title: Evidence for functional localization of the proenkephalin-processing enzyme, prohormone thiol protease, to secretory vesicles of chromaffin cells.
abstract: The biosynthesis of enkephalin opioid neuropeptides as well as numerous peptide hormones and neurotransmitters requires proteolytic processing of the respective prohormone precursors. We previously identified a novel cysteine protease known as prohormone thiol protease (PTP) as the major proenkephalin-processing enzyme in chromaffin granules (secretory vesicles) of bovine adrenal medulla. In this study, colocalization of PTP with (Met)enkephalin in regulated secretory vesicles was assessed by immunochemical approaches. Western blots demonstrated the presence of PTP in chromaffin granules, with equivalent levels of PTP protein in the soluble and membrane components of the vesicle. The presence of PTP in pituitary was also demonstrated by immunoblots. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated immunogold-labeled PTP and (Met)enkephalin within isolated chromaffin granules. In primary cultures of chromaffin cells, the discrete pattern of PTP and (Met)enkephalin immunofluorescence staining in neuritic extensions and cytoplasmic (perinuclear) regions of chromaffin cells is consistent with localization to secretory vesicles. Moreover, cosecretion of PTP and (Met)enkephalin from chromaffin cells occurred upon KCl depolarization in a calcium-dependent manner, indicating the localization of PTP and (Met)enkephalin within regulated secretory vesicles. Calcium-dependent secretion is a well known property of regulated secretory vesicle exocytosis. Overall, these results are consistent with the localization of PTP to functional, regulated secretory vesicles that contain (Met)enkephalin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0822, USA. vhook@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: V Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noctor
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sei
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toneff
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasothornsrikul
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002837:Chromaffin Granules / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000032:analysis; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; C029992:proenkephalin; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C083275:prohormone thiol protease