title: Purification and characterisation of elastase from Staphylococcus epidermidis.
abstract: An elastase of Staphylococcus epidermidis was purified by ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose and characterised. Its M(r) is c. 21 kDa, its optimal temperature for activity is 42 degrees C and the pH optimum is 6.8. The enzyme is activated by cysteine and other SH-donators and inhibited by L-trans-epoxy-succinylleucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane (E64), an inhibitor of cysteine proteases, but not by 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (3,4-DCI), an inhibitor of serine proteases. This finding suggests that the elastase of S. epidermidis is a cysteine protease. Because S. epidermidis elastase degrades human sIgA, IgM, serum albumin, fibrinogen, and fibronectin, this enzyme may be regarded as a virulence factor.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sloot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatermann
mesh_terms: D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000201:enzymology*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D007930:Leucine; C024974:E 64