Abstract
ASP is a serine protease secreted by Aeromonas sobria, a sepsis-causing bacterium, and induces sepsis-mimicking disorders through plasma protein cleavage. The pathogen also secretes nASP that has a nick in the carboxy-terminal region. Compared with single-chain ASP (sASP), nASP had near-equivalent activity for small peptide substrates but was less proteolytic. Surprisingly, nASP cleaved proteins more in plasma and was inhibited by human α2-macroglobulin more slowly than sASP. Retarded inhibition by α2-macroglobulin allows nASP to keep proteolytic activity for longer in the host and exacerbate disorders at Aeromonas sobria infection sites. nASP may be an evolutional form to augment ASP virulence.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3613-3617 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | FEBS Letters |
Volume | 586 |
Issue number | 20 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 19 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Aeromonas
- Bacteria
- Inhibitor
- Protease
- Virulence
- α-Macroglobulin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Cell Biology