The human leukocyte elastase-catalyzed hydrolysis of N-succinyl-(L-alanine),-p-nitroanifides (n = 2 to 5) is activated at high substrate concentrations. For each substrate, four kinetic parameters have been determined: kcat and K,,,, the constants extrapolated from data obtained at low substrate concentrations; Kcat, the turnover number at infinite substrate concentration; and IC,,,, the dissoc...

Alkaline elastase YaB is an extracellular serine protease of the alkalophilic Bacillus strain YaB. We cloned the structural gene, ale, and determined the nucleotide sequence. The mature enzyme (268 amino acids) was preceded by a putative signal sequence and a prosequence (27 and 83 amino acids, respectively). The mature enzyme was 55% homologous to subtilisin BPN'. Almost all the positively cha...

The elastase produced by Pseudomonas aerughosa is probably responsible for the tissue destruction observed during pulmonary and corneal infections by this pathogen. We have synthesized a new substrate, AbzAla-Gly-Leu-Ala-Nba, for P. aeruginosa elastase. Cleavage of the peptide by elastase at pH 7.2 results in 6to 7-fold increase in fluorescence (h,,, 340 nm; X, 415 nm). A sensitive rate assay u...

Salt-extracted microsomal membranes (K-RM) contain an activity that is capable of releasing the signal recognition particle (SRP)-mediated elongation arrest of the synthesis of secretory polypeptides (Walter, P., and G. Blobel, 1981, J. Cell Biol., 91:557-561). This arrest-releasing activity was shown to be a function of an integral microsomal membrane protein, termed the SRP receptor (Gilmore,...

Fourteen-member-ring macrolides are antibiotics with a variety of anti-inflammatory activities, and have repeatedly been reported to reduce mucus hypersecretion in conditions such as cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Their structure is characterized by a macrocyclic lactone ring. Because human neutrophil elastase (HNE) plays a crucial role in the vicious circle leading to mucus hypersecretion...

1. Cohen JR, Mandell C, Magnolis I, Chang J, Wise L. Altered protease and antiprotease activity in patents with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1987;164:355–8. 2. Snider GL, Lucy EC, Stone PJ. Pitfalls in antiprotease therapy of emphysema. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1994;150:5131–7. 3. Dominguez-Muneoz JE, Carballo F, Garcia JM, de Diego JM, Gea F, Yanguela J, de la More...

Mussel-inspired adhesive hydrogels represent innovative candidate medical sealants or glues. In the present work, we describe an enzyme-degradable mussel-inspired adhesive hydrogel formulation, achieved by incorporating minimal elastase substrate peptide Ala-Ala into the branched poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomer structure. The system takes advantage of neutrophil elastase expression upr...

statement of problem: changes in protein levels, host calls enzymes and inflammatory mediators in gingival crevicular fluid (gcf) are considered as diagnostic indicators of periodontitis.purpose: he aim of the present study was to measure the elastase enzyme activity in gingival crevicular fluid among patients with periodontitis.material and methods: in this study, 52 periodontitis patients (ex...

As an enzyme superfamily, proteases are rivaled only by kinases in terms of their abundance within the human genome. Two ratiometric quantum dot (QD) Förster resonance energy transfer-based sensors designed to monitor the activity of the proteolytic enzymes collagenase and elastase are investigated here. Given the unique material constraints of these sensing constructs, assays are realized util...