Highly sensitive peptide-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide substrates for blood-clotting proteases and trypsin

Early NF-kappaB activation is associated with hormone-induced pancreatitis

Inflammation and cell death are critical to pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Here we show that transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which regulates these processes, is activated and plays a role in rat cerulein pancreatitis. NF-kappaB was strongly activated in the pancreas within 30 min of cerulein infusion; a second phase of NF-kappaB activation was prominent at 3-6 h. This biphasic kinetics could result from observed transient degradation of the inhibitory protein IkappaBalpha and slower but sustained degradation of IkappaBbeta. The hormone also caused NF-kappaB translocation and IkappaB degradation in vitro in dispersed pancreatic acini. Both p65/p50 and p50/p50, but not c-Rel, NF-kappaB complexes were manifest in pancreatitis and in isolated acini. Coinfusion of CCK JMV-180, which abolishes pancreatitis, prevented cerulein-induced NF-kappaB activation. The second but not early phase of NF-kappaB activation was inhibited by a neutralizing tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody. Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) blocked NF-kappaB activation and significantly improved parameters of pancreatitis. In particular, NAC inhibited intrapancreatic trypsin activation and mRNA expression of cytokines interleukin-6 and KC, which were dramatically induced by cerulein. The results suggest that NF-kappaB activation is an important early event that may contribute to inflammatory and cell death responses in acute pancreatitis.

Dynamics of clot growth induced by thrombin diffusing into nonstirred citrate human plasma

The dynamics of clot formation was studied in a two-compartment chamber designed to allow free diffusion of thrombin according to its concentration gradient into nonstirred citrate plasma or fibrinogen solution. Fibrin clots in fibrinogen solutions increased progressively until the substrate was depleted. In plasma, the clot weight dynamics significantly depended on the concentration of thrombin in the thrombin compartment. When the thrombin concentrations were extremely low (25-40 nM), the clot weight increased throughout the experiment (sometimes 20-24 h). At higher thrombin concentrations, the clot weight increased for 1-2 h and then stopped growing for the following 3-4 h. The clot weight observed at the plateau varied only slightly in the range of thrombin concentrations of 50-770 nM. In this range, high thrombin concentrations (250-770 nM) caused a second increase in the clot weight 4-8 h after the start of diffusion, which was followed by the second plateau in the curve of clot weight against time. The time to the plateau and the plateau duration decreased with increasing thrombin concentrations. The abundant plasma inhibitors of thrombin cannot account for these results. It was hypothesized that an as yet unknown mechanism is responsible for the inhibition of clot growth.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of clotting and pattern formation in human blood

We examined the spatial dynamics of in vitro clot growth in human blood and plasma and found that initially, a clot grows at a constant speed, then abruptly stops and becomes surrounded by an 'inhibition zone' in which coagulation is strongly suppressed. We also observed the formation of 'stratified structures' (target patterns) in which solid layers alternated with liquid plasma. These and other spatial regimes of clotting are explained in terms of two interacting concentration waves propagating without attenuation. The experimental results are consistent with a hypothesis that blood is a bi-excitable medium, a new type of excitable medium.

Assay of trypsin activity by capillary isoelectric focusing with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Capillary isoelectric focusing is a highly effective method for the separation of proteins due to focusing as a function of their pI values in the separation process. This technique is also effective for certain types of peptides that focus well. Fluorescence labeling and subsequent detection by laser-induced fluorescence farther enhance the sensitivity of this technique. This paper demonstrates the utility of this technique in an enzyme assay. A synthetic nona peptide, H-Gly-Cys-His-Glu-Ala-Arg-Ala-Glu-Glu-OH, was labeled with an iodoacetyl derivative of Lissamine rhodamine B at the thiol group of the cysteine residue as a substrate for trypsin. Trypsin catalyzed the cleavage of the Arg-Ala bond of the labeled substrate, which focused at pH 4.8, and liberated a shortened, labeled product, H-Gly-*Cys-His-Glu-Ala-Arg-OH that focused at pH 6.9 (* indicates the label). The product peptide at 3-300 pM was determined with a relative standard deviation of 5.5% (n = 5) by fluorescence detection at 590 nm with excitation by a green line of He-Ne laser. Incubation of trypsin with the substrate for 10 min at 37 degrees C allowed the determination of 50-250 pg of trypsin, with a relative standard deviation of 5.3% (n = 5).

Purification by column chromatographies of beta-amyloid precursor proteins and their association with other 95 kDa protein in rat brain

Beta-amyloid precursor proteins (APPs) in the subcellular fractions of the homogenate of rat brain were detected immunologically. They were found to be localized in both the cytosol and microsome fractions in generally equal amounts. APPs were purified from the cytosol fraction of rat brain by column chromatography in a DEAE-anion-exchanger, Blue-Sepharose, Ni-charged chelating Sepharose, and Sephacryl S-300 columns. They migrated at about 400 kDa or above in a final gel filtration column with trypsin inhibitor activity. They gave two broad protein bands of 80 and 100 kDa and several other protein bands in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl amide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The 80 and 100 kDa bands were highly concentrated during purification. They gave the same amino terminal sequence and were identified as rat APPs without an amino terminal signal sequence. These results suggest that rat brain APPs form a complex with themselves or with other proteins and contain APP isoforms including a serine protease inhibitor domain, APP770 or APP751, or both. An antibody produced by a rabbit immunized with the final preparation of APPs reacted with a 95 kDa protein band which migrated between the 80 and 100 kDa bands of APPs in SDS-PAGE, but it did not react with the bands of APPs. The 80 and 100 kDa APP bands were coprecipitated with a 95 kDa antigen protein band by reacting this antibody with the partially purified APPs. We conclude that APPs in the rat brain are associated directly or indirectly with another protein to yield the 95 kDa band demonstrated by SDS-PAGE.

Analysis for sites of anticoagulant action of plancinin, a new anticoagulant peptide isolated from the starfish Acanthaster planci, in the blood coagulation cascade

1. Effects of plancinin, a new anticoagulant peptide, on the human blood coagulation cascade were investigated. 2. Plancinin prolonged both activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time, and it significantly inhibited factor X activation by both intrinsic (factor IXa-factor VIIIa-phospholipids-Ca2+) and extrinsic (factor VIIa-tissue factor-phospholipids-Ca2+) tenase complexes and prothrombin activation by prothrombinase complex (factor Xa-factor Va-phospholipids-Ca2+) to 13.8%, 4.8% and 10.5% of control value, respectively. 3. Results indicate that sites of anticoagulant action of plancinin may be located in activation steps of prothrombin and factor X.

Intra-acinar cell activation of trypsinogen during caerulein-induced pancreatitis in rats

Supramaximal stimulation of the pancreas with the CCK analog caerulein causes acute edematous pancreatitis. In this model, active trypsin can be detected in the pancreas shortly after the start of supramaximal stimulation. Incubation of pancreatic acini in vitro with a supramaximally stimulating caerulein concentration also results in rapid activation of trypsinogen. In the current study, we have used the techniques of subcellular fractionation and both light and electron microscopy immunolocalization to identify the site of trypsinogen activation and the subsequent fate of trypsin during caerulein-induced pancreatitis. We report that trypsin activity and trypsinogen-activation peptide (TAP), which is released on activation of trypsinogen, are first detectable in a heavy subcellular fraction. This fraction is enriched in digestive enzyme zymogens and lysosomal hydrolases. Subsequent to trypsinogen activation, both trypsin activity and TAP move to a soluble compartment. Immunolocalization studies indicate that trypsinogen activation occurs in cytoplasmic vacuoles that contain the lysosomal hydrolase cathepsin B. These observations suggest that, during the early stages of pancreatitis, trypsinogen is activated in subcellular organelles containing colocalized digestive enzyme zymogens and lysosomal hydrolases and that, subsequent to its activation, trypsin is released into the cytosol.

Identification of the catalytic triad of the protein D2 protease in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

We reported recently that protein D2 (OprD) porin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bears protease activity (FEBS Letters 394, 179-182, 1996). To identify the catalytic residues of OprD, we introduced the site-directed mutations replacing the putative catalytic triad His156, Asp208, and Ser296 with glutamine, asparagine, and alanine, respectively. The OprD proteins purified from the chromosomal oprD-deficient mutants harboring the plasmids encoding the site-directed mutations showed protease activity less than 0.1% of that of the wild-type OprD. These site-directed mutageneses caused undetectable changes in the pore-forming activity of OprD as measured by single-channel conductance by the planar lipid bilayer. The minimum inhibitory concentration of imipenem in mutants having the replaced catalytic triads was identical with that in the wild-type strain. On the other hand, introduction of the mutation at His367 replacing with glutamine, the site that is supposed to be unrelated to the catalytic sites, showed the unchanged protease activity. These results unequivocally demonstrate that OprD is the protease bearing porin and catalyzes the reaction at His156, Asp208, and Ser296 residues.

Synthesis of monomeric and polymeric conjugates carrying a thrombin inhibitor through an ester bond

Four kinds of monomers carrying a thrombin inhibitor, (2R,4R)-4-methyl-1-[N2-[(3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-quinolinyl)sulfon yl]-L-arginyl]-2-piperidinecarboxylic acid (argatroban), were synthesized. These monomers were copolymerized with acrylamide to yield water-soluble polymeric conjugates possessing the argatroban moiety in the side chain. Their antithrombogenic activities were determined from the inhibitory effect on thrombin action and the prolongation effect on blood clotting time. The monomeric conjugates of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate (HBA) linked with argatroban through an ester bond were potent inhibitors of thrombin, prolonging the blood-clotting time, whereas a conjugate of amino methyl styrene (AMS) and argatroban through an amide bond was a less potent inhibitor than argatroban. None of the copolymers could prolong blood clotting when assessed just after preparation of their aqueous solutions, but the antithrombogenic activity of the aqueous solutions increased after incubation for 7 days at 37 degrees C for the polymeric conjugates through an ester bond. Free argatroban was detected in the aqueous solutions of polymeric conjugates after incubation, suggesting that argatroban was released by hydrolysis of the ester bond during incubation.

Thrombin-sensitive peptide linkers for biological signal-responsive drug release systems

We have previously reported an elevation of thrombin-like activity in infected wound exudates. Therefore, using this enzymatic activity as a biological signal, a system which can release an antimicrobial drug at infected wounds was investigated. In this paper, we report thrombin-sensitive peptide linkers, the key component of this system. Starting from amino acid sequences of the cleavage site in fibrinogen, which is the substrate of thrombin, we synthesized some thrombin-sensitive peptide linkers. We constructed devices in which the thrombin-sensitive peptide linker interconnected between polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and gentamicin. The device was able to release gentamicin in response to thrombin.

The mechanism by which heparin promotes the inhibition of coagulation factor XIa by protease nexin-2

Previous kinetic studies have shown that protease nexin-2 is a potent, reversible, and competitive inhibitor of factor XIa. Here we show that high molecular weight heparin potentiates the ability of protease nexin-2 to inhibit factor XIa with a parabolic concentration dependence, predominantly because of an increase of the association rate constant with little perturbation of the dissociation rate constant. No effect on factor XIa inhibition by protease nexin-2 was observed with heparin preparations of 6-22 saccharide units (0.1 nM-10 microM), whereas heparin preparations with 32-64 saccharide units potentiated factor XIa inhibition by protease nexin-2 in a size- and concentration-dependent manner. We propose a model wherein heparin exerts this effect by providing a template for the assembly of factor XIa-protease nexin-2 complexes, and only heparin polymers consisting of greater than 32 saccharide units (Mr approximately 10,000) are sufficiently long to provide a template to which factor XIa and protease nexin-2 molecules can bind simultaneously. Heparin-mediated enhancement of factor XIa inhibition by protease nexin-2 was partially abrogated by high molecular weight kininogen, suggesting that high molecular weight kininogen may play a role in regulating factor XIa activity.

Purification and characterization of a 39,000-Da serine proteinase from the hemolymph of a solitary ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi

A new endogenous serine proteinase from the cell-free hemolymph of a solitary ascidian, Halocythia roretzi, was purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography on TSKgel Toyopearl HW 65 F, ion exchange chromatography on TSKgel DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M, affinity chromatography on Arginine-Sepharose 4B, gel filtration on TSKgel Toyopearl HW 65F and hydroxyapatite chromatography on Bio-Gel HT. The serine proteinase is a single polypeptide chain whose molecular weight and isoelectric point are 39 kDa and about 7.6 pI, respectively. The most susceptible substrate was Boc-Leu-Gly-Arg-4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide (MCA), and activity was optimal at pH 8. The enzyme was relatively stable at high temperatures; about 50% activity was retained even at 60 degrees C for 30 min in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, containing 0.5 M NaCl, and 0.05% Brij-35. The enzyme was characterized by the inhibitory effects of synthetic or natural inhibitors, substrate specificity toward 26 peptidyl-MCAs, proteinase activity toward natural proteins and complex formation with a serine proteinase inhibitor (58 kDa) previously found in H. roretzi hemolymph, indicating that the enzyme was a member of serine proteinases and strongly inhibited by the 58 kDa serine proteinase inhibitor as well as human antithrombin III. We also demonstrated the clotting enzyme activity of the purified serine proteinase toward bovine fibrinogen and Limulus coagulogen, a fibrinogen-like clottable protein of horseshoe crabs.

Modulation of human alpha-thrombin activity with phosphonate ester inhibitors

Enantiomers of 4-nitrophenyl 4-X-phenacyl methylphosphonate esters (X = H, PMN; CH3; and CH3O) inactivate human alpha-thrombin with rate constants 4-235 M-1 s-1 in pH 6.5, 0.025 M citrate buffer, and 0.15 M NaCl at 7.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. Stereoselectivity of the inactivation of thrombin is 2-39 and favors the levorotatory enantiomers. The pH-dependence of inactivation of thrombin by (-)-PMN is sigmoidal and consistent with the participation of a catalytic residue with a pKa of 8.0 +/- 0.1 in 0.15 M NaCl and a pKa of 7.4 +/- 0.2 in 0.15 M choline chloride in the nucleophilic attack of the catalytic Ser at phosphorus. The solvent isotope effect on ki/Ki in the pH-independent region of the reaction is 2.26 +/- 0.17. Thrombin activity returns from the adducts on the 2-7 h time scale at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C via a self-catalyzed intramolecular reaction. The pH dependence of reactivation is significant from the adduct formed with (-)-CH3O-PMN and (-)-CH3-PMN and less so from the adducts formed with the other enantiomers of the inhibitors. Kinetic pKs approximately 7.2, with the exception of the adducts with (-)-PMN and (-)-CH3O-PMN, indicate that a pH-dependent conformational change affects the rate of dephosphonylation. A structural interpretation of the stereoselectivity and other mechanistic features is provided based on the energy-optimized structures of the adducts. Pharmaco-medical use of human alpha-thrombin covalently modified by the PMNs is suggested.

Progress curve analysis of the kinetics with which blood coagulation factor XIa is inhibited by protease nexin-2

Protease nexin-2 (PN-2), a soluble form of amyloid beta-protein precursor (APP) containing a Kunin protease inhibitor domain, has been shown to be a potent, reversible and competitive inhibitor of blood coagulation factor XIa (FXIa). We have analyzed progress curves of the hydrolysis of a sensitive fluorogenic substrate by FXIa in the presence of PN-2 to ascertain the kinetic rate constants governing the inhibition of FXIa by PN-2. The mechanism of this inhibition is best described as a slow equilibration between the free enzyme and inhibitor directly, without prior formation of a loosely-associated complex. The association rate constant (kon) and the dissociation rate constant (koff) were found to be 2.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 and 8.5 +/- 0.8 x 10(-4) s-1, respectively (n = 23). The inhibition constant calculated from these parameters (Ki) is 400 pM, in good agreement with previous reports. High molecular weight kininogen (HK) and Zn2+ ions exert opposite effects on the inhibition of FXIa by PN-2. HK protects FXIa from inactivation in a dose dependent and saturable manner (EC50 = 61 nM) whereas Zn2+ augments the ability of PN-2 to inhibit FXIa. When both Zn2+ ions and HK are present, only the accessory effect of Zn2+ is observed. PN-2 is known to be an abundant platelet alpha-granule protein (Van Nostrand et al., 1990a; Smith & Broze, 1992). We conducted sensitive measurements of FXIa activity in the presence of human platelets before and after their being activated with the thrombin receptor agonist peptide, SFLLRN-amide. We found that platelet activation, and ostensibly the release of PN-2, limits the lifetime of FXIa activity within the locus of activated platelets. As in the purified system, HK protects FXIa from inactivation and Zn2+ increases the inactivation of FXIa. However, when HK and Zn2+ are both present, it is the protective effect of HK which predominates and prolongs the lifetime of FXIa after platelet activation.

A mathematical model for the spatio-temporal dynamics of intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. II. Results

This paper continues our study (see Part I) where we modeled the spatio-temporal dynamics of the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. Here, we analyzed this model and showed that it describes the threshold behavior of coagulation. When activation is subthreshold (which produces not more than 0.07 nM factor XIa at saturating free calcium concentrations of 2 mM or higher), the concentration of generated thrombin remains below 0.01 nM. At the abovethreshold activation corresponding to factor XIa exceeding 0.07 nM, the concentration of thrombin explosively increases and then abruptly decreases. The peak concentration of thrombin reaches hundreds nM. With respect to free calcium concentration, the system also behaves in a threshold manner. For activation corresponding to 0.3 nM factor XIa, the threshold concentration of free calcium where the outburst of explosive thrombin generation occur is equal to 0.21 mM. The model simulations are in a good agreement with the experimentally recorded kinetics of thrombin generation at different concentrations of free calcium (1). Analysis of the spatial dynamics of coagulation showed that if activation exceeded the threshold level at a certain point, the concentration wave of thrombin arises and propagates at a high speed from the activation zone. The parameters of this wave depends mainly on the efficiency of the feedback loops. The feedback loops through the backbone factors of the intrinsic pathway (autoactivation of factor X or activation of factor XI by thrombin) has a potential for the unlimited propagation of the thrombin wave. With increasing activity of activated protein C (the effect equivalent to that of thrombomodulin), oscillating regimes arise in the model. The first thrombin wave is followed by several secondary running waves. The amplitudes of secondary waves increases to the periphery of the clot consolidating its surface layer.

Coagulation protein function. IV. Effect of acetaldehyde upon factor X and factor Xa, the proteins at the gateway to the common coagulation pathway

Acetaldehyde (AcH) (447 mM) exerts an inhibition on Factor Xa, as followed by a clotting assay, but does not inhibit the hydrolysis of the synthetic fluorogenic substrate, N-tBOC-Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin. These data suggest that AcH, although not reacting at the catalytic site of Factor Xa nor at the binding site for the synthetic substrate, does interact with the functional groups on the enzyme that bind to its natural substrate, prothrombin. As a consequence of such interaction, the charge and conformation of Factor Xa is altered, thereby limiting effective activation of prothrombin. Additionally, alkylation of factor Xa may also affect its capacity to associate with Factor Va for the activation of prothrombin. AcH also reacts with Factor X, prolonging clotting times when the zymogen is activated with Russell's viper venom (RVV). It also reduces the rate of hydrolysis of the fluorogenic substrate after activation of the alkylated zymogen by RVV. These data lead to the considerations that AcH-modified Factor X is no longer as effectively activated by RVV due to an alteration of its charge/conformation. Additional possibilities include a likely alkylation of the Factor Xa moiety of Factor X by AcH such that the activation product has an altered charge/conformation compared to native Factor Xa, including possible alkylation of its binding site(s) for prothrombin. The reduced rate of hydrolysis of the synthetic fluorogenic substrate for Factor Xa by the alkylated, activated Factor X lends further support to the generation of a modified Factor Xa by RVV, which may have a lower binding or catalytic rate for the fluorogenic substrate. These results support the suggestion that chronic consumption of alcohol may prolong the reported coagulation times as a result of reaction of alcohol's primary metabolite, AcH, with clotting factors, thereby reducing their physiological potential.

Protein D2 porin of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane bears the protease activity

We report here our discovery that protein D2 of the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a novel porin bearing protease activity. Homogeneously purified protein D2 hydrolyzed several synthetic peptides according to the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. A specific serine protease inhibitor, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), inactivated the protease activity and [3H]DFP covalently labeled protein D2. We tested the effect of two monoclonal antibodies raised against protein D2 on the protease activity. One antibody lowered the protease activity to about 20%, while the other enhanced it to about 300% of that without antibody. In addition, the fractions derived from the outer membrane of the protein D2-deficient mutants showed negligible protease activity, whereas similarly fractionated outer membrane proteins of the protein D2-positive parent strain showed strong protease activity.

Bullfrog plasma cysteine proteinase inhibitor (CPI)

Papain is inhibited by bullfrog plasma. CPI was isolated from bullfrog plasma by two step column chromatography; Cm-papain agarose column chromatography followed by FPLC Mono Q column chromatography with addition of benzamidine. Isolated CPI gave a single band on SDS-PAGE under reducing condition, and the molecular weight of reduced CPI was estimated to be over 200 kDa. When the isolated CPI was stored at 4 degrees C in the absence of benzamidine, the CPI was cleaved and yielded a protein consisting of heavy chain (60 kDa) and light chain (54 kDa). Both chains were linked with disulfide bond(s). The cleaved form of CPI was also isolated from the plasma in the absence of benzamidine. Intact and cleaved form of CPI inhibited papain and ficin, but not trypsin.

Exocrine function of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in anesthetized rats

Exocrine function was studied in anesthetized rats that had received two specific doses of caerulein (maximal stimulation and supramaximal stimulation). Male Wistar rats (body weight, 200-250 g) were divided into three groups: the control group (4-h saline infusion), the maximal stimulation group (0.25 microgram/kg per h caerulein for 4 h), and the caerulein pancreatitis group (10 micrograms/kg per h for 4h). Histologically, interstitial edema and cytoplasmic vacuolization were observed only in the caerulein pancreatitis group, with no abnormal findings in the other groups. The volume of pancreatic juice was significantly increased in both the maximal stimulation group and the caerulein pancreatitis group. The protein output and the amylase output in the 1st h of caerulein infusion were also significantly increased, to 459% and 338% in the maximal stimulation group, and to 925% and 1430% respectively, in the caerulein pancreatitis compared to the baseline values. We also found that the pancreatic juice of the caerulein pancreatitis group contained precipitated protein, and high trypsin activity, and protein degradation was confirmed by electrophoresis. These findings were not observed in the other groups. These results strongly suggest that hypersecretion and the appearance of trypsin activity in pancreatic juice plays an important role in the induction of histological changes in this pancreatitis model in anesthetized rats.

Piperastatin A, a new selective serine carboxypeptidase inhibitor produced by actinomycete. I. Taxonomy, production, isolation and biological activities

Piperastatin A (structure, N-formyl-allo Ile-Thr-Leu-Val-Pip-Leu-Pip, Pip = hexahydropyridadine-3-carboxylic acid; molecular weight, 809), a new inhibitor of serine carboxypeptidase was discovered in the fermentation broth of Streptomyces lavendofoliae MJ908-WF13. It was purified by activated charcoal chromatography, YMC gel ODS-A chromatography and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) by monitoring its inhibitory activity against carboxypeptidase Y (CP-Y), and finally obtained as colourless needles. Piperastatin A is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with Ki = 52 +/- 6.2 nM. Piperastatin A is a highly specific inhibitor of the serine carboxypeptidases, CP-Y and platelet deamidase with little effect on related enzymes, has no antimicrobial activity and has low toxicity.

Natural killer (NK)-like cytotoxicity of murine intraepithelial lymphocytes in the small intestine (iIEL) and the effect of the serine proteases

The natural killer (NK)-like cytotoxicity of murine intraepithelial lymphocytes in the small intestine (iIEL) and the participation of serine proteases in it were investigated. We monitored the cytotoxicity of iIEL with a sensitive cytotoxic assay using laser flow cytometry. iIEL exhibited NK-like cytotoxicity on YAC-1 target cells. Benzamidine, a serine protease inhibitor, inhibited significantly both Na-CBZ-L-lysine thiobenzyl ester (BLT)-specific serine protease activity and iIEL-mediated NK-like cytotoxicity. These results suggest that BLT-specific serine proteases may participate in NK-like cytotoxicity of murine iIEL.

A serine protease zymogen in insect plasma. Purification and activation by microbial cell wall components

A protease zymogen present in the plasma fraction of the hemolymph of silkworm, Bombyx mori, was purified to homogeneity as judged by SDS/PAGE and IEF/PAGE. An activating system for the zymogen was also isolated from the plasma fraction and was shown to be triggered by zymosan (yeast cell wall polysaccharide containing beta-1,3-glucan) or peptidoglycan. Using this system, the purified zymogen was activated and the active enzyme was purified to homogeneity. The physiological function of the zymogen or its active form is not yet known, but the active form was shown to have narrower substrate specificity than trypsin. Among 33 peptide derivatives examined, Boc-Gln-Arg-Arg-NH-Mec and Boc-Val-Pro-Arg-NH-Mec (Boc = tert-butoxycarbonyl, NH-Mec = 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide) were the best and the second best substrates, respectively. The purified zymogen was determined to be a 39-kDa protein consisting of a single polypeptide. The active form of the zymogen was labeled with [3H]diisopropylfluorophosphate and was completely inactivated by (p-amidinophenyl)methanesulfonyl fluoride. The molecular mass of the [3H]-labeled enzyme was determined to be 38 kDa in SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions. These results indicate that the 39-kDa protein purified in the present study is a zymogen of a serine-type protease and that the activation of the zymogen occurs by limited proteolysis.

Pharmacological characterization of a new 4-amidinophenyl-alanine thrombin-inhibitor (CRC 220)

The new thrombin inhibitor CRC 220 was characterized in vivo for its antithrombotic effects. CRC 220 led to a dose-dependent prolongation of clotting parameters as determined in rats, rabbits, dogs, sheeps, pigs and monkeys. We evaluated the efficacy of CRC 220 to prevent thrombus formation in arteries and in the microcirculation in different animal models. In a rabbit model of tissue factor-induced coagulation activation, infusion of 0.5 mg/kg x h CRC 220 (3 hours) led to a significant prevention of fibrinogen decrease. In a rat model of lethal LPS-induced DIC CRC 220 significantly prevented the mortality rate after a 4h-infusion of 0.75 mg/kg x h. Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in rat lungs could be prevented by the i.v. bolus injection of CRC 220. A dose of 0.3 mg/kg leads to a reduction of more than 80% of platelet deposition in the lung, significant inhibition was still observed 90 minutes after CRC 220 administration; at this time the inhibitor had already been cleared from plasma. Arterial thrombosis was induced in rabbits by squeezing and stenosis of the A. carotis. The i.v. bolus administration of CRC 220 dose-dependently prevented thrombus formation, an ED50 of 0.03 mg/kg was calculated. This dose was associated with only a minor prolongation of aPTT.

cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of human PK-120, a plasma kallikrein-sensitive glycoprotein

PK-120 is a substrate for plasma kallikrein (PK), recently purified from human plasma. Here we have established the cDNA sequence for human PK-120 mRNA. The deduced amino sequence of PK-120 revealed that it consists of 902 amino acid residues with a calculated mass of 116,423 Da. The putative cleavage sites by PK have been proposed, suggesting that PK-120 may be a precursor of a bioactive peptide. Most interestingly, PK-120 showed significant sequence identities to heavy chains (HCs) of the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) superfamily.

Factor IX Bm Kiryu: a Val-313-to-Asp substitution in the catalytic domain results in loss of function due to a conformational change of the surface loop: evidence obtained by chimaeric modelling

Factor IX Kiryu is a naturally occurring mutant of factor IX that has 2.5% coagulant activity, even though normal plasma levels of factor IX antigen are detected. Factor IX Kiryu was purified from a patient's plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography with a calcium-dependent anti-factor IX monoclonal antibody column. It was cleaved normally by factor XIa in the presence of Ca2+, yielding a two-chain factor IXa. However, the resulting factor IXa showed only 1.5% of the normal factor IXa in terms of factor X activation in the presence of factor VIII, phospholipids, and Ca2+, and had 20% of the normal esterase activity for Z-Arg-p-nitrobenzyl ester. Therefore factor IXa Kiryu showed the defect of the catalytic triad or primary substrate binding site as well as defective interaction with factors VIII/X. Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing of the amplified DNA revealed a missense point mutation, a T-to-A substitution at nucleotide number 31,059 of the factor IX Kiryu gene. This mutation resulted in the amino acid substitution of Val-313 by Asp in the catalytic domain. Restriction enzyme analysis of the amplified DNA showed that the mutation was inherited from the patient's mother. The chimaeric method was employed to construct a model of the serine protease domain of factor IXa, and the resultant model suggested that the Val-313 to Asp substitution altered the conformation of the substrate-binding site. These data combined with our previous findings on a Gly-311-to-Glu mutant of factor IX suggest that the loop conformation from Gly-311 to ARg-318 is important for the expression of coagulant activity.

Calcium threshold in human plasma clotting kinetics

In vitro clotting kinetics of citrate human blood plasma under its titration with calcium ions are studied. Contact activation (Factor XIa + plasma kallikrein) is shown to be independent of calcium while non-linear growth of thrombin concentration is demonstrated at calcium concentrations higher than 0.25 mM under conditions of contact activation caused by quartz walls of the measuring cell. Thrombin generation kinetics are well fitted with an exponential function. Power index of the exponential function steeply rises as calcium concentration increases from 0.25 to 0.5 mM and reaches plateau at higher concentrations. At free calcium concentrations under 0.25 mM thrombin level does not grow remaining lower than 30 pM. So, blood coagulation system behaves in a threshold manner under calcium concentration changes. The threshold concentration of free calcium is equal to 0.25 +/- 0.05 mM.

Factor XI: purification from porcine plasma by affinity chromatography and some properties of factor XI and activated factor XI

Porcine factor XI and activated factor XI were purified by the introduction of affinity chromatography on high molecular mass kininogen. On the affinity chromatography, it was observed that high affinity exists between porcine factor XI and high molecular mass kininogen. In the preparation, however, factor XII, plasma prekallikrein and high molecular mass kininogen were not detected. The factor XI forms a dimer, and is a heterogeneous molecule, judging from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Substrate specificity of activated factor XI and inhibition profile of activated factor XI against proteinase inhibitors were investigated by comparison with those of bovine and human activated factor XI. From these results, the properties of porcine activated factor XI show great similarities with those of bovine and human activated factor XI.

Intracellular action of an exogenous low-molecular-weight synthetic protease inhibitor, E3123, in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats

The intracellular distribution and action of a new synthetic protease inhibitor, E3123, were studied in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Acute pancreatitis was induced by a 4-h iv infusion of a supramaximal dose of cerulein, and was treated by prophylactic (pretreatment) or therapeutic (posttreatment) continuous administration of E3123. Pancreatic edema and hyperamylasemia were ameriolated only by prophylactic treatment. A subcellular fractionation study showed that the activities of cathepsin-B and trypsin in the zymogen granule-enriched fraction of the cerulein-pancreatitis group were remarkably increased. Both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment significantly prevented the elevation of these enzyme activities. These effects were accompanied by amelioration of pancreatic histopathological features, including intracellular vacuolization and fat necrosis. A microscopic autoradiographic study using 3H-labeled E3123 showed diffuse intracellular distribution of E3123, and the radioactivity of 3H-E3123 in the posttreatment group was three times greater than that in the pretreatment group. This study provides the first experimental evidence that, even when administered therapeutically, exogenous protease inhibitors are transported into pancreatic acinar cells, thereby reducing the severity of early intracellular alterations in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

Substrate phage: selection of protease substrates by monovalent phage display

A method is described here for identifying good protease substrates among approximately 10(7) possible sequences. A library of fusion proteins was constructed containing an amino-terminal domain used to bind to an affinity support, followed by a randomized protease substrate sequence and the carboxyl-terminal domain of M13 gene III. Each fusion protein was displayed as a single copy on filamentous phagemid particles (substrate phage). Phage were then bound to an affinity support and treated with the protease of interest. Phage with good protease substrates were released, whereas phage with substrates that resisted proteolysis remained bound. After several rounds of binding, proteolysis, and phagemid propagation, sensitive and resistant substrate sequences were identified for two different proteases, a variant of subtilisin and factor Xa. The technique may also be useful for studying the sequence specificity of a variety of posttranslational modifications.

Participation of GABAergic systems in the production of antinociception by various stresses in mice

Based on the data that diazepam, a benzodiazepine (BZP) receptor agonist, antagonized psychological (PSY)-stress induced analgesia (SIA) without prominent action on footshock (FS)- and forced swimming (SW)-SIA and that BZP receptors are coupled with GABA receptors, we examined how the GABAergic system participates in the production of various SIAs. Muscimol, a GABAA receptor agonist, at doses of 0.25 to 1.0 mg/kg, affected each SIA differently, suppressed PSY-SIA at 0.25 mg/kg but tended to potentiate it at 1.0 mg/kg, potentiated SW-SIA dose-dependently and did not affect FS-SIA at the doses employed. Both bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg, and picrotoxin, a Cl- channel blocker, 0.25 to 1.0 mg/kg, dose-dependently suppressed PSY- and FS-SIA. Meanwhile, the effects of both drugs on SW-SIA were less than those on PSY- and FS-SIA, namely, bicuculline slightly inhibited it only at 2.0 mg/kg, and picrotoxin did not produce any appreciable effect even at the highest dose. Baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, at 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg had no influence on each SIA. On the contrary, CGP 35348, a GABAB receptor antagonist at 20 to 100 mg/kg caused the dose-dependent blockade of FS-SIA, but affected neither PSY- nor SW-SIA. The production of PSY- and SW-SIA is attributable to the GABAA receptors/Cl- channel mediated mechanism alone, while that of FS-SIA involves both GABAA and GABAB receptor mediated systems. Thus, GABAergic systems play an important role in the production of each SIA; however, the participation of the receptor subtypes in the mechanism was different from each other.

Deficiency of fibrinolytic enzyme activities in the serum of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia

Previously we reported that there is a kallikrein deficiency in the cerebral tissue of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia. The present study was performed to investigate protease changes in the serum of these patients. The results showed that the kallikrein activity was normal, but that the activities of plasmin and urokinase were significantly low. The present findings indicate a derangement in the clotting and fibrinolytic systems in Alzheimer patients.

Analysis of degradation of proteins labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate by Sephadex G-25 affinity chromatography

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) has strong affinity to Sephadex G-25 gel. Amino acids labeled with FITC were found to have affinity to the gel, their elution from a Sephadex G-25 column being markedly retarded. On the other hand, proteins labeled with FITC had no affinity to the gel and were eluted in the void volume of the column. The affinity of FITC-labeled compounds to a Sephadex G-25 column decreased with increase in their molecular mass. On the basis of these findings, the degradations of various FITC-labeled proteins by disrupted lysosomes in vitro were analyzed using a small Sephadex G-25 column. FITC-labeled degradation products were easily separated from the substrate proteins, and their production was shown to increase with the incubation time and to be suppressed by the proteinase inhibitor leupeptin. This procedure is a simple method for assay of protein degradation and should be useful in analyses of the roles of proteinases in protein degradation.

Characterization of an endopeptidase of Trypanosoma brucei brucei

A soluble 80-kDa endopeptidase has been isolated from Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The enzyme, which has a pI 5.1, is optimally active at about pH 8.2 and has apparent pKa values of 6.0 and greater than or equal to 10. It is inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor diisopropylfluorophosphate and by the serine protease mechanism-based inhibitor 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin. Unexpectedly, the enzyme is inhibited by the cysteine protease inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Lys-CHN2 but not by the related diazomethane, butoxycarbonyl-Val-Leu-Gly-Lys-CHN2, nor by other cysteine protease specific compounds. Specificity studies with a variety of amidomethylcoumaryl (AMC) derivatives of small peptides show that the enzyme has a highly restricted trypsin-like specificity. The best substrate, based on the magnitude of kcat/Km, was benzyloxycarbonyl-Arg-Arg-AMC; other good substrates were benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Arg-AMC, benzoyl-Arg-AMC, and compounds with Arg at P1 and Ala or Gly at P2. The hydrolysis of most substrates obeyed classical Michaelis-Menton kinetics but several exhibited pronounced substrate inhibition. The enzyme did not activate plasminogen nor decrease blood clotting time; it was inhibited by aprotinin but not by chicken ovomucoid. We conclude that the enzyme is a trypsin-like serine endopeptidase with unusually restricted subsite specificities.

Water-soluble macromolecular fluorogenic substrates for assaying proteinases: determination of pancreatic elastase activity

Water-soluble macromolecular fluorogenic substrates were synthesized in order to develop an easy specific proteinase assay. The validity of this method was tested with porcine pancreatic elastase by using its specific peptidic substrate Ala-Ala-Pro-Ala linked to a hydrosoluble polymer. The octapeptidic sequence FTC-epsilon Aca-Ala-Ala-Pro-Ala-Gly-Gly-Gly was linked to a water-soluble and neutral poly-L-lysine derivative. The aminocaproyl residue and the triglycyl sequence were added in order to improve the stability of the substrate, and the accessibility of the specific sequence Ala-Ala-Pro-Ala to elastase, respectively. The assay is based on the quantitative precipitation of the polymeric substrate in isopropanol while the released soluble fluorescent peptidic moiety is fluorometrically titrated in the supernatant.

A principal neutralizing domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 interacts with proteinase-like molecule(s) at the surface of Molt-4 clone 8 cells

A principal neutralizing domain (PND) of the major envelope glycoprotein (gp120) of the HTLV-III BH10 strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has significant amino acid similarities to a reactive site of Kunitz-type basic proteinase inhibitors. We therefore thought that the PND may interact with cellular proteinase-like molecule(s) upon HIV-1 infection and measured the cellular proteolytic activities at the surface of intact Molt-4 clone 8 cells, which are highly susceptible to HIV-1 infection. The cells preferentially cleaved succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide, a good substrate of chymotrypsin, and the activity was strongly inhibited by N-tosyl-L-phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone (IC50 = 11.5 microM) and chymostatin (IC50 = 4.8 microM). A synthetic peptide of 24 residues (amino acids 308-331) that correspond to the PND also inhibited the cellular proteolytic activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 79.2 microM). The inhibition was still observed at low temperature (IC50 = 42.7 microM) and even after the peptide-treated cells were washed. We therefore think that the peptide interacts with proteinase-like molecule(s) located at the surface of the cells. The synthetic peptides from four other strains of HIV-1 corresponding to the PND similarly inhibited the proteolytic activity. These results may be helpful to clarify the novel mechanism(s) for HIV-1 infection.

In vitro non-thrombogenicity of a thrombin-substrate-immobilized polymer surface by the inhibition of thrombin activity

Derivatives of thrombin substrate were synthesized and immobilized on a poly(acrylic acid)-grafted polyurethane film. The carboxyl terminal of the thrombin substrate peptide should be blocked for a higher inhibitory effect of the thrombin activity. Immobilization of the thrombin substrate peptide enhanced adsorption and inactivation of thrombin on the polymer film to prolong the time for fibrin network formation, and suppressed adhesion and deformation of platelets on the film. Consequently, in vitro thrombus formation on the polymer film was strongly suppressed.

Activation of human Hageman factor by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase in the presence or absence of negatively charged substance in vitro

Human Hageman factor, a plasma proteinase zymogen, was activated in vitro under a near physiological condition (pH 7.8, ionic strength I = 0.14, 37 degrees C) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase, which is a zinc-dependent tissue destructive neutral proteinase. This activation was completely inhibited by a specific inhibitor of the elastase, HONHCOCH(CH2C6H5)CO-Ala-Gly-NH2, at a concentration as low as 10 microM. In this activation Hagemen factor was cleaved, in a limited fashion, liberating two fragments with apparent molecular masses of 40 and 30 kDa, respectively. The appearance of the latter seemed to correspond chronologically to the generation of activated Hageman factor. Kinetic parameters of the enzymatic activation were kcat = 5.8 x 10(-3) s-1, Km = 4.3 x 10(-7) M and kcat/Km = 1.4 x 10(4) M-1 x s-1. This Km value is close to the plasma concentration of Hageman factor. Another zinc-dependent proteinase, P. aeruginosa alkaline proteinase, showed a negligible Hageman factor activation. In the presence of a negatively charged soluble substance, dextran sulfate (0.3-3 micrograms/ml), the activation rate by the elastase increased several fold, with the kinetic parameters of kcat = 13.9 x 10(-3) s-1, Km = 1.6 x 10(-7) M and kcat/Km = 8.5 x 10(4) M-1 x s-1. These results suggested a participation of the Hageman factor-dependent system in the inflammatory response to pseudomonal infections, due to the initiation of the system by the bacterial elastase.

Deficiency of kallikrein-like enzyme activities in cerebral tissue of patients with Alzheimer's disease

We examined the changes in the intracerebral activities, at the time of postmortem autopsy, in patients with Alzheimer's disease. When compared with the control group, the activity of kallikrein-like enzyme was significantly decreased, while prolyl endopeptidase activity increased, in the patients group. Aprotinin inhibited 50% of the activity of the former enzyme at 2 x 10(-7) M. Taken together with the results of a multivariate study, the above findings may indicate that intracerebral kallikrein deficiency plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Molecular cloning and expression of human hepatocyte growth factor

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is the most potent mitogen for mature parenchymal hepatocytes in primary culture, and seems to be a hepatotrophic factor that acts as a trigger for liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy and liver injury. The partial purification and characterization of HGF have been reported. We have demonstrated that pure HGF from rat platelets is a new growth factor effective at concentrations as low as 1 ng ml-1. The effects of HGF and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are additive. The activity of HGF is not species-specific, although it does not stimulate growth in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. HGF has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 82,000 and is a heterodimer composed of a large alpha-subunit of Mr 69,000 and a small beta-subunit of Mr 34,000. Here we report the amino-acid sequence of human HGF determined by complementary DNA cloning and the expression of biologically active human HGF from COS-1 cells transfected with cloned cDNA. The nucleotide sequence of the human HGF cDNA reveals that both alpha- and beta-chains are contained in a single open reading frame coding for a pre-pro precursor protein of 728 amino acids.

The molecular genetics of factor XI deficiency

Hereditary factor XI deficiency is characterised by a functional deficiency of factor XI and the absence of factor XI-related antigen in circulation. It occurs with a high frequency in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Cloning of abnormal factor XI genes and studies on the molecular genetics of factor XI deficiency show that the cause for factor XI deficiency is heterogeneous. So far, two independent single base substitutions, one at the conserved intron donor consensus dinucleotide of intron N (type I) and a nonsense mutation at the codon for Glu117 (type II), have been identified. These two types of mutation together account for approximately half of the genetic changes in abnormal factor XI genes. At least one or more types of genetic change has yet to be defined. In the course of these studies, rapid methods that utilize the polymerase chain reaction and subsequent restriction endonuclease analysis have been developed.