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Alanyl aminopeptidase from human seminal plasma: purification, characterization, and immunohistochemical localization in the male genital tract.

Alanyl aminopeptidase (AAP) was purified to homogeneity from human seminal plasma. The calculated molecular weight of the purified enzyme was approximately 137,000+/-5,000 from light scattering, 140,000 (main) and 137,000 (minor) from non-denatured PAGE and 153,000 from SDS-PAGE in the absence or presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). These findings suggest that the enzyme is monomeric in form in human seminal plasma. The enzyme hydrolyzed several amino acid 4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide (MCA) substrates. The order of Kcat/Km values of AAP at optimal pH (pH 7.5) was Ala- > Lys-Ala- > or = Met- > Leu- > Phe- > Arg- > or = Arg-Arg- > Lys- > Gly-MCAs. AAP was potently inhibited by bestatin, leuhistin, actinonin, amastatin, and 1,10-phenanthroline. These findings suggest that AAP is an aminopeptidase. We determined that the amino acid sequence of the first 22 residues of the enzyme was Ser1-Thr-Thr-Pro-Ser5-Ala-Ser-Ala-Thr-Thr10-Asn-Pro-Al a-Ser-Ala15-Thr-Thr-Leu-Asp-Gln20-Ser-Lys-. This sequence was completely coincident with that downstream of the transmembrane site of human intestinal alanyl aminopeptidase N (CD13). We also isolated cDNA encoding AAP from human prostate cDNA library, sequenced its structure, and confirmed human seminal plasma AAP to be identical with alanyl aminopeptidase N. We postulated that native human seminal plasma alanyl aminopeptidase is released into the seminal plasma after the specific site is cleaved by elastase or an elastase-like enzyme. The enzyme level in human seminal plasma determined by single radial immunodiffusion was 5.2+/-3.2 mg/100 ml (mean+/-SD, n=20) in individuals 20-47 years of age. AAP was immunohistochemically stained in the luminal site-cell membrane of epithelial cells in the prostatic gland and ductuli efferentes of the testis.

Adult↗

Vacuolar/Extravacuolar Distribution of Aminopeptidases in Giant Alga Chara australis and Partial Purification of One Such Enzyme.

The presence of two major aminopeptidases (aminopeptidases I and II) in the giant alga Chara australis was shown using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Partially purified aminopeptidase I had a molecular weight of about 120,000, hydrolyzed both leucine-beta-naphthylamide (pH optimum 6.0) and alanine-beta-naphthylamide (pH optimum 7.5), and was located both inside and outside the vacuole. Aminopeptidase I was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, iodoacetic acid, 1,10-phenanthroline, and N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone. Aminopeptidase II hydrolyzed alanine-beta-naphthylamide but not leucine-beta-naphthylamide and was located only outside the vacuole.

Journal Article↗

Aminopeptidase N from Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus NCDO 573: purification and properties.

A 96 kDa aminopeptidase was purified from Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus NCDO 573. The enzyme had similar properties to aminopeptidases isolated from lactococci and lactobacilli and showed a high degree of N-terminal amino acid sequence homology to aminopeptidase N from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris. It catalysed the hydrolysis of a range of aminoacyl 4-nitroanilides and 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin derivatives, dipeptides, tripeptides and oligopeptides. In common with aminopeptidases from other lactic acid bacteria, the enzyme from Strep. salivarius subsp. thermophilus showed highest activity with lysyl derivatives but was also very active with arginyl and leucyl derivatives. Relative activity with alanyl, phenylalanyl, tyrosyl, seryl and valyl derivatives was considerably lower and with glycyl, glutamyl and prolyl derivatives almost negligible. The aminopeptidase also catalysed the hydrolysis of dipeptides and tripeptides but mostly at rates much less than that with L-lysyl-4-nitroanilide and oligopeptides. The enzyme catalysed the successive hydrolysis of various amino acid residues from the N-terminus of several oligopeptides but it was unable to cleave peptide bonds on the N-terminal side of a proline residue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac Toxin to Aminopeptidase in Susceptible and Resistant Diamondback Moths (Plutella xylostella).

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin bound to a 120-kDa protein isolated from the brush border membranes of both susceptible and resistant larvae of Plutella xylostella, the diamondback moth. The 120-kDa protein was purified by Cry1Ac toxin affinity chromatography. Like Cry1Ac-binding aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2) from other insects, this protein was eluted from the affinity column with 200 mM N-acetylgalactosamine. The purified protein had aminopeptidase activity and bound Cry1Ac toxin on ligand blots. Purified aminopeptidase was recognized by antibodies to the cross-reacting determinant found on phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-solubilized proteins. The results show that the presence of Cry1Ac-binding aminopeptidase in the brush border membrane is not sufficient to confer susceptibility to Cry1Ac. Furthermore, the results do not support the hypothesis that resistance to Cry1Ac was caused by lack of a Cry1Ac-binding aminopeptidase.

Journal Article↗

Leucine aminopeptidase from Streptomyces hygroscopicus is controlled by a low molecular weight inhibitor.

In culture filtrate of Streptomyces hygroscopicus a producer of polyketide antibiotics, a leucine aminopeptidase and its autogenous inhibitor were detected. The leucine aminopeptidase was purified 4573-fold with yield of 82% by combination of ion exchange and hydrophobic chromatography. The enzyme is monomeric with a molecular mass of 51 kDa determined by gel chromatography and 67 kDa determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Optimal activity was at pH 8.0 and 40 degrees C. The pI of leucine aminopeptidase is 8.2. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by 1,10-phenantroline, amastatin and dithiothreitol. Atomic absorption spectrometry indicated 2 mols of ion zinc per mol of enzyme. The enzyme is stable at up to 70 degrees C. Leucine aminopeptidase prefers leucine and methionine as N-terminal amino acids. Activity of leucine aminopeptidase is strongly modulated by an autogenous low-molecular weight inhibitor during fermentation, especially during periods of intensive antibiotic production.

Journal Article↗

Streptomyces griseus aminopeptidase: X-ray crystallographic structure at 1.75 A resolution.

The X-ray crystal structure of the enzyme Streptomyces griseus aminopeptidase (SGAP) has been determined in its double zinc form to 1.75 A resolution, in its apo-enzyme from (zinc removed) to 2.1 A resolution, and as a mercury replaced derivative to 2.1 A resolution. The structure solution was achieved by single isomorphous replacement with phasing from anomalous scattering (SIRAS), followed by density modification with histogram matching. The protein consists of a central beta-sheet made up of eight parallel and antiparallel strands, surrounded by helices on either side. The active site is located at the carbonyl ends of two middle strands of the beta-sheet region. Two sections of the chain that could not be traced were Glu196 to Arg202, which borders the active site, and the final seven C-terminal residues starting with Gly278. The active site contains two zinc cations, each with similar ligands, at a distance of 3.6 A from each other. An unknown molecule appears to be bound to both zinc ions in the active site at partial occupancy and has been modelled as a phosphate ion. A calcium binding site has also been identified, consistent with the observations that calcium modulates the activity of the enzyme, and increases its heat stability. The mechanism by which the calcium cation modulates enzyme activity is not apparent, since the location of the calcium binding site is approximately 25 A distant from the active site zinc ions. Comparison of the structure of SGAP to other known aminopeptidases shows that the enzyme is most similar to Aeromonas proteolytica aminopeptidase (AAP). Both enzymes share a similar topology, although the overall sequence identity is very low (24% in aligned regions). The coordination of the two active site zinc cations in SGAP resembles that of AAP. These two microbial enzymes differ from bovine lens leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) in both overall structure and in coordination of the two zinc ions.

Aeromonas↗

Localization of aminopeptidase A (angiotensinase A) in the rat and mouse kidney.

Aminopeptidase A (E.C.3.4.11.7; APA) can be demonstrated histochemically in the rat and mouse kidney by light microscopy (simultaneous azo coupling with alpha-Glu-MNA as substrate and high-purity FBB as coupling agent) mainly in the brush borders, glomeruli and portions of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. Sex and species differences are found with regard to enzyme activity and localization. The relation of aminopeptidase A to angiotensinase A was established by inhibition experiments with angiotensin II and III. The following significant differences exist with respect to other aminopeptidases (aminopeptidase M and gamma-glutamyl transferase), which were also demonstrated: APM shows no dependence on calcium ions; APM and gamma-GT are not demonstrable in the glomerulus or juxtaglomerular apparatus.

Aminopeptidases↗

Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of three distinctive genes encoding methionine aminopeptidases in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803.

Methionine aminopeptidase, known to be encoded by single genes in prokaryotes, is a cobalt-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the removal of N-terminal methionine residues from nascent polypeptides. Three ORFs encoding putative methionine aminopeptidases from the genome of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803, designated as slr0786 ( map-1), slr0918 ( map-2) and sll0555 ( map-3) were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant proteins encoded by map-1 and map-3 had much higher methionine aminopeptidase activity than the recombinant protein encoded by map-2. Comparative analysis revealed that the three recombinant enzymes differed in their substrate specificity, divalent ion requirement, pH, and temperature optima. The broad activities of the iso-enzymes are discussed in light of the structural similarities with other peptidase families and their levels of specificity in the cell. Potential application of cyanobacterial MetAPs in the production of recombinant proteins used in medicine is proposed. This is the first report of a prokaryote harboring multiple methionine aminopeptidases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Microsomal methionine aminopeptidase: properties of the detergent-solubilized enzyme.

A methionine aminopeptidase (MAP) found in rat liver microsomes behaves as membrane-bound enzyme. Triton-solubilized MAP when chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose columns was separated from other microsomal arylamidases. The enzyme hydrolyzes N-terminal methionine from methionyl-lysyl-bradykinin (Met-Lys-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg) being then characterized as a typical aminopeptidase. It also shows preferential arylamidase activity upon Met-2-naphthylamide. MAP was activated by 2-mercaptoethanol and inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Contrarily to other well characterized aminopeptidases, MAP was not affected by EDTA, puromycin or bestatin. Altogether these data suggest that MAP is a unique microsomal enzyme distinct from other previously described aminopeptidases. It could be involved in the removal of methionine from nascent peptides during protein synthesis.

Amides↗

Brain aminopeptidase activity after subacute xylene exposure.

Xylene is a neurotoxic aromatic hydrocarbon widely used in industry. In this article, the effect of subacute xylene exposure on neutral and basic aminopeptidase activities in several regions of the rat brain is described. Neutral aminopeptidase activity only decreased significantly in the thalamus. There were no changes in basic aminopeptidase activity after the solvent administration. Thus, these brain aminopeptidase activities are largely unaffected by subacute exposure to xylene, which is not the case with benzene or carbon disulfide. This could be in line with its recognized lesser toxicity at the central nervous system level.

Aminopeptidases↗

Examination of the subcellular distribution of tripeptide aminopeptidase and evaluation of its clinical usefulness in human serum.

Following electrophoretic separation, we assayed tripeptide aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.4) in human tissues and sera free of interferences by other aminopeptidases. Tripeptide aminopeptidase is distributed in various human tissues, with the highest activity observed in liver and lymphocytes. The highest specific activity of the enzyme was observed in the soluble fraction prepared from liver, and 65% of the enzyme activity in the original homogenate was recovered in this fraction. Cancerous and fetal tissues showed lower enzyme activities than normal adult tissues. Elevations of tripeptide aminopeptidase were observed in sera of patients with liver disorders, leukemias, and autoimmune diseases.

Aminopeptidases↗

Rabbit kidney aminopeptidases: purification and some properties.

Aminopeptidases (EC.3.4.11...) are widely distributed in nature and have medical and biological importance due to their function in the modification and degradation of protein. Two aminopeptidases were purified from rabbit kidney homogenate by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography columns, using aminoacyl of beta-naphthylamides and p-nitroanilides as substrates. The enzymes' homogeneity was assured by SDS-PAGE. The first enzyme (P1) has an optimum of pH 7.0, a molecular mass of 70 kDa, best catalytical efficiency for methionyl-beta-naphthylamide, is 70% inhibited by 0.5 mM Zn2+ and Co2+ ions, 3.33 mM sodium hydrocortisone succinate and 0.08 mM p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, and is little or not inhibited by EDTA, amino acids, p-nitroaniline, beta-naphthylamine, deoxicholate, bestatin and puromycin. The second enzyme (P2) has an optimum of pH 7.0, a molecular mass of 54 kDa, best catalytical efficiency for Leu-beta-naphthylamide, is inhibited by 0.5 mM ions Zn2+ (45%), 0.02 mM EDTA (94%) 0.08 mM p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (70%), 3.33 mM beta-ME (13%), 1.33 mM p-nitroaniline (40%), 1.33 mM beta-naphthylamine (17%), 1.33 mM sodium deoxicholate (96%), 3.33 mM sodium hydrocortisone succinate (60%), and is 30% activated by 0.5 mM Co2+ ions. Puromycin and bestatin are competitive inhibitors with Ki values in 10(-6) and 10(-7) M order, respectively. P1 is a methionine aminopeptidase, while P2 is a leucine aminopeptidase.

Aminopeptidases↗

Molecular cloning and expression of aminopeptidase A isoforms from rat hippocampus.

The full-length cDNA encoding aminopeptidase A (APAL) was cloned from a rat hippocampus cDNA library. A short variant aminopeptidase A (APAS), produced by deletion, was also cloned. In the case of APAL, the longest open reading frame encodes 945 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 108 kDa, and the deduced amino acid sequence shows 76, 86 and 78% identity with its human, murine and porcine counterparts, respectively. Rat aminopeptidase A mRNAs were detected in the kidney, liver, heart and brain by Northern blot analysis. When overexpressed in COS-1 cells, APAL shows apparent aminopeptidase A activity, whereas APAS does not.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Oleate, linoleate and cholesterol differently modify aspartyl- and glutamyl-aminopeptidase activities in primary cultures of rat astrocytes.

The intake of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids has been associated with a minor risk of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. Changes in levels of fatty acids may also modify the cell activity and may be related with alterations in different regulatory processes. Aminopeptidases are zinc-metalloenzymes which metabolise circulating peptide hormones in several tissues. Glutamyl-aminopeptidase (GluAP) and to a lesser extent, aspartyl-aminopeptidase (AspAP), are related with angiotensin metabolism in the renin-angiotensin system. The present work was designed to study the effect of a range of concentrations (1-100 microM) of oleic and linoleic acids and cholesterol present in the culture medium on the activity of GluAP and AspAP in the culture of rat cerebral cortical astrocytes taken from 21-day-old fetuses. The results showed that oleic acid inhibits, while linoleic acid stimulates the activity of AspAP. Both fatty acids inhibit the activity of GluAP. Cholesterol stimulates the activity of both enzymes. On the basis of these results, a functional link may exit between the effects of fatty acids on hypertension and the modulation of aminopeptidase activity by these compounds in rat astrocytes, as an example of target cell type in the central nervous system.

Aminopeptidases↗

Inhibition of bovine lens leucine aminopeptidase by bestatin: number of binding sites and slow binding of this inhibitor.

Aminopeptidases catalyze the hydrolysis of amino acid residues from the amino terminus of peptide substrates. Their activity has been implicated in myriad fundamental biochemical and physiological processes, and alterations in aminopeptidase activity have been correlated with a variety of pathologies. Nevertheless, information about this group of proteases is less well developed. Bovine lens leucine aminopeptidase (blLAP) can be considered prototypical of many enzymes in this family of peptidases. It shows common features of (1) requiring divalent metal ions for activity, (2) having a relatively large size, and (3) having slow, relatively tight binding of bestatin, a transition-state analog of the substrate PheLeu. Bovine lens LAP is the only bestatin-inhibitable aminopeptidase for which structural and mechanistic data are available. However, full exploitation of these data required knowledge of the number of inhibitor molecules bound per subunit. Independent direct binding experiments and kinetic determinations indicate that one bestatin is bound per subunit in blLAP. Ki and Ki* for formation of the initial and final complexes are approximately 1.1 x 10(-7) and 1.3 x 10(-9) M, respectively. The mode of binding is slow and competitive. The t1/2 for formation and deformation of the final enzyme-inhibitor complex is approximately 30 and 22 min, respectively, with 10(-8) M bestatin. To perform these measures, a new assay using physiological peptides (LeuGlyGly) as substrate was adapted. Taken together with prior NMR, photoaffinity labeling, and crystallographic data, these binding data allow us to propose a mechanism of the blLAP-catalyzed hydrolysis of peptides.

Aminopeptidases↗

Inhibition of aminopeptidases by peptides containing ketomethylene and hydroxyethylene amide bond replacements.

Inhibitors of aminopeptidase enzymes have been prepared by the synthesis of peptide substrate analogues in which the scissile amide bond has been replaced with the hydrolytically stable ketomethylene (-COCH2-) and hydroxyethylene [-CH(OH)CH2-] functionalities. Two synthetic strategies were used to prepare the inhibitors, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed. The synthesis of peptides that contain the hydroxyethylene isostere was complicated by competing lactone and lactam formation, and attempts to prepare free N-terminal dipeptide hydroxyethylene isostere derivatives were unsuccessful. All ketomethylene isosteres examined were weak inhibitors of both leucine aminopeptidase and aminopeptidase M. However, the ketomethylene inhibitor LysK(RS)Phe (58) (Ki = 4 nM) is a potent inhibitor comparable to the natural product, arphamenine A (ArgKPhe; Ki = 2.5 nM). Normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics for inhibition of membrane leucine aminopeptidase are observed in the absence of magnesium ion, but nonlinear kinetics were obtained in the presence of Mg2+.

Alkenes↗

Investigation of subsite preferences in aminopeptidase A (EC 3.4.11.7) led to the design of the first highly potent and selective inhibitors of this enzyme.

The study of the physiological roles of the membrane-bound zinc-aminopeptidase A (glutamyl aminopeptidase, EC 3.4.11.7) needs the design of efficient and selective inhibitors of this enzyme. An acute exploration of aminopeptidase A active site was performed by a combinatorial approach using (3-amino-2-mercapto-acyl)dipeptides able to fit its S(1), S(1)', and S(2)' subsites. This analysis confirmed that the S(1) subsite is optimally blocked by a glutamate or isosteric residues and demonstrated that the S(1)' subsite is hydrophobic whereas the S(2)' subsite recognizes preferentially negatively charged residues derived from aspartic acid. The optimization of these structural parameters led to the synthesis of nanomolar and subnanomolar inhibitors of aminopeptidase A such as H(3)N(+)CH(CH(2)CH(2)SO(3)(-))CH(SH)CO-Ile-(3-COOH)Pro that exhibits a K(i) of 0.87 nM. The best compounds were synthesized by a stereochemically controlled route. These first described highly potent inhibitors could allow studies about the role of physiological substrates of APA such as angiotensin II and cholecystokinin CCK(8) in the central nervous system.

Aminopeptidases↗

Regulation of aminopeptidase A in human brain tumor vasculature: evidence for a role of transforming growth factor-beta.

Angiotensin peptides are potent vasoconstrictors, cell growth factors, and neuromodulators in normal and pathological situations. To assess the potential role of the angiotensins in brain tumor-associated vessels, the expression of the enzymes of the angiotensin cascade were evaluated in these tumors. The production of these bioactive peptides is dependent on the activities of exopeptidases, including several aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases, producing angiotensin (Ang) I, II, III, IV and Ang 1-7. Human cerebral parenchymal and glioblastoma cells expressed renin, and tumor vasculature, but not glioblastoma cells, expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme. High aminopeptidase A (APA) activity, but no aminopeptidase N/B activity, was observed in human brain tumor vasculature, suggesting a predominant production of Ang III. Grafting of rat glioma cells in rat brains yielded tumors with high APA and low aminopeptidase N/B activities in tumor vessels, confirming human results. Tumor growth and APA activity in tumor vessels were not affected by chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. The brain-derived EC219 endothelial cells expressed high APA activity, which was not involved in endothelial cell proliferation, but was down-regulated by exposure of cells to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) or to TGF beta-secreting tumor cells, suggesting a role for this peptide in the control of APA activity in cerebral vasculature. Thus, APA is a potential marker of chronic dysfunction, involving loss of TGF beta function, of the metabolic blood-brain barrier, but not of neovascularization.

Aminopeptidases↗