Maturation of Borna disease virus glycoprotein

The maturation of Borna disease virus (BDV) glycoprotein GP was studied in regard to intracellular compartmentalization, compartmentalization signal-domains, proteolytic processing, and packaging into virus particles. Our data show that BDV-GP is (i) predominantly located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), (ii) partially exists in the ER already as cleaved subunits GP-N and GP-C, (iii) is directed to the ER/cis-Golgi region by its transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic domains in CD8-BDV-GP hybrid constructs and (iv) is incorporated in the virus particles as authentic BDV glycoprotein exclusively in the cleaved form decorated with N-glycans of the complex type. Downregulation of BDV-glycoproteins on the cell surface, their limited proteolytic processing, and protection of antigenic epitopes on the viral glycoproteins by host-identical N-glycans are different strategies for persistent virus infections.     

Purification and some chemical properties of 30 kDa Ginkgo biloba glycoprotein, which reacts with antiserum against beta 1-->2 xylose-containing N-glycans

From the seeds of Ginkgo biloba, a glycoprotein, which is a major component that reacts with an antiserum against beta 1-->2 xylose-containing N-glycans, has been purified and characterized. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified glycoprotein was H-K-A-N-X-V-T-V-A-F-V-M-T-Q-H-L-L-F-G-Q-. The molecular mass was estimated to be 17 kDa and 16 kDa by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, however, the molecular mass of this glycoprotein in the native state was 30,762 by MALDI-TOF MS, suggesting that this glycoprotein consists of two subunits; one is glycosylated and the other is not. The structure of N-glycan linked to this glycoprotein (designated 30 kDa GBGP) was identified as Man3Fuc1Xyl1GlcNAc2, which is the predominant N-glycan linked to the storage glycoproteins in the same seeds (Kimura, Y et al. (1998) Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 62, 253-261). From the peptic digest of the carboxymethylated glycosylated subunit, one glycopeptide was purified by RP-HPLC and the amino acid sequence was identified as H-K-A-N-N(Man3Fuc1Xyl1Glc-NAc2)-V-T-V-A-F, which corresponded to the N-terminal amino acid sequence.     

Signal peptide requirements for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein C maturation and virus infectivity

Insertion of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) precursor glycoprotein C (GP-C) into the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum is mediated by an unusual signal peptide (SP(GP-C)). It is comprised of 58 amino acid residues and contains an extended hydrophilic N-terminal region, two hydrophobic regions, and a short C-terminal region. After cleavage by signal peptidase, SP(GP-C) accumulates in cells and virus particles. In the present study, we identified the LCMV SP(GP-C) as being an essential component of the GP complex and show that the different regions of SP(GP-C) are required for distinct steps in GP maturation and virus infectivity. More specifically, we show that one hydrophobic region of SP(GP-C) is sufficient for the membrane insertion of GP-C, while both hydrophobic regions are required for the processing and cell surface expression of the GPs. The N-terminal region of SP(GP-C), on the other hand, is essential for pseudoviral infection of target cells. Furthermore, we show that unmyristoylated SP(GP-C) exposes its N-terminal region to the exoplasmic side. This SP(GP-C) can promote GP-C maturation but is defective in pseudoviral infection. Myristoylation and topology of SP(GP-C) in the membrane may thus hold the key to an understanding of the role of SP(GP-C) in GP-C complex maturation and LCMV infectivity.     

Identification of Lassa virus glycoprotein signal peptide as a trans-acting maturation factor

Lassa virus glycoprotein is translated as a precursor (pre-GP-C) into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and is cotranslationally cleaved into the signal peptide and GP-C, before GP-C is proteolytically processed into its subunits GP1 and GP2. The signal peptide of pre-GP-C comprises 58 amino acids. The substitution of Lassa virus pre-GP-C signal peptide with another signal peptide still mediates translocation and the release of signal peptide but abolishes the proteolytic cleavage of GP-C into GP1 and GP2. Remarkably, cleavage of GP-C from these hybrid pre-GP-C substrates was restored on coexpression of the wild-type pre-GP-C signal peptide, indicating that the signal peptide functions as a trans-acting factor to promote Lassa virus GP-C processing. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a signal peptide that is essential for proteolytic processing of a secretory pathway protein.     

Signal peptide of Lassa virus glycoprotein GP-C exhibits an unusual length

Lassa virus glycoprotein is synthesized as precursor GP-C into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and cleaved posttranslationally into the N-terminal subunit GP-1 and the C-terminal subunit GP-2 by subtilase SKI-1/S1P. The N-terminal portion of the primary translation product preGP-C contains a signal peptide of unknown length. In order to demonstrate the signal peptide cleavage site, purified viral GP-1 isolated from Lassa virus particles was N-terminally sequenced as TSLYKGV, identical to amino acids 59-65 of GP-C. Mutational analysis of the amino acid residues flanking the putative cleavage site led to non-cleavable preGP-C indicating that no other signal peptide cleavage site exists. Interestingly, GP-C mutants with a non-cleavable signal peptide were not further processed by SKI-1/S1P. This observation suggests that the signal peptide cleavage is necessary for GP-C maturation and hence for Lassa virus replication.     

Lassa virus glycoprotein signal peptide displays a novel topology with an extended endoplasmic reticulum luminal region

Lassa virus glycoprotein C (GP-C) is translated as a precursor (preGP-C) into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and cotranslationally cleaved into the signal peptide and immature GP-C before GP-C is proteolytically processed into its subunits, GP-1 and GP-2, which form the mature virion spikes. The signal peptide of preGP-C comprises 58 amino acids and contains two distinct hydrophobic domains. Here, we show that each hydrophobic domain alone can insert preGP-C into the ER membrane. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the native signal peptide only uses the N-terminal hydrophobic domain for membrane insertion, exhibiting a novel type of a topology for signal peptides with an extended ER luminal part, which is essential for proteolytic processing of GP-C into GP-1 and GP-2.     

Biosynthesis and metabolism of dipeptidylpeptidase IV in primary cultured rat hepatocytes and Morris hepatoma 7777 cells.

N-Glycosylation, biosynthesis and degradation of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) (DPP IV) were comparatively studied in primary cultured rat hepatocytes and Morris hepatoma 7777 cells (MH 7777 cells). DPP IV had a molecular mass of 105 kDa in rat hepatocytes and of 103 kDa in MH 7777 cells as assessed by SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions. This difference in molecular mass was caused by differences in covalently attached N-glycans. DPP IV from hepatoma cells contained a higher proportion of N-glycans of the oligomannosidic or hybrid type and therefore migrated at a slightly lower molecular mass. In both cell types DPP IV was initially synthesized as a 97-kDa precursor which was completely susceptible to digestion with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H converting the molecular mass to 84 kDa. The precursor was processed to the mature forms of DPP IV, glycosylated with N-glycans mainly of the complex type with a half-life of 20-25 min. The transit of newly synthesized DPP IV to the cell surface displayed identical or very similar kinetics in both cell types with the major portion of DPP IV appearing at the cell surface after 60 min. DPP IV molecules were very slowly degraded in hepatocytes as well as in hepatoma cells with half-lives of approximately 45 h. Inhibition of oligosaccharide processing with 1-deoxymannojirimycin led to the formation of DPP IV molecules containing N-glycans of the oligomannosidic type. This glycosylation variant was degraded with the same half-life as complex-type glycosylated DPP IV. By contrast, inhibition of N-glycosylation with tunicamycin resulted into rapid degradation of non-N-glycosylated DPP IV molecules in both cell types. Non-N-glycosylated DPP IV could not be detected at the cell surface indicating an intracellular proteolytic process soon after biosynthesis.     

Characterization of different forms of yeast acid trehalase in the secretory pathway

The biosynthesis and processing of the vacuolar (lysosomal) acid trehalase (molecular mass about 220 kDa) was followed in vivo using mutants conditionally defective in the secretory pathway. A precursor of 41 kDa was found in sec61 mutant cells deficient in translocation of secretory protein precursors into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Endoglycosidase H and N-glycosidase F treatment of purified acid trehalase in vitro resulted in a 41 kDa band, indicating that the precursor form found in sec61 mutant cells corresponds to the carbohydrate-free form of the enzyme. sec 18 mutant cells, blocked in the delivery of secretory proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi body accumulate a form with a molecular mass of 76 kDa which probably corresponds to a partially glycosylated precursor of the mature acid trehalase. This precursor partially disappears in favour of the appearance of a higher molecular weight component of 180 kDa in sec7 mutants which are blocked in the delivery step of secretory proteins from the Golgi body to the vacuole. In wild-type cells the fully glycosylated mature form of acid trehalase of about 220 kDa was observed accompanied by some 180 kDa and 76 kDa material.     

The signal peptide of the Junín arenavirus envelope glycoprotein is myristoylated and forms an essential subunit of the mature G1-G2 complex

Arenaviruses comprise a diverse family of rodent-borne viruses that are responsible for recurring and emerging outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers worldwide. The Junín virus, a member of the New World arenaviruses, is endemic to the pampas grasslands of Argentina and is the etiologic agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever. In this study, we have analyzed the assembly and function of the Junín virus envelope glycoproteins. The mature envelope glycoprotein complex is proteolytically processed from the GP-C precursor polypeptide and consists of three noncovalently associated subunits, G1, G2, and a stable 58-amino-acid signal peptide. This tripartite organization is found both on virions of the attenuated Candid 1 strain and in cells expressing the pathogenic MC2 strain GP-C gene. Replacement of the Junín virus GP-C signal peptide with that of human CD4 has little effect on glycoprotein assembly while abolishing the ability of the G1-G2 complex to mediate pH-dependent cell-cell fusion. In addition, we demonstrate that the Junín virus GP-C signal peptide subunit is myristoylated at its N-terminal glycine. Alanine substitution for the modified glycine residue in the GP-C signal peptide does not affect formation of the tripartite envelope glycoprotein complex but markedly reduces its membrane fusion activity. In contrast to the classical view that signal peptides act primarily in targeting nascent polypeptides to the endoplasmic reticulum, we suggest that the signal peptide of the arenavirus GP-C may serve additional functions in envelope glycoprotein structure and trafficking.     

Structural analysis of the glycoprotein allergen Hev b 4 from natural rubber latex by mass spectrometry

The lecithinase homolog (Hev b 4) from Hevea brasiliensis (Q6T4P0_HEVBR) is an important natural rubber latex allergen. Hev b 4 is a highly glycosylated protein and its carbohydrate moiety has been implicated in the binding of IgE from natural rubber latex allergic patients. The cDNA for Hev b 4 has recently been cloned and sequenced. Here, we have analyzed the post-translational modifications of natural Hev b 4 by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides. Seven of the eight potential glycosylation sites were found to be occupied. One site, however, was only partially glycosylated. Asn224 was substituted by complex type N-glycans with fucose and xylose, whereas all other sites carried either oligomannose glycans or a mixture of oligomannose and complex N-glycans. Glycosylation site Asn308, the most C-terminal one of the eight sites, was only found in the non-glycosylated form. The complex type N-glycans apparently form the molecular basis for the immune reaction with patients' sera. A large fraction of Hev b 4 molecules contains two or more complex N-glycans and thus a physiological reaction against these polyvalent allergens on the basis of the carbohydrate is in theory possible. Aside from allowing glycosylation analysis, the mass spectrometric data defined the N-terminal cleavage site of Hev b 4. This study once more demonstrates the outstanding analytical potential of electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatographic separation.     

The alpha-mannosidase from Canavalia ensiformis seeds: chemical and kinetic properties and action on animal lymphocytes

The alpha-mannosidase from Canavalia ensiformis was characterized with respect to molecular mass, glycoprotein nature, amino-acid composition, enzymic properties and action on animal cells. The enzyme is composed of two pairs of subunits (molecular mass 44 and 66 kDa) which form a tetramer (220 kDa). The larger subunit is glycosylated, the smaller one is not. Both subunits have similar amino-acid compositions. The larger subunit contains a surplus of alanine, aspartic acid/asparagine, histidine, phenylalanine and tyrosine, the smaller one a surplus of glutamic acid/glutamine, serine and threonine. The enzyme is subject to product inhibition by mannose. It stimulates the proliferation of B-lymphocytes from nude mice.     

Site-specific antibodies define a cleavage site conserved among arenavirus GP-C glycoproteins.

Arenaviruses share a common strategy for glycoprotein synthesis and processing in which a mannose-rich precursor glycoprotein, termed GP-C in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), is posttranslationally processed by oligosaccharide trimming and proteolytic cleavage to yield two structural glycoproteins, GP-1 and GP-2. Mapping the orientation and proteolytic cleavage site(s) in such polyproteins has traditionally required direct protein sequencing of one or more of the cleaved products. This technique requires rigorous purification of the products for sequencing and may be complicated by amino-terminal modifications which interfere with sequence analysis. We used an alternative approach in which synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences bracketing a potential protease cleavage site were used to raise antisera which define the boundaries of the cleaved products. We found that cleavage of LCMV GP-C to yield GP-1 and GP-2 occurs within a 9-amino-acid stretch of GP-C which contains a paired basic amino acid group -Arg-Arg-, corresponding to amino acids 262 to 263 in the LCMV GP-C sequence. By comparison with the predicted amino acid sequences of a second LCMV strain, LCMV-WE, as well as with the deduced amino acid sequences of the New World arenavirus Pichinde and the Old World virus Lassa, we observed similar conservation of paired basic and flanking amino acid sequences among these viruses.     

One of two subunits of masking protein in latent TGF-beta is a part of pro-TGF-beta

A high molecular mass latent form of transforming growth factor type-beta (TGF-beta) was purified to homogeneity from rat platelets by a seven-step procedure involving group-specific affinity chromatographies on Red-Toyopearl and zinc chelating-Sepharose. The purified latent TGF-beta was a complex of TGF-beta (25 kDa) and the binding protein previously named masking protein (approximately 400 kDa) [(1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 141, 176-184]. Analysis of the peptide structure by gel electrophoresis showed that the masking protein consisted of two subunits of 39 kDa and 105-120 kDa linked by disulfide bonds. N-terminal amino-acid sequencing of the 39 kDa subunit indicated that this subunit was identical to the N-terminal part of the TGF-beta precursor.     

Posttranslational processing and identification of a neutralization domain of the GP4 protein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus.

GP4 is a minor structural glycoprotein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus (LV). When it was immunoprecipitated from cell lysates and extracellular virus of CL2621 cells infected with LV, it was shown to have an apparent molecular mass of approximately 28 and 31 kDa, respectively. This difference in size occurred because its core N-glycans were modified to complex type N-glycans during the transport of the protein through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartment. A panel of 15 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reacted with the native GP4 protein expressed by LV and the recombinant GP4 protein expressed in a Semliki Forest virus expression system. However, these MAbs did not react with the GP4 protein of U.S. isolate VR2332. To map the binding site of the MAbs, chimeric constructs composed of ORF4 of LV and VR2332 were generated. The reactivity of these constructs indicated that all the MAbs were directed against a region spanning amino acids 40 to 79 of the GP4 protein of LV. Six MAbs reacted with solid-phase synthetic dodecapeptides. The core of this site consists of amino acids 59 to 67 (SAAQEKISF). Comparison of the amino acid sequences of GP4 proteins from various European and North American isolates indicated that the neutralization domain spanning amino acids 40 to 79 is the most variable region of GP4. The neutralization domain of GP4, described here, is the first identified for LV.     

Requirement of N-glycosylation for the secretion of recombinant extracellular domain of human Fas in HeLa cells

Apoptosis has been shown to be associated with altered glycosylation patterns and biosynthesis of glycoproteins. A major cell surface receptor involved in the induction of apoptosis is Fas that is activated by binding Fas ligand but can also be activated by binding anti-Fas antibody. In order to determine whether the Fas receptor is glycosylated, the extracellular domain of human Fas (shFas) was expressed as a cleavable fusion protein (shFas-Fc) in HeLa cells. These cells were shown to express activities of glycosyltransferases involved in N- and O-glycan biosynthesis. The secreted shFas-Fc was shown to be a glycoprotein with heterogeneous glycan chains. MALDI mass spectrometry revealed a disperse molecular weight of shFas with an average of 23.4kDa. Western blots of shFas-Fc secreted from tunicamycin treated transfected HeLa cells showed that only N-glycosylated glycoforms were secreted, while the unglycosylated shFas-Fc remained intracellular. The results suggest that both N-glycosylation sites of the extracellular domain of Fas are occupied with large N-glycans that play a role in the expression of the glycoprotein.     

In vivo endoproteolytically cleaved phaseolin is stable and accumulates in developing Phaseolus lunatus L. seeds

Phaseolin is the most abundant storage protein of bean seeds. To modify its amino-acidic composition by protein engineering, for the improvement of its nutritional value, regions which could be modified without detrimental effects on structural features of the protein must be identified. Data presented here, on the characterisation of the major storage protein of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) seeds, a phaseolin-like glycoprotein, provide good indications on one of such region. Phaseolus lunatus phaseolin consists of four major oligomers containing two subunit classes. Polypeptides of one class show a molecular mass ranging from 38.5 kDa to 32 kDa, while the molecular mass of polypeptides belonging to the other class ranges from 27 kDa to 21 kDa. The subunits originate from the cleavage of precursor forms, with molecular masses of 58 kDa and 54 kDa, which are still present — in residual amounts — in the mature protein. Comparison of their N-terminal sequences with those of the subunits demonstrate that cleavage occurs in a region of the molecule that instead remains uncleaved in phaseolins of the other species. Since this region can accommodate such a drastic modification, we suggest it could be a good candidate for in vitro manipulation.     

A novel zinc-binding domain is essential for formation of the functional Junín virus envelope glycoprotein complex

The envelope glycoprotein of the Junín arenavirus (GP-C) mediates entry into target cells through a pH-dependent membrane fusion mechanism. Unlike other class I viral fusion proteins, the mature GP-C complex retains a cleaved, 58-amino-acid signal peptide (SSP) as an essential subunit, required both for trafficking of GP-C to the cell surface and for the activation of membrane fusion. SSP has been shown to associate noncovalently in GP-C via the cytoplasmic domain (CTD) of the transmembrane fusion subunit G2. In this report we investigate the molecular basis for this intersubunit interaction. We identify an invariant series of six cysteine and histidine residues in the CTD of G2 that is essential for incorporation of SSP in the GP-C complex. Moreover, we show that a CTD peptide fragment containing His-447, His-449, and Cys-455 specifically binds Zn(2+) at subnanomolar concentrations. Together, these results suggest a zinc finger-like domain structure in the CTD of G2. We propose that the remaining residues in the series (His-459, Cys-467, and Cys-469) form an intersubunit zinc-binding center that incorporates Cys-57 of SSP. This unusual motif may act to retain SSP in the GP-C complex and position the ectodomain loop of SSP for its role in modulating membrane fusion activity. The unique tripartite organization of GP-C could provide novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention in arenaviral disease.     

Purification, biosynthesis and cellular localization of a major 125-kDa glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane glycoprotein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been shown to contain a major 125-kDa membrane glycoprotein which is anchored in the lipid bilayer by a glycophosphatidylinositol anchor. This protein was purified to near homogeneity and was used to raise a rabbit antibody. Biosynthesis of the 125-kDa protein was studied by immunoprecipitation of 35SO4-labeled material from wild-type cells or a secretion mutant (sec18) in which the vesicular traffic from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi is blocked. The 125-kDa protein is first made in the ER as a 105-kDa precursor which already contains a glycophosphatidylinositol anchor and which is slowly transformed into the 125-kDa form upon chase (t1/2 approximately 10-15 min). The 105-kDa precursor can be reduced to an 83-kDa form by the enzymatic removal of N-glycans. The removal of N-glycans from the mature 125-kDa protein yields a 95-kDa species. Thus, removal of the N-glycans does not reduce the ER and mature forms to the same molecular mass, indicating that not only elongation of N-glycans but also another post-translational modification takes place during maturation. Selective tagging of surface proteins by treatment of 35SO4-labeled cells with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid at 0 C followed by immunoprecipitation of the tagged proteins shows that the 125-kDa protein, but not the 105-kDa precursor, becomes transported to the cell surface. This tagging of cells after various lengths of chase also shows that the surface appearance of the protein is biphasic with about one half of the mature 125-kDa protein remaining intracellular for over 2 h. Glycosylation and/or glycophosphatidylinositol anchor addition is important for the stability of the 125-kDa protein since the protein remains undetectable in sec53, a temperature-sensitive mutant which does not make GDP-mannose at 37 C and does not add glycophosphatidylinositol anchors at 37 degrees C.     

Identification and characterization of the major stilbene-disulphonate- and concanavalin A-binding protein of the porcine renal brush-border membrane as aminopeptidase N.

A 130 kDa glycoprotein (GP 130) was purified from porcine renal brush-border membranes by affinity chromatography using immobilized 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonate (SITS)- and concanavalin A-Sepharose. GP 130 was the major concanavalin A-binding protein in porcine renal brush-border membranes and also bound Ricinus communis (castor-bean) and wheat-germ agglutinins. Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F reduced the molecular mass of GP 130 by 20 kDa as determined by SDS/PAGE, whereas endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H reduced the molecular mass by 5 kDa, showing that GP 130 contained both complex and high-mannose carbohydrate structures. Western-blot analyses using an antibody raised against GP 130 showed that it was localized to the brush-border membrane fraction and was present in a membrane fraction of the pig kidney cell line LLC-PK1. The N-terminal sequence and amino acid composition of GP 130 showed that GP 130 is similar to rat kidney zinc peptidase and human intestinal aminopeptidase N. GP 130 had aminopeptidase N enzymic activity and was inhibited by bestatin (Ki = 36 microM), 1,10-phenanthroline (Ki 30 microM), Zn2+ (Ki 26 microM), Cu2+ (Ki 260 microM), pre-incubation with EDTA and by a polyclonal antibody against GP 130. Bicarbonate and iodide blocked the binding of GP 130 to the SITS-affinity resin, showing that GP 130 has an anion-binding site. Neither these anions nor stilbene disulphonates affected the aminopeptidase N activity of GP 130.     

Expression of a full-length cDNA coding for human intestinal lactase-phlorizin hydrolase reveals an uncleaved, enzymatically active, and transport-competent protein

Lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) (EC 3.2.1.23/62) is a major intestinal microvillar membrane glycoprotein that digests lactose, the main carbohydrate of milk. To investigate structure/function relationships of LPH and to assess the impact of intracellular processing on the function of LPH and on its transport to the cell surface, we have expressed a full-length cDNA encoding LPH in mammalian COS-1 cells. Analysis of the expressed protein by immunoprecipitation with monoclonal anti-LPH antibodies and treatments with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 215 and 230 kDa, representing the mannose-rich (pro-LPHh) and complex (pro-LPHc) glycosylated forms of the precursor. By contrast to pro-LPH in human enterocytes, the expressed pro-LPH in COS-1 cells does not undergo intracellular proteolytic cleavage to generate a form similar to the mature enzyme of the brush-border membrane. Intracellular cleavage, however, is not essential for the molecule to acquire its enzymatic activity since pro-LPH in COS-1 cells is enzymatically as active as LPH isolated from intestinal brush-border membranes. Indirect immunofluorescent staining of transfected cells demonstrated that pro-LPH is expressed at the cell surface. This was further corroborated by the sensitivity of the complex glycosylated form (pro-LPHc) to trypsin in the medium. Our results provide the first conclusive evidence that pro-LPH is an enzymatically active molecule and that the intracellular proteolysis of pro-LPH is not essential for the generation of transport-competent forms of LPH.