Abstract
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•Lumbrokinases are group of serine proteases.•Serine found at position 214 in lumbrokinase improved the activity of lumbrokinase.•In silico tools were used for characterization of mutant Lk-6 proteins.•Serine-Valin214 substitution were direct activation of breaking Arg561-Val562 bond.•The results of this study are step forward towards engineering smart lumbrokinases.
Lumbrokinases (LKs) belong to the group serine proteases capable to prevent thrombosis through the proteolysis of both plasminogen-bound and plasminogen-free fibrin molecules. The article presents improved activity of Lumbrokinase-6 (Lk-6) by suggesting the substitution of a Serine found at position 214 (Lk-6) with three other amino acids namely Glutamic acid, Proline and Valine. To characterize the stability, enzyme-substrate interaction and improved activity of three mutant Lk-6 proteins (Lk-Glu214, Lk-Pro214, Lk-Val214) In Silico tools were utilized. Subsequently, Lk-6 wild type and three mutant proteins were subjected to structure prediction, molecular modeling, phylogeny, molecular docking and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) using the In Silico tools. Collection and analysis of results revealed that substituted mutation at Ser214 with Valine214 can appreciably stabilize the overall structure of Lk-6 protein and makes its interaction with plasminogen activator physically powerful for higher plasmin activation. Similarly, Serine214 to Valine214 substitution resulted the direct activation of plasmin breakage at the Arg561-Val562 bond. The Arg-Val at position 561–562 in plasminogen and its connection at catalytic site have significantly shown that the predicted residue Valine214 could be further examined through genetic engineering of Lk-6 protein. Therefore, such results are potential steps towards the engineering of smart and active Lks.