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Biomedical subjects

S Pontremoli

Publications and source records attributed to S Pontremoli.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Characterization of the inactive form of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase isolated from livers of fasted rabbits.

The accumulation of an inactive, immunologically crossreactive form of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (EC 3.1.3.11) in livers of fasted rabbits has now been related to limited proteolysis at the COOH terminus. The extent of modification of this region of the molecule, determined by analysis of tyrosine residues in the peptides released by digestion with subtilisin, agrees with the observed decrease in the specific activity of the enzyme purified from livers of fasted rabbits. The following evidence supports the conclusion that the modified form is produced in vivo and not during the isolation of the enzyme from the liver homogenates: (i) liver homogenates prepared in isotonic sucrose contained negligible amounts of soluble lysosomal proteinases; (ii) the decreased aldolase activity after fasting was observed in the homogenates and no change in aldolase activity occurred when the homogenates were incubated for 2 hr at 37 degrees C; (iii) the modified enzyme was also isolated from the livers of fasted rabbits when leupeptin was injected intraportally before the animals were sacrificed or when the inhibitor was added to the homogenization solution. On the other hand, homogenization of livers in hypotonic medium resulted in release of lysosomal proteinases and also in decreases in catalytic activity and COOH-terminal modification of liver aldolase, similar to those observed in livers from fasted rabbits. We attribute the changes in activity and structure of aldolase isolated from livers of fasted rabbits to the action in vivo of cathepsin M.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Limited proteolysis of liver aldolase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase by lysosomal proteinases: effect on complex formation.

Cathepsin M, which catalyzes inactivation of both rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) and rabbit liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (Fru-P2ase; EC 3.1.3.11), has been characterized as a peptidyl peptidase. Modification of the COOH terminus of aldolase by cathepsin M or by Fru-P2ase converting enzyme 2 abolishes its ability to bind to phosphocellulose P11 and to form the complex with Fru-P2ase. On the other hand, modification of the COOH terminus of Fru-P2ase does not affect its interaction with aldolase. This property is lost, however, when Fru-P2ase is modified in the NH2-terminal region by the converting enzyme or by subtilisin. The results suggest that interaction of aldolase and Fru-P2ase may involve the exposed COOH-terminal region of the former and an exposed proteinase-sensitive region located between residues 57 and 67 of the latter.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1981

Decay of proteinase and peptidase activities of human and rabbit erythrocytes during cellular aging.

Variations in activity of the membrane-bound and cytosolic proteinases and peptidases were analyzed in human and rabbit erythrocytes at various stages of their life-span. The patterns observed with human erythrocytes were the following. (a) The acidic endopeptidase activity associated with the membranes undergoes a substantial decline during cellular aging, with an estimated half-life of 65 days. Concomitantly it appears to become progressively more latent. (b) All cytosolic proteinase and peptidase activities described previously (Pontremoli, S., Melloni, E., Salamino, F., Sapartore, B., Michetti, M., Benatti, U., Morelli, A. and De Flora, A. (1980) Eur. J. Biochem. 110, 421-430) decline exponentially throughout the erythrocyte life-span, with the exception of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase III. The calculated half-lives were: 60 days for the neutral endopeptidase; 87 days for the total acidic endopeptidase activity which is accounted for by three distinct enzymes; 49 days for aminopeptidase B and 133 days for a second aminopeptidase with broad substrate specificity; 84 days for dipeptidyl aminopeptidase II. The results obtained with the rabbit erythrocytes were: (a) no significant decline of leucine aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl aminopeptidase II and III activities in the transition from reticulocytes to mature erythrocytes; (b) very limited decline of aminopeptidase B activity; (c) a pronounced age-dependent decay, in increasing order, of neutral endopeptidase, aminopeptidase A, carboxypeptidase and acidic endopeptidase activities.

Aminopeptidases↗