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H S Toogood

Publications and source records attributed to H S Toogood.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Sequence of the gene encoding a highly thermostable neutral proteinase from Bacillus sp. strain EA1: expression in Escherichia coli and characterisation.

The gene for a highly thermostable neutral proteinase (Npr) was isolated from Bacillus sp. strain EA1 by the polymerase chain reaction using consensus primers based on the sequences of npr genes from related species. The gene was sequenced and shown to be closely related to a neutral proteinase gene from Bacillus caldolyticus strain YP-T; the mature form of the enzyme differing by only a single amino acid. Enzyme samples were prepared from both the native organisms and also from recombinant Escherichia coli expressing the two npr genes. The proteinase from strain EA1 was shown to be significantly more thermostable than that from B. caldolyticus and that this difference is the result of a single amino acid substitution which is situated proximal to a region of the enzyme known to be crucial to conferring thermal stability. The phylogenetic relationship of EA1 to other Bacilli is also described.

Amino Acid Sequence

A pepstatin-insensitive aspartic proteinase from a thermophilic Bacillus sp.

Bacillus sp. strain Wp22.A1 produced a cell-associated aspartic proteinase which was purified to homogeneity using phenyl-Sepharose (hydrophobic and affinity chromatography) and Mono Q. The proteinase has a molecular mass of 45 kDa by SDS/PAGE and a pI of 3.8. It is insensitive to pepstatin, but is sensitive to the other aspartic proteinase-specific inhibitors diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester (DAN) and 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane. Inactivation by DAN was only partial, suggesting that it had non-specifically modified an aspartate residue at a site other than the active site. The enzyme was not inhibited by any of the serine or cysteine proteinase inhibitors tested. Maximum proteolytic activity was observed at pH 3.5. The proteinase had a higher activity with haemoglobin, but was more specific (Vmax./Km) for cytochrome c. Substrate inhibition was observed with both these substrates. The cleavage of oxidized insulin B chain tended to occur at sites where the P1 amino acid was bulky and non-polar, and the P1' amino acid was bulky and polar, such as its primary cleavage site of Val2-Asn3. The proteinase was stable in the pH range 2.5-5.5. Thermostability was increased in the presence of Ca2+, although to a lesser extent at higher temperatures. The thermostabilities at 60, 70, 80 and 90 degrees C were 45 h, 102, 21 and 3 min respectively in the presence of Ca2+.

Amino Acid Sequence