Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute the major class of enzymes capable of degrading all protein components of extracellular matrix (ECM) and have important roles in normal physiologic processes of maintaining tissue integrity and remodeling. However, excess MMP activities are associated with many diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, cardiomyopathy, and macular degeneration. The activity of MMPs is regulated by their endogenous protein inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) which are avid broad-spectrum inhibitors of numerous human matrixins (MMPs and ADAMs). Uncontrolled matrix degradation occurs when the balance between TIMPs and MMPs is disrupted, resulting in serious diseases such as cancer, arthritis and chronic tissue ulcers. Thus, the engineering of TIMPs to produce highly selective and efficacious inhibitors of individual MMPs may be utilized for future treatment of diseases. Such engineering requires detailed analysis for the structural and biophysical information of MMP-TIMP interaction. Changes in the dynamics of proteins and solvent that accompany their associations with different binding partners, influence the specificity of binding through entropic effects. From the current studies it appears that the interactions of the inhibitory domains of TIMPs-1 and -2 (N-TIMPs) with MT1-MMP are driven by entropy increases that are partitioned between solvent and conformational entropy (ΔSsolv and ΔSconf), and a large conformational entropy penalty is responsible for the weak inhibition of MT1-MMP by NT1.We investigated how mutations that modify N-TIMP selectivity affect the thermodynamics of interactions with MMP1, MMP3 and MT1-MMP. The weak inhibition of MT1-MMP by N-TIMP-1 is enhanced by mutation of threonine 98, on the edge of the binding ridge, to leucine. This mutation increases the large ΔSconf cost for binding to MT1-MMP but this is offset by a greater increase in ΔSsolv. In contrast, this mutation enhances binding to MMP3 by increasing ΔSconf for the interaction. ΔSsolv and ΔSconf show mutual compensation for all interactions, with characteristic ranges for each MMP. Distinct electrostatic and dynamic features of MMPs are key factors in their selective inhibition. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

O presente trabalho avaliou, por medida de conteúdo protéico, análise eletroforética, por determinação da atividade proteolítica e verificação da estabilidade dessa atividade, matérias-primas papaína de dois fabricantes. Formulações géis de Carbopol® 940, Natrosol® 250 HHR e Pluronic® F127, contendo matéria-prima papaína a 1%, foram desenvolvidas e avaliadas quanto à estabilidade e a eficácia in vitro da atividade proteolítica. Os estudos de estabilidade foram conduzidos por medida da atividade proteolítica da papaína, utilizando a caseína como substrato, em amostras armazenadas sob diferentes condições de temperatura e umidade. A eficácia da ação proteolítica in vitro foi avaliada em gel de poliacrilamida, contendo gelatina como substrato. A matéria-prima do fabricante B apresentou maior conteúdo protéico e maior atividade proteolítica do que a matériaprima do fabricante A. Ambas matérias-primas demonstraram estabilidade da atividade funcional, quando armazenadas a 4°C, por um período de 6 meses. Quando armazenadas a 30°C/70%UR e a 40°C/70%UR, houve perda acentuada dessa atividade. A medida da atividade proteolítica das formulações, após 48 horas de sua preparação, mostrou que apenas 8% da atividade funcional total foi detectada. Este resultado pode indicar interação entre a papaína e os componentes das formulações, levando a uma perda da atividade proteolítica, ou uma redução da velocidade da reação enzimática. Os estudos da estabilidade da atividade funcional mostraram que ambas formulações foram estáveis, quando armazenadas a 4°C, por 6 meses. Entretanto, quando armazenadas a 30°C/70%UR e a 40°C/70%UR, foi observada rápida redução da atividade proteolítica, em função do tempo de armazenamento. A avaliação da atividade proteolítica das formulações em gel de poliacrilamida, adicionado de gelatina como substrato, após 6 horas de incubação a 37°C, demonstrou que a formulação gel de Carbopol® 940 foi a mais eficaz, até mesmo superior à formulação extemporânea de matéria-prima papaína 1%, em solução aquosa. Este resultado evidencia que esse polímero foi o mais adequado para veicular a papaína. Além disso, foi o que apresentou maior eficácia proteolítica no teste in vitro. Dessa forma, esta formulação poderá ser empregada para auxiliar o processo de cicatrização de feridas e queimaduras, nos diferentes níveis assistenciais de saúde, com garantia de eficácia, segurança e qualidade. / The present work evaluated by content of protein measurement, electrophoresis, proteolytic activity determination and verification of this activity stability, raw materials of papain obtained from two manufacturers. Gel formulations of Carbopol® 940, Natrosol® 250 HHR and Pluronic® F127, and containing 1% of papain, were developed and evaluated with regard to stability and in vitro efficacy of proteolytic activity. The stability studies were conducted by papain proteolytic activity measurement, using casein as substrate and the samples were stored under different conditions of temperature and humidity. The in vitro efficacy of proteolytic activity was evaluated using polyacrylamide gel containing gelatin as substrate. The raw material obtained from manufacturer B showed higher content of protein and higher proteolytic activity than the one from manufacturer A. Both raw materials showed functional stability when stored at 4°C during 6 months. When stored at 30°C/70% RH and at 40°C/70% RH, there was significant loss of these activities. The measure of formulations proteolytic activity, after 48 hours from its preparation, showed that only 8% of the total activity was detected. This result might indicate possible interactions between papain and formulation components, which lead to a loss in the proteolytic activity or a reduction in the speed of enzymatic reaction. The functional stability studies showed that all formulations were stable when stored at 4°C during 6 months. However, when stored at 30°C/70%RH and 40°C/70%RH, it was observed fast decrease in the proteolytic activity as a function of storage time. The evaluation of formulations proteolytic activity in polyacrylamide gel, added with gelatin as substrate, after 6 hours of incubation at 37°C, showed that Carbopol® 940 gel formulation was the most efficient, being also better than the formulation recently prepared with 1% of papain raw material in aqueous solution. This result demonstrates that this polymer was the most adequate to be incorporated with papain. Besides this, it was the one that showed higher proteolytic efficacy in the in vitro test. Then, this formulation might be employed to help in the wound and burns cicatrisation process, in the different levels of health assistance, with efficacy, security and quality guarantee.

by Lau King-Kwan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-142). / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.I / ABSTRACT --- p.II / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.IV / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.V / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- PURIFICATION OF ADH-I & ADH-C --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- "PURIFICATION & IDENTIFICATION OF ""ADH-ACTIVATING"" PROTEASE" --- p.60 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- ACTIVATION OF ADH-I BY COMMERCIAL PROTEASE & BY ACETIMIDYLATION --- p.90 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CONCLUSION --- p.114 / REFERENCES --- p.118

Rapid degradation of certain short lived "timing" proteins is an effective mechanism for cells to control important regulatory pathways. The mechanisms by which regulatory proteases recognize their substrates are not well understood. Escherichia coli Lon, an energy dependent protease highly conserved in many prokaryotes and eukaryotes provides a model system to study protease/substrate interactions. RcsA, a regulator of capsule synthesis, when present in levels high enough to saturate Lon, cannot protect SulA, a cell division inhibitor, from being degraded. These observations suggest Lon recognizes its different substrates with different affinities. The different affinities of these substrates might relate to the role these substrates play in the cell: stabilization of RcsA leads to a nonlethal phenotype (capsule), while stabilization of SulA leads to lethal filamentation. To further examine protease/substrate interactions, targeted mutagenesis was employed to select for mutations in rcsA which give rise to mutant RcsA protein no longer degraded by Lon protease. Two mutants with an increased half-life in the presence of Lon were identified. Their mutations fall into the C-terminal region of RcsA, supporting the hypothesis that this region is involved in the interaction of RcsA with Lon. Stabilization of RcsA was dependent on its partner RcsB; the interaction of RcsA with RcsB is believed to protect RcsA from Lon dependent degradation. However, it was shown that rcsA expression is enhanced in the presence of RcsB, and RcsA protein cannot be detected in strains mutant for RcsB in the presence or absence of Lon. Furthermore, rcsA expression was shown to be activated by RcsA itself: rcsA::lacZ expression is low in the absence of RcsA. A conserved 25 by motif, designated "RcsA-Box" was identified in the promoter region of the rcsA and capsule (cps) genes. This motif was shown to be a likely candidate for RcsA binding: high level expression of both cps::lacZ and rcsA::lacZ fusions was shown to be dependent on the presence of the "RcsA-Box". These studies expand the understanding of the specific interactions between regulatory proteases and their targets, specifically as they relates to complex regulatory networks. / Graduation date: 1998

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-187). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-187). Also available on the Internet.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Assessment of freshness and quality of meat and fish is a major activity of both food regulatory agencies and the food industry. Various methods are used for measuring fish and meat quality, each with its particular advantages and limitations. However, methods based on monitoring the products of proteolysis have received relatively little attention. The objective of the present study was to identify specific protein and peptide products of proteolysis as indicators of freshness and quality during chilled storage of fresh fish and meat. / Samples of meat and fish were subjected to chilled storage; at intervals of 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days, samples were subjected to protein and peptide extraction, and separation of individual sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins by SDS and native electrophoresis. These extracted proteins along with acid soluble nitrogen (ASN) were separated by RP-HPLC, fractions were collected and identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). / RP-HPLC separated at least thirty fractions from the ASN extract of fresh fish. ESI-MS revealed the presence of at least twenty-five polypeptides with molecular weights (MW) ranging from 2 to 32 kDa. The relative area % of the polypeptides with MW 32.8 kDa and 42.8 kDa decreased during the storage while polypeptides of MW of 10.9 kDa and 16.7 kDa increased during storage. Changes in polypeptides of MW 12, 34.2 and 42.8 kDa was also observed. The sarcoplasmic protein extracted from ground and whole meat contained at least 12 polypeptides with MW ranging from 11 to 42 kDa. The relative area % of polypeptide of MW of 35.7 kDa decreased during storage. The results suggest that changes in proteins and polypeptides of MW 10.9, 12, 16.7, 32.8, 34.2 and 42.88 kDa in fish and 35.7 kDa in meat could serve as indicators of spoilage.

Cathepsin L, which has been implicated in many tissue degradative pathologies by virtue of its ability to degrade extracellular matrix components, was isolated by a novel, scaled-up protein purification method and purified to homogeneity in the single-chain form. In addition, the high molecular weight variant of cathepsin L covalently complexed with stefin B was isolated. Both cathepsin L and the complex were stable, in respect of their proteolytic activity, to the chaotropic agent urea, both showing enhanced activity in the presence of urea. Urea did not dissociate the complex. The suitability of cathepsin L for a purported extracellular role was addressed by investigating its pH optimum and pH stability. Cathepsins L and B are affected by ionic strength and so buffers of constant ionic strength (rather than constant molarity, and therefore varying ionic strength) were used in determining their pH optima and stability. Cathepsins L and B had apparent pH optima of pH 6.5 and 7.5, respectively, (measured with synthetic substrates) and, contrary to the previous belief, were substantially stable at physiological pH. In Hanks' balanced salt solution, a model of the extracellular fluid, they were shown to be active and stable, cathepsin L having a half-life of 179 s at pH 7.2 and 657 s at pH 6.8 (the peritumour pH). It was also shown that prior reductive activation of these enzymes increased their stability to extracellular conditions, supporting the hypothesis that the active site thiolate-imidazolium ion pair contributes to their stability. The nature of the bond between cathepsin L and stefin B in the covalent complex was examined, using CNBr cleavage, HPLC and amino acid sequencing. Stefin B was shown to be associated with residues 1-137 of cathepsin L via a reduction sensitive linkage which was deduced to be a thioester bond betwen Asp-71 of cathepsin L and Cys-3 of stefin B. Polyclonal antibodies to cathepsin L and stefin B-complexed cathepsin L were raised in rabbits and chickens, and characterised with respect to their suitability for immunocytochemical localisation of these forms of cathepsin L. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.