The bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz inhibitor): a milestone protein

Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2003 Jun;4(3):231-51. doi: 10.2174/1389203033487180.

Abstract

The pancreatic Kunitz inhibitor, also known as aprotinin, bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), and trypsin-kallikrein inhibitor, is one of the most extensively studied globular proteins. It has proved to be a particularly attractive and powerful tool for studying protein conformation as well as molecular bases of protein/protein interaction(s) and (macro)molecular recognition. BPTI has a relatively broad specificity, inhibiting trypsin- as well as chymotrypsin- and elastase-like serine (pro)enzymes endowed with very different primary specificity. BPTI reacts rapidly with serine proteases to form stable complexes, but the enzyme: inhibitor complex formation may involve several intermediates corresponding to discrete reaction steps. Moreover, BPTI inhibits the nitric oxide synthase type-I and -II action and impairs K+ transport by Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Clinically, the use of BPTI in selected surgical interventions, such as cardiopulmonary surgery and orthotopic liver transplantation, is advised, as it significantly reduces hemorrhagic complications and thus blood-transfusion requirements. Here, the structural, inhibition, and bio-medical aspects of BPTI are reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Aprotinin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aprotinin / chemistry*
  • Aprotinin / metabolism
  • Aprotinin / therapeutic use
  • Cattle
  • Chymotrypsin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Pancreatitis / drug therapy
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Thermodynamics
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / metabolism

Substances

  • Trypsin Inhibitors
  • Aprotinin
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Chymotrypsin