Tricorn protease--the core of a modular proteolytic system

Science. 1996 Nov 22;274(5291):1385-9. doi: 10.1126/science.274.5291.1385.

Abstract

Large macromolecular assemblies have evolved as a means of compartmentalizing reactions in organisms lacking membrane-bounded compartments. A tricorn-shaped protease was isolated from the archaeon Thermoplasma and was shown to form a multisubunit proteolytic complex. The 120-kilodalton monomer assembled to form a hexameric toroid that could assemble further into a capsid structure. Tricorn protease appeared to act as the core of a proteolytic system; when it interacted with several smaller proteins, it displayed multicatalytic activities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Endopeptidases / isolation & purification
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thermoplasma / enzymology*

Substances

  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Peptides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Endopeptidases
  • tricorn protease
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U72850