Structure and expression during the germination of rice seeds of the gene for a carboxypeptidase

The carboxypeptidase gene from rice and corresponding cDNA clones were isolated. The SalI 11.2 kb fragment of DNA cloned from a size-fractionated genome library contained eight introns and an open reading frame that encoded 500 amino acids (M _r 55445). The structure deduced for the carboxypeptidase from rice was very similar to those of type III serine carboxypeptidases from barley and wheat. The extent of homology of the amino acid sequence to that of these carboxypeptidases from barley and wheat was 92.3% and 87.2%, respectively. The accumulation of mRNA for the rice carboxypeptidase was conspicuous in germinating endosperms that contained aleurone layers, but levels were lower in leaves and roots. The abundance of the mRNA in endosperms was enhanced by gibberellic acid (GA) and accumulation of the mRNA was inhibited by abscisic acid (ABA). The rice gene for carboxypeptidase contained some pyrimidine boxes (_T ^CCTTTT_T ^C), in the 5 flanking region, which are a characteristic of a GA-responsive gene.     

Cellular localization of acid carboxypeptidase inAspergillus oryzae

Fresh mycelia ofAspergillus oryzae were shown to have strong acid carboxypeptidase (EC 3.4.12.-) activity. The cellular localization of acid carboxypeptidase was investigated using the broken mycelia and the protoplasts of the fungusAspergillus oryzae IAM 2640. In the broken mycelia, about 40% of the total activity was found in the “cell wall” fraction (2,000×g), with most of the remainder in the soluble fraction (100,000×g supernatant). During the formation of protoplasts, most of the acid carboxypeptidase in the mycelia was solubilized and released. The specific activity of acid carboxypeptidase in the lysed protoplasts was about 10-fold lower than that found in the broken mycelial preparation. These data indicate that most of the acid carboxypeptidase is probably located in the cell surface, which includes the cell wall, the periplasm, and the cell membrane.     

Amino acid sequence of ferredoxin II from the phototroph Rhodospirillum rubrum: Characteristics of a 7Fe ferredoxin

The complete sequence of amino acids of ferredoxin II (FdII) from Rhodospirillum rubrum was determined by repetitive Edman degradation using pyridylethylated-ferredoxin and oxidized, denatured ferredoxin. Peptides derived from trypsin, pepsin, Glu-C endoproteinase, Arg-C endoproteinase, tryptophan specific cleavage and partial acid hydrolysis and C-terminal sequence from carboxypeptidase digestion were used to construct the total sequence. RrFdII is a polypeptide of 104 amino acids having a calculated molecular weight of 11556 excluding the iron and sulfur atoms. The complete amino acid sequence was: PYVVTENCIKCKYQDCVEVCPVDCFYEGENFLVINPDECIDCGVCNPECPAEAIAGKWLEINRKFADLWPNITRKGPAL ADADDWKDKPDKTGLLSENPGKGTV. Sequence comparisons, EPR characteristics and iron analyses indicate that RrFdII has structural features in common with ferredoxins containing [3Fe-4S], [4Fe-4S] centers. Of 104 amino acids, 60 (58%) including all 9 cysteines, are found in identical locations in the 7Fe ferredoxin prototype, Azotobacter vinelandii FdI.The protein sequence data reported in this paper will appear in the SWISS-PROT database and EMBL Data Library under the accession number P80448.     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of the cDNA for human membrane-bound carboxypeptidase M. Comparison with carboxypeptidases A, B, H, and N

Carboxypeptidase M, a widely distributed membrane-bound carboxypeptidase that can regulate peptide hormone activity, was purified to homogeneity from human placenta (Skidgel, R. A., Davis, R. M., and Tan, F. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 2236-2241). The NH2-terminal 31 amino acids were sequenced, and two complementary oligonucleotide probes were synthesized and used to isolate a carboxypeptidase M clone from a human placental cDNA library. Sequencing of the cDNA insert (2009 base pairs) revealed an open reading frame of 1317 base pairs coding for a protein of 439 residues. The NH2-terminal protein sequence matched the deduced amino acid sequence starting with residue 14. Hydropathic analysis revealed hydrophobic regions at the NH2 and COOH termini. The NH2-terminal 13 amino acids probably represent part of the signal peptide, and the COOH-terminal hydrophobic region may act either as a transmembrane anchor or as a signal for attachment to a phosphatidylinositol glycan moiety. The carboxypeptidase M sequence contains six potential Asn-linked glycosylation sites, consistent with its glycoprotein nature. The sequence of carboxypeptidase M was 41% identical with that of the active subunit of human plasma carboxypeptidase N, 41% identical with bovine carboxypeptidase H (carboxypeptidase E, enkephalin convertase), and 15% with either bovine pancreatic carboxypeptidase A or B. Many of the active site residues identified in carboxypeptidases A and B, including all of the zinc-binding residues (2 histidines and a glutamic acid), are conserved in carboxypeptidase M. These data indicate that all of the metallocarboxypeptidases are related, but the nondigestive carboxypeptidases with more specialized functions, present in cell membranes, blood plasma, or secretory granules (i.e., carboxypeptidase M, carboxypeptidase N and carboxypeptidase H), are more closely related to each other (41-49% identity) than they are to carboxypeptidase A or B (15-20% identity).     

Radiochemical determination of a unique sequence around the reactive serine residue of a di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate-sensitive plant carboxypeptidase and a yeast peptidase

Phaseolain, a carboxypeptidase from French-bean leaves, and a partially purified peptidase from baker's yeast are inhibited by reaction with di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate. Radioactive di-isopropyl [(32)P]phosphorofluoridate was used to show that the site of reaction is a unique serine residue and that the sequence of amino acids adjacent to the reactive serine is Glu-Ser-Tyr. This sequence is different from those of other ;serine' enzymes previously reported and, for phaseolain, represents an unequivocal example of a ;serine' carboxypeptidase.     

Distribution,properties, and functions of midgut carboxypeptidases and dipeptidases from Musca domestica larvae

Dipeptidase and carboxypeptidase A activities were determined in cells and luminal contents of the fore-, mid-, and hind-midgut of Musca domestica larvae. Dipeptidase activity was found mainly in hind-midgut cells, whereas carboxy-peptidase activity was recovered in major amounts in both cells and in luminal contents of hind-midguts. The subcellular distribution of dipeptidase and part of the carboxypeptidase A activities is similar to that of a plasma membrane enzyme marker (aminopeptidase), suggesting that these activities are bound to the microvillar membranes. Soluble carboxypeptidase A seems to occur both bound to secretory vesicles and trapped in the cell glycocalyx. Based on density-gradient ultracentrifugation and thermal inactivation, there seems to be only one molecular species of each of the following enzymes (soluble in water or solubilized in Triton X-100): membrane-bound dipeptidase (pH optimum 8.0; Km 3.7 mM GlyLeu, M_r 111,000), soluble carboxypeptidase (pH optimum 8.0; Km 1.22 mM N-carbobenzoxy-glycyl-L-phenylalanine (ZGlyPhe), M_r45,000) and membrane-bound carboxypeptidase (pH optimum 7.5, Km 2.3 mM ZGlyPhe, M_r58,000). The results suggest that protein digestion is accomplished sequentially by luminal trypsin and luminal carboxypeptidase, by membrane-bound carboxypeptidase and aminopeptidase, and finally by membrane-bound dipeptidase.     

Carboxypeptidase inhibitors from Ascaris suum: the primary structure

The carboxypeptidase A inhibitor from Ascaris suum was isolated from aqueous extracts by affinity chromatography toward immobilized carboxypeptidase A. The amino acid sequence is DQVRKCLSDT10DCTNGEKCVQ20KNKICSTIVE30IQRCEKEHFT40IPCKSNNDCQ50VWAHEKICN K60LPWGL65 . The carboxypeptidase A inhibitor is not homologous with the chymotrypsin/elastase or trypsin inhibitors from Ascaris, but shows homology in a 9-residue internal sequence with the 37/39-residue carboxypeptidase inhibitors from tomato and potato. The carboxy-terminal 5 (4) residues in the three inhibitors are similar, suggesting a common mechanism of inhibition.     

Isolation, molecular cloning, and partial characterization of a novel carboxypeptidase B from human plasma

A novel plasminogen-binding protein has been isolated from human plasma utilizing plasminogen-Sepharose affinity chromatography. This protein copurified with alpha 2 antiplasmin when the plasminogen affinity column was eluted with high concentrations of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (greater than 20 mM). Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate suggests this protein has an apparent Mr of 60,000. The amino-terminal amino acid sequence showed no similarity to other protein sequences. Based on the amino-terminal amino acid sequence, oligonucleotide probes were designed for polymerase chain reaction primers, and an approximately 1,800 base pair cDNA was isolated that encodes this Mr 60,000 protein. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals a primary translation product of 423 amino acids that is very similar to carboxypeptidase A and B and consists of a 22-amino acid signal peptide, a 92-amino acid activation peptide, and a 309-amino acid catalytic domain. This protein shows 44 and 40% similarity to rat procarboxypeptidase B and human mast cell procarboxypeptidase A, respectively. The residues critical for catalysis and zinc and substrate binding of carboxypeptidase A and B are conserved in the Mr 60,000 plasminogen-binding protein. The presence of aspartic acid at position 257 of the catalytic domain suggests that this protein is a basic carboxypeptidase. When activated by trypsin, it hydrolyzes carboxypeptidase B substrates, hippuryl-Arg and hippuryl-Lys, but not carboxypeptidase A substrates, and it is inhibited by the specific carboxypeptidase B inhibitor (DL-5-guanidinoethyl)mercaptosuccinic acid. We propose that the Mr 60,000 plasminogen-binding protein isolated here is a novel human plasma carboxypeptidase B and that it be designated pCPB.     

Assignment of the gene for carboxypeptidase A to human chromosome 7q22→qter and to mouse chromosome 6

Summary A rat cDNA probe for preprocarboxypeptidase A was used to follow the segregation of the human gene for carboxypeptidase A (CPA) in 49 human x mouse somatic cell hybrids using Southern filter hybridization techniques. CPA was assigned to human chromosome 7q22qter. Similarly, the probe was used to follow the segregation of the mouse gene for carboxypeptidase A (Cpa) in 19 mouse x Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids. Cpa was assigned to mouse chromosome 6. The gene for carboxypeptidase A forms part of a syntenic group that is conserved in man and mouse.Preliminary chromosomal assignments of carboxypeptidase A in man and mouse have been made in abstract (Honey et al. 1983a, b)     

Production,Purification, and Properties of Serine Carboxypeptidase from Paecilomyces carneus

Seventeen strains of the genus Paecilomyces were examined for their ability to produce serine carboxypeptidase. Paecilomyces carneus IFO 7012 exhibited the highest potency for serine carboxypeptidase production. A maximum yield of serine carboxypeptidase was obtained by koji culture of the strain at 22°C for 7 days. The serine carboxypeptidase was purified to homogeneity from an extract of the koji culture. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 47,000 by HPLC. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was determined to be 4.0, and the optimum pH was 4.0 toward benzyloxycarbonyl-L-glutamyl-L-tyrosine (Z-Glu-Tyr) and benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanine (Z-Phe-Ala), respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and p-chloromercurybenzoate. Relative hydrolysis rates of N-acylpeptides and kinetic studies indicated that the enzyme preferred substrates having bulky amino acids in the penultimate position from their carboxy-termini. Received: 19 December 1995 / Accepted: 2 January 1996     

Rat mast cell carboxypeptidase: amino acid sequence and evidence of enzyme activity within mast cell granules

The amino acid sequence of rat mast cell carboxypeptidase has been determined. The major form has 308 residues; a minor form has an additional (glutamyl) residue at the amino terminus that may indicate an alternate cleavage site during zymogen activation. The enzyme is homologous to pancreatic carboxypeptidases A and B, with conservation of the functional amino acid residues of the active site. The putative substrate binding site resembles that of carboxypeptidase A, although other structural features bear more similarity to carboxypeptidase B. Mast cell carboxypeptidase retains enzymatic activity toward a peptide substrate (angiotensin I) while bound within the granular matrix of the rat connective tissue mast cells. Evidence is presented to suggest that a cluster of positively charged lysyl and arginyl residues binds the enzyme to the negatively charged heparin of the granular matrix but leaves the active site exposed to bind and cleave peptide substrates.     

Expression in yeast of a cDNA copy of the K2 killer toxin gene

Summary A cDNA copy of the M2 dsRNA encoding the K2 killer toxin ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae was expressed in yeast using the yeastADH1 promoter. This construct produced K2-specific killing and immunity functions. Efficient K2-specific killing was dependent on the action of the KEX2 endopeptidase and the KEX1 carboxypeptidase, while K2-specific immunity was independent of these proteases. Comparison of the K2 toxin sequence with that of the K1 toxin sequence shows that although they share a common processing pathway and are both encoded by cytoplasmic dsRNAs of similar basic structure, the two toxins are very different at the primary sequence level. Site-specific mutagenesis of the cDNA gene establishes that one of the two potential KEX2 cleavage sites is critical for toxin action but not for immunity. Immunity was reduced by an insertion of two amino acids in the hydrophobic amino-terminal region which left toxin activity intact, indicating an independence of toxin action and immunity.     

Yeast mutants with enhanced ability to secrete human lysozyme: Isolation and identification of a protease-deficient mutant

Summary Yeast mutant strains which secrete large amounts of human lysozyme were screened using an agar medium containing bacterial cells. Nine mutants secreted over 10 times more lysozyme than the wild-type parent strain. The mRNA levels for lysozyme in the mutants were not higher than that of the wild-type strain. Three of the mutant strains were deficient in carboxypeptidase Y activity. It was found that the protease deficiency was caused by a deficiency in conversion of proenzyme to mature enzyme in ssl1 mutant cells. The ssl1 gene was found to be closely linked to the centromere and determine both the efficiency of secretion of lysozyme and the processing of carboxypeptidase Y.Abbreviations CPY carboxypeptidase Y (yscY) - HLY a synthetic gene for human lysozyme     

Cloning and expression of a new rat procarboxypeptidase B gene in Escherichia coli and purification of recombination carboxypeptidase B

A new coding sequence of the procarboxypeptidase B gene was obtained from SD rat fresh pancreas by RT-PCR and highly expressed in Escherichia coli in inclusion bodies. The folded procarboxypeptidase B was subjected to trypsin enzymatic cleavage to produce active carboxypeptidase B, subsequently, carboxypeptidase B was effectively purified with anion exchange chromatography DEAE-FF and hydrophobic interaction chromatography Octyl FF, as a result, 40 mg carboxypeptidase B per litre cell culture with specific activity 7.42 u/mg was achieved. Further research showed that the obtained recombinant carboxypeptidase B could substitute carboxypeptidase B isolated from pancreas.     

N-acetylserine in horse muscle acylphosphatase.

A ninhydrin-negative peptide fraction obtained from tryptic digest of carboxymethyl acylphosphatase was isolated by chromatography on a column of PA 28 Beckman resin and analysed for the amino acid composition. Degradation with carboxypeptidase B and A indicated that the sequence of this peptide was: X-Thr-Ala-Arg. The amino-terminal residue was identified as N-acetylserine by high voltage electrophoresis. It is therefore suggested that the sequence of the NH2-terminal portion of CM-acylphosphatase is N-acetyl-Ser-Thr-Ala-Arg. Digestion with carboxypeptidase A and B indicated also that the COOH-terminal portion of CM-acylphosphatase is-Arg-Tyr-OH.     

Cloning and characterization of the cpyA gene encoding intracellular carboxypeptidase from Aspergillus nidulans.

Carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) has been used as a maker enzyme for investigations on intracellular transport of vacuolar proteins and on vacuolar biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We describe the cloning and characterization of the CPY homologue encoding gene (cpyA) from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The cpyA gene has one intron and encodes a protein with 552 amino acids containing a putative signal sequence and pro-sequence. The predicted CpyA protein is highly similar in sequence with carboxypeptidases from several yeast species and contains a catalytic triad (Asp-His-Ser) like that of serine carboxypeptidase. The cpyA disruptant cells showed reduced levels of intracellular carboxypeptidase. These results suggest that the cpyA gene encodes a vacuolar carboxypeptidase in A. nidulans.     

Transport by reconstituted lactose carrier from parental and mutant strains ofEscherichia coli

Summary The lactose transport carrier from parental (X71/F'W3747) and mutant cells (54/F'5441) was reconstituted into proteoliposomes. Transport by the counterflow assay showed slightly greater activity in proteoliposomes prepared from extracts of the mutant membranes compared with that for the parental cell. The mutant carrier showed a threefold lowerK _m but similarV _max compared to the parent. On the other hand proteoliposomes from the mutant showed a defect in protonmotive force-driven accumulation, compared with the parent. With a pH gradient (inside alkaline) plus a membrane potential (inside negative) the parental proteoliposomes accumulated lactose 25-fold over the medium concentration while the mutant proteoliposomes accumulated sixfold. In a series of experiments proteoliposomes were exposed to proteolytic enzymes. Chrymotrypsin treatment resulted in 30% inhibition of counterflow activity for the reconstituted carrier from both parent and mutant. Papain produced 84% inhibition of transport by the reconstituted parental carrier but only 41% of that of the mutant. Trypsin and carboxypeptidase Y treatment had no effect on counterflow activity of either parent or mutant. Exposure of purified lactose carrier in proteoliposomes to carboxypeptidase Y resulted in the release of alanine and valine, the two C-terminal amino acids predicted from the DNA sequence.