Comparison of the autolyzed and unautolyzed forms of mu- and m-calpain from bovine skeletal muscle

The intersection between cysteine proteases, Ca2+ signalling and cancer cell apoptosis

Apoptosis is a highly complex and regulated cell death pathway that safeguards the physiological balance between life and death. Over the past decade, the role of Ca2+ signalling in apoptosis and the mechanisms involved have become clearer. The initiation and execution of apoptosis is coordinated by three distinct groups of cysteines proteases: the caspase, calpain and cathepsin families. Beyond its physiological importance, the ability to evade apoptosis is a prominent hallmark of cancer cells. In this review, we will explore the involvement of Ca2+ in the regulation of caspase, calpain and cathepsin activity, and how the actions of these cysteine proteases alter intracellular Ca2+ handling during apoptosis. We will also explore how apoptosis resistance can be achieved in cancer cells through deregulation of cysteine proteases and remodelling of the Ca2+ signalling toolkit.

Changes in calpain-2 expression during glioblastoma progression predisposes tumor cells to temozolomide resistance by minimizing DNA damage and p53-dependent apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by an unfavorable prognosis for patients affected. During standard-of-care chemotherapy using temozolomide (TMZ), tumors acquire resistance thereby causing tumor recurrence. Thus, deciphering essential molecular pathways causing TMZ resistance are of high therapeutic relevance.

METHODS

Mass spectrometry based proteomics were used to study the GBM proteome. Immunohistochemistry staining of human GBM tissue for either calpain-1 or -2 was performed to locate expression of proteases. In vitro cell based assays were used to measure cell viability and survival of primary patient-derived GBM cells and established GBM cell lines after TMZ ± calpain inhibitor administration. shRNA expression knockdowns of either calpain-1 or calpain-2 were generated to study TMZ sensitivity of the specific subunits. The Comet assay and ɣH2AX signal measurements were performed in order to assess the DNA damage amount and recognition. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR of target proteins was applied to differentiate between transcriptional and post-translational regulation.

RESULTS

Calcium-dependent calpain proteases, in particular calpain-2, are more abundant in glioblastoma compared to normal brain and increased in patient-matched initial and recurrent glioblastomas. On the cellular level, pharmacological calpain inhibition increased the sensitivities of primary glioblastoma cells towards TMZ. A genetic knockdown of calpain-2 in U251 cells led to increased caspase-3 cleavage and sensitivity to neocarzinostatin, which rapidly induces DNA strand breakage. We hypothesize that calpain-2 causes desensitization of tumor cells against TMZ by preventing strong DNA damage and subsequent apoptosis via post-translational TP53 inhibition. Indeed, proteomic comparison of U251 control vs. U251 calpain-2 knockdown cells highlights perturbed levels of numerous proteins involved in DNA damage response and downstream pathways affecting TP53 and NF-κB signaling. TP53 showed increased protein abundance, but no transcriptional regulation.

CONCLUSION

TMZ-induced cell death in the presence of calpain-2 expression appears to favor DNA repair and promote cell survival. We conclude from our experiments that calpain-2 expression represents a proteomic mode that is associated with higher resistance via "priming" GBM cells to TMZ chemotherapy. Thus, calpain-2 could serve as a prognostic factor for GBM outcome.

μ-Calpain oxidation and proteolytic changes on myofibrillar proteins from Coregonus Peled in vitro

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural properties of μ-calpain induced by hydroxyl radical oxidation and its effect on the degradation of myofibrillar protein (MP) from the dorsal muscles of Coregonus peled. The carbonyl and sulfhydryl content of μ-calpain changed significantly after oxidation. The content of α-helix in the secondary structure decreased from 0.825 to 0.232 and the changes in intrinsic fluorescence and ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra indicated that oxidation could cause the expansion and aggregation of µ-calpain molecules. Changes in µ-calpain structure could improve the activity of µ-calpain, reaching the highest value at 0.5 mM H₂O₂. The highest µ-calpain activity facilitate the degradation of unoxidized MP, while the degradation of oxidized MP was facilitated at the 1 mM H₂O₂. Thus, our results provide a scientific basis for the interaction mechanism among hydroxyl radical oxidation, µ-calpain, and MP degradation.

Dry-aging of beef as a tool to improve meat quality. Impact of processing conditions on the technical and organoleptic meat properties

Meat consumers are demanding products of higher and consistent quality, with a distinctive flavor and aroma, able to provide a particular sensorial experience when consuming beef. The impact of all the factors affecting the final eating quality, known as the farm to fork approach, has been extensively studied in the last decades. This includes genetic factors, production system, transport, carcass intervention, aging, packaging and cooking method, among others. Aging is, one of the most important steps in producing high quality tender beef. During this step, flavor is developed and the meat is tenderized. Dry-aging although considered a traditional method, is currently attracting attention from consumers, producers and researchers because of the characteristics of the final products in terms of flavor, aroma and texture. This chapter will describe the series of biochemical changes, which combined with the loss of water, generates a final product that is highly appreciated by niche consumers. This will include the changes that the muscle undergoes to be transformed to meat, the main factors driving the dry-aging process and how the flavor and aroma compounds are generated during this process.

The Role of Calpains in Skeletal Muscle Remodeling with Exercise and Inactivity-induced Atrophy

Calpains are cysteine proteases expressed in skeletal muscle fibers and other cells. Although calpain was first reported to act as a kinase activating factor in skeletal muscle, the consensus is now that calpains play a canonical role in protein turnover. However, recent evidence reveals new and exciting roles for calpains in skeletal muscle. This review will discuss the functions of calpains in skeletal muscle remodeling in response to both exercise and inactivity-induced muscle atrophy. Calpains participate in protein turnover and muscle remodeling by selectively cleaving target proteins and creating fragmented proteins that can be further degraded by other proteolytic systems. Nonetheless, an often overlooked function of calpains is that calpain-mediated cleavage of proteins can result in fragmented proteins that are biologically active and have the potential to actively influence cell signaling. In this manner, calpains function beyond their roles in protein turnover and influence downstream signaling effects. This review will highlight both the canonical and noncanonical roles that calpains play in skeletal muscle remodeling including sarcomere transformation, membrane repair, triad junction formation, regulation of excitation-contraction coupling, protein turnover, cell signaling, and mitochondrial function. We conclude with a discussion of key unanswered questions regarding the roles that calpains play in skeletal muscle.

Activity-dependent cleavage of dyskinesia-related proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) by calpain in mouse primary cortical neurons

Mutations of PRRT2 (proline-rich transmembrane protein 2) cause several neurological disorders, represented by paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD), which is characterized by attacks of involuntary movements triggered by sudden voluntary movements. PRRT2 is reported to suppress neuronal excitation, but it is unclear how the function of PRRT2 is modulated during neuronal excitation. We found that PRRT2 is processed to a 12 kDa carboxy-terminal fragment (12K-CTF) by calpain, a calcium-activated cysteine protease, in a neuronal activity-dependent manner, predominantly via NMDA receptors or voltage-gated calcium channels. Furthermore, we clarified that 12K-CTF is generated by sequential cleavages at Q220 and S244. The amino-terminal fragment (NTF) of PRRT2, which corresponds to PKD-related truncated mutants, is not detected, probably due to rapid cleavage at multiple positions. Given that 12K-CTF lacks most of the proline-rich domain, this cleavage might be involved in the activity-dependent enhancement of neuronal excitation perhaps through transient retraction of PRRT2's function. Therefore, PRRT2 might serve as a buffer for neuronal excitation, and lack of this function in PKD patients might cause neuronal hyperexcitability in their motor circuits.

Effect of negative dietary cation-anion differences on carcass characteristics and beef tenderness of Japanese Black steers

Lowering dietary cation-anion differences (DCAD) can enhance responsiveness to Ca-homeostatic hormones and increase Ca availability, which might have potential to activate a Ca-dependent protease, calpain, and to enhance postmortem myofibrillar proteolysis. In this study, we investigated the effects of DCAD manipulation on calpain activity and beef tenderness in Japanese Black cattle which are characterized by their high marbling. Thirty-six Japanese Black steers were allotted to one of two treatments: (i) control (CON; DCAD +6.09 mEq/100 g of dry matter (DM)) or (ii) negative DCAD (NEGD; DCAD -8.27 mEq/100 g DM) for 70 days before slaughter. Lowering DCAD decreased DM and energy intake (P < 0.01) even though it did not negatively affect the growth performance or carcass characteristics. In NEGD, urine pH was decreased by acidification caused by the negative DCAD (P < 0.01). Calpain activities tended to be improved in NEGD (P = 0.09), but Warner-Bratzler shear force values were not affected by treatment. Although calpain activities tended to improve, lowering DCAD to -8.27 for 70 days before slaughter was insufficient to enhance beef tenderness in Japanese Black steers.

Affinity purification of human m-calpain through an intrinsically disordered inhibitor, calpastatin

Calpains are calcium-activated proteases that have biomedical and biotechnological potential. Their activity is tightly regulated by their endogenous inhibitor, calpastatin that binds to the enzyme only in the presence of calcium. Conventional approaches to purify calpain comprise multiple chromatographic steps, and are labor-intensive, leading to low yields. Here we report a new purification procedure for the human m-calpain based on its reversible calcium-mediated interaction with the intrinsically disordered calpastatin. We exploit the specific binding properties of human calpastatin domain 1 (hCSD1) to physically capture human m-calpain from a complex biological mixture. The dissociation of the complex is mediated by chelating calcium, upon which heterodimeric calpain elutes while hCSD1 remains immobilized onto the stationary phase. This novel affinity-based purification was compared to the conventional multistep purification strategy and we find that it is robust, it yields a homogeneous preparation, it can be scaled up easily and it rests on a non-disruptive step that maintains close to physiological conditions that allow further biophysical and functional studies.

Autolysis control and structural changes of purified ficin from Iranian fig latex with synthetic inhibitors

The fig's ficin is a cysteine endoproteolytic enzyme, which plays fundamental roles in many plant physiological processes, and has many applications in different industries such as pharmaceutical and food. In this work, we report the inhibition and activation of autolysis and structural changes associated with reaction of ficin with iodoacetamide and tetrathionate using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra filtration membrane, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods. The ficin structural changes were also determined using UV-absorption, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. These techniques demonstrated that iodoacetamide completely inhibited ficin autolysis, which was irreversible. However, tetrathionate partially and reversibility inhibited its autolysis. The ficin structural changes with two synthetic inhibitors were associated with secondary structural changes related to decreased alpha-helix and increased beta sheet and random coil conformations, contributing to its aggregation.

Biochemical factors regulating the toughening and tenderization processes of meat

The purpose of this manuscript is to present a brief review of the biochemical basis for longissimus toughening and tenderization processes. Also, to explore the potential technologies that can be developed based on this knowledge to reduce variation in tenderness, thus, improving consumer acceptance of meat. Results suggest that after slaughter longissimus has low to intermediate shear force values (probably tender). Rigor development-induced changes increase its shear force. Maximum toughness is observed between 12 to 24 h post mortem. The toughening process seems to occur equally in all carcasses. Post-mortem storage at refrigerated conditions tenderizes longissimus. Post-mortem tenderization is caused by enzymatic degradation of key myofibrillar and associated proteins. The function of these proteins is to maintain the structural integrity of myofibrils. Current data indicates that μ-calpain is responsible for degradation of these proteins. Unlike the toughening process, there exists a large variation in the rate and extent of tenderization which is responsible for variation in tenderness at the consumer level. Potential strategies for the control of the variation in meat tenderness are discussed.

Evidence of decreased muscle protein turnover in gilts selected for low residual feed intake

The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of muscle protein turnover (synthesis and degradation) to the biological basis for genetic differences in finisher pigs selected for residual feed intake (RFI). Residual feed intake is defined as the difference between expected feed intake (based on the achieved rate of BW gain and backfat depth of individual pigs) and the observed feed intake of the individual pig. We hypothesized that protein turnover would be reduced in pigs selected for low RFI. Twelve gilts from a line selected for 7 generations for low RFI and 12 from a contemporary line selected for 2 generations for high RFI were paired by age and BW and fed a standard corn-soybean diet for 6 wk. Pigs were euthanized, muscle and liver samples were collected, and insulin signaling, protein synthesis, and protein degradation proteins were analyzed for expression and activities. Muscle from low RFI pigs tended to have less μ- and m-calpain activities (P = 0.10 and 0.09, respectively) and had significantly greater calpastatin activity and a decreased μ-calpain:calpastatin activity ratio (P < 0.05). Muscle from low RFI pigs had less 20S proteasome activity compared with their high RFI counterparts (P < 0.05). No differences in insulin signaling intermediates and translation initiation signaling proteins [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway] were observed (P > 0.05). Postmortem proteolysis was determined in the LM from the eighth generation of the low RFI pigs versus their high RFI counterparts (n = 9 per line). Autolysis of μ-calpain was decreased in the low RFI pigs and less troponin-T degradation product was observed at 3 d postmortem (P < 0.05), indicating slowed postmortem proteolysis during aging in the low RFI pigs. These data provide significant evidence that less protein degradation occurs in pigs selected for reduced RFI, and this may account for a significant portion of the increased efficiency observed in these animals.

[Proteases of calpain family in water invertebrates and fish]

The activity of Ca2+-dependent proteases, or calpains (EC 3.4.22.17), in a wide range of aquatic invertebrates (Oligochaeta, Hirudinea, Crustacea, Insecta, Gastropoda, Bivalvia) and vertebrates (Osteichthyes) was estimated. Detected molecular properties ofcalpains from the tissues of different species allow considering the complication of their structural organization and regulatory mechanisms between invertebrates and vertebrates in comparative-evolutionary aspect. Certain conclusions can be drawn about changes in the functional role of this proteolytic system in the cell metabolism.

Relevance of calpain and calpastatin activity for texture in super-chilled and ice-stored Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fillets

The aim of the present experiment was to measure the protease activities in ice-stored and super-chilled Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets, and the effect on texture. Pre-rigour fillets of Atlantic salmon were either super-chilled to a core temperature of -1.5°C or directly chilled on ice prior to 144h of ice storage. A significantly higher calpain activity was detected in the super-chilled fillets at 6h post-treatment compared to the ice-stored fillets and followed by a significant decrease below its initial level, while the calpastatin activity was significantly lower for the super-chilled fillets at all time points. The cathepsin B+L and B activities increased significantly with time post-treatment; however, no significant differences were observed at any time points between the two treatments. For the ice stored fillets, the cathepsin L activity decreased significantly from 6 to 24h post-treatment and thereafter increased significantly to 144h post-treatment. There was also a significantly lower cathepsin L activity in the super-chilled fillets at 0h post-treatment. No significant difference in breaking force was detected; however, a significant difference in maximum compression (Fmax) was detected at 24h post-treatment with lower Fmax in the super-chilled fillets. This experiment showed that super-chilling had a significant effect on the protease activities and the ATP degradation in salmon fillets. The observed difference in Fmax may be a result of these observed differences, and may indicate a softening of the super-chilled salmon muscle at 24h post-treatment.

Degradation of filamin induces contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells in type-I collagen matrix honeycombs

BACKGROUND

Dedifferentiated rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit similar features to differentiated SMCs when cultured in three-dimensional matrices of type-I collagen called "honeycombs," but the mechanism is unknown. The role of filamin, an actin-binding protein that links actin filaments in SMCs, was investigated.

METHODS

Filamin and other related proteins were detected by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Honeycomb size was measured to confirm the contraction of SMCs.

RESULTS

Full-length filamin was expressed in subconfluent SMCs cultured on plates; however, degradation of filamin, which might be regulated by calpain, was observed in confluent SMCs cultured on plates and in honeycombs. While filamin was co-localized with β-actin in subconfluent SMCs grown on plates, filamin was detected in the cytoplasm in SMCs cultured in honeycombs, and degraded filamin was mainly detected in the cytoplasmic fraction of these cells. In addition, β-actin expression was low in the cytoskeletal fraction of SMCs cultured in honeycombs compared with cells cultured on plates, and the size of the honeycombs used for culturing SMCs was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that degradation of filamin in SMCs cultured in honeycombs induces structural weakness of β-non-muscle actin filaments, thereby permitting SMCs in honeycombs to achieve contractility.

The calpain system and cancer

The calpains are a conserved family of cysteine proteinases that catalyse the controlled proteolysis of many specific substrates. Calpain activity is implicated in several fundamental physiological processes, including cytoskeletal remodelling, cellular signalling, apoptosis and cell survival. Calpain expression is altered during tumorigenesis, and the proteolysis of numerous substrates, such as inhibitors of nuclear factor-κB (IκB), focal adhesion proteins (including, focal adhesion kinase and talin) and proto-oncogenes (for example, MYC), has been implicated in tumour pathogenesis. Recent evidence indicates that the increased expression of certain family members might influence the response to cancer therapies, providing justification for the development of novel calpain inhibitors.

m-Calpain activation in vitro does not require autolysis or subunit dissociation

Calpains are Ca(2+)-dependent, intracellular cysteine proteases involved in many physiological functions. How calpains are activated in the cell is unknown because the average intracellular concentration of Ca(2+) is orders of magnitude lower than that needed for half-maximal activation of the enzyme in vitro. Two of the proposed mechanisms by which calpains can overcome this Ca(2+) concentration differential are autoproteolysis (autolysis) and subunit dissociation, both of which could release constraints on the core by breaking the link between the anchor helix and the small subunit to allow the active site to form. By measuring the rate of autolysis at different sites in calpain, we show that while the anchor helix is one of the first targets to be cut, this occurs in the same time-frame as several potentially inactivating cleavages in Domain III. Thus autolytic activation would overlap with inactivation. We also show that the small subunit does not dissociate from the large subunit, but is proteolyzed to a 40-45k heterodimer of Domains IV and VI. It is likely that this autolysis-generated heterodimer has previously been misidentified as the small subunit homodimer produced by subunit dissociation. We propose a model for m-calpain activation that does not involve either autolysis or subunit dissociation.

Extensive autolytic fragmentation of membranous versus cytosolic calpain following myocardial ischemia–reperfusion

We investigated calpain activation in the heart during ischemia–reperfusion (I–R) by immunologically mapping the fragmentation patterns of calpain and selected calpain substrates. Western blots showed the intact 78 kDa large subunit of membrane-associated calpain was autolytically fragmented to 56 and 43 kDa signature immunopeptides following I–R. Under these conditions, the 78 kDa calpain large subunit from crude cytosolic fractions was markedly less fragmented, with only weakly stained autolytic peptides detected at higher molecular weights (70 and 64 kDa). Western blots also showed corresponding calpain-like degradation products (150 and 145 kDa) of membrane-associated α-fodrin (240 kDa) following I–R, but in crude myofibrils α-fodrin degradation occurred in a manner uncharacteristic of calpain. For control hearts perfused in the absence of ischemia, autolytic fragmentation of calpain and calpain-like α-fodrin degradation were completely absent from most subcellular fractions. The exception was sarcolemma-enriched membranes, where significant calpain autolysis and calpain-like α-fodrin degradation were detected. In purified sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, RyR2 and SERCA2 proteins were also highly degraded, but for RyR2 this did not occur in a manner characteristic of calpain. When I–R-treated hearts were perfused with peptidyl calpain inhibitors (ALLN or ALLM; 25 µmol/L), calpain autolysis and calpain-like degradation of α-fodrin were equally attenuated by each inhibitor. However, only ALLN protected against early loss of developed pressure in hearts following I–R, with no functionally protective effect of ALLM observed. Our studies suggest calpain is preferentially activated at membranes following I–R, possibly contributing to impaired ion channel function implicated by others in I–R injury.

Characteristic properties of endoplasmic reticulum membrane m-calpain, calpastatin and lumen m-calpain: a comparative study between membrane and lumen m-calpains

Previously, we reported that bovine pulmonary smooth muscle endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane possesses associated m-calpain and calpastatin and ER lumen contains only m-calpain. Herein, we report characteristic properties of ER membrane m-calpain (MCp), calpastatins and lumen m-calpain (LCp) and a brief comparative study between MCp and LCp. MCp containing 80 kDa large and 28 kDa small subunit is non-phosphorylated, whereas LCp containing only 80 kDa large subunit is phosphorylated. Optimum pH, Ca(2+) concentration and pI value of both MCp and LCp are 7.5, 5 mM and 4.5, respectively. MCp and LCp have similar kinetic parameters and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Autolysis of MCp and LCp are different. Coimmunoprecipitation studies revealed that LCp is associated with ERp57 in the ER lumen, which suggests that the regulation of LCp differs from the regulation of MCp. In presence of Ca(2+), the activated LCp cleaves inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-1 (IP(3)R1) in the ER lumen, whereas the activated MCp cleaves Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger-1 (NCX1) in the ER membrane. We have determined pI (4.6 and 4.7, respectively) and IC(50) (0.52 and 0.8 nM, respectively) values of 110 and 70 kDa calpastatins. For first time, we have determined the characteristic properties, regulation and functional activity of LCp in the ER lumen.

Novel role of calpain-3 in the triad-associated protein complex regulating calcium release in skeletal muscle

Calpain-3 (CAPN3) is a non-lysosomal cysteine protease that is necessary for normal muscle function, as mutations in CAPN3 result in an autosomal recessive form of limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A. To elucidate the biological roles of CAPN3 in skeletal muscle, we performed a search for potential substrates and interacting partners. By yeast-two-hybrid analysis we identified the glycolytic enzyme aldolase A (AldoA) as a binding partner of CAPN3. In co-expression studies CAPN3 degraded AldoA; however, no accumulation of AldoA was observed in total extracts from CAPN3-deficient muscles suggesting that AldoA is not an in vivo substrate of CAPN3. Instead, we found CAPN3 to be necessary for recruitment of AldoA to one specific location, namely the triads, which are structural components of muscle responsible for calcium transport and excitation-contraction coupling. Both aldolase and CAPN3 are present in the triad-enriched fraction and are able to interact with ryanodine receptors (RyR) that form major calcium release channels. Levels of triad-associated AldoA and RyR were decreased in CAPN3-deficient muscles compared with wild-type. Consistent with these observations we found calcium release to be significantly reduced in fibers from CAPN3-deficient muscles. Together, these data suggest that CAPN3 is necessary for the structural integrity of the triad-associated protein complex and that impairment of calcium transport is a phenotypic feature of CAPN3-deficient muscle.

Effect of two dietary concentrate levels on tenderness, calpain and calpastatin activities, and carcass merit in Waguli and Brahman steers

The objective of this study was to compare carcass characteristics of a newly introduced breed, the Waguli (Wagyu x Tuli), with the carcass characteristics of the Brahman breed. Brahman cattle are used extensively in the Southwest of the United States because of their tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. However, Brahman carcasses are discounted according to the height of their humps because of meat tenderness issues. The Waguli was developed in an attempt to obtain a breed that retained the heat tolerance of the Brahman but had meat quality attributes similar to the Wagyu. Twenty-four animals were used. Six steers from each breed were fed a 94% concentrate diet and 6 steers from each breed were fed an 86% concentrate diet. Eight steers, 2 from each group, were harvested after 128 d, after 142 d, and after 156 d on feed. Waguli steers had larger LM, greater backfat thickness, greater marbling scores, and greater quality grades than the Brahman steers (P < 0.05). The Japanese Wagyu breed is well known for its highly marbled and tender meat, and these traits are also present in the Waguli. The Waguli had significantly lower Warner-Bratzler shear force values than the Brahman steers after 7 and 10 d of postmortem aging (P < 0.05); this difference decreased after 14 d postmortem (P = 0.2), when tenderness of the slower aging Brahman had increased to acceptable levels. Toughness of the Brahman has been associated with high levels of calpastatin in Brahman muscle, and the Waguli LM had significantly less calpastatin activity (P = 0.02) at 0 h postmortem than the Brahman LM. At 0-h postmortem, the total LM calpain activity did not differ between the Brahman and Waguli (P = 0.57). Neither diet nor days on feed had any significant effect on the 0-h postmortem calpain or at 0-h postmortem calpastatin activity, nor an effect on Warner-Bratzler shear-force values. In conclusion, LM muscle from the Waguli steers had a high degree of marbling, lower shear force values, and low calpastatin activity, all of which are related to more tender meat.

Phosphoinositide binding to the substrate regulates susceptibility to proteolysis by calpain

Calpain-mediated proteolysis regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and is altered during aging and the progression of numerous diseases or pathological conditions. Although several cytoskeletal proteins have been identified as substrates, how localized calpain activity is regulated and the mechanisms controlling substrate recognition are not clear. In this study, we report that phosphoinositide binding regulates the susceptibility of the cytoskeletal adhesion protein alpha-actinin to proteolysis by calpains 1 and 2. At first, alpha-actinin did not appear to be a substrate for calpain 2; however, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)) binding to alpha-actinin resulted in nearly complete proteolysis of the full-length protein, producing stable breakdown products. Calpain 1 was able to cleave alpha-actinin in the absence of phosphoinositide binding; however, PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) binding increased the rate of proteolysis, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-diphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)) binding significantly inhibited cleavage. Phosphoinositide binding appeared to regulate calpain proteolysis of alpha-actinin by modulating the exposure of a highly sensitive cleavage site within the calponin homology 2 domain. In U87MG glioblastoma cells, which contain elevated levels of PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3), alpha-actinin colocalized with calpain within dynamic actin cytoskeletal structures. Furthermore, proteolysis of alpha-actinin producing stable breakdown products was observed in U87MG cells treated with calcium ionophore to activate the calcium-dependent calpains. Additional evidence of PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)-mediated calpain proteolysis of alpha-actinin was observed in rat embryonic fibroblasts. These results suggest that PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) binding is a critical determinant for alpha-actinin proteolysis by calpain. In conclusion, phosphoinositide binding to the substrate is a potential mechanism for regulating susceptibility to proteolysis by calpain.

Isolation and characterization of mu-calpain, m-calpain, and calpastatin from postmortem muscle. I. Initial steps

Evidence has indicated that mu-calpain, m-calpain, and calpastatin have important roles in the proteolytic degradation that results in postmortem tenderization. Simple assays of these 3 proteins at different times postmortem, however, has shown that calpastatin and mu-calpain both rapidly lose their activity during postmortem storage, so that proteolytic activity of mu-calpain is nearly zero after 3 d postmortem, even when assayed at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C, and ability of calpastatin to inhibit the calpains is 30% or less of its ability when assayed at death. m-Calpain, however, retains much of its proteolytic activity during postmortem storage, but the Ca(2+) requirement of m-calpain is much higher than that reported to exist in postmortem muscle. Consequently, it is unclear how the calpain system functions in postmortem muscle. To clarify this issue, we have initiated attempts to purify the 2 calpains and calpastatin from bovine semitendinosus muscle after 11-13 d postmortem. The known properties of the calpains and calpastatin in postmortem muscle have important effects on approaches that can be used to purify them. A hexyl-TSK hydrophobic interaction column is a critical first step in separating calpastatin from the 2 calpains in postmortem muscle. Dot-blot assays were used to detect proteolytically inactive mu-calpain. After 2 column chromatographic steps, 5 fractions can be identified: 1) calpastatin I that does not bind to an anion-exchange matrix, that does not completely inhibit the calpains, and that consists of small polypeptides <60 kDa; 2) calpastatin II that binds weakly to an anion-exchange matrix and that contains polypeptides <60 kDa; all these polypeptides are smaller than the native 115- to 125-kDa skeletal muscle calpastatin; 3) proteolytically active mu-calpain even though very little mu-calpain activity can be detected in zymogram assays of muscle extracts from 11- to 13-d postmortem muscle; this mu-calpain has an autolyzed 76-kDa large subunit but the small subunit consists of 24-, 26- and a small amount of unautolyzed 28-kDa polypeptides; 4) proteolytically active m-calpain that is not autolyzed; and 5) proteolytically inactive mu-calpain whose large subunit is autolyzed to a 76-kDa polypeptide and whose small subunit contains polypeptides similar to the proteolytically active mu-calpain. Hence, loss of calpastatin activity in postmortem muscle is due to its degradation, but the cause of the loss of mu-calpain activity remains unknown.

Effect of postmortem storage on activity of mu- and m-calpain in five bovine muscles

An in situ system involving incubation of 60- to 80-g pieces of muscle at 4 degrees C under different conditions was used to determine the effects of time of postmortem storage, of pH, and of temperature on activities of mu- and m-calpain activity in bovine skeletal muscle. Casein zymograms were used to allow measurement of calpain activity with a minimum of sample preparation and to ensure that the calpains were not exposed to ionic strengths of 100 or greater before assay of their activities. In 4 of the 5 muscles (longissimus dorsi, lumbar; longissimus dorsi, thoracic; psoas major; semimembranosus; and triceps brachii) studied, mu-calpain activity decreased nearly to zero within 48 h postmortem. Activity of m-calpain also decreased in the in situ system used but at a much slower rate. Activities of both mu- and m-calpain decreased more slowly in the triceps brachii muscle than in the other 4 muscles during postmortem storage. Although previous studies have indicated that mu-calpain but not m-calpain is proteolytically active at pH 5.8, these studies have used calpains obtained from muscle at death. Both mu- and m-calpain are proteolytically inactive if their activities are measured at pH 5.8 and after incubating the muscle pieces for 24 h at pH 5.8. Western analysis suggested that neither the large 80-kDa subunit nor the small 28-kDa subunit of m-calpain was autolyzed during postmortem storage of the muscle pieces. As has been reported previously, the 80-kDa subunit of mu-calpain was autolyzed to 78- and then to a 76-kDa polypeptide after 7 d postmortem, but the 28-kDa small subunit was not autolyzed; hence, the autolyzed mu-calpain molecule in postmortem muscle is a 76-/28-kDa molecule and not a 76-/18-kDa molecule as previously assumed. Because both subunits were present in the postmortem calpains, loss of mu-calpain activity during postmortem storage is not due to dissociation of the 2 subunits and inactivation. Although previous studies have shown that the 76-/18-kDa mu-calpain molecule is completely active proteolytically, it is possible that the 76-/28-kDa mu-calpain molecule in postmortem muscle is proteolytically inactive and that this accounts for the loss of mu-calpain activity during postmortem storage. Because neither mu- nor m-calpain is proteolytically active at pH 5.8 after being incubated at pH 5.8 for 24 h, other proteolytic systems such as the caspases may contribute to postmortem proteolysis in addition to the calpains.

Protease activity higher in postmortem water buffalo meat than Brahman beef

We previously demonstrated that postmortem water buffalo meat had higher tenderness than Brahman beef. In order to explain this difference in tenderness, the objective of the current study was to investigate the protease activity in these two meats. Five female crossbred water buffalo (Philippine Carabao×Bulgarian Murrah) and five female crossbred cattle (Brahman×Philippine Native) were slaughtered at 30months of age, followed by immediate sampling of Longissimus thoracis muscle for measurement of protease activity. Results showed that buffalo meat had significantly higher protease activity compared to beef (P<0.05). Furthermore, calpain inhibitor 1, a specific inhibitor of calpains 1 and 2, was the most effective inhibitor of protease activity. There was no difference in calpastatin activity, and no major differences were observed in calpains 1, 2, and calpastatin expression by Western blotting. This study suggests that higher calpain activity in early postmortem buffalo meat was responsible for the increased tenderness of water buffalo meat compared to beef.

Purification and characterization of calpain and calpastatin from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Although the calpain system has been studied extensively in mammalian animals, much less is known about the properties of mu-calpain, m-calpain, and calpastatin in lower vertebrates such as fish. These three proteins were isolated and partly characterized from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, muscle. Trout m-calpain contains an 80-kDa large subunit, but the approximately 26-kDa small subunit from trout m-calpain is smaller than the 28-kDa small subunit from mammalian calpains. Trout mu-calpain and calpastatin were only partly purified; identity of trout mu-calpain was confirmed by labeling with antibodies to bovine skeletal muscle mu-calpain, and identity of trout calpastatin was confirmed by specific inhibition of bovine skeletal muscle mu- and m-calpain. Trout mu-calpain requires 4.4+/-2.8 microM and trout m-calpain requires 585+/-51 microM Ca(2+) for half-maximal activity, similar to the Ca(2+) requirements of mu- and m-calpain from mammalian tissues. Sequencing tryptic peptides indicated that the amino acid sequence of trout calpastatin shares little homology with the amino acid sequences of mammalian calpastatins. Screening a rainbow trout cDNA library identified three cDNAs encoding for the large subunit of a putative m-calpain. The amino acid sequence predicted by trout m-calpain cDNA was 65% identical to the human 80-kDa m-calpain sequence. Gene duplication and polyploidy occur in fish, and the amino acid sequence of the trout m-calpain 80-kDa subunit identified in this study was 83% identical to the sequence of a trout m-calpain 80-kDa subunit described earlier. This is the first report of two isoforms of m-calpain in a single species.

Effect of pH and ionic strength on μ- and m-calpain inhibition by calpastatin1

The objectives of this study were to determine the extent to which pH and ionic strength influence mu- and m-calpain activity and the inhibition of calpains by calpastatin. Calpastatin, mu-calpain, and m-calpain were purified from at-death porcine semimembranosus. Mu-calpain or m-calpain (0.45 U) were incubated with the calpain substrate Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amino-4-methyl coumarin in the presence of calpastatin (0, 0.15, or 0.30 U of calpain inhibitory activity) under the following pH and ionic strength conditions: pH 7.5 and 165 mM NaCl or 295 mM NaCl; pH 6.5 and 165 mM NaCl or 295 mM NaCl; and pH 6.0 and 165 mM NaCl or 295 mM NaCl. The reactions were initiated with addition of 100 microM (mu-calpain) or 1 mM CaCl2 (m-calpain), and calpain activity was recorded at 30 and 60 min. Mu-calpain had the greatest (P < 0.01) activity at pH 6.5 at each ionic strength. Higher ionic strength decreased mu-calpain activity (P < 0.01) at all pH conditions. Inhibition percent of mu-calpain by calpastatin was not affected by pH; however, it was influenced by ionic strength. Inhibition of mu-calpain by calpastatin was higher (P < 0.01) at 295 mM NaCl than at 165 mM NaCl when 0.3 units of calpastatin were included in the assay. Activity of m-calpain was greater (P < 0.01) at pH 7.5 than at pH 6.5. m-Calpain activity was not detected at pH 6.0. Inhibition of m-calpain was greater (P < 0.01) when 0.15 and 0.3 U calpastatin were added at pH 6.5 than 7.5 at 165 mM NaCl, whereas percentage inhibition of m-calpain was greater (P < 0.01) at 295 mM than 165 mM NaCl at pH 7.5 and 6.5. These observations provide new evidence that defines further the influence of pH decline and increased ionic strength on mu-calpain, m-calpain, and calpastatin activity, thereby helping to more accurately define a role for these enzymes in the process of postmortem tenderization.

Supplemental vitamin D3 concentration and biological type of steers. II. Tenderness, quality, and residues of beef

Vitamin D3 was orally supplemented to determine the supplemental dose that improved beef tenderness in different cattle breed types. Feedlot steers (n = 142) were arranged in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement consisting of four levels of supplemental vitamin D3 (0, 0.5, 1, and 5 million IU/steer daily) administered for eight consecutive days antemortem using three biological types (Bos indicus, Bos Taurus-Continental, and Bos Taurus-English). Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) was measured at 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 d postmortem, and trained sensory analysis was conducted at 7 d postmortem on LM, semimembranosus, gluteus medius, and supraspinatus steaks. Concentrations of vitamin D3 and the metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were determined in the LM, liver, kidney, and plasma. Biological type of cattle did not interact (P > 0.10) with vitamin D3 supplementation for sensory or tenderness traits, suggesting that feeding vitamin D3 for 8 d before slaughter affected the different biological types of cattle similarly. Supplementing steers with 0.5, 1, or 5 million IU/(steer(d) decreased (P < 0.05) LM WBSF at 7, 10, 14, and 21 d postmortem compared with controls, and vitamin D3 treatments of 0.5, 1, and 5 million IU decreased (P < 0.05) semimembranosus WBSF at 3, 7, and 14 d postmortem. In general, vitamin D3-induced improvements in WBSF were most consistent and intense in LM steaks. Sensory panel tenderness was improved (P < 0.05) by all vitamin D3 treatments in LM steaks. Sensory traits ofjuiciness, flavor, connective tissue, and off-flavor were not (P > 0.05) affected by vitamin D3 treatments. All vitamin D3 treatments decreased micro-calpain activity and increased muscle Ca concentrations (P < 0.05). Vitamin D3 concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) by supplementation in all tissues tested (liver, kidney, LM, and plasma); however, cooking steaks to 71 degrees C decreased (P < 0.05) treatment residue effects. The vitamin D metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was increased (P < 0.05) only in plasma samples as a result of the vitamin D3 treatments. These results indicate that supplementation with vitamin D3 at 0.5 million IU/steer daily for eight consecutive days before slaughter improved tenderness in steaks from different subprimal cuts by affecting muscle Ca concentrations, micro-calpain activities, and muscle proteolysis, with only a small effect on tissue residues of vitamin D3.

Characterization of an actin-binding site within the talin FERM domain

Talin is a large cytoskeletal protein that couples integrins to F-actin. Three actin-binding sites (ABS1-3) have been reported: one in the N-terminal head, and two in the C-terminal rod domain. Although the C-terminal ABS3 has been partially characterized, the presence and properties of ABS1 within the talin head are less well defined. We show here that the talin head binds F-actin in vitro and in vivo at a specific site within the actin filament. Thus, purified talin head liberated from gizzard talin by calpain cleavage cosediments with F-actin in a low salt buffer at pH 6.4 (conditions that are optimal for binding intact talin), and using recombinant polypeptides, we have mapped ABS1 to the FERM domain within the talin head. Both the F2 and F3 FERM subdomains contribute to binding, and EGFP-tagged FERM subdomains colocalize with actin stress fibers when expressed in COS cells. High-resolution electron microscopy of actin filaments decorated with F2F3 localizes binding to a site that is distinct from that recognized by members of the calponin-homology superfamily. Finally, we show that the FERM domain can couple F-actin to PIPkin, and by inference to integrins, since they bind to the same pocket in the F3 subdomain. This suggests that the talin FERM domain functions as a linker between PIPkin or integrins and F-actin at sites of cell-matrix adhesions.

Effect of supplemental vitamin D3 concentration on concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium relative to protein in subcellular components of the longissimus and the distribution of calcium within longissimus muscle of beef steers12

The effect of supplementing diets with various levels of vitamin D3 to provide 0, 0.5, 1, and 5 million IU/(steer x d) for 8 d before slaughter on the mineral content and localization of Ca in LM and muscle fragments was studied during the postmortem aging process. Twelve feedlot steers of three biological types were given access to the four levels of vitamin D for 8 d before slaughter. Differential centrifugation techniques were used to determine the concentrations of minerals relative to protein in different muscle fragments on d 3 and 21 postmortem. Electron microscopy visualization of bound Ca indicated that vitamin D3 mobilized Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubule system into the myofibrils. Bound Ca was concentrated near the Z-line at the A-band/I-band juncture within the sarcomere. Supplementing steers with 1 and 5 million IU/(steer x d) of vitamin D3 increased (P < 0.05) Ca, P, and Mg concentrations per unit of protein in the cytosol. Soluble cytosolic Ca concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) on d 21 than on d 3 postmortem only when steers were supplemented with 5 million IU/d. Concentrations of Ca, P, and Mg in isolated tissues were increased (P < 0.05) in nuclei and myofibrilar proteins by supplementing steers with 1 and 5 million IU/ (steer x d) of vitamin D3. All supplemental vitamin D3 treatments also increased (P < 0.001) Mg concentrations in the cytosol, regardless of aging treatment, and increased Mg concentrations (P < 0.04) within the mitochondria at d 3 postmortem. Thus, supplementation of feedlot steers with vitamin D3 at levels of 0.5 to 5 million IU/(steer x d) increased Ca concentrations within respiring muscle, resulting in increased bound tissue Ca concentrations. When the respiring muscle was converted to meat, the increased bound tissue Ca resulting from vitamin D3 treatment released Ca concentrations into the cytosol during aging (P < 0.05). Results of this study indicate that vitamin D3 supplementation increased total cytosolic Ca, P, and Mg concentrations in meat.

Effect of phosphatidylinositol and inside-out erythrocyte vesicles on autolysis of μ- and m-calpain from bovine skeletal muscle

The finding that phospholipid micelles lowered the Ca2+ concentration required for autolysis of the calpains led to a hypothesis suggesting that the calpains are translocated to the plasma membrane where they interact with phospholipids to initiate their autolysis. However, the effect of plasma membranes themselves on the Ca2+ concentration required for calpain autolysis has never been reported. Also, if interaction with a membrane lowers the Ca2+ required for autolysis, the membrane-bound-calpain must autolyze itself, because it would be the only calpain having the reduced Ca2+ requirement. This implies that the autolysis is an intramolecular process, although several studies have shown that autolysis of the calpains in an in vitro assay and in the absence of phospholipid is an intermolecular process. Inside-out vesicles prepared from erythrocytes had no effect on the Ca2+ concentration required for autolysis of either mu- or m-calpain, although phosphatidylinositol (PI) decreased the Ca2+ concentration required for autolysis of the same calpains. The presence of a substrate for the calpains, beta-casein, reduced the rate of autolysis of both mu- and m-calpain both in the presence and in the absence of PI, suggesting that mu- and m-calpain autolysis is an intermolecular process in the presence of PI just as it is in its absence. Because IOV have no effect on the Ca2+ concentration required for calpain autolysis, association with the plasma membrane, at least with erythrocyte plasma membranes, does not initiate calpain autolysis by reducing the Ca2+ concentration required for autolysis as suggested by the membrane-activation hypothesis. Interaction with a membrane may serve to bind calpains to their substrates rather than promoting autolysis.

Effects of autolysis on properties of mu- and m-calpain

Although the biochemical changes that occur during autolysis of mu- and m-calpain are well characterized, there have been few studies on properties of the autolyzed calpain molecules themselves. The present study shows that both autolyzed mu- and m-calpain lose 50-55% of their proteolytic activity within 5 min during incubation at pH 7.5 in 300 mM or higher salt and at a slower rate in 100 mM salt. This loss of activity is not reversed by dialysis for 18 h against a low-ionic-strength buffer at pH 7.5. Proteolytic activity of the unautolyzed calpains is not affected by incubation for 45 min at ionic strengths up to 1000 mM. Size-exclusion chromatography shows that ionic strengths of 100 mM or above cause dissociation of the two subunits of autolyzed calpains and that the dissociated large subunits (76- or 78-kDa) aggregate to form dimers and trimers, which are proteolytically inactive. Hence, instability of autolyzed calpains is due to aggregation of dissociated heavy chains. Autolysis removes the N-terminal 19 (m-calpain) or 27 (mu-calpain) amino acids from the large subunit and approximately 90 amino acids from the N-terminus of the small subunit. These regions form contacts between the two subunits in unautolyzed calpains, and their removal leaves only contacts between domain IV in the large subunit and domain VI in the small subunit. Although many of these contacts are hydrophobic in nature, ionic-strength-induced dissociation of the two subunits in the autolyzed calpains indicates that salt bridges have an important, possibly indirect, role in the domain IV/domain VI interaction.

The calpain system

The calpain system originally comprised three molecules: two Ca2+-dependent proteases, mu-calpain and m-calpain, and a third polypeptide, calpastatin, whose only known function is to inhibit the two calpains. Both mu- and m-calpain are heterodimers containing an identical 28-kDa subunit and an 80-kDa subunit that shares 55-65% sequence homology between the two proteases. The crystallographic structure of m-calpain reveals six "domains" in the 80-kDa subunit: 1). a 19-amino acid NH2-terminal sequence; 2). and 3). two domains that constitute the active site, IIa and IIb; 4). domain III; 5). an 18-amino acid extended sequence linking domain III to domain IV; and 6). domain IV, which resembles the penta EF-hand family of polypeptides. The single calpastatin gene can produce eight or more calpastatin polypeptides ranging from 17 to 85 kDa by use of different promoters and alternative splicing events. The physiological significance of these different calpastatins is unclear, although all bind to three different places on the calpain molecule; binding to at least two of the sites is Ca2+ dependent. Since 1989, cDNA cloning has identified 12 additional mRNAs in mammals that encode polypeptides homologous to domains IIa and IIb of the 80-kDa subunit of mu- and m-calpain, and calpain-like mRNAs have been identified in other organisms. The molecules encoded by these mRNAs have not been isolated, so little is known about their properties. How calpain activity is regulated in cells is still unclear, but the calpains ostensibly participate in a variety of cellular processes including remodeling of cytoskeletal/membrane attachments, different signal transduction pathways, and apoptosis. Deregulated calpain activity following loss of Ca2+ homeostasis results in tissue damage in response to events such as myocardial infarcts, stroke, and brain trauma.

Digestion of mu- and m-calpain by trypsin and chymotrypsin

Proteolytic digestion by trypsin and chymotrypsin was used to probe conformation and domain structure of the mu- and m-calpain molecules in the presence and the absence of Ca(2+). Both calpains have a compact structure in the absence of Ca(2+); incubation with either protease for 120 min results in only three or four major fragments. A 24-kDa fragment was produced by removal of the Gly-rich area in domain V of the 28-kDa subunit. The other fragments were from the 80-kDa subunit. Except for trypsin digestion of m-calpain, the region between amino acids 245 and 265 (human sequence) was very susceptible to cleavage by both proteases in the absence of Ca(2+); this region is in domain II (IIb of the crystallographic structure). Although no proteolytically active fragments could be isolated from either tryptic or chymotryptic digests, the calpain molecule can remain assembled in a proteolytically active complex even after the 80-kDa subunit has been completely degraded. The results suggest that interaction among different regions of the entire calpain molecule is required for its full proteolytic activity. In the presence of 1 mM Ca(2+), both calpains are degraded to fragments less than 40-kDa in less than 5 min. The C-terminal ends of both subunits, from amino acids 503 to 506 to the end of the 80-kDa subunit and from amino acids 85 to 88 to the end of the 28-kDa subunit, were resistant to degradation by either protease in the presence or in the absence of Ca(2+). Hence, this part of the calpain molecule is in a compact structure that does not change significantly in the presence of Ca(2+).

Immunoaffinity purification of the calpains

A monoclonal antibody to the small subunit common to both mu- and m-calpains can be used in an immunoaffinity column to purify either mu- or m-calpain in a proteolytically active form. Extracts in 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.5, are loaded onto a column containing the anti-28-kDa antibody; the column is washed with 500 mM NaCl, pH 7.5, and the bound calpain is eluted with 150 mM NaCl, 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 9.5, and 1 mM EDTA. These elution conditions do not affect the proteolytic activity of either mu- or m-calpain. It is most efficient to reduce the volume and to remove any proteolytic activity from crude extracts by using successive phenyl Sepharose and ion-exchange columns before loading onto the immunoaffinity column. The column purifies m-calpain more effectively than mu-calpain; m-calpain is greater than 90% pure after a single pass through this column, whereas mu-calpain can be purified to >70% purity. The epitope for the monoclonal antibody is between amino acids 92 and 104 (numbers for human calpain) in the 28-kDa subunit. Evidently, this area is shielded in the calpain molecule in a way that affects binding of the antibody to the native molecule.

The purification and characterization of mu-calpain and calpastatin from ostrich brain

Calcium-activated neutral proteinases (CANPs) and their endogenous specific inhibitor calpastatin are found in a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate tissues. The CANPs are cysteine proteinases that have an absolute requirement for Ca(2+) for activity. mu-Calpain and calpastatin were purified by successive chromatographic steps on Toyopearl-Super Q 650S and Pharmacia Mono Q HR 5/5 columns. The enzyme has a M(r) of 84KDa using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), a M(min) of 79KDa from amino acid analysis and an pI of 5.2. Calpastatin has a M(r) of 323KDa using denaturing gradient PAGE and a pI of 4.7. The amino acid composition of mu-calpain revealed 689 residues and the pH and temperature optima were found to be 7.5 and 37 degrees C, respectively. mu-Calpain underwent a Ca(2+)-dependent autoproteolysis producing a fragment of 82KDa. The N-terminal sequence of mu-calpain showed 24 and 18% sequence identity with human and bovine mu-calpain.

The calpain system in human placenta

The calpain system is involved in a number of human pathologies ranging from the muscular dystrophies to Alzheimer's disease. It is important, therefore, to be able to obtain and to characterize both mu-calpain and m-calpain from human tissue. Although human mu-calpain can be conveniently obtained from either erythrocytes or platelets, no readily available source of human m-calpain has been described. Human placenta extracts contain both mu-calpain and m-calpain in nearly equal proportions and in significant quantities (3-4 mg mu-calpain and 4-5 mg m-calpain/1000 g placenta tissue). Placenta also contains calpastatin that elutes off ion-exchange columns over a wide range of KCl concentrations completely masking the mu-calpain activity eluting off these columns and even partly overlapping m-calpain elution. Placenta mu-calpain requires 50-70 microM Ca2+ and placenta m-calpain requires 450-460 microM Ca2+ for half-maximal proteolytic activity. Western analysis of washed placenta tissue shows that placenta contains both mu- and m-calpain, although some of the mu-calpain in whole placenta extracts likely originates from the erythrocytes that are abundant in the highly vascularized placenta. Placenta calpastatin could not be purified with conventional methods. The most prominent form of calpastatin in Western analyses of placenta obtained as soon as possible after birth was approximately 48-51 kDa; partly purified preparations of placenta calpastatin also contained 48-51 and 70 kDa polypeptides. Human placenta extracts likely contain two different calpastatin isoforms, a 48-51 kDa "placenta calpastatin" and a 70 kDa erythrocyte calpastatin.

Autolysis of mu- and m-calpain from bovine skeletal muscle

The rate of autolysis of mu- and m-calpain from bovine skeletal muscle was measured by using densitometry of SDS polyacrylamide gels and determining the rate of disappearance of the 28 and 80 kDa subunits of the native, unautolyzed calpain molecules. Rate of autolysis of both the 28 and 80 kDa subunits of mu-calpain decreased when mu-calpain concentration decreased and when beta-casein, a good substrate for the calpains, was present. Hence, autolysis of both mu-calpain subunits is an intermolecular process at pH 7.5, 0 or 25.0 degrees C, and low ionic strength. The 78 kDa subunit formed in the first step of autolysis of m-calpain was not resolved from the 80 kDa subunit of the native, unautolyzed m-calpain by our densitometer, so autolysis of m-calpain was measured by determining rate of disappearance of the 28 kDa subunit and the 78/80 kDa complex. At Ca2+ concentrations of 1000 microM or higher, neither the m-calpain concentration nor the presence of beta-casein affected the rate of autolysis of m-calpain. Hence, m-calpain autolysis is intramolecular at Ca2+ concentrations of 1000 microM or higher and pH 7.5. At Ca2+ concentrations of 350 microM or less, the rate of m-calpain autolysis decreased with decreasing m-calpain concentration and in the presence of beta-casein. Thus, m-calpain autolysis is an intermolecular process at Ca2+ concentrations of 350 microM or less. If calpain autolysis is an intermolecular process, autolysis of a membrane-bound calpain would require selective participation of a second, cytosolic calpain, making it an inefficient process. By incubating the calpains at Ca2+ concentrations below those required for half-maximal activity, it is possible to show that unautolyzed calpains degrade a beta-casein substrate, proving that unautolyzed calpains are active proteases.