Some consequences of the covalent and non-covalent binding modes of plasmin with alpha 2-macroglobulin

Analysis of plasmin-alpha 2-macroglobulin interactions by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that both the light and heavy chains of the proteinase have covalent links with the inhibitor. This covalent binding occurs with a 95 +/- 5% yield and can be abolished in the presence of hydroxylamine without modification of the plasmin-alpha 2-macroglobulin stoichiometry, the extent of the 180-kDa peptide chain cleavage and the generation of the -SH groups. However, these two different binding modes greatly influence the enzymatic properties of the proteinase as well as the occupancy by an other proteinase molecule of the free binding site of the (1:1) plasmin-alpha 2-macroglobulin complex. Non-covalently bound plasmin is more active on synthetic substrates and interacts more tightly with the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor than the covalently bound enzyme. Furthermore, the former complex incorporates significantly more chymotrypsin than the latter. The incorporation of chymotrypsin influences the catalytic properties of plasmin within the ternary complex.     

Mechanism of insulin incorporation into alpha 2-macroglobulin: implications for the study of peptide and growth factor binding.

In recent years, many studies have suggested a direct role for alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), a plasma proteinase inhibitor, in growth factor regulation. When coincubated in the presence of either trypsin, pancreatic elastase, human neutrophil elastase, or plasmin, 125I-insulin rapidly formed a complex with alpha 2M which was greater than 80% covalent. The covalent binding was stable to reduction but abolished by competition with beta-aminopropionitrile. Neither native alpha 2M nor alpha 2M pretreated with proteinase or methylamine incorporated 125I-insulin. Experiments utilizing alpha 2M cross-linked with cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) indicated that 125I-insulin must be present during alpha 2M conformational change to covalently bind. A maximum stoichiometry of 4 mol of insulin bound per mole of alpha 2M and the short half-life of the alpha 2M intermediate capable of covalent incorporation were consistent with thiol ester involvement. Protein sequence analysis of unlabeled insulin-alpha 2M complexes, together with results of beta-aminopropionitrile competition, confirmed that insulin incorporation occurs via the same gamma-glutamyl amide linkage responsible for covalent proteinase and methylamine binding to alpha 2M. Although intact insulin apparently incorporated through its sole lysine residue on the B chain, we found that isolated A chain also bound covalently to alpha 2M. Phenyl isothiocyanate derivatization of the N-terminus had no effect on A-chain binding, supporting the possibility of heretofore unreported gamma-glutamyl ester linkages to alpha 2M.     

Characterization of alpha 2-macroglobulin-plasmin complexes: complete subunit cleavage alters receptor recognition in vivo and in vitro

When human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) binds proteinases, it undergoes subunit cleavage. Binding of small proteinases such as trypsin results in proteolysis of each of the four subunits of the inhibitor. By contrast, previous studies suggest that reaction of plasmin with alpha 2M results in cleavage of only two or three of the inhibitor subunits. In this paper, we demonstrate that the extent of subunit cleavage of alpha 2M is a function of plasmin concentration. When alpha 2M was incubated with a 2.5-fold excess of plasmin, half of the subunits were cleaved; however, at a 20-fold enzyme to inhibitor ratio, greater than 90% of the subunits were cleaved with no additional plasmin binding. This increased cleavage was catalyzed by free rather than bound plasmin. It is concluded that this "nonproductive" subunit cleavage is dependent upon the molar ratio of proteinase to inhibitor. The consequence of complete subunit cleavage on receptor recognition of alpha 2M-plasmin (alpha 2M-Pm) complexes was studied. Preparations of alpha 2M-Pm with only two cleaved subunits bound to the murine macrophage receptor with a Kd of 0.4 nM and 60 fmol of bound complex/mg of cell protein. When preparations of alpha 2-M-Pm with four cleaved subunits were studied, the Kd was unaltered but ligand binding increased to 140 fmol/mg of cell protein. The receptor binding behavior of the latter preparation is equivalent to that observed when alpha 2M is treated with small proteinases such as trypsin. This study suggests that receptor recognition site exposure is not complete in the alpha 2M-Pm complex with half of the subunits cleaved. Proteolytic cleavage of the remaining subunits of the inhibitor results in a further conformational change exposing the remaining receptor recognition sites.     

Inhibition of serine proteinases by tetra-p-amidinophenoxy-neo-pentane: thermodynamic and molecular modeling study

The inhibitory effect of the aromatic tetra-benzamidine derivative tetra-p-amidinophenoxy-neo-pentane (TAPP) on the catalytic properties of beta-trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4), alpha-thrombin (EC 3.4.21.5), factor Xa (EC 3.4.21.6), Lys77-plasmin (EC 3.4.21.7) and beta-kallikrein-B (EC 3.4.21.35) was investigated (between pH 2 and 8, I = 0.1 M; T = 37 +/- 0.5 degrees C), and analyzed in parallel with that of benzamidine, commonly taken as a molecular inhibitor model of serine proteinases. Over the whole pH range explored, TAPP and benzamidine show the same values of the dissociation inhibition constant (Ki) for beta-trypsin; at variance with the affinity of TAPP for alpha-thrombin, factor Xa, Lys77-plasmin and beta-kallikrein-B which is higher than that found for benzamidine association around neutrality, but tends to converge in the acidic pH limb. On lowering the pH from 5.5 to 3.0, values of Ki for TAPP binding to beta-trypsin as well as for benzamidine association to all the enzymes investigated decreased thus reflecting the pK-shift, upon inhibitor binding, of a single ionizing group. Over the same pH range, values of Ki for TAPP binding to alpha-thrombin, factor Xa, Lys77-plasmin and beta-kallikrein-B may be described as depending on the pK-shift, upon inhibitor association, of two equivalent proton-binding amino acid residues. Considering the X-ray three-dimensional structures and the computer-generated molecular models of serine proteinases: TAPP and :benzamidine adducts, the observed binding behaviour of TAPP and benzamidine to the enzymes considered has been related to the inferred stereochemistry of proteinase: inhibitor contact region(s).     

Analysis of thiolester bond cleavage-dependent conformational changes in binary alpha 2-macroglobulin-proteinase complexes

The structures of the two proteinase-binding sites in human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) were probed by treatment of alpha 2M with the serine proteinases thrombin and plasmin. Each proteinase forms an equimolar complex with alpha 2M (a binary alpha 2M-proteinase complex) which results in the activation and cleavage of two internal thiolester bonds in alpha 2M. Binary alpha 2M-proteinase complexes demonstrated an incomplete conformational change as determined by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and incomplete receptor recognition site exposure as determined by in vivo plasma elimination studies. Treatment of binary alpha 2M-proteinase complexes with CH3NH2, trypsin, or elastase resulted in cleavage of an additional one or two thiolester bonds in alpha 2M and complete receptor recognition site exposure, demonstrating that a limited conformational change had occurred. Treatment of the alpha 2M-thrombin complex with elastase resulted in the incorporation of approximately 0.5 mol proteinase/mol alpha 2M and completion of the conformational change in the complex. Similar treatment of the alpha 2M-plasmin complex resulted in the incorporation of less than 0.1 mol proteinase/mol alpha 2M. Unlike the alpha 2M-thrombin complex, the alpha 2M-plasmin complex did not undergo a complete conformational change following treatment with CH3NH2 or trypsin. Incubation of this complex with elastase resulted in proteolysis of the kringle 1-4 region of the alpha 2M-bound plasmin heavy chain, and following this treatment the alpha 2M-plasmin complex underwent a complete conformational change. The results of this investigation demonstrate that binary alpha 2M-proteinase complexes retain a relatively intact proteinase-binding site. In the case of the alpha 2M-plasmin complex, however, the heavy chain of alpha 2M-bound plasmin protrudes from the proteinase-binding site and prevents a complete conformational change in the complex despite additional thiolester bond cleavage.     

Structural requirements for expression of factor Va activity

Thrombin activated factor Va (factor VIIa, residues 1-709 and 1546-2196) has an apparent dissociation constant (Kd,app) for factor Xa within prothrombinase of approximately 0.5 nM. A protease (NN) purified from the venom of the snake Naja nigricollis nigricollis, cleaves human factor V at Asp697, Asp1509, and Asp1514 to produce a molecule (factor VNN) that is composed of a Mr 100,000 heavy chain (amino acid residues 1-696) and a Mr 80,000 light chain (amino acid residues 1509/1514-2196). Factor VNN, has a Kd,app for factor Xa of 4 nm and reduced clotting activity. Cleavage of factor VIIa by NN at Asp697 results in a cofactor that loses approximately 60-80% of its clotting activity. An enzyme from Russell's viper venom (RVV) cleaves human factor V at Arg1018 and Arg1545 to produce a Mr 150,000 heavy chain and Mr 74,000 light chain (factor VRVV, residues 1-1018 and 1546-2196). The RVV species has affinity for factor Xa and clotting activity similar to the thrombin-activated factor Va. Cleavage of factor VNN at Arg1545 by alpha-thrombin (factor VNN/IIa) or RVV (factor VNN/RVV) leads to enhanced affinity of the cofactor for factor Xa (Kd,app approximately 0.5 nM). A synthetic peptide containing the last 13 residues from the heavy chain of factor Va (amino acid sequence 697-709, D13R) was found to be a competitive inhibitor of prothrombinase with respect to prothrombin. The peptide was also found to specifically interact with thrombin-agarose. These data demonstrate that 1) cleavage at Arg1545 and formation of the light chain of factor VIIa is essential for high affinity binding and function of factor Xa within prothrombinase and 2) a binding site for prothrombin is contributed by amino acid residues 697-709 of the heavy chain of the cofactor.     

Further characterization of the covalent linking reaction of alpha 2-macroglobulin.

It is shown that non-proteolytic proteins can become covalently linked to alpha 2M (alpha 2-macroglobulin) during its reaction with proteinases, and that this probably occurs by the mechanism that leads to the covalent linking of proteinases described previously [Salvesen & Barrett (1980) Biochem. J. 187, 695-701]. The covalent linking of trypsin was at least partly dependent on the presence of unblocked lysine side chains on the protein. The covalent linking of proteinases was inhibited by nucleophiles of low Mr, and these compounds were themselves linked to alpha 2M in a molar ratio approaching one per quarter subunit. Peptide "mapping" indicated that the site of proteinase-mediated incorporation of the amines was the same as that at which methylamine is incorporated in the absence of a proteinase. The nucleophile-reactive site revealed in alpha 2M after reaction with a proteinase was shown to decay with a t1/2 of 112 s, at pH 7.5. After the reaction with a proteinase or with methylamine, a free thiol group was detectable on each subunit of alpha 2M. We propose that the site for incorporation of methylamine in each subunit is a thiol ester, which in S-alpha 2M (the electrophoretically "slow" form) is sterically shielded from reaction with large nucleophiles, but is revealed as a highly reactive group, free from steric hindrance, after the proteolytic cleavage. We have designated the activated species of the molecule "alpha 2M".     

Inhibition of human blood coagulation factor Xa by alpha 2-macroglobulin

The inactivation of activated factor X (factor Xa) by alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) was studied. The second-order rate constant for the reaction was 1.4 X 10(3) M-1 s-1. The binding ratio was found to be 2 mol of factor Xa/mol of alpha 2M. Interaction of factor Xa with alpha 2M resulted in the appearance of four thiol groups per molecule of alpha 2M. The apparent second-order rate constants for the appearance of thiol groups were dependent on the factor Xa concentration. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to study complex formation between alpha 2M and factor Xa. Under nonreducing conditions, four factor Xa-alpha 2M complexes were observed. Reduction of these complexes showed the formation of two new bands. One complex (Mr 225,000) consisted of the heavy chain of the factor Xa molecule covalently bound to a subunit of alpha 2M, while the second complex (Mr 400,000) consisted of the heavy chain of factor Xa molecule and two subunits of alpha 2M. Factor Xa was able to form a bridge between two subunits of alpha 2M, either within one molecule of alpha 2M or by linking two molecules of alpha 2M. Complexes involving more than two molecules of alpha 2M were not formed.     

Anion-binding exosite of human alpha-thrombin and fibrin(ogen) recognition

Activation of prothrombin to alpha-thrombin generates not only the catalytic site and associated regions but also an independent site (an exosite) which binds anionic substances, such as Amberlite CG-50 resin [cross-linked poly(methylacrylic acid)]. Like human alpha-thrombin with high fibrinogen clotting activity (peak elution at I = 0.40 +/- 0.01 M, pH 7.4, approximately 23 degrees C), catalytically inactivated forms (e.g., i-Pr2P-alpha- and D-Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2-alpha-thrombins) were eluted with only slightly lower salt concentrations (I = 0.36-0.39 M), while gamma-thrombin with very low clotting activity was eluted with much lower concentrations (I = 0.29 M) and the hirudin complex of alpha-thrombin was not retained by the resin. In a similar manner, hirudin complexes of alpha-, i-Pr2P-alpha-, and gamma-thrombin were not retained by nonpolymerized fibrin-agarose resin. Moreover, the ionic strengths for the elution from the CG-50 resin of seven thrombin forms were directly correlated with those from the fibrin resin (y = 0.15 + 0.96x, r = 0.95). In other experiments, the 17 through 27 synthetic peptide of the human fibrinogen A alpha chain was not an inhibitor of alpha-thrombin, while the NH2-terminal disulfide knot (NDSK) fragment was a simple competitive inhibitor of alpha-thrombin with a Ki approximately 3 microM (0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.3, approximately 23 degrees C). These data suggest that alpha-thrombin recognizes fibrin(ogen) by a negatively charged surface, noncontiguous with the A alpha cleavage site but found within the NDSK fragment. Such interaction involving an anion-binding exosite may explain the exceptional specificity of alpha-thrombin for the A alpha cleavage in fibrinogen and alpha-thrombin incorporation into fibrin clots.     

Covalent binding of proteinases in their reaction with alpha 2-macroglobulin.

Although it is known that most of the plasma proteinase inhibitors form complexes with proteinases that are not dissociated by SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate), there has been disagreement as to whether this is true for alpha 2M (alpha 2-macroglobulin). We have examined the stability to SDS with reduction of complexes between alpha 2M and several 125I-labelled proteinases (trypsin, plasmin, leucocyte elastase, pancreatic elastase and papain) by gel electrophoresis. For each enzyme, some molecules were separated from the denatured alpha 2M chains, but amounts ranging from 8.3% (papain) to 61.2% (trypsin) were bound with a stability indicative of a covalent link. Proteolytic activity was essential for the covalent binding to occur, and the proteinase molecules became attached to the larger of the two proteolytic derivatives (apparent mol.wt. 111 000) of the alpha 2M subunit. We take this to mean that cleavage of the proteinase-susceptible site sometimes leads to covalent-bond formation between alpha 2M and proteinase. Whatever the nature of this bond, it does not involve the active site of the proteinase, as bound serine-proteinase molecules retain the ability to react with the active-site-directed reagent [3H]Dip-F (di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate). Our conclusion is that the ability to form covalent links is not essential for the inhibitory capacity of alpha 2M. It may, however, help to stabilize the complexes against dissociation or proteolysis.     

Serine proteinase inhibition by the active site titrant N alpha-(N, N-dimethylcarbamoyl)-alpha-azaornithine p-nitrophenyl ester. A comparative study.

Kinetics for the hydrolysis of the chromogenic active-site titrant N alpha-(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl)-alpha-azaornithine p-nitrophenyl ester (Dmc-azaOrn-ONp) catalysed by bovine beta-trypsin, bovine alpha-thrombin, bovine Factor Xa, human alpha-thrombin, human Factor Xa, human Lys77-plasmin, human urinary kallikrein, Mr 33 000 and Mr 54 000 species of human urokinase, porcine pancreatic beta-kallikrein-A and -B and Ancrod (the coagulating serine proteinase from the Malayan pit viper Agkistrodon rhodostoma venom) have been obtained between pH 6.0 and 8.0, at 21.0 degrees C, and analysed in parallel with those for the enzymatic cleavage of N alpha-(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl)-alpha-azalysine p-nitrophenyl ester (Dmc-azaLys-ONp). The enzyme kinetics are consistent with the minimum three-step catalytic mechanism of serine proteinases, the rate-limiting step being represented by the deacylation process. Bovine beta-trypsin kinetics are modulated by the acid-base equilibrium of the His57 catalytic residue (pKa approximately 6.9). Dmc-azaOrn-ONp and Dmc-azaLys-ONp bind stoichiometrically to the serine proteinase active site, and allow the reliable determination of the active enzyme concentration between 1.0 x 10-6 M and 3.0 x 10-4 M. The affinity and the reactivity for Dmc-azaOrn-ONp (expressed by Ks and k+2/Ks, respectively) of the serine proteinases considered are much lower than those for Dmc-azaLys-ONp. The very different affinity and reactivity properties for Dmc-azaOrn-ONp and Dmc-azaLys-ONp have been related to the different size of the ornithine/lysine side chains, and to the ensuing different positioning of the active-site titrants upon binding to the enzyme catalytic centre (i.e. to P1-S1 recognition). These data represent the first detailed comparative investigation on the catalytic properties of serine proteinases towards an ornithine derivative (i. e. Dmc-azaOrn-ONp).     

Functional Kunitz inhibitor binding domain in plasmin-derived light chain as shown by affinity chromatography

The light chain of plasmin, prepared by selective reduction of the interchain disulfide bridges, can be separated from the heavy chain by affinity adsorption onto Kunitz inhibitor/Sepharose. This adsorption involves the active center of plasmin because it does not occur if the light chain is derived from a plasmin previously blocked by the active site titrant p-nitrophenyl-p'-guanidinobenzoate. It can be deduced that the conformation of the inhibitor binding domain of plasmin is preserved in the free light chain.     

Topography of the high-affinity lysine binding site of plasminogen as defined with a specific antibody probe

An antibody population that reacted with the high-affinity lysine binding site of human plasminogen was elicited by immunizing rabbits with an elastase degradation product containing kringles 1-3 (EDP I). This antibody was immunopurified by affinity chromatography on plasminogen-Sepharose and elution with 0.2 M 6-aminohexanoic acid. The eluted antibodies bound [125I]EDP I, [125I]Glu-plasminogen, and [125I]Lys-plasminogen in radioimmunoassays, and binding of each ligand was at least 99% inhibited by 0.2 M 6-aminohexanoic acid. The concentrations for 50% inhibition of [125I]EDP I binding by tranexamic acid, 6-aminohexanoic acid, and lysine were 2.6, 46, and 1730 microM, respectively. Similar values were obtained with plasminogen and suggested that an unoccupied high-affinity lysine binding site was required for antibody recognition. The antiserum reacted exclusively with plasminogen derivatives containing the EDP I region (EDP I, Glu-plasminogen, Lys-plasminogen, and the plasmin heavy chain) and did not react with those lacking an EDP I region [miniplasminogen, the plasmin light chain or EDP II (kringle 4)] or with tissue plasminogen activator or prothrombin, which also contain kringles. By immunoblotting analyses, a chymotryptic degradation product of Mr 20,000 was derived from EDP I that retained reactivity with the antibody. The high-affinity lysine binding site was equally available to the antibody probe in Glu- and Lys-plasminogen and also appeared to be unoccupied in the plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complex. alpha 2-Antiplasmin inhibited the binding of radiolabeled EDP I, Glu-plasminogen, or Lys-plasminogen by the antiserum, suggesting that the recognized site is involved in the noncovalent interaction of the inhibitor with plasminogen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The activation of bovine protein C by factor Xa

A complex composed of factor Xa and phospholipid vesicles assembled in the presence of calcium ions catalyzes a discrete cleavage of the heavy chain of bovine protein C that is indistinguishable from that produced by thrombin as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This cleavage generates an active site capable of hydrolyzing small substrates and inactivating factor Va function in the prothrombinase complex. Activation of protein C by factor Xa requires both calcium ions and phospholipid vesicles and proceeds at a rate an order of magnitude greater than that observed for alpha-thrombin in solution. gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid-domainless protein C is not activated by factor Xa, consistent with the requirement for phospholipid and distinguishing this reaction from protein C activation by thrombin. Thrombomodulin serves as a cofactor for the factor Xa-catalyzed reaction, forming a 1:1 complex with factor Xa (apparent Kd = 5.7 X 10(-10) M) and stimulating the saturated rate of protein C activation by factor Xa (kcat = 149 min-1) to levels comparable with the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. Protein C activation by factor Xa is not inhibited by the specific thrombin inhibitor dansyl-N-(3-ethyl-1,5-pentanediyl)amide but is inhibited by antithrombin III, tripeptide-chloromethyl ketones, and the monoclonal antibody alpha-BFX-2b that is highly specific for factor Xa. These data indicate that thrombomodulin is promiscuous in its role as a cofactor and suggest the existence of an alternative pathway for protein C activation in vivo.     

Studies on human alpha-2 macroglobulin structure and its complexes with proteases, using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis]

Pure alpha2M is prepared with fresh plasma as starting material, to prevent the interaction of alpha2M from proteolytic enzymes of plasma such as thrombin, plasmin and kallikrein. During the purification steps, polybrene and aprotin are used as inhibitors and plasminogen is absorbed onto bentonite. When alpha 2M is submitted to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAA) containing 0.1% SDS, a complete dissociation in two half-molecules of MW 380,000 occurs. When alpha2M is incubated in 1% SDS and 1% beta-mercaptoethanol as reducing agent, only one component of MW 190,000 is observed in PAA-SDS. This experiments show that the alpha2M molecule consist of two symetric halves of same MW (380,000) linked by non covalent bonds. Each two-half-molecules is made of two polypeptides chains MW 190,000 linked by disulfide bonds. Thus alpha2M molecule contains four polypeptides chains having a same MW. The same techniques were applied to the study of alaph2M proteinases complexes. Three different proteinases (plasmin, trypsin and papain) were used in these experiments. Trypsin and papain are commercialy available. Plasminogen was obtained by affinity chromatography and activated into plasmin by insoluble streptokinase fixed on PAB cellulose.     

Structural basis for inhibition promiscuity of dual specific thrombin and factor Xa blood coagulation inhibitors

BACKGROUND: A major current focus of pharmaceutical research is the development of selective inhibitors of the blood coagulation enzymes thrombin or factor Xa to be used as orally bioavailable anticoagulant drugs in thromboembolic disorders and in the prevention of venous and arterial thrombosis. Simultaneous direct inhibition of thrombin and factor Xa by synthetic proteinase inhibitors as a novel approach to antithrombotic therapy could result in potent anticoagulants with improved pharmacological properties. RESULTS: The binding mode of such dual specific inhibitors of thrombin and factor Xa was determined for the first time by comparative crystallography using human alpha-thrombin, human des-Gla (1--44) factor Xa and bovine trypsin as the ligand receptors. The benzamidine-based inhibitors utilize two different conformations for the interaction with thrombin and factor Xa/trypsin, which are evoked by the steric requirements of the topologically different S2 subsites of the enzymes. Compared to the unliganded forms of the proteinases, ligand binding induces conformational adjustments of thrombin and factor Xa active site residues indicative of a pronounced induced fit mechanism. CONCLUSION: The structural data reveal the molecular basis for a desired unselective inhibition of the two key components of the blood coagulation cascade. The 4-(1-methyl-benzimidazole-2-yl)-methylamino-benzamidine moieties of the inhibitors are able to fill both the small solvent accessible as well as the larger hydrophobic S2 pockets of factor Xa and thrombin, respectively. Distal fragments of the inhibitors are identified which fit into both the cation hole/aromatic box of factor Xa and the hydrophobic aryl binding site of thrombin. Thus, binding constants in the medium-to-low nanomolar range are obtained against both enzymes.     

Proteinase binding and inhibition by the monomeric alpha-macroglobulin rat alpha 1-inhibitor-3

The inhibitory capacity of the alpha-macroglobulins resides in their ability to entrap proteinase molecules and thereby hinder the access of high molecular weight substrates to the proteinase active site. This ability is thought to require at least two alpha-macroglobulin subunits, yet the monomeric alpha-macroglobulin rat alpha 1-inhibitor-3 (alpha 1I3) also inhibits proteinases. We have compared the inhibitory activity of alpha 1I3 with the tetrameric human homolog alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), the best known alpha-macroglobulin, in order to determine whether these inhibitors share a common mechanism. alpha 1I3, like human alpha 2M, prevented a wide variety of proteinases from hydrolyzing a high molecular weight substrate but allowed hydrolysis of small substrates. In contrast to human alpha 2M, however, the binding and inhibition of proteinases was dependent on the ability of alpha 1I3 to form covalent cross-links to proteinase lysine residues. Low concentrations of proteinase caused a small amount of dimerization of alpha 1I3, but no difference in inhibition or receptor binding was detected between purified dimers or monomers. Kininogen domains of 22 and 64 kDa were allowed to react with alpha 1I3- or alpha 2M-bound papain to probe the accessibility of the active site of this proteinase. alpha 2M-bound papain was completely protected from reaction with these domains, whereas alpha 1I3-bound papain reacted with them but with affinities several times weaker than uncomplexed papain. Cathepsin G and papain antisera reacted very poorly with the enzymes when they were bound by alpha 1I3, but the protection provided by human alpha 2M was slightly better than the protection offered by the monomeric rat alpha 1I3. Our data indicate that the inhibitory unit of alpha 1I3 is a monomer and that this protein, like the multimeric alpha-macroglobulins, inhibits proteinases by steric hindrance. However, binding of proteinases by alpha 1I3 is dependent on covalent crosslinks, and bound proteinases are more accessible, and therefore less well inhibited, than when bound by the tetrameric homolog alpha 2M. Oligomerization of alpha-macroglobulin subunits during the evolution of this protein family has seemingly resulted in a more efficient inhibitor, and we speculate that alpha 1I3 is analogous to an evolutionary precursor of the tetrameric members of the family exemplified by human alpha 2M.     

Identification of a binding site for blood coagulation factor Xa on the heavy chain of factor Va. Amino acid residues 323-331 of factor V represent an interactive site for activated factor X

We have recently shown that amino acid region 307-348 of factor Va heavy chain (42 amino acids, N42R) is critical for cofactor activity and may contain a binding site for factor Xa and/or prothrombin [(2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 18614-18623]. To ascertain the importance of this region for factor Va cofactor activity, we have synthesized eight overlapping peptides (10 amino acid each) spanning amino acid region 307-351 of the heavy chain of factor Va and tested them for inhibition of prothrombinase activity. The peptides were also tested for the inhibition of the binding of factor Va to membrane-bound active site fluorescent labeled Glu-Gly-Arg human factor Xa ([OG488]-EGR-hXa). Factor Va binds specifically to membrane-bound [OG488]-EGR-hXa (10nM) with half-maximum saturation reached at approximately 6 nM. N42R was also found to interact with [OG488]-EGR-hXa with half-maximal saturation observed at approximately 230 nM peptide. N42R was found to inhibit prothrombinase activity with an IC50 of approximately 250 nM. A nonapeptide containing amino acid region 323-331 of factor Va (AP4') was found to be a potent inhibitor of prothrombinase. Kinetic analyses revealed that AP4' is a noncompetitive inhibitor of prothrombinase with respect to prothrombin, with a K(i) of 5.7 microM. Thus, the peptide interferes with the factor Va-factor Xa interaction. Displacement experiments revealed that the nonapeptide inhibits the direct interaction of factor Va with [OG488]-EGR-hXa (IC50 approximately 7.5 microM). The nonapeptide was also found to bind directly to [OG488]-EGR-hXa and to increase the catalytic efficiency of factor Xa toward prothrombin in the absence of factor Va. In contrast, a peptadecapeptide from N42R encompassing amino acid region 337-351 of factor Va (P15H) had no effect on either prothrombinase activity or the ability of the cofactor to interact with [OG488]-EGR-hXa. Our data demonstrate that amino acid sequence 323-331 of factor Va heavy chain contains a binding site for factor Xa.     

Inhibition of serine proteinases by p-carbethoxyphenyl esters of epsilon-guanidino- and epsilon-amino caproic acid: thermodynamic and molecular modeling study

The inhibitory effect of the clinically used p-carbethoxyphenyl ester of epsilon-guanidino-caproic acid methanesulphonate (epsilon-GCA-CEP) on the catalytic properties of human LYS77-plasmin (EC 3.4.21.7), bovine factor Xa (EC 3.4.21.6), bovine alpha-thrombin (EC 3.4.21.5), ancrod (EC 3.4.21.28), crotalase (EC 3.4.21.30), bovine beta-trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4), porcine pancreatic beta-kallikrein-B (EC 3.4.21.35), human urinary kallikrein (EC 3.4.21.35) and the Mr 54,000 species of human urokinase (EC 3.4.21.31) was investigated (between pH 2.0 and 8.5, I = 0.1 M; T = 21 +/- 0.5 degrees C), and analyzed in parallel with that of the homologous derivative p-carbethoxyphenyl epsilon-amino-caproate hydro chloride (epsilon-ACA-CEP). On lowering the pH from 5.5 to 3.0, values of the apparent dissociation inhibition constant (Ki) for epsilon-GCA-CEP and epsilon-ACA-CEP interaction with the serine proteinases considered increase, reflecting the acidic pK-shift upon inhibitor binding of a single ionizing group. Over the whole pH range explored, (i) epsilon-GCA-CEP interacts with bovine factor Xa and bovine alpha-thrombin with an higher affinity than that observed for epsilon-ACA-CEP binding; (ii) both inhibitors associate to bovine beta-trypsin with the same affinity; and (iii) epsilon-ACA-CEP inhibits human Lys77-plasmin and the Mr 54,000 species of human urokinase with an higher affinity than that reported for epsilon-GCA-CEP association, thus reflecting the known enzyme primary specificity properties. However, the affinity of epsilon-ACA-CEP for ancrod, crotalase, porcine pancreatic beta-kallikrein-B and human urinary kallikrein, all of which preferably bind arginyl rather than lysyl side chains at the primary position of substrates and/or inhibitors, is paradoxically higher than that displayed by epsilon-GCA-CEP. By considering the amino acid sequences, the X-ray three-dimensional structures and/or the computer-generated molecular models of serine proteinase: inhibitor adducts, the observed binding behaviour of epsilon-GCA-CEP and epsilon-ACA-CEP to the enzymes considered has been related to the inferred stereochemistry of proteinase: inhibitor contact region(s).     

Characterization of thrombin binding to alpha 2-macroglobulin

The formation and structural characteristics of the human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M)-thrombin complex were studied by intrinsic protein fluorescence, sulfhydryl group titration, electrophoresis in denaturing and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel systems, and in macromolecular inhibitor assays. The interaction between alpha 2M and thrombin was also assessed by comparison of sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoretic patterns of peptides produced by Staphylococcus aureus V-8 proteinase digests of denatured alpha 2M-125I-thrombin and alpha 2M-125I-trypsin complexes. In experiments measuring fluorescence changes and sulfhydryl group exposure caused by methylamine, we found that thrombin produced its maximum effects at a mole ratio of approximately 1.3:1 (thrombin:alpha 2M). Measurements of the ability of alpha 2M to bind trypsin after prior reaction with thrombin indicated that thrombin binds rapidly at one site on alpha 2M, but occupies the second site with some difficulty. Intrinsic fluorescence studies of trypsin binding to alpha 2M at pH 5.0, 6.5, and 8.0 not only revealed striking differences in trypsin's behavior over this pH range, but also some similarities between the behavior of thrombin and trypsin not heretofore recognized. Structural studies, using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to measure alpha 2M-125I-thrombin covalent complex formation, indicated that covalency reached a maximum at a mole ratio of approximately 1.5:1. At this ratio, only 1 mol of thrombin is bound covalently per mol of alpha 2M. These gel studies and those of proteolytic digests of denatured alpha 2M-125I-trypsin and alpha 2M-125I-thrombin complexes suggest that proteinases form covalent bonds with uncleaved alpha 2M subunits. The sum of our results is consistent with a mechanism of proteinase binding to alpha 2M in which the affinity of the proteinase for alpha 2M during an initial reversible interaction determines its binding ratio to the inhibitor.