Isolation and characterization of new thiol protease inhibitors estatins A and B.

New thiol protease inhibitors, estatins A and B, were isolated from the culture filtrate of Myceliophthora thermophila M4323. The basic, water-soluble inhibitors were characterized as having an agmatine, trans-epoxysuccinic acid and L-phenylalanine or L-tyrosine moieties in the structure. The molecular formulas C18H25N5O5 and C18H25N5O6 for A and B were indicated by elemental analysis and fast atom bombardment MS. Estatins were specific inhibitors against thiol proteases such as papain, ficin and bromelain. They suppressed IgE antibody production in mice, but not IgG.