title: Bovine brain pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase (type-1): purification and characterisation of a neuropeptide-inactivating peptidase.
abstract: Pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase type-1 (PAP-I) is reported to be a soluble, broad specificity aminopeptidase, capable of removing the pyroglutamic acid (pGlu) residue from the amino terminus of pGlu-peptides (e.g. TRH, LHRH, neurotensin and bombesin). The central aim of this study was to undertake, for the first time, the complete purification and characterisation of a PAP activity observed within the cytosolic fraction of bovine whole brain and to compare the properties of the enzyme with previous findings. A series of chromatographic steps (DEAE-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200 and Activated Thiol Sepharose 4B) generated a soluble PAP activity purified to near homogeneity with a total active yield of 6.6% The enzyme displayed a native molecular mass of approximately 23,700 Da, which compares well with that value obtained under denaturing conditions via SDS-PAGE (24,000 Da), suggesting that the enzyme exists as a monomer. The expression of PAP activity displayed an absolute requirement for the presence of a disulphide bond-reducing agent such as DTT, whilst optimum activity was observed at pH 8.5. strong inhibition of PAP activity was observed with a number of different agents, including transition metal ions, sulphydryl-blocking agents and 2-pyrrolidone (a pGlu analog). A broad pyroglutamyl substrate specificity, which excludes substrates commencing with the pGlu-Pro bond, was also demonstrated for the bovine brain enzyme. Based on a comparison of these findings with those reported for PAP-I in other mammalian tissues, the soluble PAP activity observed in bovine whole brain can tentatively be classified as a pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase type-1 (EC 3.4.19.3).
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002417:Cattle; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011751:Pyroglutamyl-Peptidase I / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D011751:Pyroglutamyl-Peptidase I