Arginine-specific cysteine proteinase from Porphyromonas gingivalis as a convenient tool in protein chemistry

RgpB, a cysteine proteinase produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis, exhibits proteolytic activity selectively directed against peptide bonds containing an arginine residue in the P1 position. Here we show that this enzyme can be used for very efficient and specific protein cleavage. RgpB is highly active even at high concentrations of denaturing agents, including urea (up to 6 m) and SDS (0.1 %), both of them being commonly used for solubilization of insoluble proteins and peptides. Moreover, RgpB is able to digest polypeptide chains in buffers supplemented with 1 % Triton X-100, 1 % octyl or decylpyranoside, detergents employed for the enzymatic digestion of proteins transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. These features render RgpB a suitable tool for use in protein chemistry.