Caseinolytic (Clp) proteases are widespread energy-dependent proteases; the functional ATP-dependent protease is comprised of multimers of proteolytic and regulatory subunits. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has two ClpP proteolytic subunits (ClpP1 and ClpP2), with both being essential for growth in vitro. ClpP1 and clpP2 are arranged in an apparent operon; we demonstrated that the two genes are co-...

Subtilisin DY is very resistant to the denaturing action of urea: the conformational properties are not affected up to 4.5 M-urea, and even in the presence of 8 M-urea there is only a slow loss of ordered structure and caseinolytic activity. C.d. and fluorescence-emission studies also show that this proteinase is stable in the 5.5-10.0 pH range, whereas below pH 5.5 a sharp denaturation occurs ...

Dysregulated extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism may contribute to vascular remodeling during the development and complication of human atherosclerotic lesions. We investigated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of enzymes that degrade ECM components in human atherosclerotic plaques (n = 30) and in uninvolved arterial specimens (n = 11). We studied members of all thr...

Caseinolytic peptidase P (ClpP), a double-ring peptidase with 14 subunits, collaborates with ATPases associated with diverse activities (AAA+) partners to execute ATP-dependent protein degradation. Although many ClpP enzymes self-assemble into catalytically active homo-tetradecamers able to cleave small peptides, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzyme consists of discrete ClpP1 and ClpP2 heptame...

Escherichia coli caseinolytic protease (Clp)B is a hexameric AAA+ [expanded superfamily of AAA (ATPase associated with various cellular activities)] enzyme that has the unique ability to catalyse protein disaggregation. Such enzymes are essential for proteome maintenance. Based on structural comparisons to homologous enzymes involved in ATP-dependent proteolysis and clever protein engineering s...

Snakebite envenomations cause severe local tissue necrosis and the venom metalloproteinases are thought to be the key toxins involved. In this study, the ethanolic extract from seed kernels of Thai mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. 'Fahlun') (Anacardiaceae) and its major phenolic principle (pentagalloylglucopyranose) exhibited potent and dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the caseinolytic and fi...

We have determined the crystal structure of the proteolytic component of the caseinolytic Clp protease (ClpP) from E. coli at 2.3 A resolution using an ab initio phasing procedure that exploits the internal 14-fold symmetry of the oligomer. The structure of a ClpP monomer has a distinct fold that defines a fifth structural family of serine proteases but a conserved catalytic apparatus. The acti...

The ATP-dependent caseinolytic proteases (Clp) are fundamental for stress tolerance and virulence in many pathogenic bacteria. The role of ClpC in the autolysis and virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae is controversial. In this study, we tested the role of ClpC in a number of S. pneumoniae strains and found that the contribution of ClpC to autolysis is strain dependent. ClpC is required for th...

Conditions are described for the production of large amounts of an extracellular elastolytic protease by Vibrio vulnificus. The yield of enzyme was maximal during the late exponential growth phase and was stable during the stationary growth phase in a medium composed of 2% Proteose Peptone and 1.5% NaCl. The protease has a molecular weight of ca. 50,500 (estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly...