Assembly and selective “in synthesis” labeling of quenched fluorogenic protease substrates

Peptide Trimming for MHC Class I Presentation by Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidases

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2 have recently emerged as important players in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses by trimming peptide ligands for MHC class I molecules. Functional polymorphisms in ERAP1 and ERAP2 genes have been associated with predisposition to several diseases including autoimmune diseases, viral infections, and virally induced cancers. In this chapter, we describe two basic methods for monitoring peptide-trimming activity by ER aminopeptidases and screening potential chemical inhibitors.

Immunocapture-based fluorometric assay for the measurement of neprilysin-specific enzyme activity in brain tissue homogenates and cerebrospinal fluid

Neprilysin, a zinc-metalloendopeptidase, has important roles in the physiology and pathology of many diseases such as hypertension, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. We have developed an immunocapture assay to measure the specific enzyme activity of neprilysin in brain tissue homogenates and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The assay uses a neprilysin-specific antibody, previously used in a commercially available ELISA kit, to isolate and immobilise NEP from brain homogenates and CSF, prior to the addition of a fluorogenic peptide substrate (Mca-RPPGFSAFK(Dnp)). This fluorogenic substrate is ordinarily cleaved by multiple enzymes. We have shown that without the immunocapture phase, even under reaction conditions reported to be specific for neprilysin - i.e. in the presence of thiorphan, at pH above 7 - the fluorogenic peptide substrate does not allow neprilysin activity in brain homogenates and CSF to be discriminated from that of other closely related enzymes. The specificity of the immunocapture enzyme activity assay was confirmed by >80% inhibition of substrate cleavage in brain homogenates and CSF in the presence of thiorphan. The assay allows high-throughput analysis and, critically, also ensures a high level of enzyme specificity even when assaying crude tissue homogenates or CSF.