Three-dimensional structure of the complex between pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (Kazal type) and trypsinogen at 1.8 Å resolution: Structure solution,crystallographic refinement and preliminary structural interpretation

The three-dimensional structure of the proteic complex formed by bovine trypsinogen and the porcine pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (Kazal type) has been solved by means of Patterson search techniques, using a predicted model of the trypsin-ovomucoid complex (Papamokos et al., 1982). The structure of the complex, including 162 solvent molecules, has been refined at 1.8 Å resolution (26,341 unique reflections) to a conventional crystallographic R factor of 0.195. The inhibitor molecule binds to trypsinogen via hydrogen bonds and/or apolar interactions at sites P9, P7, P6, P5, P3, P1, P1′, P2′ and P3′ of the contact area. The structure of the inhibitor itself resembles closely that of the third domain of Japanese quail ovomucoid inhibitor, recently reported by Weber et al. (1981). The trypsinogen part of the complex resembles trypsin, as is the case in the trypsinogen-basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor complex, but two segments of the activation domain adopt a different conformation. Most notably in the N-terminal region the Ile16-Gly19 loop, which is disordered in free trypsinogen and in the trypsinogen-basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor complex (Huber & Bode, 1978), assumes a regular structure and the polypeptide chain can be traced as far as residue Asp14. This new and fixed structure allows the formation of a buried salt link between the side-chains of Lys156 and Asp194. Conformations differing from those of trypsin are also found for residues 20 to 28 and residues 141 to 155. Some structural perturbation is observed in other parts of the molecule, including the calcium loop.     

The transition of bovine trypsinogen to a trypsin-like state upon strong ligand binding. The refined crystal structures of the bovine trypsinogen-pancreatic trypsin inhibitor complex and of its ternary complex with Ile-Val at 1.9 A resolution

The complex formed by bovine trypsinogen and the pancreatic trypsin inhibitor crystallizes in large crystals isomorphous with trypsin-PTI² complex crystals Rühlmann et al. 1973. X-ray diffraction data to 1.9 Å resolution were collected in the absence and presence of Ile-Val dipeptide. Both trypsinogen complex structures have been crystallographically refined, using the refined trypsin-PTI complex Huber et al. 1974a as a starting model. The final R values are 0.25 and 0.26, respectively. The mean main-chain atom deviations between the three complex structures are about 0.15 Å. In contrast, the mean deviation between the complexed and the free trypsinogen Fehlhammer et al. 1977 is 0.28 Å, reflecting the influence of crystal packing and complexation. The trypsinogen component adopts a trypsin-like conformation upon PTI binding: The Asp194 side-chain turns around and the activation domain becomes rigid, forming the specificity pocket and the Ile16 binding cleft. The specific interactions between PTI and trypsin are also observed in the trypsinogen complex. As in free trypsinogen, the N-terminus including residues Val10 to Gly18 is mobile and sticks out into solution. Apart from the different arrangement of the N-termini in the two complexes, the only significant, but minor structural difference is the enhanced thermal mobility of the autolysis loop in the trypsinogen complex. Upon binding of the Ile-Val dipeptide, the autolysis loop becomes fixed as in the trypsin complex. The Ile-Val position is identical in the ternary and the trypsin complex.     

The transition of bovine trypsinogen to a trypsin-like state upon strong ligand binding. II. The binding of the pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and of isoleucine-valine and of sequentially related peptides to trypsinogen and to p-guanidinobenzoate-trypsinogen.

p-Guanidinobenzoate-trypsinogen is transformed into a trypsin-like conformation upon binding of Ile-Val as evidenced by specific changes in its circular dichroism spectrum. By means of this signal the association constants for the binding of a variety of peptides sequentially analogous to either the bovine trypsin N-terminus or to the N-terminal activation peptide sequences of several trypsinogens have been determined at different Ca²⁺ concentrations. Ile-Val and Ile-Val-Gly exhibit the strongest binding affinity of all peptides investigated. Replacement of the first isoleucine or of the second valine residue by other amino acids considerably reduces the peptide affinity. Discussion of these is based on the known spatial arrangement of the Ile16-Val17-Gly18 N-terminus and of the Ile-Val dipeptide in the Ile16 cleft (crystal structures of bovine trypsin and of the trypsinogen-PTI³-Ile-Val complex; Bode et al., 1978). The free energies of binding of the first and of the second peptide residue are almost additive indicating independency between both subsites. The third residue, glycine, does not significantly contribute to binding. The peptide analogues of various trypsinogen N-termini exhibit no measurable affinity for the Ile 16 cleft.The equilibrium constant for the binding of PTI to trypsinogen and the affinity of Ile-Val for the resulting binary complex have been determined in the presence and absence of Ca²⁺, using the competitive PTI-binding to α-chymotrypsin. These competition experiments allow the estimation of the standard free-energy changes due to the conformational transition of trypsinogen into a trypsin-like state (+43 kJ mol^?1, 20 °C; stabilization of the “activation domain”; Fehlhammer et al., 1977), due to the binding of the trypsin N-terminus (—55 kJ mol^?1) and of the peptide analogues (e.g. Ile-Val; ?28 kJ mol^?1) into the preformed Ile 16 cleft, and due to the specific burying of the covalently linked pGB group in the fixed specificity pocket (— 39 kJ mol^?1). This pocket is co-operatively linked with the Ile 16 cleft according to a free-energy change coupling of —43 kJ mol^?1.     

Three dimensional structures of S189D chymotrypsin and D189S trypsin mutants: the effect of polarity at site 189 on a protease-specific stabilization of the substrate-binding site

The crystal structure of S189D rat chymotrypsin have been determined (resolution 2.55A) and compared, together with D189S rat trypsin to wild-type structures to examine why these single mutations resulted in poorly active, non-specific enzymes instead of converting the specificities of trypsin and chymotrypsin into each other. Both mutants have stable structure but suffer from a surprisingly large number of serious deformations. These are restricted to the activation domain, mainly to the substrate-binding region and are larger in S189D chymotrypsin. A wild-type substrate-binding mode in the mutants is disfavored by substantial displacements of the Cys191-Cys220 disulfide and loop segments 185-195 (loop C2/D2) and 217-224 (loop E2/F2) at the specificity site. As a consequence, the substrate-binding clefts become wider and more solvent-accessible in the middle third and occluded in the lower third. Interestingly, while the Ser189 residue in D189S trypsin adopts a chymotrypsin-like conformation, the Asp189 residue in S189D chymotrypsin is turned out toward the solvent. The rearrangements in D189S trypsin are at the same sites where trypsin and trypsinogen differ and, in S189D chymotrypsin, the oxyanion hole as well as the salt-bridge between Asp194 and the N-terminal of Ile16 are missing as in chymotrypsinogen. Despite these similarities, the mutants do not have zymogen conformation. The Ser189Asp and Asp189Ser substitutions are structurally so disruptive probably because the stabilization of such a different specificity site polarities as those after the removal or introduction of a charged residue are beyond the capability of the wild-type conformation of the substrate-binding region.     

Residue Met(156) contributes to the labile enzyme conformation of coagulation factor VIIa

Serine protease activation is typically controlled by proteolytic cleavage of the scissile bond, resulting in spontaneous formation of the activating Ile(16)-Asp(194) salt bridge. The initiating coagulation protease factor VIIa (VIIa) differs by remaining in a zymogen-like conformation that confers the control of catalytic activity to the obligatory cofactor and receptor tissue factor (TF). This study demonstrates that the unusual hydrophobic Met(156) residue contributes to the propensity of the VIIa protease domain to remain in a zymogen-like conformation. Mutation of Met(156) to Gln, which is found in the same position of the highly homologous factor IX, had no influence on the amidolytic and proteolytic activity of TF-bound VIIa. Furthermore, the mutation did not appreciably stabilize the labile Ile(16)-Asp(194) salt bridge in the absence of cofactor. VIIa(Gln156) had increased affinity for TF, consistent with a long range conformational effect that stabilized the cofactor binding site in the VIIa protease domain. Notably, in the absence of cofactor, amidolytic and proteolytic function of VIIa(Gln156) were enhanced 3- and 9-fold, respectively, compared with wild-type VIIa. The mutation thus selectively influenced the catalytic activity of free VIIa, identifying the Met(156) residue position as a determinant for the zymogen-like properties of free VIIa.     

Trypsinogen-trypsin transition: a molecular dynamics study of induced conformational change in the activation domain

The trypsinogen to trypsin transition has been investigated by a stochastic boundary molecular dynamics simulation that included a major portion of the trypsin molecule and the surrounding solvent. Attention focused on the "activation domain", which crystallographic studies have shown to be ordered in trypsin and disordered in its zymogen, trypsinogen. The chain segments that form the activation domain were found to exhibit large fluctuations during the simulation of trypsin. To model a difference between trypsin and trypsinogen, the N-terminal residues Ile-16 and Val-17 were removed in the former and replaced by water molecules. As a result of the perturbation, a structural drift of 1-2 A occurred that is limited to the activation domain. Glycine residues are found to act as hinges for the displaced chain segments.     

The energetic cost of induced fit catalysis: Crystal structures of trypsinogen mutants with enhanced activity and inhibitor affinity

The contribution of induced fit to enzyme specificity has been much debated, although with little experimental data. Here we probe the effect of induced fit on enzyme specificity using the trypsin(ogen) system. BPTI is known to induce trypsinogen to assume a trypsinlike conformation. Correlations are observed between BPTI affinity and the values of k(cat)/K(m) for the hydrolysis of two substrates by eight trypsin(ogen) variants. The slope of both correlations is -1.8. The crystal structures of the BPTI complexes of four variant trypsinogens were also solved. Three of these enzymes, K15A, DeltaI16V17/D194N, and DeltaI16V17/Q156K trypsinogen, are 10- to 100-fold more active than trypsinogen. The fourth variant, DeltaI16V17 trypsinogen, is the lone outlier in the correlations; its activity is lower than expected based on its affinity for BPTI. The S1 site and oxyanion hole, formed by segments 184A-194 and 216-223, are trypsinlike in all of the enzymes. These structural and kinetic data confirm that BPTI induces an active conformation in the trypsin(ogen) variants. Thus, changes in BPTI affinity monitor changes in the energetic cost of inducing a trypsinlike conformation. Although the S1 site and oxyanion hole are similar in all four variants, the N-terminal and autolysis loop (residues 142-152) segments have different interactions for each variant. These results indicate that zymogen activity is controlled by a simple conformational equilibrium between active and inactive conformations, and that the autolysis loop and N-terminal segments control this equilibrium. Together, these data illustrate that induced fit does not generally contribute to enzyme specificity.     

Isolation and nucleotide sequence of cDNA clone for bovine pancreatic anionic trypsinogen. Structural identity within the trypsin family.

A cDNA clone encoding an anionic form of bovine trypsinogen was isolated from a pancreatic cDNA library. The corresponding 855-nucleotide mRNA contains a short 5' noncoding region of 8 nucleotides and a long 3' noncoding region of 56 nucleotides in addition to a poly(A) tail of at least 50 nucleotides. The deduced amino acid sequence for the anionic pretrypsinogen (247 residues) includes the N-terminal 15-amino-acid signal peptide followed by an 8-amino-acid activation peptide. The zymogen (232 residues) contains an additional C-terminal serine, compared with the amino acid sequence of bovine cationic trypsinogen. The identity between the anionic and cationic forms of bovine trypsinogen (65%) is lower than that existing between the anionic protein and other mammalian anionic trypsinogens (73-85%), suggesting that trypsin gene duplication in mammals occurred prior to the evolutionary events responsible for the species divergence. Bovine pancreatic anionic trypsin possesses all the key amino acids characteristic of the serine protease family.     

Thermodynamic modeling of internal equilibria involved in the activation of trypsinogen

The effect of activating dipeptides, sequentially homologous to the Ile16-Val17N-terminus of bovine beta-trypsin (beta-trypsin), on equilibria involved in the binding of strong ligands (i.e., n-butylamine, the bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz-type inhibitor; BPTI) and the porcine pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (Kazal-type inhibitor, type I; PSTI)) to bovine trypsinogen (trypsinogen) was investigated at pH 5.51 (I = 0.1 M) and T = 21.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C; under the same experimental conditions, thermodynamics for the binding of strong ligands to beta-trypsin was also obtained. The equilibria involved in the binding of activating dipeptides and/or inhibitors to beta-trypsin and to its zymogen are described according to an induced-fit formalism, taking into account ligand-linked interaction(s) between different functional and structural domains of the (pro)enzyme possibly involved in the trypsinogen-to-beta-trypsin activation pathway. The analysis of data is focussed on parameters describing interactions between the so-called Ile-Val pocket (where the Ile16-Val17 N-terminus of beta-trypsin or activating dipeptides bind) and the primary and/or secondary recognition subsite(s) (where strong ligands associate) present in the (pro)enzyme. Such an analysis allows to dissect the contributions due to the primary recognition subsite, where small mono-functional ligands (e.g., n-butylamine) bind, from those of the secondary subsite(s), which are additional recognition clefts for macromolecular inhibitors (e.g., BPTI and PSTI).     

Human anionic trypsinogen: properties of autocatalytic activation and degradation and implications in pancreatic diseases.

Human pancreatic secretions contain two major trypsinogen isoforms, cationic and anionic trypsinogen, normally at a ratio of 2 : 1. Pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and chronic alcoholism lead to a characteristic reversal of the isoform ratio, and anionic trypsinogen becomes the predominant zymogen secreted. To understand the biochemical consequences of these alterations, we recombinantly expressed and purified both human trypsinogens and documented characteristics of autoactivation, autocatalytic degradation and Ca2+-dependence. Even though the two trypsinogens are approximately 90% identical in their primary structure, we found that human anionic trypsinogen and trypsin exhibited a significantly increased (10-20-fold) propensity for autocatalytic degradation, relative to cationic trypsinogen and trypsin. Furthermore, in contrast to the characteristic stimulation of the cationic proenzyme, acidic pH inhibited autoactivation of anionic trypsinogen. In mixtures of cationic and anionic trypsinogen, an increase in the proportion of the anionic proenzyme had no significant effect on the levels of trypsin generated by autoactivation or by enterokinase at pH 8.0 in 1 mm Ca2+- conditions that were characteristic of the pancreatic juice. In contrast, rates of trypsinogen activation were markedly reduced with increasing ratios of anionic trypsinogen under conditions that were typical of potential sites of pathological intra-acinar trypsinogen activation. Thus, at low Ca2+ concentrations at pH 8.0, selective degradation of anionic trypsinogen and trypsin caused diminished trypsin production; while at pH 5.0, inhibition of anionic trypsinogen activation resulted in lower trypsin yields. Taken together, the observations indicate that up-regulation of anionic trypsinogen in pancreatic diseases does not affect physiological trypsinogen activation, but significantly limits trypsin generation under potential pathological conditions.     

Zymogen activation: effect of peptides sequentially related to the bovine beta-trypsin N-terminus on Kazal inhibitor and benzamidine binding to bovine trypsinogen

The activating effect of peptides sequentially related to the Ile 16-Val17-Gly18 N-terminus of bovine beta-trypsin (namely Ile-Val-Gly, Ile-Val, Ile-Leu, Ile-Ala, Val-Val, Leu-Val, and Val-Leu) on the thermodynamic parameters for the binding of the porcine pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (Kazal inhibitor) and benzamidine to bovine trypsinogen was investigated at pH 5.5 (Bis tris-HCl buffer, I = 0.1 M) and T = 21 +/- 0.5 degrees C. Thermodynamic parameters for Kazal inhibitor and benzamidine association to the binary peptide/zymogen adducts are more favorable than those observed for ligand binding to the proenzyme alone, although never as much as those reported for the formation of bovine beta-trypsin/Kazal inhibitor and bovine beta-trypsin/benzamidine adducts. Analogously, the affinity of activating peptides for the binary proenzyme/Kazal inhibitor and binary proenzyme/benzamidine complexes is higher than that observed for peptide binding to free bovine trypsinogen. Differences in affinity for ligand binding to free bovine trypsinogen, to its binary adducts and to bovine beta-trypsin suggest the presence of different activation levels of the proenzyme, none of which structurally coincide with that achieved in bovine beta-trypsin. The existence of different discrete states suggests that the zymogen-to-active enzyme transition should not be considered as a two-state process but as a multistep event.     

Thermodynamic Modeling of Internal Equilibria Involved in the Activation of Trypsinogen

Abstract

The effect of activating dipeptides, sequentially homologous to the Ile 16-Val 17 N-terminus of bovine β-trypsin (β-trypsin), on equilibria involved in the binding of strong ligands (i.e., n-butylamine, the bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz-type inhibitor; BPTI) and the porcine pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (Kazal-type inhibitor, type I; PSTI)) to bovine trypsinogen (trypsinogen) was investigated at pH 5.5 (I = 0.1 M) and T = 21.0 ± 0.5°C; under the same experimental conditions, thermodynamics for the binding of strong ligands to β-trypsin was also obtained. The equilibria involved in the binding of activating dipeptides and/or inhibitors to β-trypsin and to its zymogen are described according to an induced-fit formalism, taking into account ligand-linked interaction(s) between different functional and structural domains of the (pro)enzyme possibly involved in the trypsinogen-to-β-trypsin activation pathway. The analysis of data is focussed on parameters describing interactions between the so-called Ile-Val pocket (where the Ile16-Val17/V-terminus of β-trypsin or activating dipeptides bind) and the primary and/or secondary recognition subsite(s) (where strong ligands associate) present in the (pro)enzyme. Such an analysis allows to dissect the contributions due to the primary recognition subsite, where small mono-functional ligands (e.g., n-butylamine) bind, from those of the secondary subsite(s), which are additional recognition clefts for macromolecular inhibitors (e.g., BPTI and PSTI).     

Comparative in vitro studies on native and recombinant human cationic trypsins. Cathepsin B is a possible pathological activator of trypsinogen in pancreatitis

Hereditary pancreatitis, an autosomal dominant disease is believed to be caused by mutation in the human trypsinogen gene. The role of mutations has been investigated by in vitro studies using recombinant rat and human trypsinogen (TG). In this study we compare the enzymatic properties and inhibition by human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (hPSTI) of the native, postsynthetically modified and recombinant cationic trypsin, and found these values practically identical. We also determined the autolytic stability of recombinant wild type (Hu1Asn21) and pancreatitis-associated (Hu1Ile21) trypsin. Both forms were equally stable. Similarly, we found no difference in the rate of activation of the two zymogens by human cationic and anionic trypsin. Mesotrypsin did not activate either form. The rate of autocatalytic activation of Hu1Asn21 TG and Hu1Ile21 TG was also identical at pH 8 both in the presence and absence of Ca2+. At pH 5 Hu1Ile21 TG autoactivated about twice as fast as Hu1Asn21 TG. The presence of physiological amount of hPSTI completely prevented autoactivation of both zymogens at pH 8 and at pH 5 as well. Cathepsin B readily activated both zymogens although Hu1Ile21 TG was activated about 2.5-3 times as fast as Hu1Asn21 TG. The presence of hPSTI did not prevent the activation of zymogens by cathepsin B. Our results underlie the central role of cathepsin B in the development of different forms of pancreatitis.     

Role of residue Phe225 in the cofactor-mediated, allosteric regulation of the serine protease coagulation factor VIIa

Functional regulation by cofactors is fundamentally important for the highly ordered, consecutive activation of the coagulation cascade. The initiating protease of the coagulation system, factor VIIa (VIIa), retains zymogen-like features after proteolytic cleavage of the activating Arg(15)-Ile(16) peptide bond and requires the binding of the cofactor tissue factor (TF) to stabilize the protease domain in an active enzyme conformation. Structural comparison of TF-bound and free VIIa failed to provide a conclusive mechanism for this catalytic activation. This study provides novel insight into the cofactor-dependent regulation of VIIa by demonstrating that the side chain of Phe(225), an aromatic residue that is common to allosterically regulated serine proteases, is necessary for optimal TF-mediated activation of VIIa's catalytic function. However, mutation of Phe(225) did not abolish the cofactor-induced stabilization of the Ile(16)-Asp(194) salt bridge, previously considered the primary switch mechanism for activating VIIa. Moreover, mutation of other residue side chains in the VIIa protease domain resulted in a reduced level of or no stabilization of the amino-terminal insertion site upon TF binding, with little or no effect on the TF-mediated enhancement of catalysis. This study thus establishes a crucial role for the aromatic Phe(225) residue position in the allosteric network that transmits the activating switch from the cofactor interface to the catalytic cleft, providing insight into the highly specific conformational linkages that regulate serine protease function.     

An isoleucine-based allosteric switch controls affinity and shape shifting in integrin CD11b A-domain

In response to cell activation signals, integrins switch from a low to a high affinity state. Physiologic ligands bind to integrins through a von Willebrand Factor A-type domain. Crystallographic studies revealed two conformations of this domain, "closed" and "open." The latter crystallizes in complex with a pseudoligand or ligand, suggesting that it represents the high affinity state; data linking structure and activity are lacking however. In this communication, we expressed stable low and high affinity forms of integrin CD11b A-domain and determined their binding isotherms and crystal structures. The low affinity form, generated by deleting an N-terminal extension extrinsic to the domain, did not bind to physiologic ligands, and crystallized in the closed conformation. The high affinity form was generated by either deleting or substituting an invariable C-terminal Ile(316), wedged into a hydrophobic socket in the closed form, but displaced from it in the open structure. Both mutants crystallized in the open conformation, and the Ile(316) --> Gly-modified integrin displayed high affinity. Structural differences between the low and high affinity forms were detected in solution. These data establish the structure-function correlates for the CD11b A-domain, and define a ligand-independent isoleucine-based allosteric switch intrinsic to this domain that controls its conformation and affinity.     

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the selectively isotope-labeled reactive site peptide bond of the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor in the complexes with trypsin, trypsinogen, and anhydrotrypsin

A previously characterized modification of the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), with the carbonyl carbon atom of Lys-15 selectively enriched in 13C, the peptide bond Arg-39--Ala-40 cleaved, and Arg-39 removed, was used for 13C NMR studies of the reactive site peptide bond Lys-15--Ala-16 in the complexes with trypsin, trypsinogen, and anhydrotrypsin. The chemical shift of [1-13C]Lys-15 was 175.7 ppm in the free inhibitor, 176.4 ppm in the complexes with trypsin and anhydrotrypsin and the ternary complex with trypsinogen and H-Ile-Val-OH, and 175.7 ppm in a neutral solution containing the inhibitor and trypsinogen. These data show that the trypsin--BPTI complex does not contain a covalent tetrahedral carbon atom in the position of the reactive site peptide carbonyl of the inhibitor. They would be consistent with the formation of a noncovalent complex but cannot at present be used to further characterize the degree of a possible pyramidalization of the carbonyl carbon of Lys-15 in such a complex. The identical chemical shifts in the complexes with trypsin and anhydrotrypsin indicate that the gamma-hydroxyl group of Ser-195 of trypsin does not have an important role in the binding of the inhibitor. The previously described [Perkins, S. J. & Wüthrich, K. (1980) J. Mol. Biol. 138, 43--64] stepwise transition from the trypsinogen conformation to an intermediate conformational state in the trypsinogen--BPTI complex and a trypsin-like conformation in the ternary complex trypsinogen--BPTI--H-Ile-Val-OH appears to be manifested also in the chemical shift of [1-13C]Lys-15 of labeled BPTI.     

Effect of manganese(II) ion on trypsinogen activation

The effect of Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ on the kinetics of the tryptic activation of bovine trypsinogen was studied at pH 7.3 and 36.5°C. For comparison, the rate constants of autolysis and esterolytic activity of trypsin were also determined. It can be concluded that Mn²⁺ increases the conversion rate of trypsinogen into trypsin in a 25–40% larger extent than Ca²⁺. The manganese(II) ion bond to trypsinogen is supposed to keep the N-terminal part of the zymogen in a better conformation for binding at the primary and secondary binding sites of trypsin.     

Trypsinogen stabilization by mutation Arg117-->His: a unifying pathomechanism for hereditary pancreatitis?

Mutations Arg117-->His and Asn21-->Ile of the human cationic trypsinogen have been recently identified in patients affected by hereditary pancreatitis (HP). The Arg117-->His substitution is believed to cause pancreatitis by eliminating an essential autolytic cleavage site in trypsin, thereby rendering the protease resistant to inactivation through autolysis. Here we demonstrate that the Arg117-->His mutation also significantly inhibits autocatalytic trypsinogen breakdown under Ca(2+)-free conditions and stabilizes the zymogen form of rat trypsin. Taken together with recent findings demonstrating that the Asn21-->Ile mutation stabilizes rat trypsinogen against autoactivation and consequent autocatalytic degradation, the observations suggest a unifying molecular pathomechanism for HP in which zymogen stabilization plays a central role.     

精胺和Mg~（2＋）对tRNA~（Ile）圆二向色谱的影响

由于精胺（ｓｐｅｒｍｉｎｅ）能特异地刺激哺乳动物ｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）的氨基酰化,本文用纯化的牛肝ｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）观察了精胺和Ｍｇ（２＋）对ｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）ＣＤ光谱的影响。结果显示：Ｍｇ（２＋）可使牛肝ｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）ＣＤ光谱峰向短波方向偏移２ｎｍ,波峰为２６３ｎｍ,峰值被增大约１０％,ΔθＭｇ（２＋）＝２．３×１０３ｄｅｇ·ｃｍ２／ｄｍｏｌ;而精胺使牛肝ｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）ＣＤ光谱峰减少４０％,Δθｓｐｅｒｍｉｎｅ＝１×１０（－４）ｄｅｇ·ｃｍ２／ｄｍｏｌ;精胺和Ｍｇ（２＋）对肝ｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）－ＩｌｅＲＳ复合物或ＩｌｅＲＳ的ＣＤ光谱基本无影响。表明Ｍｇ（２＋）和精胺可影响牛肝ｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）的构象。实验同时以酵母ｔＲＮＡ（Ｐｈｅ）和Ｅ·ｃｏｌｉｔＲＮＡ~（Ｉｌｅ）作为对照。     

Thermal effects on an enzymatically latent conformation of coagulation factor VIIa.

Activation of the zymogen factor VII yields an enzyme form, factor VIIa, with only modest activity. The thermal effect on this low activity of factor VIIa and its enhancement by the cofactor tissue factor was investigated. Factor VIIa activity measured with a chromogenic peptide substrate is characterized by an unusual temperature dependency which indicates that the activated protease exists in an equilibrium between a latent (enzymatically inactive) and an active conformation. As shown by calorimetry and activity measurements the thermal effects on factor VIIa are fully reversible below the denaturation temperature of 58.1 degrees C. A model for factor VIIa has been proposed [Higashi, S., Nishimura, H., Aita, K. & Iwanaga, S. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 18891-18898] in which the protease is supposed to exist primarily as a latent enzyme form because of the poor incorporation into the protease structure of the N-terminal Ile153 released by proteolytic cleavage during activation of factor VII. Binding of tissue factor to factor VIIa is assumed to shift the equilibrium towards an active conformation in which the N-terminal Ile153 forms a salt bridge with Asp343. We corroborate the validity of this model by: (a) chemical modification of factor VIIa; this suggests that the thermal effect on the equilibrium between the active and inactive conformation is reflected in the relative accessibility of the active site and the N-terminal Ile153; (b) measurements of factor VIIa binding to tissue factor indicating that complex formation is favoured by stabilization of the active conformation; and (c) activity measurements of a cross-linked factor VIIa-tissue factor complex; this showed that cross-linking stabilized the active conformation of factor VIIa and essentially prevented its thermally-induced transformation into the inactive state.