Identification of the Active-site Arginine in Rat Neutral Endopeptidase 24.11 (Enkephalinase) as Arginine 102 and Analysis of a Glutamine 102 Mutant

The Drosophila melanogaster Neprilysin Nepl15 is involved in lipid and carbohydrate storage

The prototypical M13 peptidase, human Neprilysin, functions as a transmembrane "ectoenzyme" that cleaves neuropeptides that regulate e.g. glucose metabolism, and has been linked to type 2 diabetes. The M13 family has undergone a remarkable, and conserved, expansion in the Drosophila genus. Here, we describe the function of Drosophila melanogaster Neprilysin-like 15 (Nepl15). Nepl15 is likely to be a secreted protein, rather than a transmembrane protein. Nepl15 has changes in critical catalytic residues that are conserved across the Drosophila genus and likely renders the Nepl15 protein catalytically inactive. Nevertheless, a knockout of the Nepl15 gene reveals a reduction in triglyceride and glycogen storage, with the effects likely occurring during the larval feeding period. Conversely, flies overexpressing Nepl15 store more triglycerides and glycogen. Protein modeling suggests that Nepl15 is able to bind and sequester peptide targets of catalytically active Drosophila M13 family members, peptides that are conserved in humans and Drosophila, potentially providing a novel mechanism for regulating the activity of neuropeptides in the context of lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis.

Neprilysin carboxydipeptidase specificity studies and improvement in its detection with fluorescence energy transfer peptides

We examined the substrate specificity of the carboxydipeptidase activity of neprilysin (NEP) using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptides containing ortho-aminobenzoyl (Abz) and 2,4-dinitrophenyl (Dnp) as a donor/acceptor pair. Two peptide series with general sequences Abz-RXFK(Dnp)-OH and Abz-XRFK(Dnp)-OH (X denotes the position of the altered amino acid) were synthesized to study P1 (cleavage at the X-F bond) and P2 (cleavage at R-F bond) specificity, respectively. In these peptides a Phe residue was fixed in P1' to fulfill the well-known NEP S1' site requirement for a hydrophobic amino acid. In addition, we explored NEP capability to hydrolyze bradykinin (RPPGFSPFR) and its fluorescent derivative Abz-RPPGFSPFRQ-EDDnp (EDDnp=2,4-dinitrophenyl ethylenediamine). The enzyme acts upon bradykinin mainly as a carboxydipeptidase, preferentially cleaving Pro-Phe over the Gly-Phe bond in a 9:1 ratio, whereas Abz-RPPGFSPFRQ-EDDnp was hydrolyzed at the same bonds but at an inverted proportion of 1:9. The results show very efficient interaction of the substrates' C-terminal free carboxyl group with site S2' of NEP, confirming the enzyme's preference to act as carboxydipeptidase at substrates with a free carboxyl-terminus. Using data gathered from our study, we developed sensitive and selective NEP substrates that permit continuous measurement of the enzyme activity, even in crude tissue extracts.

A Three-dimensional Model of the Neprilysin 2 Active Site Based on the X-ray Structure of Neprilysin

Neprilysin 2 (NEP2), a recently identified member of the M13 subfamily of metalloproteases, shares the highest degree of homology with the prototypical member of the family neprilysin. Whereas the study of the in vitro enzymatic activity of NEP2 shows that it resembles that of NEP as it cleaves the same substrates often at the same amide bonds and binds the same inhibitory compounds albeit with different potencies, its physiological role remains elusive because of the lack of selective inhibitors. To aid in the design of these novel compounds and better understand the different inhibitory patterns of NEP and NEP2, the x-ray structure of NEP was used as a template to build a model of the NEP2 active site. The results of our modeling suggest that the overall structure of NEP2 closely resembles that of NEP. The model of the active site reveals a 97% sequence identity with that of NEP with differences located within the S'(2) subsite of NEP2 where Ser(133) and Leu(739) replace two glycine residues in NEP. To validate the proposed model, site-directed mutagenesis was performed on a series of residues of NEP2, mutants expressed in AtT20 cells, and their ability to bind various substrates and inhibitory compounds was tested. The results confirm the involvement of the conserved Arg(131) and Asn(567) in substrate binding and catalytic activity of NEP2 and further show that the modifications in its S'(2) pocket, particularly the presence therein of Leu(739), account for a number of differences in inhibitor binding between NEP and NEP2.

Kell, Kx and the McLeod syndrome

The antigens of the Kell blood group system are carried on a 93 kDa type II glycoprotein encoded by a single gene on chromosome 7 at 7q33. XK is a 50.9 kDa protein that traverses the membrane ten times and derives from a single gene on the X chromosome at Xp21. A single disulphide bond, Kell Cys 72-XK Cys 347, links Kell to XK. The Kell component of the Kell/XK complex is important in transfusion medicine since it is a highly polymorphic protein, carrying over 23 different antigens, that can cause severe reactions if mismatched blood is transfused and in pregnant mothers antibodies to Kell may elicit serious fetal and neonatal anaemia. The different Kell phenotypes are all caused by base mutations leading to single amino acid substitutions. By contrast the XK component carries a single blood group antigen, termed Kx. The physiological functions of Kell and XK have not been fully elucidated but Kell is a zinc endopeptidase with endothelin-3-converting enzyme activity and XK has the structural characteristics of a membrane transporter. Lack of Kx, the McLeod phenotype, is associated with red cell acanthocytosis, elevated levels of serum creatine phosphokinase and late onset forms of muscular and neurological defects.

Characterisation of neprilysin (EC 3.4.24.11) S2' subsite

Neprilysin is a neutral peptidase that cleaves small peptide substrates on the amino-side of hydrophobic amino acid residues. In the present study, we have used inhibition of non-mutated and mutated enzymes with dipeptide inhibitors and hydrolysis of the substrate [Leu5, Arg6]enkephalin in order to evaluate the contribution of the S2' subsite to substrate and inhibitor binding. Our results suggest that (1) Arg-102 and Asn-542 provide major contributions to the interaction of the enzyme with the P2' residue of the substrate, (2) the S2' subsite is vast and can accommodate bulky side chains, and (3) Arg-102 restricts access to the S2' subsite to some side chains such as arginine.

Mutagenesis and chemical rescue indicate residues involved in beta-aspartyl-AMP formation by Escherichia coli asparagine synthetase B

Site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic studies have been employed to identify amino acid residues involved in aspartate binding and transition state stabilization during the formation of beta-aspartyl-AMP in the reaction mechanism of Escherichia coli asparagine synthetase B (AS-B). Three conserved amino acids in the segment defined by residues 317-330 appear particularly crucial for enzymatic activity. For example, when Arg-325 is replaced by alanine or lysine, the resulting mutant enzymes possess no detectable asparagine synthetase activity. The catalytic activity of the R325A AS-B mutant can, however, be restored to about 1/6 of that of wild-type AS-B by the addition of guanidinium HCl (GdmHCl). Detailed kinetic analysis of the rescued activity suggests that Arg-325 is involved in stabilization of a pentacovalent intermediate leading to the formation beta-aspartyl-AMP. This rescue experiment is the second example in which the function of a critical arginine residue that has been substituted by mutagenesis is restored by GdmHCl. Mutation of Thr-322 and Thr-323 also produces enzymes with altered kinetic properties, suggesting that these threonines are involved in aspartate binding and/or stabilization of intermediates en route to beta-aspartyl-AMP. These experiments are the first to identify residues outside of the N-terminal glutamine amide transfer domain that have any functional role in asparagine synthesis.

Molecular pharmacology of endothelin converting enzymes

A critical processing step in endothelin biosynthesis is the conversion of the intermediate "big endothelin" to its biologically active product catalysed by endothelin converting enzyme (ECE). In this commentary we discuss critically the cellular location, structure, and activity of the isoforms of ECE. The current evidence supporting a metallopeptidase ECE as the physiological regulator of endothelin production is described. Its sensitivity to inhibition by the fungal metabolite phosphoramidon and subsequent cloning of the enzyme indicate it to be a type II integral membrane protein homologous with neural endopeptidase-24.11 (E-24.11), the major neuropeptide-degrading ectoenzyme in brain and other tissues. Unlike E-24.11, however, ECE exists as a disulphide-linked dimer of subunit M(r) 120-130 kDa and is not inhibited by other E-24.11 inhibitors such as thiorphan. Alternative splicing produces two forms of ECE with distinct N-terminal tails. These isoforms of ECE-1 show similar specificity converting big endothelin-1 (ET-1) to ET-1 but big ET-2 and big ET-3 are converted much less efficiently. This suggests that additional forms of ECE remain to be isolated. Immunocytochemical studies indicate a predominant cell-surface location for ECE-1, like E-24.11. This is consistent with the conversion of exogenous big ET-1 when administered in vivo and the inhibition of this event by phosphoramidon. However, mature ET-1 can be detected in intracellular vesicles in endothelial cells, suggesting that some processing occurs in the constitutive secretory pathway. This may be mediated by ECE-2, a recently cloned member of the E-24.11/ECE family which has an acidic pH optimum. Selective inhibitors of ECE may have therapeutic applications in cardiovascular and renal medicine.

Expression of endopeptidase-24.11 (common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen CD10) in the sciatic nerve of the adult rat after lesion and during regeneration

Endopeptidase-24.11, which is identical with the common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen CD10 (CALLA), is a cell surface Zn2+ metalloprotease that regulates peptide-induced responses in different tissues, including the nervous and immune systems. In the peripheral nervous system, high levels of the enzyme are present in all neonatal and early postnatal Schwann cells, while as myelination proceeds it is gradually suppressed in the majority of cells that form myelin but retained in non-myelin-forming cells in the adult animal. In the present study we have investigated the effects of transection, crush and regeneration of the adult rat sciatic nerve on the expression of the endopeptidase by Schwann cells in situ. Endopeptidase-24.11 was monitored by immunocytochemistry using the monoclonal anti-endopeptidase antibody 23B11. For comparison, a parallel study was carried out with a monoclonal antibody directed against the rat nerve growth factor receptor. We found that (i) all Schwann cells of the distal segment re-expressed endopeptidase-24.11 as early as 4 days after axotomy, the level of immunostaining reaching a maximum after 2 weeks, (ii) axonal regeneration repressed Schwann cell expression of endopeptidase-24.11, and (iii) the induction of the nerve growth factor receptor followed a similar pattern to that of endopeptidase-24.11 in the transected and crushed nerve. Enzymatic amplification of endopeptidase-24.11 cDNA from normal and axotomized adult rat sciatic nerve confirmed the expression of endopeptidase-24.11 in these tissues. Our results show that the expression of endopeptidase-24.11 in Schwann cells, as is the case with the nerve growth factor receptor, is induced by the loss of the normal axon-Schwann cell contact. The significant increase in the expression of endopeptidase-24.11 by Schwann cells after axonal damage suggests that the enzyme could play a role in axonal regeneration.

Molecular characterization of human and bovine endothelin converting enzyme (ECE-1)

A membrane-bound protease activity that specifically converts Big endothelin-1 has been purified from bovine endothelial cells (FBHE). The enzyme was cleaved with trypsin and the peptide sequencing analysis confirmed it to be a zinc chelating metalloprotease containing the typical HEXXH (HELTH) motif. RT-PCR and cDNA screens were employed to isolate the complete cDNAs of the bovine and human enzymes. This human metalloprotease was expressed heterologously in cell culture and oocytes. The catalytic activity of the recombinant enzyme is the same as that determined for the natural enzyme. The data suggest that the characterized enzyme represents the functional human endothelin converting enzyme ECE-1.

Antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness is associated with airway tissue NEP hypoactivity in rats

In the present study, the role of sensory neuropeptides in the airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was investigated. First, the effect of the depletion of sensory neuropeptides by systemic capsaicin treatment on the AHR to acetylcholine (ACh) induced by repeated antigenic challenge to sensitized rats was studied. We secondly investigated whether the neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity was altered at the antigen-induced AHR. Male Wistar rats were sensitized and repeatedly challenged with DNP-Ascaris antigen. Twenty-four hours after the last antigenic challenge, a marked AHR to inhaled ACh (0.001-0.03%) was observed. This AHR was significantly attenuated by systemic capsaicin pretreatment prior to sensitization. On the other hand, in normal rats, the airway responsiveness to inhaled ACh was significantly increased by pretreatment with NEP inhibitor, phosphoramidon (3 mg/kg, i.v.), but the NEP inhibitor-induced effect was no more observed in the antigen-induced AHR rats. Furthermore, it was found that the airway NEP activity was significantly decreased at the antigen-induced AHR. These findings suggest that NEP hypoactivity and resultant increased sensory neuropeptides have an important role in the pathogenesis of antigen-induced AHR in rats.

Uptake of tyramine by rat hepatocytes

Observations on the uptake of tyramine by hepatocytes indicate that the amine is taken up by simple diffusion and a transporter mediated system, with a Km of 39 microM and a Vmax of 270 pmol/min/10(5) cells. The carrier-mediated process is pH- and temperature-dependent and requires an activation energy of 12.9 kcal/mol. An overshoot uptake is achieved a few minutes after adding this amine to the cell suspension, suggesting that active transport is involved. This is supported by the finding that partial inhibition of the uptake can be induced by oligomycin, azide, cyanide and dinitrophenol. NO3-, SCN- and SO4(2-), which change the membrane potential significantly, and depress the transporter mediated uptake further, suggesting that the membrane potential is the driving force for the entry of this amine across hepatic membrane. Cysteine is essential for the normal carrier function; whereas, histidine, tryptophan, arginine and lysine do not directly deal with the activity of the carrier. Many substances, but not amino acids, H, M, and N receptor agonists, can inhibit the uptake of tyramine. It is possible that other amines can enter hepatocytes by using this transporter.

Kinetic evidence that His-711 of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 is involved in stabilization of the transition state

Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (EC 3.4.24.11; NEP) is a membrane-bound Zn-metalloendopeptidase with a catalytic activity and a specificity very similar to that of thermolysin, a bacterial zinc-endoprotease. NEP can be inactivated by reaction with diethylpyrocarbonate, due to the modification of a histidine residue present in the active site of the enzyme. This histidine residue was proposed to be analogous to His231 in thermolysin, which is involved in the stabilization of the tetrahedral intermediate during the transition state. Using site-directed mutagenesis of the cDNA encoding rabbit NEP, we have created two mutants of NEP where His711 was replaced by either Gln or Phe (NEP-Gln711 and NEP-Phe711). Determination of kinetic parameters showed that both mutants had Km values very similar to that of the non-mutated enzyme but that their kcat values were 25-fold lower. The calculated difference in free energy needed to form the transition state complex was increased by 2.2 kcal/mol for both mutants. These observations strongly suggest that His711 is involved in the stabilization of the transition state by forming an hydrogen bond with the oxyanion of the tetrahedral intermediate.

Mutations of the tyrosinase gene in oculocutaneous albinism

Since our first report showing that the phenotype of tyrosinase-negative or type IA oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a consequence of a mutation in the tyrosinase gene (Tomita et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 164:990-996, 1989), a number of mutations were found in the tyrosinase gene of OCA patients. However, to establish the molecular basis of OCA in each patient, we must carry out several important experiments as summarized here. First, we should confirm that the cloned or amplified genomic DNA segments are not derived from the pseudogene or related gene. It should be noted that the putative tyrosinase pseudogene contains the sequence almost identical to exons 4 and 5, including their exon/intron boundaries of the authentic tyrosinase gene. Thus, the mutations, detected in exon 4 or 5 amplified from genomic DNA, must be carefully analyzed to exclude a possibility that the mutation is located in the pseudogene. Second, it is of significance to confirm the promoter activity of the patients' tyrosinase gene. Accordingly, we established the cell-free transcription system derived from melanoma cells where the cloned tyrosinase gene is faithfully transcribed. Finally, transient expression assay of mutant tyrosinase is invaluable to conclude that OCA phenotypes are associated with the mutant tyrosinase alleles. I also discuss the implications of a cluster of mutation sites in exon 1 coding for the amino-terminus of tyrosinase.

Evidence for an arginine residue at the allosteric sites of spinach leaf ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase

The covalent modification of spinach leaf ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase leads to inactivation of both activator-stimulated and -unstimulated activity. Inactivation can be prevented if either the activator 3PGA or the inhibitor Pi are present during the modification. Pi proved to be more effective at protecting the enzyme from inactivation as it afforded 50% protection at 51 microM compared to 50% protection by 405 microM 3PGA. Partial modification of the enzyme using [14C]-phenylglyoxal leads to a decrease in both Vmax, A0.5 and a decrease in the ability of the 3PGA to stimulate the enzyme's activity. Modification increased the enzyme's susceptibility to inhibition by Pi and completely abolished the cooperative binding of Pi seen in the unmodified enzyme in the presence of 3PGA. Thus, phenylglyoxal appears to interfere, with the normal allosteric regulation of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase from spinach leaf. Greater than 90% of the enzyme's activity is lost when 7.2 mol [14C]-phenylglyoxal are bound per mole of tetramer and this label is present in both the larger and small subunits. In addition, inactivation appears to involve two different arginine residues having different rates of modification.

Mutational analysis reveals only one catalytic histidine in neutral endopeptidase ("enkephalinase")

Aside from serving as zinc ligands, kinetic data has implicated one or more additional histidines as catalytic residues in neutral endopeptidase ("enkephalinase") action. One of these histidines has previously been identified as histidine 704 (Bateman et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:8365-8368, 1990). In order to determine whether a second histidine is involved in catalysis each of these residues not previously changed have been converted to glutamine by site directed mutagenesis. The resultant recombinant enzymes possess full catalytic activity indicating that histidine 704 is the only catalytic histidine in the enzyme.

Covalent modification and active site-directed inactivation of a low molecular weight phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase

Covalent modification experiments were conducted in order to identify active site residues of the 18-kDa cytoplasmic phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases. The enzyme was inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate, phenylglyoxal, cyclohexanedione, iodoacetate, iodoacetamide, phenylarsine oxide, and certain epoxides in a manner consistent with the modification of active site residues. Phenylglyoxal and cyclohexanedione both bind to the active site in a rapid preequilibrium process and thus act as active site-directed inhibitors. The pH dependencies of the inactivation by iodoacetate and by iodoacetamide were examined in detail and compared with rate data for the alkylation of glutathione as a model compound. The enzyme inactivation data permitted the determination of pKa values of two reactive cysteines at or near the active site. Although phosphomycin is simply a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, it was found that 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane (EPNP) and (R)- and (S)-benzylglycidol act as irreversible covalent inactivators, consistent with the importance of a hydrophobic moiety on the substrate in controlling substrate specificity. EPNP exhibits characteristics of an active site-directed inactivator, with a preequilibrium binding constant somewhat smaller than that of phosphate ion. The pH dependencies of inactivation of EPNP and (S)-benzylglycidol are identical to that observed for iodoacetamide and similar to that for iodoacetate, suggesting that they modify similar groups. Sequencing of the tryptic digests of the EPNP-labeled enzyme indicates that Cys-62 and Cys-145 are labeled. Phenylarsine oxide acts as a very slow, tight-binding inhibitor of the enzyme. The results are interpreted in terms of an active site model that incorporates a histidine-cysteine ion pair, similar to that present in papain.

Effects of monoclonal antibodies raised against the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen on endopeptidase-24.11 activity

The common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA, CD10) has been identified as neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP), a mammalian ectoenzyme involved in the inactivation of regulatory peptides, such as the enkephalins and atrial natriuretic peptide. Twenty monoclonal antibodies directed against the human antigen, were tested for their ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of the human and rat peptidases expressed by cell lines. Six anti-CALLA antibodies were found to inhibit 50% or more of the hydrolysis of D-Ala2-leucine enkephalin by the neutral endopeptidase present on the human leukemic cell line Reh6 and, to a lesser extent, the hydrolysis of atrial natriuretic peptide. This may indicate that their binding may affect regions of the active site more important for the dipeptidylcarboxypeptidase activity of the enzyme. Only four antibodies cross-reacted with the peptidase from the rat epithelial cell line Rat2, as shown by membrane immunofluorescence, and these also partially inhibited enzyme activity. No antibody was able to inhibit completely the activity of the human and rat enzymes and all the active antibodies appeared to behave as non-competitive inhibitors of substrate cleavage. These monoclonal antibodies could be used in mapping studies of NEP.

A novel potential metallopeptidase derived from the enkephalinase gene by alternative splicing

Amplification of rat intestine mRNAs was performed by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using various oligonucleotide primers mainly corresponding to the translated region of the enkephalinase (EC 3.4.24.11, membrane metalloendopeptidase, MME I) gene. In addition to the expected transcript, a shorter one was identified and its sequence indicated that it corresponds to an alternatively spliced mRNA from which exons 5-18 of MME I are deleted. It encodes a deduced 255 amino acid protein, MME II, instead of the 742 amino acid sequence of enkephalinase. The deduced structure of MME II is consistent with its being a membrane-bound, zinc-containing glycoprotein with a modified peptidase activity. MME II mRNA is also expressed, together with MME I mRNA, in brain and thyroid in a tissue-specific manner.

Enkephalinase (EC 3.4.24.11) inhibitors: protection of endogenous ANF against inactivation and potential therapeutic applications

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a cardiac hormone exerting potent cardiovascular and renal effects but its poor intestinal absorption and rapid inactivation have prevented so far its therapeutic utilisation. However inhibition of endogenous ANF metabolism progressively emerges as a novel therapeutic approach in cardiovascular and renal disorders. The critical role played by enkephalinase (membrane metalloendopeptidase, EC 3.4.24.11) in ANF inactivation was deduced from the effects of inhibitors. These compounds not only protect partially exogenous ANF from hydrolysis by some tissue preparations in vitro but also, in vivo, they increase the half-life of the exogenous hormone in plasma and, even more markedly, its recovery in intact form in kidney, a major target organ. In addition, enkephalinase inhibitors increase by two- to three-fold the circulating level of endogenous ANF, even when the latter is already markedly elevated, such as in patients with chronic heart failure. Finally, enkephalinase inhibitors induce a series of ANF-like responses such as natriuresis, diuresis or increase in cGMP excretion which are attributable to the hormone. These pharmacological observations, as well as preliminary clinical trials, suggest that enkephalinase inhibitors may represent a novel class of therapeutic agents with potential applications in congestive heart failure, essential hypertension and various sodium-retaining states.