Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.4 (trypsin)
 42,187 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The pulmonary vasculature is of great physiological/pathological significance. We have isolated and cultured microvessel endothelial cells (HuLEC) from lung tissue obtained from lung transplant recipients by modification of published methods. Pure cultures of HuLEC were isolated by mechanical disaggregation of the tissue prior to sequential dispase and trypsin digestion to obtain microvessel fragments. Magnetic beads (Dynabeads) coated with Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 were then used to enhance the purity of cultures at the first passage. HuLEC formed contact-inhibited "cobblestone" monolayers on gelatin and fibronectin substrates and capillary-like "tubes" on Matrigel and accumulated acetylated low-density lipoprotein. Immunofluorescent characterization of these cells revealed the presence of von Willebrand Factor, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and thrombomodulin and the expression of antigens for the endothelial cell-specific monoclonal antibodies EN4, PAL-E, and H4-7/33. The endothelial origin of these cells was confirmed by the demonstration of the cell adhesion molecules, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31), and E-selectin (endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1/ELAM-1) upon stimulation with TNF alpha. These cells should provide a useful tool for studying various aspects of pathology and biology of the pulmonary microvasculature in vitro.
 ...
PMID:Human lung microvessel endothelial cells: isolation, culture, and characterization. 841 55

Bioactive peptides frequently terminate with an essential alpha-amide that is generated from a COOH-terminal Gly in a two-step enzymatic process occurring within the lumen of the secretory pathway. The first enzyme, peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase, is a member of the copper- and ascorbate-dependent monooxygenase family. The second enzyme, peptidyl-alpha-hydroxyglycine alpha-amidating lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.2.5), has no known homologues. Examination of the catalytic core of PAL (PALcc) using trypsin, BNPS skatole, and COOH-terminally truncated proteins failed to identify stable subdomains. Treatment of PALcc with divalent metal ion chelators inactivated the enzyme and increased its protease and thermal sensitivity, suggesting a structural role for bound metal. Purified PALcc contained 0.7 +/- 0.4 mol of zinc/mol of enzyme. Since the four Cys residues in PALcc form two disulfide bonds, potential Zn ligands include conserved Asp, Glu, and His residues. The secretion and activity of PALcc bearing mutations in each conserved Asp, Glu, and His residue were evaluated. Mutation of three conserved Asp residues and two conserved His residues yielded a protein that could not be secreted, suggesting that these residues play a structural role. Analysis of mutants that were efficiently secreted identified three His residues along with single Asp residue that may play a role in catalysis. These essential residues occur in a pattern unique to PAL.
 ...
PMID:Essential features of the catalytic core of peptidyl-alpha-hydroxyglycine alpha-amidating lyase. 1236 28

Cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) have recently emerged as a promising method for enzyme immobilization due to its simplicity and low cost. However, a lack of good size and morphological control over the as-prepared CLEAs has limited their practical applications in some cases. Here, monodisperse spherical CLEAs of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL microspheres) were prepared based on CaCO3 microtemplates. The preparation procedure involves filling porous CaCO3 microtemplates with the protein by salt precipitation, glutaraldehyde crosslinking, and dissolution of the microtemplates. The formulation of CaCO3 templates with controlled size was studied in detail. Characterization of the prepared PAL microspheres was investigated. The results showed that the PAL microspheres with high immobilization efficiency (79%) exhibited excellent stability, including increased tolerance to proteolysis, low pH, and denaturants, and excellent mechanical properties. For example, free PAL almost lost all activity after they were incubated in the presence of trypsin for 2min, whereas PAL microspheres still retained 95% of their initial activity. Moreover, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms revealed that the resultant PAL microspheres possessed good monodispersity and mesoporous structure instead of the amorphous clusters of conventional CLEAs with few pores. Compared with conventional CLEAs, the monodisperse PAL microspheres with mesoporous make them more potentially useful for biomedical and biotechnological applications.
 ...
PMID:Mesoporous phenylalanine ammonia lyase microspheres with improved stability through calcium carbonate templating. 2821 88