Identification of plasma proteinase complexes with serpin-3 in Manduca sexta

Jayne M. Christen, Yasuaki Hiromasa, Chunju An, Michael R. Kanost

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Extracellular serine proteinase cascades stimulate prophenoloxidase (proPO) activation and antimicrobial peptide production in insect innate immune responses. Serpins in plasma regulate such cascades by selective inhibition of proteinases, in reactions which result in the formation of covalent serpin-proteinase complexes. We carried out experiments to identify plasma proteinases that are inhibited by Manduca sexta serpin-3, an immune-inducible serpin known to regulate proPO activation. Immunoaffinity chromatography, using antiserum to serpin-3, yielded serpin-3 complexes with proteinases identified by immunoblot analysis as prophenoloxidase-activating proteinase (PAP)-1, PAP-2, PAP-3, and hemolymph proteinase 8 (HP8). HP8 can cleave and activate the Toll ligand, Spätzle, leading to synthesis of antimicrobial peptides. Analysis by mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides derived from the serpin-3 complexes confirmed the presence of PAP-1, PAP-3, and HP8. Purified recombinant serpin-3 and active HP8 formed an SDS-stable complex in vitro. Identification of serpin-3-proteinase complexes in plasma provides insight into proteinase targets of serpin-3 and extends the understanding of serpin/proteinase function in the immune response of M. sexta.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)946-955
Number of pages10
JournalInsect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume42
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2012
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Insect Science

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