Direct evidence for two distinct prosomatostatin converting enzymes. Detection using a rapid, sensitive, and specific assay for propeptide converting enzymes

Many bioactive peptides are initially synthesized via larger precursors from which they are released by proteolytic cleavage at basic amino acids. Some precursors contain more than one final product peptide, multiple copies of a single peptide, or both. Different product peptides can be produced from a common precursor in different tissues. It is not currently known whether this cell-type specific production of bioactive peptides is mediated by different, specific propeptide converting enzymes (PCEs) or by a small number of similar PCEs. To resolve this issue for the conversion of prosomatostatin, the processing of prosomatostatin-I (aPSS-I) and prosomatostatin-II (aPSS-II) to either somatostatin-14 (SS-14) or somatostatin-28 (aSS-28), respectively, was examined in anglerfish islets. Two distinct forms of PSS PCE activity were detected using a rapid, sensitive, and specific assay. Examination of the specificity of these two enzyme activities showed that one proteolytic activity performs the aPSS-I to SS-14 conversion, while the other protease liberates aSS-28 from aPSS-II. The SS-14-generating PCE also cleaves aPSS-II to produce [Tyr7,Gly10]SS-14 (a tetra-decapeptide analog of SS-14) and converts proinsulin to insulin. The aSS-28-generating PCE does not process proinsulin. These results provide direct evidence that different, specific PCEs are required for liberation of SS-14 and aSS-28 from their precursors.     

Ring-cleaving dioxygenases with a cupin fold

Ring-cleaving dioxygenases catalyze key reactions in the aerobic microbial degradation of aromatic compounds. Many pathways converge to catecholic intermediates, which are subject to ortho or meta cleavage by intradiol or extradiol dioxygenases, respectively. However, a number of degradation pathways proceed via noncatecholic hydroxy-substituted aromatic carboxylic acids like gentisate, salicylate, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate, or aminohydroxybenzoates. The ring-cleaving dioxygenases active toward these compounds belong to the cupin superfamily, which is characterized by a six-stranded β-barrel fold and conserved amino acid motifs that provide the 3His or 2- or 3His-1Glu ligand environment of a divalent metal ion. Most cupin-type ring cleavage dioxygenases use an Fe(II) center for catalysis, and the proposed mechanism is very similar to that of the canonical (type I) extradiol dioxygenases. The metal ion is presumed to act as an electron conduit for single electron transfer from the metal-bound substrate anion to O(2), resulting in activation of both substrates to radical species. The family of cupin-type dioxygenases also involves quercetinase (flavonol 2,4-dioxygenase), which opens up two C-C bonds of the heterocyclic ring of quercetin, a wide-spread plant flavonol. Remarkably, bacterial quercetinases are capable of using different divalent metal ions for catalysis, suggesting that the redox properties of the metal are relatively unimportant for the catalytic reaction. The major role of the active-site metal ion could be to correctly position the substrate and to stabilize transition states and intermediates rather than to mediate electron transfer. The tentative hypothesis that quercetinase catalysis involves direct electron transfer from metal-bound flavonolate to O(2) is supported by model chemistry.     

The evolution of three types of indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenases in fungi with distinct molecular and biochemical characteristics

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a tryptophan-degrading enzyme and known as a mammalian immunosuppressive molecule. In fungi, the primary role of IDO is to supply nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) via the kynurenine pathway. We previously reported that the koji-mold, Aspergillus oryzae has two IDO genes, IDOα and IDOβ. In the present study, we found that A. oryzae also has the third IDO, IDOγ. These three-types of IDOs are widely distributed among the Pezizomycotina fungi, although the black truffle, Tuber melanosporum has only one corresponding gene to IDOα/IDOβ. The yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a single IDO gene. Generally, Pezizomycotina IDOα showed similar enzymatic properties to the yeast IDO, suggesting that the IDOα is a functional homologue of the S. cerevisiae IDO. In contrast to IDOα, the K(m) value of IDOβ is higher. However, the reaction velocity of IDOβ is very fast, resulting in comparable or higher catalytic efficiency than IDOα. Thus IDOβ may functionally substitute for IDOα in fungal L-Trp metabolism. The enzymatic activity of IDOγ was comparatively very low with the values of enzymatic parameters comparable to vertebrate IDO2 enzymes. IDOα and IDOβ have similar gene structures, suggesting that they were generated by gene duplication which occurred rather early in Pezizomycotina evolution, although the timing of the duplication remains debatable. In contrast, the phylogenetic trees suggest that IDOγs form an evolutionarily distinct group of IDO enzymes, with a closer relationship to group I bacterial IDOs than other fungal IDOs. The ancestor of the IDOγ family is likely to have diverged from other eukaryotic IDOs at a very early stage of eukaryotic evolution.     

Purification and properties of two enzymes of meta-cleaving the aromatic ring controlled by the biphenyl biodegradation plasmid pBS 241 from Pseudomonas putida

It was shown that two metapyrocatechases (EC 1.13.11.2) function in Pseudomonas putida BS893. Biphenyl degradative plasmid pBS241 carries the genes of these enzymes. The basic properties of the both enzymes, i. e., MPC1 and MPC2, were investigated. It was found that MPC1 is an enzyme with a molecular mass of 135 kD and has a heterotetrameric subunit structure (alpha 2 beta 2), being made up of two non-identical polypeptides with Mr of 34 and 22.5 kD; pI is 5.15, the pH optimum is at 8.0, a temperature optimum is at 54 degrees C. MPC2 has a molecular mass of 154 kD and possesses a homotetrameric subunit structure (alpha 4); it consists of identical polypeptides with Mr of 41 kD and has a pI of 4.95, a pH optimum at 7.5 and a temperature optimum at 60 degrees C. The substrate specificity of the enzymes was studied, and the Km and Vmax values for substituted catechols were determined. MPC1 shows a high affinity for 2.3-dihydroxybiphenyl and hydrolyzes 3-methylcatechol and catechol (but not 4-methylcatechol) at a low rate. MPC2 has a moderate affinity for catechol, 3- and 4-methylcatechols, but is incapable of cleaving 2.3-dihydroxybiphenyl. Both enzymes share in common some typical properties of metapyrocatechases. The different role of MPC1 and MPC2 in biphenyl catabolism is discussed.     

Purification,characterization and crystallization of a group of earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes from Eisenia fetida

Seven fibrinolytic enzymes were purified from the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The molecular weights of the enzymes were 24663, 29516, 29690, 24201, 24170, 23028 and 29595, and the respective isoelectric points were 3.46, 3.5, 3.5, 3.68, 3.62, 3.94 and 3.46. All the proteases showed different fibrinolytic activity on fibrin plates. Studies on substrate specificity and inhibition indicated that they belonged to different types of serine proteases. N-Terminal sequencing indicated their high homology to those from the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus. All the enzymes have been crystallized.     

Hyaluronidases--a group of neglected enzymes.

Hyaluronan is an important constituent of the extracellular matrix. This polysaccharide can be hydrolyzed by various hyaluronidases that are widely distributed in nature. The structure of some bacterial and animal enzymes of this type has recently been elucidated. It could be shown that the hyaluronidases from bee and hornet venom and the PH-20 hyaluronidase present on mammalian spermatozoa are homologous proteins.     

ATPases: Common and unique features within a group of enzymes

An attempt is made to survey ATPases with respect to features common to all or some of them and features peculiar to each individual enzyme of the group. Clues are presented for a tentative classification of ATPases and a simple system is suggested for the designation of interaction of ATPases with ions which is often used as the main feature for identification of individual ATPases.     

Drosophila uses two distinct neuropeptide amidating enzymes, dPAL1 and dPAL2

Neuropeptide alpha-amidation is a common C-terminal modification of secretory peptides, frequently required for biological activity. In mammals, amidation is catalyzed by the sequential actions of two enzymes [peptidylglycine-alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) and peptidyl-alpha-hydroxyglycine alpha-amidating lyase (PAL)] that are co-synthesized within a single bifunctional precursor. The Drosophila genome predicts expression of one monofunctional PHM gene and two monofunctional PAL genes. Drosophila PHM encodes an active enzyme that is required for peptide amidation in vivo. Here we initiate studies of the two Drosophila PAL genes. dPAL1 has two predicted transmembrane domains, whereas dPAL2 is predicted to be soluble and secreted. dPAL2 expressed in heterologous cells is secreted readily and co-localized with hormone. In contrast, dPAL1 is secreted poorly, even when expressed with a cleaved signal replacing the predicted transmembrane domains; the majority of dPAL1 stays in the endoplasmic reticulum. Both proteins display PAL enzymatic activity. Compared to the catalytic core of rat PAL, the two Drosophila lyases have higher K(m) values, higher pH optima and similarly broad divalent metal ion requirements. Antibodies to dPAL1 and dPAL2 reveal co-expression in many identified neuroendocrine neurons. Although dPAL1 is broadly expressed, dPAL2 is found in only a limited subset of neurons. dPAL1 expression is highly correlated with the non-amidated peptide proctolin. Tissue immunostaining demonstrates that dPAL1 is largely localized to the cell soma, whereas dPAL2 is distributed throughout neuronal processes.     

Comparative study of a group of mutant strains of Trichoderma viride, producer of cellulolytic enzymes]

In the course of selection of Trichoderma viride, the producer of cellulolytic enzymes, the group of mutant strains characterized by a higher level of productivity are isolate. It is shown that the isolated mutants possess a number of common but differing them from original strains characters. These include: the small size of colonies ("dwarfs"), a lower capacity to carry out some biochemical reactions, and increased development rate and a higher resistance to lethal effect of nitrosoguanidine and nitrosoethyl urea. The data obtained indicate that in the series of populations of successively isolated mutants observed the stabilization of variability of the levels of C1 enzyme synthesis takes place. It is also shown that, unlike original cultures, the populations of mutant strains are characterized by a higher variability of Cx enzyme activity levels as compared with C1.     

Functional analyses of a variety of chimeric dioxygenases constructed from two biphenyl dioxygenases that are similar structurally but different functionally.

The biphenyl dioxygenases (BP Dox) of strains Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 and Pseudomonas cepacia LB400 exhibit a distinct difference in substrate ranges of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) despite nearly identical amino acid sequences. The range of congeners oxidized by LB400 BP Dox is much wider than that oxidized by KF707 BP Dox. The PCB degradation abilities of these BP Dox were highly dependent on the recognition of the chlorinated rings and the sites of oxygen activation. The KF707 BP Dox recognized primarily the 4'-chlorinated ring (97%) of 2,5,4'-trichlorobiphenyl and introduced molecular oxygen at the 2',3' position. The LB400 BP Dox recognized primarily the 2,5-dichlorinated ring (95%) of the same compound and introduced O2 at the 3,4 position. It was confirmed that the BphA1 subunit (iron-sulfur protein of terminal dioxygenase encoded by bphA1) plays a crucial role in determining the substrate selectivity. We constructed a variety of chimeric bphA1 genes by exchanging four common restriction fragments between the KF707 bphA1 and the LB400 bphA1. Observation of Escherichia coli cells expressing various chimeric BP Dox revealed that a relatively small number of amino acids in the carboxy-terminal half (among 20 different amino acids in total) are involved in the recognition of the chlorinated ring and the sites of dioxygenation and thereby are responsible for the degradation of PCB. The site-directed mutagenesis of Thr-376 (KF707) to Asn-376 (LB400) in KF707 BP Dox resulted in the expansion of the range of biodegradable PCB congeners.     

Serotonin synthesis by two distinct enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster

Annotation of the sequenced Drosophila genome suggested the presence of an additional enzyme with extensive homology to mammalian tryptophan hydroxylase, which we have termed DTRH. In this work, we show that enzymatic analyses of the putative DTRH enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli confirm that it acts as a tryptophan hydroxylase but can also hydroxylate phenylalanine, in vitro. Building upon the knowledge gained from the work in mice and zebrafish, it is possible to hypothesize that DTRH may be primarily neuronal in function and expression, and DTPH, which has been previously shown to have phenylalanine hydroxylation as its primary role, may be the peripheral tryptophan hydroxylase in Drosophila. The experiments presented in this report also show that DTRH is similar to DTPH in that it exhibits differential hydroxylase activity based on substrate. When DTRH uses tryptophan as a substrate, substrate inhibition, catecholamine inhibition, and decreased tryptophan hydroxylase activity in the presence of serotonin synthesis inhibitors are observed. When DTRH uses phenylalanine as a substrate, end product inhibition, increased phenylalanine hydroxylase activity after phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and a decrease in phenylalanine hydroxylase activity in the presence of the serotonin synthesis inhibitor, alpha-methyl-(DL)-tryptophan are observed. These experiments suggest that the presence of distinct tryptophan hydroxylase enzymes may be evolutionarily conserved and serve as an ancient mechanism to appropriately regulate the production of serotonin in its target tissues.     

Characterization of three distinct extradiol dioxygenases involved in mineralization of dibenzofuran by Terrabacter sp. strain DPO360.

The dibenzofuran-degrading bacterial strain DPO360 represents a new species of the genus Terrabacter together with the previously described dibenzofuran-mineralizing bacterial strain DPO1361 (K.-H. Engesser, V. Strubel, K. Christoglou, P. Fischer, and H. G. Rast, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 65:205-210, 1989; V. Strubel, Ph.D. thesis, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, 1991; V. Strubel, H. G. Rast, W. Fietz, H.-J. Knackmuss, and K.-H. Engesser, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 58:233-238, 1989). Two 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenases (BphC1 and BphC2) and one catechol-2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) were shown to be expressed in Terrabacter sp. strain DPO360 growing with dibenzofuran as a sole source of carbon and energy. These enzymes exhibited strong sensitivity to oxygen. They were purified to apparent homogeneity as homodimers (BphC and BphC2) and as a homotetrameric catechol-2,3-dioxygenase (C23O). According to their specificity constants kcat/Km, both BphC1 and BphC2 were shown to be responsible for the cleavage of 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl, the first metabolite in dibenzofuran mineralization along the angular dioxygenation pathway. With this substrate, BphC2 exhibited a considerably higher kcat/Km, value (183 microM/min) than BphC1 (29 microM/min). Catechol-2,3-dioxygenase was recognized to be not involved in the ring cleavage of 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl (kcat/Km, 1 microM/min). Analysis of deduced amino acid sequence data of bphC1 revealed 36% sequence identity to nahC from Pseudomonas putida PpG7 (S. Harayama and M. Rekik, J. Biol. Chem. 264:15328-15333, 1989) and about 40% sequence identity to various bphC genes from different Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus strains. In addition, another 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenase gene (bphC3) was cloned from the genome of Terrabacter sp. strain DPO360. Expression of this gene, however, could not be detected in Terrabacter sp. strain DPO360 after growth with dibenzofuran.     

Co-metabolism of methyl- and chloro-substituted catechols by an Achromobacter sp. possessing a new meta-cleaving oxygenase

Co-metabolism of 3-methylcatechol, 4-chlorocatechol and 3,5-dichlorocatechol by an Achromobacter sp. was shown to result in the accumulation of 2-hydroxy-3-methylmuconic semialdehyde, 4-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde and 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde respectively. Formation of these products indicated that cleavage of the aromatic nucleus of the substituted catechols was accomplished by a new meta-cleaving enzyme, catechol 1,6-oxygenase. This enzyme was equally active on both chloro- and methyl-substituted catechols.     

Several lines of evidence demonstrating that Plasmodium falciparum, a parasitic organism, has distinct enzymes for the phosphorylation of choline and ethanolamine

In Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte homogenates, the specific activity of ethanolamine kinase (7.6 +/- 1.4 nmol phosphoethanolamine/10(7) infected cells per h) was higher than choline kinase specific activity (1.9 +/- 0.2 nmol phosphocholine/10(7) infected cells per h). The Km of choline kinase for choline was 79 +/- 20 microM, and ethanolamine was a weak competitive inhibitor of the reaction (Ki = 92 mM). Ethanolamine kinase had a Km for ethanolamine of 188 +/- 19 microM, and choline was a competitive inhibitor of ethanolamine kinase with a very high Ki of 268 mM. Hemicholinium 3 inhibited choline kinase activity, but had no effect on ethanolamine kinase activity. In contrast, D-2-amino-1-butanol selectively inhibited ethanolamine kinase activity. Furthermore, when the two enzymes were subjected to heat inactivation, 85% of the choline kinase activity was destroyed after 5 min at 50 degrees C, whereas ethanolamine kinase activity was not altered. Our results indicate that the phosphorylation of choline and ethanolamine was catalyzed by two distinct enzymes. The presence of a de novo phosphatidylethanolamine Kennedy pathway in P. falciparum contributes to the bewildering variety of phospholipid biosynthetic pathways in this parasitic organism.     

Trypanosoma brucei has two distinct mitochondrial DNA polymerase beta enzymes

In higher eukaryotes, DNA polymerase (pol) beta resides in the nucleus and participates primarily in DNA repair. The DNA polymerase beta from the trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata, however, was the first mitochondrial enzyme of this type described. Upon searching the nearly completed genome data base of the related parasite Trypanosoma brucei, we discovered genes for two pol beta-like proteins. One is approximately 70% identical to the C. fasciculata pol beta and is likely the homolog of this enzyme. The other, although approximately 30% identical within the polymerase region, has unusual structural features including a short C-terminal tail and a long N-terminal extension rich in prolines, alanines, and lysines. Both proteins, when expressed recombinantly, are active as DNA polymerases and deoxyribose phosphate lyases, but their polymerase activity optima differ with respect to pH and KCl and MgCl2 concentrations. Remarkably, green fluorescent protein fusion proteins and immunofluorescence demonstrate that both are mitochondrial, but their locations with respect to the mitochondrial DNA (kinetoplast DNA network) in this organism are strikingly different.     

J-Western forms of Helicobacter pylori cagA constitute a distinct phylogenetic group with a widespread geographic distribution

Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori strains expressing the bacterial oncoprotein CagA confers an increased risk of gastric cancer. While much is known about the ancestry and molecular evolution of Western, East Asian, and Amerindian cagA sequences, relatively little is understood about a fourth group, known as "J-Western," which has been detected mainly in strains from Okinawa, Japan. We show here that J-Western cagA sequences have a more widespread global distribution than previously recognized, occur in strains with multiple different ancestral origins (based on multilocus sequence typing [MLST] analysis), and did not arise recently. As shown by comparisons of Western and J-Western forms of CagA, there are 45 fixed or nearly fixed amino acid differences, and J-Western forms contain a unique 4-amino-acid insertion. The mean nucleotide diversity of synonymous sites (π(s)) is slightly lower in the J-Western group than in the Western and East Asian groups (0.066, 0.086, and 0.083, respectively), which suggests that the three groups have comparable, but not equivalent, effective population sizes. The reduced π(s) of the J-Western group is attributable to ancestral recombination events within the 5' region of cagA. Population genetic analyses suggest that within the cagA region encoding EPIYA motifs, the East Asian group underwent a marked reduction in effective population size compared to the Western and J-Western groups, in association with positive selection. Finally, we show that J-Western cagA sequences are found mainly in strains producing m2 forms of the secreted VacA toxin and propose that these functionally interacting proteins coevolved to optimize the gastric colonization capacity of H. pylori.     

Assigning a function to a conserved group of proteins: the tRNA 3'-processing enzymes

Accurate tRNA 3' end maturation is essential for aminoacylation and thus for protein synthesis in all organisms. Here we report the first identification of protein and DNA sequences for tRNA 3'-processing endonucleases (RNase Z). Purification of RNase Z from wheat identified a 43 kDa protein correlated with the activity. Peptide sequences obtained from the purified protein were used to identify the corresponding gene. In vitro expression of the homologous proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana and Methano coccus janaschii confirmed their tRNA 3'-processing activities. These RNase Z proteins belong to the ELAC1/2 family of proteins and to the cluster of orthologous proteins COG 1234. The RNase Z enzymes from A.thaliana and M.janaschii are the first members of these families to which a function can now be assigned. Proteins with high sequence similarity to the RNase Z enzymes from A.thaliana and M.janaschii are present in all three kingdoms.