A new assay of X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity in human serum with glycylproline p-phenylazoanilide as substrate

Direct detection of cysteine peptidases for MALDI-TOF MS analysis using fluorogenic substrates

A method is described for the direct detection of unstable cysteine peptidase activity in polyacrylamide gels after native electrophoresis using new selective fluorogenic peptide substrates, pyroglutamyl-phenylalanyl-alanyl-4-amino-7-methylcoumaride (Glp-Phe-Ala-AMC) and pyroglutamyl-phenylalanyl-alanyl-4-amino-7-trifluoromethyl-coumaride (Glp-Phe-Ala-AFC). The detection limit of the model enzyme papain was 17 pmol (0.29 μg) for Glp-Phe-Ala-AMC and 43 pmol (0.74 μg) for Glp-Phe-Ala-AFC, with increased sensitivity and selectivity compared to the traditional method of protein determination with Coomassie G-250 staining or detection of activity using chromogenic substrates. Using this method, we easily identified the target digestive peptidases of Tenebrio molitor larvae by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. The method offers simplicity, high sensitivity, and selectivity compared to traditional methods for improved identification of unstable cysteine peptidases in multi-component biological samples.

Effect of chlorpromazine on PZ-peptidase and several other peptidase activities in cloned osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1)

The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on the degradation of collagen and non-collagenous peptides in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was investigated by measuring the activities of PZ-peptidase, collagenase-like peptidase (CL-peptidase), dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (DAP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) (EC 3.4.11.1), and post-proline cleaving enzyme (PPCE) (EC 3.4.21.26). CPZ increased PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase activities in a dose-related fashion, but it had no effect on LAP and PPCE activities in the cells. CPZ (10 micrograms/ml) enhanced the specific activities of PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP for 72 hr after the start of CPZ stimulation; in particular, about a 3.3-fold increase of PZ-peptidase activity was observed at 12 hr of culture. Furthermore, other phenothiazine derivatives specifically enhanced the PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP activities as well as CPZ. Since PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP, involved in the degradation of collagen peptides, were induced significantly by CPZ (and/or other phenothiazine derivatives) in comparison with LAP and PPCE, involved in the degradation of non-collagenous peptides, these results show that CPZ specifically stimulated collagen catabolism by inducing the collagen-catabolizing enzymes. In addition, CPZ specifically inhibited collagen synthesis in clonal osteoblasts.

Properties of Suc-GPLGP-MCAase and dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase in mouse calvaria-derived osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1)

In this study the properties of Suc-GPLGP-MCAase and dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (DAP) in clone MC3T3-E1 cells which have osteoblastic ability were examined. The Suc-GPLGP-MCAase was the most active at pH 8.0 and its molecular weight was about 65,000 as judged by gel filtration method. The enzyme activity was increased by some metal ions such as Mn+2, Ca+2, and Mg+2 but inhibited by Zn+2 and Cu+2. EDTA increased the enzyme activity to 23-fold. The enzyme activity was slightly inhibited by thiol inhibitors, N-ethylmaleimide, and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid by 16% and 27%, respectively. The DAP has an optimum pH at 7.5, and a molecular weight of about 100,000. The enzyme was completely inhibited by diisopropylfuorophosphate, but not by N-ethylmaleimide, iodoacetic acid, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, EDTA, and several metals. These results show that Suc-GPLGP-MCAase and DAP in MC3T3-E1 cells have different novel properties compared with these enzymes in the peripheral tissues.

Stepwise cleavage of the pro part of promelittin by dipeptidylpeptidase IV. Evidence for a new type of precursor--product conversion

Melittin, the main constituent of honeybee venom, is derived from promelittin. In the amino acid sequence of the 'pro' region of this precursor, every second residue is either proline or alanine. The possibility has been investigated that activation of promellitin might proceed via sequential liberation of dipeptides catalyzed by a dipeptidylpeptidase IV. As substrates we used promelittin isolated from queen bees fed with radioactive proline, and enzymatic fragments of prepromelittin which contained the entire pro part and the NH2-terminal hexapeptide of melittin. It could first be demonstrated that pig kidney of dipeptidyleptides catalyzed by a dipeptidylpeptidase IV. As substrates we used promelittin isolated from queen bees fed with radioactive proline, and enzymatic fragments of prepromelittin which contained the entire pro part and the NH2-terminal hexapeptide of melittin. It could first be demonstrated that pig kidney of dipeptidylpeptidase IV releases dipeptides from the pro part. An enzyme of this type could then be detected in extracts from venom glands of q bees, which also contain a dipeptidase. After inhibiting the latter enzyme with mersalyl, a stepwise cleavage of dipeptides, starting at the amino end of the pro region could be demonstrated. This hydrolysis did not proceed into the melittin sequence. Furthermore, fragments with an extra residue at the amino end, which therefore had the wrong 'reading frame' for the dipeptidylpeptidase, were not hydrolyzed. With intact promelittin as substrate the rate of hydrolysis was always lower than with the fragments. The results presented in this paper suggest a new type of precursor-product conversion proceeding via stepwise cleavage of dipeptide units. Our experimental evidence also ascribes a biological function to a dipeptidylpeptidase IV, a type of enzyme widely distributed in animals tissues. The evidence, that the observed reaction in vitro reflects the mechanism of promelittin activation in vivo is discussed.