Inhibitors associated with the proteinases of mammalian cells and tissues

Lysosomes as photochemical targets

Sulfonated tetraphenyl porphines (TPPSn) are photosensitizing dyes that localize in lysosomes of NHIK 3025 cells. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of cell inactivation by photochemical treatment with TPPSn, lysosomal enzyme inactivation and release of lysosomal contents were examined after treatment. In cells treated with TPPS4 and light, the lysosomal enzymes beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (beta-AGA) and cathepsin(L+B) were almost completely inactivated and no enzyme activities were released from the lysosomes. In contrast, a maximum of 30 and 50% of the initial beta-AGA activity was released from lysosomes after treatment with TPPS1 and TPPS2a, respectively. Forty per cent of the initial beta-AGA activity was released after treatment with TPPS2a and a non-cytotoxic dose of light. After such a treatment only approximately 10% of the initial cathepsin activity was found in the cytosol fraction and in all other cases no cathepsin activity was recovered in the cytosol fraction after photochemical treatment. It was found that the constituents of the cytosol partly inhibited cathepsin activity. This inhibitory effect was not influenced by the photochemical treatment, neither was the colony-forming ability of photochemically treated cells influenced by pre-treatment with the cathepsin inhibitor E64. The present results indicate that NHIK 3025 cells are not killed by lysosomal disruption after photochemical treatment. This is partly due to photochemical inactivation of the lysosomal enzymes and to the action of cytosolic cysteine cathepsin inhibitors. The present results also indicate that cells can survive a partial lysosomal disruption.

Alpha 2-macroglobulin used to isolate intracellular endopeptidases from mammalian cells in culture

Extracts of cell cultures labelled with [3H]leucine were incubated with human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), a plasma proteinase inhibitor. The proteinase-alpha 2M complexes were then precipitated with immobilized monoclonal antibodies to alpha 2M and analysed by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Parallel experiments were done with methylamine-inactivated alpha 2M to check for unspecific binding of cell proteins to alpha 2M. Several 3H-labelled cell proteins bound to active, but not to inactivated, alpha 2M. Such proteins are likely to be proteinases. Putative endopeptidases of subunit Mr 112000, 78,000, 53,000, and in some experiments 88,000 and 16,000, were trapped by alpha 2M in supernatant fractions from IMR90 human fibroblasts, EBTr bovine fibroblasts and HeLa human carcinoma cells. No additional proteins were trapped in the presence of ATP. The Mr-78,000 endopeptidase was identified as calpain II by immunoblotting. At pH 5.3 putative endopeptidases of subunit Mr 80,000, 53,000 and 28,000-32,000 were trapped from IMR90-fibroblast extracts. Immunoblotting showed that both cathepsin B and cathepsin D were present in the Mr-28,000-32,000 electrophoretic bands. The use of alpha 2M and immobilized antibody to alpha 2M thus allows a rapid enrichment of endopeptidases from cell extracts. Some potentials and limitations of the method are discussed.

Molecular cloning of mouse epidermal cystatin A and detection of regulated expression in differentiation and tumorigenesis

A gamma gt 11 cDNA expression library representing mouse epidermis mRNA was screened with polyclonal rabbit antiserum directed against 10-13 kDa epidermal antigens that had previously been shown to be regulated during epidermal differentiation. A cDNA clone was detected and isolated and its identity as the coding sequence for one of the antigens was confirmed by translation of hybrid-selected mRNA from mouse epidermis. The cDNA sequence predicted a peptide homologous to the reported sequence of rat epidermis cystatin A, a thiol proteinase inhibitor. This identification was confirmed by cross-reactivity of the gamma clone fusion protein with authentic antiserum to rat epidermis cystatin A. Southern gel analysis showed that mouse DNA may contain several closely related genes homologous to the cystatin probe. An mRNA of about 0.6 kb from epidermis and cultured mouse epidermal cells hybridized with the cystatin probe on northern analysis. The abundance of the message was high in cultured basal cells and was selectively diminished by inducing terminal differentiation in culture with an elevated Ca2+ concentration in the medium. Cystatin message was abundant in chemically induced mouse skin papillomas but reduced in carcinomas. In epidermis, mRNA was localized to the less differentiated basal and lower spinous layers by in situ hybridization. Regulation of expression of cystatin A in epidermis and tumors suggests that it may be important in the control of normal keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and in malignant conversion.

Activation of the multicatalytic proteinase from rat skeletal muscle by fatty acids or sodium dodecyl sulphate

A multicatalytic proteinase from rat skeletal muscle contains active site(s) catalysing the degradation of benzoyl-Val-Gly-Arg 4-methyl-7-coumarylamide, succinyl-Ala-Ala-Phe 4-methylcoumarylamide and [14C]methylcasein as well as benzyloxy-carbonyl-Leu-Leu-Glu 2-naphthylamide. These activities are 7-14-fold activated by 1 mM-sodium dodecyl sulphate. The activation leads to a higher susceptibility to the proteinase inhibitor chymostatin and to a lower ability to be inhibited and precipitated by antibodies raised against the non-activated enzyme. Since no changes in Mr or subunit composition were observed in the SDS-activated form, some conformational changes seem to occur during the activation step. More pronounced activation was observed in the presence of physiological concentrations of fatty acids; oleic acid at 100 microM concentrations stimulated the proteinase about 50-fold. In contrast with the non-activated proteinase, the activated enzyme considerably degrades muscle cytoplasmic proteins in vitro. Thus it is not unlikely that, in vivo, potential activators such as fatty acids can induce the multicatalytic proteinase to participate in muscle protein breakdown.

Amino acid sequence of rat epidermal thiol proteinase inhibitor

The complete amino acid sequence of rat epidermal thiol proteinase inhibitor was determined. The unique 103-residue sequence was derived by analysis of two peptides generated by limited proteolysis of the native inhibitor with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and of three cyanogen bromide fragments. The protein has a high degree of sequence homology to either rat liver or human leucocyte inhibitor but is not identical and may represent a new type of low molecular weight thiol proteinase inhibitors.

Amino acid sequence of rat liver thiol proteinase inhibitor

The complete amino acid sequence of rat liver thiol proteinase inhibitor is presented. Its unique 98 residue sequence was derived mostly from analyses of a limited proteolysis product generated during the isolation of the protein with an active papain affinity column and of fragments produced by cleavage at arginyl bonds. The intact protein prepared with a tetrathionate inactivated ficin column has a unique amino-terminal sequence (Ac-Met-Met-Cys-). The inhibitor has no sequence homology with any proteinase inhibitor of known structure.

Endogenous inhibitors of lysosomal proteinases

Specific inhibitors of three lysosomal proteinases are present in the cytosolic and lysosomal compartments of rabbit liver. The cytosolic inhibitors, purified by chromatography on DEAE-Trisacryl and Sephadex G-75, show specificities toward cathepsin M, cathepsins B and L, and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase converting enzyme (CE), respectively, and are designated IM, IB/L, and ICE. Inhibitors with similar specificities have been isolated from the intralysosomal compartment. Two of these inhibitors, IM and ICE, are also present in the lysosomal membranes. The lysosomal distribution parallels that of the respective proteinases. The inhibitors are polypeptides with molecular weights of 5,000-10,000 for the two forms of IB/L, 12,500 for IM, and 10,000-40,000 for the ICE species.