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PubMed1981

Enzymatic and immunological properties of the protease form of aminopeptidase N and A from pig and rabbit intestinal brush border.

Immunological homology was shown between the active site regions of pig and rabbit aminopeptidases N and between those of the corresponding aminopeptidases A. However, no homology was detectable between the aminopeptidases N and A (EC 3.4.11.-) in a given species. The dimeric structure of pig aminopeptidases did not significantly modify their catalytic properties in aqueous solution compared to those of the monomeric rabbit enzymes. Only a slight difference in binding conditions was noted in the case of aminopeptidases N. Aminopeptidase A activity towards acidic substrates was enhanced by physiological concentrations of Ca2+ while that towards neutral substrates was considerably reduced. Therefore, acidic amino acid residues in proteins and peptides may be assumed to be mostly split off in vivo by aminopeptidase A, neutral residues by aminopeptidases N and basic residues by both enzymes. The respective specificity of aminopeptidase A and N for acidic and neutral amino acid residues was found to be mainly due to a more productive binding mode of the substrate rather than to a better affinity.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1998

Aminopeptidase activity in human nasal mucosa.

BACKGROUND: Aminopeptidases activate bradykinin and degrade many inflammatory peptides. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the types of aminopeptidase activities in human nasal mucosa. METHODS: Human nasal mucosa was homogenized (n = 12), and cytoplasmic (S2) and membrane-rich (P2) fractions were obtained. Several aminopeptidase (Ap) activities were defined by (1) substrate specificity with leucine-enkephalin (leu-Ap) and alanine-nitroanilide (ala-Ap), (2) inhibitor studies with puromycin and bestatin, (3) enzyme activity histochemistry (zymography), (4) immunohistochemistry, and (5) gel electrophoresis. Human volunteers had methacholine, histamine, and allergen nasal provocations to determine the mechanisms controlling nasal aminopeptidase secretion in vivo. RESULTS: P2 was the largest reservoir of puromycin-resistant aminopeptidase activity (630 pmol leu-enk/min/mg protein). S2 contained 32 pmol leu-enk/min/mg activity, with 80% representing puromycin-resistant activity and 20% puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PS-Ap). Ala-Ap was detected in both P2 and S2 fractions and was localized by zymography to epithelial and gland cells. Anti-rat brain-soluble PS-Ap IgG detected immunoreactive material in epithelium, glands, and endothelium. In nasal provocation studies, leu-AP correlated with glandular exocytosis but not vascular leak. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant aminopeptidase in human nasal epithelial and submucosal gland cells was membrane-bound puromycin-resistant aminopeptidase. A novel soluble puromycin-resistant aminopeptidase and lower amounts of soluble PS-Ap were also detected.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1997

Proteolytic fragmentation reveals the oligomeric and domain structure of porcine aminopeptidase A.

Aminopeptidase A (glutamyl aminopeptidase; EC 3.4.11.7) has been cloned from porcine brain and kidney cortex cDNA libraries and the complete primary sequence of the enzyme deduced. This predicts a type II integral membrane protein of 942 amino acids with 14 potential N-linked glycosylation sites and a His-Glu-Xaa-Xaa-His zinc binding motif. Aminopeptidase A was purified from porcine kidney cortex by a combination of anion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies following its release from the membrane by trypsin. The purified protein migrated as three major polypeptides on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of M(r) 147,000, 107,000, and 45,000. N-Terminal sequencing revealed that both the Mr 147,000 and 107,000 polypeptides had the same N-terminal sequence resulting from cleavage of aminopeptidase A by trypsin at the Lys-42-Asp-43 bond just outside the membrane-spanning hydrophobic region. Immunoelectrophoretic blot analysis following electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions revealed that the trypsin-cleaved form of the enzyme no longer migrated as a disulfide-linked dimer, placing the interchain disulfide link N-terminal to Lys-42. N-Terminal sequencing of the M(r) 45,000 polypeptide in the purified preparation of aminopeptidase A revealed that it resulted from cleavage at the Asn-602-Gly-603 bond by an endogenous protease. This posttranslational proteolytic cleavage occurred in porcine kidney cortex microvillar membranes but not in porcine intestinal microvillar membranes. Incubation of purified porcine kidney aminopeptidase N (membrane alanyl aminopeptidase; EC 3.4.11.2) with trypsin resulted in a similar fragmentation pattern to that observed in aminopeptidase A, suggesting that these and other members of the type II membrane-spanning zinc aminopeptidase family may have two distinct domains: an N-terminal domain, containing the zinc binding site and residues identified as being involved in catalysis, and a C-terminal domain of unknown function, that are separated by a protease-susceptible region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Contribution of molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis to the identification of two structural residues, Arg-220 and Asp-227, in aminopeptidase A.

Aminopeptidase A is a zinc metalloenzyme involved in the formation of brain angiotensin III, which exerts a tonic stimulatory action on the central control of blood pressure. Thus, central inhibitors of aminopeptidase A constitute putative central antihypertensive agents. Mutagenic studies have been performed to investigate organization of the aminopeptidase A active site, with a view to designing such inhibitors. The structure of one monozinc aminopeptidase (leukotriene A(4) hydrolase) was recently resolved and used to construct a three-dimensional model of the aminopeptidase A ectodomain. This new model, highly consistent with the results of mutagenic studies, showed a critical structural interaction between two conserved residues, Arg-220 and Asp-227. Mutagenic replacement of either of these two residues disrupted maturation and subcellular localization and abolished the enzymatic activity of aminopeptidase A, confirming the critical structural role of these residues. In this study, we generated the first three-dimensional model of a strict aminopeptidase, aminopeptidase A. This model constitutes a new tool to probe further the active site of aminopeptidase A and to design new inhibitors of this enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

A novel aminopeptidase with highest preference for lysine.

Neuropeptides are formed from sedentary precursors to smaller, active peptides by processing enzymes cleaving at paired basic residues. The process generates peptide intermediates with additional Lys or Arg residues at their NH(2) and COOH termini; the N-terminal basic amino acids are later removed by specific aminopeptidases. We report here a novel lysine-specific aminopeptidase (KAP) of ubiquitous distribution. The enzyme was resolved from puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA), aminopeptidase B (APB), and neuron-specific aminopeptidase (NAP). It was purified by FPLC after (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation. The purified KAP had a K(m) of 333 microM with a V(max) of 0.7 nmol Lys ssNA/min/mg protein. N-terminal basic amino acids, Lys in particular, were its favorable substrates. KAP was inhibited by chelating agents and by serine protease inhibitors. It was highly sensitive to aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin, but insensitive to puromycin and amastatin, showing that KAP is distinct from PSA, NAP, and aminopeptidase A (APA). The 62,000-Da enzyme had a pH optimum at 7.5 and NaCl was its strongest activator. However, metals could not restore KAP's activity after it was dialyzed against EGTA. Our data indicated that rat KAP did not resemble any aminopeptidases as well as the microbial lysine aminopeptidases.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1985

Purification of three aminopeptidases from human maternal serum.

Three aminopeptidases (I--III) were purified from maternal serum using sequential chromatographic fractionations. Aminopeptidase I was specific for N-terminal alpha-L-dicarboxylic acid residues and activated by alkaline earth metals (Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+). It is concluded that aminopeptidase I is aminopeptidase A (L-alpha-aspartyl-(L-alpha-glutamyl)-peptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.11.7). Aminopeptidase II hydrolysed all tested substrates including L-cystine and Bz-L-cysteine derivatives but preferred L-leucine derivatives. The properties of aminopeptidase II are equal to those described for the cystine aminopeptidase (oxytocinase) (EC 3.4.11.3.). Aminopeptidase III preferred L-alanine derivatives as substrates. It was activated by Co2+, but strongly inhibited by amastatin, puromycin and L-methionine. The characteristics are reminiscent of those of alanine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.-).

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed2003

Effects of morphine administration and its withdrawal on rat brain aminopeptidase activities.

The endogenous opioid neuropeptide system seems to be involved in the neural processes which underlie drug addiction. Several studies have reported that the administration of morphine induces changes in the levels and/or activity of endogenous opioid peptides (enkephalin, dynorphin) and their precursors in specific brain regions of the adult CNS. The aim of this work was to study the effects of chronic morphine exposure and its withdrawal on certain aminopeptidases capable of degrading opioid peptides in brain areas including the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum and brain cortices. In animals treated with morphine, aminopeptidase N presented higher enzyme activity levels in the striatum, the hypothalamus and the amygdala compared to control animals, although statistically significant differences were observed only in the case of the striatum. In addition, the activity of soluble puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) was found to be higher in the frontal cortex of these rats. In contrast, rats experiencing withdrawal symptoms presented decreased levels of aminopeptidase activity in certain brain areas. Thus, the activity of aminopeptidase N in the hippocampus and soluble puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase in the frontal cortex were found to be lower in rats experiencing naloxone precipitated withdrawal symptoms, compared to the corresponding controls. Finally, the activity of the three studied aminopeptidases in vitro was unaltered by incubation with morphine, suggesting that the observed effects are not due to a direct action of this opioid upon the aminopeptidases. The results of the present report indicate that aminopeptidases may play an important role in the processes of tolerance and withdrawal associated with morphine administration.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1988

Synthesis of sulfur-containing analogues of bestatin. Inhibition of aminopeptidases by alpha-thiolbestatin analogues.

Sulfur-containing amino acid and peptide analogues of bestatin [((2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-butanoyl)-L-leucine] (1) have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of aminopeptidase M (AP-M), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and aminopeptidase B (AP-B). The 2-thiolbestatin analogue (6) was found to be a potent inhibitor of all three aminopeptidases (AP-M, Ki = 4.4 microM; LAP, Ki = 0.55 microM; AP-B, Ki = 4.6 nM) but only a slightly better inhibitor of these aminopeptidases than the parent hydroxy-containing compound 1. Synthetic analogues of L-leucinethiol(4), a strong inhibitor of aminopeptidases, were prepared in which the carbon alpha to the thiol groups was substituted with methyl, methyl carboxylate, and carboxamide derivatives and found to be much weaker inhibitors of all aminopeptidases. A thioamide analogue of bestatin (49) is a modest inhibitor of AP-M (Ki = 40 microM), LAP (Ki = 0.33 microM), and AP-B (Ki = 2.4 microM). These results suggest that the sulfur atoms in 2-thiolbestatin and bestatin thioamide do not interact strongly with the active-site zinc atom of these aminopeptidases when the inhibitors are bound to the enzyme. These results are not consistent with proposed models for the inhibition of aminopeptidases by bestatin and related analogues.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1992

Aminopeptidase activity in the jejunal and ileal Peyer's patches of the albino rabbit.

The objectives of this study were (a) to compare the aminopeptidase activity in the Peyer's patches of the jejunum and ileum of the albino rabbit against that in the adjacent patch-free segments and (b) to determine the relative sensitivities of the aminopeptidase activity in the Peyer's and non-Peyer's patches to aminopeptidase inhibitors and penetration enhancers. The results indicated that the Peyer's patches were about equal in aminopeptidase activity in the jejunum and in the ileum but were only 20-30% as rich in aminopeptidase activity as their neighboring patch-free areas. Compared to non-Peyer's patches, the aminopeptidase activity in the Peyer's patches was not as sensitive to the inhibitory effect of amastatin. It was, however, much more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of puromycin and p-chloromercuribenzoate and was somewhat more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of Na deoxycholate, Na glycocholate, and polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether. Therefore, based on substrate preferences and on the relative sensitivity of aminopeptidase activity to inhibition by aminopeptidase inhibitors and penetration enhancers, the relative proportions of various aminopeptidases in the Peyer's patches and in the non-Peyer's patches are likely different.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1991

Enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase in the longitudinal muscle layer of guinea pig small intestine: its properties and action on neuropeptides.

A membrane-bound enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase was purified from the longitudinal muscle layer of the guinea pig small intestine by four steps of column chromatography using L-tyrosine beta-naphthylamide. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 105,000 by gel filtration. The maximum activity was observed between pH 6.5 and 7.0. The Km value for leucine-enkephalin was 137 microM. The aminopeptidase activity toward aminoacyl beta-naphthylamide substrates was restricted to basic, neutral, and aromatic aminoacyl derivatives. No action was detected on acidic amino acid and proline derivatives. The enzyme was potently inhibited by the aminopeptidase inhibitors actinonin, amastatin, and bestatin, and bioactive peptides such as angiotensin III, substance P, and Met-Lys-bradykinin. The enzyme activity was also inhibited by the antibody against the purified serum enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase of guinea pig at concentrations similar to those at which activity was observed toward serum enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase and renal aminopeptidase M. The enzyme rapidly hydrolyzed Leu-enkephalin and Met-enkephalin with the sequential removal of the N-terminal amino acid residues. The enzyme also hydrolyzed two enkephalin derivatives, angiotensin III and neurokinin A. However, neurotensin, substance P, and bradykinin were not cleaved. These properties indicated that the membrane-bound enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase in the longitudinal muscle layer of the small intestine is similar to the serum enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase and resembles aminopeptidase M. It is therefore suggested to play an important role in the metabolism of some bioactive peptides including enkephalin in peripheral nervous systems in vivo.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1975

Aminopeptidases of Bacillus subtilis.

Three enzymes with L- and one enzyme with D-aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11; alpha-aminoacyl peptide hydrolase) activity have been separated from each other and partially purified from Bacillus subtilis 168 W.T., distinguished with respect to their molecular weights and catalytic properties, and studied in relation to the physiology of this bacterium. One L-aminopeptidase, designated aminopeptidase I, has a molecular weight of 210,000 +/- 20,000, is produced early in growth, and hydrolyzes L-alanyl-beta-naphthylamide most rapidly. Another, designated aminopeptidase II, molecular weight 67,000 +/- 10,000, is also produced early in growth and hydrolyzes L-lysyl-beta-naphthylamide most rapidly. A third, aminopeptidase III, molecular weight 228,000 +/- 20,000, is produced predominantly in early stationary phase and most efficiently utilizes L-alpha-aspartyl-beta-naphthylamide as substrate. The synthesis of aminopeptidase III in early stationary phase suggests that selective catabolism of peptides occurs at this time, perhaps related to the cessation of growth or the onset of early sporulation-associated events. A D-aminopeptidase which hydrolyzes the carboxyl-blocked dipeptide D-alanyl-D-alanyl-beta-naphthylamide (as well as D-alanyl-beta-naphthylamide and D-alanyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine) has also been identified, separated from aminopeptidase II, and purified 170-fold. D-Aminopeptidase, molecular weight 220,000 +/- 20,000, is localized predominantly in the cell wall and periplasm of the organism. This evidence and the variation of the activity during the growth cycle suggest an important function in cell wall or peptide antibiotic metabolism.

Alanine↗

PubMed1992

Inhibition by converting enzyme inhibitors of pig kidney aminopeptidase P.

Several inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme were also found to inhibit aminopeptidase P, whereas inhibitors of other mammalian aminopeptidases were ineffective. Aminopeptidase P purified from pig kidney cortex was found to contain one atom of zinc per polypeptide chain, confirming its metalloenzyme nature. The concentrations of converting enzyme inhibitors required to cause 50% inhibition (I50) of aminopeptidase P were in the low micromolar range. The most potent converting enzyme inhibitors toward aminopeptidase P were the carboxylalkyl compounds, cilazaprilat, enalaprilat, and ramiprilat (I50 values of 3-12 microM). The sulfhydryl compounds captopril (I50 110 microM) and YS980 (I50 20 microM) were slightly less potent at inhibiting aminopeptidase P. In contrast, the carboxylalkyl compounds benazeprilat, lisinopril, and pentoprilat; the sulfhydryl compound rentiapril; and the phosphoryl compounds ceranopril and fosinoprilat had no inhibitory effect against aminopeptidase P. This compares with I50 values in the 1-6 nM range for these inhibitors with angiotensin converting enzyme. Inhibition of aminopeptidase P may account for some of the effects or side effects noted with the clinical use of converting enzyme inhibitors. These results may provide the basis for the design of more selective inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme or mixed inhibitors of aminopeptidase P and angiotensin converting enzyme, or both.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1976

The role of aminopeptidases in inflammatory and neoplastic tissues.

The role of leucine andalanine aminopeptidases is stidued in three different biologic systems: experimental wound healing in the rat, experimental carrageenan induced intraderman granulomas in the rat, and human laryngeal carcinomas. The wound healing experiments indicate that the proliferating granulation tissue has high quantities of aminopeptidases activity which is residing primarily intracellularly in granulocytes, macrophages, mast cells fibroblasts, and new budding vessels. The quantititave levels of tissue aminopeptidases correlate positively with the degree of cellularity of the wound and fibroblastic activity. Some aminopeptidases (isoenzymes) are secreted or released by the fibroblasts in be blood serum. Starch gel electrophoretic analysis demonstrates thses with different concentrations and migration rates. Two are probably released or secreted into the serum, and th third is membranous bound in the cytoplasm (lysosomal). The carrageenan intradermal granuloma demonstrates a different inflammatory reaction which is rich in macrophages and produces a different pattern of aminopeptidases activity. Macrophages produce a high tissue level of aminopeptidase activity which is intracellular bound and not readily leached out into the serum. Gel electrophoresis studies of aminopeptidases produced by the granuloma demonstrate that the tissue bound enzyme is the main component. In addition, there appears to be a mechanism, which is not understood, for specific induction or activation of lysosomal proteolytic and carbohydrase enzymes. This mechanism is dependent on the nature of composition of the injuring agent. Laryngeal carcinomas demonstrate high tissue homogenate levels and normal serum levels of aminopeptidase activities. These enzymes are located in the tumor stroma. They are not directly related to tumor invasiveness but to the degree of stromal proliferation. The tumor stroma behaves as though it were a non-healing wound constantly secreted proteolytic enzymes (aminopeptidases). A major problem that needs to be resolved is to find the operating mechanism by which malignant cells interact with their constantly proliferating fibroblastic stroma.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1993

CD13 (GP150; aminopeptidase-N): predominant functional activity in blood is localized to plasma and is not cell-surface associated.

This study is the first to report the presence of CD13/glycoprotein 150 (GP150)/aminopeptidase-N activity in cell-free plasma. We have determined that aminopeptidase-N in plasma provides, quantitatively, aminopeptidase-N's predominant functional activity within flowing blood. Thus, while aminopeptidase-N activity observed in whole blood can be partly, but significantly, blocked by the CD13 monoclonal antibody (MAB) WM15, the magnitude of such inhibition is low (< 25%) and similar to that observed using washed cell fractions selectively enriched for neutrophils (30.6% inhibition) or monocytes (21.8% inhibition). Plasma, free of cell components, possesses substantial aminopeptidase-N activity that is largely inhibitable (> 70%) by WM15. Blood collected into heparin or citrate yields similar data, while blood collected into EDTA gives rise to reduced CD13/aminopeptidase-N activity, consistent with inhibition of the known heavy-metal ion association necessary for proper functioning of this molecule. Although monocyte- and granulocyte-enriched cell fractions possess aminopeptidase-N activity significantly inhibitable by CD13 antibodies, lymphocyte-enriched cell fractions also possess aminopeptidase-N-like activity; however, in the latter case, this activity is not inhibitable by CD13 antibodies. Immunoaffinity isolation of plasma aminopeptidase-N has also been carried out; further characterization using functional studies and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE) electrophoresis indicates that CD13 MABs can completely clear plasma of aminopeptidase-N activity and that the purified protein has similar electrophoretic characteristics to cell-derived material. These data, therefore, provide evidence for the presence within blood both of a soluble (that is, non-cell-associated) form of CD13/GP150/aminopeptidase-N localizable to plasma and of cell-associated, aminopeptidase-N-like proteins other than CD13/GP150. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of the many functions of this molecule in blood.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed2001

First discrete autoradiographic distribution of aminopeptidase N in various structures of rat brain and spinal cord using the selective iodinated inhibitor [125I]RB 129.

The selective and potent aminopeptidase N inhibitor [125I]RB 129 has been used for the radioautographic localization of this enzyme in rat brain, spinal cord and intestine. Brain microvessels and intestine brush-border cells were shown to present a high concentration of aminopeptidase N. Moreover, a labeling of various brain structures was observed. A very high level of binding occurred in the meninges, choroid plexus, pineal gland, paraventricular nucleus and pituitary gland. Moderate to high labeling was also observed in the cortex, caudate-putamen, subthalamic nucleus, central periaqueductal gray, thalamus, as well as in the dorsal and ventral horn of the spinal cord, which are known to contain a high concentration of enkephalins, opioid receptors and neutral endopeptidase. This co-localization confirms the physiological implication of aminopeptidase N in the inactivation of enkephalins accounting for the requirement of dual inhibition of neutral endopeptidase and aminopeptidase N to observe highly significant morphine-like effects induced by the protected endogenous opioid peptides. Aminopeptidase N was also visualized in moderate to high levels in other brain structures such as the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra, hypothalamus (dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei), raphe nucleus, pontine nucleus, inferior olive, and in high concentration in the granular layer of cerebellum. In summary, aminopeptidase N has been visualized for the first time in numerous brain areas using the selective inhibitor [125I]RB 129. This iodinated probe could allow the ex vivo and in vivo localization of aminopeptidase N in various tissues to be investigated and may also be used to evaluate quantitative changes in aminopeptidase N expression in pathological situations. Aminopeptidase N, which preferably removes NH2-terminal neutral amino acids from peptides, has probably a host of substrates. Nevertheless, a certain in vivo selectivity could be achieved by the presence of the enzyme in structures where the peptide effector and its receptors are also co-localized.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Transcytosis of aminopeptidase N in Caco-2 cells is mediated by a non-cytoplasmic signal.

In Caco-2 cells, aminopeptidase N is transported to the apical membrane from the trans Golgi network by both the direct and the indirect pathway (Matter, K., Brauchbar, M., Bucher, K., and Hauri, H.-P. (1990) Cell 60, 429-437). The aim of this study was to determine the importance of the transmembrane or cytoplasmic domain of aminopeptidase N for transport of aminopeptidase N by the indirect pathway by analysis of mutated forms of aminopeptidase N recombinantly expressed in Caco-2 cells. A tail-less and two secretory forms of aminopeptidase N, all deprived of the cytoplasmic tail, were transported to the basolateral plasma membrane in proportions equivalent to the wild type enzyme. This shows that no cytoplasmic basolateral sorting signal is involved in directing aminopeptidase N to the basolateral plasma membrane. Both the wild type and the tail-less aminopeptidase N were transcytosed from the basolateral to the apical plasma membrane, whereas no transcytosis of two secretory forms could be detected, showing that the transmembrane domain is important for efficient transcytosis to take place. A significant difference in transcytosis kinetics of the human and the porcine wild type aminopeptidase N was observed. This indicates that transcytosis of aminopeptidase N from the basolateral to the apical membrane does not occur by default transport but involves an active sorting mechanism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1976

Aminopeptidase activities on the surface of mammalian cells.

Activities of hydrolytic enzymes on the surface of monkey kidney, canine kidney, L. FM3A and various tumor cells were determined and compared with those in the cell homogenate. Although aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.-) activities were always detected on the surface membrane in mammalian cells, trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase activities were not detected while slight glycosidase activity was detected in a suspension of cultured cells. The activities of alanine-, leucine-, methionine- and phenylalanine-aminopeptidases were rather high but aminopeptidase A, proline-, valine-, glycyl propline dipeptidyl-and glycyl propyl leucine-tripeptidyl-aminopeptidases showed relatively low activities. Aminopeptidase activity was also demonstrated in the isolated membrane fractions. The specific activities of enzymes in these membrane fractions were not significantly greater than in cell homogenate so it was concluded that these enzyme activities were rather loosely bound to the cell membrane. Further evidence for the localization of the aminopeptidase activities on the cell surface was obtained by using glass-bead-bound substrate and detecting the release of the terminal residues. When bestatin, a specific inhibitor against aminopeptidase B and leucine aminopeptidase, was included in the assay system for the enzyme activities on the cell surface, the enzymes were commonly inhibited in all types of cells.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed2001

Differential effects of dietary cholesterol on aminopeptidase A, B and M in the frontal cortex of male and female mice.

Although hypercholesterolemia and hypertension have been extensively associated, the regulatory mechanism underlying this relationship is poorly understood. Systemic and local renin-angiotensin systems are involved in the control of blood-pressure. Angiotensin II has been considered as the main effector peptide of renin-angiotensin system. However, other peptides derived from the metabolism of angiotensin II, as angiotensins III and IV have been shown to play significant roles. The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of dietary cholesterol on the activity of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of angiotensins II and III. Soluble and membrane-bound aminopeptidase A (aspartyl- and glutamyl-aminopeptidases), B (arginyl-aminopeptidase) and M (alanyl-aminopeptidase) activities were measured in the frontal cortex of male and female mice fed a cholesterol enriched-diet (1% cholesterol; 0.5 cholic acid). Soluble and membrane-bound aminopeptidases B and M did not change in male or female cholesterol groups. Significant increases were observed in membrane-bound aspartyl- and glutamyl-aminopeptidase activities in both cholesterol groups. Soluble aspartyl- and glutamylaminopeptidases did not change in male cholesterol group, but significant decreases were detected in female cholesterol group. Our results may indicate that the metabolism of angiotensin II to angiotensin III by aminopeptidase A is increased, but angiotensin III metabolism by aminopeptidases B and M is not modified after cholesterol intake; so cholesterol may enhance the effects of angiotensin III, at least, at the cortical level.

Aminopeptidases↗