Structure of Aedes aegypti procarboxypeptidase B1 and its binding with Dengue virus for controlling infection.

Metallocarboxypeptidases play critical roles in the development of mosquitoes and influence pathogen/parasite infection of the mosquito midgut. Here, we report the crystal structure of Aedes aegypti procarboxypeptidase B1 (PCPBAe1), characterized its substrate specificity and mechanism of binding to and inhibiting Dengue virus (DENV). We show that the activated PCPBAe1 (CPBAe1) hydrolyzes both Arg- and Lys-substrates, which is modulated by residues Asp251 and Ser239 Notably, these residues are conserved in CPBs across mosquito species, possibly required for efficient digestion of basic dietary residues that are necessary for mosquito reproduction and development. Importantly, we characterized the interaction between PCPBAe1 and DENV envelope (E) protein, virus-like particles, and infectious virions. We identified residues Asp18A, Glu19A, Glu85, Arg87, and Arg89 of PCPBAe1 are essential for interaction with DENV. PCPBAe1 maps to the dimeric interface of the E protein domains I/II (Lys64-Glu84, Val238-Val252, and Leu278-Leu287). Overall, our studies provide general insights into how the substrate-binding property of mosquito carboxypeptidases could be targeted to potentially control mosquito populations or proposes a mechanism by which PCPBAe1 binds to and inhibits DENV.

Structure of Aedes aegypti carboxypeptidase B1-inhibitor complex uncover the disparity between mosquito and non-mosquito insect carboxypeptidase inhibition mechanism.

Metallocarboxypeptidases (MCPs) in the mosquito midgut play crucial roles in infection, as well as in mosquito dietary digestion, reproduction, and development. MCPs are also part of the digestive system of plant-feeding insects, representing key targets for inhibitor development against mosquitoes/mosquito-borne pathogens or as antifeedant molecules against plant-feeding insects. Notably, some non-mosquito insect B-type MCPs are primarily insensitive to plant protease inhibitors (PPIs) such as the potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI; MW 4 kDa), an inhibitor explored for cancer treatment and insecticide design. Here, we report the crystal structure of Aedes aegypti carboxypeptidase-B1 (CPBAe1)-PCI complex and compared the binding with that of PCI-insensitive CPBs. We show that PCI accommodation is determined by key differences in the active-site regions of MCPs. In particular, the loop regions α6-α7 (Leu242 -Ser250 ) and ß8-α8 (Pro269 -Pro280 ) of CPBAe1 are replaced by α-helices in PCI-insensitive insect Helicoverpa zea CPBHz. These α-helices protrude into the active-site pocket of CPBHz, restricting PCI insertion and rendering the enzyme insensitive. We further compared our structure with the only other PCI complex available, bovine CPA1-PCI. The potency of PCI against CPBAe1 (Ki  = 14.7 nM) is marginally less than that of bovine CPA1 (Ki  = 5 nM). Structurally, the above loop regions that accommodate PCI binding in CPBAe1 are similar to that of bovine CPA1, although observed changes in proteases residues that interact with PCI could account for the differences in affinity. Our findings suggest that PCI sensitivity is largely dictated by structural interference, which broadens our understanding of carboxypeptidase inhibition as a mosquito population/parasite control strategy.

Label-free polypeptide-based enzyme detection using a graphene-nanoparticle hybrid sensor.

A graphene-nanoparticle (NP) hybrid biosensor that utilizes an electrical hysteresis change to detect the enzymatic activity and concentration of Carboxypeptidase B was developed. The results indicate that the novel graphene-NP hybrid biosensor, utilizing electrical hysteresis, has the ability to detect concentrations of targeted enzyme on the micromolar scale. Furthermore, to the knowledge of the authors, this is the first demonstration of a graphene-based biosensor that utilizes a hysteresis change resulting from metallic NPs assembled on a graphene surface.

Increasing the refolding efficiency in vitro by site-directed mutagenesis of Cys383 in rat procarboxypeptidase B.

This study examines a novel method to reduce the probability of disulfide mismatches during the refolding process by the replacement of cysteines within a protein. Specifically, Cys383 of recombinant rat procarboxypeptidase B was replaced by other amino acids to increase the refolding efficiency in vitro. Mutants C383G, C383A and C383S could refold successfully, but mutants C383R, C383E, C383L and C383Y failed to refold correctly. Compared with wild type, the refolding efficiencies of mutants C383G and C383A were enhanced. The Cys383 mutations changed some of the properties of rat carboxypeptidase B. Mutants C383G, C383A had higher k(cat)/K(m) values which indicated increased catalytic abilities. And both had higher thermal stability. pH had different effects on the activities and stabilities of the mutant and wild type proteins. The studies suggested that mutating Cys383 of rat procarboxypeptidase B could improve the renaturation process by increasing the refolding efficiency. This new method could be taken as a new attempt to improve the refolding efficiency of other recombinant proteins containing disulfide bonds that are expressed as inclusion bodies. While the results also claimed that the potential effects of the substituted amino acid on the protein itself should be seriously considered in addition to its ability to reduce the probability of disulfide mismatches.

Human pancreas-specific protein disulfide-isomerase (PDIp) can function as a chaperone independently of its enzymatic activity by forming stable complexes with denatured substrate proteins.

Members of the PDI (protein disulfide-isomerase) family are critical for the correct folding of secretory proteins by catalysing disulfide bond formation as well as by serving as molecular chaperones to prevent protein aggregation. In the present paper, we report that the chaperone activity of the human pancreas-specific PDI homologue (PDIp) is independent of its enzymatic activity on the basis of the following lines of evidence. First, alkylation of PDIp by iodoacetamide fully abolishes its enzymatic activity, whereas it still retains most of its chaperone activity in preventing the aggregation of reduced insulin B chain and denatured GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). Secondly, mutation of the cysteine residues in PDIp's active sites completely abolishes its enzymatic activity, but does not affect its chaperone activity. Thirdly, the b-b' fragment of PDIp, which does not contain the active sites and is devoid of enzymatic activity, still has chaperone activity. Mechanistically, we found that both the recombinant PDIp expressed in Escherichia coli and the natural PDIp present in human or monkey pancreas can form stable complexes with thermal-denatured substrate proteins independently of their enzymatic activity. The high-molecular-mass soluble complexes between PDIp and GAPDH are formed in a stoichiometric manner (subunit ratio of 1:3.5-4.5), and can dissociate after storage for a certain time. As a proof-of-concept for the biological significance of PDIp in intact cells, we demonstrated that its selective expression in E. coli confers strong protection of these cells against heat shock and oxidative-stress-induced death independently of its enzymatic activity.

Analysis of a new crystal form of procarboxypeptidase B: further insights into the catalytic mechanism.

A new triclinic crystal structure form of porcine pancreatic procarboxypeptidase B (PCPB) was obtained at higher resolution than the previously known tetragonal crystal structure. This new crystal polymorph has allowed for a corrected, accurate assignment of residues along the polypeptide chain based on the currently available gene sequence information and crystallographic data. The present structure shows unbound PCPB in a distinct molecular packing as compared to the previous benzamidine complexed form. Its catalytically important Tyr248 residue is oriented and hydrogen-bonded to solvent water molecules, and locates the furthest away from the catalytic zinc ion as compared to previous structures. A relatively long stretch of residues flanking Tyr248 and guarding the access to the catalytic zinc ion was found to be sequentially unique to the M14 family of peptidases. Predictions from a normal mode analysis indicated that this stretch of residues belongs to a rigid subdomain in the protein structure. The specific presence of a tyrosyl residue at the most exposed position in this region would allow for a delicate balance between extreme hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, and affect substrate binding and the kinetic efficiency of the enzyme.

Effects of citraconylation on enzymatic modification of human proinsulin using trypsin and carboxypeptidase B.

Insulin is a polypeptide hormone which is produced by the beta-cell of pancreas and controls the blood glucose level in the human body. Enzymatic modification of human proinsulin using trypsin and carboxypeptidase B generally causes high accumulation of insulin derivatives, leading to more complicated purification processes. A simple method including citraconylation and decitraconylation in the enzymatic modification process was developed for the reduction of a major derivative, des-threonine human insulin. Addition of 3.0 g citraconic anhydride per g protein into the reaction solution led to the citraconylation of lysine residues in human proinsulin and reduction of relative des-threonine insulin content from 13.5 to 1.0%. After the enzymatic hydrolysis of the citraconylated proinsulin, 100% of lysine residues can be decitraconylated and restored by adjusting pH to 2-3 at 25 degrees C. Combination of hydrogen peroxide addition and citraconylation of proinsulin expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli remarkably improved the conversion yield of insulin from 52.7 to 77.7%. Consequently, citraconylation of lysine residues blocked the unexpected cleavage of human proinsulin by trypsin, minimized the formation of des-threonine insulin and hence increased the production yield of active insulin.

Structures of potent selective peptide mimetics bound to carboxypeptidase B.

This article reports the crystal structures of inhibitors of the functional form of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa). In vivo experiments indicate that selective inhibitors of TAFIa would be useful in the treatment of heart attacks. Since TAFIa rapidly degrades in solution, the homologous protein porcine pancreatic carboxypeptidase B (pp-CpB) was used in these crystallography studies. Both TAFIa and pp-CpB are zinc-based exopeptidases that are specific for basic residues. The final development candidate, BX 528, is a potent inhibitor of TAFIa (2 nM) and has almost no measurable effect on the major selectivity target, carboxypeptidase N. BX 528 was designed to mimic the tripeptide Phe-Val-Lys. A sulfonamide replaces the Phe-Val amide bond and a phosphinate connects the Val and Lys groups. The phosphinate also chelates the active-site zinc. The electrostatic interactions with the protein mimic those of the natural substrate. The primary amine in BX 528 forms a salt bridge to Asp255 at the base of the S1' pocket. The carboxylic acid interacts with Arg145 and the sulfonamide is hydrogen bonded to Arg71. Isopropyl and phenyl groups replace the side chains of Val and Phe, respectively. A series of structures are presented here that illustrate the evolution of BX 528 from thiol-based inhibitors that mimic a free C-terminal arginine. The first step in development was the replacement of the thiol with a phosphinate. This caused a precipitous drop in binding affinity. Potency was reclaimed by extending the inhibitors into the downstream binding sites for the natural substrate.

A potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor gene provides pathogen resistance in transgenic rice.

A defensive role against insect attack has been traditionally attributed to plant protease inhibitors. Here, evidence is described of the potential of a plant protease inhibitor, the potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI), to provide resistance to fungal pathogens when expressed in rice as a heterologous protein. It is shown that rice plants constitutively expressing the pci gene exhibit resistance against the economically important pathogens Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium verticillioides. A M. oryzae carboxypeptidase was purified by affinity chromatography and further characterized by mass spectrometry. This fungal carboxypeptidase was found to be a novel carboxypeptidase B which was fully inhibited by PCI. Overall, the results indicate that PCI exerts its antifungal activity through the inhibition of this particular fungal carboxypeptidase B. Although pci confers protection against fungal pathogens in transgenic rice, a significant cost in insect resistance is observed. Thus, the weight gain of larvae of the specialist insect Chilo suppressalis (striped stem borer) and the polyphagous insect Spodoptera littoralis (Egyptian cotton worm) fed on pci rice is significantly larger than that of insects fed on wild-type plants. Homology-based modelling revealed structural similarities between the predicted structure of the M. oryzae carboxypeptidase B and the crystal structure of insect carboxypeptidases, indicating that PCI may function not only as an inhibitor of fungal carboxypeptidases, but also as an inhibitor of insect carboxypeptidases. The potential impact of the pci gene in terms of protection against fungal and insect diseases is discussed.

Caught after the Act: a human A-type metallocarboxypeptidase in a product complex with a cleaved hexapeptide.

A/B-type metallocarboxypeptidases (MCPs) are among the most thoroughly studied proteolytic enzymes, and their catalytic mechanisms have been considered as prototypes even for several unrelated metalloprote(in)ase families. It has long been postulated that the nature of the side chains of at least five substrate residues, i.e., P4-P1', influence Km and kcat and that once the peptide or protein substrate is cleaved, both products remain in the first instance bound to the active-site cleft of the enzyme in a double-product complex. Structural details of binding of substrate to the nonprimed side of the cleft have largely relied on complexes with protein inhibitors and peptidomimetic small-molecule inhibitors that do not span the entire groove. In the former, the presence of N-terminal globular protein domains participating in large-scale interactions with the surface of the cognate catalytic domain outside the active-site cleft mostly conditions the way their C-terminal tails bind to the cleft. Accordingly, they may not be accurate models for a product complex. We hereby provide the structural details of a true cleaved double-product complex with a hexapeptide of an MCP engaged in prostate cancer, human carboxypeptidase A4, employing diffraction data to 1.6 A resolution (Rcryst and Rfree = 0.159 and 0.176, respectively). These studies provide detailed information about subsites S5-S1' and contribute to our knowledge of the cleavage mechanism, which is revisited in light of these new structural insights.

Detailed molecular comparison between the inhibition mode of A/B-type carboxypeptidases in the zymogen state and by the endogenous inhibitor latexin.

Treatment of advanced stages of prostate carcinoma with histone-deacetylase inhibitors entails expression of human procarboxypeptidase-A4 (hPCPA4). The three-dimensional structure of hPCPA4 has been solved and shows the features of related metallocarboxypeptidase zymogens, with a preformed alpha/beta/-hydrolase active-enzyme moiety (hCPA4) and an inhibiting pro-domain (PD). The protease moiety recalls a sphere, out of which a spherical cone has been cut. This results in a funnel-like structure, at the bottom of which the active-site cleft resides. The border of this funnel is shaped by loops, which are responsible for the interaction with the PD, characterised by a large interface area and relatively few contacts. Such an inhibitory mode is evocative of the recently reported structure of the human inhibitor latexin in its complex with hCPA4. The main contacting structure of latexin is similar to the one employed for PD inhibition. In both cases, active-site blocking relies mainly on a loop provided by the central part of a beta sheet.