The regional and subcellular distribution of calcium activated neutral proteinase (CANP) in the bovine central nervous system

Calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) activity was determined in subcellular fractions and in different regions of bovine brain. The CANP specific activity in spinal cord and corpus callosum, areas rich in myelin, were almost six-fold greater than cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Treatment of whole homogenate and myelin with 0.1% Triton X-100 increased the CANP activity by tenfold. Subcellular fractions were prepared from bovine brain gray and white matter. Most of the CANP activity (70%) was in the primary particulate fractions P₁ (nuclear), P₂ (mitochondrial) and P₃ (microsomal). On subfractionation of each particulate fraction, the majority of the activity (greater than 50%) was recovered in the myelin-enriched fractions (P₁A, P₂A, P₃A) which separate at the interphase of 0.32 M- and 0l85 M-sucrose. The distribution of activity was P₂A>P₁A>P₃A. Further purification of myelin (of P₂A) increased the specific activity over homogenate by more than three-fold. The same myelin fractions contained the highest proportion (60%) and specific activity (five-fold increase) of CNPase. The enzyme activity in different regions of brain and in subcellular fractions was increased by 20–39% after the inhibitor was removed. Electron microscopic study confirmed that the myelin fractions were highly purified. The cytosolic fraction contained 20–30% of the total homogenate CANP activity. Other fractions contained low enzyme activity. CANP was identified in the purified myelin fraction by electroimmublot-technique. It is concluded that the bulk of CANP in CNS is tightly bound to the membrane, may be masked or hidden and is intimately associated with the myelin sheath.Abbreviations Used CANP calcium-activated neutral proteinase - CNPase adenosine-2, 3-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphohydrolase     

Calcium-Stimulated Proteolysis in Myelin: Evidence for a Ca2+-Activated Neutral Proteinase Associated with Purified Myelin of Rat CNS

Incubation of myelin purified from rat spinal cord with CaCl2 (1-5 mM) in 10-50 mM Tris-HCl buffer at pH 7.6 containing 2 mM dithiothreitol resulted in the loss of both the large and small myelin basic proteins (MBPs), whereas incubation of myelin with Triton X-100 (0.25-0.5%) and 5 mM EGTA in the absence of calcium produced preferential extensive loss of proteolipid protein (PLP) relative to MBP. Inclusion of CaCl2 but not EGTA in the medium containing Triton X-100 enhanced degradation of both PLP and MBPs. The Ca2+-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) activity is inhibited by EGTA (5 mM) and partially inhibited by leupeptin and/or E-64c. CANP is active at pH 5.5-9.0, with the optimum at 7-8. The threshold of Ca2+ activation is approximately 100 microM. The 150K neurofilament protein (NFP) was progressively degraded when incubated with purified myelin in the presence of Ca2+. These results indicate that purified myelin is associated with and/or contains a CANP whose substrates include MBP, PLP, and 150K NFP. The degradation of PLP (trypsin-resistant) in the presence of detergent suggests either release of enzyme from membrane and/or structural alteration in the protein molecule rendering it accessible to proteolysis. The myelin-associated CANP may be important not only in the turnover of myelin proteins but also in myelin breakdown in brain diseases.     

Regulation of the calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) of bovine brain by myelin lipids

Since calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP; calpain) activation occurs at the plasmalemma and the enzyme is found in myelin, we examined myelin lipid activation of brain CANP. Purified lipids were dried, sonicated and incubated with purified myelin CANP. The CANP was assayed using [14C]azocasein as substrate and the Ca2+ concentration ranged from 2 microM for muCANP to 5 mM for mCANP. Phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS) and dioleoylglycerol stimulated the mCANP activity by 193, 89 and 78%, respectively. PI stimulated both m- and muCANP in a concentration-dependent manner, while phosphatidylcholine was least effective. Cerebroside and sulfatide at higher concentrations (750 microM) were stimulatory. The phospholipid (PL)-mediated activation was inhibited by the PL-binding drug trifluoperazine. PI reduced the Ca2+ requirement for CANPs significantly (20-fold). These results suggest that acidic lipids and particularly acidic phospholipids activate membrane CANP.     

Purification of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) from purified myelin of bovine brain white matter

A calcium-activated neutral proteinase was purified from myelin of bovine brain white matter. Myelin purified in the presence of EDTA (2 mM) was homogenized in 50 mM Trisacetate buffer at pH 7.5, containing 4 mM EDTA, 1 mM NaN₃, 5 mM -mercaptoethanol and 0.1% Triton X-100 for two hours. After centrifugation at 87,000g for 1 hour, the supernatant was subjected to purification through successive column chromatography as follows: i) DEAE-cellulose, ii) Ultrogel (AC-34) filtration, iii) Phenyl-Sepharose, iv) a second DEAE-cellulose. The enzyme activity was assayed using azocasein as substrate. The myelin enzyme was purified 2072-fold and SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified enzyme revealed a major subunit of 72–76 K. The enzyme was inhibited by iodoacetate (1 mM), leupeptin (1 mM), E-64C (1.6 mM), EGTA (1 mM), antipain (2 mM) and endogenous inhibitor calpastatin (2 g). It required 0.8 mM Ca²⁺ for half-maximal activation and 5 mM Ca²⁺ for optimal activation. Mg²⁺ (5 mM) was ineffective while Zn²⁺ and Hg²⁺ were inhibitory. The pH optimum was ranged from 7.5–8.5. Treatment of myelin with Triton X-100 increased the enzyme activity by 10-fold suggesting it is membrane bound whereas the purufied enzyme was not activated by Triton X-100 treatment. The presence of CANP in myelin may mediate the turnover of myelin proteins and myelin breakdown in degenerative brain diseases.     

Degradation of myelin basic protein by calcium-activated neutral protease (CANP) in human brain and inhibition by E-64 analogue

A calcium-activated neutral protease (CANP) was extracted from human brain and partially purified. The activity was measured using alkali-denatured casein (Hammersten) as a substrate. The optimum pH was around 7.0. The activity required the presence of calcium ions, maximum activity was obtained with over 5 mM calcium ions. TheK _m for the casein concentration was about 1.62 mg/ml. The activity of CANP was inhibited by one of the thiol protease inhibitors, E-64 analogue (E-64-a). The rate of inhibition was about 50% at an E-64-a concentration of 10^–5M. This CANP degraded selectively basic protein in myelin proteins and the degradation was inhibited by E-64-a or EGTA. The role of the brain CANP in the process of demyelination was suggested by this study.     

Diabetic state-induced activation of calcium-activated neutral proteinase in mouse skeletal muscle

The effect of a diabetic state in the diabetic KK-CAy mouse on calcium activated neutral proteinase (CANP) of hind-limb skeletal muscles was investigated. In the diabetic state, there was an increased sensitivity to activation of CANP by calcium (Ca). In addition, there was an enhancement of maximal activity of the enzyme. The effect was induced by secondary modification of the diabetic state, but not genetical factors. Several lines of evidence suggest that the CANP is responsible for 92 K dalton protein in diabetic skeletal muscles. Among the evidence are the following: a) The 92 K band in the diabetic muscles was lower than in the prediabetic mouse and restored by the addition of 2 mM EDTA and 2 mM EGTA. b) The band was reduced by increasing the Ca content and neutral pH in the non-diabetic normal muscles. c) E-64-C, a CANP inhibitor, restored the 92 K component reduced by the diabetic state. Since the band in denervated muscles was not changed by the Ca chelating agents, the reduction of the band in the diabetic muscles is related with musculotrophic factors, not diabetic neuropathy. These results suggest that diabetic amyotrophy may be regarded as a phenomenon linked to an increase in intracellular Ca ions and an increase in CANP activity.     

Purification and characterization of a calcium-activated neutral protease from rabbit skeletal muscle which requires calcium ions of microM order concentration

One form of calcium-activated neutral protease (CANP) highly sensitive to calcium ions was purified by column chromatographic procedures to homogeneity. The purified enzyme required microM order Ca2+ (mu CANP), and the half-maximum activity was attained at 50 microM Ca2+. The electrophoretic mobility in a non-denaturing buffer showed that this enzyme is less acidic than another CANP which required mM order Ca2+ (mCANP). On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the enzyme separated into two components with molecular weights of 79,000 and 28,000, respectively. Of these, the former was slightly larger than the counterpart of mCANP (Mr 76,000). Thus, mu CANP cannot be derived from mCANP by limited autolysis.     

Further Evidence for an Intrinsic Neuraminidase in CNS Myelin

An intrinsic neuraminidase activity in rat brain CNS myelin has been demonstrated and compared with the neuraminidase activity in rat brain microsomes. With use of ganglioside GM3 as a substrate, the myelin-associated neuraminidase exhibited a shallow pH curve with an optimum at pH 4.8 whereas the microsomal activity had a marked optimum at pH 4-4.3. Neuraminidase activity in both fractions was optimized in 0.3% Triton CF-54 but activation was much greater in the microsomes. When the neuraminidase activities were examined at 60 degrees C, the myelin neuraminidase activity was more than sevenfold of that observed at 37 degrees C and was linear for at least 2 h; the microsomal activity increased only fivefold initially and exhibited a continual loss in activity. Addition of excess microsomes to the total homogenate prior to myelin isolation resulted in no change in myelin neuraminidase activity. When the two membrane fractions were examined at equivalent protein concentrations in the presence of additional cations or EDTA (1 mM), similar but not identical effects on neuraminidase activity were seen. The microsomal neuraminidase was considerably more susceptible to inhibition by divalent copper ion. Activity in both fractions was markedly inhibited by Hg2+ and Ag+ whereas EDTA had no effect on either activity. The myelin-associated neuraminidase activity was the highest in cerebral hemispheres, followed by brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord and was extremely low in sciatic nerve. In fact, the myelin neuraminidase activity was higher than the microsomal enzyme activity in the cerebral hemispheres.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Conversion of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) to a smaller derivative by calcium activated neutral protease (CANP)-like enzyme in myelin and inhibition by E-64 analogue

Using the immunoblot technique, we found that an incubation of purified human myelin in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer at pH 7.5 resulted in the conversion of the myelinassociated glycoprotein (MAG) to a smaller derivative (dMAG). Exogenously added 5 mM CaCl₂ accelerated the conversion of MAG. In buffer containing more than 100 M of EGTA, the conversion was inhibited. In addition, the existence of endogenous calcium in purified myelin was confirmed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The conversion was also inhibited partially by one of the thiol protease inhibitors, E-64 analogue (E-64-a). These observations suggest that the conversion of MAG is mediated by calcium-activated neutral protease (CANP)-like enzyme.     

Immunoassay and Activity of Calcium-Activated Neutral Proteinase (mCANP): Distribution in Soluble and Membrane-Associated Fractions in Human and Mouse Brain

The millimolar form of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (mCANP) is generally regarded as a cytosolic enzyme in nonneuronal systems, although its subcellular localization in brain is less well established. To resolve conflicting reports on the localization of mCANP based on activity measurements, we developed an immunoassay for CANP and compared the content and activity of the molecule in soluble and membrane fractions of mouse and human brain. Western blot immunoassays, using two different antibodies specific for mCANP, demonstrated that mCANP content is 4.5 ng/g in human or mouse brain, about 0.0005% of the total protein. More than 95% of the total immunoreactive mCANP remained in the soluble fraction after 15,000 g centrifugation of the whole homogenate. mCANP activity was determined with [14C]azocasein as substrate after removing endogenous CANP inhibitor(s) by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Caseinolytic activity was detected only in fractions derived from the supernatant extract. The distribution of mCANP content and enzyme activity were unchanged when tissues were extracted with different concentrations of Triton X-100. These findings establish the usefulness and validity of the CANP immunoassay and demonstrate that mCANP in mouse and human brain is localized predominantly within the cytosol.     

CHARACTERIZATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES OF UDP-GALACTOSE-CERAMIDE GALACTOSYL TRANSFERASE IN A RAT CNS AXOLEMMA-ENRICHED FRACTION. DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES OF THE ENZYME ASSOCIATED WITH THE MICROSOMAL AND MYELIN FRACTIONS

Abstract— The properties of rat CNS UDP-galactose-ceramidc galactosyltransferase in an axolemma-enriched fraction (AXL), microsomes, and myelin simultaneously isolated with the AXL was characterized using a newly developed assay system. The microsomal enzyme utilized either magnesium or manganese equally well as the divalent cation at 3.3 m m , while both the myelin and AXL enzyme preferred manganese over magnesium at this concentration. The microsomal enzyme was more stable to heat inactivation than the myelin or AXL enzyme. The AXL galactosyltransferase had the highest specific activity at 15 days (8-fold higher than that of the microsomes) and dramatically decreased in specific activity with development. The developmental profile of the myelin enzyme paralleled that of the AXL although the absolute specific activity was lower than that of AXL. In contrast, the specific activity of microsomal enzyme was quite low at the earliest age then sharply increased to 25 days and gradually decreased with further development. The specific activity of the enzyme in AXL isolated from Quaking mouse was dramatically decreased (about 5% of control levels) whereas both whole homogenate and microsomal specific activity were decreased to 35% of control levels. These data indicate that AXL and myelin contain a galactosyltransferase with properties which are unique relative to those of the microsomal fraction. The possible functional significance of these findings with respect to myelination is discussed.     

Purification of a calcium-activated neutral proteinase from bovine brain

A calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) resolved into three components has been partially purified from bovine brain. The method of isolation has resulted in 22,000, 7,100, and 8,000-fold purification for CANP I, II and III respectively. All three fractions require Ca2+ for activation. The characterization of the purified CANP I has shown that it is activated by 250 microM Ca2+ and the enzyme loses its activity when incubated in the presence of Ca2+ without substrate. Mg2+ is ineffective. The enzyme degrades neurofilament triplet proteins, tubulin and casein efficiently. The myelin basic protein is hydrolyzed after longer incubation. Bovine serum albumin and histones are unaffected. The enzyme is active at pH 5.5 to 9.0 with optimum between pH 7.5 and 8.5. It has a Km of 1.8 X 10(-7) M for the 69,000 dalton neurofilament protein. The enzyme is inhibited by sulphydryl blocking reagents and also by EGTA, leupeptin and E-64c. The SDS-PAGE analysis of the enzyme fractions has shown a major band at 66-68,000 daltons and two minor bands at 60,000 and 48-50,000 daltons for CANP I; a major band at 48-50,000 daltons and a minor band at 30-32,000 daltons for CANP II and a predominant doublet at 30-32,000 daltons with a minor band at 48-50,000 daltons for CANP III. The degradation of neurofilament proteins suggests that the CANP(s) may be involved in the turnover of these proteins.     

Glycerol Phosphate Dehydrogenase, Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase, and Lactate Dehydrogenase: Activities in Oligodendrocytes, Neurons, Astrocytes, and Myelin Isolated from Developing Rat Brains

Abstract: Glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were determined in Oligodendrocytes, neurons, and astrocytes isolated from the brains of developing rats. The activity of each enzyme was significantly lower in both neurons and astrocytes than in Oligodendrocytes. The GPDH activity in Oligodendrocytes increased more than 4-fold during development, and at 120 days cells of this type had 1.4-fold the specific activity of forebrain homogenates. The G6PDH activities in Oligodendrocytes from 10-day-old rats were 1.4-fold the activities in the forebrain homogenates. The activities of this enzyme in Oligodendrocytes were progressively lower at later ages, such that at 120 days the cells had 0.8 times the specific activities of homogenates. The Oligodendrocytes had 0.6 times the homogenate activities of LDH at 10 days, and this ratio had decreased to 0.2 by 120 days. These enzymes were also measured in myelin isolated from 20-, 60-, and 120-day-old rats. By 120 days the specific activities of G6PDH and LDH in myelin were <8% of the respective activities in homogenates. The GPDH activity in myelin was, however, at least 20% the specific activity in the homogenates, even in the oldest animals. It is proposed that LDH could be used as a marker for oligodendroglial cytoplasm in subfractions of myelin and in myelin-related membrane vesicles.     

Evidence for the Presence of CDP-Ethanolamine: 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol Ethanolaminephosphotransferase in Rat Central Nervous System Myelin

Highly purified rat brain myelin isolated by two different procedures showed appreciable activity for CDP-ethanolamine: 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol ethanolaminephosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.1). Specific activity was close to that of total homogenate and approximately 12-16% that of brain microsomes. Three other lipid-synthesizing enzymes, cerebroside sulfotransferase, lactosylceramide sialyltransferase, and serine phospholipid exchange enzyme, were found to have less than 0.5% the specific activity in myelin compared with microsomes. Washing the myelin with buffered salt or taurocholate did not remove the phosphotransferase, but activity was lost from both myelin and microsomes by treatment with Triton X-100. It resembled the microsomal enzyme in having a pH optimum of 8.5 and a requirement for Mn2+ and detergent, but differed in showing no enhancement with EGTA. The diolein Km was similar for the two membranes (2.5-4 x 10(-4) M), but the CDP-ethanolamine Km was lower for myelin (3-4 x 10(-5) M) than for microsomes (11 - 13 x 10(-5 M). Evidence is reviewed that this enzyme is able to utilize substrate from the axon in situ.     

Limited autolysis of Ca2+-activated neutral protease (CANP) changes its sensitivity to Ca2+ ions

Ca2+-activated neutral protease (CANP) usually requires mM Ca2+ for activation. The sensitivity of CANP to Ca2+ is greatly enhanced by passing it through a casein-Sepharose column in the presence of Ca2+ ions. This conversion is ascribed to autolysis of CANP. The converted enzyme required 40 microM Ca2+ for 50% activation. Various properties of the converted enzyme were very similar to those of CANP-I, recently found in canine heart muscle. Names of "m-CANP" and "mu-CANP" are proposed for CANPs which require mM and microM order Ca2+ for inactivation, respectively.     

Is Na + K ATPase a Myelin-Associated Enzyme?

The Na + K ATPase activity associated with purified myelin has been investigated. On the basis of marker enzyme studies, the Na + K ATPase activity of myelin was higher than could be accounted for by microsomal contamination. Fractions prepared from white matter-enriched areas of rat brain showed a threefold enrichment in Na + K ATPase activity in myelin as compared with the white matter homogenate. The ATPase activity in myelin was stimulated fourfold by treatment with sodium deoxycholate, but the activity in the whole brain homogenate and the microsomal fraction was only doubled. This discontinuity temperature for Na + K ATPase activity was significantly higher for the myelin fraction (29 degrees C) than for the microsomal fraction (21 degrees C), but the energies of activation, both above and below the discontinuity temperature, were the same for both fractions, Myelin Na + K ATPase had a lower affinity for strophanthidin than the microsomal enzyme, but both fractions were inhibited to the same extent by 10-3 M-strophanthidin. The evidence thus indicated that much of the ATPase activity of myelin is not the result of microsomal contamination. Although the possibility of axolemmal contamination cannot be ruled out conclusively, indirect evidence suggest that this is not a significant factor and that Na + K ATPase may be a myelin-associated enzyme.     

SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION AND SOME PROPERTIES OF ACETYL-COENZYME A HYDROLASE IN THE BRAIN

—The detailed subcellular distribution and some properties of acetyl-CoA hydrolase were studied in the rat brain. The brain homogenate (S₁) hydrolysed acetyl-CoA at a rate of approx 2·3 nmol/min/mg of protein at 37°C. The total activity of acetyl-CoA hydrolase was distributed in the following order: soluble > mitochondrial > microsomal, synaptosomal > myelin fraction. The order of the specific activity of the enzyme was: soluble, microsomal > mitochondrial > synaptosomal > myelin fraction. The synaptic vesicle fraction (D) had relatively high specific activity among the intraterminal particulate fractions, having two or three times higher specific activity than that of the synaptic cytoplasmic membrane fraction (F or G). Attempts to de-occlude acetyl-CoA hydrolase in the particulate fraction showed that only the enzyme activity in the myelin fraction was increased markedly by the treatment with ether or Triton X-100. Lineweaver-Burk plots gave straight lines for each subcellular fraction and apparent K_m values for acetyl-CoA were between 0·1 and 0·2 mM. Neither diisopropyl fluorophosphate nor physostigmine at the concentration of 0·1 mm inhibited the enzyme activity.     

Identification of Ca2+-Activated Neutral Protease in the Peripheral Nerve and Its Effects on Neurofilament Degeneration

Rat sciatic nerve segments were incubated in five different media. Disappearance of neurofilament (NF) triplet proteins (200K, 160K, and 68K MW) occurred in medium containing Ca²⁺ and was inhibited by the addition of E-64-c or leupeptin. Therefore, the presence in the peripheral nerve of an enzyme whose properties are similar to those of Ca²⁺-activated neutral protease (CANP) is suggested. The extraction of crude CANP from rat sciatic nerve was performed. CANP activity was completely recovered (0.129 ± 0.008 U/g) in the precipitate salted out by the addition of 0 to 50% saturated ammonium sulfate to the soluble fraction of the peripheral nerve (crude CANP). Properties of the crude CANP were examined using NF as a substrate and were found to be similar to those of the CANP extracted from skeletal muscle. Identification of the crude CANP with the CANP extracted from rat skeletal muscle was performed using the immunoreplica method. Bands corresponding to 73K were detected in both CANPs.     

Third form of calcium-activated neutral proteinase from calf brain: purification, partial characterization and comparison of properties with other forms

A third form (CANP3) of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) has been purified, 3900-fold, to near homogeneity from calf brain cortex. The purification procedure is based on the one recently developed for the purification of CANP1 and CANP2. The molecular weight of CANP3, as judged on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was Mr 78,000. A protein with an apparent Mr 17,000 co-purified with the proteinase. At neutral pH (7.2), it was maximally active at 260 microM CaCl2. In the presence of CaCl2, CANP1 and CANP3 were autolyzed very rapidly, whereas the autolysis of CANP2 was slow and gradual. The autolyzed CANP1 and CANP3 responded differently to CaCl2; CANP1 lost activity completely, whereas CANP3 was fully active at 0.5 microM CaCl2. Despite the opposite behavior of these proteinases in the presence of Ca2+, no significant differences in the peptide maps of the three proteinases were observed. Neurofilaments, neurotubules and myelin basic protein (MBP) were degraded by each of the proteinases. Monoclonal antibodies raised against CANP2 reacted almost equally with CANP1 and CANP3. As with CANP1 and CANP2, leupeptin and sulfhydryl-modifying compounds, NEM and iodoacetic acid, inhibited the activity of CANP3.     

Effect of lipid peroxidation on Na+,K(+)-ATPase, 5'-nucleotidase and CNPase in mouse brain myelin

In the presence of H2O2, solutions of Fe2+ were applied to brain homogenate and isolated myelin from adult SWV control mice and the shiverer dysmyelinating mutant mouse as a source of a reactive oxygen species (Fenton reaction). Under these conditions, lipid peroxidation was initiated and measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive oxidation products (TBAR). This was accompanied by 85% inhibition of myelin-associated Na+,K(+)-ATPase and 25% inhibition of 5'-nucleotidase. In contrast, CNPase activity was not altered. Studies on the shiverer mutant brain revealed that in spite of hypomyelination and prevalence of premature, myelin-like membranes in the homogenate, the myelin-related enzymes reacted as normal enzymes to peroxidation. Differences in the resistance of Na+,K(+)-ATPase to peroxidation in the brain homogenate and myelin suggest that the myelin enzyme is extremely sensitive to reactive oxygen toxicity.