Defining the boundaries of the testis angiotensin I-converting enzyme ectodomain

Numerous cytokines, receptors, and ectoenzymes, including angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), are shed from the cell surface by limited proteolysis at the juxtamembrane stalk region. The membrane-proximal C domain of ACE has been implicated in sheddase-substrate recognition. We mapped the functional boundaries of the testis ACE ectodomain (identical to the C domain of somatic ACE) by progressive deletions from the N- and C-termini and analysing the effects on catalytic activity, stability, and shedding in transfected cells. We found that deletions extending beyond Leu37 at the N-terminus and Trp616 at the C-terminus abolished catalytic activity and shedding, either by disturbing the ectodomain conformation or by inhibiting maturation and surface expression. Based on these data and on sequence alignments, we propose that the boundaries of the ACE ectodomain are Asp40 at the N-terminus and Gly615 at the C-terminus.     

Determination of angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity in cell culture using fluorescence resonance energy transfer peptides

An assay using fluorescence resonance energy transfer peptides was developed to assess angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity directly on the membrane of transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) stably expressing the full-length somatic form of the enzyme. The advantage of the new method is the possibility of using selective substrates for the two active sites of the enzyme, namely Abz-FRK(Dnp)P-OH for somatic ACE, Abz-SDK(Dnp)P-OH for the N domain, and Abz-LFK(Dnp)-OH for the C domain. Hydrolysis of a peptide bond between the donor/acceptor pair (Abz/Dnp) generates detectable fluorescence, allowing quantitative measurement of the enzymatic activity. The kinetic parameter K(m) for the hydrolysis of the three substrates by ACE in this system was also determined and the values are comparable to those obtained using the purified enzyme in solution. The specificity of the activity was demonstrated by the complete inhibition of the hydrolysis by the ACE inhibitor lisinopril. Therefore, the results presented in this work show for the first time that determination of ACE activity directly on the surface of intact CHO cells is feasible and that the method is reliable and sensitive. In conclusion, we describe a methodology that may represent a new tool for the assessment of ACE activity which will open the possibility to study protein interactions in cells in culture.     

Purification and characterization of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from enzymatic hydrolysates of Styela clava flesh tissue

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide was isolated from the Styela clava flesh tissue. Nine proteases (Protamex, Kojizyme, Neutrase, Flavourzyme, Alcalase, pepsin, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin and papain) were used, and their respective enzymatic hydrolysates and an aqueous extract were screened to evaluate their potential ACE inhibitory activity. Among all of the test samples, Protamex hydrolysate possessed the highest ACE inhibitory activity, and the Protamex hydrolysate of flesh tissue showed relatively higher ACE inhibitory activity compared with the Protamex hydrolysate of tunic tissue. We attempted to isolate ACE inhibitory peptide from the Protamex hydrolysate of S. clava flesh tissue using ultrafiltration, gel filtration on a Sephadex G-25 column and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an ODS column. The purified ACE inhibitory peptide exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 37.1 μM and was identified as non-competitive inhibitor of ACE. Amino acid sequence of the peptide was identified as Ala-His-Ile-Ile-Ile, with a molecular weight 565.3 Da. The results of this study suggested that the peptides derived from enzymes-assisted extracts of S. clava would be useful new antihypertension compounds in functional food resource.     

Crystal structure of the N domain of human somatic angiotensin I-converting enzyme provides a structural basis for domain-specific inhibitor design

Human somatic angiotensin I-converting enzyme (sACE) is a key regulator of blood pressure and an important drug target for combating cardiovascular and renal disease. sACE comprises two homologous metallopeptidase domains, N and C, joined by an inter-domain linker. Both domains are capable of cleaving the two hemoregulatory peptides angiotensin I and bradykinin, but differ in their affinities for a range of other substrates and inhibitors. Previously we determined the structure of testis ACE (C domain); here we present the crystal structure of the N domain of sACE (both in the presence and absence of the antihypertensive drug lisinopril) in order to aid the understanding of how these two domains differ in specificity and function. In addition, the structure of most of the inter-domain linker allows us to propose relative domain positions for sACE that may contribute to the domain cooperativity. The structure now provides a platform for the design of "domain-specific" second-generation ACE inhibitors.     

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme-like activity in tissues from the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa) and detection of immunoreactive plasma angiotensins

Using a highly sensitive fluorimetric assay, significant levels of angiotensin I -converting enzyme-like activity (ACELA) were detected in a range of tissues (branchial heart, gill, kidney with associated vasculature and archinephric duct, liver, whole brain and gut) from the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa). The highest ACELA occurred in heart and gill (1.8 and 1.5 nmol His–Leu min⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹, respectively). The mammalian angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, captopril, at 10⁻⁵ M was a potent inhibitor of the ACELA found in all hagfish tissues. Radioimmunoassay showed that immunoreactive angiotensins (251.8±11.8 pM) were detectable in hagfish plasma. The validity of the assay for measurement of hagfish angiotensins was indicated by the parallelism of the angiotensin II standard curve against serially diluted hagfish plasma. Measurement of immunoreactive plasma angiotensins and detection of significant levels of ACELA in a wide range of tissues gives indirect evidence for the presence of a renin–angiotensin system in hagfishes, the earliest evolved group of craniates.     

Production of novel angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides by fermentation of marine shrimp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acetes chinensis</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus fermentum</Emphasis> SM 605

Acetes chinensis is an underutilized shrimp species thriving in Bo Hai Gulf of China. Its hydrolysate digested with protease SM98011 has been previously shown to have high angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity (He et al., J Pept Sci 12:726-733, 2006). In this article, A. chinensis were fermented by Lactobacillus fermentum SM 605 and the fermented sauce presented high ACE inhibitory activity. The minimum IC(50) value (3.37 +/- 0.04 mg/mL) was achieved by response surface methodology with optimized process parameters such as fermentation time of 24.19 h, incubation temperature at 38.10 degrees C, and pH 6.12. Three ACE inhibitory peptides are purified by ultrafiltration, gel filtration, and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Identified by mass spectrometry, their amino acid sequences are Asp-Pro, Gly-Thr-Gly, and Ser-Thr, with IC(50) values of 2.15 +/- 0.02, 5.54 +/- 0.09, and 4.03 +/- 0.10 microM, respectively. Also, they are all novel ACE inhibitory peptides. Compared with protease digestion, fermentation is a simpler and cheaper method to produce ACE inhibitory peptides from shrimp A. chinensis.     

Analysis of dichlorodihydrofluorescein and dihydrocalcein as probes for the detection of intracellular reactive oxygen species

Dihydrocalcein (H₂-calcein) is recommended as a superior probe for intracellular radical (ROS) detection as different to dichlorodihydrofluorescein (H₂-DCF), its oxidation product calcein is thought not to leak out of cells. We determined whether H₂-calcein is a useful tool to measure ROS in vascular smooth muscle cells. In vitro, both compounds were oxidized by peroxynitrite, hydroxyl radicals and peroxidase, but not hydrogen peroxide or nitric oxide. The intracellular half-life of calcein was several hours whereas that of DCF was approximately 5 min. Intracellular ROS, as generated by the angiotensin II (Ang II)-activated NADPH oxidase, did not increase the oxidation of H₂-calcein but increased the oxidation of H₂-DCF by approximately 50%. Similar changes were detected using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Inhibition of the NADPH oxidase using gp91ds-tat prevented the Ang II-induced increase in DCF fluorescence, without affecting cells loaded with H₂-calcein. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), which inhibits all flavin-dependent enzymes, including those in the respiratory chain, had little effect on the basal but prevented the Ang II-induced oxidation of H₂-DCF. In contrast, DPI inhibited H₂-calcein oxidation in non-stimulated cells by almost 50%. Blockade of respiratory chain complex I inhibited H₂-calcein oxidation, whereas inhibitors of complex III were without effect. Calcein accumulated in the mitochondria, whereas DCF was localized in the cytoplasm. In submitochondrial particles, H₂-calcein, but not H₂-DCF inhibited complex I activity.

These observations indicate that H₂-DCF is an indicator for intracellular ROS, whereas the oxidation of H₂-calcein most likely occurs as a consequence of direct electron transfer to mitochondrial complex I.