| Autor: |
de Souza EP; Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil., Ferro M; Department of General and Applied Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil., Pelá VT; Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil., Fernanda-Carlos T; Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil., Borges CGG; Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil., Taira EA; Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil., Ventura TMO; Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil., Arencibia AD; Center of Biotechnology in Natural Resources, Faculty of Agrarian and Forestry Sciences, Catholic University of Maule (UCM), Talca 3466706, Chile., Buzalaf MAR; Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil., Henrique-Silva F; Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Phytocystatins are proteinaceous competitive inhibitors of cysteine peptidases involved in physiological and defensive roles in plants. Their application as potential therapeutics for human disorders has been suggested, and the hunt for novel cystatin variants in different plants, such as maqui ( Aristotelia chilensis ), is pertinent. Being an understudied species, the biotechnological potential of maqui proteins is little understood. In the present study, we constructed a transcriptome of maqui plantlets using next-generation sequencing, in which we found six cystatin sequences. Five of them were cloned and recombinantly expressed. Inhibition assays were performed against papain and human cathepsins B and L. Maquicystatins can inhibit the proteases in nanomolar order, except MaquiCPIs 4 and 5, which inhibit cathepsin B in micromolar order. This suggests maquicystatins' potential use for treating human diseases. In addition, since we previously demonstrated the efficacy of a sugarcane-derived cystatin to protect dental enamel, we tested the ability of MaquiCPI-3 to protect both dentin and enamel. Both were protected by this protein (by One-way ANOVA and Tukey's Multiple Comparisons Test, p < 0.05), suggesting its potential usage in dental products. |
