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Birk D, Siepmann E, Simon S, Sommerhoff CP. Human Neutrophil Elastase: Characterization of Intra- vs. Extracellular Inhibition. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7917. [PMID: 39063160 PMCID: PMC11276905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil elastase (HNE), like other members of the so-called GASPIDs (Granule-Associated Serine Peptidases of Immune Defense), is activated during protein biosynthesis in myeloid precursors and stored enzymatically active in cytoplasmic granules of resting neutrophils until secreted at sites of host defense and inflammation. Inhibitors thus could bind to the fully formed active site of the protease intracellularly in immature progenitors, in circulating neutrophils, or to HNE secreted into the extracellular space. Here, we have compared the ability of a panel of diverse inhibitors to inhibit HNE in the U937 progenitor cell line, in human blood-derived neutrophils, and in solution. Most synthetic inhibitors and, surprisingly, even a small naturally occurring proteinaceous inhibitor inhibit HNE intracellularly, but the extent and dynamics differ markedly from classical enzyme kinetics describing extracellular inhibition. Intracellular inhibition of HNE potentially affects neutrophil functions and has side effects, but it avoids competition of inhibitors with extracellular substrates that limit its efficacy. As both intra- and extracellular inhibition have advantages and disadvantages, the quantification of intracellular inhibition, in addition to classical enzyme kinetics, will aid the design of novel, clinically applicable HNE inhibitors with targeted sites of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Birk
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Erika Siepmann
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Simon
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Christian P. Sommerhoff
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Institute of Medical Education, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
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Wu S, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Zhang Z. Therapeutic Potentials of Medicinal Leech in Chinese Medicine. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2024; 52:1027-1051. [PMID: 38879745 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x24500423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The use of medicinal leeches in clinical therapy has been employed for a long time, as it was originally recognized for exerting antithrombin effects. These effects were due to the ability of the leech to continuously suck blood while attached to human skin. According to Chinese Pharmacopoei, leeches used in traditional Chinese medicine mainly consist of Whitmania pigra Whitman, Hirudo nipponia Whitman, and Whitmania acranulata, but the latter two species are relatively scarce. The main constituents of leeches are protein and peptide macromolecules. They can be categorized into two categories based on their pharmacological effects. One group consists of active ingredients that directly target the coagulation system, such as hirudin, heparin, and histamine, which are widely known. The other group comprises protease inhibitor components like Decorsin and Hementin. Among these, hirudin secreted by the salivary glands of the leech is the most potent thrombin inhibitor and served as the sole remedy for preventing blood clotting until the discovery of heparin. Additionally, leeches play a significant role in various traditional Chinese medicine formulations. In recent decades, medicinal leeches have been applied in fields including anti-inflammatory treatment, cardiovascular disease management, antitumor treatment, and many other medical conditions. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the historical journey and medicinal applications of leeches in various medical conditions, emphasizing their pharmaceutical significance within traditional Chinese medicine. This review offers valuable insights for exploring additional therapeutic opportunities involving the use of leeches in various diseases and elucidating their underlying mechanisms for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
| | - Yaya Zhou
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
| | - Zuping Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China
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Müller C, Lukas P, Sponholz D, Hildebrandt JP. The hirudin-like factors HLF3 and HLF4-hidden hirudins of European medicinal leeches. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1767-1775. [PMID: 32363441 PMCID: PMC7261268 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06697-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The hirudin-like factors 3 (HLF3) and 4 (HLF4) belong to a new class of leech-derived factors and are present in specimens of the three European medicinal leeches, Hirudo medicinalis, Hirudo verbana, and Hirudo orientalis, respectively. Here we describe the functional analysis of natural and synthetic variants of HLF3 and HLF4. Whereas the natural variants display only very low or no detectable anti-coagulatory activities, modifications within the N-termini in combination with an exchange of the central globular domain have the potency to greatly enhance the inhibitory effects of respective HLF3 and HLF4 variants on blood coagulation. Our results support previous observations on the crucial importance of all parts (both the N- and C-termini as well as the central globular domains) of hirudin and HLF molecules for thrombin inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Müller
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Phil Lukas
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dana Sponholz
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan-Peter Hildebrandt
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
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Lemke S, Vilcinskas A. European Medicinal Leeches-New Roles in Modern Medicine. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E99. [PMID: 32349294 PMCID: PMC7277884 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8050099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Before the advent of modern medicine, natural resources were widely used by indigenous populations for the prevention and treatment of diseases. The associated knowledge, collectively described as folk medicine or traditional medicine, was largely based on trial-and-error testing of plant extracts (herbal remedies) and the use of invertebrates, particularly medicinal maggots of the blowfly Lucilia sericata and blood-sucking leeches. The widespread use of traditional medicine in the West declined as scientific advances allowed reproducible testing under controlled conditions and gave rise to the modern fields of biomedical research and pharmacology. However, many drugs are still derived from natural resources, and interest in traditional medicine has been renewed by the ability of researchers to investigate the medical potential of diverse species by high-throughput screening. Likewise, researchers are starting to look again at the benefits of maggot and leech therapy, based on the hypothesis that the use of such animals in traditional medicine is likely to reflect the presence of specific bioactive molecules that can be developed as drug leads. In this review, we consider the modern medical benefits of European medicinal leeches based on the systematic screening of their salivary proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lemke
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany;
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Department of Bioresources, Ohlebergsweg 12, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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Müller C, Lukas P, Böhmert M, Hildebrandt J. Hirudin or hirudin‐like factor ‐ that is the question: insights from the analyses of natural and synthetic HLF variants. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:841-850. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Müller
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Germany
| | - Phil Lukas
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Germany
| | - Michel Böhmert
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Germany
| | - Jan‐Peter Hildebrandt
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry Zoological Institute and Museum University of Greifswald Germany
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Lemke S, Müller C, Hildebrandt JP. Be ready at any time: postprandial synthesis of salivary proteins in salivary gland cells of the haematophagous leech Hirudo verbana. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 219:1139-45. [PMID: 27103675 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.135509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sanguivorous leeches are ectoparasites having access to body fluids of potential hosts only infrequently. During feeding, salivary proteins are released from unicellular salivary glands into the wound. These substances, among them anti-coagulants, anti-inflammatory or anti-microbial agents, allow these animals proper feeding and long-term storage of host blood in their crops for several months. Using histological, protein biochemical and molecular techniques, we investigated whether synthesis of salivary proteins and refilling of salivary gland cells occur immediately after feeding or later when stored nutrients in the crop are getting scarce. The results of the histological analyses showed that gland cell area was significantly smaller right after feeding when compared with those in unfed animals. This parameter recovered quickly and reached the control level at 1 week after feeding. 2D gel electrophoresis and analysis of the abundance of individual proteins in extracts of leech tissues revealed that a subset of proteins that had been present in extracts of unfed animals virtually disappeared during feeding, but re-appeared within 1 week of feeding (most probably secretory proteins) while another subset did not change during the experimental period (most probably housekeeping proteins). Semi-quantitative PCR analysis of hirudin cDNA prepared from leech RNA samples revealed that the amount of hirudin transcripts increased immediately after feeding, peaked at 5 days after feeding and declined to control values thereafter. Our results indicate that bloodsucking leeches synthesize salivary proteins and refill their salivary gland cell reservoirs within a week of a blood meal to be prepared for another feeding opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lemke
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 1, Greifswald D-17487, Germany
| | - Christian Müller
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 1, Greifswald D-17487, Germany
| | - Jan-Peter Hildebrandt
- Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 1, Greifswald D-17487, Germany
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More than just one: multiplicity of Hirudins and Hirudin-like Factors in the Medicinal Leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Mol Genet Genomics 2015; 291:227-40. [PMID: 26267058 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-015-1100-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Blood-sucking leeches like the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, have been used for medical purposes since ancient times. During feeding, medicinal leeches transfer a broad range of bioactive substances into the host's wound to prevent premature hemostasis and blood coagulation. Hirudin is probably the best known of these substances. Despite its long history of investigation, recombinant production and clinical use, there still exist conflicting data regarding the primary structure of hirudin. Entirely unclear is the potential biological significance of three different subtypes and many isoforms of hirudins that have been characterized so far. Furthermore, there is only incomplete information on their cDNA sequences and no information at all on gene structures and DNA sequences are available in the databases. Our efforts to fill these gaps revealed the presence of multiple hirudin-encoding genes in the genome of Hirudo medicinalis. We have strong evidence for the expression of all three subtypes of hirudin within individual leeches and for the expression of additional hirudins or hirudin-like factors that may have different biological functions and may be promising candidates for new drugs.
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May salivary gland secretory proteins from hematophagous leeches (Hirudo verbana) reach pharmacologically relevant concentrations in the vertebrate host? PLoS One 2013; 8:e73809. [PMID: 24058492 PMCID: PMC3776796 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Saliva of hematophagous leeches (Hirudo sp.) contains bioactive proteins which allow the leech proper feeding and storage of ingested blood, but may also exert effects in the host. Leech therapy is used to treat many different ailments in humans, although only a small fraction of salivary proteins are characterized yet. Moreover, we do not know whether complete transfer of salivary proteins stored in the unicellular salivary glands in a leech to the host during feeding may generate concentrations that are sufficiently high to affect physiological processes in the host. Our 3D reconstruction of a portion of internal leech tissue from histological sections revealed that one leech contains approx. 37,000 salivary gland cells. Using tissue slices from pig liver and mouse skeletal muscle for reference, we obtained data for protein densities in leech salivary gland cells. As individual salivary cells are voluminous (67,000 µm3) and the stored proteins are densely packed (approx. 500 µg/mm3), we extrapolated that a single leech may contain up to 1.2 mg of salivary proteins. Analyzing protein extracts of unfed or fed leeches by 2D electrophoresis, we calculated the relative molar amounts of individual salivary proteins in the mass range of 17–60 kDa which may be released from a single leech during feeding. Distribution of these salivary proteins in the host (assumed plasma volume of 5 l) may result in concentrations of individual compounds between 3 and 236 pmol/l. Such concentrations seem sufficiently high to exert biochemical interactions with target molecules in the host.
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Hildebrandt JP, Lemke S. Small bite, large impact–saliva and salivary molecules in the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Naturwissenschaften 2011; 98:995-1008. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-011-0859-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Revised: 10/10/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Goettig P, Magdolen V, Brandstetter H. Natural and synthetic inhibitors of kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs). Biochimie 2010; 92:1546-67. [PMID: 20615447 PMCID: PMC3014083 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2010.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 06/29/2010] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Including the true tissue kallikrein KLK1, kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) represent a family of fifteen mammalian serine proteases. While the physiological roles of several KLKs have been at least partially elucidated, their activation and regulation remain largely unclear. This obscurity may be related to the fact that a given KLK fulfills many different tasks in diverse fetal and adult tissues, and consequently, the timescale of some of their physiological actions varies significantly. To date, a variety of endogenous inhibitors that target distinct KLKs have been identified. Among them are the attenuating Zn(2+) ions, active site-directed proteinaceous inhibitors, such as serpins and the Kazal-type inhibitors, or the huge, unspecific compartment forming α(2)-macroglobulin. Failure of these inhibitory systems can lead to certain pathophysiological conditions. One of the most prominent examples is the Netherton syndrome, which is caused by dysfunctional domains of the Kazal-type inhibitor LEKTI-1 which fail to appropriately regulate KLKs in the skin. Small synthetic inhibitory compounds and natural polypeptidic exogenous inhibitors have been widely employed to characterize the activity and substrate specificity of KLKs and to further investigate their structures and biophysical properties. Overall, this knowledge leads not only to a better understanding of the physiological tasks of KLKs, but is also a strong fundament for the synthesis of small compound drugs and engineered biomolecules for pharmaceutical approaches. In several types of cancer, KLKs have been found to be overexpressed, which makes them clinically relevant biomarkers for prognosis and monitoring. Thus, down regulation of excessive KLK activity in cancer and in skin diseases by small inhibitor compounds may represent attractive therapeutical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Goettig
- Division of Structural Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
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11
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Andereya S, Stanzel S, Maus U, Mueller-Rath R, Mumme T, Siebert CH, Stock F, Schneider U. Assessment of leech therapy for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized study. Acta Orthop 2008; 79:235-43. [PMID: 18484250 DOI: 10.1080/17453670710015030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with leeches is presently undergoing a renaissance. Previous studies have shown methodical weaknesses. In the present study patients were blinded regarding the treatment, and a control group was included to explore possible differences in various subjective clinical scores and intake of pain medication over time between leech therapy and placebo control. PATIENTS AND METHODS 113 patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee were included. The patients were randomized to a single treatment group, group I (single leech application, n = 38), a double treatment group, group II (double application, n = 35), and a control group (n = 40). The second treatment in group II took place after an interval of 4 weeks. The treatment in the control group was simulated with the help of an "artificial leech". Results were documented with the KOOS and WOMAC scores and also a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Changes in the use of pain medication were monitored over 26 weeks. RESULTS An improvement in KOOS and WOMAC scores, and also in VAS, was found in all 3 groups following treatment. These improvements were statistically significant for treatment groups I and II during the complete follow-up period. The reduction in individual requirements for pain medication was also statistically significant. The greatest improvement was seen in the group treated twice with the leeches, with a long-term reduction of joint stiffness and improved function in the activities of daily living. INTERPRETATION Leech therapy can reduce symptoms caused by osteoarthritis. Repeated use of the leeches appears to improve the long-term results. We have not determined whether the positive outcome of the leech therapy is caused by active substances released during the leeching, the placebo effect, or the high expectations placed on this unusual treatment form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Andereya
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Univresity Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Annastift Hanover, Germany.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Meningococcal septicemia remains one of the most common infectious causes of admission to a pediatric intensive care unit. Numerous treatment strategies aimed at the thromboembolic complications inducing purpura fulminans and limb/digital ischemia have been attempted, with variable results. The successful use of medicinal leeches for pneumococcal purpura fulminans has been described, and we present a similar case of meningococcal purpura fulminans. PATIENT AND INTERVENTION A 5-wk-old female infant with meningococcal meningitis and septicemia and progressive purpura fulminans of the left hand was treated with medicinal leeches. Medicinal leeches were applied to the left dorsal hand on a daily basis for 4 consecutive days. RESULT The swelling and limited functionality visibly improved after 48 hrs, and by 120 hrs, perfusion in the distal phalanges of the thumb and middle finger was evident. Reperfusion of the distal phalanges was not fully sustained, and at 6 wks the plastic surgery department debrided the distal phalanges of her left hand, excluding the thumb. She fully recovered from the meningococcal septicemic shock; the functionality of her left thumb was preserved, and she has limited functionality of her left hand. CONCLUSION The unique combination of salivary products in leech therapy has theoretical benefits and requires future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricky Dippenaar
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa
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Affiliation(s)
- W Bode
- Proteinase Research Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz, Martinsried, Germany.
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Yanes O, Villanueva J, Querol E, Aviles FX. Functional Screening of Serine Protease Inhibitors in the Medical Leech Hirudo medicinalis Monitored by Intensity Fading MALDI-TOF MS. Mol Cell Proteomics 2005; 4:1602-13. [PMID: 16030009 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m500145-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-feeding invertebrates are a rich biological source of drugs and lead compounds to treat cardiovascular diseases because they have evolved highly efficient mechanisms to feed on their hosts by blocking blood coagulation. In this work, we focused our attention on the leech Hirudo medicinalis. We performed, by "intensity fading" MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, a comprehensive detection and functional analysis of pre-existent peptides and small proteins with the capability of binding to trypsin-like proteases related to blood coagulation. Combining "intensity fading MS" and off-line LC prefractionation allowed us to detect more than 75 molecules present in the leech extract that interact specifically with a trypsin-like protease over a sample profile of nearly 2,000 different peptides/proteins in the 2-20-kDa range. Moreover we resolved 232 individual components from the complex mixture, 13 of which have high sequence homology with previously described serine protease inhibitors. Our findings indicate that such extracts are much more complex than expected. Additionally, intensity fading MS, when complemented with LC separation strategies, seems to be a useful tool to investigate complex biological samples, establishing a new bridge between profiling, functional peptidomics, and subsequent drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Yanes
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
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15
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Ascenzi P. How I became a biochemist. IUBMB Life 2005; 57:599-601. [PMID: 16118119 DOI: 10.1080/15216540500216604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Ascenzi
- Department of Biology, University Roma Tre, and National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS Lazzaro Spallanzani, Roma, Italy.
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Chalisova NI, Baskova IP, Zavalova LL, Pennijainen VA. The neurite-stimulating influence of components of medicinal leech salivary gland secretions in organotypic culture of spinal ganglia. NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY 2003; 33:85-8. [PMID: 12617308 DOI: 10.1023/a:1021187500632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The effects of components from medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) salivary gland secretions and the therapeutic agent Piyavit on the growth of chick embryo neurites in organotypic culture were studied. Native destabilase and bdellin A at concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.1 ng/ml, bdellin B at a concentration of 0.05 ng/ml, and eglin at a concentration of 0.1 ng/ml had neurite-stimulating activity, evident on the third day of organotypic culture of spinal ganglia. The stimulatory activity of destabilase was lost after revere-phase chromatography. The neurite-stimulating activity of the extract of the therapeutic agent Piyavit (200 ng/ml) in organotypic ganglion culture appeared to result from the neurite-stimulating salivary gland components within this agent, suggesting that Piyavit could be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- N I Chalisova
- Laboratory for Excitable Membrane Physiology, I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 6 Makarov Bank, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Clare BW, Scozzafava A, Supuran CT. Protease inhibitors, part 13: Specific, weakly basic thrombin inhibitors incorporating sulfonyl dicyandiamide moieties in their structure. JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION 2001; 16:1-13. [PMID: 11496831 DOI: 10.1080/14756360109162351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
A series of compounds has been prepared by reaction of dicyandiamide with alkyl/arylsulfonyl halides as well as arylsulfonylisocyanates to locate a lead for obtaining weakly basic thrombin inhibitors with sulfonyldicyandiamide moieties as the S1 anchoring group. The detected lead was sulfanilyl-dicyandiamide (K1 of 3 microM against thrombin, and 15 microM against trypsin), which has been further derivatized at the 4-amino group by incorporating arylsulfonylureido as well as amino acyl/dipeptidyl groups protected at the amino terminal moiety with benzyloxycarbonyl or tosylureido moieties. The best compound obtained (ts-D-Phe-Pro-sulfanilyl-dicyandiamide) showed inhibition constants of 9 nM against thrombin and 1400 nM against trypsin. pKa measurements showed that the new derivatives reported here do indeed possess a reduced basicity, with the pKa of the modified guanidine moieties in the range 7.9-8.3 pKa units. Molecular mechanics calculations showed that the preferred tautomeric form of these compounds is of the type ArSO2N=C(NH2) NH-CN, probably allowing for the formation of favorable interaction between this new anchoring group and the active site amino acid residue Asp 189, critical for substrate/inhibitor binding to this type of serine protease. Thus, the main finding of the present paper is that the sulfonyldicyandiamide group may constitute an interesting alternative for obtaining weakly basic, potent thrombin inhibitors, which bind with less affinity to trypsin.
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Affiliation(s)
- B W Clare
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
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18
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Abstract
A large number of potent and selective therapeutic agents, useful for the treatment of several diseases, have been isolated from natural sources. For example, the most active thrombin inhibitors are those secreted by the salivary glands of leeches. One peculiar feature of these agents is the lack of any significant inhibitory cross-reaction with other serine proteinases. Hence, the knowledge of the exact mechanism of action of these molecules provides the basis for the development of new and efficient synthetic drugs. For this reason, many studies have been undertaken on the structure-activity relationships of natural thrombin inhibitors, and a large amount of detailed information has been obtained by the crystal structures of these inhibitors when complexed with thrombin. In this paper, we review natural and synthetic multisite thrombin inhibitors, whose structural aspects have been determined in detail. We also report here the approach used by us to develop a new class of synthetic, multisite directed thrombin inhibitors, named hirunorms, designed to mimic the distinctive binding mode of hirudin.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lombardi
- Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sui Peptidi Bioattivi, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
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19
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Ascenzi P, Ruoppolo M, Amoresano A, Pucci P, Consonni R, Zetta L, Pascarella S, Bortolotti F, Menegatti E. Characterization of low-molecular-mass trypsin isoinhibitors from oil-rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera) seed. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1999; 261:275-84. [PMID: 10103060 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.1999.00275.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A new low-molecular-mass (6767.8 Da) serine proteinase isoinhibitor has been isolated from oil-rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera) seed, designated 5-oxoPro1-Gly62-RTI-III. The 5-oxoPro1-Gly62-RTI-III isoinhibitor is longer than the Asp2-Pro61-RTI-III and the Ser3-Pro61-RTI-III forms, all the other amino acid residues being identical. In RTI-III isoinhibitors, the P1-P1' reactive site bond (where residues forming the reactive site have been identified as PnellipsisP1 and P1'ellipsisPn', where P1-P1' is the inhibitor scissile bond) has been identified at position Arg21-Ile22. The inhibitor disulphide bridges pattern has been determined as Cys5-Cys27, Cys18-Cys31, Cys42-Cys52 and Cys54-Cys57. The disulphide bridge arrangement observed in the RTI-III isoinhibitors is reminiscent of that found in a number of toxins (e.g. erabutoxin b). Moreover, the organization of the three disulphide bridges subset Cys5-Cys27, Cys18-Cys31 and Cys42-Cys52 is reminiscent of that found in epidermal growth factor domains. Preliminary 1H-NMR data indicates the presence of alphaalphaNOEs and 3JalphaNH coupling constants, typical of the beta-structure(s). These data suggest that the three-dimensional structure of the RTI-III isoinhibitors may be reminiscent of that of toxins and epidermal growth factor domains, consisting of three-finger shaped loops extending from the crossover region. Values of the apparent association equilibrium constant for RTI-III isoinhibitors binding to bovine beta-trypsin and bovine alpha-chymotrypsin are 3.3 x 109 m-1 and 2.4 x 106 m-1, respectively, at pH 8.0 and 21.0 degrees C. The serine proteinase : inhibitor complex formation is a pH-dependent entropy-driven process. RTI-III isoinhibitors do not show any similarity to other serine proteinase inhibitors except the low molecular mass white mustard trypsin isoinhibitor, isolated from Sinapis alba L. seed (MTI-2). Therefore, RTI-III and MTI-2 isoinhibitors could be members of a new class of plant serine proteinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ascenzi
- Dipartmento di Biologia, Universitá di Roma Tre, Italy.
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20
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Lombardi A, De Simone G, Nastri F, Galdiero S, Della Morte R, Staiano N, Pedone C, Bolognesi M, Pavone V. The crystal structure of alpha-thrombin-hirunorm IV complex reveals a novel specificity site recognition mode. Protein Sci 1999; 8:91-5. [PMID: 10210187 PMCID: PMC2144104 DOI: 10.1110/ps.8.1.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The X-ray crystal structure of the human alpha-thrombin-hirunorm IV complex has been determined at 2.5 A resolution, and refined to an R-factor of 0.173. The structure reveals an inhibitor binding mode distinctive of a true hirudin mimetic, which justifies the high inhibitory potency and the selectivity of hirunorm IV. This novel inhibitor, composed of 26 amino acids, interacts through the N-terminal end with the alpha-thrombin active site in a nonsubstrate mode, and binds specifically to the fibrinogen recognition exosite through the C-terminal end. The backbone of the N-terminal tripeptide Chg1"-Arg2"-2Na13" (Chg, cyclohexyl-glycine; 2Na1, beta-(2-naphthyl)-alanine) forms a parallel beta-strand to the thrombin main-chain segment Ser214-Gly216. The Chg1" side chain occupies the S2 site, Arg2" penetrates into the S1 specificity site, while the 2Na13" side chain occupies the aryl binding site. The Arg2" side chain enters the S1 specificity pocket from a position quite apart from the canonical P1 site. This notwithstanding, the Arg2" side chain establishes the typical ion pair with the carboxylate group of Asp189.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lombardi
- Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca su Peptidi Bioattivi & Centro di Studio di Biocristallografia-CNR, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
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21
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Reverter D, Vendrell J, Canals F, Horstmann J, Avilés FX, Fritz H, Sommerhoff CP. A carboxypeptidase inhibitor from the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis. Isolation, sequence analysis, cDNA cloning, recombinant expression, and characterization. J Biol Chem 1998; 273:32927-33. [PMID: 9830043 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.273.49.32927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel metallocarboxypeptidase inhibitor was isolated from the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis. Amino acid sequence analysis provided a nearly complete primary structure. which was subsequently verified and completed by cDNA cloning using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/rapid amplification of cDNA end techniques. The inhibitor, called LCI (leech carboxypeptidase inhibitor), is a cysteine-rich polypeptide composed of 66 amino acid residues. It does not show sequence similarity to any other protein except at its C-terminal end. In this region, the inhibitor shares the amino acid sequence -Thr-Cys-X-Pro-Tyr-Val-X with Solanacea carboxypeptidase inhibitors, suggesting a similar mechanism of inhibition where the C-terminal tail of the inhibitor interacts with the active center of metallocarboxypeptidases in a substrate-like manner. This hypothesis is supported by the hydrolytic release of the C-terminal glutamic acid residue of LCI after binding to the enzyme. Heterologous overexpression of LCI in Escherichia coli, either into the medium or as an intracellular thioredoxin fusion protein, yields a protein with full inhibitory activity. Both in the natural and recombinant forms, LCI is a tightly binding, competitive inhibitor of different types of pancreatic-like carboxypeptidases, with equilibrium dissociation constants Ki of 0.2-0.4 x 10(-9) M for the complexes with the pancreatic enzymes A1, A2, and B and plasma carboxypeptidase B. Circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis indicate that recombinant LCI is a compactly folded globular protein, stable to a wide range of pH and denaturing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Reverter
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Unitat de Ciències, and Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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22
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Abstract
The presence of intervening sequences or introns in eukaryotic genes has been known for more than 20 years, and the mechanisms underlying RNA splicing have been studied in depth both genetically and biochemically. In recent years, however, an increasing number of bacterial genes have been introduced into higher eukaryotes as important tools for genetic studies. Their gene products are frequently used as an indirect measure for cell type-specific promoter activity, as, for example, in the case of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT assay) or beta-galactosidase. Here we show that RNA splicing of two prokaryotic genes encoding site-specific DNA recombinases occurs in eukaryotic cells. In one case, splicing is only observed after treatment of cells with the cytokine alpha interferon. We further demonstrate that mutating an intragenic donor splice site in a bacterial gene apparently activates a second, alternative splicing pathway. In conjunction with previous reports, our findings should also be regarded as a warning that splicing of bacterial genes in higher eukaryotes is a more common phenomenon than presently recognized, which may be difficult to overcome and may cause problems in the interpretation of experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Lorbach
- Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany
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23
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Djellas Y, Antonakis K, Le Breton GC. A molecular mechanism for signaling between seven-transmembrane receptors: evidence for a redistribution of G proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:10944-8. [PMID: 9724809 PMCID: PMC28000 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.18.10944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/1998] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although activation of one seven-transmembrane receptor can influence the response of a separate seven-transmembrane receptor, e. g., the phenomenon of synergism, the underlying mechanism(s) for this signaling process is unclear. The present study investigated communication between two receptors that exhibit classical synergism, e.g., human platelet thrombin and thromboxane A2 receptors. Activation of thrombin receptors caused an increase in ligand affinity of thromboxane A2 receptors. This effect (i) was shown to be specific, since a similar increase in ligand affinity was not caused by ADP or A23187; (ii) did not require cytosolic components, e.g., kinases, proteases, phosphatases, etc., because it occurred in isolated platelet membranes; (iii) was G protein-mediated because it was blocked by an Galphaq C terminus antibody; and (iv) was associated with a net increase in Galphaq coupling to thromboxane A2 receptors. Collectively, these data provide evidence that seven-transmembrane receptors that share a common Galpha subunit can communicate with each other via a redistribution of their G proteins. Thus, activation of thrombin receptors increases Galphaq association with thromboxane A2 receptors thereby shifting them to a higher affinity state. This signaling phenomenon, which modulates receptor-ligand affinity, may serve as a molecular mechanism for cellular adaptive processes such as synergism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Djellas
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 835 S. Wolcott Ave. (mail code 868), Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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24
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De Simone G, Lombardi A, Galdiero S, Nastri F, Della Morte R, Staiano N, Pedone C, Bolognesi M, Pavone V. Hirunorms are true hirudin mimetics. The crystal structure of human alpha-thrombin-hirunorm V complex. Protein Sci 1998; 7:243-53. [PMID: 9521099 PMCID: PMC2143932 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5560070203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A novel class of synthetic, multisite-directed thrombin inhibitors, known as hirunorms, has been described recently. These compounds were designed to mimic the binding mode of hirudin, and they have been proven to be very strong and selective thrombin inhibitors. Here we report the crystal structure of the complex formed by human alpha-thrombin and hirunorm V, a 26-residue polypeptide containing non-natural amino acids, determined at 2.1 A resolution and refined to an R-factor of 0.176. The structure reveals that the inhibitor binding mode is distinctive of a true hirudin mimetic, and it highlights the molecular basis of the high inhibitory potency (Ki is in the picomolar range) and the strong selectivity of hirunorm V. Hirunorm V interacts through the N-terminal tetrapeptide with the thrombin active site in a nonsubstrate mode; at the same time, this inhibitor specifically binds through the C-terminal segment to the fibrinogen recognition exosite. The backbone of the N-terminal tetrapeptide Chg1"-Val2"-2-Nal3"-Thr4" (Chg, cyclohexyl-glycine; 2-Nal, beta-(2-naphthyl)-alanine) forms a short beta-strand parallel to thrombin main-chain residues Ser214-Gly219. The Chg1" side chain fills the S2 subsite, Val2" is located at the entrance of S1, whereas 2-Nal3" side chain occupies the aryl-binding site. Such backbone orientation is very close to that observed for the N-terminal residues of hirudin, and it is similar to that of the synthetic retro-binding peptide BMS-183507, but it is opposite to the proposed binding mode of fibrinogen and of small synthetic substrates. Hirunorm V C-terminal segment binds to the fibrinogen recognition exosite, similarly to what observed for hirudin C-termninal tail and related compounds. The linker polypeptide segment connecting hirunorm V N-and C-terminal regions is not observable in the electron density maps. The crystallographic analysis proves the correctness of the design and it provides a compelling proof on the interaction mechanism for this novel class of high potency multisite-directed synthetic thrombin inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- G De Simone
- Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca su Peptidi Bioattivi, & Centro di Studio di Biocristallografia-CNR, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
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25
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Di Marco S, Priestle JP. Structure of the complex of leech-derived tryptase inhibitor (LDTI) with trypsin and modeling of the LDTI-tryptase system. Structure 1997; 5:1465-74. [PMID: 9384562 DOI: 10.1016/s0969-2126(97)00296-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tryptase is a trypsin-like serine proteinase stored in the cytoplasmic granules of mast cells, which has been implicated in a number of mast cell related disorders such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Unlike almost all other serine proteinases, tryptase is fully active in plasma and in the extracellular space, as there are no known natural inhibitors of tryptase in humans. Leech-derived tryptase inhibitor (LDTI), a protein of 46 amino acids, is the first molecule found to bind tightly to and specifically inhibit human tryptase in the nanomolar range. LDTI also inhibits trypsin and chymotrypsin with similar affinities. The structure of LDTI in complex with an inhibited proteinase could be used as a template for the development of low molecular weight tryptase inhibitors. RESULTS The crystal structure of the complex between trypsin and LDTI was solved at 2.0 A resolution and a model of the LDTI-tryptase complex was created, based on this X-ray structure. LDTI has a very similar fold to the third domain of the turkey ovomucoid inhibitor. LDTI interacts with trypsin almost exclusively through its binding loop (residues 3-10) and especially through the sidechain of the specificity residue Lys8. Our modeling studies indicate that these interactions are maintained in the LDTI-tryptase complex. CONCLUSIONS The insertion of nine residues after residue 174 in tryptase, relative to trypsin and chymotrypsin, prevents inhibition by other trypsin inhibitors and is certainly responsible for the higher specificity of tryptase relative to trypsin. In LDTI, the disulfide bond between residues 4 and 25 causes a sharp turn from the binding loop towards the N terminus, holding the N terminus away from the 174 loop of tryptase.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Di Marco
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare "P. Angeletti" (IRBM), Via Pontina Km 30,600, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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26
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Boothe JG, Saponja JA, Parmenter DL. Molecular farming in plants: Oilseeds as vehicles for the production of pharmaceutical proteins. Drug Dev Res 1997. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2299(199711/12)42:3/4<172::aid-ddr9>3.0.co;2-n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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27
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De Simone G, Balliano G, Milla P, Gallina C, Giordano C, Tarricone C, Rizzi M, Bolognesi M, Ascenzi P. Human alpha-thrombin inhibition by the highly selective compounds N-ethoxycarbonyl-D-Phe-Pro-alpha-azaLys p-nitrophenyl ester and N-carbobenzoxy-Pro-alpha-azaLys p-nitrophenyl ester: a kinetic, thermodynamic and X-ray crystallographic study. J Mol Biol 1997; 269:558-69. [PMID: 9217260 DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.1997.1037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Kinetics, thermodynamics and structural aspects of human alpha-thrombin (thrombin) inhibition by newly synthesized low molecular weight derivatives of alpha-azalysine have been investigated. The thrombin catalyzed hydrolysis of N-ethoxycarbonyl-D-Phe-Pro-alpha-azaLys p-nitrophenyl ester (Eoc-D-Phe-Pro-azaLys-ONp) and N-carbobenzoxy-Pro-alpha-azaLys p-nitrophenyl ester (Cbz-Pro-azaLys-ONp) was investigated at pH 6.2 and 21.0 degrees C, and analyzed in parallel with that of N-alpha-(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl)-alpha-azalysine p-nitrophenyl ester (Dmc-azaLys-ONp). Decarboxylation following the enzymatic hydrolysis of these p-nitrophenyl esters gave the corresponding 1-peptidyl-2(4-aminobutyl) hydrazines (peptidyl-Abh) showing properties of thrombin competitive inhibitors. Therefore, thermodynamics for the reversible binding of D-Phe-Pro-Abh, Cbz-Pro-Abh and Dmc-Abh to thrombin was examined. These results are consistent with the minimum four-step catalytic mechanism for product inhibition of serine proteinases. Eoc-D-Phe-Pro-azaLys-ONp and Eoc-D-Phe-Pro-Abh display a sub-micromolar affinity for thrombin together with a high selectivity versus homologous plasmatic and pancreatic serine proteinases acting on cationic substrates. The three-dimensional structures of the reversible non-covalent thrombin:Eoc-D-Phe-Pro-Abh and thrombin:Cbz-Pro-Abh complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.0 A resolution (R-factor = 0.169 and 0.179, respectively), and analyzed in parallel with that of the thrombin:Dmc-azaLys acyl-enzyme adduct. Both Eoc-D-Phe-Pro-Abh and Cbz-Pro-Abh competitive inhibitors are accommodated in the thrombin active center, spanning the region between the aryl binding site and the S1 primary specificity subsite.
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Affiliation(s)
- G De Simone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Napoli, Italy
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28
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Venturini G, Menegatti E, Ascenzi P. Competitive inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by p-aminobenzamidine, a serine proteinase inhibitor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1997; 232:88-90. [PMID: 9125158 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1997.6228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
p-Aminobenzamidine competitively inhibits bovine trypsin, human and bovine thrombin, and human plasmin, all of which act on substrates containing preferentially the L-arginyl side chain at their P1 position. Considering the structural and functional similarity between p-aminobenzamidine and the L-arginyl side chain in trypsin-like serine proteinases, we investigated the interaction of p-aminobenzamidine with mouse brain nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which uses L-arginine as the substrate for generating NO and L-citrulline. p-Aminobenzamidine is a competitive NOS inhibitor (Ki = 1.2 x 10(-4) M, at pH 7.5 and 37.0 degrees C), but not an NO precursor. Therefore, p-aminobenzamidine affects the NO production and the trypsin-like serine proteinase action.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Venturini
- Department of Biology, Third University of Rome, Italy
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29
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Di Marco S, Fendrich G, Knecht R, Strauss A, Pohlig G, Heim J, Priestle JP, Sommerhoff CP, Grütter MG. Recombinant hirustasin: production in yeast, crystallization, and interaction with serine proteases. Protein Sci 1997; 6:109-18. [PMID: 9007982 PMCID: PMC2143516 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5560060112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A synthetic gene coding for the 55-amino acid protein hirustasin, a novel tissue kallikrein inhibitor from the leech Hirudo medicinalis, was generated by polymerase chain reaction using overlapping oligonucleotides, fused to the yeast alpha-factor leader sequence and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recombinant hirustasin was secreted mainly as incompletely processed fusion protein, but could be processed in vitro using a soluble variant of the yeast yscF protease. The processed hirustasin was purified to better than 97% purity. N-terminal sequence analysis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry confirmed a correctly processed N-terminus and the expected amino acid sequence and molecular mass. The biological activity of recombinant hirustasin was identical to that of the authentic leech protein. Crystallized hirustasin alone and in complex with tissue kallikrein diffracted beyond 1.4 A and 2.4 A, respectively. In order to define the reactive site of the inhibitor, the interaction of hirustasin with kallikrein, chymotrypsin, and trypsin was investigated by monitoring complex formation in solution as well as proteolytic cleavage of the inhibitor. During incubation with high, nearly equimolar concentration of tissue kallikrein, hirustasin was cleaved mainly at the peptide bond between Arg 30 and Ile 31, the putative reactive site, to yield a modified inhibitor. In the corresponding complex with chymotrypsin, mainly uncleaved hirustasin was found and cleaved hirustasin species accumulated only slowly. Incubation with trypsin led to several proteolytic cleavages in hirustasin with the primary scissile peptide bond located between Arg 30 and Ile 31. Hirustasin appears to fall into the class of protease inhibitors displaying temporary inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Di Marco
- Core Drug Discovery Technologies, Pharmaceuticals Division, Ciba-Geigy Limited, Basel, Switzerland.
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