Characterization and subcellular localization of aminopeptidases in senescing barley leaves

Phosphinotripeptidic Inhibitors of Leucylaminopeptidases

Phosphinate pseudopeptide are analogs of peptides containing phosphinate moiety in a place of the amide bond. Due to this, the organophosphorus fragment resembles the tetrahedral transition state of the amide bond hydrolysis. Additionally, it is also capable of coordinating metal ions, for example, zinc or magnesium ions. These two properties of phosphinate pseudopeptides make them an ideal candidate for metal-related protease inhibitors. This research investigates the influence of additional residue in the P2 position on the inhibitory properties of phosphinopeptides. The synthetic strategy is proposed, based on retrosynthetic analysis. The N-C-P bond formation in the desired compounds is conveniently available from the three-component condensation of appropriate amino components, aldehydes, and hypophosphorous acid. One of the crucial synthetic steps is the careful selection of the protecting groups for all the functionals. Determination of the inhibitor activity of the obtained compounds has been done using UV-Vis spectroscopy and standard substrate _L-Leu-p-nitroanilide toward the enzymes isolated from the porcine kidney (SsLAP, Sus scrofa Leucine aminopeptidase) and barley seeds (HvLAP, Hordeum vulgare Leucine aminopeptidase). An efficient procedure for the preparation of phosphinotripeptides has been performed. Activity test shown that introduction of additional residue into P2 position obtains the micromolar range inhibitors of SsLAP and HvLAP. Moreover, careful selection of the residue in the P2 position should improve its selectivity toward mammalian and plant leucyl aminopeptidases.

Purification and partial characterization of aminopeptidase from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds

Aminopeptidases (EC 3.4.11) are proteolytic enzymes, which hydrolyze one amino acid from N-terminus of peptidic substrates. Inhibitors of plant aminopeptidases can find an application in agriculture as herbicides. Isolation and partial characterization of aminopeptidase from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds has been described. The enzyme was purified to molecular homogeneity using a six-step purification procedure (precipitation with (NH4)2SO4, followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-25, DEAE-Sepharose, Sephacryl HR 300, Macro-Prep Q and Phenyl-Sepharose HP columns). The enzyme was purified 365-fold with recovery above 18%. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration as 58 kDa, and was found to be a monomer. Its pH and temperature optima were 7.5 and 52 °C, respectively. The enzyme behaves as standard leucine aminopeptidase by preferring bulky amino acids at the N-terminus, with phenylalanine being of choice.

Leaf senescence and nutrient remobilisation in barley and wheat

Extensive studies have been undertaken on senescence processes in barley and wheat and their importance for the nitrogen use efficiency of these crop plants. During the senescence processes, proteins are degraded and nutrients are re-mobilised from senescing leaves to other organs, especially the developing grain. Most of the proteins degraded reside in the chloroplasts, with Rubisco constituting the most dominant protein fraction. Despite intensive studies, the proteases responsible for Rubisco degradation have not yet been identified. Evidence for degradation of stromal proteins outside of chloroplasts is summarised. Rubisco is thought to be released from chloroplasts into vesicles containing stroma material (RCB = Rubisco-containing bodies). These vesicles may then take different routes for their degradation. Transcriptome analyses on barley and wheat senescence have identified genes involved in degradative, metabolic and regulatory processes that could be used in future strategies aimed at modifying the senescence process. The breeding of crops for characters related to senescence processes, e.g. higher yields and better nutrient use efficiency, is complex. Such breeding has to cope with the dilemma that delayed senescence, which could lead to higher yields, is correlated with a decrease in nutrient use efficiency. Pinpointing regulatory genes involved in senescence might lead to tools that could effectively overcome this dilemma.

A high-grain protein content locus on barley (Hordeum vulgare) chromosome 6 is associated with increased flag leaf proteolysis and nitrogen remobilization

Leaf senescence and nitrogen remobilization from senescing tissues are two important factors determining grain protein content (GPC) in cereals. We compared near-isogenic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) germplasm varying in the allelic state of a major GPC quantitative trait locus on chromosome 6, delineated by molecular markers HVM74 and ABG458 and explaining approximately 46% of the variability in this trait. High GPC was consistently associated with earlier whole-plant senescence. SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis of flag leaf proteins indicated earlier leaf protein [including ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco)] degradation in high-GPC germplasm. This was accompanied by enhanced availability of ammonium and glutamine in developing kernels, suggesting increased phloem retranslocation of nitrogen. Based on previous microarray analysis, we performed a detailed expression study of six leaf genes, tentatively involved in plastidial proteolysis, vacuolar proteolysis, intermediary N metabolism and N transport. All of these were upregulated in high-GPC barley, mostly around 21 to 28 days past anthesis, prior to or around the time demonstrating maximal differences in leaf protein (including Rubisco) levels. Therefore, these genes represent potential targets to manipulate grain protein accumulation. It appears likely that their functional analysis will enhance our understanding of whole-plant N recycling. Additionally, earlier leaf (photosynthetic) protein degradation may lead to reduced N carbon assimilation in high-GPC germplasm, explaining past studies demonstrating a negative correlation between GPC and yield.

Targeting and localization of wound-inducible leucine aminopeptidase A in tomato leaves

The constitutive and wound-inducible leucine aminopeptidases (LAP-N and LAP-A, respectively) of tomato encode 60-kDa proteins with 5-kDa presequences that resemble chloroplast-targeting peptides. Cell fractionation studies and immunoblot analyses of chloroplast and total proteins have suggested a dual location of the mature LAP-A proteins in the cytosol and the plastids. In this study, the subcellular localization of tomato LAPs was further investigated using in vitro chloroplast-targeting assays and immunocytochemical techniques at the light and TEM levels. In vitro-translated LAP-A1 and LAP-N preproteins were readily transported into pea chloroplasts and processed into mature proteins of 55 kDa indicating the presence of a functional chloroplast-targeting signal in the LAP-A1 and LAP-N protein precursors. In addition, a LAP polyclonal and a LAP-A-specific antisera were used to immunolocalize LAP proteins in leaves from healthy, wounded and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-treated plants. Low levels of LAPs and/or LAP-like proteins were detected in leaves from unwounded plants. The LAP polyclonal antiserum, which detected LAP-A, LAP-N and LAP-like proteins, and the LAP-A specific antibodies, which detected only LAP-A, showed that LAP levels increased in leaf sections after wounding and MeJA treatments. LAP-A proteins were primarily detected within the chloroplasts of spongy and palisade mesophyll cells. The localization of LAP-A was distinct from the location of early wound-response proteins that are important in the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid or systemin and more similar to the late wound-response proteins with primary roles in defense. The importance of these findings relative to the potential roles of LAP-A in defense is discussed.

Comparative transcriptome profiling of near-isogenic barley (Hordeum vulgare) lines differing in the allelic state of a major grain protein content locus identifies genes with possible roles in leaf senescence and nitrogen reallocation

To identify genes involved in the regulation and execution of leaf senescence and whole-plant nitrogen reallocation, near-isogenic barley germplasm divergent in senescence timing and protein concentration of mature grains was contrasted. Barley lines differing in allelic state at a major locus on chromosome six, controlling grain protein concentration, were obtained after four generations of backcrossing. Based on physiological data indicating major differences between low- and high-grain protein germplasm at 14-21 d past anthesis, the flag leaf and kernel transcriptomes of the low-protein parent and one high-protein near-isogenic line were compared at these time points, using the 22-k Barley1 Affymetrix microarray. Our data associate several genes with both known (based on sequence comparisons) and unknown functions with the senescence process. These include leucine-rich repeat transmembrane protein kinases, a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein with homology to AtGRP7 and a 'mother of FT/TF1' gene. Our data also indicate upregulation of genes coding for both plastidial and extraplastidial proteases in germplasm with accelerated leaf senescence. Functional characterization of candidate genes identified by this research may contribute to our understanding of the molecular network underlying leaf senescence and nitrogen reallocation.

Purification and characterization of an aminopeptidase from the chloroplast stroma of barley leaves by chromatographic and electrophoretic methods

Aminopeptidases catalyze the cleavage of amino acids from the amino terminus of protein or peptide substrates. Although some aminopeptidase activities have been found in plant chloroplasts, the identity of these proteins remains unclear. In this work, we report the purification to apparent homogeneity of a soluble aminopeptidase from isolated barley chloroplasts which preferentially degraded alanyl-p-nitroanilide (Ala-pNA). After organelle isolation in a density gradient and precipitation of soluble proteins with ammonium sulfate, the proteins were purified in three consecutive steps including hydrophobic interaction, gel permeation and ion-exchange chromatographies. The purified enzyme appeared as a single band with a Mr of approximately 84000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The Mr of the native enzyme was estimated to be approximately 93000 by gel permeation chromatography, suggesting that the protein is a monomer. Mass spectrometry analysis of tryptic digests indicates that the primary structure of the protein has not been reported previously. The enzyme was characterized as a metalloprotease as it could be totally inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline. Strong inhibition could also be observed using the specific aminopeptidase inhibitors amastatin and bestatin. Besides Ala-pNA, the purified protein could also cleave with decreasing activity glycyl-pNA, leucyl-pNA, lysyl-pNA, methionyl-pNA and arginyl-pNA. The possible physiological role of this enzyme in the chloroplast stroma is discussed.

A chloroplast processing enzyme functions as the general stromal processing peptidase

A highly specific stromal processing activity is thought to cleave a large diversity of precursors targeted to the chloroplast, removing an N-terminal transit peptide. The identity of this key component of the import machinery has not been unequivocally established. We have previously characterized a chloroplast processing enzyme (CPE) that cleaves the precursor of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein of photosystem II (LHCPII). Here we report the overexpression of active CPE in Escherichia coli. Examination of the recombinant enzyme in vitro revealed that it cleaves not only preLHCPII, but also the precursors for an array of proteins essential for different reactions and destined for different compartments of the organelle. CPE also processes its own precursor in trans. Neither the recombinant CPE nor the native CPE of chloroplasts process a preLHCPII mutant with an altered cleavage site demonstrating that both forms of the enzyme are sensitive to the same structural modification of the substrate. The transit peptide of the precursor of ferredoxin is released by a single cleavage event and found intact after processing by recombinant CPE and a chloroplast extract as well. These results provide the first direct demonstration that CPE is the general stromal processing peptidase that acts as an endopeptidase. Significantly, recombinant CPE cleaves in the absence of other chloroplast proteins, and this activity depends on metal cations, such as zinc.

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Stable Proteases in Chloroplasts

Chloroplast subfractions were monitored for sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable proteases. Nine distinct activities in the molecular mass range from 14 to 66 kD have been detected. Five of the proteases associated with thylakoid membranes belong to the serine and cysteine types of proteases. These activities could be preserved and purified by a two-step electrophoresis procedure.

A Plant Chloroplast Glutamyl Proteinase

A glutamyl proteinase was partially purified from Percoll gradient-purified spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplast preparations and appeared to be predominantly localized in the chloroplast stroma. The enzyme degraded casein, but of the 11 synthetic endopeptidase substrates tested, only benzyloxycarbonyl-leucine-leucine-glutamic acid-[beta]-napthylamide was hydrolyzed at measurable rates. In addition, the enzyme cleaved the oxidized [beta]-chain of insulin after a glutamic acid residue. There was no evidence that native ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase was cleaved by this proteinase. The apparent Km for benzyloxycarbonyl-leucine-leucine-glutamic acid-[beta]NA at the pH optimum of 8.0 was about 1 mM. Cl-ions were required for both activity and stability. Of the proteinase inhibitors covering all four classes of the endopeptidases, only 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl-fluoride HCl and L-1-chloro-3-[4-tosylamido]-4-phenyl-2-butanone significantly inhibited the proteinase. The partially purified enzyme had a molecular weight of about 350,000 to 380,000, based on size-exclusion chromatography. The enzyme has both similar and distinctive properties to those of the bacterial glutamyl proteinases. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a plant glutamyl proteinase found predominantly or exclusively in the chloroplast.

A Complex Array of Proteins Related to the Multimeric Leucine Aminopeptidase of Tomato

Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) mRNAs are induced in response to mechanical wounding, pathogen infection, and insect infestation (V. Pautot, F.M. Holzer, B. Reisch, L.L. Walling [1993] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90: 9906-9910). Polyclonal antibodies to a glutathione S-transferase-LAP fusion protein and affinity-purified antibodies recognizing LAP antigenic determinants detected four classes of polypeptides in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leaves. All four classes had multiple polypeptides in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblots. Although antigenically related to the wound-induced tomato LAP proteins, the 77- and 66-kD LAP-like proteins accumulated in both healthy and wounded leaves. Two classes of 55-kD polypeptides with distinctive isoelectric points were designated as plant LAPs; only the acidic LAP proteins accumulated to high levels after mechanical wounding or Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato infection of tomato leaves. The temporal accumulation of LAP mRNAs was correlated with the increase in acidic LAP protein subunits. A slow-migrating LAP activity was detected using a native gel assay after wounding. The molecular mass of the native wound-induced LAP enzyme was 353 kD. The 55-kD acidic LAP proteins were associated with induced LAP activity, whereas the neutral LAPs and the LAP-like proteins were not associated with this exopeptidase. A second, fast-migrating aminopeptidase was detected in both healthy and wounded tomato leaves. Cell fractionation experiments revealed that wound-induced LAP is a soluble enzyme.

Spinach chloroplast ATP-dependent endopeptidase: Ti-like protease

The soluble fraction of spinach chloroplast was used for purification and characterization of an ATP-dependent protease. Purification included Q Sepharose Fast Flow, hydroxylapatite and FPLC Superose 6 column chromatography. The isolated enzyme requires ATP and Mg2+ for stimulation and represents a ubiquitin independent serine protease, containing essential sulphydryl group(s). By using fluorogenic peptides a similarity of chloroplast protease to Escherichia coli Ti protease was observed. The chloroplast protease is immunochemically cross-reactive with the bacterial protease Ti.

Purification and Characterization of a Novel Aminopeptidase, Plastidial Alanine-Aminopeptidase, from the Cotyledons of Etiolated Sugar Beet Seedlings

During prolonged dark growth of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seedlings, etioplasts, rapidly after the proplastid-etioplast transition, undergo a degenerative process characterized by ultrastructural modifications, protein loss, and the decrease of carotenoid and chlorophyll accumulation upon illumination. Two plastidial aminopeptidase activities were identified as early markers of this degenerative process (A. El Amrani, I. Couee, J.-P. Carde, J.-P. Gaudillere, P. Raymond [1994] Plant Physiology 106: 1555-1565). The present study focuses on one of these markers and describes the purification to homogeneity and characterization of plastidial alanine-aminopeptidase. This novel aminopeptidase was found to be a metallo-type naphthylamidase particularly active with alanyl, arginyl, and leucyl substrates. Its plastidial location was confirmed by immunofluorescence with polyclonal antibodies against the purified enzyme. Its physico-chemical and enzymic properties are discussed with respect to other higher plant aminopeptidases and to its potential functions during prolonged dark growth.

Modifications of Etioplasts in Cotyledons during Prolonged Dark Growth of Sugar Beet Seedlings (Identification of Etiolation-Related Plastidial Aminopeptidase Activities)

We studied the effects of prolonged dark growth on proplastids and etioplasts in cotyledons of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seedlings. Differentiation of proplastids into etioplasts occurred between d 4 and d 6 after imbibition, with the typical characteristics of increased synthesis of plastidial proteins, protein and carotenoid accumulation, size increase, development of plastid membranes and of the prolamellar body, and increase of the greening capacity. However, this situation of efficient greening capacity was short-lived. The greening capacity started to decline from d 6 after imbibition. This decline was due in part to reserve depletion and glucose limitation and also to irreversible damage to plastids. Indeed, electron microscopy observations in situ showed some signs of plastidial damage, such as accumulation of plastoglobuli and membrane alterations. The biochemical characterization of purified plastids also showed a decrease of proteins per plastid. Aminopeptidase activities, and to a lesser extent, neutral endopeptidase activities, were found to increase in plastids during this degenerative process. We identified two plastidial aminopeptidases showing a sharp increase of activity at the onset of the degenerative process. One of them, an alanyl aminopeptidase, was shown to be inactivated by exposure to light or addition of exogenous glucose, thus confirming the relationship with prolonged dark growth and indicating a relationship with glucose limitation.

Leucine aminopeptidase: an inducible component of the defense response in Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato)

A leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1) cDNA clone (DR57) that was induced in response to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (P.s. tomato) infection was isolated using a subtractive hybridization-enriched cDNA probe. Genomic DNA blot analysis showed that the tomato genome had two leucine aminopeptidase genes. The levels of DR57 mRNAs after P.s. tomato infection and mechanical wounding were determined in two inbred tomato lines that exhibit susceptibility and resistance to P.s. tomato. DR57 mRNAs were detected 12 hours after infection and 4 hours after wounding. Furthermore, DR57 mRNAs were systemically induced in response to wounding. DR57 mRNAs were induced in leaves after Spodoptera littoralis feeding but were not detected in detached leaf controls. Possible roles for the DR57 leucine aminopeptidase in the defense reactions are discussed.

Mannosyl- and Xylosyl-Containing Glycans Promote Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Fruit Ripening

The oligosaccharide glycans mannosylalpha1-6(mannosylalpha1-3)mannosylalpha1-6(mannosylalpha1-3) mannosylbeta1-4-N-acetylglucosamine and mannosylalpha1-6(mannosylalpha1-3)(xylosylbeta1-2) mannosylbeta1-4-N-acetylglucosaminyl(fucosylalpha1-3) N-acetylglucosamine were infiltrated into mature green tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv Rutgers). Coinfiltration of 1 nanogram per gram fresh weight of the glycans with 40 micrograms per gram fresh weight galactose, a level of galactose insufficient to promote ripening, stimulated ripening as measured by red coloration and ethylene production.

Conjugation of ubiquitin to proteins from green plant tissues

Conjugation of the polypeptide ubiquitin to endogenous proteins was studied in oat (Avena sativa L.) plants, and particularly in green tissues. Conjugating activity in leaf extracts was different from that in root extracts, and in both was less than in etiolated tissue. The conjugates were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and their formation was both time- and ATP-dependent and had a pH optimum of about 8.2. The assay had a high affinity for ATP with a probable K(m) of less than 50 micromolar. The ubiquitin conjugating system was also shown to be present in isolated chloroplasts, and ubiquitin could be conjugated to endogenous proteins of lyzed chloroplasts in which the ATP concentrations were reduced by preincubation or desalting. SDS-PAGE analysis led to the suggestion that the large and small subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) may be able to be ubiquitinated, and we have shown that ubiquitin can stimulate the in vitro breakdown of (125)I-labeled RuBPCase. These results invite the speculation that ubiquitin may be involved in the regulation of protein turnover in green plants.

Changes in the Level of Peptidase Activities in Pea Ovaries during Senescence and Fruit Set Induced by Gibberellic Acid

The activities and changes in the levels of exopeptidase and endopeptidase activities were characterized in unpollinated ovaries of Pisum sativum L. cv Alaska during senescence and early fruit development induced by gibberellic acid (GA(3)). Two aminopeptidases and one iminopeptidase were electrophoretically separated. These peptidases were sensitive to inhibitors of sulfhydryl proteases. Carboxypeptidase activity was inhibited by phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride. An azocasein-degrading endopeptidase, sensitive to thiol protease inhibitors, was also found. An increase in the specific activity of aminopeptidase during both fruit development and ovary senescence was observed. In contrast, the specific activity of carboxypeptidase and endopeptidase increased only during senescence of the ovary. Changes in exopeptidase activity in senescing ovaries could be mainly the consequence of a greater stability to proteolysis while the rise in endopeptidase activity appeared to be due to new or increased synthesis of the enzyme. These results suggest that endopeptidase, and not amino or carboxypeptidase, plays a key role in the senescence of pea ovaries and that the changes in unpollinated ovaries leading to ovary senescence or fruit development can be controlled by gibberellins.

Proteolytic activity during senescence of plants

Although information has rapidly developed concerning the intracellular localization of plant proteins, relatively few reports concern the intracellular location of endo- and exo-proteolytic activities. Relatively few proteases have been purified, characterized, and associated with a specific cellular location. With the exception of the processing proteases involved in transport of proteins across membranes, little progress has yet been made concerning determination of in vivo products of specific proteases. Information on the turnover of individual proteins and the assessment of rate-limiting steps in pathways as proteins are turned over is steadily appearing. Since chloroplasts are the major site of both protein synthesis and, during senescence, degradation, it was important to show unambiguously that chloroplasts can degrade their own constituents. Another important contribution was to obtain evidence that the chloroplasts contain proteases capable of degrading their constituents. This work has been more tenuous because of the low activities found and the possibility of contamination by vacuolar enzymes during the isolation of organelles. The possible targeting of cytoplasmic proteins for degradation by facilitating their transport into vacuoles is a field which hopefully will develop more rapidly in the future. Information on targeting of proteins for degradation via the ubiquitin (Ub) degradation pathway is developing rapidly. Future research must determine how much unity exists across the different eukaryotic systems. At present, it has important implications for protein turnover in plants, since apparently Ub is involved in the degradation of phytochrome. Little information has been developed regarding what triggers increased proteolysis with the onset of senescence, although it appears to involve protein synthesis. Thus far, the evidence indicates that the complement of proteases prior to senescence is sufficient to carry out the observed protein degradation. This field of study has great practical implications, e.g. maintaining photosynthesis during seed-fill in order to obtain greater crop yields. The current use of stay green' variants in the populations of several crop plants to produce increased yields shows the potential for future development. The near future should see exciting discoveries in these areas of research that will have far reaching effects on the construction of transgenic plants for future research accomplishments and agricultural use.

Increased Proteolysis of Senescing Rice Leaves in the Presence of NaCl and KCl

NaCl and KCl enhanced the degradation of chlorophylls and proteins in detached rice (Oryza sativa) leaves in a concentration-dependent manner. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) accounted for 73 to 80% of the protein lost by day 4 in the light. NaCl at 50 millimolar increased proteolysis by 21% over the control in 4 days, but the addition of cycloheximide reduced the increase to about one-half. Cycloheximide alone had no effect on proteolytic activity during this period. Leaf segments taken from 10-day-old seedlings contained the highest proteolytic activity. Both NaCl and KCl increased the activity of Rubisco-degrading endoproteinases (the amount of ninhydrin-positive compounds measured from HCl-hydrolyzates of trichloroacetic acid-soluble supernatant), but decreased the activity of hemoglobin- and Rubisco-degrading exoproteinases (the amount of ninhydrin-positive compounds measured directly from trichloroacetic acid-soluble supernatant). Efflux of amino acids from senescing leaf segments into the incubation media increased 7- and 12-fold in the presence of KCl and NaCl, respectively. The increased efflux resulted in a negative correlation between salt concentration and amino acid content of leaf segments at the later stage of senescence. It is concluded that, in addition to the induction of new proteinase synthesis, the increased efflux of protein hydrolyzates may play a significant role in increasing proteolysis of salt-treated leaves, especially at the later stages of senescence.

Purification and some properties of an aminopeptidase from endosperms of ×Haynaldoticum sardoum Meletti et Onnis

Aminopeptidase activity was detected in dry and germinating seeds of x Haynaldoticum sardoum. The enzyme was partly purified from germinating seeds and preliminary characterization was carried out. The aminopeptidase showed a pH optimum of 8.0, a molecular weight estimated at 89 000 by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and an isoelectric point of 4.5. The enzyme hydrolysed p-nitroanilides, but was unable to break down exogenous native proteins. Activity was severely inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, p-hydroxy-mercuribenzoate and bestatin, slightly inhibited by iodoacetamide and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and not influenced by 2-mercaptoethanol, phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride and polyamines. A possible physiological role for the enzyme in the final stages of storage protein degradation is suggested.