What question did this study set out to answer?

To characterize the enzymatic properties and sequence specificity of human furin and evaluate its ability to process the protective antigen component of anthrax toxin.

August 1, 1992Journal of Biological ChemistryOpen Access

Human furin is a calcium-dependent serine endoprotease that recognizes the sequence Arg-X-X-Arg and efficiently cleaves anthrax toxin protective antigen.

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To characterize the enzymatic properties and sequence specificity of human furin and evaluate its ability to process the protective antigen component of anthrax toxin.
Purified soluble truncated human furin to approximately 70% purity from cell culture supernatants using anion-exchange chromatography.
Assayed furin enzymatic activity across various pH levels (6.0 to 8.5) and calcium concentrations using synthetic fluorogenic peptides as substrates.
Evaluated the cleavage kinetics and site specificity of purified furin using wild-type and cleavage-site mutant forms of anthrax toxin protective antigen.
Identified human furin as a calcium-dependent serine endoprotease (K0.5 = 200 µM) maintaining >50% maximal activity across a pH range of 6.0 to 8.5.
Demonstrated that furin cleaved anthrax protective antigen at the consensus site (-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-) at 8 µmol/min/mg total protein, a rate 400-fold higher than observed with synthetic peptides.
Determined via mutant protective antigen substrates that furin-mediated endoproteolysis minimally requires an -Arg-X-X-Arg- recognition sequence for efficient cleavage.

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Implication

In vitro study demonstrates calcium-dependent cleavage of anthrax protective antigen by human furin, indicating a primary recognition motif of Arg-X-X-Arg for cellular and extracellular targets.

Cite This Study

Molloy et al. (1992) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a703b78ce524a4339c3ff43 https://doi.org/10.1016/s0021-9258(18)42016-9

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Implication

In vitro study demonstrates calcium-dependent cleavage of anthrax protective antigen by human furin, indicating a primary recognition motif of Arg-X-X-Arg for cellular and extracellular targets.

Human furin is a calcium-dependent serine endoprotease that recognizes the sequence Arg-X-X-Arg and efficiently cleaves anthrax toxin protective antigen.

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Human furin is a calcium-dependent serine endoprotease that recognizes the sequence Arg-X-X-Arg and efficiently cleaves anthrax toxin protective antigen.

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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