The namenepenthesin was coined in 1968 by Shigeru Nakayama and Shizuko Amagase.[11] Alternative names for this enzyme includeNepenthes acid proteinase andNepenthes aspartic proteinase.[3] Twoisozymes have been identified inNepenthes:nepenthesin I andnepenthesin II.[12] The production of large quantities of nepenthesin-1 throughheterologous expression inEscherichia coli was described in 2014.[13]
In the late 19th century,Sydney Howard Vines showed that the pitcher fluid fromNepenthes could digest protein in acidic conditions. He suggested the plants were making a digestive enzyme, for which he proposed the name "nepenthin".[15] In the late 1960s, Josef Weigl's group in Germany and Shizuko Amagase's group in Japan each usedchromatography to purify the proteolytic activity from severalNepenthes species, finding it to be most active at pH 2–3.[15][16][17] Amagase and Shigeru Nakayama proposed the name "Nepenthesin" for the responsible protease(s).[15] In 1998, Kenji Takahashi's group purified protein from 30 liters ofNepenthesia distillatoria fluid, finding activity similar to that previously described, and reporting part of the nepenthesin amino acid sequence.[15]
^Jentsch J, Meierkord S, Hammer M (1989). "The enzymes from carnivorous plants (Nepenthes): Properties and characterization of the acid protease nepenthacin".Planta Medica.55 (2): 227.Bibcode:1989PlMed..55..227J.doi:10.1055/s-2006-961979.
^Athauda SB, Inoue H, Iwamatsu A, Takahashi K (1998). "Acid Proteinase fromNepenthes distillatoria (Badura)". In James, Michael (ed.).Aspartic proteinases: retroviral and cellular enzymes. New York: Plenum. pp. 453–458.ISBN0-306-45809-8.
^Kadek A, Tretyachenko V, Mrazek H, Ivanova L, Halada P, Rey M, Schriemer DC, Man P (March 2014). "Expression and characterization of plant aspartic protease nepenthesin-1 fromNepenthes gracilis".Protein Expression and Purification.95:121–128.doi:10.1016/j.pep.2013.12.005.PMID24365662.
^Takahashi K, Nishii W, Shibata C (2012). "The digestive fluid ofDrosera indica contains a cysteine endopeptidase ("droserain") similar to dionain fromDionaea muscipula".Carnivorous Plant Newsletter.41 (4):132–134.doi:10.55360/cpn414.kt962.
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