Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

X-Ray Crystallography to Study the Oligomeric State Transition of the Thermotoga maritima M42 Aminopeptidase TmPep1050
11:27

X-Ray Crystallography to Study the Oligomeric State Transition of the Thermotoga maritima M42 Aminopeptidase TmPep1050

Published on: May 13, 2020

Expression and characterization of a metalloprotease from a Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolate

Xiaoyan Luan1, Jixiang Chen, Xiao-Hua Zhang

  • 1Department of Marine Biology, College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Peoples Republic of China.

Canadian Journal of Microbiology
|November 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Vibrio parahaemolyticus metalloprotease (VPM) is a potential virulence factor. Researchers purified and characterized recombinant VPM (rVPM), confirming its enzymatic activity and potential role in fish pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Enzymology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Extracellular zinc metalloprotease from Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPM) is identified as a potential virulence factor.
  • VPM is synthesized as an 814-amino acid polypeptide with a HEXXH zinc metalloprotease motif.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the enzymatic properties of V. parahaemolyticus metalloprotease.
  • To characterize the recombinant VPM (rVPM) protein produced in E. coli.

Main Methods:

  • Overexpression of the mature vpm gene in Escherichia coli.
  • Purification of recombinant VPM (rVPM) using a His-binding metal affinity column.
  • Enzymatic activity assays using gelatin and azocasein substrates; cytotoxicity and pathogenicity tests.

Main Results:

  • Purified rVPM exhibited >95% purity.
  • Optimal activity of rVPM was observed at approximately 37°C and pH 8.
  • rVPM demonstrated cytotoxicity against flounder gill cells and pathogenicity in fish.

Conclusions:

  • The recombinant VPM is enzymatically active and characterized.
  • VPM plays a potential role in the pathogenesis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections in fish.

More Related Videos

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions12:22

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions

Published on: November 16, 2015

One-step Extraction and Zymographic Analysis of Bacterial Gelatinases07:20

One-step Extraction and Zymographic Analysis of Bacterial Gelatinases

Published on: August 1, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Mechanical Protein Function01:58

Mechanical Protein Function

Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force. 
Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems01:17

Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems

Gram-negative bacteria utilize sophisticated protein secretion systems to transport proteins across their double-membrane envelope into the extracellular environment or host cells. Based on their mechanism of action, these systems are classified into one-step and two-step pathways.One-Step Secretion Systems (Types I, III, IV, and VI)One-step secretion systems bypass the periplasm entirely, forming a continuous channel that spans both the inner and outer membranes:Type I Secretion System (T1SS):...
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...