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Peptidase profiles of Pseudomonas fluorescens: identification and properties.

The cell-associated peptidase profiles of 12 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC 948 and 11 related biotypes) were examined. Employing Analytab system API ZYM, a general, strong peptidase activity was detected using L-lysyl-, L-pyrrolidonyl-, L-arginyl-, L-alanyl-, and glycyl-glycyl-beta-naphthylamides as substrates. Conversely, L-tyrosyl-, L-phenylalanyl-, L-histidyl-, L-prolyl-, gamma-L-glutamyl-beta-naphthylamides substrates were hydrolyzed by only a few strains. The peptidases were active, therefore, on substrates responsible for the bitter taste in dairy products. Properties of hydrolytic systems showed no significant changes in the enzymatic profiles when cells were grown on different fermentation media. Enzyme activity was relatively stable during refrigerated (5 degrees C) and frozen (-18 degrees C) storage. The peptidases of P. fluorescens ATCC 948, considered as reference, and strain 22 were identified on Pro-beta-naphthylamides by Michaelis constant values of .528 and .394 mM, respectively, and by different optimal pH and temperature activity on Leu- and Pro-beta-naphthylamides. The peptidase activity on Gly-Phe-beta-naphthylamide in P. fluorescens 30 had optimal values at pH 7.50 and 45 degrees C. These results confirm the relations defined in the enzymatic identification phase and suggest the presence of any analogous peptidases in the biovars of P. fluorescens considered.

Culture Media↗

Transport of proteins into chloroplasts. Organization, orientation, and lateral distribution of the plastocyanin processing peptidase in the thylakoid network.

Plastocyanin is synthesized in the cytoplasm as a larger precursor and transported into the thylakoid lumen of the chloroplast. Maturation of preplastocyanin involves successive cleavages by a stromal peptidase and a distinct thylakoidal peptidase. In this report we have analyzed the precise location and orientation of the thylakoidal peptidase with respect to the thylakoid membrane. Experiments involving differential centrifugation of thylakoid extracts and sonication of isolated vesicles indicate that the peptidase is tightly bound to the thylakoid membrane but not intimately associated with any of the major thylakoid protein complexes. Analysis of the lateral distribution of the peptidase has shown that the enzyme is exclusively located in the non-appressed lamellae of the thylakoid network. The active site of the peptidase is on the lumenal face of the thylakoid membrane.

Chloroplasts↗

The isolation of homogeneous leader peptidase from a strain of Escherichia coli which overproduces the enzyme.

Leader (signal) peptidases cleave the NH2-terminal leader sequences of newly synthesized secreted and membrane proteins during, or shortly after, they insert across the membrane. We have constructed a plasmid, pPS9, in which the structural gene for Escherichia coli leader peptidase is under transcriptional control of a lambda promoter, PR. pPS9 also codes for a temperature-sensitive lambda repressor, causing repression of expression of the plasmid leader peptidase gene at 30 degrees C and rapid synthesis of this enzyme at 42 degrees C. Under appropriate growth regimens, leader peptidase is overproduced 75-fold. Leader peptidase from this strain has been purified to homogeneity. It consists of a 37,000-dalton polypeptide which co-migrates with enzyme activity on DEAE-cellulose and chromatofocusing chromatography. Antibody to this leader peptidase is described.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗

Isolation and characterization of an Escherichia coli clone overproducing prolipoprotein signal peptidase.

Based on the rationale that Escherichia coli cells containing increased levels of prolipoprotein signal peptidase would be highly resistant to globomycin, a specific inhibitor of the prolipoprotein signal peptidase, we have isolated a clone from the Carbon-Clarke collection, plasmid pLC3-13, which is globomycin-resistant and contains an increased level of prolipoprotein signal peptidase activity. The plasmid pMT521, a subclone of pLC3-13 in pBR322, conferred on its host cells approximately 20 times overproduction of prolipoprotein signal peptidase and an extremely high level of resistance against globomycin. The overproduced prolipoprotein signal peptidase was completely inhibited by the presence of globomycin in the in vitro assay, and the overproduced activity was found in the cell envelope fraction. Several lines of biochemical and genetic evidence suggest that the gene contained in pLC3-13 and its derivative clones is most likely the structure gene (lsp) for prolipoprotein signal peptidase.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Reconstitution of rapid and asymmetric assembly of M13 procoat protein into liposomes which have bacterial leader peptidase.

The leader peptidase of Escherichia coli cleaves a 23-residue leader sequence from M13 procoat to yield mature coat protein in virus-infected cells. We have reconstituted pure leader peptidase into vesicles of E. coli lipids and found that these liposomes are active in the conversion of procoat to coat. Trypsin removes all but 10% of the leader peptidase, yet the vesicles retain nearly full capacity to convert procoat to coat, suggesting that only procoat which inserts across the liposomal membrane is a substrate for leader peptidase. This is confirmed by the finding that over 70% of the coat protein produced by these liposomes spans the membrane. The rate at which leader peptidase inside protease-treated liposomes cleaves externally added procoat is comparable to the rate of procoat cleavage by the same amount of leader peptidase in detergent micelles. Thus, procoat can rapidly integrate across a liposomal membrane and be cleaved to coat protein. These findings confirm the central part of the membrane trigger hypothesis that certain proteins (such as procoat) can cross a bilayer without the aid of a proteinaceous pore or transport system.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Beta-turn formation in the processing region is important for efficient maturation of Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein by signal peptidase I in vivo.

Signal peptidase I (also called leader peptidase) is the endopeptidase that removes the signal peptides of most secreted proteins during or after translocation in Escherichia coli. Precursor recognition is contingent in part on the presence of small, uncharged residues in the -3 and -1 positions relative to the cleavage site, and may also depend on the structure of the processing region. Most precursor processing regions include residues likely to form a beta-turn. Mutations were introduced into the processing region of maltose-binding protein (MBP) that altered the prediction of beta-turn formation in this region. MBP species with a decreased probability of beta-turn formation were processed slowly or not at all, whereas MBP species with an increased probability of beta-turn formation were processed efficiently. Mutations altering the prediction of beta-turn formation in the MBP processing region were also made in cis to a proline in the +1 position. Cleavage at the normal processing site is blocked by proline in the +1 position; this MBP species, MBP27-P, inhibits processing of other proteins by signal peptidase I. Decreasing the probability of beta-turn formation in the processing region of MBP27-P eliminated the inhibition of signal peptidase I, and these MBP27-P derivatives remained unprocessed, suggesting that the formation of a beta-turn in the MBP processing region was necessary for recognition by signal peptidase I. Increasing the probability of beta-turn formation in cis to proline at +1 in MBP did not alter recognition of the protein by the processing enzyme. The results presented here are consistent with the hypothesis that the efficiency of recognition and processing by signal peptidase I is increased by the formation of a beta-turn in the processing region of the MBP signal peptide.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

A serine and a lysine residue implicated in the catalytic mechanism of the Escherichia coli leader peptidase.

We report that a thiol leader peptidase, produced by replacing the critical serine at position 90 with a cysteine residue, is enzymatically active. In contrast to the wild-type leader peptidase, the thiol enzyme can be inactivated with N-ethylmaleimide, a cysteine-specific reagent. This strongly suggests that the serine 90 is involved in catalysis and is located at the active site. Of the three conserved basic residues in the signal peptidase family, only lysine 145 appears to be critical for catalysis; when lysine 145 was mutated to an alanine residue, leader peptidase K145A protein was inactive both in vitro and in vivo. A control experiment showed that the K145A mutant competes with the wild-type leader peptidase for substrate binding, confirming that the K145A mutation did not cause a global conformational change. The data provides evidence that catalysis of leader peptidase is carried out by a serine-lysine dyad.

Binding Sites↗

Dipeptidyl peptidase-II activity in cultured astroglial cells from neonatal rat brain.

Astrocytic glial cells in primary culture from neonatal rat brain possess prominent dipeptidyl peptidase-II activity. This enzyme has been previously isolated and purified from whole brain tissue. The glial enzyme characteristically hydrolyzed glycyl-proline-p-nitroanilide (GPN) substrate to release glycyl-proline dipeptide plus p-nitroaniline products. At the enzyme's optimal pH of 5.4, the activities of other tested amino exopeptidases were virtually zero. At pH greater than 8, activity was less than 2% of the activity at pH 5.4, which suggested a paucity of the related enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV. No competitive inhibition was observed for glycine, proline nor their permuted dipeptides. Glial dipeptidyl peptidase-II activity was strongly inhibited by Hg2+, while other redox sulfhydryl agents were ineffective. Tested cations did not affect activity, except K+ which was mildly inhibitory. Chelating agents were not inhibitory. Of the peptidase inhibitors tested, only phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and puromycin were partially inhibitory. We suggest that dipeptidyl peptidase-II may play a role in glial processing of brain peptides which possess an N-terminal penultimate proline residue.

Animals↗

Inhibition of cysteine proteinases and dipeptidyl peptidase I by egg-white cystatin.

The interactions between egg-white cystatin and the cysteine proteinases papain, human cathepsin B and bovine dipeptidyl peptidase I were studied. Cystatin was shown to be a competitive reversible inhibitor of cathepsin B (Ki 1.7 nM, k-1 about 2.3 X 10(-3) s-1). The inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase I was shown to be reversible (Ki(app.) 0.22 nM, k-1 about 2.2 X 10(-3) s-1). Cystatin bound papain too tightly for Ki to be determined, but an upper limit of 5 pM was estimated. The association was a second-order process, with k+1 1.0 X 10(7) M-1 X s-1. Papain was shown to form equimolar complexes with cystatin. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of complexes formed between papain or cathepsin B and an excess of cystatin showed no peptide bond cleavage after incubation for 72 h. The reaction of the active-site thiol group of papain with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) at pH 8 and 2,2'-dithiobispyridine at pH 4 was blocked by complex-formation. Dipeptidyl peptidase I and papain were found to compete for binding to cystatin, contrary to a previous report. The two major isoelectric forms of cystatin were found to have similar specific inhibitory activities for papain, and similar affinities for papain, cathepsin B and dipeptidyl peptidase I. This, together with specific oxidation of the N-terminal serine residue with periodate, showed the N-terminal amino group of cystatin 1 to be unimportant for inhibition. General citraconylation of amino groups resulted in a large decrease in the affinity of cystatin for dipeptidyl peptidase I. It is concluded that the interaction of cystatin with cysteine proteinases has many characteristics similar to those of an inhibitor such as aprotinin with serine proteinases.

Binding Sites↗

Human dipeptidyl-peptidase I. Gene characterization, localization, and expression.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase I, a lysosomal cysteine proteinase, is important in intracellular degradation of proteins and appears to be a central coordinator for activation of many serine proteinases in immune/inflammatory cells. Little is known about the molecular genetics of the enzyme. In the present investigation the gene for dipeptidyl-peptidase I was cloned and characterized. The gene spans approximately 3.5 kilobases and consists of two exons and one intron. The genomic organization is distinct from the complex structures of the other members of the papain-type cysteine proteinase family. By fluorescence in situ hybridization, the gene was mapped to chromosomal region 11q14.1-q14.3. Analysis of the sequenced 5'-flanking region revealed no classical TATA or CCAAT box in the GC-rich region upstream of cap site. A number of possible regulatory elements that could account for tissue-specific expression were identified. Northern analyses demonstrated that the dipeptidyl-peptidase I message is expressed at high levels in lung, kidney, and placenta, at moderate to low levels in many organs, and at barely detectable levels in the brain, suggesting tissue-specific regulation. Among immune/inflammatory cells, the message is expressed at high levels in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages and their precursor cells. Treatment of lymphocytes with interleukin-2 resulted in a significant increase in dipeptidyl-peptidase I mRNA levels, suggesting that this gene is subjected to transcriptional regulation. The results provide initial insights into the molecular basis for the regulation of human dipeptidyl-peptidase I.

Base Sequence↗

Novel extracellular x-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidase (DPP) from Streptococcus gordonii FSS2: an emerging subfamily of viridans Streptococcal x-prolyl DPPs.

Streptococcus gordonii is generally considered a benign inhabitant of the oral microflora, and yet it is a primary etiological agent in the development of subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE), an inflammatory state that propagates thrombus formation and tissue damage on the surface of heart valves. Strain FSS2 produced several extracellular aminopeptidase and fibrinogen-degrading activities during growth in culture. In this report we describe the purification, characterization, and cloning of a serine class dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase, an x-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidase (Sg-xPDPP, for S. gordonii x-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidase), produced in a pH-controlled batch culture. Purification of this enzyme by anion exchange, gel filtration, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography yielded a protein monomer of approximately 85 kDa, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) under denaturing conditions. However, under native conditions, the protein appeared to be a homodimer on the basis of gel filtration and PAGE. Kinetic studies indicated that purified enzyme had a unique and stringent x-prolyl specificity that is comparable to both the dipeptidyl-peptidase IV/CD26 and lactococcal x-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidase families. Nested PCR cloning from an S. gordonii library enabled the isolation and sequence analysis of the full-length gene. A 759-amino-acid polypeptide with a theoretical molecular mass of 87,115 Da and a calculated pI of 5.6 was encoded by this open reading frame. Significant homology was found with the PepX gene family from Lactobacillus and Lactococcus spp. and putative x-prolyl dipeptidyl-peptidases from other streptococcal species. Sg-xPDPP may serve as a critical factor for the sustained bacterial growth in vivo and furthermore may aid in the proteolysis of host tissue that is commonly observed during SBE pathology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Plasma membrane-bound and lysosomal peptidases in human alveolar macrophages.

Alveolar macrophages protect the lungs against noxious agents. Proteases and peptidases are essential for this defense and many metabolic activities. Human alveolar macrophages were evaluated for the presence of six important peptidases. Deamidase, a serine peptidase identical with the lysosomal protective protein and possibly with cathepsin A, had high specific activity in alveolar macrophages and is also present in cultured mouse J774A.1 and human U937 cells, used for the sake of comparison. In fractionated J774A cells, most of the deamidase activity was in the lysosomal fraction and in the final supernatant. Deamidase in human alveolar macrophages, obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from 23 patients, cleaved dansyl-Phe-Leu-Arg at a rate of 2.26 mumol/h/mg protein and hydrolyzed the chemotactic peptide N-f-Met-Leu-Phe even faster, at a rate of 53.1 mumol/h/mg protein, the highest activity for this enzyme with any of the cells we tested. Rabbit antiserum, elicited with the recombinant partial sequence of the enzyme, immunoprecipitated 77-88% of the macrophage deamidase. In immunocytochemistry, this antiserum localized deamidase within the human macrophages. The enzyme was inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP; 1 mM) and by ebelactone B (10 microM), noncompetitively. The mRNA of deamidase was detected in mouse macrophages by Northern blot; the two protein chains of deamidase were shown in human macrophages by Western blot. In addition, two other serine peptidases were also highly active in macrophages: dipeptidyl peptidase IV (1.38 mumol/h/mg protein) and prolylcarboxypeptidase (0.72 mumol/h/mg protein). The activity of plasma membrane zinc metallopeptidases, neutral endopeptidase 24.11 and carboxypeptidase M, in contrast, was low or absent (angiotensin I converting enzyme; kininase II).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Is there a tripeptidyl peptidase in the renal brush-border membrane?

A recent claim that the renal brush border contains a tripeptidyl peptidase [Andersen & McDonald (1987) Am. J. Physiol. 253, F649-F655] was examined. In a fluorescent assay, the hydrolysis of Gly-Pro-Met-2-naphthylamide (-NH-Nap) and Gly-Pro-Leu-NH-Nap by pig kidney microvilli was strongly inhibited by amastatin or di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate (inhibitors of aminopeptidases and dipeptidyl peptidase IV). The products formed were shown to be Gly-Pro and Met-NH-Nap (or Leu-NH-Nap) and free 2-naphthylamine. Specific antibodies to pig and rat aminopeptidase N abolished the apparent tripeptidyl peptidase activity. We conclude that these substrates are hydrolysed by the sequential attack of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and aminopeptidase N and that pig and rat brush borders lack a detectable tripeptidyl peptidase.

Aminopeptidases↗

An assay of dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity in human serum and serum of pregnant women with glycyl-L-proline-1-naphthylamide and other glycyl-L-proline-arylamides as substrates.

The authors described a micromethod for measuring dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity in human serum with glycyl-L-proline-1-naphthylamide as substrate. The method requires less than 20 microliters of serum. The pH optimum for cleaving glycyl-L-proline-1-naphthylamine by the enzyme in human serum in Tris-HCl buffer was 8.0 and Km value was established as 7.2 X 10(-4) mol/l. The advantage of this substrate is the absence of spontaneous hydrolysis during the assay of enzyme activity in contrast to glycyl-L-proline-4-nitroanilide. The Km values of the latter substrates and glycyl-L-proline-2-naphthylamide in the same buffer were 1.0 X 10(-4) mol/l and 2.4 X 10(-4) mol/l, respectively. Glycyl-D-proline-4-nitroanilide was not hydrolyzed by the dipeptidyl peptidase IV present in human serum. The activities of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in the sera from 30 healthy human subjects with glycyl-L-proline-1-naphthylamide as substrate were 176.1 +/- 32.8 nkat/l (mean +/- standard deviation; range 100.2-264.1 nkat/l of serum). In this group men had significantly (P less than 0.01) higher activity of the enzyme than women. The cleaving of glycyl-L-proline-1-naphthylamide and glycyl-L-proline-4-nitro anilide by dipeptidyl peptidase IV in human sera was closely correlated (r = 0.86). During normal pregnancy the activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in human serum decreases markedly in the first half of pregnancy. After delivery, the serum enzyme activity returns progressively to initial levels.

Adult↗

Studies of liver repopulation using the dipeptidyl peptidase IV-deficient rat and other rodent recipients: cell size and structure relationships regulate capacity for increased transplanted hepatocyte mass in the liver lobule.

The feasibility of liver repopulation with hepatocytes has been shown, although clinical applications demand significant hepatic replacement. To show whether portal vascular bed in large animals could accomodate a greater cell number, we analyzed liver repopulation in syngeneic Fischer 344 rats deficient in dipeptidyl peptidase IV. This system allowed localization of transplanted normal hepatocytes in liver or various ectopic sites, as well as dual studies for analysis of gene expression. Interestingly, the product of a dipeptidyl peptidase IV substrate inactivated bile canalicular adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in normal but not in dipeptidyl peptidase IV-deficient rats, which allowed localization of dipeptidyl peptidase IV-deficient hepatocytes in normal rat liver for additional reversed transplantation systems. Further studies with genetically marked cells showed that because of the size difference between hepatocytes and portal vein radicles, intrasplenically transplanted cells were distributed in periportal areas (zone 1) in mice, whereas in larger animals (rats or rabbits) cells were also distributed downstream to midlobular (zone 2) or perivenous (zone 3) areas. Transplantation of an escalating number of hepatocytes showed that adult rats tolerated intrasplenic injection of a large cell number in single sessions (up to 1 X 10(8), approximately 10% to 15% of the host hepatocyte mass). Morphometric analysis of recipient livers showed survival of a significantly greater cell number with incorporation in host liver plates. At 4 weeks, transplantation of 2 x 10(7) hepatocytes into adult rats led to a survival of 1.4 +/- 1.0 x 10(6) transplanted cells/cm3 liver, whereas after transplantation of 5 x 10(7) cells or 7.5 x 10(7) cells, the number of surviving transplanted cells in the liver significantly increased to 4.1 +/- 1.4 x 10(6) transplanted cells/cm3 liver (mean, 2.9-fold; P<.003) and 5.5 +/- 1.3 x 10(6) transplanted cells/cm3 liver (mean, 3.9-fold; P<.003), respectively. When cells were injected in greater numbers, transplanted hepatocytes retained normal function and produced more serum albumin or hepatitis B surface antigen in deficient hosts. These data indicate the feasibility in larger animals of significant liver repopulation with hepatocyte transplantation. Use of dipeptidyl peptidase IV-deficient rats should help further analysis of mechanisms in liver repopulation.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Aminoacylpyrrolidine-2-nitriles: potent and stable inhibitors of dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD 26).

Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) also known as CD26 is a membrane-bound serine peptidase which cleaves N-terminal dipeptides from a peptide chain containing a proline residue in the penultimate position. The enzyme is believed to play an important role in neuropeptide metabolism and T-cell activation. A series of aminoacylpyrrolidine-2-nitriles, in which the carboxyl group of proline is replaced by a nitrile group, was synthesized as inhibitors of dipeptidyl-peptidase IV. All compounds were found to competitively inhibit a homogeneous preparation of the rat kidney enzyme with Ki values in the low to submicromolar range. The nitriles presumably react with the active-site serine to form an imidate adduct. The compounds were stable following incubation either for 20 h at 37 degrees C or 72 h at room temperature. They proved to be poor inhibitors of dipeptidyl-peptidase II and prolyl oligopeptidase. These studies demonstrate that the generally held concept that nitriles are poor inhibitors of serine proteinases needs to be reconsidered. Amino-acylpyrrolidine-2-nitriles by virtue of their ease of synthesis, stability, specificity, and inhibitory potency appear to be superior to other described dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibitors.

Animals↗

Pyroglutamyl peptidase II inhibition specifically increases recovery of TRH released from rat brain slices.

Pyroglutamyl peptidase II (EC 3.4.19-) is a highly specific membrane-bound thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) degrading enzyme. To study the functional significance of pyroglutamyl peptidase II in TRH degradation, we synthesized the reversible inhibitor N-1-carboxy-2-phenylethyl (Nimbenzyl)-histidyl-beta-naphthylamide (CPHNA). CPHNA inhibited the enzyme with a Ki of 8 microM, but had no effect no TRH receptors or no prolyl endopeptidase (EC 3.4.21.26). It weakly inhibited cytosolic pyroglutamyl peptidase I (EC 3.4.19.3). CPHNA at a concentration of 10(-4) M increased both the basal and potassium stimulated recovery of TRH released from hypothalamic slices by approximately two-fold. An even higher recovery was observed in slices from brain regions with relatively high levels of pyroglutamyl peptidase II. CPHNA had no effect on the basal recovery of gamma-aminobutyric acid or Met-enkephalin released from brain slices but decreased the potassium stimulated recovery of both Metenkephalin and gamma-aminobutyric acid. These data further support the involvement of pyroglutamyl peptidase II in the extracellular inactivation of brain TRH.

Aminopeptidases↗

Regulation of human extravillous trophoblast function by membrane-bound peptidases.

During human placentation, the invasion of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) into maternal decidual tissues, especially toward maternal spiral arteries, is considered an essential process for subsequent normal fetal development. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms to induce EVT invasion toward arteries and/or to protect EVTs from further invasion have not been well understood. Recently, we found that two cell surface peptidases, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) and carboxypeptidase-M (CP-M,) are differentially expressed on EVTs. DPPIV expression was mainly observed on EVTs that had already ceased invasion. CP-M was detected on migrating EVTs including endovascular trophoblasts in the maternal arteries. The enzymatic inhibition of these peptidases affected the invasive property of choriocarcinoma-derived cell lines, BeWo and JEG3 cells. In addition, a chemokine, RANTES, that is one of the substrates for DPPIV, enhanced invasion of EVTs isolated from primary villous explant culture and its receptor, CCR1, was specifically expressed on migrating EVTs toward maternal arteries. Furthermore, a novel membrane-bound cell surface peptidase, named laeverin, was found to be specifically expressed on EVTs that had almost ceased invasion. These findings suggest that membrane-bound peptidases are important factors regulating EVT invasion during early placentation in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗