title: Active site mutations change the cleavage specificity of neprilysin.
abstract: Neprilysin (NEP), a member of the M13 subgroup of the zinc-dependent endopeptidase family is a membrane bound peptidase capable of cleaving a variety of physiological peptides. We have generated a series of neprilysin variants containing mutations at either one of two active site residues, Phe(563) and Ser(546). Among the mutants studied in detail we observed changes in their activity towards leucine(5)-enkephalin, insulin B chain, and amyloid β(1-40). For example, NEP(F563I) displayed an increase in preference towards cleaving leucine(5)-enkephalin relative to insulin B chain, while mutant NEP(S546E) was less discriminating than neprilysin. Mutants NEP(F563L) and NEP(S546E) exhibit different cleavage site preferences than neprilysin with insulin B chain and amyloid ß(1-40) as substrates. These data indicate that it is possible to alter the cleavage site specificity of neprilysin opening the way for the development of substrate specific or substrate exclusive forms of the enzyme with enhanced therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, The Center for Structural Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sexton
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hitchcook
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Luke H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Louis B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hersh
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007328:Insulin / Q000737:chemistry; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D010455:Peptides; D010450:Endopeptidases; D015260:Neprilysin