Enzymic characterization in vitro of recombinant proprotein convertase PC4.
Proprotein convertase PC4A, a member of the subtilisin/kexin family of serine proteases, was obtained in enzymically active form following expression of vaccinia virus recombinant rat (r)PC4A in GH4C1 cells. It displayed maximal activity at pH 7.0 and a Ca(2+) concentration of 2.0 mM. Using PC4-specific antibodies, Western blot analysis of the medium revealed a major band at approximately 54 kDa, corresponding to the molecular size of mature rPC4A. Among the various peptidyl-[4-methylcoumarin 7-amide (MCA)] substrates tested, the one that was preferred the most by rPC4A was acetyl (Ac)-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-MCA, which is cleaved 9 times faster (as judged from V(max)/K(m) measurements) than the best furin and PC1 substrate, pGlu-Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg-MCA. Recombinant rPC4A, along with human (h)furin and hPC1, cleaved a 17-amino-acid synthetic peptide, YQTLRRRVKR downward arrowSLVVPTD (where downward arrow denotes site of cleavage, and the important basic residues are shown in bold), encompassing the junction between the putative pro-segment of rPC4A and the active enzyme, suggesting a possible auto-activation of the enzyme. In an effort to identify potential physiological substrates for PC4, studies were performed with pro-[insulin-growth-factor (IGF)]-derived synthetic peptides, namely Ac-PAKSAR downward arrowSVRA (IGF-I(66-75)) and Ac-PAKSER downward arrowDVST (IGF-II(63-72)), as well as two lysine mutants [(IGF-I(66-75)Lys(70)) and (IGF-II(63-72)Lys(67))]. Unlike PC1 and furin, rPC4A cleaved efficiently both IGF-I(66-75) and IGF-II(63-72), suggesting a possible role of PC4 in the maturation of IGF-I and -II. In contrast, the peptides with a position 2 (P2) lysine mutation, IGF-I(66-75)Lys(70) and IGF-II(63-72)Lys(67), were cleaved more efficiently by PC1 and furin compared with rPC4A. Furthermore, using synthetic peptides containing the processing sites of pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-38, we were able to confirm that, of the two testicular enzymes PC4 and PC7, PC4 is the best candidate enzyme for maturation of PACAP. Our data suggest that rPC4A is a functionally active convertase, with a substrate specificity somewhat different from that of other convertases, namely KXXR downward arrow (where X denotes any other residue). As expected, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and metal chelators such as EDTA, EGTA and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N', N'-tetraacetic acid inhibit the proteolytic activity of rPC4A, whereas it is activated by dithiothreitol. PC4A was also inhibited by transition-metal ions (Cu(2+)>Hg(2+)>Zn(2+) Ni(2+)>Co(2+)), as well as by small peptide semicarbazones (SCs), such as Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-SC (K(i) 0.75 microM) and Arg-Ser-Lys-Arg-SC (K(i) 11.4 microM).
Basak
A
A
Molecular Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Montréal, Qué, Canada. abasak@lri.ca
Touré
B B
BB
Lazure
C
C
Mbikay
M
M
Chrétien
M
M
Seidah
N G
NG
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D017931:DNA Primers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013381:Subtilisins
D002413:Cations, Divalent; D017931:DNA Primers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; C489716:PCSK4 protein, human; C078312:Pcsk4 protein, rat; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D013381:Subtilisins; D002118:Calcium