Purification and characterization of hieronymain III. Comparison with other proteases previously isolated from Bromelia hieronymi Mez

Protein J. 2008 Dec;27(7-8):426-33. doi: 10.1007/s10930-008-9152-1.

Abstract

A new proteolytic enzyme, named hieronymain III, has been purified by ion-exchange chromatography from unripe fruits of Bromelia hieronymi Mez. The new peptidase belongs to the cysteine catalytic type, as well as hieronymain I and II, the other two peptidases previously isolated from this species. Hieronymain III showed optimum alkaline pH range (8.6-9.3) and the molecular mass (MALDI-TOF) was 23713 Da. The N-terminal sequence (AVPQSIDWRRYGAVTTSRNQG) exhibited a higher percentage identity with hieronymain II (93%) than with hieronymain I (71%). The three peptidases showed notable differences on synthetic substrates degradation: whereas hieronymain III was the only one able to hidrolyze Z-Arg-Arg-p-nitroanilide, hieronymain I and II could degrade Z-Phe-Arg-p-nitroanilide; on the other hand, PFLNA was only split by hieronymain I. Finally, the three proteases showed different preferences on N-alpha-CBZ-p-nitrophenyl aminoacid ester substrates. From a biotechnological point of view, cleavage specificity differences are significant enough to use these enzymes as potential tools in that area.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amidohydrolases / chemistry
  • Amidohydrolases / isolation & purification*
  • Amidohydrolases / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bromelia / enzymology*
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / isolation & purification*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Esterases / chemistry
  • Esterases / isolation & purification*
  • Esterases / metabolism
  • Fruit / enzymology
  • Isoelectric Focusing
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / isolation & purification*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Esterases
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Amidohydrolases
  • amidase