@article{(Open Science Index):https://publications.waset.org/pdf/11044, title = {SDS-induced Serine Protease Activity of an Antiviral Red Fluorescent Protein}, author = {Kalyankumar M. Matti and Chandrashekhar J. Savanurmath and Shivayogeppa B. Hinchigeri}, country = {}, institution = {}, abstract = {A rare phenomenon of SDS-induced activation of a latent protease activity associated with the purified silkworm excretory red fluorescent protein (SE-RFP) was noticed. SE-RFP aliquots incubated with SDS for different time intervals indicated that the protein undergoes an obligatory breakdown into a number of subunits which exhibit autoproteolytic (acting upon themselves) and/or heteroproteolytic (acting on other proteins) activities. A strong serine protease activity of SE-RFP subunits on Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) polyhedral protein was detected by zymography technique. A complete inhibition of BmNPV infection to silkworms was observed by the oral administration assay of the SE-RFP. Here, it is proposed that the SE-RFP prevents the initial infection of BmNPV to silkworms by obliterating the polyhedral protein. This is the first report on a silkworm red fluorescent protein that exhibits a protease activity on exposure to SDS. The present studies would help in understanding the antiviral mechanism of silkworm red fluorescent proteins. }, journal = {International Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering}, volume = {4}, number = {8}, year = {2010}, pages = {565 - 570}, ee = {https://publications.waset.org/pdf/11044}, url = {https://publications.waset.org/vol/44}, bibsource = {https://publications.waset.org/}, issn = {eISSN: 1307-6892}, publisher = {World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology}, index = {Open Science Index 44, 2010}, }