Human brain cathepsin H as a neuropeptide and bradykinin metabolizing enzyme

Highly purified human brain cathepsin H (EC 3.4.22.16) was used to study its involvement in degradation of different brain peptides. Its action was determined to be selective. On Leu-enkephalin, dynorphin (1-6), dynorphin (1-13), alpha-neoendorphin, and Lys-bradykinin, it showed a preferential aminopeptidase activity by cleaving off hydrophobic or basic amino acids. It showed no aminopeptidase activity on bradykinin, which has Pro adjacent to its N-terminal amino acid, on neurotensin with blocked N-terminal amino acid, or on dermorphin with second amino acid D-alanine. After prolonged incubation, cathepsin H acted as an endopeptidase. Dermorphin and dynorphin (1-13) were cleaved at bonds with Phe in the P2 position, while dynorphin (1-6), alpha-neoendorphin, bradykinin and Lys-bradykinin were cleaved at bonds with Gly in the P2 position. Further on, it was shown that human brain cathepsin H activity could be controlled in vivo by cystatin C in its full-length form or its [delta1-10] variant, already known to be co-localized in astrocytes, since the Ki values for the inhibition are in the 10(-10) M range.     

Membrane bound pituitary metalloendopeptidase: Apparent identity to enkephalinase

A membrane bound zinc-metalloendopeptidase from bovine pituitaries with a specificity toward bonds on the amino side of hydrophobic amino acids, cleaves Met- and Leu-enkephalin at the Gly-Phe bond, releasing Phe-Met and Phe-Leu respectively. The enzyme also hydrolyzes bonds on the amino side of hydrophobic amino acids in oxytocin, bradykinin, neurotensin and several synthetic substrates. A free carboxyl group on a dipeptide C-terminal to the hydrolyzed bond is not a requirement for activity. The enzyme is also present in brain membrane fractions. The regional distribution of this enzyme in brain, its specificity toward natural and synthetic substrates, and its sensitivity to inhibitors, suggest that the enzyme is identical to an activity referred to as “enkephalinase”, which has been described as dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase. The data show that the enzyme is an endopeptidase with a specificity similar to that of a group of microbial proteases, one of which is thermolysin.     

Ixodes dammini: salivary anaphylatoxin inactivating activity

Saliva of the tick, Ixodes dammini, antagonizes anaphylatoxin, abolishing both the effects of anaphylatoxin on guinea pig ileum preparations regularly stimulated with histamine and the local edema caused by intradermal injection of anaphylatoxin into guinea pigs. Saliva of these ticks, however, did not modify polymorphonuclear leukocyte aggregation induced by anaphylatoxin. Bradykinin and lysil-bradykinin were inactivated, but angiotensin I, angiotensin II, and substance P were not affected. Amino acids were released rapidly following incubation of saliva with bradykinin, but slowly from des-arg-9-bradykinin. These results suggest the presence of a salivary carboxypeptidase with specificity for terminal basic amino acids. Such activity may inactivate anaphylatoxin and bradykinin at the site of tick attachment.     

Purification and identification of [hydroxyprolyl3]bradykinin in ascitic fluid from a patient with gastric cancer

Kinins in the ascitic fluid from a patient with gastric cancer were purified by gel filtration and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two fractions (fractions I and II) showed kinin activity. Fraction I did not correspond to either bradykinin or other known kinins, whereas fraction II corresponded to bradykinin. Fraction I contained 8 amino acid residues from bradykinin minus 1 proline plus 1 additional hydroxyproline. Sequence analysis of fraction I showed that the proline at the third amino acid residue of bradykinin was replaced by hydroxyproline. The retention time of fraction I on reversed-phase HPLC was exactly the same as that of synthetic [hydroxyprolyl3]bradykinin (Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg) and was distinguishable from des-Pro3-bradykinin. Thus, these results demonstrate for the first time the presence of [hydroxyprolyl3]bradykinin in vivo. This is also the first report of the presence of bradykinin in human tumor ascites.     

Megascoliakinin, a bradykinin-like compound in the venom of Megascolia flavifrons Fab. (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae)

The pharmacological and immunological properties of the venom of Megascolia flavifrons are compared with those of bradykinin and a number of bradykinin analogues. It is postulated that this venom contains a peptide, megascoliakinin, with a bradykinin-like sequence of amino acids, elongated at the C-terminal end with an unknown structure.     

Purification of human urinary prokallikrein. Identification of the site of activation by the metalloproteinase thermolysin.

Human urinary active kallikrein and prokallikrein were separated on DEAE-cellulose and octyl-Sepharose columns and both purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography, gel filtration and hydrophobic h.p.l.c. Prokallikrein was monitored during purification by trypsin activation followed by determination of both amidase and kininogenase activity. After trypsin activation, purified prokallikrein had a specific kininogenase activity of 39.4 micrograms of bradykinin equivalent/min per mg and amidase activity of 16.5 mumol/min per mg with D-Val-Leu-Arg-7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin. Purified active kallikrein had a specific activity of 47 micrograms of bradykinin/min per mg. The molecular mass of prokallikrein was 48 kDa on electrophoresis and 53 kDa on gel filtration whereas active kallikrein gave values of 46 kDa and 53 kDa respectively. Antisera to active and prokallikrein were obtained. In double immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis, antiserum to active kallikrein reacted with active and pro-kallikrein. Antiserum to prokallikrein contained antibodies to determinants not found in active kallikrein, presumably due to the presence of the activation peptide in the proenzyme. Human prokallikrein can be activated by thermolysin, trypsin and human plasma kallikrein. Activation of 50% of the prokallikrein (1.35 microM) was achieved in 30 min with 25 nM-thermolysin, 78 nM-trypsin or 180 nM-human plasma kallikrein. Thus thermolysin was the most effective activator. Thermolysin activated prokallikrein by releasing active kallikrein with N-terminal Ile1-Val2. Thus human tissue (glandular) prokallikrein can be activated by two types of enzymes: serine proteinases, which cleave at the C-terminus of basic amino acids, and by a metalloproteinase that cleaves at the N-terminus of hydrophobic amino acids.     

Rabbit tissue peptidases that hydrolyse the peptide hormone bradykinin. Differences in enzymic properties and concentration in rabbit tissues.

The distribution and properties of neutral peptidases acting on the peptide hormone bradykinin (Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg) were determined in several rabbit tissues. The supernatant and particulate fractions prepared from tissue homogenates (25000g for 60min) were studied. Bradykinin inactivation (kininase activity) was measured by bioassay with the isolated guinea-pig ileum. The sites of peptide-bond cleavage were determined in the amino acid analyser, which permits detection and measurement of amino acids and peptides derived from bradykinin. The results indicate that kininases are present in a wide range of concentrations in different tissues, kidney and lung having the most activity. Kininases present in different tissues were distinguished on the basis of sensitivity to the effects of EDTA, dithiothreitol and ZnCl2 and by the site of peptide-bond hydrolysis in bradykinin.     

Hageman factor-dependent pathways: mechanism of initiation and bradykinin formation

The concentration of bradykinin in human plasma depends on its relative rates of formation and destruction. Bradykinin is destroyed by two enzymes: a plasma carboxypeptidase (anaphylatoxin inactivator) removes the COOH-terminal arginine to yield an inactive octapeptide, and a dipeptidase (identical to the angiotensin-converting enzyme) removes the COOH-terminal Phe-Arg to yield a fragment of seven amino acids that is further fragmented to an end product of five amino acids. Formation of bradykinin is initiated on binding of Hageman factor (HF) to certain negatively charged surfaces on which it autoactivates by an autodigestion mechanism. Initiation appears to depend on a trace of intrinsic activity present in HF that is at most 1/4000 that of activated HF (HFa); alternatively traces of circulating HFa could subserve the same function. HFa then converts coagulation factor XI to activated factor XI (XIa) and prekallikrein to kallikrein. Kallikrein then digests high-molecular-weight kininogen (HMW-kininogen) to form bradykinin. Prekallikrein and factor XI circulate bound to HMW-kininogen and surface binding of these complexes is mediated via this kininogen. In the absence of HMW-kininogen, activation of prekallikrein and factor XI is much diminished; thus HMW-kininogen has a cofactor function in kinin formation and coagulation. Once a trace of kallikrein is generated, a positive feedback reaction occurs in which kallikrein rapidly activates HF. This is much faster than the HF autoactivation rate; thus most HFa is formed by a kallikrein-dependent mechanism. HMW-kininogen is also therefore a cofactor for HF activation, but its effect on HF activation is indirect because it occurs via kallikrein formation. HFa can be further digested by kallikrein to form an active fragment (HFf), which is not surface bound and acts in the fluid phase. The activity of HFf on factor XI is minimal, but it is a potent prekallikrein activator and can therefore perpetuate fluid phase bradykinin formation until it is inactivated by the C1 inhibitor. In the absence of C1 inhibitor (hereditary angioedema) HFf may also interact with C1 and activate it enzymatically. The resultant augmented bradykinin formation and complement activation may account for the pathogenesis of the swelling characteristic of hereditary angioedema and the serologic changes observed during acute attacks.     

Bradykinin receptors: Characterization,distribution and mechanisms of signal transduction

Bradykinin is a peptide consisting of nine amino acids. It is a member of the kinin family, a class of molecules sometimes considered to be locally acting hormones. Bradykinin acts through cell surface receptors to elicit a series of biological responses, many of which have been well characterized at the whole organ or body level. However, little is known about the bradykinin receptor itself or its mechanisms of signal transduction, its function and its tissue distribution. Increasing evidence suggests that bradykinin is a member of a group of locally produced peptides which may act in a paracrine fashion as microenvironmental modulators of cell proliferation. Evidence for this derives from studies of the interaction between bradykinin and its receptor, receptor-effector coupling systems and in vitro studies of the biological effects of bradykinin. These areas, together with questions concerning the nature and number of different types of bradykinin receptors, form the main bulk of current interest in bradykinin research and are the subject of this review. The ability of bradykinin to synergize with other growth regulating ligands will also be considered.     

Molecular cloning and pharmacological characterization of the canine B1 and B2 bradykinin receptors

The dog is a valuable animal model in the study of the physiological role of both the B1 and B2 bradykinin receptors. To more thoroughly characterize the pharmacological properties of the canine kinin receptors we isolated the cDNA sequence encoding the B1 and B2 bradykinin receptor subtypes and overexpressed them in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The cDNA sequence of the canine B1 bradykinin receptor encodes a protein comprised of 350 amino acids that is 76% identical to the human B1 bradykinin receptor. The cDNA sequence of the canine B2 bradykinin receptor encodes a protein of 392 amino acids that is 81% identical to the human B2 bradykinin receptor. The amino acid sequence of the canine B1 and B2 receptors are 35% identical. Pharmacological studies of the cloned receptors revealed that the agonist affinity of the dog B1 receptor is similar to the rodent B1 receptors, and differs from the human form in that there is no preference for the presence of the N-terminal Lys residue of [des-Arg10]Lys-bradykinin. Significantly, the B1 receptor antagonist [des-Arg9,Leu8]BK behaves as partial agonist on the cloned dog B1 receptor. The dog B2 receptor exhibits the 'classical' pharmacological properties of this receptor subtype.     

Circular dichroism of bradykinin and related peptides

1. The circular dichroism of bradykinin and a number of its analogues and homologues was measured over the spectral range 200-300nm. All of the biologically active peptides showed maxima at 220nm and minima at 235nm. The spectra were independent of solvent and temperature. The vibronic transitions of phenylalanyl residues in the 250-280nm range showed no evidence of intra- or inter-molecular interactions. We take this as evidence that bradykinin and its biologically active analogues and homologues exist in solution as disordered chains. 2. None of the analogues with spectra unlike bradykinin possessed biological activity. However, peptides such as retro-bradykinin, des-6-serine-bradykinin, des-1-arginine-bradykinin and des-9-arginine-bradykinin produced spectra like that of bradykinin but were devoid of biological activity. Although we could not identify spectral features that were clearly correlated with biological activity, it appears unlikely that highly ordered peptides of the same amino acid composition as bradykinin would possess bradykinin-like effects.     

Screening for Rabbit Brain Neuropeptide-metabolizing Peptidases. Inhibition of Endopeptidase B by Bradykinin Potentiating Peptide 9a (SQ 20881)

Abstract: Neutral thiol-activated peptidases present in the pH 5-soluble fraction of rabbit brain (separated by step-elution chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose) were screened for the hydrolysis of bradykinin, Lysbradykinin, Met-Lys-bradykinin, angiotensin I, angiotensin II, substance P, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and neurotensin by bioassay. The column effluent was monitored for bradykinin inactivation and arylamidase activity and combined in six pools on the basis of bradykinin inactivation. The pools were characterized by determining the peptide fragments and amino acids released from bradykinin with an amino acid analyzer. Pools 1 through 3 contained 80% of the kininase activity and essentially all of the endopeptidase A and B activity, whereas pools 4 through 6 accounted for 98% of the recovered arylamidase activity. Bradykinin, angiotensin I, angiotensin II and substance P were inactivated by all the pools, whereas LH-RH and neurotensin were inactivated by pools 3 and 4 and pools 3, 4 and 5, respectively. These data show that rabbit brain contains peptidases having some selectivity for the inactivation of neuropeptides. Endopeptidase B purified from pool 3 is inhibited by bradykinin-potentiating peptide 9a (BPP_9a' SQ 20881) (Glu-Trp-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gln-Ile-Pro-Pro), a competitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of bradykinin ( K _m = 3.5 ± 10⁻⁵ m , K _i = 3 ± 10^−6m) which also completely inhibits the inactivation of LH-RH.     

Structural requirements for microvascular permeability-increasing ability of peptides: Studies on analogues of a fibrinogen pentapeptide fragment

A pentapeptide, Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys, liberated from fibrinogen during plasmin-mediated fibrinolysis, was shown earlier to increase microvascular permeability in rat and human skin. Eighteen new analogues have now been synthesized in addition to the 15 previously prepared and examined for their effect on permeability. The old concept that a tetrapeptide with basic amino acids at both ends and a proline residue adjacent to the N-terminal amino acid is essential for high activity on permeability, has now been challenged. The results obtained with several of the new analogues strengthen this concept. More interestingly, however, the third amino acid, which was found in earlier studies to be less sensitive to exchange, has now been deleted as well as duplicated with only a modest loss of activity of the peptide. The chirality of the C-terminal amino acid, most surprisingly, does not seem to be crucial for peptide activity. Slightly superpotent analogues were obtained on amidation of the C-terminus. In addition, a few naturally occurring peptides, namely tuftsin, substance P, neurotensin and bradykinin, the amino acid sequences of which all exhibit characteristic features of some of our active peptide analogues were investigated in the same test system. Tuftsin displayed a potency equal to that of the pentapeptide. The other three peptides were all highly superpotent in this assay system.     

Novel small molecule bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists. Part 1: Benzamides and semicarbazides

The synthesis and SAR of two series of bradykinin B₁ receptor antagonists is described. The benzamide moiety proved to be a suitable replacement for the aryl ester functionality of biaryl based antagonists. In addition, it was found that semicarbazides can effectively replace cyclopropyl amino acids. The compounds with the best overall profile were biaryl semicarbazides which display high antagonistic activity, low Caco-2 efflux and high oral bioavailability in the rat.     

Brain Endo-Oligopeptidase A, a Putative Enkephalin Converting Enzyme

Endo-oligopeptidase A, highly purified from the cytosol fraction of bovine brain by immunoaffinity chromatography, has been characterized as a thiol endopeptidase. This enzyme, known to hydrolyze the Phe5-Ser6 bond of bradykinin and the Arg8-Arg9 bond of neurotensin, has been shown to produce, by a single cleavage, Leu5-enkephalin or Met5-enkephalin from small enkephalin-containing peptides. Enkephalin formation could be inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the alternative substrate bradykinin. The optimal substrate size was found to be eight to 13 amino acids, with enkephalin the only product released from precursors in which this sequence is immediately followed by a pair of basic residues. However, the specificity constants (kcat/Km) obtained for endo-oligopeptidase A hydrolysis of bradykinin, neurotensin, and dynorphin B are of the same order, a result indicating that the substrate amino acid sequence is not the only factor determining the cleavage site of this enzyme.     

Cation-sensitive neutral endopeptidase: isolation and specificity of the bovine pituitary enzyme

A highly purified preparation of a cation-sensitive neutral endopeptidase was obtained from bovine pituitaries. The enzyme constitutes almost 0.1% of the protein in bovine pituitary homogenates. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme showed a single protein band, and in gel filtration experiments on calibrated Sepharose 6B columns the enzyme eluted slightly ahead of thyroglobulin, suggesting an apparent molecular weight of about 700,000. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS-containing buffers indicated the presence of three major components with molecular weights ranging from about 24,000 to 28,000. The enzyme hydrolyzes bonds between hydrophobic and small neutral amino acids in both model synthetic substrates and biologically active peptides such as substance P, LH-RH, and bradykinin. Peptide bonds in which the carbonyl group is contributed by a glutamyl or arginyl residue are also hydrolyzed, especially if they are preceded in the sequence by hydrophobic amino acids. Leupeptin exclusively inhibited enzymatic activity toward the arginine-containing substrates. This observation, together with the high molecular weight and broad specificity of the enzyme, raised the possibility that the isolated enzyme represents a proteolytic complex composed of units with distinctly different activities. Preliminary attempts to dissociate the enzyme into catalytic units of lower molecular weight were not successful and led to loss of activity.     

Rat and mouse membrane aminopeptidase P: structure analysis and tissue distribution

Membrane-bound aminopeptidase P (mAPP) is a highly specific exopeptidase that removes the N-terminal amino acid only from a peptide (three amino acids or longer) that has a prolyl residue in the second position. mAPP can inactivate bradykinin, a potent vasodilating and cardioprotective peptide hormone, by hydrolyzing the Arg(1)-Pro(2) bond. Studies on the rat have shown that the metabolism of bradykinin is an important physiological role of this enzyme. We report here the complete coding sequences for rat and mouse mAPP determined from mRNA isolated from lung tissue. Key structural features that determine post-translational processing and substrate recognition and catalysis were identified based on sequence homologies and the crystal structure of Escherichia coli aminopeptidase P complexed with Pro-Leu. The tissue-specific expression of mAPP was studied using the polymerase chain reaction. The mAPP gene is widely, but variably, expressed in adult tissues of the rat and mouse and in mouse embryos.     

Quantitative N-terminal analysis of fibrinogen-fibrin-related antigen [FR antigen] from human plasma.

Structure-activity studies have been performed on a series of naturally occurring and 'tailor-made' polypeptides, by measurement of ability to induce selective histamine release from normal rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro. Compounds investigated include corticotropin and melittin derivatives, mast-cell-degranulating peptide from bee venom, polymyxin B, bradykinin and various synthetic poly(amino acids) and short-chain peptides. It was confirmed that a cluster of four basic residues (lysine or arginine) was optimal for histamine release by corticotropin and melittin polypeptides, provided that the C-terminal carboxyl group was substituted (by, for instance, amidation). In contrast, the presence of a free C-terminal carboxyl group or nearby dicarboxylic acid residues led to a considerable diminution in histamine-releasing activity. Likewise, polypeptides comprised essentially of acidic amino acids were inactive. On the basis of these observations it has been possible to predict that synthetic peptides comprising a particular sequence within the Fc region of human immunoglobulin E, the immunoglobulin class particularly involved in mediation of allergic reactions of the immediate type, would possess potent histamine-releasing activity when similarly made to react with normal rat mast cells. The further study of such a structure should throw new light on the molecular basis of allergen-antibody triggering of mast cells.     

Taq DNA聚合酶功能区域的定位

通过参Ｕ法定点突变产生了ＴａｑＤＮＡ聚合酶Ｎ端分别缺失３个,２３５个,２８７个和４４３个氨基酸的４个缺失体,利用Ｂａｌ－３１连续缺失法产生了ＴａｑＤＮＡ聚合酶的Ｃ端分别缺失了２个、１６个、２９个、３２个、３４个氨基酸的５个缺失体．经ＤＮＡ聚合酶活性测定表明Ｎ端缺失３个,２３５个,２８７个氨基酸后活力和完整的Ｔａｑ相近,而缺失４４３个氨基酸后则失去了ＤＮＡ聚合酶活力;Ｃ端的５个缺失体都失去了ＤＮＡ聚合酶活性．据此ＴａｑＤＮＡ聚合酶的功能区域被定位在２８７～８３２氨基酸之间．     

Characterization of an intracellular oligopeptidase from Lactobacillus paracasei.

An intracellular oligopeptidase from Lactobacillus paracasei Lc-01 has been purified to homogeneity by Fast Flow Q Sepharose, hydroxyapatite, and Mono Q chromatography. The molecular mass of the enzyme was determined to be 140 kDa by gel filtration and approximately 30 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and SDS-capillary electrophoresis. The pI of the enzyme was at pH 4.5. The enzyme expressed maximum activity at pH 8.0 and 40 degrees C. Oligopeptidase activity on bradykinin was inhibited strongly by 1,10-phenantroline and EDTA and partly by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid but not by phosphoramidon or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Marked inhibition by beta-casein fragment 58 to 72 was demonstrated. The enzyme showed neither general aminopeptidase nor caseinolytic activity, and it degraded only oligopeptides between 8 and 13 amino acids. The enzyme readily hydrolyzed the Phe-Ser and Pro-Phe bonds of bradykinin; the Phe-His bond of angiotensin I; the Pro-Gln, Gln-Phe, and Phe-Gly bonds of substance P; and the Pro-Tyr bond of neurotensin. Weak activity toward the Ala-Tyr and Pro-Ser bonds of alpha(s1)-casein fragment 157 to 164, was observed. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the oligopeptidase showed a high degree of homology to the lactacin B inducer from Lactobacillus acidophilus.