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Courrol DDS, da Silva CCF, Prado LG, Chura-Chambi RM, Morganti L, de Souza GO, Heinemann MB, Isaac L, Conte FP, Portaro FCV, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Barbosa AS. Leptolysin, a Leptospira secreted metalloprotease of the pappalysin family with broad-spectrum activity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:966370. [PMID: 36081769 PMCID: PMC9445424 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.966370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular proteolytic enzymes are produced by a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, and contribute to host colonization by modulating virulence. Here, we present a first characterization of leptolysin, a Leptospira metalloprotease of the pappalysin family identified in a previous exoproteomic study. Comparative molecular analysis of leptolysin with two other pappalysins from prokaryotes, ulilysin and mirolysin, reveals similarities regarding calcium, zinc, and arginine -binding sites conservation within the catalytic domain, but also discloses peculiarities. Variations observed in the primary and tertiary structures may reflect differences in primary specificities. Purified recombinant leptolysin of L. interrogans was obtained as a ~50 kDa protein. The protease exhibited maximal activity at pH 8.0 and 37°C, and hydrolytic activity was observed in the presence of different salts with maximum efficiency in NaCl. Substrate specificity was assessed using a small number of FRET peptides, and showed a marked preference for arginine residues at the P1 position. L. interrogans leptolysin proteolytic activity on proteinaceous substrates such as proteoglycans and plasma fibronectin was also evaluated. All proteins tested were efficiently degraded over time, confirming the protease´s broad-spectrum activity in vitro. In addition, leptolysin induced morphological alterations on HK-2 cells, which may be partially attributed to extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Hemorrhagic foci were observed in the dorsal skin of mice intradermally injected with leptolysin, as a plausible consequence of ECM disarray and vascular endothelium glycocalyx damage. Assuming that leptospiral proteases play an important role in all stages of the infectious process, characterizing their functional properties, substrates and mechanisms of action is of great importance for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luan Gavião Prado
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosa Maria Chura-Chambi
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Biotechnology, Energy and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN)-CNEN/SP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ligia Morganti
- Center of Biotechnology, Energy and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN)-CNEN/SP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gisele Oliveira de Souza
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Bryan Heinemann
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lourdes Isaac
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Paiva Conte
- Pilot Plant Implementation Project, Immunobiological Technology Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Angela Silva Barbosa
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Angela Silva Barbosa,
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de Souza CM, da Silva ÁP, Júnior NGO, Martínez OF, Franco OL. Peptides as a therapeutic strategy against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:335-348. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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