Characterization of the cleavage specificity of a subtilisin-like serine proteinase from Ophiostoma piceae by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and tandem MS.

A proteinase secreted by the sapstaining fungus Ophiostoma piceae is thought to be necessary for the primary retrieval of nitrogen from wood proteins. By using mass spectrometry (MS) techniques, we have established the cleavage specificity of this subtilisin-like serine proteinase. This work demonstrated the potential of MS in determining cleavage specificities of newly isolated proteinases in a relatively short time frame, and determined that the O. piceae proteinase showed a substrate specificity similar to that of proteinase K. Primary cleavage of the insulin B-chain occurred between Leu15 and Tyr16. In addition numerous secondary cleavage sites occurred after hydrophobic, polar, and charged amino acids indicating a broad specificity.