title: Pro-gonadotropin-releasing hormone protein is processed within hypothalamic neurosecretory granules.
abstract: Peptide-hormones are synthesized as higher-molecular-weight precursor proteins which must undergo numerous posttranslational modifications to yield the bioactive peptide(s) which may include limited endoproteolysis, limited exopeptidase digestion, and C-terminal amidation. Three different enzymes which are likely to be the physiologically relevant processing enzymes of bovine pro-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (pro-GnRH) precursor protein have been colocalized to, and purified from, hypothalamic neurosecretory granules. Gonadotropin-releasing-hormone-associated-peptide-releasing enzyme initiates processing by endoproteolysis of the pro-hormone exclusively at the Arg 13-Asp 14 bond in the sequence, -Gly6-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly 10-Gly-Lys 12-Arg 13-Asp-, which overlaps the sequence for GnRH (1-10) and GAP(14-69) within the pro-protein. Hypothalamic carboxypeptidase E then sequentially removes the -Lys12-Arg13- doublet from the newly formed peptide before peptidyl glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase catalyzes the formation of amidated GnRH. Carboxypeptidase E activity is stimulated in vitro by cobalt ion and removes the Lys and Arg residues with equal facility. The residue which acts as the amide nitrogen donor for the alpha-amidating enzyme must be present as the free C-terminal residue of a substrate; the enzyme does not recognize peptide substrates with C-terminal extensions. Based on the mandatory ordered events for processing pro-GnRH and the relative pH profiles displayed by these enzymes, our results are consistent with the idea that endoproteolysis of the pro-hormone occurs upon formation of the secretory granule at the Golgi apparatus and that the processed peptides are the storage form within the secretory vesicles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rangaraju
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000201:enzymology*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; C050866:progonadoliberin I; C050502:gonadotropin releasing hormone associated peptide; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; C035189:peptidylglycine monooxygenase; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H; C052441:gonadotropin-associated-peptide releasing enzyme