Persistent kallikrein 5 activation induces atopic dermatitis-like skin architecture independent of PAR2 activity.

Background: Upregulation of kallikreins (KLKs) including KLK5 has been reported in atopic dermatitis (AD). KLK5 has biological functions that include degrading desmosomal proteins and inducing proinflammatory cytokine secretion through protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2). However, due to the complex interactions between various cells in AD inflamed skin, it is difficult to dissect the precise and multiple roles of upregulated KLK5 in AD skin.

Expanding the scope of N → S acyl transfer in native peptide sequences.

Understanding the factors that influence N → S acyl transfer in native peptide sequences, and discovery of new reagents that facilitate it, will be key to expanding its scope and applicability. Here, through a study of short model peptides in thioester formation and cyclisation reactions, we demonstrate that a wider variety of Xaa-Cys motifs than originally envisaged are capable of undergoing efficient N → S acyl transfer. We present data for the relative rates of thioester formation and cyclisation for a representative set of amino acids, and show how this expanded scope can be applied to the production of the natural protease inhibitor Sunflower Trypsin Inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1).