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Biomedical subjects

H Kirschke

Publications and source records attributed to H Kirschke.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Localization of cathepsin H and its inhibitor in the skin and other stratified epithelia.

The rat-skin-derived cysteine proteinase, so-called BANA-hydrolase, which is capable of hydrolysing benzoylarginine naphthylamide and leucine naphthylamide was shown to be immunologically identical to cathepsin H purified from rat liver. The enzyme was immunocytochemically localized in the basal cell layer of rat epidermis. A natural inhibitor of cathepsin H with a molecular weight of about 13,000 was mainly localized in the keratinizing cell layers and showed only a weak reaction in the basal cells. Thus, cathepsin H appears to be a characteristic feature of the proliferating cell layer, whereas the cysteine-proteinase inhibitor is a characteristic feature of keratinizing cells.

Aminopeptidases↗

Coexistence of renin and cathepsin B in epithelioid cell secretory granules.

Mature juxtaglomerular epithelioid cell secretory granules of the rat exhibit both renin- and cathepsin B-like immunoreactivity. On the basis of the coexistence with renin at a pH which, according to previous experiments, is probably in the range of that in lysosomes, cathepsin B is suggested to be involved in the activation of renin prior to secretion.

Animals↗

Fluorescence methods for localizing proteinases and proteinase inhibitors in skeletal muscle.

Proteinases and proteinase inhibitors have become suspect in a wide variety of muscle wasting conditions that might be treatable if knowledge of the cellular locale and function of these molecules were known. Fluorescent probes have been useful in the localization of proteinases in muscle samples from human and animal specimens. These include the histochemical localization of proteinases based on the specific fluorescence of hydrolysis product derivatives, but this approach has been limited to the lysosomal proteinases because of the acidic requirements of the trapping reaction of the primary reaction product. Immunohistochemical techniques do not have the same restrictions and a number of lysosomal and nonlysosomal proteinases have been identified in muscle by this means. Unfortunately, they do not yield any information as to the activity of the enzymes. This is an important consideration since the extracellular environment contains a number of proteinase inhibitors, some of which may be internalized by the cell.

Animals↗

Species variations amongst lysosomal cysteine proteinases.

Properties of cathepsin L from rat liver lysosomes were compared with those of a similar enzyme, cathepsin S from beef spleen. Major characteristics of cathepsin L are the high activity against Z-Phe-Arg-methylcoumarylamide and sensitivity to the fast reacting irreversible inhibitor Z-Phe-Phe-diazomethane. In contrast, cathepsin S hydrolyzes Z-Phe-Arg-methylcoumarylamide only slowly and Z-Phe-Phe-diazomethane cannot be regarded as a potent inhibitor of this enzyme. The differences in the substrate specificity of cathepsin L from rat liver and cathepsin S from beef spleen are discussed in comparison with the substrate specificity of cathepsin B from rat and human liver and beef spleen.

Animals↗

Inactivation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase by cathepsin L. Stimulation by ATP.

Cathepsin L was capable of destroying rabbit muscle aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-lyase, EC 4.1.2.13) activity towards the substrate fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. The rate of loss of activity towards this substrate was stimulated (approx. 2-fold) by physiological concentrations of ATP and to a lesser degree by GTP, CTP, UTP, ADP and cyclic AMP, while PPi and Pi decreased the rate of inactivation. Other proteinases (cathepsin B, cathepsin D, trypsin and chymotrypsin) also decreased aldolase activity toward fructose 1,6-bisphosphate more rapidly in the presence of ATP and more slowly in the presence of Pi. Cathepsin L, at higher concentrations, was capable of inactivating aldolase activity towards fructose 1-phosphate and extensively degrading the enzyme; these reactions were not affected by ATP and Pi. The thermostability of aldolase was also unaffected by these ligands. ATP and Pi had no effect on the rates of hydrolysis of other proteins (hemoglobin, bovine serum albumin, casein and azocasein) by cathepsin L. These data indicate that the effects of ATP and Pi are due to interactions of these ligands with aldolase that make the enzyme more vulnerable to limited but not extensive proteolysis; these ligands do not directly affect cathepsin L activity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The insulin and glucagon degrading proteinase of rat liver. Separation of the proteinase from the thiol-proteindisulfide oxidoreductases.

Insulin degrading enzymes of rat liver cytosol, the so-called insulin and glucagon degrading proteinase (IGP, EC 3.4.23.5), and two forms of the insulin degrading thiol-protein-disulfide oxidoreductase/isomerase (glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase, TPO, EC 1.8.4.2/5.3.4.1) were separated from each other and partially purified on DEAE-Sephadex. The highly purified proteinase was obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the DEAE-Sephadex-purified enzyme fraction and was used to produce monospecific antibodies to the IGP in rabbits. Strong evidence is given that the insulin and glucagon degrading proteinase is an autonomous enzyme existing in addition to the TPO forms in the cytosol of the liver. Combined action of the proteinase and the TPO system on radioiodinated insulin under various conditions in vitro revealed an independent and non-sequential degradation of insulin by these two enzyme systems.

Animals↗

The insulin and glucagon degrading proteinase of rat liver: a metal-dependent enzyme.

Insulin and glucagon degrading proteinase (EC 3.4.23.5) purified from rat liver cytosol was characterized using radioiodinated insulin and glucagon as substrates. Maximum activity for breakdown of both hormones was found at pH 8.1. Thiol blocking reagents as well as indole derivatives inhibit the proteinase, whereas pepstatin, leupeptin, bestatin, elastatinal, antipain, chymostatin and phosphoramidon do not have any effect. Although the Km values and maximal velocities of insulin and glucagon breakdown deviate strongly from each other, the specificity constants (kcat/Km) for both substrates are nearly identical. The insulin and glucagon degrading proteinase, known as a thiol-dependent enzyme, was found to be also a metallo enzyme. Chelating agents, such as EDTA, EGTA, bipyridine and o-phenanthroline show a concentration dependent inhibition. The strongest inhibitor found was o-phenanthroline. Zn++, Co++, Mn++, and to a smaller extent Cd++ and Fe++, are capable of preventing the o-phenanthroline mediated inhibition. Removal of the protein-bound metal(s) results in a nearly total and irreversible loss of enzymatic activity.

Animals↗

Activity of lysosomal cysteine proteinase during differentiation of rat skeletal muscle.

Cysteine-proteinase activities were measured in extracts of pre- and post-fusion populations of rat myogenic line L6 cells and in extracts of whole rat muscle. Activities of cathepsins B, L and H were compared. The substrates used included Z-Phe-Arg-NMec (cathepsins B and L), Z-Arg-Arg-NMec (cathepsin B), and Arg-NMec (cathepsin H) (where Z = benzyloxycarbonyl, and NMec = 4-methyl-7-coumarylamide); the enzyme activities were more specifically differentiated by appropriate concentrations of the inhibitors Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2 (CHN2 = diazomethane), bestatin and E-64 [L-trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido(4-guanidino)butane]. These experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of determining the cysteine-proteinase activities of myoblasts from a single (60 mm-diameter) Petri dish, with enzyme concentrations in the range of 5-20 ng/ml. Specific activities of the enzymes in L6 cells increased 2-20-fold after fusion. Concentrations of cysteine proteinases in extracts from cultured myoblasts were two orders of magnitude greater than those in muscle-tissue extracts. Cultured-cell extracts contained endogenous inhibitor(s) to purified rat cathepsins B, L and H.

Animals↗

The ribosomal serine proteinase, cathepsin R. Occurrence in rat-liver ribosomes in a cryptic form.

Ribosomes have been shown to contain a proteolytic activity, characterized as an endopeptidase with serine in the active center. The enzyme has been given the name cathepsin R, following the recommendations of Barrett et al. (in a publication from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York) for naming new proteinases. The present paper contains evidence that cathepsin R in rat liver ribosomes is present in a cryptic form. Upon dissociation of ribosomes to subunits (and to minor extent also by 0.5 M KC1 washes), the cryptic proteinase is released. Activation of the released cathepsin R is effected by equilibration with 2 M NaC1/0.05 M sodium acetate, pH 4.8. The molecular weight of free cathepsin R is 25 000-30 000.

Animals↗

Action of rat liver cathepsin L on collagen and other substrates.

1. It has been found that cathepsin L is very susceptible to loss of activity through autolysis. When this is prevented by purification and storage of the enzyme as its mercury derivative, preparations are obtained with higher specific activity than previously. 2. Active-site titration shows, however, that even the new purification method does not give preparations in which the enzyme is 100% active. 3. Benzyloxycarbonylphenylalanylarginine 7-(4-methyl)coumarylamide has been discovered to be a very sensitive substrate for cathepsin L. Like all other known substrates for cathepsin L, however, it is also cleaved by cathepsin B. 4. Cathepsin L degrades insoluble collagen at pH 3.5 over 5-fold faster than at pH 6.0. The specific activity at pH 3.5 is 5-10-fold higher than that of cathepsin B (rat or human) or bovine spleen cathepsin N ('collagenolytic cathepsin'). 5. Qualitatively, the action of cathepsin L on collagen is similar to that of cathepsins B and N, i.e. selective cleavage of terminal peptides leads to conversion of beta- and higher components mainly to alpha-chains.

Animals↗

L-trans-Epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido(4-guanidino)butane (E-64) and its analogues as inhibitors of cysteine proteinases including cathepsins B, H and L.

1. L-trans-Epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido(4-guanidino)butane (E-64) at a concentration of 0.5 mM had no effect on the serine proteinases plasma kallikrein and leucocyte elastase or the metalloproteinases thermolysin and clostridial collagenase. In contrast, 10 muM-E-64 rapidly inactivated the cysteine proteinases cathepsins B, H and L and papain (t0.5 = 0.1-17.3s). The streptococcal cysteine proteinase reacted much more slowly, and there was no irreversible inactivation of clostripain. The cysteine-dependent exopeptidase dipeptidyl peptidase I was very slowly inactivated by E-64. 2. the active-site-directed nature of the interaction of cathepsin B and papain with E-64 was established by protection of the enzyme in the presence of the reversible competitive inhibitor leupeptin and by the stereospecificity for inhibition by the L as opposed to the D compound. 3. It was shown that the rapid stoichiometric reaction of the cysteine proteinases related to papain can be used to determine the operational molarity of solutions of the enzymes and thus to calibrate rate assays. 4. The apparent second-order rate constants for the inactivation of human cathepsins B and H and rat cathepsin L by a series of structural analogues of E-64 are reported, and compared with those for some other active-site-directed inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. 5. L-trans-Epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido(3-methyl)butane (Ep-475) was found to inhibit cathepsins B and L more rapidly than E-64. 6. Fumaryl-leucylamido(3-methyl)butane (Dc-11) was 100-fold less reactive than the corresponding epoxide, but was nevertheless about as effective as iodoacetate.

Binding Sites↗

Inhibition of cysteine proteinase activity by Z-Phe-Phe-diazomethane and of aspartic proteinase activity by pepstatin in different organs from some animals and isolated cells from rat liver.

Two methods have been developed to discriminate simultaneously between the main part of cysteine proteinase activity (cathepsin L) and all aspartic proteinase activity (mainly cathepsin D) in rat organs, using Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2 which at 5 mumol/l completely inhibits cathepsin L from rat liver and, on the other hand, pepstatin which at 0.5 mumol/l completely inhibits cathepsin D. Substrates are double-labeled cytosol proteins from rat liver at pH 3.0 or azocasein in 3 mol/l urea at pH 5.0. Several organs from rat, pigeon, frog and carp have been investigated using these methods. Especially kidneys from rat, frog and carp contain a high Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2 inhibited activity. Investigating the different liver cell types we could confirm earlier findings that Kupffer cells and endothelial cells contain more pepstatin inhibited activity than parenchymal cells.

Animals↗

On the substrate specificity of cathepsin L.

A view is given on the maximal hydrolysis of proteins by cathepsin L (EC 3.4.22.15) in dependence on the pH. The overall degradation of several proteins at pH values lower than pH 6.0 implies a very broad specificity, whereas at pH 7.0 and 7.5 cathepsin L seems to act on proteins cleaving only restricted specific peptide bonds. Some kinetic constants are given for the three synthetic substrates of cathepsin L which are known so far: Bz-Arg-NH2, Z-Lys-OPhNO2 and Z-Phe-Arg-NMec. They cannot be used as completely specific substrates of cathepsin L, because all of them are hydrolysed by cathepsin B and also other proteinases.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Action of rat liver cathepsin L on glucagon.

The proteolytic specificity of cathepsin L on glucagon was determined. Major cleavages are found between Thr7 and Ser8, Asp15 and Ser16, and between Met27 and Asn28. The bonds Ser11-Lys12, Val23-Gln24, and Gln24-Trp25 are hydrolyzed to a relatively low extent only. Whereas cathepsin B hydroxyzes glucagon at the C-terminus by a peptidyldipeptidase mechanism, cathepsin L cleaves the same substrate clearly as endopeptidase.

Animals↗