Differences in catalytic activities and subunit pattern of multicatalytic proteinase complexes (proteasomes) isolated from bovine pituitary, lung, and liver. Changes in LMP7 and the component necessary for expression of the chymotrypsin-like activity

A Novel Treatment for Arrhythmias via the Control of the Degradation of Ion Channel Proteins

Although there are many reports on the regulation of ion channel expression in transcription and translation, few drugs have been studied to influence post-translational modification of ion channel proteins. The Kv1.5 channel is a potassium ion channel expressed in atrial muscle, belongs to the voltage-gated K⁺ channel superfamily, and forms an ultrarapid delayed rectifier potassium ion current. It is important to understand the fate of these channel proteins, as cardiac Kv1.5 mutations can cause arrhythmias. Disruption of quantitative and qualitative control mechanisms of channels leads to stagnation and degradation of intracellular channel proteins. As a result, ion channel proteins are not transported to the cell membrane and are involved in the development of atrial fibrillation. This review takes the Kv1.5 channel as an example and focuses on the degradation mechanism of ion channel proteins, and discusses its application to the treatment of arrhythmia by drugs that control the mechanism of ion channel protein degradation.

Proteasome properties of hemocytes differ between the whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei and the brown shrimp Crangon crangon (Crustacea, Decapoda)

Crustaceans are intensively farmed in aquaculture facilities where they are vulnerable to parasites, bacteria, or viruses, often severely compromising the rearing success. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is crucial for the maintenance of cellular integrity. Analogous to higher vertebrates, the UPS of crustaceans may also play an important role in stress resistance and pathogen defense. We studied the general properties of the proteasome system in the hemocytes of the whiteleg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, and the European brown shrimp Crangon crangon. The 20S proteasome was the predominant proteasome population in the hemocytes of both species. The specific activities of the trypsin-like (Try-like), chymotrypsin-like (Chy-like), and caspase-like (Cas-like) enzymes of the shrimp proteasome differed between species. P. vannamei exhibited a higher ratio of Try-like to Chy-like activities and Cas-like to Chy-like activities than C. crangon. Notably, the Chy-like activity of P. vannamei showed substrate or product inhibition at concentrations of more than 25 mmol L-1. The K M values ranged from 0.072 mmol L-1 for the Try-like activity of P. vannamei to 0.309 mmol L-1 for the Cas-like activity of C. crangon. Inhibition of the proteasome of P. vannamei by proteasome inhibitors was stronger than in C. crangon. The pH profiles were similar in both species. The Try-like, Chy-like, and Cas-like sites showed the highest activities between pH 7.5 and 8.5. The proteasomes of both species were sensitive against repeated freezing and thawing losing ~80-90% of activity. This study forms the basis for future investigations on the shrimp response against infectious diseases, and the role of the UPS therein.

LMP2-specific inhibitors: chemical genetic tools for proteasome biology

The immunoproteasome, having been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and hematological cancers, has been shown to play an important role in MHC class I antigen presentation. However, its other pathophysiological functions are still not very well understood. This can be attributed mainly to a lack of appropriate molecular probes that can selectively modulate the immunoproteasome catalytic subunits. Herein, we report the development of molecular probes that selectively inhibit the major catalytic subunit, LMP2, of the immunoproteasome. We show that these compounds irreversibly modify the LMP2 subunit with high specificity. Importantly, LMP2-rich cancer cells compared to LMP2-deficient cancer cells are more sensitive to growth inhibition by the LMP2-specific inhibitor, implicating an important role of LMP2 in regulating cell growth of malignant tumors that highly express LMP2.

Maspin alters the carcinoma proteome

Maspin, a member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family, is a tumor suppressor in breast and prostate cancer. To address molecular mechanisms underlying maspin's activity, we restored its expression in invasive carcinoma cells and analyzed the resulting changes by shotgun proteomics. Using a mass spectrometry-based multidimensional proteomic method, we observed changes to the expression of approximately 27% of the detectable proteome. In particular, we noted changes to the expression of proteins that regulate cytoskeletal architecture, cell death, and protein turnover. In each case, changes in protein expression were accompanied by measurable changes in tumor cell phenotype. Thus, maspin-expressing cells exhibit a more prominent actin cytoskeleton, a reduced invasive capacity, an increased rate of spontaneous apoptosis, and an altered proteasome function. These observations reveal for the first time the far reaching effects of maspin on multiple protein networks and a new hypothesis of maspin function based on the regulation of proteasome function.

Schistosoma mansoni: functional proteasomes are required for development in the vertebrate host

Proteasomes are multi-subunit proteases involved in several mechanisms and thought to contribute to the regulation of cellular homeostasis. Here, we report for the first time biochemical evidence for the existence of a ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway in this parasite. Proteasomes from both cercariae and adult worms exhibited a high preference for hydrolysis of the substrate Suc-LLVY-AMC, although in the cercariae extract the rate of hydrolysis was 50% lower when compared to adult worms extracts. The same difference in proteasome activities was observed when endogenous proteins were broken down in the presence of ATP and ubiquitin. Additionally, accumulation of high molecular weight conjugates was observed when cercariae were pre-incubated with proteasome inhibitors. Finally, we present evidence that during experimental schistosomiasis, proteasome inhibitors were able to reduce the number of lung stage schistosomula, reduce the worm burden and consequently decrease the egg output in infected mice.

Catalytic site-specific inhibition of the 20S proteasome by 4-hydroxynonenal

The proteasome is responsible for most intracellular protein degradation and is essential for cell survival. Previous research has shown that the proteasome can be inhibited by a number of oxidants, including 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). The present study demonstrates that HNE rapidly inhibits the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome purified from liver. Subunits containing HNE-adducts were identified following 2D gel electrophoresis, Western immunoblotting, and analysis by MALDI-TOF MS. At a time when only the chymotrypsin-like activity was inhibited, the alpha 6/C2 subunit was uniquely modified. These results provide important molecular details regarding the catalytic site-specific inhibition of proteasome by HNE.

The Use of Mass Spectrometry to Identify Antigens from Proteasome Processing

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful tool for the characterization of antigenic peptides that play a major role in the immune system. Most of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I peptides are generated during the degradation of intracellular proteins by the proteasome, a catalytic complex present in all eukaryotic cells. This chapter focuses on the contribution of MS to the understanding of the mechanisms of antigen processing by the proteasome. This knowledge may be valuable for the design of specific inhibitors of proteasome, which has recently been recognized as a therapeutic target in cancer therapies and for the development of efficient peptidic vaccines in immunotherapies. Examples from the literature have been chosen to illustrate how MS data can contribute first to the understanding of the mechanisms of proteasomal processing and, second, to the understanding of the crucial role of proteasome in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activation. The general strategy based on MS analyses used in these studies is also described.

Inhibition of proteasome activity by selected amino acids

Cellular protein homeostasis is a balance between synthesis and degradation. Protein degradation is regulated by hormones (eg, insulin) and nutrients (eg, amino acids). Certain amino acids are capable of decreasing cellular protein degradation, with evidence that this is mediated through altered lysosomal function. However, proteasomes, the major cytosolic protein degrading machinery, are being shown to play a central role in the control of protein turnover in the cell. In this study we show that the amino acids, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, lysine, and arginine are capable of inhibiting the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome in a dose-dependent manner. Leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine have a substantial effect at normal serum concentrations. The effect was greater in a proteasome preparation derived from muscle compared to a similar preparation from liver. On the assumption that amino acid-induced alterations in cellular protein degradation reflect the inhibitory changes in proteasomal activity shown here, we may conclude that amino acid control of cellular protein degradation is mediated, at least in part, through proteasomes.

Differential expression of ubiquitin and proteasome-dependent pathway components in rat tissues

The ATP-ubiquitin-dependent pathway in eukaryotes is a complex system, which plays an essential role in selective protein degradation. The functional diversity of this system must be matched to the specific protein metabolism related to the physiology of each cell types. The aim of our work was to study the expression of different components of the proteasome-dependent pathway in various rat tissues. Therefore we quantified the 20S proteasome and the 19S and 11S regulators by Western blot, and measured the expression of the mRNAs of certain subunits, which are markers of these components. We compared the peptidase activities of the purified 20S proteasomes, and also mapped its components by 2D electrophoresis. Our results show that the components of the ATP-ubiquitin-dependent pathway vary considerably both in abundance and activity from one tissue to another. This diversity allows the cells to respond appropriately to tissue-specific protein metabolism in the rat.

Heat shock protein-90 and the catalytic activities of the 20 S proteasome (multicatalytic proteinase complex)

The effect of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp-90) and several other proteins on the catalytic activities of the 20 S proteasome (MPC) was examined. The chymotrypsin-like (ChT-L) and peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolyzing (PGPH) activities of the pituitary MPC were inhibited by Hsp-90 with IC50 values of 8 and 28 nM, respectively. Bovine serum albumin and two other proteins tested inhibited the same activities with much higher IC50 values. The trypsin-like and branched-chain amino-acid-preferring activities were not affected by any of the proteins. None of the activities of the bovine spleen MPC, an enzyme form in which the X, Y, and Z subunits are virtually completely replaced by the LMP2, LMP7, and LMP10 subunits, was affected by either Hsp-90 or the other proteins tested. Hsp-90 inhibited the degradation of the oxidized B-chain of insulin by the pituitary MPC but not by its spleen counterpart. The PA28 activator (11 S regulator; REG) of the proteasome abolished the inhibitory effect of Hsp-90 and other proteins on the ChT-L and PGPH activities of the pituitary MPC. It is suggested that Hsp-90 induces conformational changes that affect the ChT-L and PGPH activities expressed by the X and Y subunits, respectively, but does not affect the activities expressed by LMP subunits.

Subtypes of 20S proteasomes from skeletal muscle

20S proteasomes from tissues and cells are a mixture of several subtypes. From rat skeletal muscle we have tentatively separated six different subtypes of 20S proteasomes purified from rat skeletal muscle by high-resolution anion exchange chromatography. Immunoblot analysis using antibodies to the beta-subunits LMP2, LMP7 and their constitutive counterparts delta and MB1 revealed that two of the three major subtypes (subtypes I and II) are constitutive proteasomes, whereas two of the three minor subtypes belong to the subpopulation of immuno-proteasomes. Subtype III and IV are intermediate-type proteasomes. Enzymological characterisation of the six subtypes revealed clearly different V(max) values for hydrolysis of fluorogenic peptide substrates as well as significantly different activities measured with a 25-mer polypeptide of the murine cytomegalovirus IE pp89 protein as substrate. Our data show that the properties of 20S proteasomes isolated from a given tissue or cells are always the average of the properties of the whole set of proteasome subtypes.

Different proteasome subtypes in a single tissue exhibit different enzymatic properties

It is concluded from many experiments that mammalian tissues and cells must contain a heterogeneous population of 20 S proteasome complexes. We describe the purification and separation by chromatographic procedures of constitutive 20 S proteasomes, 20 S immuno-proteasomes and intermediate-type 20 S proteasomes from a given tissue. Our data demonstrate that each of these three groups comprises more than one subtype and that the relative ratios of the subtypes differ between different rat tissues. Thus, six subtypes could be identified in rat muscle tissue. Subtypes I and II are constitutive proteasomes, while subtypes V and VI comprise immuno-proteasomes. Subtypes III and IV belong to a group of intermediate-type proteasomes. The subtypes differ with regard to their enzymatic characteristics. Subtypes I-III exhibit high chymotrypsin-like activity and high peptidylglutamylpeptide hydrolysing activity, while these activities are depressed in subtypes IV-VI. In contrast, trypsin-like activity of subtypes IV-VI is enhanced in comparison to subtypes I-III. Importantly, the subtypes also differ in their preferential cleavage site usage when tested by digestion of a synthetic 25mer polypeptide substrate. Therefore, the characteristics of proteasomes purified from tissues or cells represent the average of the different subtype activities which in turn may have different functions in vivo.

Control of LMP7 expression in human endothelial cells by cytokines regulating cellular and humoral immunity

Formation of antigenic peptides by the multicatalytic proteinase complex (MPC, proteasome) is facilitated by incorporation of three subunits (LMP2, LMP7 and LMP10) that are inducible by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. These cytokines, or their functional homologues (e.g. TNF-beta), are released from many cells including Th(1)lymphocytes. To learn more about the relationship between control of cellular immunity and expression of LMP subunits, we measured LMP7 levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells of cytokines promoting cellular immunity (IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) or humoral immunity (IL-10, IL-6). Little or no effect was seen when cells were exposed to IL-6, IL-10 or IL-12 alone. IFN-gamma upregulated LMP7 levels, as did TNF-alpha to a lesser extent. IL-10 downregulated IFN-gamma-induced increases in LMP7 levels, as did IL-12. The findings indicate that regulation of levels of LMP7 is similar to and may be coupled with that of other molecules required for MHC class I-dependent immunity, and depends primarily on cytokines released by Th(1)helper lymphocytes.

Proteasome from cytokine-treated human cells shows stimulated BrAAP activity and depressed PGPH activity

The branched chain amino acid-preferring (BrAAP) activity of multicatalytic proteinase complex isolated from human umbilical vein endothelial cells and treated with interferon-gamma was increased more than 2-fold, which was associated with a marked increase in LMP7 expression and decreased peptidylglutamyl peptide-hydrolyzing activity. Increases in BrAAP activity in supernatants from cells treated with interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, or lipopolysaccharide paralleled the increases in LMP7 expression. These findings are consistent with the conclusion that the increased BrAAP activity of LMP-containing multicatalytic proteinase complex results from incorporation of LMP7 or other LMP subunits.

Up-regulation of the proteasome subunit LMP7 in tissues of endotoxemic rats

The proteasome has been implicated in systemic responses to infection or inflammatory stimuli including catabolism of skeletal muscle. Cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) are known to be elevated systemically and locally under these conditions. They are also known to be potent inducers of three peptide subunits of the proteasome, including LMP7, that replace constitutively expressed subunits and change enzymatic properties. To determine whether endotoxemia alters the expression of inducible proteasome subunits, we examined the levels of LMP7 in tissues from rats 3 days after the injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or normal saline solution (NS). By both immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, significant increases in levels of LMP7 were observed in the heart, kidney, and lung of animals given LPS as compared with results in NS-treated animals, whereas immunoblotting revealed no changes in LMP7 levels in skeletal muscle or brain. Increased expression of LMP7 was limited to certain subpopulations of cells and was further localized at the subcellular level. Decreases in organ weight were also documented for organs in which the expression of LMP7 was up-regulated. Systemic or local release of cytokines or other proinflammatory mediators is suggested as the most likely mechanism for changes in LMP7 expression during endotoxemia. Changes in LMP7 expression may have functional consequences that contribute to organ dysfunction during systemic responses to infection and inflammatory stimuli.

Isolation and characterization of bovine thymus multicatalytic proteinase complex

The multicatalytic proteinase complex (MPC or proteasome) from bovine thymus was isolated and purified to homogeneity applying a protocol utilizing ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography as major purification tools. The purified complex shows molecular properties that are common for proteasomal molecules (high molecular mass, multisubunit organization, and multiple proteolytic activities) even though a peculiar subunit composition and the presence of specific regulatory mechanisms affecting the assembled proteolytic activities suggest a specialized function for this complex. Thymus proteasome is characterized by the presence of LMP2, LMP7, and LMP10 (MECL1) subunits, which replace the X, Y, and Z subunits. Since a similar complex was previously isolated in bovine spleen, it appears that the proteasomal population containing the LMP subunits is characteristic for organs involved in immune response. Both the thymus and spleen proteasomes are characterized by a marked efficiency in cleaving peptide bonds after branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, indicating that this proteasomal population is most likely involved in intracellular processing of class I antigenic peptides and is an example of an "in vivo" functioning immunoproteasome. However, in spite of several similarities, the complexes isolated from the two lymphoid organs do not show superimposable functional properties, which suggests the presence of organ-specific regulatory mechanisms affecting each of the proteolytic components assembled in the complex.

Distribution of proteasomes and of the five proteolytic activities in rat tissues

Five peptidase activities (ChT-L, T-L, PGPH, BrAAP, and SNAAP) of the proteasome, and its caseinolytic activity, were measured in crude extracts of 10 rat tissues under experimental conditions simulating those found in vivo, thereby eliminating the alterations observed with the purified enzyme. The total and individual peptidase activities varied considerably from one tissue to another, whereas the proteolytic activity measured with [(14)C]methylcasein varied no more than twofold. The tissue-specific variations in individual peptidase activities may reflect tissue-specific differences in proteasome subunit composition, or the presence of regulators. Immunological assay using an antibody directed against the iota (alpha1) subunit showed that there was no correlation between protein abundance and peptidase activity. The results also show that the different peptidase activities are not representative of proteasome distribution in the different tissues.

Intracellular proteinases of invertebrates: calcium-dependent and proteasome/ubiquitin-dependent systems

Cytosolic proteinases carry out a variety of regulatory functions by controlling protein levels and/or activities within cells. Calcium-dependent and ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent pathways are common to all eukaryotes. The former pathway consists of a diverse group of Ca(2+)-dependent cysteine proteinases (CDPs; calpains in vertebrate tissues). The latter pathway is highly conserved and consists of ubiquitin, ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, deubiquitinases, and the proteasome. This review summarizes the biochemical properties and genetics of invertebrate CDPs and proteasomes and their roles in programmed cell death, stress responses (heat shock and anoxia), skeletal muscle atrophy, gametogenesis and fertilization, development and pattern formation, cell-cell recognition, signal transduction and learning, and photoreceptor light adaptation. These pathways carry out bulk protein degradation in the programmed death of the intersegmental and flight muscles of insects and of individuals in a colonial ascidian; molt-induced atrophy of crustacean claw muscle; and responses of brine shrimp, mussels, and insects to environmental stress. Selective proteolysis occurs in response to specific signals, such as in modulating protein kinase A activity in sea hare and fruit fly associated with learning; gametogenesis, differentiation, and development in sponge, echinoderms, nematode, ascidian, and insects; and in light adaptation of photoreceptors in the eyes of squid, insects, and crustaceans. Proteolytic activities and specificities are regulated through proteinase gene expression (CDP isozymes and proteasomal subunits), allosteric regulators, and posttranslational modifications, as well as through specific targeting of protein substrates by a diverse assemblage of ubiquitin-conjugases and deubiquitinases. Thus, the regulation of intracellular proteolysis approaches the complexity and versatility of transcriptional and translational mechanisms.

Intracellular distribution of proteasomes

Proteasomes are large multicatalytic proteinase complexes which are responsible for the selective degradation of cellular proteins and the production of peptides for antigen presentation. Proteasomes are localized both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm, where some are associated with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Recent studies have shown differences in the localization of proteasome subpopulations, demonstrated the functional importance of endoplasmic reticulum-associated proteasomes and investigated the role of putative nuclear localization signals and tyrosine phosphorylation on proteasome transport into the nucleus.

Reactions of [14C]-3,4-dichloroisocoumarin with subunits of pituitary and spleen multicatalytic proteinase complexes (proteasomes)

Exposure to [14C]-3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCI) of multicatalytic proteinase complexes (MPC) isolated from bovine pituitary and spleen leads to label incorporation into several beta-type subunits, to rapid inactivation of the chymotrypsin-like (ChT-L) activity, and to a slower inactivation of other activities of the MPC. The pituitary and spleen MPCs differ in that the first contains almost exclusively the X, Y, and Z subunits, whereas in the latter these subunits are largely replaced by LMP2, LMP7, and MECL1. Preincubation with two peptidyl aledhyde inhibitors of the ChT-L activity protected the X subunit in the pituitary MPC and unexpectedly the LMP2 subunit in the spleen MPC from label incorporation, despite the greater amino acid sequence homology of the LMP7 subunit to that of the X subunit. Losses in the yield of amino acids in both subunits, shown by amino acid sequencing, and lability of the DCI-protein bond indicated formation of an acyl derivative by reaction of DCI with the threonine OH group. Brief exposure to [14C]-DCI led to preferential incorporation of label into the LMP2 and X subunits, consistent with the high inactivation rate constants of the ChT-L activity. Z-LLF-CHO, an inhibitor of ChT-L activity, but not Z-GPFL-CHO, an inhibitor of the branched chain amino acid preferring component, prevented incorporation of radioactivity into the X subunits, whereas both inhibitors prevented label incorporation into LMP2, indicating differences in susceptibility to inhibition between the two components. These and other data are consistent with involvement of the X and LMP2 subunits in expression of the ChT-L activity in the pituitary and spleen MPC, respectively, and suggest the catalytic functions of two other beta-subunits.

Bovine spleen multicatalytic proteinase complex (proteasome). Replacement of X, Y, and Z subunits by LMP7, LMP2, and MECL1 and changes in properties and specificity

Amino acid sequencing of subunits of the multicatalytic proteinase complex (MPC) isolated from bovine spleen showed an almost complete replacement of the X, Y, and Z subunits, constitutively expressed in most tissues, by the interferon-gamma-inducible LMP7, LMP2, and MECL1 subunits. A comparison with the pituitary MPC found a decreased chymotrypsin-like activity, a depressed peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolyzing activity, and a highly active component with properties similar to, but not identical with, that of the pituitary branched chain amino acid preferring (BrAAP) component. Unlike the pituitary BrAAP component, that of the spleen MPC exhibited a greatly decreased Km, a highly increased catalytic efficiency (kcat), and a 80-180 times greater specificity constant (kcat/Km) toward substrates with either branched chain or aromatic amino acid residues in the P1 position. Also, unlike the pituitary BrAAP component, that of the spleen was sensitive to inactivation by 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin and sensitive to inhibition by peptidyl-aldehydes with either phenylalaninal or leucinal residues. Several phenylalaninal peptidyl-aldehydes were identified which selectively inhibited components of the spleen but not of the pituitary MPC. Two of the inhibitors are dipeptidyl-aldehydes, two others are tetrapeptidyl-aldehydes with a Pro residue in the P3 position. The possibility is discussed that the properties and specificity of the spleen MPC are a consequence of the presence of the interferon-gamma-inducible subunits.

Proteasome activity is required for the stage-specific transformation of a protozoan parasite

A prominent feature of the life cycle of intracellular parasites is the profound morphological changes they undergo during development in the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. In eukaryotic cells, most cytoplasmic proteins are degraded in proteasomes. Here, we show that the transformation in axenic medium of trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi into amastigote-like organisms, and the intracellular development of the parasite from amastigotes into trypomastigotes, are prevented by lactacystin, or by a peptide aldehyde that inhibits proteasome function. Clasto-lactacystin, an inactive analogue of lactacystin, and cell-permeant peptide aldehyde inhibitors of T. cruzi cysteine proteinases have no effect. We have also identified the 20S proteasomes from T. cruzi as a target of lactacystin in vivo. Our results document the essential role of proteasomes in the stage-specific transformation of a protozoan.