Snake venoms contain four classes of metalloproteases that all have a typical zinc-chelating sequence (HEXXHGXXH). N-terminal sequences and internal sequences of different purified metalloproteases were determined using Edman sequencing and LC MS/MS technique. Oligonucleotides were designed and used as primers for cDNA cloning from Vipera lebetina venom gland cDNA library. We found that isoform...

Off-target binding of hydrophobic drugs can lead to unwanted side effects, either through specific or non-specific binding to unintended membrane protein targets. However, distinguishing the binding of drugs to membrane proteins from that of detergents, lipids and cofactors is challenging. Here, we use high-resolution mass spectrometry to study the effects of HIV protease inhibitors on the huma...

BACKGROUND Coral diseases are emerging as a serious threat to coral reefs worldwide. Of nine coral infectious diseases, whose pathogens have been characterized, six are caused by agents from the family Vibrionacae, raising questions as to their origin and role in coral disease aetiology. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we report on a Vibrio zinc-metalloprotease causing rapid photoinactiva...

The JAMM (JAB1/MPN/Mov34 metalloenzyme) motif in Rpn11 and Csn5 underlies isopeptidase activities intrinsic to the proteasome and signalosome, respectively. We show here that the archaebacterial protein AfJAMM possesses the key features of a zinc metalloprotease, yet with a distinct fold. The histidine and aspartic acid of the conserved EX(n)HS/THX(7)SXXD motif coordinate a zinc, whereas the gl...

The mechanism of low-affinity NGF receptor (LNGFR) truncation was investigated in cultured Schwann cells. Affinity labeling of Schwann cells with 125I-NGF or metabolic labeling with 35S-cysteine showed that truncated NGF receptor (NGF-Rt) was derived from the cell surface form of the receptor. Addition of full-length, exogenous NGF receptor (M(r) = 80 kDa) to Schwann cell membranes resulted in ...

Anthrax is caused by the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The pathogenesis of this disease is dependent on the presence of two binary toxins, edema toxin (EdTx) and lethal toxin (LeTx). LeTx, the major virulence factor contributing to anthrax, contains the effector moiety lethal factor (LF), a zinc-dependent metalloprotease specific for targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase kina...