PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Ogishima

Publications and source records attributed to T Ogishima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Recognition of mitochondrial protein precursor lacking arginine at position -2 by mitochondrial processing peptidase: processing of bovine cytochrome P450(SCC) precursor.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) specifically cleaves off the N-terminal presequence of the mitochondrial protein precursor. Previous studies demonstrated that Arg at position -2 from the cleavage site, which is found among many precursors, plays a critical role in recognition by MPP. We analyzed the structural elements of bovine cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme precursor [pre-P450(SCC)], which has Ala at position -2, for recognition by MPP. Replacement of Ala position -2 of pre-P450(SCC) with Arg resulted in an increase in the cleavage rate. Replacement with Gly caused a reduction in the cleavage rate and the appearance of an additional cleavage site downstream of the authentic site. A pre-P450(SCC) mutant with Met at position -2 retained cleavage efficiency equal to that of the wild type. These results indicate that -2 Ala of pre-P450(SCC) is recognized by MPP as a determinant for precise cleavage, and that the amino acid at -2 is required to have a straight methylene chain for interaction with the S(2) site. The preference for distal basic residues, a hydrophobic residue at +1, and hydroxyl residues at +2 and +3, was almost the same as those of the precursors with Arg at -2, indicating that the recognition mechanism of pre-P450(SCC) by MPP is essentially the same as that of the precursors with Arg at position -2.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Glycine-rich region of mitochondrial processing peptidase alpha-subunit is essential for binding and cleavage of the precursor proteins.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase, a metalloendopeptidase consisting of alpha- and beta-subunits, specifically recognizes a large variety of mitochondrial precursor proteins and cleaves off amino-terminal extension peptides. The alpha-subunit has a characteristic glycine-rich segment in the middle portion. To elucidate the role of the region in processing functions of the enzyme, deletion or site-directed mutations were introduced, and effects on kinetic parameters and substrate binding of the enzyme were analyzed. Deletion of three residues of the region, Phe(289) to Ala(291), led to a dramatic reduction in processing activity to practically zero. Mutation of Phe(289), Lys(296), and Met(298) to alanine resulted in a decrease in the activity, but these mutations had no apparent effect on interactions between the two subunits, indicating that reduction in processing activity is not due to structural disruption at the interface interacting with the beta-subunit. Although the mutant enzymes, Phe289Ala, Lys296Ala, and Met298Ala, had an approximate 10-fold less affinity for substrate peptides than did that of the wild type, the deletion mutant, delta 289-291, showed an extremely low affinity. Thus, shortening of the glycine-rich stretch led to a dramatic reduction of interaction between the enzyme and substrate peptides and cleavage reaction, whereas mutation of each amino acid in this region seemed to affect primarily the cleavage reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A proposed common structure of substrates bound to mitochondrial processing peptidase.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP), a metalloendopeptidase consisting of alpha- and beta-subunits, specifically cleaves off the N-terminal presequence of the mitochondrial protein precursor. Structural information of the substrate bound to MPP was obtained using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurement. A series of the peptide substrates, which have distal arginine residues required for effective cleavage at positions -7, -10, -14, and -17 from the cleavage site, were synthesized and covalently labeled with 7-diethyl aminocoumarin-3-carboxylic acid at the N termini and N,N'-dimethyl-N-(iodoacetyl)-N'-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)ethylenediamine (IANBD) at position +4, as fluorescent donor and acceptor, respectively. When the peptides were bound to MPP, substantially the same distances were obtained between the two probes, irrespective of the length of the intervening sequence between the two probes. When 7-diethylamino-3-(4'-maleimidyl phenyl)-4-methyl coumarin was introduced into a single cysteine residue in beta-MPP as a donor and IANBD was coupled either at the N terminus or the +4 position of the peptide substrate as an acceptor, intermolecular FRET measurements also demonstrated that distances of the donor-acceptor pair were essentially the same among the peptides with different lengths of intervening sequences. The results indicate that the N-terminal portion and the portion around the cleavage site of the presequence interact with specific sites in the MPP molecule, irrespective of the length of the intervening sequence between the two portions, suggesting the structure of the intervening sequence is flexible when bound to the MPP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of recognition elements for mitochondrial processing peptidase using artificial amino acids: roles of the intervening portion and proximal arginine.

We recently demonstrated, using synthetic peptides modeled on the extension peptide of malate dehydrogenase, that amino acid residues present at the proximal and distal positions relative to the cleavage site are critical determinants for the recognition of substrates by mitochondrial processing peptidase [Niidome et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24719-24722). While the proximal arginine is unexceptionally located at the -2 position, the position of the distal residue varies among mitochondrial precursor proteins. Between the proximal and distal residues, proline and/or glycine are present in most mitochondrial precursor proteins, and they are considered to play a role in the specific recognition of a substrate by the peptidase. To elucidate the role of the intervening portion, we introduced a non-natural amino acid [2-(2-aminoethoxy)acetic acid] between the distal and proximal residues. We also analyzed the functional elements in the proximal arginine by replacing the residue with various arginine or lysine analogs. The results of kinetic studies indicated that the intervening portion should be flexible for efficient processing, and that the guanidino group of the proximal arginine is recognized by the peptidase through hydrogen and ionic bonds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cooperative formation of a substrate binding pocket by alpha- and beta-subunits of mitochondrial processing peptidase.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) specifically recognizes a large variety of mitochondrial precursor proteins and cleaves off N-terminal extension peptides. The enzyme is a metalloprotease and forms a heterodimer consisting of structurally related alpha- and beta-subunits. To investigate the responsibility of MPP subunits for substrate recognition, we monitored interaction of the fluorescent-labeled peptide substrates with the MPP and its subunits. The specific binding of the peptide to the MPP was confirmed by findings of the direct participation of arginine residues in the binding, which are located at position -2 and the position distal to the cleavage site and are essential for the cleavage reaction. MPP bound the substrate peptides with high affinity only in the dimeric complex, and each subunit monomer had about a 30-fold less affinity than the complex. The individual subunit required arginines at different positions in the peptide for binding, although their affinities were much lower than that of MPP. Fluorescence quenching analysis showed that the peptide bound to MPP was buried in the enzyme. Thus, both subunits of MPP might be required for formation of a substrate binding pocket with multiple subsites lying across them.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glutamate residues required for substrate binding and cleavage activity in mitochondrial processing peptidase.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase, a metalloendopeptidase consisting of alpha- and beta-subunits, specifically recognizes a large variety of mitochondrial precursor proteins and cleaves off N-terminal extension peptides. The enzyme requires the basic amino acid residues in the extension peptides for effective and specific cleavage. To elucidate the mechanism involved in the molecular recognition of substrate by the enzyme, several glutamates around the active site of the rat beta-subunit, which has a putative metal-binding motif, H56XXEH60, were mutated to alanines or aspartates, and effects on kinetic parameters, metal binding, and substrate binding of the enzyme were analyzed. None of mutant proteins analyzed was impaired in dimer formation with the alpha-subunit. Mutation of glutamates at positions 79, 129, and 136, in addition to an active-site glutamate at position 59, resulted in a marked decrease in cleavage efficiency. Together with sequence alignment data, glutamate 136 appears to be involved in metal binding. Glutamate 129 is mostly responsible for the catalysis, as there was a considerable decrease in kcat value by the mutation. Mutation of glutamate 79 led to decrease in kcat value and increase in Km values. Substrate binding experiments using an environmentally sensitive fluorescence probe attached to the peptide showed that the mutation caused a remarkable environmental change at the binding site to the N-terminal region of the substrate peptide and decreased binding of the peptide, thereby suggesting that glutamate 79 participates primarily in substrate binding. Thus, some glutamate residues required for substrate binding and cleavage activity have been identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of alpha-subunit of mitochondrial processing peptidase in substrate recognition.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase is a heterodimer consisting of alpha-mitochondrial processing peptidase (alpha-MPP) and beta-MPP. We investigated the role of alpha-MPP in substrate recognition using a recombinant yeast MPP. Disruption of amino acid residues between 10 and 129 of the alpha-MPP did not essentially impair binding activity with beta-MPP and processing activity, whereas truncation of the C-terminal 41 amino acids led to a significant loss of binding and processing activity. Several acidic amino acids in the region conserved among the enzymes from various species were mutated to asparagine or glutamine, and effects on processing of the precursors were analyzed. Glu353 is required for processing of malate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and adrenodoxin precursors. Glu377 and Asp378 are needed only for the processing of aspartate aminotransferase and adrenodoxin precursors, both of which have a longer extension peptide than the others studied. However, processing of the yeast alpha-MPP precursor, which has a short extension peptide of nine amino acids, was not affected by these mutations. Thus, effects of substitution of acidic amino acids on the processing differed with the precursor protein and depended on length of the extension peptides. alpha-MPP may function as a substrate-recognizing subunit by interacting mainly with basic amino acids at a region distal to the cleavage site in precursors with a longer extension peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Importance of residues carboxyl terminal relative to the cleavage site in substrates of mitochondrial processing peptidase for their specific recognition and cleavage.

We previously identified distal and proximal arginine residues in the N-terminal portion and an aromatic amino acid at position 1 (P1' site3) relative to the cleavage site as important recognition signals in substrates of mitochondrial processing peptidase [Niidome, T., Kitada, S., Shimokata, K., Ogishima, T., and Ito, A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24714-24722; Ogishima, T., Niidome, T., Shimokata, K., Kitada, S., and Ito, A. (1995) ibid. 270, 30322-30326]. To further elucidate the elements required for the specific recognition and cleavage by the enzyme, we synthesized synthetic peptides that possessed only the distal and proximal arginine residues and phenylalanine at the P1' site in a poly alanine sequence, and analyzed the processing reaction toward them. They were not cleaved by the peptidase although they inhibited the peptidase activity. However, when serine was introduced into the C-terminal portions of the sequence, processing was observed. The efficiency of the resultant peptides improved as the number of serine residues was increased. A peptide with serine or histidine at P2' and threonine at P3' was processed most efficiently. These results indicate that the processing reaction catalyzed by the peptidase depends not only on the N-terminal portion but also on the C-terminal portion from the cleavage site in the substrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Substrate recognition by mitochondrial processing peptidase toward the malate dehydrogenase precursor.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) cleaves the extension peptides of precursor proteins newly imported into the mitochondria. Using synthetic oligopeptides modeled on the extension peptide of malate dehydrogenase, the critical elements of the substrate for the processing of MPP were determined [Niidome, T., Kitada, S., Shimokata, K., Ogishima, T., and Ito, A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24719-24722; Ogishima, T., Niidome, T., Shimokata, K., Kitada, S., and Ito, A. (1995) ibid. 270, 30322-30326]. In the present study, we constructed mutant precursors and compared the processing reaction with that of the peptide substrates to confirm the validity of use of peptide substrates. In both cases, the arginine residue presents at a proximal (-2) position relative to the processing site proved to be important for the processing. The distal arginine residue at position 7 was replaceable with alanine with no significant loss in cleavage efficiency if the precursor protein contained two consecutive arginine residues at a proximal position, although the arginine residue at a position 7 was indispensable in the model peptide. The proline residue, lying between the distal and proximal arginine residues, which is assumed to break a continuous alpha-helix region in the extension peptide, was needed for the processing. This peptidase has a preference for aromatic amino acids at the P1' site. These results were essentially the same as those obtained with model peptides except for the role of the distal arginine. We also found that amino acids at P2' and P3' sites had some effects on the processing. Thus we concluded that an effective combination of model peptides with precursor proteins is needed for the studies on MPP responsible substrate-recognition mechanisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of basic amino acids in the cleavage of synthetic peptide substrates by mitochondrial processing peptidase.

Our recent experiments using model peptides of rat malate dehydrogenase (MDH) indicated that a proximal arginine and a distal basic amino acid are important for processing by mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP). [Niidome, T., Kitada, S., Shimokata, K., Ogishima, T., and Ito, A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24719-24722]. To elucidate if the recognition elements apply to other precursor proteins, we analyzed cleavage of model peptides of human ornithine aminotransferase (OAT). Purified peptidase cleaved peptides that corresponded to N-terminal 1-25 and 3-25 at the correct site (Gly17-Val18) at nearly equal rates. Replacement of Arg16 (-2 position) with lysine or alanine reduced the processing efficiency by 95- and 380-fold, respectively. Either deletion from Met1 to Arg10 or replacement of the basic amino acids between them decreased the processing efficiency considerably. A peptide containing Arg7 in addition to Lys4 and Arg10 was more effective than the control peptide. However, a peptide with one and two consecutive basic amino acids in the distal region had a processing efficiency close to the control peptide. These results indicated that processing of OAT was enhanced by an increase in the number of basic amino acids with a suitable distance between them. In other respects, the processing signal of OAT was essentially the same as that of MDH.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence for 54-kD protein in chicken kidney as a cytochrome P450 with a high molecular activity of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1 alpha-hydroxylase.

Conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) to the active vitamin D3, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25(OH)2D3) is catalyzed by 25(OH)D3, 1 alpha-hydroxylase(1 alpha-hydroxylase). It has been suggested that this enzyme is cytochrome P450 (P450). We purified 1 alpha-hydroxylase 430-fold from cholate-solubilized kidney mitochondria of vitamin D-deficient chickens by utilizing hydrophobic and ion-exchange column chromatographies. Enzymatic activity was assessed by measuring on HPLC the formation of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 from 25(OH)D3 in the assay mixture containing NADPH, adrenodoxin reductase, adrenodoxin as a reducing system. The purified enzyme showed a CO-difference spectrum characteristic of P450. The molecular activity of this preparation was calculated to be 8.7 pmol/min/pmol P450. This value was higher by more than 87-fold than those reported so far. The present preparation was found to contain several proteins on SDS-PAGE. Among them, only the 54-kD protein became undetectable when kidney mitochondria from normal and vitamin D-replete chickens, where 1 alpha-hydroxylase activities were 15 and 0% of that found in vitamin D-deficient chicken, respectively, were used as the starting enzyme sources. Furthermore, the band intensity of the 54-kD protein accounted for the spectrophotometrically determined amount of P450 in the preparation. These results suggest that the 54-kD protein is 1 alpha-hydroxylase.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase↗

Analysis of elements in the substrate required for processing by mitochondrial processing peptidase.

We have recently demonstrated that synthetic peptides modeled on the extension peptide of malate dehydrogenase can be a good substrate of mitochondrial processing peptidase and that arginine residues present at positions -2 or -3 and distant from the cleavage point were important for recognition by the enzyme (Niidome, T., Kitada, S., Shimokata, K., Ogishima, T., and Ito, A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24719-24722). We further investigated the elements required for substrates of the protease. To analyze the reaction by a more rapid yet quantitative method, we have developed intramolecularly quenched fluorescent substrates. Using the fluorogenic substrates we demonstrated that at least one of the proline and glycine between the distal and proximal arginine residues was also important while other connecting sequences were dispensable. In addition, the protease showed considerable preference for aromatic and, to a lesser extent, hydrophobic amino acids in the P1'-position. These results together with the previous data suggest that the proximal and distal arginine residues, proline and/or glycine between them, and P1' amino acid could be critical determinants for the specific cleavage of the substrates by the protease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A putative metal-binding site in the beta subunit of rat mitochondrial processing peptidase is essential for its catalytic activity.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) consists of alpha- and beta-subunits (alpha-MPP and beta-MPP). beta-MPP has a putative metal-binding sequence (HXXEH). To determine whether the sequence of beta-MPP is essential for the enzymatic activity, we individually mutated the histidines and glutamic acid to arginines and glutamine, respectively. The wild-type and mutated beta-MPPs were co-expressed with alpha-MPP in Escherichia coli. All three mutants had completely lost the activity, whereas the lost activity was recovered on the addition of wild-type beta-MPP. The activity of the wild-type enzyme was reduced by the mutant beta-MPPs. We conclude from these observations that the HXXEH region is involved in the formation of the active site and that beta-MPP is the catalytic subunit of MPP.

Adrenodoxin↗

Arginine residues in the extension peptide are required for cleavage of a precursor by mitochondrial processing peptidase. Demonstration using synthetic peptide as a substrate.

Mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) specifically recognizes a large variety of mitochondrial precursor proteins and correctly cleaves off the extension peptides. To determine the structure common to all the extension peptides that is required for specific recognition by MPP, we synthesized various oligopeptides of different chain lengths and amino acid sequences, based on the amino acid sequence of the extension peptide of pre-malate dehydrogenase, and determined kinetic parameters of the cleavage reactions. The minimal length of peptides for effective cleavage was 16 amino acid residues consisting of 11 and 5 residues from the cleavage site to the amino- and carboxyl-terminal sides, respectively. Two sets of basic amino acids in the peptide, the distal arginine residue at position -10 and the proximal ones at positions -3 and -2 relative to the cleavage site, were necessary for effective hydrolysis. Of these two, the residue at position -2 was more important for effective cleavage than the one at position -3 and could not be replaced by a lysine residue. The replacement of the distal arginine by lysine had no effect on the cleavage. Our study demonstrates that use of peptides with the proper length is essential for performing kinetic analyses on the cleavage reaction by MPP and that an arginine residue at position -2 to the cleavage site is necessary for the recognition and cleavage of the extension peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel cell layer without corticosteroid-synthesizing enzymes in rat adrenal cortex: histochemical detection and possible physiological role.

A stratum of cells that did not contain both aldosterone synthase cytochrome P450 (cytochrome P450aldo) and cytochrome P45011 beta was found immunohistochemically between the zona glomerulosa and the zona fasciculata of the rat adrenal cortex. As cytochromes P450aldo and P45011 beta are the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of aldosterone and corticosterone, respectively, the cells there are considered to be incapable of synthesizing both aldosterone and corticosterone. Furthermore, the cells are regarded as inert in producing adrenal androgens, because rat adrenal cortex is known to lack steroid 17 alpha-hydroxylase. Thus, the stratum is composed of cells that do not synthesize any of the major corticosteroids in significant quantities. It was 5-10 cells thick under normal feeding conditions, but diminished to 4-5 cells thick when animals were maintained under Na restriction, which is known to stimulate the secretion of angiotensin-II. When the distribution of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-labeled nuclei in the adrenocortex from BrdU-administered rats was examined, the stained nuclei were concentrated in and around the cell stratum. The pulse-chase experiments showed that the labeled cells migrated out of this layer and into the zonae fasciculata-reticularis. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that the newly discovered cell layer is the progenitor cell zone of the rat adrenal cortex.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Steroid contents and cortical steroidogenic enzymes in non-hyperfunctioning adrenal adenoma.

The recent increasing use of ultrasound and computed tomography has revealed numbers of incidentally discovered adrenal tumors. Many studies have focused on their surgical management, but the biological characteristics of these adrenal tumors have remained unclear. Adrenal tumors were resected from 10 patients who underwent gastrectomy or cholecystectomy. No signs or symptoms of adrenal hormone excess or deficiency were evident either before or after the operation. Moreover, after surgery, no major differences in signs and symptoms including blood pressure levels were observed. Before surgery, neurogenic tumors and cysts were excluded by enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Steroid contents and both the activities and amounts of steroidogenic cytochrome P-450s in the adrenocortical adenomas of these patients were examined. Microscopic examination revealed that the tumors were surrounded by a thin, non-intact capsule; the surrounding cortex was not atrophic and apparently normal; and the cells of both the tumor and adjacent portions were arranged in nests and cords. Measurements of all steroid content (pregnenolone, progesterone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone) except aldosterone in 5 resected adrenal tumors were within the normal ranges for the adrenals of 5 patients with renal cell carcinoma. Aldosterone content in tumor portions was significantly lower than in the apparently normal adrenals. Although in both tumor and adjacent portions of another 5 resected adrenal tumors the activities and amounts of cytochrome P-450s (P-450scc, P-450(11 beta), P-450aldo, P-450(17 alpha), and P-450c21) were also within the normal ranges, the activities of P-450scc and P-450(17 alpha) in the tumor portion were greater than those in the adjacent portion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

Molecular cloning of the smaller subunit(P52) of rat liver mitochondrial processing protease.

A cDNA encoding the smaller subunit (P52) of mitochondrial processing protease was isolated from a rat liver cDNA library, using cDNA fragment for yeast MAS1 as the probe. The deduced amino acid sequence is highly homologous to those of PEP from Neurospora crassa and MAS1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After in vitro transcription and translation, the precursor peptide was imported into isolated rat liver mitochondria and processed to its mature form.

Amino Acid Sequence↗