Calcium proteases

An interesting Ca " -activated intracellular protease, sometimes called calpain, was discovered during the last decade.The ending -pain refers to its relation with other proteolytic enzymes like papain. It may seem dangerous to have a proteolytic enzyme loose inside a cell, and it must have rather specialized functions and be under strict control. The complete primary structure of the calcium protease (Mr == 80,000) in chicken tissues has recently been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of cloned DNA. findings are quite unexpected. 

Factor XI. Factor XI is a Hver-synthesized glycoprotein that circulates in a zymogen form as a dimer. It is converted to its active serine protease form by Factor Xlla in the presence of high molecular weight kininogen. Calcium is not required for this activation step. 

Protein G. This vitamin K-dependent glycoproteia serine protease zymogen is produced ia the Hver. It is an anticoagulant with species specificity (19—21). Proteia C is activated to Proteia by thrombomodulin, a proteia that resides on the surface of endothefial cells, plus thrombin ia the presence of calcium. In its active form, Proteia selectively iaactivates, by proteolytic degradation. Factors V, Va, VIII, and Villa. In this reaction the efficiency of Proteia is enhanced by complex formation with free Proteia S. la additioa, Proteia activates tissue plasminogen activator, which... 

Co-buHders such as nitnlotriacetic acid or polycarboxylates also may be incorporated into the detergent formulation. Wash performance of detergents decreases with increasing calcium concentration. Protease performance varies, but high calcium concentrations tend to reduce protease performance. Therefore it is an advantage to add a buHder system to the detergent. Proteases need a smaH amount of calcium for the sake of stabHity, but even with the most efficient buHder systems, stabHity during wash is not a problem. 

Boumann, U., et al. Three-dimensional structure of the alkaline protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a two-domain protein with a calcium binding parallel beta roll motif. EMBO J. 12 3357-3364, 1993. 

Biocatalysis has emerged as an important tool for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral pharmaceutical intermediates and several review articles have been published in recent years [133-137]. For example, quinuclidinol is a common pharmacophore of neuromodulators acting on muscarinic receptors (Figure 6.50). (JJ)-Quinudidin-3-ol was prepared via Aspergillus melleus protease-mediated enantioselective hydrolysis of the racemic butyrate [54,138]. Calcium hydroxide served as a scavenger of butyric acid to prevent enzyme inhibition and the unwanted (R) enantiomer was racemized over Raney Co under hydrogen for recycling. 

Increased levels of cytosolic calcium could potentiate ischaemia-reperfusion injury in several ways. For example, conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase may be catalysed by a calcium-dependent protease (McCord, 1985). However, because it has been so difficult to demonstrate the presence of xanthine... 

The matrix metalloendoproteinases (MMPs or matrixins) are a family of zinc and calcium dependent extracellular proteases that collectively degrade most of the protein constituents of the extracellular matrix [9]. There are at least 23 members of this family and are divided primarily on the basis of sequence homology and substrate specificity into the following grouping collagenases (MMP-1, -8, -13, -18) gelatinases... 

Calpactins calectrin Calpain Calsequestrin Membrane-binding proteins (365) Protease controlling cell adhesion (366) Sequesters calcium within the sarcoplasmic reticulum when muscles relax (80,367)... 

A few enzymes, such as the previously mentioned CNP, are believed to be fairly specific for myelin/oligodendro-cytes. There is much more in the CNS than in peripheral nerve, suggesting some function more specialized to the CNS. In addition, a unique pH 7.2 cholesterol ester hydrolase is also enriched in myelin. On the other hand, there are many enzymes that are not myelin-specific but appear to be intrinsic to myelin and not contaminants. These include cAMP-stimulated kinase, calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase, protein kinase C, a neutral protease activity and phosphoprotein phosphatases. The protein kinase C and phosphatase activities are presumed to be responsible for the rapid turnover of MBP phosphate groups, and the PLP acylation enzyme activity is also intrinsic to myelin. 

FIGURE 2 Examples of the variety of structures obtained in natural product screens. I, zaragozic acid A, is an inhibitor of mammalian and fungal sterol synthesis, obtained from fungi (48) II, L-696,474, is an inhibitor of the HIV protease, obtained from fungi (51) III, dehydrosoyasaponin I, is an agonist of the calcium-activated potassium channel, obtained from a medicinal plant (58) IV, tetrandrine, is an inhibitor of L-type calcium channels, obtained from a plant (78). 

Calcium, a crucial second messenger signalling key changes in cellular metabolism, is also important in muscle activation, in the activation of many proteases, both intra- and extracellular, and as a major component of an range of biominerals, including bone. 

D. E. Croall, G. N. DeMartino, Calcium Activated Neutral Protease (Calpain) System Structure, Function and Regulation , Physiol. Rev. 1991, 71, 813-847. 

A calpain inhibitor, the DPK of N-dimethyltyrosine, was isolated from Streptomyces griseus and this compound showed activity in the calpain assay as described by Alvarez etal Calpain is a cytosolic protease regulated by calcium and is distributed in mammalian and avian cells. Calpain catalyzes proteolysis of target protein in cells, causing changes in metabolic processes such as the activation of protein kinase C, neuropeptide metabolism, and the activation of platelets. It is proposed that these inhibitors can be used in the treatment of neurodegen-erative diseases. 

Selected entries from Methods in Enzymology [vol, page(s)] Sulfonylation reaction, 11, 706 reaction kinetics, 11, 707 second-order rate constants for inactivation of chymotrypsin, trypsin, and acetylcholine esterase by PMSE and related sulfonylat-ing agents, 11, 707 reactivation of PMS-chymotrypsin, 11, 710 as inhibitor [of calcium-activated factor, 80, 674 of cathepsin G, 80, 565 of crayfish trypsin, 80, 639 of elastase, 80, 587 of pro-lylcarboxypeptidase, 80, 465 of protease Re, 80, 691 of protease So, 80, 695 of protein C, 80, 329] proteolysis, 76, 7. 

Mammalian Cell Protease Inhibitor CocktaiL These should contain AEBSF, pepstatin A, E-64, bestatin, leupeptin, and aprotinin. (Metal chelators can be added to suppress the activity of calcium ion-dependent proteases such as calpain. Again, one must determine whether the protein or enzyme being purified does not require a divalent metal cofactor for stabihty or activity.)... 

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