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Elastase and elastase inhibitor from Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger

Yoshiyuki Okumura1, Kenji Ogawa1, Toshiaki Nikai1

  • 1Department of Quality Control, Mathuurayakugyo Co. Ltd, 24-21 Enjo-chou, Syowa-ku, Nagoya 466-0054, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, 150 Yagotoyama, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya 468-8503, Japan 3Department of Pulmonary Medicine, National Higashinagoya Hospital, 5-101 Umemorizaka, Meito-ku, Nagoya 465-8620, Japan.

Journal of Medical Microbiology
|April 21, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus exhibit elastase and elastase inhibitory activities, while Aspergillus niger does not. These fungal elastase inhibitors are heat-stable and effective against human leukocyte elastases.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Enzymology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Fungal enzymes play crucial roles in various biological processes.
  • Elastases are proteases that degrade elastin, a key component of connective tissues.
  • Understanding the enzymatic activities of fungi like Aspergillus is important for biomedical research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the elastolytic and elastase inhibitory potential of Aspergillus species.
  • To characterize the properties of fungal elastase inhibitors.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger strains for elastase activity.
  • Assaying for elastase inhibitory activity in fungal extracts.
  • Testing the stability of inhibitors to heat treatment (100°C for 10 min).
  • Evaluating inhibitor efficacy against human leukocyte elastase and porcine pancreatic elastase.

Main Results:

  • Nine of 13 Aspergillus fumigatus strains and all Aspergillus flavus strains showed significant elastase activity.
  • Six of 13 Aspergillus fumigatus strains and all Aspergillus flavus strains exhibited elastase inhibitory activity.
  • Aspergillus niger strains displayed neither elastase nor elastase inhibitory activity.
  • Crude elastase inhibitors from A. fumigatus and A. flavus were heat-stable and inhibited human leukocyte elastase but not porcine pancreatic elastase.

Conclusions:

  • Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus are sources of active elastases and elastase inhibitors.
  • Aspergillus niger lacks these enzymatic activities.
  • The identified fungal elastase inhibitors are robust and show specificity towards human leukocyte elastase, suggesting potential therapeutic applications.

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