title: The insect metalloproteinase inhibitor gene of the lepidopteran Galleria mellonella encodes two distinct inhibitors.
abstract: The insect metalloproteinase inhibitor (IMPI) from the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, represents the first and to date only specific inhibitor of microbial metalloproteinases reported from animals. Here, we report on the characterization including carbohydrate analysis of two recombinant constructs encoded by impi cDNA either upstream or downstream of the furin cleavage site identified. rIMPI-1, corresponding to native IMPI purified from hemolymph, is encoded by the N-terminal part of the impi sequence, whereas rIMPI-2 is encoded by its C-terminal part. rIMPI-1 is glycosylated at N48 with GlcNAc2Man3, showing fucosylation to different extents. Similarly, rIMPI-2 is glycosylated at N149 with GlcNAc2Man3, but is fully fucosylated. rIMPI-1 represents a promising template for the design of second-generation antibiotics owing to its specific activity against thermolysin-like metalloproteinases produced by human pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio vulnificus. In contrast, rIMPI-2 does not inhibit bacterial metalloproteinases, but is moderately active against recombinant human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Both microbial metalloproteinases and MMPs induce expression of the impi gene when injected into G. mellonella larvae. These findings provide evidence that the impi gene encodes two distinct inhibitors, one inhibiting microbial metalloproteinases and contributing to innate immunity, the other putatively mediating regulation of endogenous MMPs during metamorphosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wedde
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weise
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuck
authors.forename: Boran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altincicek
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilcinskas
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013820:Thermolysin / Q000378:metabolism; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D013820:Thermolysin; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1