Purification and some properties of thiosulphate-cleaving enzyme from Thiobacillus novellus

A thiosulphate-cleaving enzyme was purified from Thiobacillus novellus and some of its properties studied. The enzyme showed an absorption peak at 279 nm and no peaks between 300 and 650 nm. Its Mr was 38,000. Although the crude enzyme cleaved thiosulphate to form sulphite without addition of cyanide, the purified enzyme required cyanide to cleave thiosulphate. The Km values for thiosulphate and cyanide of the purified enzyme were 1.0 mM and 0.3 mM, respectively. One mol of the enzyme formed 10 mol of thiocyanate per s from thiosulphate and cyanide. The thiosulphate-cleaving activity of the enzyme was strongly inhibited by cysteine, while beta-mercaptoethanol was less inhibitory. The factor which accepted sulphur from thiosulphate in the crude preparation of thiosulphate-cleaving enzyme seemed to be a relatively labile compound with an Mr of 10,000 x 20,000.     

Purification, substrate specificity, and classification of tripeptidyl peptidase II

An extralysosomal tripeptide-releasing aminopeptidase was recently discovered in rat liver (B?l?w, R.-M., Ragnarsson, U., and Zetterqvist, O. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 11622-11628). In the present work this tripeptidyl peptidase is shown to occur in several rat tissues and in human erythrocytes. The erythrocyte enzyme was purified about 80,000-fold from a hemolysate while the rat liver enzyme was purified about 4,000-fold from a homogenate. Upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate under reducing conditions more than 90% of the protein was represented by a polypeptide of Mr 135,000 in both cases. In addition, the two enzymes eluted at similar positions in the various chromatographic steps, showed similar specific activity, and had a pH optimum around 7.5. A tryptic pentadecapeptide from the alpha-chain of human hemoglobin, Val-Gly-Ala-His-Ala-Gly-Glu-Tyr-Gly-Ala-Glu-Ala-Leu-Glu-Arg, i.e. residues 17-31, was found to be sequentially cleaved by the erythrocyte enzyme into five tripeptides, beginning from the NH2 terminus. Chromogenic tripeptidylamides showed various rates of hydrolysis at pH 7.5. With Ala-Ala-Phe-4-methyl-7-coumarylamide, Km was 16 microM and Vmax 13 mumol min-1 . mg-1, comparable to the standard substrate Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser(32P)-Val-Ala values (Km 13 microM and Vmax 24 mumol . min-1 . mg-1). The tripeptidyl peptidase of human erythrocytes was classified as a serine peptidase from its irreversible inhibition by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The rate of inhibition was decreased by the presence of an efficient competitive inhibitor, Val-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Val-Ala (Ki 1.5 microM). [3H]Diisopropylphosphate was incorporated to the extent of 0.7-0.9 mol/mol of Mr 135,000 subunit, which confirms the high purity of the enzyme.     

A peptidase in human platelets that deamidates tachykinins. Probable identity with the lysosomal "protective protein".

We discovered an enzyme in human platelets that deamidates substance P and other tachykinins. Because an amidated carboxyl terminus is important for biological activity, we purified and characterized this deamidase. The enzyme, released from human platelets by thrombin, was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by chromatography on an octyl-Sepharose column and chromatofocusing on PBE 94. The purified enzyme exhibits esterase, peptidase, and deamidase activities. The peptidase activity (with furylacryloyl-Phe-Phe) is optimal at pH 5.0 while the esterase (benzoyl-tyrosine ethyl ester) and deamidase (D-Ala2-Leu5-enkephalinamide) activities are optimal at pH 7.0. With biologically important peptides, the enzyme acts both as a deamidase (substance P, neurokinin A, and eledoisin) and a carboxy-peptidase (with bradykinin, angiotensin I, substance P-free acid, oxytocin-free acid) at neutrality, although the carboxypeptidase action is faster at pH 5.5. Enkephalins, released upon deamidation of enkephalinamides, were not cleaved. Gly9-NH2 of oxytocin was released without deamidation. Peptides with a penultimate Arg residue were not hydrolyzed. Some properties of the deamidase are similar to those reported for cathepsin A. The deamidase is inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate, inhibitors of chymotrypsin-type enzymes, and mercury compounds while other inhibitors of catheptic enzymes, trypsin-like enzymes, and metalloproteases were ineffective. In gel filtration, the native enzyme has an Mr = 94,000 while in non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the Mr = 52,000 indicating it exists as a dimer. After reduction, deamidase dissociates into two chains of Mr = 33,000 and 21,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. [3H]diisopropylfluorophosphate labeled the active site serine in the Mr = 33,000 chain. The first 25 amino acids of both chains were sequenced. They are identical with the sequences of the two chains of lysosomal "protective protein" which, in turn, has sequence similarity to the KEX1 gene product and carboxypeptidase Y of yeast. This protective protein complexes with beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase in lysosomes and is vitally important in maintaining their activity and stability. A defect in this protein is the cause of galactosialidosis, a severe genetic disorder. The ability of physiological stimuli (e.g. thrombin or collagen) to release the deamidase from platelets indicates that it may also be involved in the local metabolism of bioactive peptides.     

Some properties of peptidase from rat heart, breaking down luliberin

The properties of rat heart peptidase hydrolyzing luliberin were studied. This peptidase was shown to be a sulfhydryl metalloenzyme with m.w. of about 100000. The maximal enzyme activity was observed at neutral values of pH Ca2+ (5 X 10(-6) M) increased the enzyme activity by 50%, thus being indicative of an anomalous dependence of the enzyme activity of substrate concentration. At luliberin concentrations of 10(-7)-10(-6) M the enzyme activation by Ca2+ was considerably reduced and returned to the initial level when the peptide concentration was increased up to 10(-5) M. It was assumed that the peptidase under study is a regulatory enzyme whose activity depends on concentrations of Ca2+ and of the reaction substrate, luliberin.     

Two-dimensional electron microscopic analysis of the chalice form of phosphorylase kinase

Phosphorylase kinase (Mr 1.3 X 10(6], a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, plays a key role in the initiation of glycogenolysis. After purification on hydroxylapatite, the negatively stained enzyme was used for electron microscopy. In electron micrographs, phosphorylase kinase shows two major molecular forms: a butterfly form (approx. 60%) and a chalice form (approx. 40%). Images of the chalice form of the enzyme were computer-averaged by the method of single particle averaging. The following apparent molecular dimensions were obtained from the averages: total height, 20 nm; maximal width, 18 nm. The chalice form of phosphorylase kinase consists of a major structure termed the cup (11 nm X 18 nm), containing a large accessible cleft, and a minor structure termed the stem (8 nm X 9 nm). A closer examination of the images by averaging of molecular parts revealed two subpopulations of the cup part: a flexed (closed) type and an extended (open) type. The orifice, which can be closed partly by two protrusions (I, I'), is about 6 nm wide when the protrusions are flexed and 9 nm wide when they are extended. It is suggested that the substrates, e.g. phosphorylase b, may be accommodated in the large cleft of the enzyme. While the orientation of the protrusions (I, I') is the most obvious difference between the two types, more structural differences can be detected, suggesting a concerted movement of the protein domains against each other.     

A protein kinase copurified with chick oviduct progesterone receptor

A magnesium-dependent protein kinase activity was copurified with both the molybdate-stabilized 8S form of the chick oviduct progesterone receptor (PR) and its B subunit. In each case, purification was performed by hormonal affinity chromatography followed by ion-exchange chromatography. The Km(app) values of the phosphorylation reaction for [gamma-32P]ATP and calf thymus histones were approximately 1.3 X 10(-5) M and approximately 1.6 X 10(-5) M, respectively, and only phosphorylated serine residues were found in protein substrates, including PR B subunit. Physicochemical parameters of the enzyme [pI approximately 5.3, Stokes radius approximately 7.2 nm, sedimentation coefficient (S20,w) approximately 5.6 S, and Mr approximately 200,000] were compared to those of purified forms of PR (B subunit, pI approximately 5.3, Stokes radius approximately 6.1 nm, and Mr approximately 110,000; 8S form, Stokes radius approximately 7.7 nm and Mr approximately 240,000). The results suggest that most of the protein kinase activity copurified with both oligomeric and monomeric forms of PR belongs to an enzyme distinct from currently known receptor components. Its physiological significance remains unknown.     

Large polypeptides of 10S DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus: rapid isolation using monoclonal antibody and tryptic peptide mapping analysis

The polypeptides recognized by a monoclonal antibody against calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha (secreted from a hybridoma CL22 -2- 42B , Nucleic Acids Res. (1982) 10, 4703-4713) were identified by the immunoblot method as the large polypeptides of the partially-purified 10S DNA polymerase alpha fraction. Using an immunoprecipitation technique with the monoclonal antibody, a rapid immunological isolation of the polypeptides has been achieved. By this method, the large polypeptides with Mr = 140,000, 145,000, and 150,000 were isolated from a partially-purified preparation of 10S DNA polymerase alpha. On the other hand, the polypeptides with Mr = 150,000, 180,000, and 240,000 were obtained from a crude extract of calf thymus. Tryptic peptide maps showed that the large polypeptides with Mr = 150,000, and 180,000 were very similar in primary structure and that the structures of Mr = 180,000 and 240,000 polypeptides contained partially common sequences. Among these polypeptides, the Mr = 150,000 polypeptide was shown to correlate with the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the large polypeptide of 10S DNA polymerase alpha is initially synthesized as Mr = 180,000 or larger polypeptide, then converted to the form with Mr = 150,000. The Mr = 140,000 and 145,000 polypeptides in the purified preparation may be artificial products formed during purification.     

Rapid assay and purification of a unique signal peptidase that processes the prolipoprotein from Escherichia coli B

A simple and accurate assay for prolipoprotein signal peptidase activity has been described that is based on the solubility of the signal peptide in 80% acetone. The unprocessed precursor and the mature form of the lipoprotein are quantitatively recovered in the precipitate. The signal peptide, from the acetone supernatant utilizing the purified signal peptidase, contains labeled methionine at its NH2 terminus and has Mr = 2200 (S.E. = 69). A specific signal peptidase that processes the modified form of Braun's prolipoprotein to its correct mature form has been purified. This enzyme is globomycin sensitive and has been purified 35,000-fold from the membranes of Escherichia coli by extraction at pH 4.0 with 2% Triton X-100 and heating, followed by conventional column chromatography at room temperature. This prolipoprotein signal peptidase has a pH optimum at 6.0, is not inhibited by EDTA, and requires 1 mM dithiothreitol for stability. The monomer molecular weight of this specific signal peptidase is 17,800 (S.E. = 900) as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis.     

A peptidase activity exhibited by human serum pseudocholinesterase

The identity of a peptidase activity with human serum pseudocholinesterase (PsChE) purified to apparent homogeneity was demonstrated by co-elution of both peptidase and PsChE activities from procainamide-Sepharose and concanavalin-A--Sepharose affinity chromatographic columns; comigration on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; co-elution on Sephadex G-200 gel filtration and coprecipitation at different dilutions of an antibody raised against purified PsChE. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band on gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. SDS gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, followed by silver staining, also gave a single protein band (Mr approximately equal to 90,000). Peptidase activity using different peptides showed the release of C-terminal amino acids. Blocking the carboxy terminal by an amide or ester group did not prevent the hydrolysis of peptides. There was no evidence for release of N-terminal amino acids. Potent anionic or esterase site inhibitors of PsChE, such as eserine sulphate, neostigmine, procainamide, ethopropazine, imipramine, diisopropylfluorophosphate, tetra-isopropylpyrophosphoramide and phenyl boronic acid, did not inhibit the peptidase activity. An anionic site inhibitor (neostigmine or eserine) in combination with an esterase site inhibitor (diisopropylfluorophosphate) also did not inhibit the peptidase. However, the choline esters (acetylcholine, butyrylcholine, propionylcholine, benzoylcholine and succinylcholine) markedly inhibited the peptidase activity in parallel to PsChE. Choline alone or in combination with acetate, butyrate, propionate, benzoate or succinate did not significantly inhibit the peptidase activity. It appeared that inhibitor compounds which bind to both the anionic and esteratic sites simultaneously (like the substrate analogues choline esters) could inhibit the peptidase activity possibly through conformational changes affecting a peptidase domain.     

Soluble dipeptidyl peptidase IV from terminal differentiated rat epidermal cells: purification and its activity on synthetic and natural peptides

In terminally differentiated epidermal cells dipeptidyl peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) (DPP IV) is present mainly in a soluble form. We purified the enzyme from 2-day-old rat cornified cells to homogeneity by Sephadex G-200 and Mono-Q column chromatography and finally HPLC gel filtration on G3000SW. The enzyme was estimated to be Mr 190,000 by HPLC gel filtration and Mr 90,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis. The enzyme showed general properties reported for detergent-solubilized DPP IV from other tissues. It was Con A binding and almost completely inhibited by 1 mM diisopropyl fluorophosphate and Diprotin A. The pI was 5.6 and the pH optimum was 7.5. The specific activity for Gly-Pro-p-nitroanilide was 31.9 units/mg. HPLC analysis demonstrated the release of dipeptides of the N-terminal of substance P, beta-casomorphin, and their related peptides. A stoichiometric reaction of the enzyme on substance P was observed. The epidermal DPP IV had a Km of 0.3 mM and a kcat of 50.3 s-1 for substance P and the Km value decreased by shortening the peptide from the carboxyl-terminal amino acids. The enzyme hydrolyzed human and bovine beta-casomorphin with Km values of 0.025 and 0.05 mM, respectively. Shortening the bovine beta-casomorphin peptide chain did not affect enzyme affinity.     

The purification and characterisation of novel dipeptidyl peptidase IV-like activity from bovine serum

The discovery of a potentially novel proline-specific peptidase from bovine serum is presented which is capable of cleaving the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPIV) substrate Gly-Pro-MCA. The enzyme was isolated and purified with the use of Phenyl Sepharose Hydrophobic Interaction, Sephacryl S-300 Gel Filtration, and Q-Sephacryl Anion Exchange, producing an overall purification factor of 257. SDS PAGE resulted in a monomeric molecular mass of 158kDa while size exclusion chromatography generated a native molecular mass of 328kDa. The enzyme remained active over a broad pH range with a distinct preference for a neutral pH range of 7-8.5. Chromatofocusing and isoelectric focusing (IEF) revealed the enzyme's isoelectric point to be 4.74. DPIV-like activity was not inhibited by serine protease inhibitors but was by the metallo-protease inhibitors, the phenanthrolines. The enzyme was also partially inhibited by bestatin. Substrate specificity studies proved that the enzyme is capable of sequential cleavage of bovine beta-Casomorphin and Substance P. The peptidase cleaved the standard DPIV substrate, Gly-Pro-MCA with a K(M) of 38.4 microM, while Lys-Pro-MCA was hydrolysed with a K(M) of 103 microM. The DPIV-like activity was specifically inhibited by both Diprotin A and B, non-competitively, generating a K(i) of 1.4 x 10(-4) M for both inhibitors. Ile-Thiazolidide and Ile-Pyrrolidide both inhibited competitively with an inhibition constant of 3.7 x 10(-7) and 7.5 x 10(-7) M, respectively. It is concluded that bovine serum DPIV-like activity share many biochemical properties with DPIV and DPIV-like enzymes but not exclusively, suggesting that the purified peptidase may play an important novel role in bioactive oligopeptide degradation.     

Secretion of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase: a possible two-step mechanism

The rate of exocellular levansucrase synthesis in an overproducing (sacUh) strain of Bacillus subtilis was shown to be directly proportional to the amount of two different transient forms of this enzyme located within the membrane fraction of the cells. The apparent Mr of the larger membrane form was 53,000, and that of the smaller form 50,000; the half-life time of each form was estimated in vivo to be 4-6 s and 32-42 s, respectively. Ethanol treatment of the cells lead to the accumulation of the 53,000-Mr form which may represent 1.5% of total membrane proteins. This latter form, partially purified, was transformed in vitro into the 50,000-Mr form by the action of the Escherichia coli leader peptidase. These enzyme forms were quite different from the exocellular levansucrase since they showed a weak affinity for hydroxyapatite and needed complexed iron to display enzyme activity. Assuming the membrane forms were precursors of exocellular levansucrase, we propose a two-step mechanism for the secretion process of levansucrase. The number of exoprotein synthesis/secretion sites in a B. subtilis cell is estimated to 2.5 X 10(4).     

A new and highly sensitive fluorescence assay for collagenase-like peptidase activity.

A highly sensitive fluorescence assay for collagenase-like peptidase (CL-peptidase) has been developed using a newly synthesized substrate, (succinyl-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro)-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Suc-GPLGP-MCA). Suc-GPLGP-MCA was hydrolyzed at the Leu-Gly bond by CL-peptidase, (Gly-Pro)-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide liberated by the enzyme was immediately hydrolyzed to Gly-Pro and 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) by an excess of an auxiliary enzyme, X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase, and the fluorescence intensity of the AMC was measured at 460 nm with excitation at 380 nm. When assayed by this method, CL-peptidase partially purified from chick embryo showed a pH optimum at 8.0 and a K_m value of 4.0 × 10^?4m toward Suc-GPLGP-MCA. Under the optimum condition, the reaction proceeded linearly up to 4 h. The CL-peptidase activity was found in normal human sera by this method and the mean and standard deviation of the activity was 0.59 ± 0.10 nmol/min/ml of serum (n = 10). This assay was also applicable for the CL-peptidase in human liver and kidney. The results suggest that the CL-peptidase assayed by this new substrate may be different from the “PZ-peptidase” which cleaves a synthetic substrate for collagenase-like peptidase, 4-phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl (PZ)-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-d-Arg (PZ-peptide). The new peptide, Suc-GPLGP-MCA, was found not to be a substrate for specific collagenase from tadpole.     

Binding of hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate to liver endothelial cells.

Hyaluronate is taken up and metabolized in liver endothelial cells by means of a receptor. To characterize the interaction with the receptor, two preparations of 3H-labelled hyaluronate, of Mr 4 X 10(5) and 6.4 X 10(6), and a series of hyaluronate oligosaccharides were bound to cultured liver endothelial cells at 7 degrees C. The dissociation constant varied between 4.6 X 10(-6) M for an octasaccharide and 9 X 10(-12) M for the largest polymer. The Mr-dependence for the series of oligosaccharides was explained by the increased probability of binding due to the repetitive sequence along the chain. The high affinity of high-Mr hyaluronate for the receptor could also be mainly ascribed to this effect, which rules out any major contribution of co-operative multiple-site attachment to the cell surface. Each liver endothelial cell can bind 10(5) oligosaccharides, about 10(4) molecules with Mr 4 X 10(5) and about 10(3) molecules with Mr 6.4 X 10(6). This is explained by mutual exclusion of large molecules from the cell surface. Chondroitin sulphate is also bound to liver endothelial cells. Inhibition studies showed that it binds to the same receptor as hyaluronate and with an affinity that is about 3-fold higher than that of hyaluronate of the same degree of polymerization.     

Heavy riboflavin synthase from Bacillus subtilis. Quaternary structure and reaggregation

Heavy riboflavin synthase of Bacillus subtilis was purified by a simplified procedure. The enzyme is a complex protein containing about 3 alpha-subunits (23.5 X 10(3) Mr) and 60 beta-subunits (16 X 10(3) Mr). The 10(6) Mr protein dissociates upon exposure to pH values above neutrality. Phosphate ions increase the stability at neutral pH. The dissociation induced by exposure of the enzyme to elevated pH is reversible in phosphate buffer at neutral pH. The stability of the enzyme at elevated pH values is greatly enhanced by the substrate analogue, 5-nitroso-6-ribitylamino-2,4(1H, 3H)-pyrimidinedione. Electron micrographs of negatively stained enzyme specimens show spherical particles with a diameter of 15.6 nm. Various immunochemical methods show that the alpha-subunits are not accessible to antibodies in the native molecule. The native enzyme is not precipitated by anti-alpha-subunit serum, and riboflavin synthase activity is not inhibited by the serum. However, these tests become positive at pH values that lead to dissociation of the enzyme. Subsequent to dissociation of the native enzyme at elevated pH values, the beta-subunits form high molecular weight aggregates. These aggregates form a complex mixture of different molecular species, which sediment at velocities of about 48 S and 70 S. The average molecular weight was approximately 5.6 X 10(6). Homogeneous preparations have not been obtained. Electron micrographs show hollow, spherical vesicles with diameters of about 29 nm. The substrate analogue 5-nitroso-6-ribitylamino-2,4(1H, 3H)-pyrimidinedione can induce the reaggregation of isolated beta-subunits with formation of smaller molecules, which are structurally similar to native riboflavin synthase. A homogeneous preparation of reaggregated molecules was obtained by renaturation of beta-subunits from 6.4 M-urea in the presence of the ligand. The sedimentation velocity of this aggregate is about 7% smaller than that of the native enzyme. The molecular weight is 96 X 10(4). Electron micrographs show spherical particles with a diameter of about 17.4 nm. Inspection of the micrographs tentatively suggests the presence of a central cavity. It appears likely that these molecules, which are devoid of alpha-subunits, have the same number and spatial arrangement of beta-subunits as the native enzyme. All data are consistent with the hypothesis that the native enzyme consists of a central core of alpha-subunits surrounded by a capsid-like arrangement of beta-subunits. The number of beta-subunits and the shape of the protein suggest a capsid-like arrangement of beta-subunits.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Purification and characterization of pig kidney aminopeptidase P. A glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored ectoenzyme.

Aminopeptidase P (EC 3.4.11.9) was solubilized from pig kidney membranes with bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and then purified by a combination of anion-exchange and hydrophobic-interaction chromatographies. Contaminating peptidase activities were removed by selective affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme was apparently homogeneous on SDS/PAGE with an Mr of 91,000. Enzymic deglycosylation revealed that aminopeptidase P is a glycoprotein, with up to 25% by weight of the protein being due to the presence of N-linked sugars. The phospholipase-solubilized aminopeptidase P was recognized by an antiserum to the cross-reacting determinant (CRD) characteristic of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor. This recognition was abolished by mild acid treatment or deamination with HNO2, indicating that the CRD was due exclusively to the inositol 1,2-cyclic phosphate ring epitope generated by the action of PI-PLC. The activity of aminopeptidase P was inhibited by chelating agents and was stimulated by Mn2+ or Co2+ ions, confirming the metallo-enzyme nature of this peptidase. Selective inhibitors of other aminopeptidases (actinonin, amastatin, bestatin and puromycin) had little or no inhibitory effect.     

Methylamine oxidase from Arthrobacter P1. A bacterial copper-quinoprotein amine oxidase

Methylamine oxidase from Arthrobacter P1 was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme oxidizes primary amines but not tyramine or polyamines like spermine and putrescine. The enzyme activity has a pH optimum of 8.0 with methylamine, and is inhibited by certain cations as well as anions at rather low concentrations. The enzyme has an Mr of 167900, an isoelectric point of 4.6, consists of two (probably identical) subunits (Mr 82250) and contains two copper atoms but no sugar residues. The visible absorption spectra of the enzyme as it is isolated (broad maximum at 480 nm), that of its reduced form obtained on addition of excess of methylamine (maximum at 470 nm) and that of phenylhydrazine-inhibited enzyme (maximum at 440 nm) are very similar to those of eucaryotic copper-containing amine oxidases (EC 1.4.3.6). Also the stoichiometry of inhibition with carbonyl group reagents is similar since the enzyme reacted with only one methylhydrazine. The adduct isolated from copper-free enzyme, treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, was identical to that found in bovine serum amine oxidase treated with this compound after copper removal. This indicates that the enzyme is a copper-quinoprotein amine oxidase, the first example from bacterial origin.     

Inhibition of a secreted glutamic peptidase prevents growth of the fungus Talaromyces emersonii

The thermophilic filamentous fungus Talaromyces emersonii secretes a variety of hydrolytic enzymes that are of interest for processing of biomass into fuel. Many carbohydrases have been isolated and characterized from this fungus, but no studies had been performed on peptidases. In this study, two acid-acting endopeptidases were isolated and characterized from the culture filtrate of T. emersonii. One of these enzymes was identified as a member of the recently classified glutamic peptidase family and was subsequently named T. emersonii glutamic peptidase 1 (TGP1). The second enzyme was identified as an aspartyl peptidase (PEP1). TGP1 was cloned and sequenced and shown to exhibit 64 and 47% protein identity to peptidases from Aspergillus niger and Scytalidium lignocolum, respectively. Substrate profiling of 16 peptides determined that TGP1 has broad specificity with a preference for large residues in the P1 site, particularly Met, Gln, Phe, Lys, Glu, and small amino acids at P1' such as Ala, Gly, Ser, or Thr. This enzyme efficiently cleaves an internally quenched fluorescent substrate containing the zymogen activation sequence (k(cat)/K(m)=2 x 10(5) m(-1) s(-1)). Maximum hydrolysis occurs at pH 3.4 and 50 degrees C. The reaction is strongly inhibited by a transition state peptide analog, TA1 (K(i)=1.5 nM), as well as a portion of the propeptide sequence, PT1 (K(i)=32 nM). Ex vivo studies show that hyphal extension of T. emersonii in complex media is unaffected by the aspartyl peptidase inhibitor pepstatin but is inhibited by TA1 and PT1. This study provides insight into the functional role of the glutamic peptidase TGP1 for growth of T. emersonii.     

Purification and characterization of Pz-peptidase from rabbit muscle

Pz-peptidase was purified from rabbit muscle by acid precipitation of tissue homogenate followed by cation- and anion-exchange chromatography, gel chromatography, and immunoadsorption. In analytical gel chromatography, one single peak of protein with corresponding Pz-peptidase activity was obtained. The enzyme had an apparent Mr of 74,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and was eluted at pH 4.8 in chromatofocusing. No metals were detectable in the protein by neutron activation analysis. Purified Pz-peptidase hydrolyzed Dnp-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-Trp-D-Lys (Km 7.2 microM) most effectively in the presence of 5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol and 10 mM CaCl2. No inhibition was observed with inhibitors of serine proteinases, aspartic proteinases, or metalloproteinases, apart from some nonspecific reversible inhibition by 1,10-phenanthroline. The activation by Ca2+ was reversed by EDTA. The enzyme was not inhibited by E-64, cystatin, or leupeptin, but was irreversibly inactivated by iodoacetate, iodoacetamide, and N-ethylmaleimide. It was therefore concluded that rabbit muscle Pz-peptidase is not a typical member of any of the four recognized catalytic classes of proteinases, but may be an atypical cysteine endopeptidase. The peptidase was not bound by alpha 2-macroglobulin. No hydrolysis of gelatin or fibronectin by the enzyme was detected, nor was there any activation of latent collagenase.     

Purification and some characteristics of a cytochrome c-containing nitrous oxide reductase from Wolinella succinogenes

Nitrous oxide reductase from Wolinella succinogenes was purified very nearly to homogeneity. The enzyme was found to be dimeric, with Mr = 162,000 and subunit Mr = 88,000, and to contain three copper atoms and one iron atom (as cytochrome c) per subunit. The oxidized enzyme exhibited absorption bands at 410 and 528 nm, and the dithionite-reduced enzyme, at 416, 520, and 550 nm. The isoelectric point was 8.6; specific activity was at 25 degrees C and pH 7.1, 160 mumol x min-1 x mg-1; and Km was 7.5 microM N2O under the same conditions. alpha-Chymotrypsin cleaved the enzyme into cytochrome c-depleted dimers with an average Mr = 134,000 and cytochrome c-enriched fragments with an average Mr = 13,000. The enzyme was stable at 4 degrees C for at least 100 h under air and 3 h in the presence of 5 mM EDTA. It exhibited a dithionite-N2O oxidoreductase as well as a BV+-N2O oxidoreductase activity. During turnover with BV+ at 25 mM N2O, the enzyme was observed to undergo an initial activation and a subsequent inactivation. The kinetics of inactivation were approximately first-order in remaining activity, and the first-order rate constant was essentially independent of the initial enzyme concentration. These characteristics are consistent with the occurrence of turnover-dependent inactivation. Acetylene was a relatively weak inhibitor, but cyanide and azide were rather strong inhibitors. The nitrous oxide reductase of W. succinogenes is quite different from that of denitrifying bacteria. The amount of activity in cell extracts and the absence of O2-labile nitrous oxide reductase suggested that the cytochrome c containing enzyme may be the only one produced by W. succinogenes.