Novel Bifunctional Inhibitor of Xylanase and Aspartic Protease: Implications for Inhibition of Fungal Growth

ABSTRACT A novel bifunctional inhibitor (ATBI) from an extremophilicBacillus sp. exhibiting an activity against phytopathogenic fungi, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Curvularia, Colletotricum, Fusarium, and Phomopsis species, and the saprophytic fungus Trichoderma sp. has been investigated. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of ATBI ranged from 0.30 to 5.9 μg/ml, whereas the MIC varied from 0.60 to 3.5 μg/ml for the fungal growth inhibition. The negative charge and the absence of periodic secondary structure in ATBI suggested an alternative mechanism for fungal growth inhibition. Rescue of fungal growth inhibition by the hydrolytic products of xylanase and aspartic protease indicated the involvement of these enzymes in cellular growth. The chemical modification of Asp or Glu or Lys residues of ATBI by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid and Woodward's reagent K, respectively, abolished its antifungal activity. In addition, ATBI also inhibited xylanase and aspartic protease competitively, withKi values 1.75 and 3.25 μM, respectively. Our discovery led us to envisage a paradigm shift in the concept of fungal growth inhibition for the role of antixylanolytic activity. Here we report for the first time a novel class of antifungal peptide, exhibiting bifunctional inhibitory activity.

Persistence of external chloride and DIDS binding after chemical modification of Glu-681 in human band 3

Although its primary function is monovalent anion exchange, the band 3 protein also cotransports divalent anions together with protons at low pH. The putative proton binding site, Glu-681 in human erythrocyte band 3, is conserved throughout the anion exchanger family (AE family). To determine whether or not the monovalent anion binding site is located near Glu-681, we modified this residue with Woodward’s reagent K ( N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3′-sulfonate; WRK). Measurements of Cl− binding by35Cl-NMR show that external Cl− binds to band 3 even when Cl− transport is inhibited ∼95% by WRK modification of Glu-681. This indicates that the external Cl− binding site is not located near Glu-681 and thus presumably is distant from the proton binding site. DIDS inhibits Cl− binding even when WRK is bound to Glu-681, indicating that the DIDS binding site is also distant from Glu-681. Our data suggest that the DIDS site and probably also the externally facing Cl−transport site are located nearer to the external surface of the membrane than Glu-681.