Biomedical subjects

Justyna Stec-Niemczyk

Publications and source records attributed to Justyna Stec-Niemczyk.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Functional and structural characterization of Spl proteases from Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is the major cause of nosocomial infections world-wide, with increasing prevalence of community-acquired diseases. The recent dramatic increase in multi-antibiotic resistance, including resistance to the last-resort drug, vancomycin, together with the lack of an effective vaccine highlight the need for better understanding of S.aureus pathogenicity. Comparative analysis of available bacterial genomes allows for the identification of previously uncharacterized S.aureus genes with potential roles in pathogenicity. A good example is a cluster of six serine protease-like (spl) genes encompassed in one operon, which encode for putative proteases with similarity to staphylococcal glutamylendopeptidase (V8 protease). Here, we describe an efficient expression system for the production of recombinant SplB and SplC proteases in Escherichia coli, together with structural and functional characterization of the purified enzymes. A unique mechanism of cytoplasm protection against activity of misdirected SplB was uncovered. Apparently, the co-translated signal peptide maintains protease latency until it is cleaved by the signal peptidase during protein secretion. Furthermore, the crystal structure of the SplC protease revealed a fold resembling that of the V8 protease and epidermolytic toxins. Arrangement of the active site cleft and substrate-binding pocket of SplC explains the mechanism of enzyme latency and suggests that some Spl proteases possess restricted substrate specificity similar to that of the V8 protease and epidermolytic toxins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

New generation of peptide antibiotics.

The increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria calls for the development of alternative antimicrobial strategies. Possible approaches include the development of novel, broad-spectrum antibiotics as well as specific targeting of individual bacterial virulence factors. It is impossible to decide currently which strategy will prove more successful in the future since they both promise different advantages, but also introduce diverse problems. Considering both approaches, our laboratory's research focuses on the evaluation of hemocidins, broad-spectrum antibacterial peptides derived from hemoglobin and myoglobin, and staphostatins, specific inhibitors of staphopains -- Staphylococcus aureus secreted proteases that are virulence factors regarded as possible targets for therapy. The article summarizes recent advances in both fields of study and presents perspectives for further development and possible applications.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2004

Characterisation of a highly specific, endogenous inhibitor of cysteine protease from Staphylococcus epidermidis, a new member of the staphostatin family.

Staphostatins, a novel family of cysteine protease inhibitors with a unique mechanism of action and distinct protein fold has recently been discovered. In this report we describe the properties of Staphylococcus epidermidis staphostatin A (EcpB), a new member of the family. As for other staphostatins, the recombinant S. epidermidis staphostatin A exerted very narrow inhibitory specificity, limited to cysteine protease from the same species. The closely related proteases from S. aureus cleaved the inhibitor at the reactive site peptide bond and inactivated it. The EcpB homologue, S. aureus staphostatin A (ScpB), was also susceptible to proteolytic cleavage at the same site by non-target cysteine proteases. Conversely, S. aureus staphostatin B (SspC) was resistant to such proteolysis. The difference in the susceptibility of individual inhibitors to proteolytic cleavage at the reactive site suggests subtle variations in the mechanism of interaction with cysteine proteases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Modes of inhibition of cysteine proteases.

Cysteine proteases are involved in many physiological processes and their hyperactivity may lead to severe diseases. Nature has developed various strategies to protect cells and whole organisms against undesired proteolysis. One of them is the control of proteolytic activity by inhibition. This paper presents the mechanisms underlying the action of proteinaceous inhibitors of cysteine proteinases and covers propeptides binding backwards relative to the substrate or distorting the protease catalytic centre similarly to serpins, the p35 protein binding covalently to the enzyme, and cystatins that are exosite binding inhibitors. The paper also discusses tyropins and chagasins that, although unrelated to cystatins, inhibit cysteine proteinases by a similar mechanism, as well as inhibitors of the apoptosis protein family that bind in a direction opposite to that of the substrate, similarly to profragments. Special attention is given to staphostatins, a novel family of inhibitors acting in an unusual manner.

Cystatins↗

PubMed2003

A novel class of cysteine protease inhibitors: solution structure of staphostatin A from Staphylococcus aureus.

A series of secreted proteases are included among the virulence factors documented for Staphylococcus aureus. In light of increasing antibiotic resistance of this dangerous human pathogen, these proteases are considered as suitable targets for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The recent discovery of staphostatins, endogenous, highly specific, staphylococcal cysteine protease inhibitors, opened a possibility for structure-based design of low molecular weight analogues. Moreover, the crystal structure of staphostatin B revealed a distinct folding pattern and an unexpected, substrate-like binding mode. The solution structure of staphostatin A reported here confirms that staphostatins constitute a novel, distinct class of cysteine protease inhibitors. In addition, the structure knowledge-based mutagenesis studies shed light on individual structural features of staphostatin A, the inhibition mechanism, and the determinants of distinct specificity of staphostatins toward their target proteases.

Amino Acid Substitution↗