Proteolysis during enzyme

Previously, both in our laboratory and elsewhere, cellulases subjected to purification procedures were obtained from commercial sources (5,6, 8,9,10,13,39,46). Three cellobiases and several endoglucanases and cellobiohydrolases from commercial preparations were purified in our laboratory. While use of protease inhibitors in the fractionation procedures minimized proteolysis during enzyme purification, the existence of enzymes proteolytically modified, presumedly during prolonged fermentation (required for obtaining high titres for commercial production), was a source of confusion, as previously explained. Therefore, we prepared T. reesei cellulase harvested from young culture broth. This was used to carry out the enzyme purification procedures described below. 

Endogeneous and exogeneous ribonucleases have been used also to reduce NA under mild conditions (68). However, extensive proteolysis during incubation for RNA hydrolysis and the cost of the enzymes present sizable drawbacks (68,87). 

Basic to protease catalyzed oligopeptide synthesis is equilibrium- or thermodynamic control to direct reversal of proteolysis . Difficulties encountered include low reaction rates, high stoichiometric amounts of enzyme, and the need to apply direct approaches to shift the reactions towards formation of desired products. Reaction conditions that lead to product precipitation or extraction increase efficiency of the reverse reaction. Kinetically controlled syntheses has proved useful for serine and cysteine proteases that form activated acyl enzyme intermediates during catalysis. This approach generally involves use of activated acyl moieties, such as esters, as donor components which significantly accelerate the reaction rate. This study makes use of principles from both kinetic and thermodynamically controlled reactions in that, reactants are activated by formation of esters and products precipitate fi om reactions. 

Better control of proteolysis during cheese maturation opens up possibilities for avoiding flavouring additives or proteolytic enzymes. 

E. coli RNase HI does not bind to DEAE-cellulose or DEAE-Sephacel, in contrast to the calf thymus enzyme. This is apparently due to the difference in isoelectric point. PMSF (0.1-1 mM) is often included in buffers to avoid possible proteolysis during purifications. 

The shell of all picomaviruses is built up from 60 copies each of four polypeptide chains, called VPl to VP4. These are translated from the viral RNA into a single polypeptide, which is posttranslationally processed by stepwise proteolysis involving viraily encoded enzymes. First, the polypeptide chain is cleaved into three proteins VPO (which is the precursor for VP2 and VP4), VPl and VP3. These proteins begin the assembly process. The last step of the processing cascade occurs during completion of the virion assembly the precursor protein VPO is cleaved into VP2 and VP4 by a mechanism that is probably autocatalytic but may also involve the viral RNA. VPl, VP2, and VP3 have molecular masses of around 30,000 daltons, whereas VP4 is small, being 7000 daltons, and is completely buried inside the virion. 

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