细菌胞外金属蛋白酶及其致病作用的研究进展

摘要

细菌胞外金属蛋白酶(bacterial extracellular metalloprotease,BEMP)是一组含金属离子的蛋白水解酶.目前发现的BEMP均为内肽酶,根据酶分子序列和结构差异,分别属于9个金属蛋白酶家族(metalloprotease family).两价锌离子(Zn2+)为绝大多数BEMP催化活性中心所需.非致病性异养菌BEMP主要功能是水解环境中蛋白或多肽,以获得氨基酸作为养料.致病性细菌BEMP可协助病原菌侵入宿主以及在宿主体内播散,因而是重要的侵袭性毒力因子.近年来BEMP在细菌致病过程中的作用及其机制受到广泛重视,本文仅就BEMP结构与种类、功能及致病作用作一简要综述.%Bacterial extracellular metalloproteases ( BEMPs) are a large group of metal ion-contai-ning proteases. All BEMPs identified so far are endopeptidase or endoprotease. BEMPs can be classified into nine metalloprotease families based on the sequences and structures of enzymatic molecules. Double-valence zinc ion ( Zn2+) is necessarily required by catalytic centers of most BEMPs. The main function of BEMPs in non-pathogenic heterotrophic bacteria is to hydrolyze environmental proteins and polypeptides to provide vari-ous amino acids as nutrients. However, BEMPs of pathogenic bacteria, serving as important virulence fac-tors, help the pathogens invade into hosts and spread in hosts. In recent years, the roles and mechanism of BEMPs in bacterial pathogenesis have attracted great attention. Here, we make a brief review about the structures and types as well as the functions and pathogenic roles of BEMPs.