Purification and characterization of a novel glutamyl aminopeptidase from chicken meat

A novel glutamyl aminopeptidase (aminopeptidase A, EC 3.4.11.7) was purified from chicken meat by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ethanol fractionation, heat treatment, and successive column chromatographies of DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and Sephadex G-200. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band on SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight of this enzyme was found to be 55,000 and 550,000 by SDS-PAGE and Sephadex G-200 column chromatographies, respectively. This enzyme hydrolyzed Glu- and Asp-, but not Leu-, Arg-, and Ala-2-naphthylamide (-2NA) at all. The optimum pH and temperature for hydrolysis of Glu-2NA was 7.5. and 70°C, respectively. Reducing agents such as cysteine and dithiothreitol inhibited the activity of this enzyme at concentrations of 1 mM. However, the activation by Ca(2+) and the inhibition by amastatin were not observed.     

Biochemical characterization of deblocking aminopeptidase from hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus onnurineus NA1

A genomic analysis of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermoccoccus onnurineus NA1 (TNA1) revealed the presence of a deblocking aminopeptidase (DAP) gene with high similarity to the genes of DAPs from Pyrococcus furiosus (86%) and Pyrococcus horikoshii (83% identity). The optimum aminopeptidase activity of the recombinant enzyme was observed at pH 7.5 and in the range of 90 degrees C to 100 degrees C. The specific aminopeptidase and deblocking activities of the enzyme toward Leu-pNA and Ac-Leu-pNA were 18- and 3-fold higher than those of a P. horikoshii DAP (DAP2), respectively. The enzyme activity was significantly increased by Co(2+) ions. The presence of Co(2+) ions induced the activation of the enzyme with heating and changed the large oligomer to a dimer. The enzyme activated by Co(2+) ions appeared to eventually be inactivated by autodegradation, which was confirmed by mass spectrometry.     

Leucine aminopeptidase from Streptomyces hygroscopicus is controlled by a low molecular weight inhibitor

In culture filtrate of Streptomyces hygroscopicus a producer of polyketide antibiotics, a leucine aminopeptidase and its autogenous inhibitor were detected. The leucine aminopeptidase was purified 4573-fold with yield of 82% by combination of ion exchange and hydrophobic chromatography. The enzyme is monomeric with a molecular mass of 51 kDa determined by gel chromatography and 67 kDa determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Optimal activity was at pH 8.0 and 40 degrees C. The pI of leucine aminopeptidase is 8.2. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by 1,10-phenantroline, amastatin and dithiothreitol. Atomic absorption spectrometry indicated 2 mols of ion zinc per mol of enzyme. The enzyme is stable at up to 70 degrees C. Leucine aminopeptidase prefers leucine and methionine as N-terminal amino acids. Activity of leucine aminopeptidase is strongly modulated by an autogenous low-molecular weight inhibitor during fermentation, especially during periods of intensive antibiotic production.     

Purification and properties of an arginyl aminopeptidase from Debaryomyces hansenii

A metallo arginyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.6) activated by Co(2+) was isolated from Debaryomyces hansenii CECT 12487. The enzyme was purified after precipitation with protamine sulphate, followed by a weak anion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and a strong anion exchange chromatography. The arginyl aminopeptidase (AAP) was purified 337 folds, with a 18% recovery. The AAP appeared to be a dimer with a molecular mass of 101 kDa. The enzyme was active in the pH range from 6 to 9. The optimal activity was detected at pH 7.0 and at 37 degrees C. AAP activity was inhibited by typical aminopeptidase inhibitors (puromycin and bestatin), reducing agents (DTT), chelating agents (EDTA, EGTA and phenantroline) and sulphydryl groups reagents (iodoacetate). Ca(2+), Mn(2+) and Co(2+) activated the enzyme, while Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+) and Mg(2+) inhibited it. The K(m) values calculated for Arg-AMC (7-amido-4-methylcoumarin) and Leu-AMC were 0.071 and 0.094 mM, respectively. The enzyme showed maximum specificity for basic amino acids (Arg and Lys), but was also able to hydrolyze non-charged amino acids (Leu, Met and Ala) and, at a minor rate, aromatic amino acids (Phe and Tyr). AAP showed higher activity when an acid residue was located at the C-terminal position of dipeptides.The described purification of an arginyl aminopeptidase from the yeast D. hansenii can contribute to the lack of knowledge about the exopeptidase activity in one of the yeasts more frequently isolated in sausage and to understand its role during the ripening of a fermented sausage.     

Aminopeptidase yscCo-II: a new cobalt-dependent aminopeptidase from yeast-purification and biochemical characterization

Saccharomyces cerevisiae aminopeptidase yscCo-II (APCo-II) was purified to apparent homogeneity by gel filtration, affinity chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography. APCo-II is an hexameric cobalt-dependent metallo-enzyme with an estimated native molecular mass of 290 kDa. Enzyme activity is only detected in the presence of cobalt ions at pH 7.0. Substrate specificity studies indicate that aminopeptidase yscCo-II cleaves only basic N-terminal residues. PMSF, Cu(2+), 1,10-phenanthroline and bestatin were found to be very strong inhibitors of aminopeptidase yscCo-II activity. Kinetic studies indicated that the enzyme has a similar K(m) and Ka(Co )(activation constant of cobalt) and, following extraction of cobalt from the enzyme, activity was recovered only after cobalt addition.     

不同生化因子对米曲霉蛋白酶系活力的影响

研究不同生化因子（金属离子、乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）和十二烷基磺酸钠（SDS））对米曲霉蛋白酶系（包括酸性蛋白酶、中性蛋白酶、碱性蛋白酶、氨肽酶和羧肽酶等5种）活力的影响,结果显示：生化因子都对羧肽酶活力有促进作用,影响最强的是Ca2+,其相对酶活达到310%;对酸性蛋白酶活力促进作用最强的是的Mn2+,相对酶活达到317%;而SDS完全抑制其活性。生化因子对中性蛋白酶、碱性蛋白酶和氨肽酶活力主要起抑制作用,抑制能力最强的分别是Ge2+,Fe3+和SDS。Ag+对氨肽酶活力促进显著,相对酶活力达到483%。     

Purification and characterization of a lysine-p-nitroanilide hydrolase, a broad specificity aminopeptidase, from the cytoplasm of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris AM2.

A hydrolase activity that cleaves lysyl-p-nitroanilide (Lys-pNA) has been purified from the cytoplasm of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris AM2 by chromatography on DE52, DEAE Affi-Gel Blue Gel, Hydroxyapatite Bio-Gel HTP and Phenyl Sepharose. The purified aminopeptidase was found to have a native M(r) of 50,000-55,000 by gel filtration chromatography and by FPLC gel filtration on Superose 12 and to be composed of a single polypeptide chain following SDS-PAGE. Enzyme activity was almost completely inhibited by EDTA, amastatin, puromycin and bestatin, while the sulphydryl-reactive agents p-chloromercuribenzoate and iodoacetamide were inhibitory. The enzyme was found to be very unstable during the purification procedures at 4 degrees C and its stability was greatly improved when 10 ml glycerol/l and 2 mM-dithiothreitol were included in the purification buffers. The purified enzyme was found to hydrolyse a wide range of dipeptides, tripeptides and longer peptides provided that proline was not present in the penultimate position from the N-terminus or that a pyroglutamyl residue was not present at the N-terminus. While neither Asp-pNA nor Pro-pNA was hydrolysed by the purified enzyme, the release of N-terminal acidic residues from peptides was observed in addition to the release of N-terminal proline from Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, Pro-Leu-Gly-Gly and Pro-His-Pro-Phe-His-Leu-Phe-Val-Tyr. This ability of Lys-pNA hydrolase to release N-terminal proline residues was employed in concert with a purified aminopeptidase P preparation to release alternate N-terminal amino acids from Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly. The complementary action of these enzymes represents an alternative mechanism to that of post-proline dipeptidyl aminopeptidase for metabolism of proline-containing peptides.     

Purification and Characterization of Aminopeptidase from Chicken Intestine

ABSTRACT: An aminopeptidase was purified 839-fold with 15% recovery from chicken intestine by a procedure involving ion exchange, gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction and affinity chromatography. The enzyme is a heteridimer of subunits 94000 Da and 66000 Da. The substrate specificity of the enzyme was in the order ala > arg > leu-β-naphthylamide. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by bestatin, puromycin, and 1, 10-phenanthroline. The aminopeptidase showed maximum activity at pH 6 and 40 to 50 °C. The enzyme significantly differs from the hitherto known major classes of aminopeptidases from chicken tissues in terms of molecular weight and biochemical characteristics.     

High pressure effects on proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes involved in cheese manufacturing

The activity of chymosin, plasmin, and Lactococcus lactis enzymes (cell envelope proteinase, intracellular peptidases, and glycolytic enzymes) were determined after 5-min exposures to pressures up to 800 MPa. Plasmin was unaffected by any pressure treatment. Chymosin activity was unaffected up to 400 MPa and decreased at 500 to 800 MPa. Fifty percent of control chymosin activity remained after the 800 MPa treatment. The lactococcal cell envelope proteinase (CEP) and intracellular peptidase activities were monitored in cell extracts of pressure-treated cells. A pressure of 100 MPa increased the CEP activity, whereas 200 MPa had no effect. At 300 MPa, CEP activity was reduced, and 400 to 800 MPa inactivated the enzyme. X-Prolyl-dipeptidyl aminopeptidase was insensitive to 5-min pressure treatments of 100 to 300 MPa, but was inactivated at 400 to 800 MPa. Aminopeptidase N was unaffected by 100 and 200 MPa. However, 300 MPa significantly reduced its activity, and 400 to 800 MPa inactivated it. Aminopeptidase C activity increased with increasing pressures up to 700 MPa. High pressure did not affect aminopeptidase A activity at any level. Hydrolysis of Lys-Ala-p-NA doubled after 300-MPa exposure, and was eliminated at 400 to 800 MPa. Glycolytic enzyme activities of pressure-treated cells were evaluated collectively by determining the titratable acidity as lactic acid produced by cell extracts in the presence of glucose. The titratable acidities produced by the 100 and 200 MPa samples were slightly increased compared to the control. At 300 to 800 MPa, no significant acid production was observed. These data demonstrate that high pressure causes no effect, activation, or inactivation of proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes depending on the pressure level and enzyme. Pressure treatment of cheese may alter enzymes involved in ripening, and pressure-treating L. lactis may provide a means to generate attenuated starters with altered enzyme profiles.     

EFFECT OF CARNOSINE, ANSERINE AND OTHER ENDOGENOUS SKELETAL PEPTIDES ON THE ACTIVITY OF PORCINE MUSCLE ALANYL AND ARGINYL AMINOPEPTIDASES

The effect of endogenous dipeptides (carnosine and anserine) and peptidic fractions from meat extracts on aminopeptidase activity, alanyl and arginyl aminopeptidases purified from porcine skeletal muscle, was studied. Carnosine inhibited the activity of porcine arginyl aminopeptidase (RAP); the inhibition being stronger with the purified form of the enzyme than in the muscle extract. The RAP inhibition was competitive. One of the peptidic fractions isolated from meat extracts inhibited RAP activity But the degree of inhibition depended on the extent of purification. The major aminopeptidase present in muscle, alanyl aminopeptidase (AAP), was neither inhibited by natural dipeptides nor arty of the peptidic fractions. The study of meat inhibitory peptides provides a better understanding of the action of proteolytic enzymes during meat processing.     

一种枯草芽孢杆菌氨肽酶的纯化及酶学性质

利用乙醇分级沉淀(37.5%～60%)、SephadexG75凝胶过滤、Phenylsepharose6FF疏水色谱三步分离使一种枯草芽孢杆菌氨肽酶得到纯化,比活1.5567×106U/mg;SDSPAGE鉴定为纯酶,分子质量75ku,全酶含2个亚基。纯酶最适温度60℃,温度稳定范围20～70℃。最适pH8.5,pH稳定范围8.0～10.0。Zn2+、Ni2+有较大的抑制作用,Co2+则对酶活有较强的激活作用。酶活性中心可能结合了2个Zn2+,米氏常数Km为1μmol/L,最大反应速度Vmax为5000μmol/(L·min)。     

Aminopeptidase from Brevibacterium linens: activation and inhibition

Activation and inhibition of a purified aminopeptidase from Brevibacterium linens was investigated using L-alpha-leucyl-4-nitroanilide and L-leucyl-L-leucine as substrates. The enzyme was activated by cobalt, provided that the enzyme was preincubated with the metal. Strong inhibitory effects were derived from heavy metals, metal-complexing compounds, reducing agents, the modification of aromatic amino acids, and the presence of hydrophobic substances or certain amino acids in the test mixtures. Supposing that this B. linens aminopeptidase plays a part during surface-ripening of cheeses, possible consequences of specific technological conditions for its activity are discussed.     

RECENTLY IDENTIFIED ENZYMES OF BREVIBACTERIUM LINENS ATCC 9174 - A REVIEW

An extracellular proteinase and an aminopeptidase and an intracellular aminopeptidase and esterase were isolated from Brevibacterium linens ATCC 9174. The proteinase was a serine enzyme with relatively broad specificity onα_s1-andβ-caseins. The extracellular aminopeptidase was a metallo enzyme but the intracellular aminopeptidase was a thiol enzyme with rather narrow specificity for small side chains, e.g., Gly and Ala. The organism possessed two intracellular esterases, one of which was purified to homogeneity. This enzyme was a tetramer of MW 200 kDa, was strongly inhibited by thiol blocking agents and showed a high specificity for short chain fatty acids with no lipolytic activity on tributyrin or milk fat.     

PURIFICATION OF AMINOPEPTIDASE FROM THE JAPANESE CLASSIFIED BARLEY FLOUR

In a search for biologically active materials from the classified barley flour produced in Japan an aminopeptidase activity was identified. In this paper, the purification of aminopeptidase is described. The activity of the enzyme was monitored using L-leucine-p-nitroanilide as the substrate. After extraction using 20 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.5, from the 95–75% classification flour, ammonium sulfate fractionation was performed between 30 and 50% saturation. The aminopeptidase was then purified about 160-fold to homogeneity as assessed by HPLC using the following sequential chromatography steps: hydrophobic interaction chromatography, Sephacryl S-200HR gel chromatography, DEAM-ion exchange chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, Sephacryl S-100HR gel chromatography. The molecular weight of this enzyme was estimated as 62 kDα by size exclusion HPLC. The enzyme had a K_m value of 0.22 mM and α pH optimum of 7.0.     

Determination of the extracellular and cell-associated hydrolase profiles of Pseudomonas fluorescens sp. using the Analytab API ZYM system

The extracellular and cell-associated hydrolase profiles of a number of Pseudomonas fluorescens strains were examined with the Analytab API ZYM system. Esterase/lipase was the only strong extracellular enzyme activity detected (mean 3.33): weak esterase, lipase, and leucine aminopeptidase activities were found with some strains (mean activities of 1.08, 1.53, and 1.40, respectively). Very strong leucine aminopeptidase activity (4.5) was associated with the cells. Cell-associated trypsin, esterase/lipase, acid phosphatase, and phosphoamidase were also found. Neither extracellular nor cell-associated hydrolase profiles changed significantly when cells were grown in skim milk or mineral salts medium at either 5 or 20 degrees C. Similarly, added calcium did not seem required for synthesis of any of the enzymes. The extracellular enzyme profiles differed considerably from those of the cell-associated enzymes for all strains tested. An extracellular proteinase-deficient mutant of strain 32A (RM14) failed to produce significant quantities of extracellular esterase/lipase activity. Production of cell-associated enzymes was unaffected by the mutation. These results suggest that the Analytab API ZYM system may be useful in identifying psychrotrophs isolated from milk.     

Purification and characterization of a second aminopeptidase (pepC-like) from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B14

A second aminopeptidase was purified from cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B14 by ammonium sulphate precipitation and two steps of anion-exchange chromatography. After SDS polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of β-mercaptoethanol, one protein band was detected at 54 kDa. The same molecular mass was estimated by gel filtration. SDS polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the absence of β-mercaptoethanol resulted in a single band at 220 kDa, indicating that the enzyme forms complexes of four molecules under non-reducing conditions. Activity was markedly increased by reducing and metal-chelating agents. Thiol-group inhibitors, such as iodoacetic acid, inhibited the enzyme strongly. In contrast to Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, which had slightly activating effects, other divalent cations reduced enzyme activity at a concentration of 1 mM. The aminopeptidase showed highest activity at 50°C and pH 6·5–7 and hydrolyzed a wide range of di- and tripeptides. The most suitable substrates were Leu-Gly, Leu-Gly-Gly, Ala-Ala-Ala, and Met-Gly-Gly. For Leu-Gly and Leu-Gly-Gly, K_m-values of 1·81 mM and 2·17 mM and turnover numbers of 870 s⁻¹ were calculated, with a maximal rate of hydrolysis (V_max) of 4600 and 2780 μmol/min per mg of protein, respectively. The aminopeptidase did not cleave Lys-pNA, a substrate hydrolyzed by all type-‘N’ aminopeptidases from lactic acid bacteria with high velocities. It compared well, however, with pepC found in Lactococcus.     

EFFECT OF SODIUM LACTATE, CALCIUM LACTATE AND SODIUM ALGINATE ON BACTERIAL GROWTH AND AMINOPEPTIDASE ACTIVITY

The effects of sodium alginate (0.4 and 0.8%), calcium lactate (0.15 and 0.3%) and sodium lactate (60% solution; 1, 2, 3 and 4%) on growth and aminopeptidase activity of Pseudomonas fragi ATCC 4973 and Salmonella typhimurium in trypticase soy broth or autoclaved ground beef were studied for 5 days at 5°C. Sodium alginate and calcium lactate did not change colony counts of P. fragi or S. typhimurium; and had only slight effects on aminopeptidase activity. Sodium lactate (3 and 4%) showed inhibitory activity on growth and aminopeptidase activity of P. fragi. Sodium lactate also decreased aminopeptidase activity of S. typhimurium but had no major influence on colony counts. In general, aminopeptidase activity was inhibited more than cell multiplication by higher levels of alginate and sodium lactate .     

毛霉亮氨酸氨肽酶的纯化及性质研究

采用硫酸铵盐析、离子交换层析、疏水层析、凝胶层析及超滤方法对毛霉胞外蛋白酶组分进行分离纯化,从毛霉的发酵麸曲中分离纯化得到氨肽酶组分,并对其性质进行探讨。结果表明：纯化的毛霉氨肽酶是亮氨酸氨肽酶,其对小肽N端的亮氨酸有非常强的水解活性;该氨肽酶在40℃、pH6.5有最大催化活性,在40℃以内,pH5.0～8.0有很好的稳定性;在所实验的几种蛋白酶抑制剂(PMSF、EDTA、E-64、Pepstatin A)中,仅EDTA可以完全抑制该氨肽酶的活性,由此说明,纯化的毛霉氨肽酶是一种金属蛋白酶;常见的金属离子中,Ca2+对该氨肽酶有激活作用,而Zn2+、Cu2+及Mn2+对其有强的抑制作用;该氨肽酶对大豆多肽的苦味有明显的去除效果,大豆多肽脱苦处理4h后其苦味基本消除。     

A model to assess lactic acid bacteria aminopeptidase activities in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese during ripening

The aim of this work was to investigate in which phases of ripening of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese lactic acid bacteria aminopeptidases present in cheese extract could be involved in release of free amino acids and to better understand the behavior of these enzymes in physical-chemical conditions that are far from their optimum. In particular, we evaluated 6 different substrates to reproduce broad-specificity aminopeptidase N, broad-specificity aminopeptidase C, glutamyl aminopeptidase A, peptidase with high specificity for leucine and alanine, proline iminopeptidase, and X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activities releasing different N-terminal amino acids. The effects of pH, NaCl concentration, and temperature on the enzyme activities of amino acid β-naphthylamide (βNA)-substrates were determined by modulating the variables in 19 different runs of an experimental design, which allowed the building of mathematical models able to assess the effect on aminopeptidases activities over a range of values, obtained with bibliographic data, covering different environmental conditions in different zones of the cheese wheel at different aging times. The aminopeptidases tested in this work were present in cell-free Parmigiano Reggiano cheese extract after a 17-mo ripening and were active when tested in model system. The modeling approach shows that to highlight the individual and interactive effects of chemical-physical variables on enzyme activities, it is helpful to determine the true potential of an amino-peptidase in cheese. Our results evidenced that the 6 different lactic acid bacteria peptidases participate in cheese proteolysis and are induced or inhibited by the cheese production parameters that, in turn, depend on the cheese dimension. Generally, temperature and pH exerted the more relevant effects on the enzymatic activities, and in many cases, a relevant interactive effect of these variables was observed. Increasing salt concentration slowed down broad-specificity amino-peptidase C, glutamyl aminopeptidase A, proline iminopeptidase, and peptidase with high specificity for leucine and alanine. Interestingly, this variable did not affect broad-specificity aminopeptidase N and positively affected X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase. The models elaborated varying pH, temperatures, and salt concentration and were a useful, low cost, and fast tool to understand the role of the main peptidases in the different phases of cheese ripening in relation to the major environmental factors influencing enzyme activity.     

Hydrolysis of alanine oligopeptides by porcine muscle alanyl aminopeptidase

 Alanyl aminopeptidase from porcine skeletal muscle was purified and its activity against alanine oligopeptides studied using capillary electrophoresis. The purpose was to determine the effect of the chain length of alanine oligopeptides on aminopeptidase activity. The enzyme showed high specificity against penta- and tetraalanine and absence of activity against dialanine. In this way, dipeptides and free amino acids would be generated in meat processing. Thus, the presence of a specific amino acid on the N-terminal end of a peptide is determinant for the enzyme activity and the length of that peptide also affects the hydrolysis rate.