Distinct specificities of repressible acid phosphatase from yeast toward phosphoseryl and phosphotyrosyl phosphopeptides

Characterization of an exocellular protein phosphatase with dual substrate specificity from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

In previous work, the major endocellular protein phosphatase activity has been identified in the secretory yeast Yarrowia lipolytica as a PP2A. The aim of the present work was to seek the presence of one protein phosphatase excreted in the exocellular medium and to study its activity during yeast growth in media supplemented or not supplemented with inorganic phosphate. Protein phosphatase was purified and activity was assayed by following the dephosphorylation of three substrates, [32P]casein, phosphotyrosine and a synthetic tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide. Phosphatase activity recovered in the medium after 25 h culture was greatly enhanced by Pi-deficiency. After several purification steps, the enzyme preparation presents an apparent electrophoretic homogeneity on SDS-PAGE with associated phosphoseryl/threonyl and phosphotyrosyl activities. The kinetic properties exclude contamination by a copurified protein and it is concluded that the two activities are carried by the same single proteic species. It was characterized by gel filtration as a 33 kDa protein with one single subunit demonstrated by SDS-PAGE. An absolute requirement for reducing-agents is observed suggesting that the enzyme contains at least one essential reactive cysteinyl residue. Optimum pH value is 6.1, apparent K(m) for phosphotyrosine was calculated to be 760 microM and Hill coefficient 3.2 indicating a rather high cooperativity. These results showed that the involvement of alkaline and/or acid phosphatase was unlikely. In conclusion, a protein phosphatase distinct from endocellular PP2A is secreted by Yarrowia lipolytica and characterized as a phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase with associated phosphoseryl/threonyl activity.

HiPER1, a phosphatase of the endoplasmic reticulum with a role in chondrocyte maturation

We have previously identified and partially cloned Band 17, a gene expressed in growth plate chondrocytes transiting from proliferation to hypertrophy. We now rename this gene HiPER1, Histidine Phosphatase of the Endoplasmic Reticulum-1, based on the results reported here. HiPER1 encodes two proteins of 318 (HiPER1(318)) and 449 (HiPER1(449)) amino acids, which are 20–21% identical to a group of yeast acid phosphatases that are in the histidine phosphatase family. HiPER1(449) is significantly more abundant than HiPER1(318), correlating with the abundance of the alternatively spliced messages encoding HiPER449 and HiPER318. Anti-HiPER1 antibodies detect two proteins of 53 and 55 kDa in growth plate chondrocytes that are absent in articular chondrocytes. We confirm that the 53 and 55 kDa proteins are HiPER1(449) by heterologous expression of the HiPER1(449) coding sequence in chick embryo fibroblasts. The 53 and 55 kDa proteins are glycosylated forms of HiPER1(449), as N-glycosidase F digestion reduces these proteins to 48 kDa, the predicted size of HiPER1(449) without the N-terminal signal sequence. Immunocytochemistry demonstrates that HiPER1(449) is found in chondrocytes maturing from proliferation to hypertrophy, but is not detectable in resting zone, deep hypertrophic zone or articular chondrocytes, a distribution that is consistent with the message distribution. HiPER1(449) was predicted to localize to the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum by an N-terminal signal sequence and by the C-terminal sequence Ala-Asp-Glu-Leu, which closely matches the consensus signal for ER retention, Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu. We confirm this prediction by demonstrating colocalization of HiPER1(449) with the ER protein HSP47 using dual-label immunofluorescence. PTHrP, a peptide that prevents hypertrophy in chondrocytes, suppressed HiPER1 and HiPER1(449) expression in vitro, an observation that further supports a role for HiPER1 in chondrocyte maturation. The yeast phosphatase homology, localization to the endoplasmic reticulum and pattern of expression suggest that HiPER1 represents a previously unrecognized intracellular pathway, involved in differentiation of chondrocytes.

Specific dephosphorylation of phosphopeptides by the yeast alkaline phosphatase encoded by PHO8 gene

Partially purified nonspecific phosphate-repressible alkaline phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoded by PHO8 gene (rALPase), efficiently dephosphorylates phosphohistones and a variety of phosphopeptides. The pho8 mutant, constructed by disruption of the chromosomal counterpart of the PHO8 gene, is lacking in phosphatase activity toward phosphopeptides, confirming that this activity is actually due to rALPase. rALPase activity tested on phosphopeptides is maximum in the pH range 6.5-7.5 and the Km values for these substrates are in the micromolar range, suggesting a possible physiological relevance of this enzyme as a protein phosphatase. rALPase dephosphorylates phosphotyrosyl more efficiently than phosphoseryl peptides, but is poorly active on phosphothreonyl peptides. Its specificity towards synthetic peptides and insensitivity to specific inhibitors and activators of authentic protein phosphatases indicate that rALPase differs from both Ser/Thr- and Tyr-specific protein phosphatases. This conclusion is consistent with the lack of homology with any class of known protein phosphatases.

The use of phosphopeptides to distinguish between protein phosphatase and acid/alkaline phosphatase activities: opposite specificity toward phosphoseryl/phosphothreonyl substrates

The four main classes of protein phosphatases (PP-1, 2A, 2B and 2C), although differing in their ability to dephosphorylate phosphopeptide substrates, invariably display a marked preference toward phosphothreonyl peptides over their phosphoseryl counterparts. Conversely, all the acidic and alkaline phosphatases tested so far dephosphorylate phosphoseryl derivatives far more readily than phosphothreonyl ones. This opposite behaviour provides a criterion for discriminating between protein dephosphorylating activity due to authentic protein phosphatases as compared to nonspecific acid and/or alkaline phosphatases. In particular the phosphothreonyl peptides RRATPVA and RRREEETPEEEAA appear to be especially suited for detecting the activity of PP-2C and PP-2A, since they are hardly dephosphorylated by acid and alkaline phosphatases. Conversely, the phosphoseryl peptides SPEEEEE and RRASPVA can provide a sensitive evaluation of the majority of acid and alkaline phosphatases, while being refractory to protein phosphatases.

Phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity of human and canine acid phosphatases of prostatic origin

Human and canine prostatic specimens containing high levels of acid phosphatase (AP) activity were tested, at acid pH, for their ability to hydrolyze the major phosphoaminoacids present in phosphorylated proteins, phosphoserine (p-ser), phosphothreonine (p-thr), and phosphotyrosine (p-tyr). The cleavage of a synthetic substrate, para-nitrophenyl-phosphate (p-npp), was also measured as an indicator of AP activity; its inhibition by sodium-L-tartrate (T) was used as a criterion to identify prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). It was found that: 1) the Km of p-tyr and p-npp were 2.0 mM and 0.41 mM, respectively, with similar Vmax values (0.078 and 0.087 mumoles of phosphate (Pi) liberated per minute per milligram of protein); 2) the ID50 were 0.25 mM and 0.50 mM with sodium orthovanadate (VO4) and T, respectively, using p-npp as substrate-with p-tyr as substrate, the values obtained were 0.016 mM and 0.11 mM, respectively; 3) activity toward p-ser and p-thr was minimal; 4) native PAP from dog seminal plasma, with a molecular weight of 90-100 kD, as determined by gel filtration on HPLC, hydrolyzed p-tyr preferentially, and this phosphatase (Pase) activity was also strongly inhibited by both T and VO4; and 5) the AP present in human and canine prostatic tissue and cells, as well as in their secretions, also preferentially hydrolyzed phosphotyrosine, and it was inhibited by T and VO4. It is proposed that these p-tyr Pases may be involved in the local regulation of prostatic growth.