A variety of neutral serine proteases are important for the effector functions of immune cells. The neutrophil-derived serine proteases cathepsin G and neutrophil elastase are implicated in the host defense against invading bacterial and fungal pathogens. Likewise, the cytotoxic lymphocyte and NK cell granule-associated granzymes A and B are important for the elimination of virus-infected cells...

Proteases are significant determinants of protozoan pathogenicity and cytolysis of host cells. However, there is now growing evidence of their involvement in cellular differentiation. Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype elaborates a number of proteases, which are inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride. Using this and other selective protease inhibitors...

In Drosophila, recognition of pathogens such as Gram-positive bacteria and fungi triggers the activation of proteolytic cascades and the subsequent activation of the Toll pathway. This response can be achieved by either detection of pathogen associated molecular patterns or by sensing microbial proteolytic activities ("danger signals"). Previous data suggested that certain serine protease homol...

Background: Alkaline proteases is the important group of enzymes having numerous industrial applications including dairy food formulations. Objectives: The current study deals with the purification and characterization of an alkaline serine protease produced by Geotrichum candidum QAUGC01, isolated from indigenous fermented milk product, Dahi.<br...

Emerging evidence has suggested that aldosterone has direct deleterious effects on the kidney independently of its hemodynamic effects. However, the detailed mechanisms of these direct effects remain to be elucidated. We have previously reported that camostat mesilate (CM), a synthetic serine protease inhibitor, attenuated kidney injuries in Dahl salt-sensitive rats, remnant kidney rats, and un...

Response surface methodology (RSM) using a central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the conditions for extraction of serine protease from kesinai (Streblus asper) leaves. The effect of independent variables, namely temperature (42.5,47.5, X₁), mixing time (2-6 min, X₂), buffer content (0-80 mL, X₃) and buffer pH (4.5-10.5, X₄) on specific activity, storage stability, temperature ...

Non-structural protein 3 (NS3) is a multifunctional enzyme possessing serine protease, NTPase, and RNA unwinding activities that are required for hepatitis C viral (HCV) replication. HCV non-structural protein 4A (NS4A) binds to the N-terminal NS3 protease domain to stimulate NS3 serine protease activity. In addition, the NS3 protease domain enhances the RNA binding, ATPase, and RNA unwinding a...

The family of enzymes known as serine proteases supports many biological functions for cancer cells, including activation of growth and angiogenic factors and activation of other proteases for invasion and metastasis. In addition, many of these serine proteases are secreted by cells into the extracellular space to serve these functions. Therefore, serine proteases are excellent candidate tumor ...