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The histochemical demonstration of brush border endopeptidase.

A histochemical method for the demonstration of a brush border endopeptidase is described based on results of biochemical and histochemical experiments. The substrate of choice is Glut-Ala-Ala-Ala-MNA which displays a very good localization ability and suitable kinetic properties. Km estimated in rat kidney homogenate amounts to 2.35 X 10(-4) M. pH optimum of this endopeptidase associated with the brush border membrane is in the alkaline range. The activity is dependent on the buffer used. In phosphate and cacodylate buffers of pH 7.2 about 30% lower activity in rat kidney and about 25% lower activity in rat small intestine than in Tris-HCl buffer of the same pH was found. The most suitable diazonium salt for the detection "in situ" is Fast Blue B. It inhibits the endopeptidase activity of rat kidney by about 85% at pH 7.2 AND BY ABOUT 55% AT PH 6.0. The best results are obtained in cryostat sections adherent to semipermeable membranes treated with chloroform-acetone before the incubation. A microdensitometric evaluation of the reaction product is possible and results are in good agreement with those of the biochemical determination. When Suc-Ala-Ala-Ala-INA is used as substrate hexazonium-p-rosaniline is the most suitable coupling agent although it inhibits more than Fast Blue B. The reaction using acylated trialanyl naphthylamides as substrates runs in two steps. Endopeptidase sets free Ala-NA which is attacked by aminopeptidase M. Aminopeptidase M is not reaction rate or localization limiting factor because its activity in the brush border is very high and the enzyme is anchored to the cell membrane very closely to endopeptidase. In homogenates of rat kidney and jejunal mucosa the endopeptidase activity was inhibted by EDTA (2X10(-3) M) by 75% in the kidney and by 68% in the jejunum, by DFP (10(-3) M) by 41% in the kidney and by 35% in the intestine, by Mn2+ (5X10(-3) M) by 25% in the kidney and by 30% in the intestine. No inhibition was exerted by E 600. In sections the results were similar. 1,10-phenanthroline (10(-2) M) caused a substantial inhibition. Endopeptidase activity was detected in the brush border of cells of proximal convuluted tubules of the kidney and in the brush border of differentiated enterocytes of the small intestine. In the same species enterocytes display a lower activity than kidney tubular cells. There are species differences in the distribution pattern of endopeptidase in the kidney. In the rabbit and man the positive reaction occurs in the whole cortex. It is distributed unevenly, however. In the rat the tubules of the inner cortex display a very high activity. In the outer cortex straight portions react strongly. In the rabbit kidney cells of the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule display a weak reaction as well. No sex differences were found in the distribution pattern of endopeptidase in the rat kidney. In the intestine of all species examined a proximo-distal gradient was found...

Adult

Relationship between lysostaphin endopeptidase production and cell wall composition in Staphylococcus staphylolyticus.

Mutants of Staphylococcus staphylolyticus incapable of producing an extracellular staphylolytic glycylglycine endopeptidase were isolated and found to have cells in the population susceptible to lysis by this enzyme, as did the wild-type organism under conditions in which the endopeptidase was not produced. These results suggest that cultures of this organism normally contain a heterogeneous population of cells with regard to cell wall composition and susceptibility to the enzyme. Production of the endopeptidase appears to act as a selective pressure which removes the susceptible cells in the population as the enzyme appears in the medium. A comparison of the peptidoglycan of the wild-type organism grown under conditions in which the endopeptidase was produced with that of this organism grown under nonproducing conditions and with those of endopeptidase-less mutants showed that in the presence of the endopeptidase the cell population had peptidoglycan with shorter peptide cross bridges and a greater percentage of serine in these cross bridges than was found in cells grown in the absence of the enzyme. The inability of the endopeptidase to hydrolyze glycylserine and serylglycine peptide bonds suggests that at least part of the resistance this organism has to the endopeptidase is due to relative amounts of serine found in the peptide cross bridges of some cells in the population.

Cell Wall

[Characterisation of a new endopeptidase from sporulating Bacillus sphaericus which is specific for the gamma-D-glutamyl-L-lysine and gamma-D-glutamyl-(L)meso-diaminopimelate linkages of peptidoglycan substrates (author's transl)].

A new peptidase which splits substrates related to the peptidic chains of peptidoglycans was found in the cell cytoplasm of sporulating Bacillus sphaericus. This is a gamma-D-glutamyl-L-diaminoacid endopeptidase (endopeptidase II). It was shown to have substrate requirements different from those of the previously described gamma-D-glutamyl-(L)meso-diaminopimelate endopeptidase (endopeptidase I). The substrates for endopeptidase II are peptides of the general type: formula: (see text). Unsubstituted N-terminal L-alanine was a strict requirement for endopeptidase II activity. Specific activities were variable with the nature and the substitution of the diaminoacid C-terminal groups. The role of endopeptidase II in the biosynthesis of the spore cortex is discussed.

Bacillus

Endopeptidases in the brush border of the kidney proximal tubule.

Among the five peptidase known to be located in the microvillus membrane of the renal proximal tubule are two enzymes with endopeptidase activity. Neutral endopeptidase, a zinc-dependent enzyme, has a broad specificity comparable to that of thermolysin, and like the latter may be specifically inhibited by phosphoramidon. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV, a serine enzyme, is very sensitive to inhibition by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate. It is also capable of endopeptidase activity, hydrolysing bonds involving the carboxyl group of proline.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Characterization and separation of exocellular gamma-D-glutamyl-(L)meso-diaminopimelate endopeptidase and LD-carboxypeptidase from Bacillus sphaericus 9602].

Two exocellular enzymes have been characterized in the culture media of sporulating Bacillus sphaericus 9602 : a gamma-D-glutamyl-(L) meso-diaminopimelate endopeptidase and a L-lysyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase. These two enzymes and the corresponding membrane-bound peptidases found in Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus subtilis strains have similar activities. Their separation is described. Both enzymes were precipitated between 25 and 65 per cent (NH4)2SO4 saturation and a first chromatography was carried out on a column of DEAE-cellulose. The separation was performed by chromatography on hydroxyapatite, each enzyme was finally filtered through Ultrogel AcA 34. After separation, the endopeptidase activity and the carboxypeptidase activity increased respectively 93 and 11 fold. Both enzymes have a molecular weight near 200 000. By gel electrophoresis at pH 8.5, they were shown to have different mobilities : the carboxypeptidase is more anionic than the endopeptidase.

Alanine

Characterization of an endopeptidase involved in pre-protein processing.

Proteolytic removal of the pre-segment from growing nascent chains of pre-human placental lactogen (hPL) occurred during in vitro translation of placental mRNA if crude membranes derived from ascites lysates, dog pancreas, or rat liver rough endoplasmic reticulum were added to the translation mixtures. The cotranslational proteolytic event was inhibited by the peptide protease inhibitor, chymostatin, but not by leupeptin, antipain, or elastatinal. The proteases involved in cleavage were solubilized with detergent and converted completed pre-hPL to hPL (post-translational processing). Direct assay of the solubilized membranes, with synthetic fluorogenic aminocoumarin peptide substrates, revealed no significant tryptic or elastase-like activity, but activity against a chymotrypsin substrate [(succinyl-Ala-Ala-Phe)-7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin] was found. This activity was dependent upon both an endopeptidase and an aminopeptidase. Although bestatin inhibited the aminopeptidase activity, it had no effect on the endopeptidase or on post-translational cleavage. Although this endopeptidase cleaved on the COOH side of an alanine residue, it was not inhibited by elastatinal. However, it was inhibited by high levels of chymostatin and by some serine protease inhibitors.

Animals

Degradation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) by brain prolyl endopeptidase with release of des-glycinamide LHRH and glycinamide.

A highly purified preparation of rabbit brain prolyl endopeptidase cleaved the decapeptide luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) at the ProGly . NH2 bond leading to the release within 1-3 h incubation at 37 degrees C of des-glycinamide LHRH and glycinamide. Evidence for this site of cleavage was obtained by the detection of glycinamide or glycine and groups by a microdanyslation procedure, and by separation of the breakdown products by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a revers phase C-18 column. Incubation led to the appearance of two new peaks as detected by HPLC one of which was collected and shown to have the composition consistent with des-glycinamide LHRH. The other peak ran in the position identical to that of authentic glycinamide. Results suggest that prolyl endopeptidase could play a role in the inactivation of LHRH in vivo.

Animals

Isolation of brain endopeptidases: influence of size and sequence of substrates structurally related to bradykinin.

Two thiol-activated endopeptidases with pH optima near pH 7.5 were isolated from the supernatant fraction of rabbit brain homogenates by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration and isoelectrofocusing. Peptide bond hydrolysis was measured quantitatively by ion-exchange chromatography with an amino acid analyzer. Brain kininase A hydrolyzes the Phe5-Ser6 peptide bond in bradykinin (Bk), Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Ser6-Pro7-Phe8-Arg9. It is isoelectric near pH 5.2 and has a molecular weight of approximately 71 000. The enzyme also hydrolyzes the Phe-Ser peptide bond in Lys-Bk, Met-Lys-Bk, des-Arg1-Bk, Lys9-Bk, Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg, and Gly-Pro-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg, but does not hydrolyze (0.1%) this bond in des-Phe8-Arg9-Bk. Brain kininase B hydrolyzes the Pro7-Phe8 peptide bond in Bk. It is isoelectric at pH 4.9 and has a molecular weight of approximately 68 000. Brain kininase B also hydrolyzes the Pro-Phe bond in Lys-Bk, Met-Lys-Bk, Lys9-Bk, Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg, and Phe-Ser-Pro-Arg. Pretreatment of denatured kininogen with brain kininase A or B did not reduce the amount of trypsin-releasable Bk from this precursor protein, indicating that the Bk sequence, when part of a large protein, is not a substrate for either enzyme. However, kininase A and B hydrolyze the octadecapeptide Gly-Leu-Met-Lys-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg-Ser-Val-Gin-Val. The data show that a large part of the C-terminal portion of bradykinin is important for the brain kininase A activity and, for both enzymes, the size of the peptide and presumably the residues adjacent to the scissle bond are important in determining the rate of peptide bond hydrolysis by these endopeptidases.

Amino Acid Sequence

Post-proline cleaving enzyme. Purification of this endopeptidase by affinity chromatography.

The endopeptidase, post-proline cleaving enzyme, has been purified 10,500-fold in an overall yield of 18% from lamb kidney. The enzyme possesses a specific activity of 45 mumol/mg/min as tested with the substrate Z-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly (Km = 6.0 X 10(-5)), has a molecular weight of 115,000, is comprised of two subunits with a molecular weight of 57,000, and exhibits maximal activity at pH 7.5 to 8.0. With the exception of the -Pro-Pro linkage, the -Pro-X-peptide bond (X equals L- and D-amino acid residues) located internally in the peptide sequence can be hydrolyzed (cleavage occurs faster when X = lipophilic side chain as compared to X = acidic side chain). The appropriate -Pro-X- bonds in zinc-free porcine insulin, oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, angiotensin II, bradykinin-potentiating factor were cleaved. Human gastrin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, denatured guinea pig skin collagen, and ascaris cuticle collagen were not degraded. Dipeptides with the structure Z-Pro-LD-X competitively inhibit post-proline cleaving enzyme.

Animals

Separation of collagenase and a metal-dependent endopeptidase of rat uterus that hydrolyzes a heptapeptide related to collagen.

1. The synthetic peptide, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-Pro-L-Leu-Gly-L-Ile-L-Ala-Gly-L-Arg-amide (DNP-peptide) was tested as a potential substrate for uterine collagenase. Rat uteri were homogenized and the insoluble fraction was extracted at 60 degrees C to obtain collagenase. The extracts were chromatographed on Sephadex G-150 to yield two peaks of DNP-peptide hydrolyzing activity. Peak I was completely inhibited by EDTA and had a molecular weight greater than 100 000. Peak II was inhibited about 90% by EDTA and had an apparent molecular weight of about 70 000. 2. Peak II coincided closely, but not exactly, with the peak of collagenase activity. It differed from collagenase in heat stability, binding properties on CM-Sephadex and failure to display latency. 3. Peak II represents a new endopeptidase activity. It has a pH optimum of 7 and it cleaves the DNP-peptide at the Gly-Ile and, possibly, the Leu-Gly bond. 4. The DNP-peptide is not a satisfactory substrate for the assay of impure collagenase preparations nor does it inhibit the action of collagenase on collagen substrate when added in 30-fold molar excess.

Animals

Recovery of S. cerevisiae a cells from G1 arrest by alpha factor pheromone requires endopeptidase action.

Radioactive alpha factor is degraded to discrete biologically inactive fragments by the target a cells of S. cerevisiae, but not by alpha cells which make the pheromone. The pattern of cleavage products and sequence analysis of one fragment indicated that the first scission occurred between leucine 6 and lysine 7. The protease inhibitors tosyl-L-argininyl-methyl ester (TAME), tosyl-L-lysyl-chloromethylketone (TLCK) and N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-argininal (leupeptin) markedly prolonged the period of G1 arrest in a cells exposed to alpha factor, while other standard protease inhibitors had little or no effect. The presence of TAME and leupeptin, or TLCK, reduced the rate of degradation of radioactively labeled alpha factor by a cells. Intact yeast cells have apparent esterase and amidase activities that are blocked by the same spectrum of inhibitors that potentiate alpha factor action. Purified alpha factor is a competitive inhibitor of these hydrolytic activities. The activities are present in yeast mutants which have greatly reduced levels of the three major vacuole-associated proteases (A, B and C) or which carry an ochre mutation in the major neutral protease (B). These observations indicate that the inactivation of alpha factor is due to endoproteolytic cleavage, the destruction of the pheromone is required to overcome its effects on growth and that degradation of the molecule may involve surface bound endopeptidase(s).

Animals

Enzymatic and chemical properties of an endopeptidase from the larva of the hornet Vespa crabro.

An endopeptidase from the larvae of the hornet Vespa crabro has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has been characterized with respect to molecular weight, amino acid compositon, and amino- and carboxyl-terminal sequences. The catalytic properties of the hornet protease are similar to those of bovine chymotrypsin with respect to inactivation by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and carbobenzoxyphenylalanine chloro ketone and preferential peptide bond cleavage at aromatic amino acid residues. In contrast to bovine chymotrypsin, the hornet protease is not inhibited by the basic pancreatic Kunitz inhibitor, soybean inhibitor, or chicken ovomucoid. The molecular weight, as determined by several independent methods, was found to be 14 500. The protease is a single-chain protein containing two disulfide bonds. The terminal sequences are: NH2-Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Ile-Asp.....Gly-Lys-Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Gln-Val-Ser-Leu-Arg-COOH.

Amino Acid Sequence

Lysostaphin endopeptidase-catalysed transpeptidation reactions of the imino-transfer type.

The glycylglycine endopeptidase in lysostaphin has been found capable of catalysing both hydrolysis and transpeptidation reactions when acting on glycyl peptides. The ability of the enzyme to utilize dansyldiglycine (5-dimethylaminoaphthalene-1-sulphonylglycylglycine) as an acceptor molecule in transpeptidation reactions, although it is incapable of hydrolysing the peptide bond in this compound, indicates the enzyme must be capable of forming the equivalent of an imino-enzyme intermediate during the catalytic process.

Dansyl Compounds

The exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase-endopeptidase from Streptomyces albus G. Purification and chemical properties.

The exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase-endopeptidase of Streptomyces albus G was purified to protein homogeneity and compared with the exocellular DD-carboxypeptidases-transpeptidases of Streptomyces R61 and Actinomadura R39. The S. albus G enzyme, as it is isolated, occurs in two forms. Enzyme I (30% of the total amount) and enzyme II (70% of the total amount) are identical in all respects, except that, by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, enzyme I has an apparent mol. wt. (9000) that is half of that found by molecular-sieve filtration under non-denaturing conditions. Irrespective of the technique used, enzyme II has an apparent mol. wt. of about 18500.

Alanine

The exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase-endopeptidase of Streptomyces albus G. Interaction with beta-lactam antibiotics.

Kinetically, the three-step model proposed for the interaction between beta-lactam antibiotics and the exocellular DD-carboxypeptidases-transpeptidases of Streptomyces R61 and Actinomadura R39 [Frère, Ghuysen & Iwatsubo (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 57, 343--357; Fuad, Frère, Ghuysen, Duez & Iwatsubo (1976) Biochem. J. 155, 623--629] applies to the interaction between the much less penicillin-sensitive exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase-endopeptidase of Streptomyces albus G and at least phenoxymethylpenicillin, cephalothin and cephalosporin C. The penicillin resistance of the albus G enzyme is mainly due to the low efficiency with which the first reversible complex formed with the antibiotic (complex EI) undergoes transformation into a second more stable complex EI*. Analysis of the ternary interaction between enzyme, NalphaNepsilon-diacetyl-L-lysyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine (Ac2-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala) and cephalosporin C indicates a non-competitive mechanism.

Alanine

Escherichia coli murein-DD-endopeptidase insensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics.

A novel endopeptidase degrading the peptide cross-links in sacculi has been isolated from Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 30,000 and, in contrast to already known enzymes of similar specificity, remains fully active in the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics. In addition, it is exceptional in being inhibited by single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid and by some polynucleotides. The possible role of the enzyme in cell division is discussed.

Endopeptidases

Presence of an endopeptidase activity in rat liver ribosomes.

Preparation of ribosomes using different procedures (treatment of postmitochondrial-postlysosomal supernatant or microsomes with 1% triton in 0.15 or 0.5 M KCl and subsequent sucrose gradient centrifugation; treatment of microsomes with 1.5% deoxycholate/2% triton) results in purified ribosomes which contain an endopeptidase activity detectable by breakdown of ribosomal proteins to trichloroacetic acid soluble split products. The proteolytic activity can be recovered also in the extracted proteins of whole ribosomes. With ribosomes the pH optimum of proteolytic breakdown is at about 7. The inhibition of the activity by leupeptin, DIFP and soya bean trypsin inhibitor suggests a serine type of the proteolytic activity.

Animals

Post-proline cleaving enzyme. Synthesis of a new fluorogenic substrate and distribution of the endopeptidase in rat tissues and body fluids of man.

Synthesis and application of the first fluorogenic substrate, N-carbobenzoxyglycylprolyl-4-methylcoumarinyl amide (Z-Gly-Pro-MeCouNH) for the determination of the post-proline cleaving enzyme (EC 3.4.21.-) were reported. Maximal activity of the enzyme purified from lamb kidney for the new substrate was observed at pH 7.0. This substrate showed a higher affinity (Km = 0.02 mM) for the enzyme than the proline containing substrates studied previously and allowed the detection of 10-50 ng post-proline cleaving enzyme activity per ml sample after a 1 min incubation period. Distribution of post-proline cleaving enzyme and other proline specific peptidases in rat tissues was studied using Z-Gly-Pro-MeCouNH and other proline-containing substrates. High post-proline cleaving enzyme activity was observed in testis, liver and skeletal muscle. Inhibition experiments indicated that post-proline cleaving enzyme activity was completely inactivated by 0.1 mM diisopropylphosphofluoridate and Z-Gly-Pro-chloromethylketone, as had been found in the case of the enzyme isolated from lamb kidney. Activity in human body fluids was also tested for levels of post-proline cleaving enzyme activity using Z-Gly-Pro-MeCouNH and semen was found to show the highest cleaving activity.

Aminohydrolases