Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

The first pacifastin elastase inhibitor characterized from a blood sucking animal

Full text
Author(s):
de Marco, Renato [1] ; Lovato, Diogo V. [1] ; Torquato, Ricardo J. S. [1] ; Clara, Renan O. [1] ; Buarque, Diego S. [1] ; Tanaka, Aparecida S. [1]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Bioquim, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: Peptides; v. 31, n. 7, p. 1280-1286, JUL 2010.
Web of Science Citations: 11
Abstract

Pacifastin-like protease inhibitors belong to a recent classified protease inhibitor family and they are the smallest protease inhibitors described in animals. In this work, we purified and characterized, for the first time, two neutrophil elastase inhibitors belonging to the pacifastin family from the blood sucking insect Triatoma infestans eggs. The inhibitors showed the same N-terminal sequences, molecular masses of 4257 and 4024 Da by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and dissociation constants (Ki) for neutrophil elastase of 0.52 and 0.29 nM, respectively. Using a fat body cDNA library, we cloned a pacifastin precursor containing two protease inhibitor domains similar to locust pacifastins. The first pacifastin domain translated to T. infestans purified protein, named TIPI1. Recombinant TIPI1 expressed in Pichia pastoris system showed similar inhibitory activities compared to the native inhibitor. Its precursor, called TIPP1, is mainly expressed in fat body, and it is up-regulated after blood feeding. The immune challenges of 1(a) instar T. infestans nymph with bacteria or dsRNA strongly stimulated TiPP1 expression in fat body, suggesting a possible role of TiPP1 in T. infestans immunity. This work is the first to characterize a blood feeding insect pacifastin inhibitor. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 05/03514-9 - Studies of the physiological function and biotechnological potential of protease inhibitors and anti-hemostatics in hematophagous arthropods
Grantee:Aparecida Sadae Tanaka
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants