The α-defensins, human neutrophil peptides (HNPs) are the predominant antimicrobial peptides of neutrophil granules. They are synthesized in promyelocytes and myelocytes as proHNPs, but only processed in promyelocytes and stored as mature HNPs in azurophil granules. Despite decades of search, the mechanisms underlying the posttranslational processing of neutrophil defensins remain unidentified....

Previous work has shown that endothelial cell (EC)-derived matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) regulate regression of capillary tubes in vitro in a plasmin- and MMP-1 dependent manner. Here we report that a number of serine proteases can activate MMP-1 and cause capillary tube regression; namely plasma kallikrein, trypsin, neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G, tryptase and chymase. Plasma prekallikrei...

A method for the quantitative estimation of arginine is included by Van Slyke (1911-12) in his procedure for the determination of the nitrogen distribution numbers of proteins. The amino acids present in the protein hydrolysate are divided into two groups by means of phosphotungstic acid. The portion precipitated by t,his reagent is referred to as the basic or diamino fraction and the portion n...

Snake venom proteases, in addition to their contribution to the digestion of the prey, affect various physiological functions. They affect platelet aggregation, blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, complement system, blood pressure and nervous system. This review provides a ready reference for serine proteases that interfere in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. They exhibit their activity by acti...

In the latest two decades, the interest received by plant proteases has been on the rise. Serine proteases (EC 3.4.21)-in particular those from cucurbits, cereals and trees-share indeed a number of biochemical and physiological features, that may prove useful toward understanding of several mechanisms at the subcellular level. This critical review focuses on the characterization of most plant s...

The Arabidopsis thaliana genome has over 550 protease sequences representing all five catalytic types: serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, metallo and threonine (MEROPS peptidase database, http://merops.sanger.ac.uk/), which probably reflect a wide variety of as yet unidentified functions performed by plant proteases. Recent indications that the 26S proteasome, a T1 family-threonine protease, is a...

The aim of this work was to study some biochemical characteristics of crude alkaline protease extracts from the viscera of goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus), thornback ray (Raja clavata), and scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa), and to investigate their applications in the deproteinization of shrimp wastes. At least four caseinolytic proteases bands were observed in zymogram of each enzyme prepara...

The serine proteinase isolated from Thermomonospora fusca YX shows considerable thermal stability up to 80 °C, and progressive inactivation occurs at higher temperatures. Lyotropic salts affected the thermal stability of the enzyme at 85 °C, suggesting that disruption of hydrophobic interactions play an important role in the decreased thermal stability of the enzyme above 80 'C. Thermal stabili...