Differences in kallikrein-related peptidase mRNA sequences and KLK6 enzyme activity between mouse strains

Several studies have reported differences in physiological and pathological phenotypes between different strains of experimental mice,such as environment-based behavior,skin damage,damage in response to toxins and nervous system injury. however,the mechanisms underlying these differences have not yet been fully elucidated. we have been studying the function of kallikrein-related peptidases (klks),serine proteases known to serve a variety of functions. in this study,we focused on differences in klks between c57bl/6 mice and 129 mice. among 13 klks genes examined,12 klks showed differences in the mrna coding region sequence and 7 klks showed different deduced amino acid sequences of their proteins when comparing c57bl/6 and 129 mice. klk6 protein from 129 mice had six amino acid differences compared with that from c57bl/6 mice. klk6 protein from 129 mice showed reduced sds-page mobility compared with that from c57bl/6 mice. moreover,recombinant klk6 protein from 129 mice had a higher optimum ph and >15 times higher hydrolytic enzymatic activity for several substrates than that from c57bl/6 mice. these results suggest that klks may contribute to the genetic basis of the differences between mouse strains. © 2015 bentham science publishers.