Protein and Peptide Letters - Volume 22, Issue 9, 2015

An increasing number of studies demonstrate the ability of peptides to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), opening perspectives for a new class of therapeutics for central nervous system diseases. However, information on the BBB transport of peptides suffer from a wide variety in used methods and experimental set-up. Therefore, it is currently difficult, if not impossible, to classify peptides according to their BBB influx characteristics. To allow direct comparison of BBB influx results of peptides, we introduce a classification method and unified response for BBB influx transport of peptides. First, the results of BBB influx response types (i.e. Kin (MTR), Kin (Perfusion), Pin vitro and Pin vivo), which quantitatively express brain influx, were classified into five classes of BBB influx magnitude based on the distribution of these results for the individual response types. Then, these classes were converted to a BBBin-response, representing a scaled value ranging from zero (no influx) to ten (high influx), independent from the BBB influx response type from which it was derived. This unified response can immediately be applied for new BBB influx results of peptides and represents a ballpark figure for BBB influx and allows direct comparison and ranking of peptides independent of the response type.

Previous studies have proved that a novel antioxidant system composed of various antioxidant peptides (AOPs) exists in the skin of ranid frogs, keeping the redox homeostasis. However, only a small number of AOPs have been identified so far. Here, a total of 47 cDNA sequences encoding 21 different AOPs belonging to 11 families were cloned from the skin cDNA library of Limnonectes fragilis. Among them, fragilin-A1 (VKRRGQDCIHGFCSD) and fragilin-B1 (GQFNDKRWIPFG) were also purified from skin secretions. They were selected with odorranain-Q-Lf (APIRMWYMYRKLTDMEPKPVA), the newest sequence among all 21 AOPs, to evaluate the antioxidant activities by direct free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay. Results demonstrated that all peptides possessed strong DPPH and ABTS.+ scavenging activities, and effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation in linoleic acid emulsion system during a 7- day test. No cytotoxic and hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes was observed for the three AOPs. The homology modeling analysis revealed that they all adopt tertiary structures ideally suited for the key residues to come into contact with the radicals. Current results reveal the existence of antioxidant system constituted of AOPs in the skin of the L. fragilis, and furthermore provide excellent templates for the development of novel antioxidant agents.

The thermotolerant endo-1,4-β-glucanase gene, of Thermotoga petrophila RKU-1, was cloned and over-expressed in E. coli strain BL21 CodonPlus. Enzyme was purified to homogeneity, producing a single band on SDS-PAGE corresponding to 38 kDa, by purification steps of heat treatment combined with ion-exchange column chromatography. The purified enzyme was optimally active, with specific activity of 530 Umg-1 against carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), at pH 6.0 and 95°C and was also stable upto 8 h at 80°C. The enzyme also showed activity against β-glucan barley: 303 %, laminarin: 13.7 %, Whatman filter paper: 0.017 % with no activity against starch and Avicel. The recombinant enzyme exhibited Km, Vmax and Kcat of 12.5 mM, 735 µmol mg-1min-1 and 2351.23 s-1, respectively against CMC as a substrate. The stable recombinant enzyme manifested half life (t1/2) of 6.6 min even at temperature as high as 97°C, with free energy of denaturation (ΔG*D), enthalpy of denaturation (ΔH*D), and entropy of denaturation (ΔS*D) of 98.2 kJ mol-1, 528.9 kJ mol-1, and 1.17 kJ mol-1K-1, respectively at 97°C. In addition, the enthalpy (ΔH*), Gibbs free energy (ΔG*) and entropy (ΔS*) for hydrolysis of CMC substrate by endo-1,4-β-glucanase were calculated at 95°C as 48.2 kJ mol-1, 54.6 kJ mol-1 and -17.4 J mol-1 K-1, respectively. The recombinant enzyme saccharified pre-treated wheat straw and bagasse to 3.32 % and 3.2 %, respectively after 6 h incubation at 85°C. Its thermostability, resistance to heavy metal ions and specific activity make this enzyme an interesting candidate for industrial applications.

Urine, by accumulating all kinds of changes, was proposed to be a better source for biomarker discovery. As one of the most common post-translational modifications, phosphorylation plays a vital role in many biological activities. However, the urine phosphoproteome has been largely neglected due to the low abundance of phosphoproteins and the presence of various phosphatases in urine. The low level of background phosphorylation in urine is actually advantageous, as urinary phosphopeptides/proteins that are stable to the phosphatases present in urine have the potential to serve as valuable disease biomarkers. Using a TiO2 enrichment strategy, this study aimed to create a comprehensive proteomic profile of human urinary phosphoproteins and to characterize the changes in the urine phosphoproteome after incubation of urine with renal carcinoma cell lysates. In total, 106 urine phosphorylation sites corresponding to 64 proteins, including 80 previously unidentified human urine protein phosphorylation sites, were identified by mass spectrometry. Fifteen phosphopeptides, together averaging 47% of the total phosphopeptides, were found in samples from three individuals. Cellular proteins are potential source of biomarker in urine phosphorylated proteins. Addition of renal carcinoma cellular proteins to urine did not significantly change the phosphorylation level of urine proteins. But there were still a few phosphopeptides from cell lysates survived urinary phosphatases; such phosphopeptides represent potential biomarkers in urine.

Thioredoxin (TRX) catalyzes redox reactions via the reversible oxidation of the conserved active center CGPC and it is involved in multiple biological processes, some of them linked to redox activity while others not. TRX is a globular, thermodynamically stable and monomeric alpha/beta protein with a structure characterized by a central beta-sheet surrounded by alpha-helices. In this review we discuss central aspects of folding, dynamics and function of Escherichia coli TRX (EcTRX), pointing to the characterization of the full-length protein and of relevant fragments. In addition, we focus on the critical role that the C-terminal alpha-helical element plays in a late event in the consolidation of the overall EcTRX fold. Furthermore, we address the characterization of internal molecular motions by NMR and molecular dynamics simulation techniques. Finally, we review important aspects of the relationship among structure, dynamics and enzymatic function of this key redox protein.

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes responsible for inflammatory effects, edema formation, myotoxicity, neurotoxicity and other manifestations from envenoming. In this paper we report the isolation and biochemical characterization of Lmr-PLA2, the first acidic PLA2 found in Lachesis muta rhombeata venom. Furthermore, this study compared biological effects of Lmr-PLA2 and crotoxin B (CB), a PLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. Lmr-PLA2 was isolated by molecular exclusion and reversed phase chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a molecular mass of 13,975 Da, pI of 5.46 and its partial amino acid sequence showed a high identity with PLA2s already described in the literature. In addition, this enzyme possesses the residue D49 in its amino acid sequence, indicating that it is a catalytically active PLA2. Lmr-PLA2 presented high phospholipase activity and was able to inhibit platelet aggregation. Studies of biochemical characterization of new PLA2s, as Lmr-PLA2, are relevant since they help to clarify the structure-function relationship of this important class of toxins.

A new thermostable caseinolytic serine protease was purified from the latex of Euphorbia heterophylla L. to electrophoretic homogeneity by a procedure involving successive steps of pretreatment of the latex, PEG fractionation, CM-cellulose chromatography and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The purified protease was found to be a monomeric protein of molecular weight 77.2 kDa. It exhibited caseinolytic activity with hyperbolic azocasein saturation with Vmax and Km values of 0.11 units.mL-1 and 0.55 mg.mL-1 respectively. Specific inhibitory studies revealed the enzyme to be a serine protease. The protease was characterized by pH optimum of 8.0 and high thermostability with T1/2 of 75°C. Based on the results of peptide mass fingerprinting analysis, the protease was shown to be a new protein not characterized earlier.

The peptidic nature of anti-IAPs N-terminus Smac-derived peptides precludes their utilization as potential therapeutic anticancer agents. Recent advances in the development of novel Smacderived peptidomimetics and non-peptidic molecules with improved anti-IAPs activity and resistance to proteolytic cleavage have been reported and led to a number of candidates that are currently in clinical trials including LCL-161, SM-406/AT-406, GDC-0512/GDC-0917, and birinapant. As an attempt to improve the proteolytic stability of Smac peptides, we developed the Aza-peptide AzaAla- Val-Pro-Phe-Tyr-NH2 (2). Unlike unmodified peptide Ala-Val-Pro-Phe-Tyr-NH2 (1), analogue (2) exhibited resistance towards proteolytic cleavage by two aminopeptidases; LAP and DPP-IV, while retaining its IAP inhibitory activity. This was due to the altered planar geometry of the P1 residue side chain. Our findings showed that using aza-isosteres of bioactive peptide sequences imbue the residue with imperviousness to proteolysis; underscoring a potential approach for developing a new generation of Smac-derived Aza-peptidomimetics.

Shiga toxin family comprises toxins belonging to two major groups, Stx1 and Stx2, produced by the bacteria Shigella dysenteriae and some strains of Escherichia coli. Shiga toxins are the leading cause of diarrhea associated with life threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). StxA is a ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) which inhibits the protein synthesis in most species of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. An in vitro expression system has not been reported to produce full-length biological active StxA subunit; hence substantial progress has been hampered. In the present study, a DNA fragment (955 bp Gene Bank Accn No HM017965) encoding for subunit A of Stx was amplified from Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and subsequently cloned in pGEX-5X-2 vector. We successfully produced recombinant StxA as GST fusion protein in Escherichia coli using pGEX-5X-2-STXA construct under IPTG induction. For the purpose of immunization the GST-tag was removed by factor Xa mediated endoproteolytic cleavage from GST-StxA. Antisera raised against rStxA in mice reacted with recombinant purified protein of rStxA and lysate of Shiga toxin. It was shown that antisera produced against rStxA significantly recognized Stx producing strains of S. dysenteriae and E. coli. The antiserum produced effectively neutralized the Shiga toxin’s cytotoxicity towards Vero cells.

With the particular conjugation structure in the heme prosthetic group, Cyt c shows unusual functions similar to chlorophyll while irradiated by specific wavelength of UV-Vis lights. To further reveal mechanism of the photo-irradiation of Cyt c, we then studied various external factors that may influence the photo induced process. The absorbance intensity increase of band (317 nm) and Q band (520 nm and 549 nm)indicated Cyt c in phosphate-buffered saline within N2 atmosphere was photoreduced to Fe(II) Cyt c. Irradiated by 410 nm, the photoreduction process was facilitated by Met. But Trp, Tyr and Phe impeded the process due to their light absorbance abilities. In addition, the results of fluorescence and CD spectra indicated that the microenvironment polarity of Trp residue varied during the photoreduction process. And the secondary structure of Cyt c changed with lower &#945-helix/βsheet ratio. The photoreduction mechanism of Cyt c was intramolecular electron transferand porphyrin cation radicals were generated. The protein structure of Cyt c changed as well as part of the photoreduction.