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J Travis

Publications and source records attributed to J Travis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Two allelic forms of the aureolysin gene (aur) within Staphylococcus aureus.

Proteinases of Staphylococcus aureus are emerging as potential virulence factors which may be involved in the pathogenecity of staphylococcal diseases. We describe here the structure of the gene encoding the metalloproteinase referred to as aureolysin. This gene occurs in two allelic forms and is strongly conserved among S. aureus strains, implying the possibility that the proteinase may have important housekeeping functions.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Emerging family of proline-specific peptidases of Porphyromonas gingivalis: purification and characterization of serine dipeptidyl peptidase, a structural and functional homologue of mammalian prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase IV.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an asaccharolytic and anaerobic bacterium that possesses a complex proteolytic system which is essential for its growth and evasion of host defense mechanisms. In this report, we show the purification and characterization of prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) produced by this organism. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity, and its enzymatic activity and biochemical properties were investigated. P. gingivalis DPPIV, like its human counterpart, is able to cleave the N terminus of synthetic oligopeptides with sequences analogous to those of interleukins 1beta and 2. Additionally, this protease hydrolyzes biologically active peptides including substance P, fibrin inhibitory peptide, and beta-casomorphin. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA isolated from several P. gingivalis strains reveal that a single copy of the DPPIV gene was present in all strains tested.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Crystal structure of gingipain R: an Arg-specific bacterial cysteine proteinase with a caspase-like fold.

Gingipains are cysteine proteinases acting as key virulence factors of the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, the major pathogen in periodontal disease. The 1.5 and 2.0 A crystal structures of free and D-Phe-Phe-Arg-chloromethylketone-inhibited gingipain R reveal a 435-residue, single-polypeptide chain organized into a catalytic and an immunoglobulin-like domain. The catalytic domain is subdivided into two subdomains comprising four- and six-stranded beta-sheets sandwiched by alpha-helices. Each subdomain bears topological similarities to the p20-p10 heterodimer of caspase-1. The second subdomain harbours the Cys-His catalytic diad and a nearby Glu arranged around the S1 specificity pocket, which carries an Asp residue to enforce preference for Arg-P1 residues. This gingipain R structure is an excellent template for the rational design of drugs with a potential to cure and prevent periodontitis. Here we show the binding mode of an arginine-containing inhibitor in the active-site, thus identifying major interaction sites defining a suitable pharmacophor.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Rapid and efficient inactivation of IL-6 gingipains, lysine- and arginine-specific proteinases from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Deregulation of the cytokine network is an important adaptation of pathogenic bacteria to modulate and evade a host immune response. Here we describe that IL-6 is rapidly and efficiently cleaved and inactivated by the arginine- and lysine-specific proteinases from Porphyromonas gingivalis, referred to as RGP-A, RGP-B, and KGP. One of the primary cleavage sites for RGPs has been mapped between R18 and Q19 within the N-terminal region of the IL-6 polypeptide chain; however, both KGP and RGPs cleave IL-6 within the C-terminal region of the polypeptide chain. After these initial proteolytic cleavages, IL-6 is further degraded by each of the enzymes tested. Although KGP is the most potent IL-6-degrading proteinase, the initial C-terminal cleavage of IL-6 mediated by all gingipains is already sufficient to inactivate this cytokine. Our data are consistent with the observation that in periodontitis the IL-6 concentration is lowest in the gingival tissue adjacent to bacterial plaque, whereas significantly elevated concentrations of this cytokine are detected around the infected area. Degradation of IL-6 by gingipains may, therefore, represent an additional mechanism which influences the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions at distal versus proximal sites from the periodontal plaque.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Purification and partial characterization of the pancreatic proteolytic enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase from the chicken.

The purpose of this work was to isolate, purify and partially sequence trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase from the chicken pancreas. The extraction of the pancreatic zymogens with 0.5 M CaCl2 at pH 7.5 for 9 h appeared to be most effective in obtaining maximum recovery of the three enzymes. The sequential Cucurbita maxima trypsin inhibitor I/bovine pancreas trypsin inhibitor/soybean trypsin inhibitor affinity chromatography gave the best result for the isolation of trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase, respectively, from the same extract. For each proteinase, multiple form of enzymatic activity could be observed after gel electrophoresis and each form was further purified on an ion-exchange column. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of trypsin and chymotrypsin showed homologies with the bovine enzymes whereas elastase showed homologies with the porcine enzyme. The molecular mass of trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase were estimated to be 23,500, 25,700 and 25,000, respectively, which are values close to those in mammalian species. Although some kinetic constants (Km and k(cat)/Km) appeared different from those observed in other species, the pH dependent enzymatic activities were similar to those reported in other animal species.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Purification and characterization of a novel cysteine proteinase (periodontain) from Porphyromonas gingivalis. Evidence for a role in the inactivation of human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor.

Periodontal disease is characterized by inflammation of the periodontium manifested by recruitment of neutrophils, which can degranulate, releasing powerful proteinases responsible for destruction of connective tissues, and eventual loss of tooth attachment. Although the presence of host proteinase inhibitors (serpins) should minimize tissue damage by endogenous proteinases, this is not seen clinically, and it has been speculated that proteolytic inactivation of serpins may contribute to progression of the disease. A major pathogen associated with periodontal disease is the Gram-negative anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis, and in this report, we describe a novel proteinase that has been isolated from culture supernatants of this organism that is capable of inactivating the human serpin, alpha1-proteinase inhibitor, the primary endogenous regulator of human neutrophil elastase. This new enzyme, referred to as periodontain, belongs to the cysteine proteinase family based on inhibition studies and exists as a 75-kDa heterodimer. Furthermore, periodontain shares significant homology to streptopain, a proteinase from Streptococcus pyogenes, and prtT, a putative proteinase from P. gingivalis. Clearly, the presence of this enzyme, which rapidly inactivates alpha1-proteinase inhibitor, could result in elevated levels of human neutrophil elastase clinically detected in periodontal disease and should be considered as a potential virulence factor for P. gingivalis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Prolyl tripeptidyl peptidase from Porphyromonas gingivalis. A novel enzyme with possible pathological implications for the development of periodontitis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis possesses a complex proteolytic system, which is essential for both its growth and evasion of host defense mechanisms. In this report we characterized, both at a protein and genomic level, a novel peptidase of this system with prolyl tripeptidyl peptidase activity. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity, and its enzymatic activity and biochemical properties were investigated. The amino acid sequence at the amino terminus and of internal peptide fragments enabled identification of the gene encoding this enzyme, which we refer to as PtpA for prolyl tripeptidyl peptidase A. The gene encodes an 82-kDa protein, which contains a GWSYGG motif, characteristic for members of the S9 prolyl oligopeptidase family of serine proteases. However, it does not share any structural similarity to other tripeptidyl peptidases, which belong to the subtilisin family. The production of prolyl tripeptidyl peptidase may contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontal tissue destruction through the mutual interaction of this enzyme, host and bacterial collagenases, and dipeptidyl peptidases in the degradation of collagen during the course of infection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Cartilage proteoglycan degradation by a mouse transformed macrophage cell line is mediated by macrophage metalloelastase.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Identify and characterize the matrix metalloproteinase responsible for cartilage proteoglycan degradation mediated by a macrophage cell line in a cell culture model that resembles some aspects of rheumatoid pannus. MATERIALS OR SUBJECTS: Supernatants from the transformed mouse macrophage cell line J774A.1 were used to purify the proteoglycan degrading activity. METHODS: J774A.1 macrophage culture supernatants were purified by sequential column chromatography and proteins were identified by zymography, western blotting and amino acid sequence analysis. Cartilage degradation was measured using 35S labeled bovine nasal cartilage. RESULTS: The cartilage degrading proteolytic activity in the mouse macrophage supernatants proved to be due to two major proteins with approximate molecular masses of 48 kDa and 22 kDa that were identified as macrophage metalloelastase (MME). Incubation of purified MME at 37 degrees C for up to 16 h resulted in the processing of the 48 kDa protein to several novel bands including a previously undescribed protein of approximately 25 kDa without accumulation of fully processed 22 kDa protein. A number of proteinases increased the rate of this processing. J774A.1 macrophage metalloelastase degraded cartilage proteoglycan with an efficiency approximately equal to human macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) and matrilysin (MMP-7) and twice that of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3). CONCLUSIONS: These data identify the cartilage proteoglycan degrading metalloproteinase secreted by J774A.1 macrophages in this cell culture model as MME, and describes mechanisms of activation and processing of this enzyme that may play an important role in cartilage degradation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Molecular cloning of Soli E2: an elastase-like serine proteinase from the imported red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).

The 4th instar larva of the imported red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, possesses several serine proteinases, one of which, referred to as Soli E2, has been found to contain elastase-like activity. A cDNA library was constructed in lambda gt10 using Poly(A)+RNA from these larvae and a synthetic degenerate oligonucleotide probe corresponding to a sequence encoding the N-terminal of Soli E2 was utilized to screen the library. Two clones were obtained covering the entire coding region of Soli E2, and the predicted structure of this proteinase indicated that it was synthesized as a preproenzyme of 249 amino acids, which was cleaved to give the mature form of 226 residues. In addition, both clones showed identity to the N-terminal amino acid sequence obtained from Edman degradation of the mature purified proteinase. Significantly, Northern blot analysis of the different developmental stages revealed that Soli E2 was selectively expressed in the 4th instar larvae.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Role of gingipains R in the pathogenesis of Porphyromonas gingivalis-mediated periodontal disease.

It has been demonstrated that the Porphyromonas gingivalis cysteine proteinases (gingipains) activate and/or degrade a broad range of host proteins. Inactivation of gingipains R prior to infection of mice results in a decrease in the virulence of P. gingivalis. Analysis of mouse, rabbit, and chicken antisera raised to gingipain R1 demonstrated that the hemagglutinin domains of gingipains are very immunogenic; however, immunization of mice with a peptide derived from the hemagglutinin domain did not protect mice from P. gingivalis infection. Our recent studies indicate that immunization of mice with a peptide corresponding to the N-terminus of the catalytic domain of gingipains R results in the generation of an immune response that affords protection of mice from P. gingivalis infection. It is postulated that the protection observed results from the inactivation of the enzymatic activity of gingipains R as a result of antibody recognition of a processing site on the gingipain R precursor.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Transposition of the endogenous insertion sequence element IS1126 modulates gingipain expression in Porphyromonas gingivalis.

We have previously reported on a Tn4351-generated mutant of Porphyromonas gingivalis (MSM-3) which expresses enhanced arginine-specific proteinase activity and does not utilize hemin or hemoglobin for growth (C. A. Genco et al., Infect. Immun. 63:2459-2466, 1995). In the process of characterizing the genetic lesion in P. gingivalis MSM-3, we have determined that the endogenous P. gingivalis insertion sequence element IS1126 is capable of transposition within P. gingivalis. We have also determined that IS1126 transposition modulates the transcription of the genes encoding the lysine-specific proteinase, gingipain K (kgp) and the arginine-specific proteinase, gingipain R2 (rgpB). Sequence analysis of P. gingivalis MSM-3 revealed that Tn4351 had inserted 60 bp upstream of the P. gingivalis endogenous IS element IS1126. Furthermore, P. gingivalis MSM-3 exhibited two additional copies of IS1126 compared to the parental strain A7436. Examination of the first additional IS1126 element, IS1126(1), indicated that it has inserted into the putative promoter region of the P. gingivalis kgp gene. Analysis of total RNA extracted from P. gingivalis MSM-3 demonstrated no detectable kgp transcript; likewise, P. gingivalis MSM-3 was devoid of lysine-specific proteinase activity. The increased arginine-specific proteinase activity exhibited by P. gingivalis MSM-3 was demonstrated to correlate with an increase in the rgpA and rgpB transcripts. The second additional IS1126 element, IS1126(2), was found to have inserted upstream of a newly identified gene, hmuR, which exhibits homology to a number of TonB-dependent genes involved in hemin and iron acquisition. Analysis of total RNA from P. gingivalis MSM-3 demonstrated that hmuR is transcribed, indicating that the insertion of IS1126 had not produced a polar effect on hmuR transcription. The hemin-hemoglobin defect in P. gingivalis MSM-3 is proposed to result from the inactivation of Kgp, which has recently been demonstrated to function in hemoglobin binding. Taken together, the results presented here demonstrate that the introduction of Tn4351 into the P. gingivalis chromosome has resulted in two previously undocumented phenomena in P. gingivalis: (i) the transposition of the endogenous insertion sequence element IS1126 and (ii) the modulation of gingipain transcription and translation as a result of IS1126 transposition.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Purification, characterization, and sequence analysis of a potential virulence factor from Porphyromonas gingivalis, peptidylarginine deiminase.

The initiation and progression of adult-onset periodontitis has been associated with infection of the gingival sulcus by Porphyromonas gingivalis. This organism utilizes a multitude of virulence factors to evade host defenses as it establishes itself as one of the predominant pathogens in periodontal pockets. A feature common to many other oral pathogens is the production of ammonia due to its protective effect during acidic cleansing cycles in the mouth. Additionally, ammonia production by P. gingivalis has been proposed as a virulence factor due to its negative effects on neutrophil function. In this study, we describe the first purification of a peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) from a prokaryote. PAD exhibits biochemical characteristics and properties that suggest that it may be a virulence agent. PAD deiminates the guanidino group of carboxyl-terminal arginine residues on a variety of peptides, including the vasoregulatory peptide-hormone bradykinin, to yield ammonia and a citrulline residue. The soluble protein has an apparent mass of 46 kDa, while the DNA sequence predicts a full-length protein of 61.7 kDa. PAD is optimally active at 55 degrees C, stable at low pH, and shows the greatest activity above pH 9.0. Interestingly, in the presence of stabilizing factors, PAD is resistant to limited proteolysis and retains significant activity after short-term boiling. We propose that PAD, acting in concert with arginine-specific proteinases from P. gingivalis, promotes the growth of the pathogen in the periodontal pocket, initially by enhancing its survivability and then by assisting the organism in its circumvention of host humoral defenses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Activation of protein C by arginine-specific cysteine proteinases (gingipains-R) from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

In order to determine the effect of bacterial proteinases on activation of the protein C system, a negative regulator of blood coagulation, two arginine-specific cysteine proteinases (gingipains R) from Porphyromonas gingivalis, a causative bacterium of adult periodontitis, were examined. Each enzyme activated human protein C in a dose- and incubation time-dependent manner. Interestingly, the form of enzyme being composed of a non-covalent complex containing both catalytic and adhesion domains (RgpA) produced activated protein C 14-fold more efficiently than RgpB which contained the catalytic domain alone. The kcat/Km value of RgpA was 18-fold higher than that of RgpB and comparable to that of the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex, the physiological activator of protein C. RgpA catalyzed protein C activation was augmented 1.4-fold by phospholipids, ubiquitous cell membrane components. Furthermore, RgpA, but not RgpB, could activate protein C in plasma and this resulted in a decrease of the protein C concentration in plasma, which is often observed in patients with sepsis during the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). These data indicate that RgpA is a more potent activator of protein C than RgpB and suggest that only the former enzyme can cause protein C activation in vivo. The present study further suggests that bacterial proteinases may possibly contribute to the consumption of plasma protein C which predisposes to DIC and/or promotes a thrombotic tendency towards DIC in sepsis.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Comparative cleavage sites within the reactive-site loop of native and oxidized alpha1-proteinase inhibitor by selected bacterial proteinases.

Human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI) is responsible for the tight control of neutrophil elastase activity which, if down regulated, may cause local excessive tissue degradation. Many bacterial proteinases can inactivate alpha1-PI by hydrolytic cleavage within its reactive site, resulting in the down regulation of elastase, and this mechanism is likely to contribute to the connective tissue damage often associated with bacterial infections. Another pathway of the inactivation of alpha1-PI is reversible and involves oxidation of a critical active-site methionine residue that may influence inhibitor susceptibility to proteolytic inactivation. Hence, the aim of this work was to determine whether this oxidation event might affectthe rate and pattern of the cleavage of the alpha1-PI reactive-site loop by selected bacterial proteinases, including thermolysin, aureolysin, serralysin, pseudolysin, Staphylococcus aureus serine proteinase, streptopain, and periodontain. A shift of cleavage specificity was observed after alpha1-PI oxidation, with a preference for the Glu354-Ala355 bond by most of the proteinases tested. Only aureolysin and serralysin cleave the oxidized form of alpha1-PI faster than the native inhibitor, suggesting that bacteria which secrete these metalloproteinases may specifically take advantage of the host defense oxidative mechanism to accelerate elimination of alpha1-PI and, consequently, tissue degradation by neutrophil elastase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

A novel mechanism for bradykinin production at inflammatory sites. Diverse effects of a mixture of neutrophil elastase and mast cell tryptase versus tissue and plasma kallikreins on native and oxidized kininogens.

Coprocessing of kininogens by a mixture of human mast cell tryptase and neutrophil elastase was explored as a potential substitute for the kallikrein-dependent pathway for kinin generation during inflammation. Tryptase easily excised bradykinin from the synthetic heptadecapeptide, ISLMKRPPGFSPFRSSR, but was unable to produce significant amounts of kinin by proteolysis of kininogens. However, a mixture of tryptase and elastase released bradykinin from each protein with a yield comparable to that of human plasma kallikrein. Significantly, neither plasma nor tissue kallikrein was able to effectively process N-chlorosuccinimide-oxidized high molecular weight kininogen, an effect attributed to the oxidation of a methionine residue upstream from the N terminus of the kinin domain. In support of these results the model heptadecapetide, ISL(MO)KRPPGFSPFRSSR, was also resistant to hydrolysis by either kallikrein. In contrast, the release of bradykinin from oxidized peptide or protein substrates by the tryptase/elastase mixture was not altered. Because kininogen modification may occur at inflammatory sites, as a result of the oxidative burst of recruited neutrophils and macrophages, these results suggest an alternative pathway for kinin production and the necessity for the novel utilization of two specific proteinases known to be released from these cells during inflammatory episodes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Modulation of interleukin-8 activity by gingipains from Porphyromonas gingivalis: implications for pathogenicity of periodontal disease.

Gingipains are the major cysteine proteinases synthesized by Porphyromonas gingivalis which, in soluble form, are able to initially convert IL-8 (77 amino acid residues) to a more potent species truncated at the amino terminus, followed by slow degradation and destruction of chemokine biological activity. In contrast, the same enzymes when associated with bacterial outer-membrane blebs (vesicles), instantly degrade this chemokine. This division of enhancing and inactivating activity between soluble and membrane-bound gingipains can cause the compartmentalization of pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions to distal and proximal positions from bacterial plaque, respectively, which may explain why, despite the massive neutrophil accumulation at periodontitis sites, there is no elimination of infection.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1998

Orally active indole N-oxide PDE4 inhibitors.

This communication describes the synthesis and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a novel potent series of phosphodiesterase type (IV) (PDE4) inhibitors. Several of the compounds presented possess low nanomolar IC50's for PDE4 inhibition and excellent in vivo activity for inhibition of TNF-alpha levels in LPS challenged mice (mouse endotoxemia model). Emesis studies (dog) and efficacy in a SCW arthritis model for the most potent PDE4 inhibitors are presented.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗