9 generic fluorogenic substrates (CPC Scientific) (Figure S4) were added to the final concentration of 20 μM. Fluorescence was measured at Excitation/Emission=330/390 nm on BioTek Synergy H1 microplate reader and proteolytic activity was calculated as a change in relative fluorescence units per sec using the slope of the linear range for this signal.

Abstract

Malassezia form the dominant eukaryotic microbial community on the human skin. The Malassezia genus possesses a repertoire of secretory hydrolytic enzymes involved in protein and lipid metabolism which alter the external cutaneous environment. The exact role of most Malassezia secreted enzymes, including those in interaction with the epithelial surface, are not well characterized. In this study, we explored the functional roles of Malassezia aspartyl proteases in skin health, we generated a knockout mutant of the predominant aspartyl protease in the genetically tractable Malassezia furfur. We observed the loss of MFSAP1 resulted in dramatic changes in the cell adhesion and dispersal in both culture and a human 3D reconstituted epidermis model. In a murine model of Malassezia colonization, we further demonstrated Mfsap1 contributes to inflammation as observed by reduced edema and inflammatory cell infiltration with the knockout mutant versus wildtype. Taken together, we show that this dominant secretory Malassezia aspartyl protease has an important role in enabling a planktonic cellular state that can potentially aid in colonization and additionally as a virulence factor in barrier-compromised skin, highlighting the importance of considering the contextual relevance when evaluating the functions of secreted microbial enzymes.

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    Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) has many advantages over liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS) for preparing and manufacturing synthetic peptides. Except the synthesis of short peptide sequences (i.e., less than five amino acid residues), SPPS is faster, more efficient, and more economical than liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS). Some of the advantages of SPPS include: (1) Excess reagents and products can be easily washed away, (2) using excess reagents to increase reaction rates and drive reactions to completion, (3) intermediates do not require isolation or characterization, (4) access to a broader range of solvents with low volatility and high polarity, (5) tethered peptide provides a ‘pseudo-dilute’ microenvironment, which can inhibit intermolecular reactions, making some modifications easier to accomplish, and (6) compatibility with automated synthesis technology.

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