Identification of a Novel Elastin-Degrading Enzyme from the Fish Pathogen Flavobacterium psychrophilum

• T. Rochat ^[1] ; D. Pérez-Pascual ^[1] ; H. Nilsen ^[2] ; M. Carpentier ^[3] ; S. Bridel ^[1] ; J.-F. Bernardet ^[1] ; E. Duchaud ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Paris-Saclay

     University of Paris-Saclay

     Arrondissement de Palaiseau, Francia

     
  2. [2] Norwegian Veterinary Institute

     Norwegian Veterinary Institute

     Noruega

     
  3. [3] c Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité, Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, EPHE, Paris, France

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• Localización: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, ISSN 0099-2240, Vol. 85, Nº 6, 2019
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Elastin is an important proteinaceous component of vertebrate connective tissues (e.g., blood vessels, lung, and skin), to which it confers elasticity. Elastases have been identified in a number of pathogenic bacteria. They are thought to be required for tissue penetration and dissemination, acting as “spreading factors.” Flavobacterium psychrophilum is a devastating bacterial pathogen of salmonid fish (salmon and trout) that is responsible for severe economic losses worldwide. This pathogen displays strong proteolytic activities. Using a variety of techniques, including genome comparisons, we identified a gene encoding a novel elastase in F. psychrophilum. The encoded protein is predicted to be a cell-surface-exposed lipoprotein with no homology to previously reported elastases. In addition, this elastase likely belongs to a new family of proteases that seems to be present only in some members of this important group of bacteria.