Purification, characterization and identification of a senescence related serine protease in dark-induced senescent wheat leaves

Serine proteases profiles of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clinical isolates with distinct susceptibilities to antimony

Glucantime (Sb^V) is the first-line treatment against American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis. Resistance cases to this drug have been reported and related to host characteristics and parasite phenotypes. In this study, 12 Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis isolates from patients that presented clinical cure (Responders—R) and relapse or therapeutic failure (Non-responders—NR) after treatment with antimony, were analyzed. These parasites were assessed by in vitro susceptibility to Sb^III and Sb^V, serine proteases activity measured with substrate (z-FR-AMC) and specific inhibitors (TLCK, AEBSF and PMSF). In vitro susceptibility of axenic amastigotes to Sb^III showed a significant difference between R and NR groups. The protease assays showed that TLCK inhibited almost 100% of activity in both axenic amastigotes and promastigotes while AEBSF inhibited around 70%, and PMSF showed lower inhibition of some isolates. Principal component and clustering analysis performed with these data yielded one homogeneous cluster with only NR isolates and three heterogeneous clusters with R and NR isolates. Additionally, differential expression of subtilisins (LbrM.13.0860 and LbrM.28.2570) and TXNPx (LbrM.15.1080) was evaluated in promastigotes and axenic amastigotes from both groups. The results showed a higher expression of LbrM.13.0860 and LbrM.15.1080 genes in axenic amastigotes, while LbrM.28.2570 gene had the lowest expression in all isolates, regardless of the parasite form. The data presented here show a phenotypic heterogeneity among the parasites, suggesting that exploration of in vitro phenotypes based on Sb^III and serine proteases profiles can aid in the characterization of L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates.

Subtilase activity and gene expression during germination and seedling growth in barley

Proteases play a main role in the mobilization of storage proteins during seed germination. Until today, there is little information about the involvement of serine proteases, particularly subtilases, in the germination of barley grains. The aims of the present work were to study the contribution of serine proteases to the total proteolytic activity induced during germination of barley grains and evaluate the specific involvement of subtilases in this process. Proteolytic activity assayed against azocasein in the presence of specific inhibitors, showed that serine proteases contributed between 10 and 20% of total activity along germination. Subtilase activity increased from day 1 after imbibition with a peak between days 4-5. Moreover, in vivo determination of subtilase activity in germinating grains revealed increasing activity along germination mainly localized in the seed endosperm and developing rootlets. Finally, the expression of 19 barley genes encoding subtilases was measured by real time PCR during germination. Three of the analyzed genes increased their expression along germination, five showed a transient induction, one was down-regulated, nine remained unchanged and one was not expressed. The present work demonstrates the involvement of subtilases in germination of barley grains and describes the positive association of eight subtilase genes to this process.

A Genotypic Comparison Reveals That the Improvement in Nitrogen Remobilization Efficiency in Oilseed Rape Leaves Is Related to Specific Patterns of Senescence-Associated Protease Activities and Phytohormones

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is an oleoproteaginous crop characterized by low N use efficiency (NUE) that is mainly related to a weak Nitrogen Remobilization Efficiency (NRE) during the sequential leaf senescence of the vegetative stages. Based on the hypothesis that proteolysis efficiency is crucial for the improvement of leafNRE, our objective was to characterize key senescence-associated proteolytic mechanisms of two genotypes (Ténor and Samouraï) previously identified with contrasting NREs. To reach this goal, biochemical changes, protease activities and phytohormone patterns were studied in mature leaves undergoing senescence in two genotypes with contrasting NRE cultivated in a greenhouse under limiting or ample nitrate supply. The genotype with the higher NRE (Ténor) possessed enhanced senescence processes in response to nitrate limitation, and this led to greater degradation of soluble proteins compared to the other genotype (Samouraï). This efficient proteolysis is associated with (i) an increase in serine and cysteine protease (CP) activities and (ii) the appearance of new CP activities (RD21-like, SAG12-like, RD19-like, cathepsin-B, XBCP3-like and aleurain-like proteases) during senescence induced by N limitation. Compared to Samouraï, Ténor has a higher hormonal ratio ([salicylic acid] + [abscisic acid])/([cytokinins]) that promotes senescence, particularly under low N conditions, and this is correlated with the stronger protein degradation and serine/CP activities observed during senescence. Short statement: The improvement in N recycling during leaf senescence in a genotype of Brassica napus L. characterized by a high nitrogen remobilization efficiency is related to a high phytohormonal ratio ([salicylic acid] + [abscisic acid])/([cytokinins]) that promotes leaf senescence and is correlated with an increase or the induction of specific serine and cysteine protease activities.

Changes in proteolytic activity and protein carbonylation in shoots of Alyssum montanum ecotypes under multi-metal stress

The aim of present study was to evaluate the proteolytic response of metallicolous (M) and nonmetallicolous (NM) ecotypes of Alyssum montanum under heavy metals (HMs) stress. Therefore, shoot cultures of tested species grown on medium enriched simultaneously with 0.7 mM ZnSO₄, 3.0 μM Pb(NO₃)₂ and 16.4 μM CdCl₂ and these concentration corresponded to the content of their soluble forms marked in calamine substrate. After 8 weeks of cultivation, the overall protease activity (azocaseinolytic) and determination of the proteolytic (gelatinolytic) enzymes profile were estimated in HMs-treated and untreated specimens. The proteins of NM specimens were more susceptible to proteolysis induced by HMs than proteins of M ones. It was found that applied HMs ions caused an increase of protease activity in HMs-treated shoots of NM ecotype that was accompanied by diminished total soluble proteins content and their higher carbonylation. In contrast, the activities of the neutral proteases and metal-dependent serine proteases decreased in HMs-treated shoots of M ecotype. Our results have revealed significant differences at the protein metabolism level in contrasting A. montanum ecotypes cultured in vitro in the presence of HMs.

From structure to function - a family portrait of plant subtilases

Contents Summary 901 I. Introduction 901 II. Biochemistry and structure of plant SBTs 902 III. Phylogeny of plant SBTs and family organization 903 IV. Physiological roles of plant SBTs 905 V. Conclusions and outlook 911 Acknowledgements 912 References 912 SUMMARY: Subtilases (SBTs) are serine peptidases that are found in all three domains of life. As compared with homologs in other Eucarya, plant SBTs are more closely related to archaeal and bacterial SBTs, with which they share many biochemical and structural features. However, in the course of evolution, functional diversification led to the acquisition of novel, plant-specific functions, resulting in the present-day complexity of the plant SBT family. SBTs are much more numerous in plants than in any other organism, and include enzymes involved in general proteolysis as well as highly specific processing proteases. Most SBTs are targeted to the cell wall, where they contribute to the control of growth and development by regulating the properties of the cell wall and the activity of extracellular signaling molecules. Plant SBTs affect all stages of the life cycle as they contribute to embryogenesis, seed development and germination, cuticle formation and epidermal patterning, vascular development, programmed cell death, organ abscission, senescence, and plant responses to their biotic and abiotic environments. In this article we provide a comprehensive picture of SBT structure and function in plants.

Subtilisin-like proteases in plant defence: the past, the present and beyond

Subtilisin-like proteases (or subtilases) are a very diverse family of serine peptidases present in many organisms, but mostly in plants. With a broad spectrum of biological functions, ranging from protein turnover and plant development to interactions with the environment, subtilases have been gaining increasing attention with regard to their involvement in plant defence responses against the most diverse pathogens. Over the last 5 years, the number of published studies associating plant subtilases with pathogen resistance and plant immunity has increased tremendously. In addition, the observation of subtilases and serine protease inhibitors secreted by pathogens has also gained prominence. In this review, we focus on the active participation of subtilases in the interactions established by plants with the environment, highlighting their role in plant-pathogen communication.

A novel serine protease from strawberry (Fragaria ananassa): Purification and biochemical characterization

In this study, a protease enzyme was purified from strawberry by using Sepharose-4B-l-tyrosine-p-amino benzoic acid affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of pure protease was determined 65.8 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The single band observed on the gel showed that the enzyme had a single polypeptide chain and was successfully purified. Purification of the protease by the chromatographic method resulted in a 395.6-fold increase in specific activity (3600 U/mg). Optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme were 6 and 40 °C, respectively. The protease was stable at a wide temperature range of 40 to 70 °C and a pH range of 3.0 to 9.0. Co²⁺ ions stimulated protease activity very strongly. Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions significantly inhibited protease activity. While 2-propanol completely inhibited the enzyme, the enzyme maintained its activity better in the presence of ethanol and methanol. The strawberry protease showed the highest specificity towards hemoglobin among all the natural substrates tested. The specificity of the enzyme towards synthetic substrates was also investigated and it was concluded that it has broad substrate specificity. The obtained results indicated that this purified protease was highly-likely a serine protease and its activity was significantly affected by the presence of metal ions.

Identification and expression analysis of 11 subtilase genes during natural and induced senescence of barley plants

Subtilases are one of the largest groups of the serine protease family and are involved in many aspects of plant development including senescence. In wheat, previous reports demonstrate an active participation of two senescence-induced subtilases, denominated P1 and P2, in nitrogen remobilization during whole plant senescence. The aim of the present study was to examine the participation of subtilases in senescence-associated proteolysis of barley leaves while comparing different senescence types. With this purpose, subtilase enzymatic activity, immunodetection with a heterologous antiserum and gene expression of 11 subtilase sequences identified in barley databases by homology to P1 were analyzed in barley leaves undergoing dark-induced or natural senescence at the vegetative or reproductive growth phase. Results showed that subtilase specific activity as well as two inmunoreactive bands representing putative subtilases increased in barley leaves submitted to natural and dark-induced senescence. Gene expression analysis showed that two of the eleven subtilase genes analyzed, HvSBT3 and HvSBT6, were up-regulated in all the senescence conditions tested while HvSBT2 was expressed and up-regulated only during dark-induced senescence. On the other hand, HvSBT1, HvSBT4 and HvSBT7 were down-regulated during senescence and two other subtilase genes (HvSBT10 and HvSBT11) showed no significant changes. The remaining subtilase genes were not detected. Results demonstrate an active participation of subtilases in protein degradation during dark-induced and natural leaf senescence of barley plants both at the vegetative and reproductive stage, and, based on their expression profile, postulate HvSBT3 and HvSBT6 as key components of senescence-associated proteolysis.

Antibacterial serine protease from Wrightia tinctoria: Purification and characterization

A serine protease was purified from the leaves of Wrightia tinctoria by sequential flow through method comprising screening, optimization, ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and ion exchange column chromatography. The yield and purification fold obtained were 11.58% and 9.56 respectively. A single band of serine protease was visualized on SDS-PAGE and 2-D gel electrophoretic analyses were revealed with the molecular mass of 38.5 kDa. Serine protease had an optimum pH of 8.0 and was stable at 45°C with high relative protease activity. The addition of metal ions such as Mg2+ and Mn2+ exhibits a high relative activity. Serine protease had a potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A 10 μg/ml of serine protease was tested against S. aureus, M. luteus, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae which had 21, 20, 18 and 17 mm of zone of inhibition respectively. Serine protease from W. tinctoria degrades the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria which was visualized by transmission electron microscopic analysis.

Proteases from Canavalia ensiformis: Active and Thermostable Enzymes with Potential of Application in Biotechnology

Extracts of leaves, seeds, roots, and stem from a tropical legume, C. ensiformis, were prepared employing buffers and detergent in aqueous solution. Leaf extracts had the highest protein content and the most pronounced peptidase activity with optimal pH in the neutral to alkaline range. All extracts exhibited peaks of activity at various pH values, suggesting the presence of distinctive classes of proteases. N-α-Tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester hydrolysis was maximal at 30°C to 60°C and peptidase activity from all extracts presented very good thermal stability after 24 h incubation at 70°C. C. ensiformis proteases exhibited molecular masses of about 200–57, 40–37, and 20–15 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. These enzymes cleaved hemoglobin, bovine serum albumin, casein, and gelatin at different levels. Serine and metalloproteases are the major proteases in C. ensiformis extracts, modulated by divalent cations, stable at 1% of surfactant Triton X-100 and at different concentrations of the reducing agent β-mercaptoethanol. Thus, C. ensiformis expresses a particular set of proteases in distinctive organs with high activity and stability, making this legume an important source of proteases with biotechnological potential.

SASP, a Senescence-Associated Subtilisin Protease, is involved in reproductive development and determination of silique number in Arabidopsis

Senescence involves increased expression of proteases, which may participate in nitrogen recycling or cellular signalling. 2D zymograms detected two protein species with increased proteolytic activity in senescing leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. A proteomic analysis revealed that both protein species correspond to a subtilisin protease encoded by At3g14067, termed Senescence-Associated Subtilisin Protease (SASP). SASP mRNA levels and enzyme activity increase during leaf senescence in leaves senescing during both the vegetative or the reproductive phase of the plant life cycle, but this increase is more pronounced in reproductive plants. SASP is expressed in all above-ground organs, but not in roots. Putative AtSASP orthologues were identified in dicot and monocot crop species. A phylogenetic analysis shows AtSASP and its putative orthologues clustering in one discrete group of subtilisin proteases in which no other Arabidospsis subtilisin protease is present. Phenotypic analysis of two knockout lines for SASP showed that mutant plants develop more inflorescence branches during reproductive development. Both AtSASP and its putative rice orthologue (OsSASP) were constitutively expressed in sasp-1 to complement the mutant phenotype. At maturity, sasp-1 plants produced 25% more inflorescence branches and siliques than either the wild-type or the rescued lines. These differences were mostly due to an increased number of second and third order branches. The increased number of siliques was compensated for by a small decrease (5.0%) in seed size. SASP downregulates branching and silique production during monocarpic senescence, and its function is at least partially conserved between Arabidopsis and rice.