1 protein was utilized to investigate the optimal conditions in executing its proteolytic activity. The proteolytically active HtrA1 was purified to approximately 85% purity, although the yield of the recombinant HtrA1 protein was slightly low $460{\mu}g$ for 1 liter E. coli culture). Using in vitro endoproteolytic cleavage assay, we identified that the HtrA1 serine protease activity was dependent on the enzyme concentration and the incubation time and that the best reaction temperature was $42^{\circ}C$ instead of $37^{\circ}C$. We arbitrary defined one unit of proteolytic activity of the HtrA1 serine protease as 200nM of HtrA1 that cleaves half of $5{\mu}M\;of\;{\beta}-casein$ during 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which HtrA1 serine protease activity contributes in regulating its physiological function and to identify natural substrates of HtrA1.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.275-283
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• 2018

Ischemic stroke can result from blockage of blood vessels, forming fibrin clots in the body and causing irreparable brain damage. Remedial thrombolytic agents or anticoagulants have been studied; however, because the FDA-approved tissue plasminogen activator has low efficacy and side effects, it is necessary to develop safer and more effective treatment candidates. This study aimed at assessing the fibrinolytic and anticoagulation features of a novel serine protease extracted and purified from Diopatra sugokai, a polychaeta that inhabits tidal flats. The purified serine protease was obtained through ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. Its molecular size was identified via SDS-PAGE. To characterize its enzymatic activities, the protease activity at various pH and temperatures, and in the presence of various inhibitors, was measured via azocasein assay. Its fibrinolytic activity and anticoagulant effect were assessed by fibrin zymography, fibrin plate assay, and fibrinogenolytic activity assays. The novel 38 kDa serine protease had strong indirect thrombolytic activity rather than direct activity over broad pH (4-10) and temperature ($37^{\circ}C-70^{\circ}C$) ranges. In addition, the novel serine protease exhibited anticoagulant activity by degrading the ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-, and ${\gamma}$-chains of fibrinogen. In addition, it did not produce cytotoxicity in endothelial cells. Therefore, this newly isolated serine protease is worthy of further investigation as a novel alkaline serine protease for thrombolytic therapy against brain ischemia.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1997

Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from the intestine of carp produced several kinds of proteases into the medium. Inhibitor assay with the culture supernatant of A. hydrophila showed that there were major metalloproteases and minor serine proteases. Gelatin SDS-PAGE showed two proteolytic bands. One broad protease band was inhibited by metalloprotease specific inhibitor, EDTA, indicating a metalloprotease. The other was inhibited by serine protease specific inhibitor, PMSF, suggesting a serine protease. The proteolytic activities of both extracellular proteases remained on Gelatin SDS-PAGE after heating at $70^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. However, the major metalloprotease was separated into two proteolytic bands on Gelatin PAGE by gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-75.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.230-234
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• 2003

An extracellular protease of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S94 was purified to apparent homogeneity. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by general inhibitor for serine protease, PMSF, suggesting that the enzyme is a serine protease. The purified enzyme activity was inhibited by leucine peptidase inhibitor, bestatin, suggesting that the enzyme is a leucine endopeptidase. When the enzyme was chemically modified with PMSF, which specifically reacted with serine residue on the enzyme, the activity was eliminated. The endopeptidase activity was inhibited by the modifier which chemically modified carboxyl group of aspartate and glutamate. PLP, which would modify lysine residue, did not affect the endopepetidase activity to a greater extent. This demonstrates that serine and aspartate (or glutamate) residues of enzyme would participate in a important function of the endopeptidase activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.509-516
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• 2001

A genomic DNA fragment that contains the gene, which codes for a novel extracellular serine protease in Burkholderia pseudomallei, was cloned by using pQE40 as a vector. It was maintained in Escherichia coli JM109. The expression of the gene(s) resulted in the production of a 52 kDa protease. The recombinant protease was purified from the culture filtrate via ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and anion-exchange chromatography. The purified protease had an optimum pH and temperature of pH 8.9 and $38^{\circ}C$, respectively. The protease activity was inhibited by EGTA, EDTA, and PMSF, but not 1,10-phenanthroline. The first 11 amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the purified protease were identified as LAPNDPYYYGY. PNDPYY was found to show homology to the Bacillus cereus microbial serine protease and B. subtilis PD498 serine protease. These results indicate that the protease that was purified in this study is an extracellular calcium-dependent serine protease. The purified protease was able to digest the human serum 19A, IgG, albumin, and transferrin, as well as bovine muscle actin and myosin. Furthermore, it was able to promote or cause dermonecrosis in experimental rabbits. These results propose the possible role of a novel B. pseudomallei extracellular calcium-dependent serine protease in the virulence of the pathogen.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2003

In order to evaluate the possible roles of secretory proteases in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, we purified and characterized a serine protease secreted by Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2, isolated from a Korean keratitis patient The ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatant of the isolate was purified by sequential chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, and mono Q-anion exchange column. The purified 33 kDa protease had a pH optimum of 8.5 and a temperature optimum of $55^{\circ}C$. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl-fluoride, both serine protease specific inhibitors, inhibited almost completely the activity of the 33 kDa protease whereas other classes of inhibitors did not affect its activity. The 33 kDa enzyme degraded various extracellular matrix proteins and serum proteins. Our results strongly suggest that the 33 kDa serine protease secreted from this keratopathogenic Acanthamoeba play important roles in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, such as in corneal tissue invasion, immune evasion and nutrient uptake.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2011

The purification and characterization of a $Mn^{2+}$-dependent alkaline serine protease produced by Bacillus pumilus TMS55 were investigated. The enzyme was purified in three steps: concentrating the crude enzyme using ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by gel filtration and cation-exchange chromatography. The purified protease had a molecular mass of approximately 35 kDa, was highly active over a broad pH range of 7.0 to 12.0, and remained stable over a pH range of 7.5 to 11.5. The optimum temperature for the enzyme activity was found to be $60^{\circ}C$. PMSF and AEBSF (1 mM) significantly inhibited the protease activity, indicating that the protease is a serine protease. $Mn^{2+}$ ions enhanced the activity and stability of the enzyme. In addition, the purified protease remained stable with oxidants ($H_2O_2$, 2%) and organic solvents (25%), such as benzene, hexane, and toluene. Therefore, these characteristics of the protease and its dehairing ability indicate its potential for a wide range of commercial applications.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.223-227
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• 2005

We have identified TMPRSS6, a novel type 2 transmembrane serine protease. TMPRSS6 possesses all the signature motifs of the family of transmembrane serine proteases (TMPRSSs), including a transmembrane domain, an LDL receptor class A (LDLRA) domain, a scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain, and a serine protease domain. The substrate specificity of TMPRSS6 is slightly different from those of other TMPRSS family members. Combined with the finding that TMPRSS6 is expressed strongly in the thyroid and weakly in the trachea, this may indicate that TMPRSS6 has a specialized role.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 1995

A protease isolated and purified 51 fold from the culture filtrate of a soil bacterium, Bacillus sp. KUN-17, which was appeared to be a monomeric protein with molecular weight of 38, 000 daltons, was suggested to be involved in the serine (-alkaline) protease (E.C 3.4.21.14) since its activity was selectively inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and required 40$\circ$C and pH 10.5 for optimal condition. The half-life of the enzyme activity was 1 hr at 55$\circ$C, and the activity was maintained even under high concentrations of SDS or urea. The enzyme was indicated to perform random proteolysis from the fact that most of the chromogenic substrates employed were hydrolyzed by the enzyme. The affinity of the enzyme for natural proteins was approximately 10-times higher than ester compounds, and both substrates showed mutual inhibitory effect competitively for the enzyme activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 1992

A 5.8 kb chromosomal DNA fragment of Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 including an extracellular serine protease gene was cloned in Escherichia coli. The cloned gene(pSMP18) caused specific excretion of the protease into the extracellular medium through the outer membrane of E. coli host cells. The protease purified from E. coli harboring pSMP18 was inactivated not by 100 mM EDTA but by 10 mM phenyl methyl sulfonyl flouride (PMSF). The molecular weight of the purified serine protease was about 66, 000 in the SDS-PAGE and the isoelectric point was approximately 5.7 in IEFㆍGel electrophoresis. The optimal pH and temperature for reaction of the purified serine protease were 9.5 and $45^\circ{C}$, respectively.