N-Terminomics/TAILS Profiling of Proteases and Their Substrates in Ulcerative Colitis

ACS Chem Biol. 2019 Nov 15;14(11):2471-2483. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00608. Epub 2019 Aug 21.

Abstract

Dysregulated protease activity is often implicated in the initiation of inflammation and immune cell recruitment in gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases. Using N-terminomics/TAILS (terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates), we compared proteases, along with their substrates and inhibitors, between colonic mucosal biopsies of healthy patients and those with ulcerative colitis (UC). Among the 1642 N-termini enriched using TAILS, increased endogenous processing of proteins was identified in UC compared to healthy patients. Changes in the reactome pathways for proteins associated with metabolism, adherens junction proteins (E-cadherin, liver-intestinal cadherin, catenin alpha-1, and catenin delta-1), and neutrophil degranulation were identified between the two groups. Increased neutrophil infiltration and distinct proteases observed in ulcerative colitis may result in extensive break down, altered processing, or increased remodeling of adherens junctions and other cellular functions. Analysis of the preferred proteolytic cleavage sites indicated that the majority of proteolytic activity and processing comes from host proteases, but that key microbial proteases may also play a role in maintaining homeostasis. Thus, the identification of distinct proteases and processing of their substrates improves the understanding of dysregulated proteolysis in normal intestinal physiology and ulcerative colitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Biopsy
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Catenins / metabolism
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / physiopathology*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Isotope Labeling / methods
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Peptides / analysis
  • Protease Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteolysis*
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Catenins
  • Peptides
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Peptide Hydrolases