Search

The prion protein (PrP) has been proposed to display sequence and structural similarities to membrane-anchored signal peptidases [Glockshuber et al. (1998) FEBS Lett. 426, 291-296]. We have investigated the role of Tyr-128 and His-177 in the proteolytic fragmentation of murine PrP by mutating these residues to Phe and Leu, respectively, and expressing the resultant mutants in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y. Both PrP-Y128F and PrP-H177L were expressed at the cell surface as glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored forms and were localised in detergent-insoluble membrane domains similar to wild type PrP. Following deglycosylation, the 19 kDa proteolytic fragment PrP-II was present in cells expressing either mutant, indicating that Tyr-128 and His-177 are not involved in the proteolytic fragmentation of PrP.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and the Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein are cleaved from the membrane by zinc metalloproteinases termed ACE secretase and alpha-secretase, respectively. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) convertase (ADAM 17) is a recently identified member of the adamalysin family of mammalian zinc metalloproteinases that is involved in the production of TNF-alpha and possibly in the cleavage of other membrane proteins. Using two different cell-free assays we were unable to detect significant cleavage and secretion of ACE by TNF-alpha convertase. In addition, there was a different effect of three hydroxamic acid-based inhibitors (batimastat, compound 1 and compound 4) towards TNF-alpha convertase as compared to ACE secretase and alpha-secretase. Thus TNF-alpha convertase would appear to be distinct from, but possibly related to, the secretases that cleave ACE and the amyloid precursor protein.

A scheme based on the zinc binding site [1992, FEBS Lett. 312, 110-114] has been extended to classify zinc metalloproteases into distinct families. The gluzincins, defined by the HEXXH motif and a glutamic acid as the third zinc ligand, include the thermolysin, endopeptidase-24.11, aminopeptidase, angiotensin converting enzyme, endopeptidase-24.15, and tetanus and botulinum neurotoxin families. The metzincins, defined by the HEXXH motif, a histidine as the third zinc ligand and a Met-turn, include the astacin, serralysin, reprolysin and matrixin families. The inverted zincin motif, HXXEH, defines the inverzincin family of insulin-degrading enzymes, the HXXE motif defines the carboxypeptidase family, and the HXH motif DD-carboxypeptidase.

Pig renal membrane dipeptidase cDNA has been expressed in COS-1 cells. Directed mutagenesis was used to investigate the roles of some conserved histidyl and aspartyl residues. Mutation of His219 to Arg, Lys or Leu results in complete abolition of enzyme activity, although the mutants are expressed at the cell-surface. Residues in a proposed motif (DHXDH; residues 269-273) for zinc binding have been mutated individually. Each retained activity comparable to that of the wild-type, excluding an essential role for components of this motif. The zinc-binding ligands in membrane dipeptidase therefore represent a novel domain for a metallopeptidase with His219 being one candidate.

The mode of membrane anchorage of three kidney microvillar membrane ectoenzymes has been examined. The release of aminopeptidase P (EC 3.4.11.9) from kidney membranes by bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and the pattern of detergent solubilization of this ectoenzyme implies that it is anchored to the membrane via a covalently attached glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol moiety. As deduced by phase separation in Triton X-114, octyl-glucoside solubilized the amphipathic form of aminopeptidase P, whereas the PI-PLC-released form displayed hydrophilic properties. In contrast, the pattern of detergent solubilization of two microvillar carboxypeptidases and their resistance to release from the membrane by bacterial PI-PLC suggest that these two ectoenzymes are not anchored via phosphatidylinositol.

The major site of hydrolysis was the Gly8-Leu9 bond. Angiotensin converting enzyme (peptidyl dipeptidase A, EC 3.4.15.1) from pig kidney hydrolysed substance P releasing the C-terminal tripeptide Gly-Leu-MetNH2 but failed to hydrolyse neurokinin B. Pig brain striatal synaptic membranes hydrolysed neurokinin B producing a similar pattern of products as did endopeptidase-24.11. Substantial inhibition of this activity was achieved with the selective inhibitor phosphoramidon. A combination of phosphoramidon and bestatin abolished the hydrolysis of neurokinin B by synaptic membranes. Thus, a bestatin-sensitive aminopeptidase may play a role in the synaptic metabolism of neurokinin B in addition to endopeptidase-24.11. This aminopeptidase appears to be distinct from aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2).