Genetic and biochemical characterization of PrtA, an RTX-like metalloprotease from Photorhabdus.
AuthorsBowen DJ, Rocheleau TA, Grutzmacher CK, Meslet L, Valens M, Marble D, Dowling A, Ffrench-Constant R, Blight MA
JournalMicrobiology
PubMed ID12777498
'Proteases play a key role in the interaction between pathogens and their hosts. The bacterial entomopathogen Photorhabdus lives in symbiosis with nematodes that invade insects. Following entry into the insect, the bacteria are released from the nematode gut into the open blood system of the insect. Here they secrete factors ... More
Metabolic mapping of proteinase activity with emphasis on in situ zymography of gelatinases: review and protocols.
AuthorsFrederiks WM, Mook OR
JournalJ Histochem Cytochem
PubMed ID15150280
'Proteases are essential for protein catabolism, regulation of a wide range of biological processes, and in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Several techniques are available to localize activity of proteases in tissue sections or cell preparations. For localization of the activity of matrix metalloproteinases, in situ zymography was introduced some ... More
Alveolar wall apoptosis causes lung destruction and emphysematous changes.
AuthorsAoshiba K, Yokohori N, Nagai A
JournalAm J Respir Cell Mol Biol
PubMed ID12707011
'Pulmonary emphysema is characterized by alveolar wall destruction and airspace enlargement. Recent evidence indicates that epithelial or endothelial apoptosis may be involved in the pathogenesis of emphysema. Here, we describe the induction of emphysematous changes, including airspace enlargement, alveolar wall destruction, and enhanced lung distensibility, in mice receiving a single ... More
A zinc metalloprotease inhibitor, Inh, from the insect pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens.
AuthorsValens M, Broutelle AC, Lefebvre M, Blight MA
JournalMicrobiology
PubMed ID12177336
The entomopathogen Photorhabdus luminescens secretes many proteins during the late stages of insect larvae infection and during in vitro laboratory culture. The authors have previously characterized and purified a 55 kDa zinc metalloprotease, PrtA, from culture supernatants of P. luminescens. PrtA is secreted via a classical type I secretory pathway ... More
Changes in neutrophil functions in astronauts.
AuthorsKaur I, Simons ER, Castro VA, Mark Ott C, Pierson DL
JournalBrain Behav Immun
PubMed ID15265537
Exploration class human spaceflight missions will require astronauts with robust immune systems. Innate immunity will be an essential element for the healthcare maintenance of astronauts during these lengthy expeditions. This study investigated neutrophil phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and degranulation of 25 astronauts after four space shuttle missions and in nine healthy ... More
Secreted neutral metalloproteases of Bacillus anthracis as candidate pathogenic factors.
To evaluate the pathogenic potential of Bacillus anthracis-secreted proteases distinct from lethal toxin, two neutral zinc metalloproteases were purified to apparent homogeneity from the culture supernatant of a non-virulent delta Ames strain (pXO1-, pXO2-). The first (designated Npr599) is a thermolysin-like enzyme highly homologous to bacillolysins from other Bacillus species. ... More
Overexpression of the serine elastase inhibitor elafin protects transgenic mice from hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.
AuthorsZaidi SH, You XM, Ciura S, Husain M, Rabinovitch M
JournalCirculation
PubMed ID11815437
BACKGROUND: Increased serine elastase activity has been implicated in the vascular remodeling associated with chronic hypoxia-related pulmonary hypertension in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study we determined the time course of hypoxia-induced serine elastase activity in the murine lung and related this to initiation of a proteolytic cascade characterized ... More
Leukocyte elastase induces epithelial apoptosis: role of mitochondial permeability changes and Akt.
AuthorsGinzberg HH, Shannon PT, Suzuki T, Hong O, Vachon E, Moraes T, Abreu MT, Cherepanov V, Wang X, Chow CW, Downey GP
JournalAm J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol
PubMed ID15194561
During acute inflammation, neutrophil-mediated injury to epithelium may lead to disruption of epithelial function, including the induction of epithelial apoptosis. Herein, we report the effects of neutrophil transmigration and of purified leukocyte elastase on epithelial cell survival. Neutrophil transmigration induced apoptosis of epithelial cells [control monolayers: 5 +/- 1 cells/25 ... More
Human mesotrypsin is a unique digestive protease specialized for the degradation of trypsin inhibitors.
AuthorsSzmola R, Kukor Z, Sahin-Tóth M
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID14507909
Mesotrypsin is an enigmatic minor human trypsin isoform, which has been recognized for its peculiar resistance to natural trypsin inhibitors such as soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) or human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (SPINK1). In search of a biological function, two conflicting theories proposed that due to its inhibitor-resistant activity mesotrypsin ... More