The role of the N-terminal propeptide of the pro-aminopeptidase processing protease: refolding, processing, and enzyme inhibition

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Aug 9;296(1):78-84. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)00838-0.

Abstract

Pro-aminopeptidase processing protease (PA protease) is an extracellular zinc metalloprotease produced by Aeromonas caviae T-64 and it is classified as M04.016 according to the MEROPS database. The precursor of PA protease consists of four regions; a signal peptide, an N-terminal propeptide, a C-terminal propeptide, and the mature PA protease. The in vitro refolding of the intermediate pro-PA protease containing the C-terminal propeptide (MC) was investigated in the presence and absence of the N-terminal propeptide. The results indicate that the noncovalently linked N-terminal propeptide is able to assist in the refolding of MC. In the absence of the N-terminal propeptide, MC is trapped into a folding competent state that is converted into the active form by the addition of the N-terminal propeptide. Moreover, the N-terminal propeptide was found to form a complex with the folded MC and inhibit further processing of MC into the mature PA protease. Inhibitory activity of the purified N-terminal propeptide toward mature PA protease was also observed, and the mode of this inhibition was determined to be a mixed, noncompetitive inhibition with an associated allosteric effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aeromonas / enzymology
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Endopeptidases
  • PA protease protein, Aeromonas