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A 25-kDa Serine Peptidase with Keratinolytic Activity Secreted by Coccidioides immitis

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Abstract

Coccidioides immitis is the causative agent of coccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis that attacks humans and a wide variety of animals. In the present study, we showed that the C. immitis mycelial form is able to release proteolytic enzyme into the extracellular environment. Under chemically defined growth conditions, mycelia secreted seven distinct polypeptides ranging from 15 to 65 kDa and an extracellular peptidase of 25 kDa. This enzyme had its activity fully inhibited by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, a serine peptidase inhibitor. Conversely, metallo, cysteine, and aspartyl peptidase inhibitors did not alter the 25-kDa enzyme behavior. This extracellular serine peptidase was able to degrade keratin, a fibrous protein that composes human epidermis. Additionally, this peptidase cleaved different protein substrates, including gelatin, casein, hemoglobin, and albumin. Curiously, an 18-kDa serine peptidase activity was evidenced solely when casein was used as the co-polymerized protein substrate into the gel. The existence of different secreted peptidases could be advantageous for the adaptation of C. immitis to distinct environments during its complex lifecycle.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Brazilian agencies: MCT/CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), CEPG/UFRJ (Conselho de Ensino para Graduados e Pesquisas), FAPERJ (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), FUJB (Fundação Universitária José Bonifácio), and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes (IMPPG), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Bloco I, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Ilha do Fundão, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, RJ, Brazil

    Bárbara Gabriela Brum Lopes, André Luis Souza dos Santos, Ana Maria Mazotto & Alane Beatriz Vermelho

  2. Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas (IPEC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Cláudia de Carvalho Falci Bezerra, Bodo Wanke & Márcia dos Santos Lazéra

  3. Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde (INCQS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Marília Martins Nishikawa

  4. Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Vânia Monteiro Kussumi & Rosa Maria Tavares Haido

Authors
  1. Bárbara Gabriela Brum Lopes
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  2. André Luis Souza dos Santos
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  3. Cláudia de Carvalho Falci Bezerra
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  4. Bodo Wanke
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  5. Márcia dos Santos Lazéra
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  6. Marília Martins Nishikawa
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  7. Ana Maria Mazotto
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  8. Vânia Monteiro Kussumi
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  9. Rosa Maria Tavares Haido
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  10. Alane Beatriz Vermelho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alane Beatriz Vermelho.

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Lopes, B.G.B., Santos, A.L.S., Bezerra, C.C.F. et al. A 25-kDa Serine Peptidase with Keratinolytic Activity Secreted by Coccidioides immitis . Mycopathologia 166, 35–40 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-008-9116-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-008-9116-1

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