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Leucine aminopeptidase (bovine lens). Effect of pH on the relative binding of Zn2+ and Mg2+ to and on activation of the enzyme.

Incubation of leucine aminopeptidase (bovine lens) (EC 3.4.1.1) with various concentrations of Mg2+ at various pH values in 1 M KCl and 0.155 M trimethylamine-HCl at 37 degrees confirms that Mg2+ competes with Zn2+ for binding only 1 site per 54,000-dalton subunit. The ratio of the apparent association constants (1KZn:1KMg = 1KZn/Mg) at this site (site 1) was estimated to be 20,720 at pH 8.16, 10,570 at pH 8.44, 3,590 at pH 8.78, and 660 AT PH 9.14. The decrease in values of 1KZn/Mg with increasing pH in the activation of leucine aminopeptidase by Mg2+ is attributed to the lowering of the free Zn2+ concentration relative to that of free Mg2+ caused by the formation of ZnOH+ and Zn(OH)2 complexes with increasing OH- concentration. When corrections are made for the binding of Zn2+ by OH- ions, the pH-independent ratio of association constants (1KZn:1KMg = 1KZn/Mg) for the relative binding of Zn2+ and Mg2+ at site 1 of leucine aminopeptidase in 29,800. From the effect of pH on the relative binding constant, a value (beta2) for the product of the two stepwise association constants for the formation of Zn(OH)2 from Zn2+ and OH- (Zn2+ + OH- in equilibrium ZnOH+; ZnOH+ + OH- in equilibrium Zn(OH)2) was estimated to be 4.42 X 10(10) M-2 at 37 degrees. Values of Km at pH 7.5 AND 30 degrees with L-leucine p-nitroanilide as substrate in the presence of 0.01 M NaHCO3 are 4.13 and 2.01 mM for the zinc-zinc and magnesium-zinc enzymes, respectively. Values for Vmax are 0.2 and 2.49 mumol/min/mg, respectively.

Animals↗

Aminopeptidase inhibitor from Ascaris suum.

The correlation of aminopeptidase activity in the homogenate and perienteric fluid from Ascaris suum to the concentration of the studied fluids was assessed. The obtained non-linear correlations were interpreted as a result of the presence of the inhibitor. In further experiments, it was demonstrated that aminopeptidase inhibitor is present in the homogenate and perienteric fluid from A. suum. The effect of this inhibitor was studied using different substrates. The effects of the inhibitor on aminopeptidase activity of A. suum homogenate and on that of rabbit serum were studied. In other experiments it was found that an excess of the substrate impairs the effect of the inhibitor.

Aminopeptidases↗

An optimized assay of alanine aminopeptidase activity in urine.

Elaboration of an optimized kinetic test for urinary alanine aminopeptidase at 37 degrees C is described. As final concentrations, 50 mmol/L tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane x HCl buffer, pH 7.8, and 2 mmol/L alanine-4-nitroanilide are proposed. Five- to sixfold activitiy is obtained as compared with a generally used test procedure. Coefficients of variation for the method (within-run and between-day precision) ranged from 1.56 to 3.45%. Men excreted more alanine aminopeptidase than did women if urinary volume or urinary timed volume was used as basis of reference. We saw no sex-related differences in excretion of alanine aminopeptidase when enzyme excretion was related to urinary creatinine.

Adult↗

Human-liver alanine aminopeptidase. A kinin-converting enzyme sensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics.

Human liver alanine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.14; L-alpha-aminoacyl-peptide hydrolase) catalyzes the stepwise hydrolysis of methionyl-lysyl-bradykinin to yield methionine, lysine, and the limit nonapeptide, bradykinin which is resistant to further hydrolytic cleavage by this enzyme. Alanine aminopeptidase also catalyzes the hydrolysis of various neutral amino acid beta-naphthylamides. This enzyme cleaves N-terminal arginyl residues unless the adjacent penultimate residue is proline as is the case for bradykinin. The properties are consistent with the requirements of a kinin converting enzyme. Human alanine aminopeptidase activity is reduced by several beta-lactam antibiotics, with the cloxacillin, oxacillin, and methicillin Ki values being 0.51 mM, 1.6 mM, and 2.4 mM respectively. Our experiments with radioactively labelled penicillin indicate that two moles of antibiotic are bound per mole of enzyme. Neither chromatography of the penicillin-treated enzyme on G-25 Sephadex, treatment of penicillin-G-treated enzyme with penicillinase, nor extensive dilution of cloxacillin-treated enzyme diminished the degree of inactivation produced. Inhibition was obtained with 6-aminopenicillanic acid, which indicated that the penicillin nucleus itself was being bound, but substitutions, as in cloxacillin, could enhance the binding.

Aminopeptidases↗

Localization of leucine aminopeptidase in normal hog lens by immunofluorescence and activity assays.

Rabbit antisera to purified bovine lens leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1, LAP) were prepared and shown to be specific for leucine aminopeptidase alone (Taylor et al Cur Eye Res 2:47-56, 1982). When whole hog lens thin sections were treated first with these antisera and then with fluorescein conjugated goat anti-rabbit gamma globulin, greatest fluorescence was observed in the elongating epithelium and outer cortex, and significantly less fluorescence was observed in the lens core. That largest amounts of LAP are present in the epithelium is supported by activity measurements using leucylamide as substrate. The specific activity of LAP in the epithelium/outer cortex is 83 times that of LAP in the inner cortex. The concentration of posttranslationally (postsynthetically) modified and oxidized crystallins is greatest in the core, yet in this zone there is a paucity of aminopeptidase activity, possibly due to age-related degradation of the enzyme. It is possible that LAP is in association with membranes and present in nucleoplasm of rapidly metabolizing, elongating epithelial cells. These observations are discussed in relation to the possible role of proteolysis in cataractogenesis.

Absorption↗

The primary structure of leucine aminopeptidase from bovine eye lens.

The amino acid sequence of bovine eye lens leucine aminopeptidase has been determined. Cyanogen bromide fragments, the COOH-terminal hydroxylamine fragment, and a large fragment obtained by digestion with Staphylococcus aureus protease were isolated from reduced and S-alkylated leucine aminopeptidase. The amino acid sequences of these fragments were determined by automated sequence analysis, by manual direct Edman degradation, and by the dansyl-Edman technique. Overlapping peptides were obtained by tryptic digestion of the S-alkylated protein or the citraconylated S-alkylated protein. The polypeptide chain of leucine aminopeptidase comprises 478 residues, corresponding to a molecular weight of 51,691. No significant sequence homology with any other published protein primary structure could be detected. This is the first report of a complete amino acid sequence of an enzyme belonging to the class of two metal peptidases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The major protein of GLUT4-containing vesicles, gp160, has aminopeptidase activity.

A glycoprotein of M(r) 160,000 (gp160) represents the major protein component of GLUT4-containing vesicles other than GLUT4 itself. These vesicles are the tissue-specific secretory-like microsomal structures that are responsible for insulin-dependent translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface in fat and muscle cells. Our previous studies demonstrated that the expression of gp160 is also limited to fat and muscle tissues, where it is localized exclusively in GLUT4-containing vesicles, and thus, it represents a marker protein for insulin-activated glucose transport. We demonstrate here that gp160 has structural homology to aminopeptidase N and possesses aminopeptidase activity in vitro. Since aminopeptidase activity has also been found in a variety of secretory type vesicles from other tissues, it may be essential for the organization and functioning of secretory machinery in different cell types.

Adipocytes↗

The proteolytic enzymes of the K-1 strain of Streptomyces griseus obtained from a commercial preparation (Pronase). Specificity and immobilization of aminopeptidase.

We recently described the purification of two aminopeptidases from Streptomyces griseus (Vosbeck, K.D., Chow, K.-F., and Awad, W.M., Jr. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 6329-6034). An analysis of the amino acid composition reveals very little differences in the two proteins. Each protein has alanine as the NH2-terminal residue. The aminopeptidases were treated separately with acetic anhydride; as noted in the past, the presence of glycerol is required to achieve excellent yields of acetylated active derivatives (Siegel, S., and Awad, W.M., Jr. (1973 J. Biol. Chem. 248, 3233-3240). However, in the present case much higher concentrations of glycerol (50%) are needed during acetylation to obtain derivatives with completely reacted NH2-terminal residues. The epsilon-amino groups were not completely acetylated. In contrast to the native enzymes, the acetylated derivatives show an affinity for DEAE-cellulose, a property consonant with the changes in net charge. The kinetic constants for each enzyme against L-leucine-p-nitroanilide do not change significantly after acetylation. The specificities of the two aminopeptidases were examined extensively on a semiquantitative basis. The activities are not restricted by the length of substrate chains. Each enzyme shows a preference for hydrophobic residues at the ultimate and penultimate positions. Charge residues are released a slower rates. No prolidase activity is demonstrable even at high enzyme to substrate ratios; however, NH2-terminal proline residues are released readily. D-Amino acid residues at the ultimate or penultimate position substantially reduce the rate of hydrolysis; D-leucyl-D-leucine is not hydrolyzed...

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Substituting isoserine for serine in the thrombin receptor activation peptide SFLLRN confers resistance to aminopeptidase M-induced cleavage and inactivation.

Peptides containing sequences derived from the new NH2 terminus of the seven-transmembrane domain thrombin receptor after thrombin cleavage can activate platelets directly. We recently demonstrated that such peptides are readily cleaved and inactivated by plasma, serum, and endothelial cell-associated aminopeptidase M. The rapid degradation and inactivation of the peptides makes it difficult to assess dose-response relationships precisely or to conduct long term incubations with cells in the presence of plasma or serum. To overcome these problems, we first substituted D-serine for the NH2-terminal L-serine in an active peptide ligand (SFLLRNPNDKY). The D-serine derivative resisted degradation in plasma, but it is less than 1% as active as the L-serine peptide. Substituting a racemic mixture of the beta-amino acid isoserine for serine in a related peptide ligand (SFLLRN) produced an active peptide ((iso-S)FLLRN) that is approximately 15-20% as potent as SFLLRN as judged by platelet aggregation. To assess the stability of the peptides in plasma, SFLLRN (1 mM) was incubated with 50% plasma for various periods of time; after 15 min, 65% of the peptide remained intact, and after 2 h only 4% remained intact. Loss of aggregating activity paralleled the loss of intact peptide. In contrast, even after 2 h of incubation with plasma, 83% of the (iso-S)FLLRN remained intact and the aggregating activity was essentially unchanged. Qualitative differences in the patterns of platelet aggregation produced by the peptides were also observed. Thus, the distinct pattern of aggregation followed by rapid disaggregation observed with submaximal aggregating doses of SFLLRN was less evident with (iso-S)FLLRN, and inhibition of aminopeptidase M by amastatin enhanced aggregation in platelet-rich plasma induced by SFLLRN but not (iso-S)FLLRN. The (iso-S)FLLRN peptide should permit improved analysis of the effects of constant levels of peptide-induced thrombin receptor stimulation in the presence of plasma or serum, or when testing the effects of the peptide on cells that contain surface-associated aminopeptidase M.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Plasma angiotensin I concentration and serum placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activities in puerperal hypertension.

To elucidate the involvement of angiotensin in puerperal hypertension with and without preeclampsia in the course of prior pregnancy, we measured plasma angiotensin I levels and serum placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activities in several puerperal hypertensive patients. Placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activities of puerperal hypertensive patients with severe preeclampsia during prior pregnancy were equal to or somewhat lower levels than those in normal puerperal women after a normal pregnancy. However, their angiotensin I levels were higher than those in normal puerperal women after a normal pregnancy. In puerperal hypertensive patients with and without preeclampsia during prior pregnancy, P-LAP activities tended to show much lower levels that those in normal puerperal women, while angiotensin I levels tended to show much higher levels than those in normal puerperal women, respectively. Since serum placental leucine aminopeptidase acts as an angiotensinase via degradation of angiotensin III (A-III), our present data suggest the involvement of angiotensin in puerperal hypertension.

Adult↗

Aminopeptidase activities in Peptostreptococcus spp. are statistically correlated to gelatin hydrolysis.

One hundred Peptostreptococcus isolates from five species were assessed for their ability to hydrolyze gelatin. Most Peptostreptococcus magnus (95.8%) and Peptostreptococcus micros isolates (79.0%) hydrolyzed gelatin in contrast to Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus (8.0%), Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (10.0%), and Peptostreptococcus prevotii isolates (16.7%). Gelatin hydrolysis in Peptostreptococcus magnus and Peptostreptococcus micros isolates correlated (r = 0.80; P = 0.0019) with more aminopeptidases produced than Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, or Peptostreptococcus prevotii. The five species were further classified into three groups using the extended Tukey test (P < 0.0001) based on the mean percentage of aminopeptidases produced by each species with Peptostreptococcus magnus and Peptostreptococcus micros belonging to group I, Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus and Peptostreptococcus prevotii belonging to group II, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius forming group III. An analysis of possible proteolytic activity of four selected Peptostreptococcus magnus isolates indicated that only 5 of 11 substrates were hydrolyzed as compared to a control isolate of Porphyromonas gingivalis W83, which had a strong proteolytic profile. Therefore, gelatin hydrolysis by Peptostreptococcus spp., in particular Peptostreptococcus magnus and Peptostreptococcus micros, is probably due to a variety of aminopeptidases rather than proteinases.

Aminopeptidases↗

NRD convertase and aminopeptidase B: two processing metallopeptidases with a selectivity for basic residues.

An endoprotease and an aminopeptidase B were isolated from rat testis and characterized. The first one is a metalloendopeptidase of 1161 residues which contains a canonical HXXEHX76E Zn(2+)-binding site and an acidic stretch of 71 amino acids containing 79% of Glu and Asp. It exhibits an in vitro selectivity for peptide bonds at the N-terminus of Arg (R) moieties in dibasic sites and was thus called NRD convertase (Nardilysin: EC 3.4.24.61). It belongs to the pitrilysin family and shows 24 and 34% identity with E. coli protease III (EC 3.4.24.54) and insulysin (EC 3.4.24.55) respectively. The aminopeptidase B component is a 72 kDa metalloexopeptidase which is able to remove Lys and Arg residues from naphtylamide derivatives and from the N-terminus of various peptide substrates. A combination of biochemical and immunochemical studies revealed its ubiquitous character. In the testis, both enzymes are highly expressed at late stages of spermatogenesis and NRD convertase expression is exclusively restricted to the germ cells. The subcellular localization of both enzymes supports the involvement of aminopeptidase B in processing events associated with the secretory pathway but led to new hypothesis on the possible physiological role(s) of NRD convertase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Biosynthesis of leucine aminopeptidase by Xanthomonas rubrilineans 67 in culture with various concentrations of nitrogen containing compounds].

The dynamics of consumption of amine and ammonium nitrogen and glucose in the process of Xanthomonas rubrilineans 67 growth and biosynthesis of leucine aminopeptidase was studied. It was shown that the rate of leucine, alanine and glycine consumption as a source of amine nitrogen out of 16 amino acids was the highest during the fermentation. Addition of these three amino acids or their mixtures to the medium at definite stages of the fermentation process increased the leucine aminopeptidase biosynthesis by 50 to 100 per cent. Ammonium nitrogen was not used by X.rubrilineans 67. The consumption of glucose during the fermentation was even: by the 24th hour of the process the medium contained about 10 per cent of the glucose initial concentration. The optimal temperature for the culture growth and leucine aminopeptidase biosynthesis was determined. It was shown to be 28 degrees C. Higher aeration increased the culture productivity.

Alanine↗

Determination of cystyl-aminopeptidase. Isoenzymes in seminal plasma and serum of different origin.

The "oxytocinase" activity has been determined as the CAP (cystyl-aminopeptidase, EC 3.4.11.3) activity with several substrates. It was demonstrated that serum samples from pregnant women and patients with serious liver disease had increased CAP activities compared with normal serum. It was also shown that seminal plasma had very high CAP activity. The pH optimum for the enzymes from the various sources differed, as did the metal dependence. Furthermore, samples from patients with liver disease had higher CAP activities when assayed in buffers containing amino groups, in contrast to the other samples. Gel chromatography and gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of several isoenzymes. The serum from pregnant women contained an isoenzyme neither present in normal plasma nor in any of the other sources tested. It is possible that this isoenzymes represents the true oxytocinase. CAP and LAP (leucine aminopeptidase) activities were very well correlated in serum from pregnant women and seminal plasma, while the correlation for samples from patients with liver disease was not as good. When care was taken to determine the CAP activity at the right pH and with the appropriate buffer, the risk for interference from other enzymes was minimized in the determination of oxytocinase as CAP activity.

Aminopeptidases↗

Differential distribution of placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase and aminopeptidase A in human trophoblasts of normal placenta and complete hydatidiform mole.

Placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP)/oxytocinase (OTase) degrades several small peptides such as oxytocin (OT), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin III (ANGIII), and aminopeptidase A (AP-A) converts angiotensin II (ANGII) to ANGIII. These proteases play an important role in foetal growth and the maintenance of human homeostasis during pregnancy. In this study, we confirmed the distribution of P-LAP and AP-A proteins and messenger RNAs in human trophoblasts in normal placenta and complete hydatidiform mole by immunohistochemical and in-situ hybridization techniques. Immunoreactivity of P-LAP was mainly noted in the apical membrane of syncytiotrophoblasts, and the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for P-LAP was predominantly noted in the cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblastic cells. However, immunoreactivity of AP-A was mainly noted in the apical membrane of cytotrophoblasts and in the basal zone of the syncytiotrophoblasts, and the expression of mRNA for AP-A was predominantly noted in cytoplasm of cytotrophoblastic cells and a little in cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblastic cells. Thereby, the two proteases were differentially distributed both in normal placenta and hydatidiform mole throughout the gestational age. These results are useful for the further understanding of not only the pathophysiology of pregnancy, but also the pathogenesis of trophoblastic diseases.

Adult↗

X-ray structure of aminopeptidase A from Escherichia coli and a model for the nucleoprotein complex in Xer site-specific recombination.

The structure of aminopeptidase A (PepA), which functions as a DNA-binding protein in Xer site-specific recombination and in transcriptional control of the carAB operon in Escherichia coli, has been determined at 2.5 A resolution. In Xer recombination at cer, PepA and the arginine repressor (ArgR) serve as accessory proteins, ensuring that recombination is exclusively intramolecular. In contrast, PepA homologues from other species have no known DNA-binding activity and are not implicated in transcriptional regulation or control of site-specific recombination. PepA comprises two domains, which have similar folds to the two domains of bovine lens leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). However, the N-terminal domain of PepA, which probably plays a significant role in DNA binding, is rotated by 19 degrees compared with its position in LAP. PepA is a homohexamer of 32 symmetry. A groove that runs from one trimer face across the 2-fold molecular axis to the other trimer face is proposed to be the DNA-binding site. Molecular modelling supports a structure of the Xer complex in which PepA, ArgR and a second PepA molecule are sandwiched along their 3-fold molecular axes, and the accessory sequences of the two recombination sites wrap around the accessory proteins as a right-handed superhelix such that three negative supercoils are trapped.

Aminopeptidases↗

LOCALIZATION OF LEUCINE AMINOPEPTIDASE ISOENZYMES.

A simple, sensitive staining procedure for the localization of leucine aminopeptidase isoenzymes after electrophoretic separation on cellulose acetate membranes is described. Separation of leucine aminopeptidase isoenzymes, using cellulose acetate membranes, does not appear to be a rewarding diagnostic procedure in the investigation of hepatobiliary or pancreatic disorders.

Aminopeptidases↗

Existence of placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase/insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase in human endometrial epithelial cells.

Human endometrial epithelial cells are known to express oxytocin receptors around the time of ovulation. Moreover, oxytocin (OT) and OT-induced prostaglandins appear to play a pivotal role in the switching of endometrial glands from the proliferative to the secretory phase. However, there have been few studies of oxytocinase (OTase), which is identical to placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP)/insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase (IRAP). We confirmed the expression of P-LAP/OTase in human endometrium and also observed the changes in the expression of P-LAP/OTase throughout the menstrual cycle. P-LAP/OTase and its mRNA were localized in endometrial epithelial cells but not in stromal cells. In the follicular phase, immunoreactive P-LAP/OTase was homogeneously distributed on the plasma membrane and in cytoplasmic granules. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the majority of P-LAP/OTase was produced around the time of ovulation. After ovulation, the immunostaining was restricted to the glycogen-rich subnuclear vacuoles, a glandular marker of progesterone release from the corpus luteum. Thereafter, the membrane-bound P-LAP/OTase was released by apocrine secretion during the period of blastocyst implantation and became depleted toward the time of menstruation. Further understanding of the function of P-LAP/OTase in the endometrium appears likely to yield insights into the cyclic changes during the normal menstrual cycle.

Adult↗