title: Characterization of the ATP-Dependent Lon-Like Protease in Methanobrevibacter smithii.
abstract: The Lon protease is highly evolutionarily conserved. However, little is known about Lon in the context of gut microbial communities. A gene encoding a Lon-like protease (Lon-like-Ms) was identified and characterized from Methanobrevibacter smithii, the predominant archaeon in the human gut ecosystem. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses showed that Lon-like-Ms and its homologs are newly identified members of the Lon family. A recombinant form of the enzyme was purified by affinity chromatography, and its catalytic properties were examined. Recombinant Lon-like-Ms exhibited ATPase activity and cleavage activity toward fluorogenic peptides and casein. The peptidase activity of Lon-like-Ms relied strictly on Mg(2+) (or other divalent cations) and ATP. These results highlight a new type of Lon-like protease that differs from its bacterial counterpart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Jihua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Plant Protection College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110161, China; College of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian 116600, China.
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5566-1330
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003067:Coenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D019641:DNA, Archaeal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D041581:Methanobrevibacter / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D064307:Microbiota; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D049070:Protease La / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D003067:Coenzymes; D019641:DNA, Archaeal; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D049070:Protease La; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D008274:Magnesium