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

The purpose of these studies was to identify some of the extracellular proteolytic enzymes associated with the development and healing of acute inflammatory lesions. Lesions were produced in the skin of rabbits by the topical application of the military vesicant, sulfur mustard (SM). Full-thickness, 1-cm2 central biopsies of the lesions were organ-cultured for one to three days, and the culture fluids were assayed for proteases with a variety of substrates. When compared to culture fluids from normal skin, the culture fluids from both developing and healing SM lesions had three to six times the levels of proteases hydrolyzing two synthetic peptide substrates: (1) t-butyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Gly-Arg-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin-7-amide(Boc-Leu -Gly- Arg-AFC, herein abbreviated LGA-AFC), and (2) N-benzoyl-phenylalanine-beta-naphthyl ester (BPN). LGA-AFC is a substrate for trypsin, plasmin, plasminogen activator, thrombin, kallikrein, and the C3 and C5 convertases; BPN is a chymotrypsin and cathepsin G substrate. The culture fluids did not consistently hydrolyze four other synthetic peptide substrates or the proteins [14C]-casein and [14C]elastin. In order to determine the likely sources of LGA-AFCase and BPNase activity, we counted the number of granulocytes (PMNs), macrophages (MNs) and activated fibroblasts in histologic sections of developing and healing SM lesions, and we measured the levels of these enzymes in serum, in culture fluids of PMN and MN peritoneal exudate cells, and in culture fluids of two fibroblast cell lines. In SM lesions, serum and fibroblasts seemed to be the major source of LGA-AFCase, and serum alone the major source of BPNase. Tissue PMNs and MNs seemed to be only minor sources. The crusts of healing lesions, which were full of dead PMNs, seemed to be a rich source of both enzymes. In the SM lesion culture fluids, whether LGA-AFC and BPN were hydrolyzed by endopeptidases or only by exopeptidases could be determined by evaluating complex formation with alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitors (alpha M). Endopeptidases, but not exopeptidases, are entrapped and inhibited by alpha M, because an internal peptide band in alpha M must first be hydrolyzed before molecular rearrangement (required for proteinase inhibition) occurs. The catalytic site of endopeptidases that are entrapped and inhibited by alpha M is known to remain active on (and reachable by) small synthetic peptide substrates such as LGA-AFC and BPN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Proteases released in organ culture by acute dermal inflammatory lesions produced in vivo in rabbit skin by sulfur mustard: hydrolysis of synthetic peptide substrates for trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like enzymes. 304 42

The proteolytic activity of the intestinal bacterium Bacteroides fragilis NCDO 2217 was cell-bound during exponential growth, but was progressively released from the cells in stationary phase. Proteins hydrolysed included casein, trypsin, chymotrypsin, azocasein and the proteins in azosoya bean flour. Collagen, azocoll, elastin, gelatin, ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin were either weakly degraded or completely refractory to proteolysis. Arylamidase activity was exhibited against leucine p-nitroanilide (LPNA), leucine beta-naphthylamide, glycyl-proline p-nitroanilide and valyl-alanine p-nitroanilide. The bacterium grew with ammonia, peptone or casein as sole nitrogen source. Azocasein- and LPNA-hydrolysing activities were consistently higher when grown on casein. Cell-bound protease activity increased concomitantly with growth rate in both carbon- and nitrogen-limited continuous culture. Leucine arylamidase activity was also growth-rate-dependent, being 3-fold greater at D = 0.18 h-1 compared to D = 0.03 h-1. Extracellular proteolytic activity was only detected at low growth rates, accounting for about 25% of total protease activity.
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PMID:Studies on the proteolytic activity of Bacteroides fragilis. 305 70

The objective of this study was to investigate the elastin repair process in the rat aortic smooth muscle cell culture after proteolytic injury. Although little studied in vivo, elastin repair is thought to occur through a sequential process involving enzymatic removal (debridement) of damaged fibers followed by synthesis of tropoelastin, its subsequent processing, and eventual incorporation into new insoluble elastin. A second repair mechanism of proteolytically damaged elastin in a culture system is reported here. Repair in this system relates directly to restoration of resistance to elastin solubilization by hot alkali. As expected, severe injuries were observed with porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). Using PPE, only 6% of the elastin, relative to control, was resistant to hot alkali immediately after elastase treatment. 4 wk later, resistance to hot alkali had increased dramatically to a mean of 90%. Repair took longer after injury with 75 micrograms of PPE as compared with 50 micrograms of PPE. The limited elastic fiber proteolysis induced by either human neutrophil elastase or porcine trypsin was repaired in culture within 2 wk. Elastin that had been radiolabeled with [3H]lysine 4-5 wk before injury was converted from a hot NaOH-susceptible to a NaOH-resistant elastin fraction during recovery from PPE injury. At the same time, the frayed elastic fibers that were seen with the electron microscope immediately after PPE treatment were replaced by continuous bands of elastin that resembled those in control cultures. Restoration of NaOH resistance did not require a net increase in total cell layer elastin, suggesting that relatively little new tropoelastin incorporation into the cell layer was required for this type of repair. These results suggested a salvage repair mechanism for proteolytically damaged elastin.
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PMID:Repair of protease-damaged elastin in neonatal rat aortic smooth muscle cell cultures. 314 80

Chymotrypsin can completely solubilize insoluble [3H]-labeled ligamentum nuchae elastin. At similar enzyme levels, trypsin solubilizes only 5% of the elastin substrate whereas pancreatic elastase completely solubilizes the elastin at one-tenth the concentration required for chymotrypsin solubilization. The elastolytic activity of chymotrypsin is dependent on Ca+2, is enhanced by SDS, and is inhibited by NaCl at concentrations above 10 mM. The elastolytic activity of chymotrypsin is also inhibited by TPCK, a chymotrypsin specific inhibitor, but not by TLCK, a trypsin specific inhibitor. Neither TPCK nor TLCK abolish the elastolytic activity of pancreatic elastase. The sizes of [3H]elastin fragments produced by the elastolytic activity of chymotrypsin are similar to those produced by pancreatic elastase, and larger than those produced by trypsin.
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PMID:Studies on the elastolytic activity of chymotrypsin. 316 94

Previous studies on the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms have shown both elastase-like activity in the aortic wall and a decreased elastin content. The present study, using specific radioimmunoassays for pancreatic elastase 2 (IRE2) and cationic trypsin(ogen) (IRCT), investigates the concentrations of these proteases which are known to circulate in blood, in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Aortic specimens were obtained from 32 patients with aneurysms and 21 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Aortic tissue, obtained at autopsy from young adults, served as controls. Elastase-like activity was 300% and 800% higher, respectively, in aortic homogenates from aneurysms in comparison to occlusive disease and control aortic tissue. This was associated with 1.4-fold higher level of IRE2 and 2.7-fold higher levels of IRCT as compared to occlusive disease. Although there was no significant difference in the aortic collagen concentration among all 3 groups, the elastin content of aneurysmal aorta was 85% and 74% lower, respectively, in comparison to control and occlusive aorta. The results of this investigation demonstrate the presence of pancreatic elastase 2 and cationic trypsin(ogen) in abdominal aortic aneurysmal tissue and suggest that circulating pancreatic proteases contribute to the pathophysiology of aneurysms of the infrarenal aorta.
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PMID:Assessment of the role of pancreatic proteases in human abdominal aortic aneurysms and occlusive disease. 318 Apr 83

During development of the pregnant rat uterus there is a several fold increase in elastin content. Using Verhoeff's elastic fiber stain, we have shown that a significant proportion of these elastin fibers are in the extracellular matrix of the myometrium. They do not appear as an organized structure but rather in a variety of partially extended, random configurations. An elastase was identified in both the pregnant and the postpartum uterus. Partial characterization of the enzyme indicated that it is a serine protease with a molecular weight around 24,500 and a pH optimum of 8.5. In addition to the enzyme, relatively high levels on an elastase inhibitor were found in the uterine extracts. The inhibitor did not inhibit trypsin, indicating that it was not alpha-1-antiprotease. The data suggest that the elastase and inhibitor are uterine tissue derived and perhaps important in the normal remodeling process of uterine connective tissue.
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PMID:Identification of a uterine elastase in the pregnant rat uterus. 326 53

Nine isolates of the entomopathogenic deuteromycetes Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, Nomuraea rileyi, and Aschersonia aleyrodis produced basic (pI greater than 7.0) chymoelastases that possessed extended binding sites, comprising at least four or five subsites, with preference for hydrophobic residues at the primary binding site. Most isolates also produced additional acidic enzymes with similar specificities against ester and amide substrates but which lacked activity against elastin. Both acidic and basic enzymes degraded high protein azure or locust cuticle and, as shown by inhibition studies, possessed essential serine and histidine residues in the active site. In spite of similarities in catalytic properties antibodies generated against a Metarhizium chymoelastase cross-reacted only with enzymes from two (out of four) Metarhizium isolates; enzymes from all other isolates did not cross-react. Two isolates of Metarhizium produced a third class of protease which degraded Bz-AA-AA-Arg-NA substrates (AA, various amino acids) and hide protein azure. Analogous peptidases were produced by other isolates but they were specific for Bz-Phe-Val-Arg-NA and showed less sensitivity to trypsin inhibitors. The possible significance to pathology of the presence of diverse yet similar protease forms in five genera of entomopathogens is discussed.
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PMID:Distribution of chymoelastases and trypsin-like enzymes in five species of entomopathogenic deuteromycetes. 331 Aug 95

Recent evidence indicates that human alveolar macrophages can degrade purified elastin in vitro by a cell contact-dependent process involving acidic proteinases of the cysteine proteinase class. It is unclear to what extent these cells can degrade elastin within a natural extracellular matrix. To address this question, we cultured live human alveolar macrophages on elastin-rich, 3H-lysine-labeled, extracellular matrices deposited by rat smooth muscle cells in vitro. Under various culture conditions, we then measured release of total radioactivity from the matrices during co-culture with cells as well as net loss of desmosine/isodesmosine as a specific marker of elastin degradation. Live macrophages adhered to and progressively solubilized matrix protein at a slow rate (approximately 5 micrograms/10(6) cells/24 h) but the rate of solubilization increased more than 15-fold in the presence of plasminogen. The elastin component of the complicated matrix was not measurably degraded in the absence of plasminogen, but in medium containing plasminogen, 3.5 X 10(6) macrophages degraded 25 +/- 8 micrograms of elastin in 72 h. After pretreatment of matrices with trypsin to remove glycoprotein elements, live cells degraded 16 +/- 4 micrograms of elastin under plasminogen-free conditions. The addition of serum to the medium (1 to 5%) inhibited degradation of elastin within whole matrices (approximately 50% compared to serum-free medium containing plasminogen) but had no effect on degradation of elastin in trypsin-pretreated matrices. An active site inhibitor of cysteine proteinases, Z-phenylalanine-phenylalanine-diazomethylketone, blocked approximately 50% of the elastin degradation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Role of plasminogen activator in degradation of extracellular matrix protein by live human alveolar macrophages. 334 31

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a genetic disease characterized by progressive mineralization of elastic fibers. Previous studies suggested that other components, apart from elastin, might be involved in the alterations of this connective tissue disorder (Martinez-Hernandez and Huffer, 1974; Pasquali Ronchetti et al., 1981; 1986). Evidence is presented that proteoglycan metabolism is altered in PXE-affected patient. Urinary GAGs suggests an increased degradation of glucosamine-containing GAGs in the patient. Pulse and chase experiments on in vitro skin fibroblasts indicated a decreased rate of synthesis of [35SO4] containing GAGs or an increase of their turnover rate in PXE. Moreover, when PGs produced from skin fibroblasts were identified by ultracentrifugation and gel filtration in associative conditions, PXE fibroblasts produced a significantly higher amount of the high molecular weight fraction of sulfated PGs. This high molecular weight material was present both in the medium and in the matrix and disappeared under dissociative conditions or after treatment with hyaluronidase or with pancreas elastase. By electron microscopy, PXE fibroblasts appeared to produce and secrete an enormous amount of toluidine blue 0 positive material organized as filaments and amorphous masses. These data are in agreement with previous observations of the presence of abnormal masses of microfilaments, in the dermis of PXE patients, which were sensitive to hyaluronidase and partially to trypsin and elastase (Pasquali Ronchetti et al., 1986). The results seem to confirm that at least some of the alterations of connective tissues in PXE are due to abnormal PGs metabolism and to their tendency to form abnormal aggregates in the extracellular space.
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PMID:Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE): ultrastructural and biochemical study on proteoglycan and proteoglycan-associated material produced by skin fibroblasts in vitro. 334 48

Staphylococcus aureus is known to produce three very active extracellular proteinases. One of these enzymes, a cysteine proteinase, after purification to homogeneity was found to degrade insoluble bovine lung elastin at a rate comparable to human neutrophil elastase. This enzyme had no detectable activity against a range of synthetic substrates normally utilized by elastase, chymotrypsin, or trypsin-like proteinases. However, it did hydrolyze the synthetic substrate carbobenzoxy-phenylalanyl-leucyl-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (Km = 0.5 mM, kcat = 0.16 s-1). The proteolytic activity of the cysteine proteinase was rapidly and efficiently inhibited by alpha 2-macroglobulin and also by the cysteine-specific inhibitor rat T-kininogen (Ki = 5.2 X 10(-7) M). Human kininogens, however, did not inhibit. Human plasma apparently contains other inhibitors of this enzyme, since plasma depleted of alpha 2-macroglobulin retained significant inhibitory capacity. The elastolytic activity of this S. aureus proteinase and its lack of control by human kininogens or cystatin C may explain some of the connective tissue destruction seen in bacterial infections due to this and related organisms such as may occur in septicemia, septic arthritis, and otitis.
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PMID:Degradation of elastin by a cysteine proteinase from Staphylococcus aureus. 342 37


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