Molecular characterization of 45 kDa aspartic protease of Trichinella spiralis.
In a previous study, we identified an aspartic protease gene (Ts-Asp) from the Trichinella spiralis muscle stage larva cDNA library. The gene sequence of Ts-Asp was 1281 bp long and was found to encode a protein consisting of 405 amino acids, with a molecular mass of 45.248 kD and a pI of 5.95. The deduced Ts-Asp has a conserved catalytic motif with catalytic aspartic acid residues in the active site, a common characteristic of aspartic proteases. In addition, the deduced amino acid sequence of Ts-Asp was found to possess significant homology (above 50%) with aspartic proteases from nematode parasites. Results of phylogenetic analysis indicated a close relationship of Ts-Asp with cathepsin D aspartic proteases. For production of recombinant Ts-Asp (rTs-Asp), the pGEX4T expression system was used. Like other proteases, the purified rTs-Asp was able to digest collagen matrix in vitro. Abundant expression of Ts-Asp was observed in muscle stage larva. Ts-Asp was detected in ES proteins, and was able to elicit the production of specific antibodies. It is the first report of molecular characterization of aspartic protease isolated from T. spiralis.
Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, South Korea; Park Jong Nam Internal Medicine Clinic, Busan 604-030, South Korea.
Jong Nam
JN
Park
Sang Kyun
SK
Park
Min Kyoung
MK
Cho
Mi-Kyung
MK
Park
Shin Ae
SA
Kang
Dong-Hee
DH
Kim
Hak Sun
HS
Yu
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D057055:Aspartic Acid Proteases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017160:Trichinella spiralis / Q000201:enzymology*
D057055:Aspartic Acid Proteases