Purification and biochemical characterization of a novel intestinal protease fromScorpaena notata

Unveiling the Potent Fibrino(geno)lytic, Anticoagulant, and Antithrombotic Effects of Papain, a Cysteine Protease from Carica papaya Latex Using κ-Carrageenan Rat Tail Thrombosis Model

While fibrinolytic enzymes and thrombolytic agents offer assistance in treating cardiovascular diseases, the existing options are associated with a range of adverse effects. In our previous research, we successfully identified ficin, a naturally occurring cysteine protease that possesses unique fibrin and fibrinogenolytic enzymes, making it suitable for both preventing and treating cardiovascular disorders linked to thrombosis. Papain is a prominent cysteine protease derived from the latex of Carica papaya. The potential role of papain in preventing fibrino(geno)lytic, anticoagulant, and antithrombotic activities has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we examined how papain influences fibrinogen and the process of blood coagulation. Papain is highly stable at pH 4-11 and 37-60 °C via azocasein assay. In addition, SDS gel separation electrophoresis, zymography, and fibrin plate assays were used to determine fibrinogen and fibrinolysis activity. Papain has a molecular weight of around 37 kDa, and is highly effective in degrading fibrin, with a molecular weight of over 75 kDa. Furthermore, papain-based hemostatic performance was confirmed in blood coagulation tests, a blood clot lysis assay, and a κ-carrageenan rat tail thrombosis model, highlighting its strong efficacy in blood coagulation. Papain shows dose-dependent blood clot lysis activity, cleaves fibrinogen chains of Aα, Bβ, and γ-bands, and significantly extends prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Moreover, the mean length of the infarcted regions in the tails of Sprague-Dawley rats with κ-carrageenan was shorter in rats administered 10 U/kg of papain than in streptokinase-treated rats. Thus, papain, a cysteine protease, has distinct fibrin and fibrinogenolytic properties, suggesting its potential for preventing or treating cardiovascular issues and thrombosis-related diseases.

Biotransformation of protein-rich waste by Yarrowia lipolytica IPS21 to high-value products-amino acid supernatants

The yeast strain Yarrowia lipolytica IPS 21 was tested for its ability to degrade potentially toxic chrome-tanned leather shavings (CTLS) in a liquid environment. Biological and chemical parameters were monitored during a 48-h period of biotransformation of the protein-rich waste. CTLS was added at a concentration of 0.1-4% (wt/wt) to a modified YPG medium (15 g L-1 yeast extract and 5 g L-1 NaCl). Biodegradation and bioconversion were performed in a one-step process. It was found that the higher degradation rate depended on the activity of the proteases and the pH of the medium, but not on the initial inoculum ratio and the activity of the dehydrogenase. The highest efficiency of the process was obtained for 4% (wt/wt) CTLS on day 2 (degradation rate 58-67%, biomass production 2.11-2.20 g L-1, protease activity 312 U mg-1 protein, and pH 9.20). Our results showed that total chromium was probably not transported across the cytoplasmic membrane of Y. lipolytica IPS21 and that chromium (III) was not oxidized to chromium (VI). The phytotoxicity of selected amino acid supernatants [2.5% (vol/vol)] was tested after the bioconversion process. It was found that the supernatants had a stimulating effect on the plants tested. The root elongation was 29-28% higher than that of the reference samples. This result makes Y. lipolytica IPS21 a potential candidate for safely converting potentially toxic protein-rich wastes into valuable products without enzyme isolation, e.g., amino acid fertilizers. IMPORTANCE Enzyme technologies have the greatest practical relevance to environmental trends. Overcoming the barrier of the high cost of carbon substrates used for biotransformation is the main challenge of these methods. The huge potential of the use of extracellular proteases of Yarrowia species or amino acids in various industries indicates the need for the extension of basic research on waste as a carbon source for this yeast. The experiments demonstrated that it is possible to use Y. lipolytica IPS21 for bioconversion of chrome-tanned leather shavings (CTLS) in a single-step process and to produce high-value amino acid supernatant without having an isolated enzyme. In our study, we show the effect of 2.5% (vol/vol) CTLS supernatant obtained from Y. lipolytica IPS21 on the elongation of the root system of selected plants and provide information on the effect of environmental factors on the efficiency of the bioconversion and the migration of chromium.

Exploring the Fibrin(ogen)olytic, Anticoagulant, and Antithrombotic Activities of Natural Cysteine Protease (Ficin) with the κ-Carrageenan-Induced Rat Tail Thrombosis Model

Although fibrinolytic enzymes and thrombolytic agents help in cardiovascular disease treatment, those currently available have several side effects. This warrants the search for safer alternatives. Several natural cysteine protease preparations are used in traditional medicine to improve platelet aggregation and thrombosis-related diseases. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of ficin, a natural cysteine protease, on fibrin(ogen) and blood coagulation. The optimal pH (pH 7) and temperature (37 °C) for proteolytic activity were determined using the azocasein method. Fibrinogen action and fibrinolytic activity were measured both electrophoretically and by the fibrin plate assay. The effect of ficin on blood coagulation was studied by conventional coagulation tests: prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), blood clot lysis assay, and the κ-carrageenan thrombosis model. The Aα, Bβ, and γ bands of fibrinogen are readily cleaved by ficin, and we also observed a significant increase in PT and aPTT. Further, the mean length of the infarcted regions in the tails of Sprague–Dawley rats was shorter in rats administered 10 U/mL of ficin than in control rats. These findings suggest that natural cysteine protease, ficin contains novel fibrin and fibrinogenolytic enzymes and can be used for preventing and/or treating thrombosis-associated cardiovascular disorders.