title: Extracellular Ribonuclease fromBacillus licheniformis(Balifase), a New Member of the N1/T1 RNase Superfamily.
abstract: The N1/T1 RNase superfamily comprises enzymes with well-established antitumor effects, such as ribotoxins secreted by fungi, primarily byAspergillusandPenicilliumspecies, and bacterial RNase secreted byB. pumilus(binase) andB. amyloliquefaciens(barnase). RNase is regarded as an alternative to classical chemotherapeutic agents due to its selective cytotoxicity towards tumor cells. New RNase with a high degree of structural similarity with binase (73%) and barnase (74%) was isolated and purified fromBacillus licheniformis(balifase, calculated molecular weight 12421.9 Da, pI 8.91). The protein sample with enzymatic activity of 1.5 × 106units/A280was obtained. The physicochemical properties of balifase are similar to those of barnase. However, in terms of its gene organization and promoter activity, balifase is closer to binase. The unique feature of balifase gene organization consists in the fact that genes of RNase and its inhibitor are located in one operon. Similarly to biosynthesis of binase, balifase synthesis is induced under phosphate starvation; however, in contrast to binase, balifase does not form dimers under natural conditions. We propose that the highest stability of balifase among analyzed RNase types allows the protein to retain its structure without oligomerization.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya Str. 18, Kazan 420008, Russia.
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3856-7486
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sokurenko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya Str. 18, Kazan 420008, Russia.
authors.forename: Alsu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadyrova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya Str. 18, Kazan 420008, Russia.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ulyanova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya Str. 18, Kazan 420008, Russia.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ilinskaya