Insights into the Maturation of Hyperthermophilic Pyrolysin and the Roles of Its N-Terminal Propeptide and Long C-Terminal Extension

Pyrolysin-like proteases from hyperthermophiles are characterized by large insertions and long C-terminal extensions (CTEs). However, little is known about the roles of these extra structural elements or the maturation of these enzymes. Here, the recombinant proform of Pyrococcus furiosus pyrolysin (Pls) and several N- and C-terminal deletion mutants were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli . Pls was converted to mature enzyme (mPls) at...