Substrate specificity of human cathepsin D using internally quenched fluorescent peptides derived from reactive site loop of kallistatin

A fluorogenic, peptide-based probe for the detection of Cathepsin D in macrophages

Cathepsin D is a protease that is an effector in the immune response of macrophages, yet to date, only a limited number of probes have been developed for its detection. Herein, we report a water soluble, highly sensitive, pH insensitive fluorescent probe for the detection of Cathepsin D activity that provides a strong OFF/ON signal upon activation and with bright emission at 515 nm. The probe was synthesised using a combination of solid and solution-phase chemistries, with probe optimisation to increase its water solubility and activation kinetics by addition of a long PEG chain (5 kDa) at the C-terminus. A BODIPY fluorophore allowed detection of Cathepsin D across a wide pH range, important as the protease is active both at the low pH found in lysosomes and also in higher pH phagolysosomes, and in the cytosol. The probe was successfully used to detect Cathepsin D activity in macrophages challenged by exposure to bacteria.

Insight into crustacean cathepsins: Structure-evolutionary relationships and functional roles in physiological processes

Cathepsins belong to a group of proteins that are present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and have an extremely high degree of evolutionary conservation. These proteins are functionally active in extracellular environments as soluble enzymatic proteins or attached to plasma membrane receptors. In addition, they occur in cellular secretory vesicles, mitochondria, the cytosol, and within the nuclei of eukaryotic cells. Cathepsins are classified into various groups based on their sequence variations, leading to their structural and functional diversification. The molecular understanding of the physiology of crustaceans has shown that proteases, including cathepsins, are expressed ubiquitously. They also contain one of the central regulatory systems for crustacean reproduction, growth, and immune responses. This review focuses on various aspects of the crustaceans cathepsins and emphasizes their biological roles in different physiological processes such as reproduction, growth, development, and immune responses. We also describe the bioactivity of crustaceans cathepsins. Because of the vital biological roles that cathepsins play as cellular proteases in physiological processes, they have been proposed as potential novel targets for the development of management strategies for the aquaculture industries.

Cathepsin D in prawn reproductive system: its localization and function in actin degradation

Cathepsin D (CAT-D) is a well-known aspartic protease that serves a function as house-keeping lysosomal enzyme in all somatic cells. Its existence in reproductive tissues is highly variable, even in the somatic derived epithelial cells of reproductive tract. In Macrobrachium rosenbergii, existence of MrCAT-D and its translational product was detected in both somatic cells (Sertoli-like supporting cells) and developing spermatogenic cells as well as along accessory spermatic ducts. Specifically, MrCAT-D was localized onto the sperm surface rather than within the acrosomal matrix, as evident by similar staining pattern of anti-CAT-D on live and aldehyde fixed sperm. MrCAT-D in testicular extracts and sperm isolates showed active enzyme activities towards its specific fluorogenic substrate (MCA-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ile-Leu-Phe-Phe-Arg-Leu-Lys (Dnp)-D-Arg-NH₂). MrCAT-D also exerted its function towards hydrolyzing filamentous actin, the meshwork of which is shown to be localized at the junction between germ cells and supporting cells and spermatogonia in M. rosenbergii testicular epithelium. Together, we have localized MrCAT-D transcript and its translational product in both supporting and germ cells of testis and claimed its enzymatic function towards actin degradation, which may be related to sperm release from the epithelial cell interaction.

Application of a Dual Internally Quenched Fluorogenic Substrate in Screening for D-Arginine Specific Proteases

The application of D-stereospecific proteases (DSPs) in resolution of racemic amino acids and in the semisynthesis of proteins has been a successful strategy. The main limitation for a broader application is, however, the accessibility of suitable DSPs covering multiple substrate specificities. To identify DSPs with novel primary substrate preferences, a fast specificity screening method using the easily accessible internally quenched fluorogenic substrate aminobenzoyl-D-arginyl-D-alanyl-p-nitroanilide was developed. By monitoring both UV/vis-absorbance and fluorescence signals at the same time it allows to detect two distinct D-amino acid substrate specificities simultaneously and separately with respect to the individual specificities. In order to identify novel DSP specificities for synthesis applications, DSPs specific for D-arginine were of special interest due to their potential ability as catalysts for substrate mimetics-mediated peptide and protein ligations. D-alanine in the substrate served as positive control and reference based on its known acceptance by numerous DSPs. In silico analysis suggested that DSPs are predominantly present in gram-positive microorganisms, therefore this study focused on the bacilli strains Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus subtilis as potential hosts of D-Arg-specific DSPs. While protease activities toward D-alanine were found in both organisms, a novel and so far unknown D-arginine specific DSP was detected within the culture supernatant of B. thuringiensis. Enrichment of this activity via cation exchange and size exclusion chromatography allowed isolation and further characterization of this novel enzyme consisting of a molecular mass of 37.7 kDa and an enzymatic activity of 8.3 U mg^-1 for cleaving the D-Arg|D-Ala bond in the detecting substrate. Independent experiments also showed that the identified enzyme shows similarities to the class of penicillin binding proteins. In future applications this enzyme will be a promising starting point for the development of novel strategies for the semisynthesis of all-L-proteins.

Is digestive cathepsin D the rule in decapod crustaceans?

Cathepsin D is an aspartic endopetidase with typical characteristics of lysosomal enzymes. Cathepsin D activity has been reported in the gastric fluid of clawed lobsters where it acts as an extracellular digestive enzyme. Here we investigate whether cathepsin D is unique in clawed lobsters or, instead, common in decapod crustaceans. Eleven species of decapods belonging to six infraorders were tested for cathepsin D activity in the midgut gland, the muscle tissue, the gills, and when technically possible, in the gastric fluid. Cathepsin D activity was present in the midgut gland of all 11 species and in the gastric fluid from the seven species from which samples could be taken. All sampled species showed higher activities in the midgut glands than in non-digestive organs and the activity was highest in the clawed lobster. Cathepsin D mRNA was obtained from tissue samples of midgut gland, muscle, and gills. Analyses of deduced amino acid sequence confirmed molecular features of lysosomal cathepsin D and revealed high similarity between the enzymes from Astacidea and Caridea on one side, and the enzymes from Penaeoidea, Anomura, and Brachyura on the other side. Our results support the presence of cathepsin D activity in the midgut glands and in the gastric fluids of several decapod species suggesting an extracellular function of this lysosomal enzyme. We discuss whether cathepsin D may derive from the lysosomal-like vacuoles of the midgut gland B-cells and is released into the gastric lumen upon secretion by these cells.

Multivalent Antigens for Promoting B and T Cell Activation

Efficacious vaccines require antigens that elicit productive immune system activation. Antigens that afford robust antibody production activate both B and T cells. Elucidating the antigen properties that enhance B-T cell communication is difficult with traditional antigens. We therefore used ring-opening metathesis polymerization to access chemically defined, multivalent antigens containing both B and T cell epitopes to explore how antigen structure impacts B cell and T cell activation and communication. The bifunctional antigens were designed so that the backbone substitution level of each antigenic epitope could be quantified using (19)F NMR. The T cell peptide epitope was appended so that it could be liberated in B cells via the action of the endosomal protease cathepsin D, and this design feature was critical for T cell activation. Antigens with high BCR epitope valency induce greater BCR-mediated internalization and T cell activation than did low valency antigens, and these high-valency polymeric antigens were superior to protein antigens. We anticipate that these findings can guide the design of more effective vaccines.

Cysteine cathepsins as digestive enzymes in the spider Nephilengys cruentata

Cysteine cathepsins are widely spread on living organisms associated to protein degradation in lysosomes, but some groups of Arthropoda (Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Crustacea and Acari) present these enzymes related to digestion of the meal proteins. Although spiders combine a mechanism of extra-oral with intracellular digestion, the sporadic studies on this subject were mainly concerned with the digestive fluid (DF) analysis. Thus, a more complete scenario of the digestive process in spiders is still lacking in the literature. In this paper we describe the identification and characterization of cysteine cathepsins in the midgut diverticula (MD) and DF of the spider Nephilengys cruentata by using enzymological assays. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative data from transcriptomic followed by proteomic experiments were used together with biochemical assays for results interpretation. Five cathepsins L, one cathepsin F and one cathepsin B were identified by mass spectrometry, with cathepsins L1 (NcCTSL1) and 2 (NcCTSL2) as the most abundant enzymes. The native cysteine cathepsins presented acidic characteristics such as pH optima of 5.5, pH stability in acidic range and zymogen conversion to the mature form after in vitro acidification. NcCTSL1 seems to be a lysosomal enzyme with its recombinant form displaying acidic characteristics as the native ones and being inhibited by pepstatin. Evolutionarily, arachnid cathepsin L may have acquired different roles but its use for digestion is a common feature to studied taxa. Now a more elucidative picture of the digestive process in spiders can be depicted, with trypsins and astacins acting extra-orally under alkaline conditions whereas cysteine cathepsins will act in an acidic environment, likely in the digestive vacuoles or lysosome-like vesicles.

Cathepsin D activity and selectivity in the acidic conditions of a tumor microenvironment: Utilization in the development of a novel Cathepsin D substrate for simultaneous cancer diagnosis and therapy

Pro-Cathepsin D (pCD) is an aspartyl endopeptidase which is over expressed in many cancers. This over expression generally led to its secretion into the extracellular culture medium of cancer cells. Moreover, pCD can auto activate and cleave its substrates at an acidic pH compatible with that found in tumor microenvironments (TME). Thus, exploiting these two pathological characteristics of TME offers the opportunity to develop new protease-activated vector on the basis of their specific substrate structures. The aim of this study was to validate new pCD substrates in the extracellular pH conditions of TME. As a first step, we investigated the effect of pH on the catalytic activity and selectivity of mature Cathepsin D (CD). It was found that the increase in the pH of the media led to a decrease in the reaction rate. However, the specificity of mature CD was not affected by a variation in pH. In the second step, the effect of the substrate structure was studied. We demonstrated that the substrate structure had a significant effect on the catalytic activity of CD. In fact, some modifications in peptide structure induced a change in the catalytic behavior that involved a substrate activation phenomenon. We suggest that this activation may be related to the amphiphilic nature of the modified peptide that may induce an interfacial activation mechanism. Finally, pCD, which is the major form found in the extracellular culture medium of cancer cells, was used. We demonstrated that the proform of CD cleave the modified peptide 5 at pH 6.5 with the same cleavage selectivity obtained with the mature form of the protease. These data provide a better understanding of CD behavior in tumor microenvironment conditions and this knowledge can be used to develop more specific tools for diagnosis and drug delivery.

Proteolytic characteristics of cathepsin D related to the recognition and cleavage of its target proteins

Cathepsin D (CD) plays an important role in both biological and pathological processes, although the cleavage characteristics and substrate selection of CD have yet to be fully explored. We employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify the CD cleavage sites in bovine serum albumin (BSA). We found that the hydrophobic residues at P1 were not only a preferential factor for CD cleavage but that the hydrophobicity at P1’ also contributed to CD recognition. The concept of hydrophobic scores of neighbors (HSN) was proposed to describe the hydrophobic microenvironment of CD recognition sites. The survey of CD cleavage characteristics in several proteins suggested that the HSN was a sensitive indicator for judging the favorable sites in peptides for CD cleavage, with HSN values of 0.5–1.0 representing a likely threshold. Ovalbumin (OVA), a protein resistant to CD cleavage in its native state, was easily cleaved by CD after denaturation, and the features of the cleaved peptides were quite similar to those found in BSA, where a higher HSN value indicated greater cleavability. We further conducted two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) to find more proteins that were insensitive to CD cleavage in CD-knockdown cells. Based on an analysis of secondary and three-dimensional structures, we postulated that intact proteins with a structure consisting of all α-helices would be relatively accessible to CD cleavage.

Role of chymase in diabetic nephropathy

Chymase is an alternative pathway for angiotensin-converting enzyme in angiotensin II (Ang II) formation, and its expression is increased in human diabetic kidneys and in human mesangial cells (MCs) stimulated with high glucose. In addition, chymase activates transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) via an Ang II-independent pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of chymase on TGF-β1 activation in diabetic rats and in rat MCs (RMCs) stimulated with high glucose (HG). Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, intravenous). After 30 (D30) or 60 (D60) days, chymase activity and the expression of profibrotic markers were evaluated. RMCs were stimulated with HG in the presence or absence of 50 μmol/L chymostatin, a chymase inhibitor, or 100 nmol/L of losartan, an Ang II antagonist. Chymase activity and expression increased in D60 kidneys, with increased expression of fibronectin, type I and III collagen, TGF-β1 and Smad 3 and with no change in Smad 7 expression. RMCs exposed to HG presented increases in chymase activity and expression, together with upregulation in fibrosis markers and in the TGF-β1 signaling pathway. All these effects were reversed by chymostatin and by losartan, but type 1 angiotensin II receptor blockade did not interfere with the Smad 3 and 7 pathway. Similar to HG-stimulated RMCs, control RMCs treated with chymase responded with increased expression of TGF-β1, Smad 3 and fibrosis markers. These effects were reversed by chymostatin but not by losartan. The results indicate an important role for chymase in inducing fibrosis through TGF-β1 activation, parallel with Ang II effects.

Characterization of gut-associated cathepsin D hemoglobinase from tick Ixodes ricinus (IrCD1)

To identify the gut-associated tick aspartic hemoglobinase, this work focuses on the functional diversity of multiple Ixodes ricinus cathepsin D forms (IrCDs). Out of three encoding genes representing Ixodes scapularis genome paralogs, IrCD1 is the most distinct enzyme with a shortened propeptide region and a unique pattern of predicted post-translational modifications. IrCD1 gene transcription is induced by tick feeding and is restricted to the gut tissue. The hemoglobinolytic role of IrCD1 was further supported by immunolocalization of IrCD1 in the vesicles of tick gut cells. Properties of recombinantly expressed rIrCD1 are consistent with the endo-lysosomal environment because the zymogen is autoactivated and remains optimally active in acidic conditions. Hemoglobin cleavage pattern of rIrCD1 is identical to that produced by the native enzyme. The preference for hydrophobic residues at the P1 and P1' position was confirmed by screening a novel synthetic tetradecapeptidyl substrate library. Outside the S1-S1' regions, rIrCD1 tolerates most amino acids but displays a preference for tyrosine at P3 and alanine at P2'. Further analysis of the cleavage site location within the peptide substrate indicated that IrCD1 is a true endopeptidase. The role in hemoglobinolysis was verified with RNAi knockdown of IrCD1 that decreased gut extract cathepsin D activity by >90%. IrCD1 was newly characterized as a unique hemoglobinolytic cathepsin D contributing to the complex intestinal proteolytic network of mainly cysteine peptidases in ticks.

Partial characterization of a novel amphibian hemoglobin as a model for graduate student investigation on peptide chemistry, mass spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy

Graduate students in chemistry, and in biological and biomedical fields must learn the fundamentals and practices of peptide and protein chemistry as early as possible. A project-oriented approach was conducted by first-year M.Sc and Ph.D students in biological sciences. A blind glass slide containing a cellular smear and an aqueous cellular extract were offered to the students. Qualitative and quantitative cell morphological parameters were analyzed by atomic force microscopy. The fractionation of the aqueous extract was conducted by reversed-phase chromatography followed by analysis of the isolated and partially purified proteins and peptides by mass spectrometry (MS). The proteins were treated by peptidases and the obtained peptide fragments were sequenced by de novo MS/MS, together with peptides already present in the extract. The most abundant protein fractions were identified as the alpha and beta chains of hemoglobin from an amphibian of the Leptodactylus genera. Two of the peptides sequenced by the students were synthesized by the solid-phase methodology, one of those being obtained by the split-and-pool library synthesis method. Thus, the students were able to learn some advanced principles and practices of protein chemistry and bionanotechnology in a 6-weeks project-oriented approach.

New cis-configured aziridine-2-carboxylates as aspartic acid protease inhibitors

A series of 52 cis-configured 1-alkyl-3-phenylaziridine-2-carboxylates were synthesized as new pseudo-irreversible inhibitors of Candida albicans secreted aspartic acid protease 1 (SAP1), SAP2, SAP3, and SAP8. Some of the compounds, which were obtained as diastereomers with S,S- and R,R-configured aziridine rings by Cromwell synthesis of racemic (2R,3S+2S,3R)-dibromophenylpropionic acid ester with amines, followed by ester hydrolysis and coupling to hydrophobic amino acid esters, were separated by preparative HPLC. The absolute configuration of the aziridine ring was assigned by a combination of experimental circular dichroism (CD) investigations and quantum chemical CD calculations. In agreement with previous docking studies, the diastereomers all exhibit similar activity. The compounds were found to be more active against the related mammalian enzyme cathepsin D, presumably due to productive interactions of the N-alkyl substituent with the highly lipophilic S2 pocket. The most active inhibitors (5, 9, 10, 21, and 28), characterized by benzyl, cyclohexylmethyl, tert-butyl, or 1,4-dimethylpentyl moieties at the aziridine nitrogen atom, exhibit k(2nd) values between 500 and 900×10³ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ and K(i) values near or below 1 μM for cathepsin D.

Characterization of proteinases from the midgut of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus involved in the generation of antimicrobial peptides

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobin is a rich source of biologically active peptides, some of which are potent antimicrobials (hemocidins). A few hemocidins have been purified from the midgut contents of ticks. Nonetheless, how antimicrobials are generated in the tick midgut and their role in immunity is still poorly understood. Here we report, for the first time, the contribution of two midgut proteinases to the generation of hemocidins.

RESULTS

An aspartic proteinase, designated BmAP, was isolated from the midgut of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus using three chromatographic steps. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that BmAP is restricted to the midgut. The other enzyme is a previously characterized midgut cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase designated BmCL1. Substrate specificities of native BmAP and recombinant BmCL1 were mapped using a synthetic combinatorial peptide library and bovine hemoglobin. BmCL1 preferred substrates containing non-polar residues at P2 subsite and polar residues at P1, whereas BmAP hydrolysed substrates containing non-polar amino acids at P1 and P1'.

CONCLUSIONS

BmAP and BmCL1 generate hemocidins from hemoglobin alpha and beta chains in vitro. We postulate that hemocidins may be important for the control of tick pathogens and midgut flora.

Human cathepsin D

A literature survey was performed of human cathepsin D gene, cathepsin D biosynthesis, posttranslatory modifications, transport within the cell, substrate specificity and catalytic effect. Methods used to determine the activity and level of this proteinase as well as its role in the biochemistry and pathobiochemistry of cells, tissues and organs were considered.

The correction of reaction rates in continuous fluorometric assays of enzymes

The kinetic data obtained from the action of a cathepsin D-like enzyme from Biomphalaria glabrata hepatopancreas (digestive gland) on MOCAc-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ile-Leu-Phe-Phe-Arg-Leu-Lys(DNp)-D-Arg-NH(2), was studied as a data prototype, generated by means of a fluorogenic substrate. An initial fluorescence, due to incomplete energy transfer, of about 8% of the values attained after complete substrate hydrolysis; a non-linear standard curve even at microM concentrations and an exponential decay of the steady state fluorescence of reaction product of the order of 10(-4) x s(-1) were the main analytical problems encountered. The standard curves for fluorescence of the substrate reaction product after 48 h of hydrolysis, and the reference compound MOCAc-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH(2), were fitted by polynomial approximation and the point derivates used as calibration factors. Time dependence of the calibration factor for the reaction product was -2.96 x 10(-4) a.u microM(-1) x s(-1) that is, in the same order of observed enzymic reaction rates. A mathematical treatment was devised for obtaining rates corrected for errors derived from the three analytical problems indicated. The method is of general application in continuous fluorometric assays, irrespective of the particular enzyme used, but of special value for substrates that present significant initial fluorescence. The reaction rates were 11% higher; as calculated by means of the calibration factor [substrate]/(final-initial fluorescence intensities), which is the prevalent procedure in the literature; leading to underestimation of K(m) and overestimation of V(max).

Calcium-regulated fusion of yolk granules is important for yolk degradation during early embryogenesis of Rhodnius prolixusStahl

This study examined the process of membrane fusion of yolk granules (YGs)during early embryogenesis of Rhodnius prolixus. We show that eggs collected at days 0 and 3 after oviposition contain different populations of YGs, for example day-3 eggs are enriched in large YGs (LYGs). Day-3 eggs also contain the highest free [Ca2+] during early embryogenesis of this insect. In vitro incubations of day-0 YGs with [Ca2+]similar to those found in day-3 eggs resulted in the formation of LYGs, as observed in vivo. Fractionation of LYGs and small YGs (SYGs) and their subsequent incubation with the fluorescent membrane marker PKH67 showed a calcium-dependent transference of fluorescence from SYGs to LYGs, possibly as the result of membrane fusion. Acid phosphatase and H+-PPase activities were remarkably increased in day-3 LYGs and in calcium-treated day-0 LYGs. Both fractions were found to contain vitellins as major components, and incubation of YGs with calcium induced yolk proteolysis in vitro. Altogether, our results suggest that calcium-induced membrane fusion events take part in yolk degradation, leading to the assembly of the yolk mobilization machinery.

Hemorphin and hemorphin-like peptides isolated from dog pancreas and sheep brain are able to potentiate bradykinin activity in vivo

Hemorphins are biologically active peptides, derived from hemoglobin, which presents a number of physiological activities. Proteolytic generation of these peptides is not fully understood; however, among their roles, is to provoke reduction on blood pressure. In this work, this particular biological effect was chosen as the monitor for the selection of mammalian vasoactive peptides. By combining high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, including 'de novo' sequencing, several hemorphin-like peptides were identified presenting bradykinin potentiating activity. Moreover, taking LVV-hemorphin-7 as model compound, we evaluated its biological effect on blood pressure of anaesthetized rats. By summarizing all the results, it is possible to present the hemorphins as a family of proteolytically generated peptides that are able to potentiate bradykinin activity in vivo.

Catalysis and Linear Free Energy Relationships in Aspartic Proteases

Aspartic proteases are receiving considerable attention as potential drug targets in several serious diseases, such as AIDS, malaria, and Alzheimer's disease. These enzymes cleave polypeptide chains, often between specific amino acid residues, but despite the common reaction mechanism, they exhibit large structural differences. Here, the catalytic mechanism of aspartic proteases plasmepsin II, cathepsin D, and HIV-1 protease is examined by computer simulations utilizing the empirical valence bond approach in combination with molecular dynamics and free energy perturbation calculations. Free energy profiles are established for four different substrates, each six amino acids long and containing hydrophobic side chains in the P1 and P1' positions. Our simulations reproduce the catalytic effect of these enzymes, which accelerate the reaction rate by a factor of approximately 10(10) compared to that of the corresponding uncatalyzed reaction in water. The calculations elucidate the origin of the catalytic effect and allow a rationalization of the fact that, despite large structural differences between plasmepsin II/cathepsin D and HIV-1 protease, the magnitude of their rate enhancement is very similar. Amino acid residues surrounding the active site together with structurally conserved water molecules are found to play an important role in catalysis, mainly through dipolar (electrostatic) stabilization. A linear free energy relationship for the reactions in the different enzymes is established that also demonstrates the reduced reorganization energy in the enzymes compared to that in the uncatalyzed water reaction.

Cysteine-protease activity elicited by Ca2+ stimulus in Plasmodium

Bloodstage malaria parasites require proteolytic activity for key processes as invasion, hemoglobin degradation and merozoite escape from red blood cells (RBCs). We investigated by confocal microscopy the presence of cysteine-protease activity elicited by calcium stimulus in Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium falciparum in free trophozoites or for the later parasite within RBC using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptides. Peptide probes access, to either free or intraerythrocytic parasites, was also tested by selecting a range of fluorescent peptides (653-3146 Da molecular mass) labeled with Abz or FITC. In the present work we show that Ca2+ stimulus elicited by treatment with either melatonin, thapsigargin, ionomicin or nigericin, promotes an increase of substrate hydrolysis, which was blocked by the specific cysteine-protease inhibitor E-64 and the intracellular Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA. When parasites were treated with cytoplasmic Ca2+ releasing compounds, a cysteine-protease was labeled in the parasite cytoplasm by the fluorescent specific irreversible inhibitor, Ethyl-Eps-Leu-Tyr-Cap-Lys(Abz)-NH2, where Ethyl-Eps is Ethyl-(2S,3S)-oxirane-2,3-dicarboxylate. In summary, we demonstrate that P. chabaudi and P. falciparum have a cytoplasmic dependent cysteine-protease activity elicited by Ca2+.

Cathepsin D-mediated yolk protein degradation is blocked by acid phosphatase inhibitors

Vitellin (VT) is a lipoglycophosphoprotein stored inside the eggs of every oviparous organism during oogenesis. In the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus, VT is deposited inside growing oocytes together with two acid hydrolases: acid phosphatase (AP) and cathepsin D (CD). Egg fertilization triggers AP activity and VT proteolysis in vivo [Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2002 (32) 847]. Here, we show that CD is the main protease targeting VT proteolysis during egg development. CD activity in total egg homogenates is blocked by the classical aspartyl protease inhibitor, pepstatin A. Surprisingly, AP inhibitors such as NaF, Na+/K+ tartrate, and inorganic phosphate also block VT proteolysis, whereas this effect is not observed when tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors such as vanadate and phenylarsine oxide or an inhibitor of alkaline phosphatases such as levamisole are used in a VT proteolysis assay. NaF concentrations that block isolated AP activity do not affect the activity of partially purified CD. Therefore, a specific repressor of VT proteolysis must be dephosphorylated by AP in vivo. In conclusion, these results demonstrate for the first time that acid hydrolases act cooperatively to promote yolk degradation during egg development in arthropods.

Cathepsin D Processes Human Prolactin into Multiple 16K-Like N-Terminal Fragments: Study of Their Antiangiogenic Properties and Physiological Relevance

16K prolactin (PRL) is the name given to the 16-kDa N-terminal fragment obtained by proteolysis of rat PRL by tissue extracts or cell lysates, in which cathepsin D was identified as the candidate protease. Based on its antiangiogenic activity, 16K PRL is potentially a physiological inhibitor of tumor growth. Full-length human PRL (hPRL) was reported to be resistant to cathepsin D, suggesting that antiangiogenic 16K PRL may be physiologically irrelevant in humans. In this study, we show that hPRL can be cleaved by cathepsin D or mammary cell extracts under the same conditions as described earlier for rat PRL, although with lower efficiency. In contrast to the rat hormone, hPRL proteolysis generates three 16K-like fragments, which were identified by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry as corresponding to amino acids 1-132 (15 kDa), 1-147 (16.5 kDa), and 1-150 (17 kDa). Biochemical and mutagenetic studies showed that the species-specific digestion pattern is due to subtle differences in primary and tertiary structures of rat and human hormones. The antiangiogenic activity of N-terminal hPRL fragments was assessed by the inhibition of growth factor-induced thymidine uptake and MAPK activation in bovine umbilical endothelial cells. Finally, an N-terminal hPRL fragment comigrating with the proteolytic 17-kDa fragment was identified in human pituitary adenomas, suggesting that the physiological relevance of antiangiogenic N-terminal hPRL fragments needs to be reevaluated in humans.

Endosomal proteolysis of internalized insulin at the C-terminal region of the B chain by cathepsin D

The endosomal compartment of hepatic parenchymal cells contains an acidic endopeptidase, endosomal acidic insulinase, which hydrolyzes internalized insulin and generates the major primary end product A(1--21)-B(1--24) insulin resulting from a major cleavage at residues Phe(B24)-Phe(B25). This study addresses the nature of the relevant endopeptidase activity in rat liver that is responsible for most receptor-mediated insulin degradation in vivo. The endosomal activity was shown to be aspartic acid protease cathepsin D (CD), based on biochemical similarities to purified CD in 1) the rate and site of substrate cleavage, 2) pH optimum, 3) sensitivity to pepstatin A, and 4) binding to pepstatin A-agarose. The identity of the protease was immunologically confirmed by removal of greater than 90% of the insulin-degrading activity associated with an endosomal lysate using polyclonal antibodies to CD. Moreover, the elution profile of the endosomal acidic insulinase activity on a gel-filtration TSK-GEL G3000 SW(XL) high performance liquid chromatography column corresponded exactly with the elution profile of the immunoreactive 45-kDa mature form of endosomal CD. Using nondenaturating immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting procedures, other endosomal aspartic acid proteases such as cathepsin E and beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme (BACE) were ruled out as candidate enzymes for the endosomal degradation of internalized insulin. Immunofluorescence studies showed a largely vesicular staining pattern for internalized insulin in rat hepatocytes that colocalized partially with CD. In vivo pepstatin A treatment was without any observable effect on the insulin receptor content of endosomes but augmented the phosphotyrosine content of the endosomal insulin receptor after insulin injection. These results suggest that CD is the endosomal acidic insulinase activity which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the in vivo cleavage at the Phe(B24)-Phe(B25) bond, generating the inactive A(1--21)-B(1--24) insulin intermediate.

Exploring the subsite specificity of Schistosoma mansoni aspartyl hemoglobinase through comparative molecular modelling

Blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma currently infect millions of people in tropical and subtropical countries. An enzyme playing a major role in hemoglobin (Hb) degradation by Schistosoma mansoni has been cloned and shown to be highly similar to the human cathepsin D aspartyl proteinase, although presenting a distinct substrate specificity from the latter. Investigating the structural features responsible for this difference has a major application in the design of selective anti-schistosomal drugs. In order to achieve this goal a homology model for the S. mansoni aspartyl hemoglobinase was constructed and then used to simulate the complexes formed with two transition state analogues of Hb-derived octapeptide substrates. Comparison with human cathepsin D showed that different pocket volumes and surface electrostatic potentials arise from substitutions in residues comprising the S4, S3, S2 and S3' subsites. Since the primary specificity of the S. mansoni enzyme resembles that of HIV-1 protease, we have discussed the applicability of current retroviral protease inhibitors as leads for the design of new anti-schistosomal drugs.

Proteinase activity regulation by glycosaminoglycans

There are few reports concerning the biological role and the mechanisms of interaction between proteinases and carbohydrates other than those involved in clotting. It has been shown that the interplay of enzymes and glycosaminoglycans is able to modulate the activity of different proteases and also to affect their structures. From the large number of proteases belonging to the well-known protease families and also the variety of carbohydrates described as widely distributed, only few events have been analyzed more deeply. The term "family" is used to describe a group of proteases in which every member shows an evolutionary relationship to at least one other protease. This relationship may be evident throughout the entire sequence, or at least in that part of the sequence responsible for catalytic activity. The majority of proteases belong to the serine, cysteine, aspartic or metalloprotease families. By considering the existing limited proteolysis process, in addition to the initial idea that the proteinases participate only in digestive processes, it is possible to conclude that the function of the enzymes is strictly limited to the cleavage of intended substrates since the destruction of functional proteins would result in normal tissue damage. In addition, the location as well as the eventual regulation of protease activity promoted by glycosaminoglycans can play an essential role in the development of several physiopathological conditions.