Conjugate proteolytic degradation

Polymers that are protease inhibitors and polymer-inhibitor conjugates are now widely investigated for their ability to protect proteins and peptides from proteolytic degradation. These molecules are effective in the immediate area surrounding the delivery device, so the effects on proteins that have diffused far from the delivery device are limited. Due to the fact that bioadhesives were used as the conjugating polymer, the delivery device may adhere to the intestinal lining. If this does happen, the diffusional distance of the protein from the device to the intestinal wall will be quite short. One barrier that the protease inhibitors do not affect is the cellular barrier. Biomacromolecules must still find a method to enter the cells or be taken up by phagocytosis. 

Figure 12.10 Ubiquitin proteolytic pathway. Proposed sequence of events in conjugation and degradation of proteins via ubiquitin system involves activation of ubiquitin (Ub), transfer of activated ubiquitin, conjugation of protein to ubiquitin by ubiquitin-protein ligase, usuaUy polyubiquitination, and degradation of ligated protein by 26S protease complex (proteasome)...

As shown in Table I, free HRP is poorly transported across MDCK cells but, when conjugated to a PLL carrier, HRP transport is increased considerably. The existence of a proteolytic compartment involved in the transcytotic digestion of HRP-S-PLL conjugate was further confirmed by the finding that when PLL was replaced by PDL, the transport of HRP was completely abolished (Table I) (8). In addition, when protease inhibitors such as leupeptin were added to the basal medium, the transcytosis of HRP was also significantly decreased (Table I). We have previously reported that the partial degradation of HRP-S-PLL was not inhibited by lysosomotropic amines (<8), indicating that this proteolytic process does not occur in lysosomes. 

Both the 26S proteasome and the RC hydrolyze all four nucleotide triphosphates, with ATP and CTP preferred over GTP and UTP [58]. Although ATP hydrolysis is required for conjugate degradation, the two processes are not strictly coupled. Complete inhibition of the peptidase activity of the 26S proteasome by calpain inhibitor I has little effect on the ATPase activity of the enzyme. The nucleotidase activities of the RC and the 26S proteasome closely resemble those of E. coli Lon protease, which is composed of identical subunits that possess both proteolytic and nucleotidase activities in the same polypeptide chain. Like the regulatory complex and 26S proteasome, Lon hydrolyzes all four ribonucleotide triphosphates, but not ADP or AMP [18]. 

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