title: Sorting of non-glycosylated human procathepsin S in mammalian cells.
abstract: Cathepsin S, a lysosomal cysteine protease, is synthesized as inactive precursor. It is activated in the lysosomes by a proteolytic cleavage of the propeptide. HEK 293-cells which do not express cathepsin S were transfected with cDNA of either wild type human procathepsin S or a mutant procathepsin S in which Asn of the only glycosylation site in the proregion was replaced by Gln. The cells expressed glycosylated and non-glycosylated procathepsin S, respectively. Large amounts of the precursors were secreted into the culture media by both transfectants. Secreted wild type procathepsin S contained Man-6-phosphate in the oligosaccharide chain. Wild type procathepsin S was activated in the cells but no maturation occurred in the culture media. In vitro processing of glycosylated as well as of non-glycosylated procathepsin S gave fully active enzymes thus indicating that the oligosaccharide chain was not necessary for proper folding. A reuptake of the glycosylated and non-glycosylated procathepsin S by HEK 293-cells could be observed. Small amounts of mature cathepsin S were detected in the lysosomes of the mutant transfectants. Subcellular fractionation showed non-glycosylated procathepsin S in the membrane fraction. Non-glycosylated procathepsin S was bound to the plasma membrane at 2 degrees C, suggesting an additional sorting motif in the cathepsin S molecule besides the Man-6-phosphate residue.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nissler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kreusch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rommerskirch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Strubel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiederanders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D002403:Cathepsins; C028217:cathepsin S