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Svetlova AO, Karaseva MA, Berdyshev IM, Chukhontseva KN, Pobeguts OV, Galyamina MA, Smirnov IP, Polyakov NB, Zavialova MG, Kostrov SV, Demidyuk IV. Protease S of entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus laumondii: expression, purification and effect on greater wax moth Galleria mellonella. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:713. [PMID: 38824247 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09654-8] [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: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protease S (PrtS) from Photorhabdus laumondii belongs to the group of protealysin-like proteases (PLPs), which are understudied factors thought to play a role in the interaction of bacteria with other organisms. Since P. laumondii is an insect pathogen and a nematode symbiont, the analysis of the biological functions of PLPs using the PrtS model provides novel data on diverse types of interactions between bacteria and hosts. METHODS AND RESULTS Recombinant PrtS was produced in Escherichia coli. Efficient inhibition of PrtS activity by photorin, a recently discovered emfourin-like protein inhibitor from P. laumondii, was demonstrated. The Galleria mellonella was utilized to examine the insect toxicity of PrtS and the impact of PrtS on hemolymph proteins in vitro. The insect toxicity of PrtS is reduced compared to protease homologues from non-pathogenic bacteria and is likely not essential for the infection process. However, using proteomic analysis, potential PrtS targets have been identified in the hemolymph. CONCLUSIONS The spectrum of identified proteins indicates that the function of PrtS is to modulate the insect immune response. Further studies of PLPs' biological role in the PrtS and P. laumondii model must clarify the details of PrtS interaction with the insect immune system during bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Olga V Pobeguts
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A Galyamina
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor P Smirnov
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikita B Polyakov
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria G Zavialova
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Ilya V Demidyuk
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia.
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2
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Sikora H, Gruba N, Wysocka M, Piwkowska A, Lesner A. Optimization of fluorescent substrates for ADAM17 and their utility in the detection of diabetes. Anal Biochem 2023; 681:115337. [PMID: 37783443 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2023.115337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
ADAM17 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17) is a sheddase that releases various types of membrane-associated proteins, including adhesive molecules, cytokines and their receptors, and inflammatory mediators. Evidence suggests that the enzyme is involved in the proteolytic cleavage of antiaging transmembrane protein Klotho (KL). What is more, reduced serum and urinary KL levels are observed in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. This study aimed to optimise the ADAM17 specific and selective fluorescent substrates. Then, the obtained substrate was used to detect the enzyme in urine samples of patients diagnosed with diabetes. It turned out that in all cases we were able to detect proteolytic activity, which was the opposite of the healthy samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honorata Sikora
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Natalia Gruba
- Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Wysocka
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Piwkowska
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Nephrology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland; Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Adam Lesner
- Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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3
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Berdyshev IM, Svetlova AO, Chukhontseva KN, Karaseva MA, Varizhuk AM, Filatov VV, Kleymenov SY, Kostrov SV, Demidyuk IV. Production and Characterization of Photorin, a Novel Proteinaceous Protease Inhibitor from the Entomopathogenic Bacteria Photorhabdus laumondii. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:1356-1367. [PMID: 37770402 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923090158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus secrete protease S (PrtS), which is considered a virulence factor. We found that in the Photorhabdus genomes, immediately after the prtS genes, there are genes that encode small hypothetical proteins homologous to emfourin, a recently discovered protein inhibitor of metalloproteases. The gene of emfourin-like inhibitor from Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii TT01 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant protein, named photorin (Phin), was purified by metal-chelate affinity and gel permeation chromatography and characterized. It has been established that Phin is a monomer and inhibits activity of protealysin and thermolysin, which, similar to PrtS, belong to the M4 peptidase family. Inhibition constants were 1.0 ± 0.3 and 10 ± 2 µM, respectively. It was also demonstrated that Phin is able to suppress proteolytic activity of P. laumondii culture fluid (half-maximal inhibition concentration 3.9 ± 0.3 nM). Polyclonal antibodies to Phin were obtained, and it was shown by immunoblotting that P. laumondii cells produce Phin. Thus, the prtS genes in entomopathogenic bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus are colocalized with the genes of emfourin-like inhibitors, which probably regulate activity of the enzyme during infection. Strict regulation of the activity of proteolytic enzymes is essential for functioning of all living systems. At the same time, the principles of regulation of protease activity by protein inhibitors remain poorly understood. Bacterial protease-inhibitor pairs, such as the PrtS and Phin pair, are promising models for in vivo studies of these principles. Bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus have a complex life cycle with multiple hosts, being both nematode symbionts and powerful insect pathogens. This provides a unique opportunity to use the PrtS and Phin pair as a model for studying the principles of protease activity regulation by proteinaceous inhibitors in the context of bacterial interactions with different types of hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor M Berdyshev
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, 123182, Russia
| | | | | | - Maria A Karaseva
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, 123182, Russia
| | - Anna M Varizhuk
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Vasily V Filatov
- Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Chernogolovka Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Moscow Region, 142432, Russia
| | - Sergey Y Kleymenov
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Sergey V Kostrov
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, 123182, Russia
| | - Ilya V Demidyuk
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, 123182, Russia.
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4
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Bozin T, Berdyshev I, Chukhontseva K, Karaseva M, Konarev P, Varizhuk A, Lesovoy D, Arseniev A, Kostrov S, Bocharov E, Demidyuk I. NMR structure of emfourin, a novel protein metalloprotease inhibitor: insights into the mechanism of action. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104585. [PMID: 36889586 PMCID: PMC10124921 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Emfourin (M4in) is a protein metalloprotease inhibitor recently discovered in the bacterium Serratia proteamaculans and the prototype of a new family of protein protease inhibitors with an unknown mechanism of action. Protealysin-like proteases (PLPs) of the thermolysin family are natural targets of emfourin-like inhibitors (ELIs) widespread in bacteria and known in archaea. The available data indicate the involvement of PLPs in interbacterial interaction as well as bacterial interaction with other organisms and likely in pathogenesis. Arguably, ELIs participate in the regulation of bacterial pathogenesis by controlling PLP activity. Here, we determined the 3D structure of M4in using solution NMR spectroscopy. The obtained structure demonstrated no significant similarity to known protein structures. This structure was used to model the M4in-enzyme complex, and the complex model was verified by small-angle X-ray scattering. Based on our analysis of the model, we propose a molecular mechanism for the inhibitor, which was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. We show that two spatially close flexible loop regions are critical for the inhibitor-protease interaction. One region includes aspartic acid forming a coordination bond with catalytic Zn2+ of the enzyme, and the second region carries hydrophobic amino acids interacting with protease substrate binding sites. Such an active site structure corresponds to the noncanonical inhibition mechanism. This is the first demonstration of such a mechanism for protein inhibitors of thermolysin family metalloproteases, which puts forward M4in as a new basis for the development of antibacterial agents relying on selective inhibition of prominent factors of bacterial pathogenesis belonging to this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- TimurN Bozin
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," Moscow, Russia; National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - IgorM Berdyshev
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," Moscow, Russia
| | - KseniaN Chukhontseva
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," Moscow, Russia
| | - MariaA Karaseva
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," Moscow, Russia
| | - PetrV Konarev
- Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of the Federal Scientific Research Centre "Crystallography and Photonics," Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - AnnaM Varizhuk
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - DmitryM Lesovoy
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - AlexanderS Arseniev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - SergeyV Kostrov
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," Moscow, Russia
| | - EduardV Bocharov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - IlyaV Demidyuk
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," Moscow, Russia.
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5
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Berdyshev IM, Karaseva MA, Demidyuk AIV. Assay for Protealysin-like Protease Inhibitor Activity. Bio Protoc 2022; 12:e4528. [PMID: 36313197 PMCID: PMC9548520 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present the first quantitative method for the activity analysis of protealysin-like protease (PLP) inhibitors. This approach is based on a previously developed method for protealysin activity determination by hydrolysis of internally quenched fluorescent peptide substrate 2-aminobenzoyl-L-arginyl-L-seryl-L-valyl-L-isoleucyl-L-(ε-2,4-dinitrophenyl)lysine. In this protocol, we significantly reduced enzyme concentration and introduced some minor modifications to decrease variation between replicates. The protocol was validated using emfourin, a novel proteinaceous metalloprotease inhibitor. Data obtained demonstrates that the developed assay method is an affordable approach for characterizing and screening various PLP inhibitors. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor M. Berdyshev
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute,” Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A. Karaseva
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute,” Moscow, Russia
| | - And Ilya V. Demidyuk
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute,” Moscow, Russia
,
*For correspondence:
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6
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Tsaplina O, Khaitlina S, Chukhontseva K, Karaseva M, Demidyuk I, Bakhlanova I, Baitin D, Artamonova T, Vedyaykin A, Khodorkovskii M, Vishnyakov I. Protealysin Targets the Bacterial Housekeeping Proteins FtsZ and RecA. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810787. [PMID: 36142700 PMCID: PMC9505478 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Serratia proteamaculans synthesizes the intracellular metalloprotease protealysin. This work was aimed at searching for bacterial substrates of protealysin among the proteins responsible for replication and cell division. We have shown that protealysin unlimitedly cleaves the SOS response protein RecA. Even 20% of the cleaved RecA in solution appears to be incorporated into the polymer of uncleaved monomers, preventing further polymerization and inhibiting RecA ATPase activity. Transformation of Escherichia coli with a plasmid carrying the protealysin gene reduces the bacterial UV survival up to 10 times. In addition, the protealysin substrate is the FtsZ division protein, found in both E. coli and Acholeplasma laidlawii, which is only 51% identical to E. coli FtsZ. Protealysin cleaves FtsZ at the linker between the globular filament-forming domain and the C-terminal peptide that binds proteins on the bacterial membrane. Thus, cleavage of the C-terminal segment by protealysin can lead to the disruption of FtsZ’s attachment to the membrane, and thereby inhibit bacterial division. Since the protealysin operon encodes not only the protease, but also its inhibitor, which is typical for the system of interbacterial competition, we assume that in the case of penetration of protealysin into neighboring bacteria that do not synthesize a protealysin inhibitor, cleavage of FtsZ and RecA by protealysin may give S. proteamaculans an advantage in interbacterial competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Tsaplina
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-812-297-42-96
| | - Sofia Khaitlina
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ksenia Chukhontseva
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Karaseva
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya Demidyuk
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina Bakhlanova
- Kurchatov Genome Center—PNPI, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre ‘‘Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia
| | - Dmitry Baitin
- Kurchatov Genome Center—PNPI, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre ‘‘Kurchatov Institute”, 188300 Gatchina, Russia
| | - Tatiana Artamonova
- Department of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexey Vedyaykin
- Department of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail Khodorkovskii
- Department of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia
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7
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The role of polymeric chains as a protective environment for improving the stability and efficiency of fluorogenic peptide substrates. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8818. [PMID: 35614307 PMCID: PMC9132916 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12848-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We have faced the preparation of fully water-soluble fluorescent peptide substrate with long-term environmental stability (in solution more than 35 weeks) and, accordingly, with stable results in the use of this probe in determining the activity of enzymes. We have achieved this goal by preparing a co-polymer of the commercial N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (99.5% mol) and a fluorescent substrate for trypsin activity determination having a vinylic group (0.5%). The activity of trypsin has been measured in water solutions of this polymer over time, contrasted against the activity of both the commercial substrate Z-L-Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin hydrochloride and its monomeric derivative, prepared ad-hoc. Initially, the activity of the sensory polymer was 74.53 ± 1.72 nmol/min/mg of enzyme, while that of the commercial substrate was 20.44 ± 0.65 nmol/min/mg of enzyme, the former maintained stable along weeks and the latter with a deep decay to zero in three weeks. The ‘protection’ effect exerted by the polymer chain has been studied by solvation studies by UV–Vis spectroscopy, steady-state & time resolved fluorescence, thermogravimetry and isothermal titration calorimetry.
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8
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French JM, McIndoo ER, Schlund CM, Field KP, Wolfe AR, Stevens DL, Aldape MJ, Hobdey SE. Characterization of Paeniclostridium sordellii Metalloproteinase-1 in vitro and in an experimental model of infection. Anaerobe 2021; 77:102468. [PMID: 34688909 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2021.102468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Paeniclostridium sordellii is a pathogen that causes rapidly fatal infections characterized by severe edema, extreme leukemoid reaction and lack of an innate immune response. We recently identified a metalloproteinase of P. sordellii-1 (Mcs1) that cleaves human vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, an adhesion molecule important to hematopoietic precursor retention and leukocyte diapedesis. In the current study, we further characterize Mcs1 activity and investigate its role in pathogenesis. METHODS Mcs1 peptide cleavage sequence and activity conditions were identified using a semi-quantitative fluorescence-based reporter assay. Additional host targets for Mcs1 protease activity were tested and confirmed by gel electrophoreses and western blots. Finally, Mcs1 knock out (ΔMcs1) and complemented (cMcs1) strains were developed for assessment in our animal model of myonecrosis. RESULTS Data show that Mcs1 prefers aliphatic amino acid residues, I or L, especially when adjacent to negatively charged or noncharged-polar residues. In vitro, Mcs1 cleaved or partially cleaved human cell adhesion molecules, E-selectin and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and mediators of innate immune infection defense, complement protein-3 and antimicrobial peptide LL-37. In vivo, infection with the ΔMcs1 P. sordellii strain had little effect on animal survival, tissue destruction or circulating white blood cell counts compared to wild type and cMcs1 strains. CONCLUSIONS Similar to proteolytic virulence factors from other pathogens, Mcs1 is a promiscuous protease that cleaves multiple human-host factors. Despite minimal impact of Mcs1 on the murine model of P. sordellii infection, it is worth considering its role in humans and other animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M French
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Boise, ID, 83702, USA
| | - Eric R McIndoo
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Boise, ID, 83702, USA
| | - Caden M Schlund
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Boise, ID, 83702, USA
| | - Kevin P Field
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Boise, ID, 83702, USA
| | - Alison R Wolfe
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Boise, ID, 83702, USA
| | - Dennis L Stevens
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Sarah E Hobdey
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Boise, ID, 83702, USA; Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
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9
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Evaluation of the effects of phosphorylation of synthetic peptide substrates on their cleavage by caspase-3 and -7. Biochem J 2021; 478:2233-2245. [PMID: 34037204 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Caspases are a family of enzymes that play roles in cell death and inflammation. It has been suggested that in the execution phase of the apoptotic pathway, caspase-3, -6 and -7 are involved. The substrate specificities of two proteases (caspases 3 and 7) are highly similar, which complicates the design of compounds that selectively interact with a single enzyme exclusively. The recognition of residues other than Asp in the P1 position of the substrate by caspase-3/-7 has been reported, promoting interest in the effects of phosphorylation of amino acids in the direct vicinity of the scissile bond. To evaluate conflicting reports on this subject, we synthesized a series of known caspase-3 and -7 substrates and phosphorylated analogs, performed enzyme kinetic assays and mapped the peptide cleavage sites using internally quenched fluorescent peptide substrates. Caspases 3 and 7 will tolerate pSer at the P1 position but only poorly at the P2' position. Our investigation demonstrates the importance of peptide length and composition in interpreting sequence/activity relationships. Based on the results, we conclude that the relationship between caspase-3/-7 and their substrates containing phosphorylated amino acids might depend on the steric conditions and not be directly connected with ionic interactions. Thus, the precise effect of phospho-amino acid residues located in the vicinity of the cleaved bond on the regulation of the substrate specificity of caspases remains difficult to predict. Our observations allow to predict that natural phosphorylated proteins may be cleaved by caspases, but only when extended substrate binding site interactions are satisfied.
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10
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Strom A, Shah R, Wagner CR. "Switching On" Enzyme Substrate Specificity Analysis with a Fluorescent Competitive Inhibitor. Biochemistry 2021; 60:440-450. [PMID: 33513008 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Enzymatically driven change to the spectroscopic properties of a chemical substrate or product has been a linchpin in the development of continuous enzyme kinetics assays. These assays inherently necessitate substrates or products that naturally comply with the constraints of the spectroscopic technique being used, or they require structural changes to the molecules involved to make them observable. Here we demonstrate a new analytical kinetics approach with enzyme histidine triad nucleotide binding protein 1 (HINT1) that allows us to extract both useful kcat values and a rank-ordered list of substrate specificities without the need to track substrates or products directly. Instead, this is accomplished indirectly using a "switch on" competitive inhibitor that fluoresces maximally only when bound to the HINT1 enzyme active site. Kinetic information is extracted from the duration of the diminished fluorescence when the monitorable inhibitor-bound enzyme is challenged with saturating concentrations of a nonfluorescent substrate. We refer to the loss of fluorescence, while the substrate competes for the fluorescent probe in the active site, as the substrate's residence transit time (RTT). The ability to assess kcat values and substrate specificity by monitoring the RTTs for a set of substrates with a competitive "switch on" inhibitor should be broadly applicable to other enzymatic reactions in which the "switch on" inhibitor has sufficient binding affinity over the enzymatic product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Strom
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Rachit Shah
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carston R Wagner
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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11
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The protealysin operon encodes emfourin, a prototype of a novel family of protein metalloprotease inhibitors. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 169:583-596. [PMID: 33385454 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Protealysin is a Serratia proteamaculans metalloproteinase of the M4 peptidase family and the prototype of a large group of protealysin-like proteases (PLPs). PLPs are likely involved in bacterial interaction with plants and animals as well as in bacterial pathogenesis. We demonstrated that the PLP genes in bacteria colocalize with the genes of putative conserved proteins. In S. proteamaculans, these two genes form a bicistronic operon. The putative S. proteamaculans protein that we called emfourin (M4in) was expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. M4in forms a complex with protealysin with a 1:1 stoichiometry and is a potent slow-binding competitive inhibitor of protealysin (Ki = 52 ± 14 pM); besides, M4in is not secreted from S. proteamaculans constitutively. A comparison of amino acid sequences of M4in and its homologs with those of known inhibitors suggests that M4in is the prototype of a new family of protein inhibitors of proteases.
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12
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Goulet DL, Fraaz U, Zulich CJ, Pilkington TJ, Siemann S. Specificity-directed design of a FRET-quenched heptapeptide for assaying thermolysin-like proteases. Anal Biochem 2020; 604:113826. [PMID: 32622975 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Thermolysin (TL) is an industrially important zinc endopeptidase, and the prototype of the M4 family of metallopeptidases. The catalytic function of TL and its relatives is typically assessed using chromogenic or more sensitive fluorescent peptides, with the latter substrates relying on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Here, we demonstrate that a FRET-quenched heptapeptide designed on the basis of the enzyme's substrate specificity (Dabcyl-FKFLGKE-EDANS) is efficiently cleaved by TL and dispase (a TL-like protease) in between the Phe3 and Leu4 residues. The specificity constants (determined at pH 7.4 and 25 °C) for TL and dispase (3.6 × 106 M-1 s-1 and 4.6 × 106 M-1 s-1, respectively) were found to be amongst the highest documented for any TL substrate. Maximal peptide cleavage rates were achieved at pH 6.5 and a temperature of 65 °C. In view of the sensitivity of the assay, concentrations as low as 10 pM TL could be detected. Furthermore, the rate of hydrolysis of Dabcyl-FKFLGKE-EDANS was slow or immeasurable with some other unrelated metallo-, serine- and cysteine proteases, suggesting that the peptide has the potential to serve as a selective substrate for TL and TL-like proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danica L Goulet
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Usama Fraaz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carly J Zulich
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tyson J Pilkington
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stefan Siemann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
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