Proteinase inhibitors in legume herbivore defense: from natural to genetically engineered protectants

Author(s):  
Mst Shamira Sultana ◽  
Reginald J. Millwood ◽  
Mitra Mazarei ◽  
C. Neal Stewart
1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1119-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond J. St. Leger

The proteinaceous outer integument of insects forms an effective barrier against most microbes. Only the 700 known species of entomopathogenic fungi effect entry into their hosts by breaching the cuticle. There is accumulating evidence that the ability of fungi to degrade protein may aid their invasion of and growth in this orderly complex structure. Evidence for the particular importance of proteinases derives largely from studies of their production in infected cuticles associated with cuticle degradation, the effects of proteinase inhibitors on pathogen behavior, and by the analysis of protease-deficient mutants. More recently, studies have included the cloning, identification, and manipulation of specific protease genes of Metarhizium anisopliae, particularly those of the subtilisin (chymoelastase) type (designated Pr1) also produced by many other entomopathogenic fungi. Following solubilization of cuticle proteins by Pr1-type endoproteases, complete degradation of the cuticle involves a number of interacting enzyme species including a family of trypsin-like proteinases, metalloproteinases, several aminopeptidases, and a carboxypeptidase. Testing genetically engineered M. anisopliae null mutants of Pr1 indicated that the other endopeptidases can partially substitute for Pr1. The exopeptidases further degrade peptides released by the endopeptidases producing free amino acids for uptake and metabolism. Utilization of these enzymes has assisted investigators in understanding cuticle structure and how the cuticle is degraded naturally, and could lead to improved strain selection of entomopathogenic fungi or the introduction of their genes into other microbes and plants for the purpose of insect control. Key words: proteinaceous insect cuticle, pathogen endopeptidases, exopeptidases, multiple isozymes, enzyme regulation.


1987 ◽  
Vol 58 (02) ◽  
pp. 753-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
M F López-Fernández ◽  
C López-Berges ◽  
R Martín ◽  
A Pardo ◽  
F J Ramos ◽  
...  

SummaryThe multimeric and subunit patterns of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) were analyzed in eight patients with myeloproliferative syndrome (MS) in order to investigate the possible existence of heterogeneity in the “in vivo” proteolytic cleavage of the protein, previously observed in this entity. Six patients lacked large vWF multimers, five of them having normal bleeding times (BT) and clinically documented episodes of thrombotic origin, whereas one patient had long BT and bleeding symptoms. Seven patients showed a relative increase in the 176 kDa subunit fragment while the 189 kDa polypeptide was increased in only one. In addition, another patient (and prior to any therapy) showed the presence of a new fragment of approximately 95 kDa which disappeared after Busulfan therapy. The collection of blood from these patients with proteinase inhibitors did not correct the abnormalities.The infusion of DDAVP to two patients with abnormal vWF was accompanied by: the appearance of larger vWF multimers which disappeared rapidly from plasma; an increase in the relative proportion of the satellite bands of each multimer and a further increase of the 176 kDa fragment. These data point to some heterogeneity in the vWF abnormality present in MS which may be related in part to a variable degree of proteolysis of vWF occurring “in vivo” rather than “in vitro”, and which may be associated to either a thrombotic or a bleeding diathesis. They also suggest that despite the presence of abnormal, already proteolyzed vWF, DDAVP-enhanced proteolysis occurs in MS to a similar extent to what is described in normal individuals.


1984 ◽  
Vol 52 (03) ◽  
pp. 243-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Izaki ◽  
T Hibino ◽  
Y Isozaki ◽  
P S Hsu ◽  
M Izaki ◽  
...  

SummaryPlasminogen activator that is associated with the development of hypersensitivity granulomas (gPA) was partially purified from a saline soluble fraction of murine lepromas elicited in “resistant” mice, C57BL/6N. The gPA was shown to consist of two subspecies (23,000 and 48,000 in molecular weight) with essentially identical enzymologic properties. The gPA was found to be a relatively heat stable weakly alkaline serine proteinase with trypsin-like characteristics in the specificity for synthetic substrates and proteinase inhibitors. It showed a high affinity for H- D-Ile-Pro-Arg-pNA (Km = 1.4 × 10-4 M) H-D-Val-Leu-Lys- pNA (Km = 5.2 × 10-4 M), and L-pyroGlu-Gly-Arg-pNA (Km = 9.3 × 10-4 M). The gPA did not demonstrate antigenic cross reaction with urokinase-type or tissue-type plasminogen activator.Two distinct enzymatic regulators of the gPA were also demonstrated in the saline soluble fraction of the hypersensitivity granulomas. The gPA and its regulation are assumed to be correlated with macrophage activation in the hypersensitivity granulomas


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
L. S. Kruglova ◽  
A. A. Osina ◽  
A. A. Khotko

Among patients with psoriasis, approximately 50% are women and almost 75 % of them are under the age of 40 years. Thus, most women with psoriasis have childbearing potential. When pregnancy occurs in 22 % of patients, the activity of psoriasis persists, characteristic of the course before pregnancy, in 23 % of women, the course of the disease worsens. The article provides up-to-date data on the management of pregnant patients with psoriasis. To improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with psoriasis, it is important to prevent exacerbation of the disease. The choice of drug therapy in this case is based on an assessment of the ratio of the risk of undesirable effects of the drugs on the developing fetus and the risk of the development of exacerbation of psoriasis, which can cause an adverse pregnancy outcome. Despite the fact that the available clinical experience of using genetically engineered drugs is still limited, with a certain degree of confidence we can say that there is no increase in the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with therapy with certolizumab pegol.


2003 ◽  
Vol 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron R. Clapp ◽  
Igor L. Medintz ◽  
J. Matthew Mauro ◽  
Hedi Mattoussi

AbstractLuminescent CdSe-ZnS core-shell quantum dot (QD) bioconjugates were used as energy donors in fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) binding assays. The QDs were coated with saturating amounts of genetically engineered maltose binding protein (MBP) using a noncovalent immobilization process, and Cy3 organic dyes covalently attached at a specific sequence to MBP were used as energy acceptor molecules. Energy transfer efficiency was measured as a function of the MBP-Cy3/QD molar ratio for two different donor fluorescence emissions (different QD core sizes). Apparent donor-acceptor distances were determined from these FRET studies, and the measured distances are consistent with QD-protein conjugate dimensions previously determined from structural studies.


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