title: Isolation of two plant proteinases in latex from Carica candamarcensis acting as mitogens for mammalian cells.
abstract: In a prior study we showed evidence that latex from Carica candamarcensis contains a protein fraction that stimulates mammalian cell proliferation. In this report we describe the isolation of two proteinases responsible for this effect. Both proteinases (P1, P2) display a relative mass of 23 kDa and following chromatographic purification stimulate proliferation of fibroblastic and epithelial cells. P2 added to L929 fibroblasts at 2.5 nM enhances proliferation by 60 %. We further demonstrate that its cellular effect is linked to an increase in activity of Erk2, a component of the MAP kinase pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first known plant proteinase to exert a proliferative effect in mammalian cells. This novel mitogenic property attributed to a purified cysteine proteinase may explain some of the therapeutic actions attributed to these enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Departamentos de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Túlio R
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Vanessa J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Marcelo P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bemquerer
authors.forename: Miriam T P
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Vitor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Faça
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Salas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029441:Carica; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D008934:Mitogens; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases