Thymidine catabolism and the reutilization of its degradative products in Tetrahymena pyriformis. Metabolism of [2,6-14C2]thymidine and [2-14C]methylmalonic acid.

The operation of reductive pyrimidine catabolic and reutilization pathway in Tetrahymena pyriformis was investigated. Consistent with the proposed catabolic interconversions, radioactivity from [2,6-14C2]thymidine was recovered in respired CO2 30 min after its addition to the culture, whereas, consistent with the proposed anabolic interconversions, over 50% of the incorporated label was recovered in cellular macromolecules other than DNA 12 h after its addition. The chromatographic recovery of 14C radioactivity in monosaccharides from [2,6-14C2]thymidine as well as from [2-14C]methylmalonic acid, a key reutilization intermediate in this proposed pathway, further substantiated the operation of the required anabolic interconversions in this organism.

Inhibition of human serine proteases by SPAAT, the C-terminal 44-residue peptide from alpha1-antitrypsin.

SPAAT has previously been shown to be a competitive inhibitor of the model serine protease, chymotrypsin. We now present evidence that SPAAT is likewise a competitive inhibitor of human neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G with Ki's of 15-20 and 40 microM, respectively. The mechanism of this inhibition was investigated by comparing the relative effectiveness of the 23-residue N-terminal fragment of SPAAT (N-SPAAT) to inhibit chymotrypsin and human neutrophil elastase. N-SPAAT, which does not contain the primary chymotrypsin cleavage site, was approximately 10-fold less effective as an inhibitor of chymotrypsin than SPAAT (Ki of 65 microM versus 7.5 microM). In contrast, this fragment, which contains the primary human neutrophil elastase cleavage site, was found to competitively inhibit human neutrophil elastase with a Ki of 24 microM which was comparable to that of SPAAT (Ki = 15-20 microM). Thus it appears that SPAAT is a reversible inhibitor of these enzymes rather than an irreversible, stoichiometric one like its parent protein, AAT. Such fragmentation of AAT, however, might provide a mechanism whereby a cascade of decreasingly potent, but increasingly specific SPAAT-related inhibitory peptides could be generated. These results further substantiate the view that SPAAT may play a role in vivo in the protection of extracellular proteins from inappropriate attack by proteases which are elevated during various pathophysiological conditions.

Quantitation of complement factor D in human serum by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay.

A sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay is described which quantitates human D to 1-2 ng/ml. The assay was used to measure the concentration of D in normal and acute-phase sera and sera from individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus. All 3 groups of sera had comparable levels of D with mean values of 1.8, 2.3 and 2.5 micrograms/ml, respectively. Also tested were sera decomplemented in vitro by activators of the classical and alternative pathways. The results indicated that D is not depleted by alternative or classical pathway activation. However, heat inactivation (56 degrees C, 30 min) of serum resulted in almost complete loss of antigenic D.

Structural evidence that complement factor B constitutes a novel class of serine protease.

The 28,000-dalton COOH-terminal cyanogen bromide peptide of complement factor B was isolated disulfide bonded to a second polypeptide of Mr = 3,500. The amino acid sequence of the smaller peptide, CB2-3, and 51 of 55 NH2-terminal residues of the larger peptide, CB2-2, were determined on an automated sequenator. CB2-2 exhibited extensive homology in its primary structure to the known serine proteases and included the sequence, Ala-Ala-His-Cys, which is part of the active site of these enzymes. By contrast, CB2-3 demonstrated only limited sequence identity with the NH2 terminus of the serine proteases. Mild acid hydrolysis was employed to further cleave CB2-2 into fragments of Mr = 20,000 and 8,000. On analysis the 8,000-dalton peptide was observed to contain the active site serine sequence, Gly-Asp-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro. The data, therefore, clearly document that factor B is also a serine protease, although its mechanism of activation differs from this class of proteolytic enzymes.

Characterization of the CNBr peptides generated from the factor B cleavage fragments, Ba and Bb, by molecular exclusion high performance liquid chromatography.

Highly purified human factor B of the alternative complement pathway was treated with factor D in the presence of cobra venom factor to generate its Ba and Bb cleavage fragments. These cleavage fragments were isolated by preparative polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis followed by electrodialysis elution and treatment with CNBr. The resultant CNBr cleavage peptides were isolated by molecular exclusion high performance liquid chromatography and characterized by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results of these experiments indicate that the Ba fragment essentially consisted of a 28,000 CNBr peptide, whereas 34,700 (28,000 + 3,500 when characterized under reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis conditions); 14,500 (=20,000); and 8,300 CNBr peptides were derived from the Bb fragment.

The use of monoclonal antibodies as probes of the three-dimensional structure of human complement factor D.

The monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were studied for their binding specificities and their effects on the hemolytic and proteolytic activities of human D. One Mab, FD10-1, was obtained from mice immunized with native D; the other, JA4-2, was similarly obtained from mice immunized with BSA coupled to a synthetic nonapeptide (Arg-Ile-Leu-Gly-Gly-Arg-Glu-Ala-Tyr) containing the seven NH2-terminal amino acids of D. By using a PEG-precipitation assay system, lactoperoxidase-iodinated D was precipitated by FD10-1 cell culture supernatant as well as by the purified MAb. Conversely, with the use of the same assay system, neither the JA4-2 cell culture supernatant nor the purified MAb precipitated any significant amount of 125I-D. In contrast, by using a solid-phase binding assay, radiolabeled JA4-2 as well as FD10-1 bound to D-coated wells. In addition, the binding of purified JA4-2 to D-coated wells could be completely inhibited by the nonapeptide, whereas the binding of purified FD10-1 at equivalent concentrations was unaffected. These binding studies correlated with the results of functional assays. FD10-1 was found to inhibit the hemolytic activity of the alternative complement pathway in human serum as well as the cleavage of radiolabeled B by D in the presence of cobra venom factor, whereas JA4-2 had no significant inhibitory effect in either of these assays. These data suggest that the NH2-terminus of native D, like that of other active serine proteases, is buried inside the molecule where it is inaccessible to the bulky JA4-2 MAb.

The principal site of glycation of human complement factor B.

Accumulating amino acid sequence data have made it increasingly evident that many essential complement proteins have potentially modifiable lysine residues in putative critical functional regions. Evidence is now presented that glucose is covalently attached to lysine-266 of purified human complement Factor B as a result of glycation. Purified B was treated with NaB3H4, which reduces such bound glucose to a mixture of radiolabelled hexitols. Amino acid analysis revealed the expected radiolabelled hexitol-lysine epimers. In addition, fluorography of dried gels resolving the major high-molecular-mass h.p.l.c.-fractionated CNBr-cleavage peptides of NaB3H4-reduced B indicated that this radioactivity was specifically associated with the 15 kDa fragment derived from the N-terminal region of fragment Bb. Amino acid sequence analysis suggested that the C-terminal lysine (residue 266 of B) of the N-terminal Lys-Lys doublet of this peptide is preferentially modified. If such glycation can subsequently be shown to occur in vivo, then perhaps this modification might also be found to affect the functional activity of B and offer a potential explanation for some of the immunopathological complications of diseases exposing key plasma proteins, such as this active-site-containing proteinase of the multimeric alternative-complement-pathway C3/C5 convertases, to long-term high concentrations of glucose, such as the decreased resistance to infection and impaired chemotaxis and phagocytosis characteristic of diabetes.

Isolation and serine protease inhibitory activity of the 44-residue, C-terminal fragment of alpha 1-antitrypsin from human placenta.

alpha 1-Antitrypsin (AAT) is a potent fluid-phase inhibitor of serine proteases. It forms a tightly bound, stoichiometric complex with these enzymes and is inactivated by cleavage within its reactive center. Evidence is here presented, that the 44-residue C-terminal fragment of AAT, termed SPAAT (short peptide from AAT), is found in human tissue, where it is apparently bound to the extracellular matrix (ECM). The identity of SPAAT was established by amino acid sequence analysis through its 40 N-terminal residues. Placental SPAAT inhibits chymotrypsin, human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and pancreatic elastase, but has no effect on trypsin. Unlike AAT, both placental and chemically-synthesized SPAAT are reversible, competitive inhibitors of chymotrypsin with Kl's of 0.92 and 7.5 microM, respectively. Both AAT and placental SPAAT also bind to diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP)-treated HNE as well as cathepsin G. SPAAT may therefore play an important role in the protection of ECM proteins, such as elastin, proteoglycans (PG) and/or collagen, from inappropriate attack by serine proteases.

Amino acid analysis of collagen hydrolysates by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate derivatives.

A recently described procedure for amino acid analyses has been modified and adapted for use in quantitating the unique mixture of products commonly found in hydrolysates of the collagens. The method involves precolumn derivatization of hydrolysates with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-CL), chromatographic separation of the derivatives and excess reagent on a reverse-phase column, and quantitation based on the fluorescent properties of the derivatives. The method takes advantage of the ease with which stable derivatives are formed with the FMOC reagent. Using a ternary gradient system, a complete amino acid analysis with good resolution of all components can be performed within 35 min. The sensitivity of the method is comparable to levels attained by other derivatives and the fluorescence response of each derivative is linear over the total range of 1-800 pmol. Given these parameters, the method allows complete amino acid analyses to be performed on 100 ng of collagen corresponding to a single picomole of a collagen chain (Mr 100,000).

Binding of SPAAT, the 44-residue C-terminal peptide of alpha 1-antitrypsin, to proteins of the extracellular matrix.

SPAAT (short piece of alpha 1-antitrypsin [AAT]), the 44-residue C-terminal peptide of AAT, was originally isolated from human placenta [Niemann et al. (1992): Matrix 12:233-241]. It was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of serine proteases [Niemann et al. (in press): Biochem Biophys Acta]. The binding of SPAAT to one or more proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) was initially suggested on the basis of its recovery from tissue residues following a series of extractions designed to remove easily solubilized proteins [Niemann et al. (1992): Matrix 12:233-241]. Our binding studies with the model ECMs, Matrigel and Amgel, suggested that SPAAT might be bound by a specific collagen type as well as one or more non-collagenous ECM proteins. Individual ECM components were screened for their ability to bind SPAAT. When the four commonly occurring fiber-forming collagens (types I, II, III, and V) were evaluated, type III was found to be preferred. In addition, although SPAAT bound to preformed type III collagen fibers in a concentration dependent fashion, it did not bind to type III collagen molecules undergoing fibril formation. This is consistent with a physiological mode of interaction between SPAAT and type III collagen in vivo. Of the non-collagenous ECM macromolecules (laminin-1, fibronectin, entactin, and heparan sulfate) tested, laminin-1 was preferred. The binding of radiolabelled SPAAT to type III collagen and laminin-1 was competitively inhibited by unlabelled SPAAT as well as an unrelated protein, human serum albumin (HSA), to establish binding specificity. The kinetics of the release of the bound radiolabelled SPAAT were also examined to substantiate the non-covalent and reversible nature of this association. These results support the view that susceptible proteins of the ECM may actually be coated with SPAAT in vivo, possibly affording protection against inappropriate protease digestion.

Absence of induction of IL-1 production in human monocytes by complement fragments.

The ability of C fragments to induce IL-1 production in human monocytes was examined by using various approaches to carefully exclude the role of contaminating endotoxin. The presence of IL-1 activity in monocyte supernatants and lysates was assayed by the augmentation of PHA-induced proliferation of murine thymocytes. SRBC were opsonized with IgM rabbit antibodies and various human C components to prepare EAC reagents that contained less than 25 pg LPS/ml of EAC at 5 x 10(8) cells/ml. EAC1q, EAC4b, EAC4b2aoxy, EAC4b2aoxy C3b, EAC4b2aoxyC3bi, and EAC4b2aoxyC3d all failed to induce IL-1 production when incubated at 10- to 100-fold excess with adherent human monocytes. Similarly, LPS-free purified C3a, C5a, and C5a des Arg all showed no IL-1-inducing activities at concentrations up to 25 micrograms/ml. However, the same C5a preparations were active on human monocytes in the induction of chemotaxis, and C3a and C5a both induced skin-blueing in guinea pigs. Fragment Ba and Bb preparations purified by gel filtration chromatography contained approximately 100 pg LPS/micrograms Ba or Bb. These Ba and Bb preparations at 10 and 50 micrograms/ml, respectively, induced IL-1 production in the presence of 5 micrograms/ml polymyxin B (PMB). However, Ba and Bb preparations purified by affinity chromatography and HPLC contained lower levels of endotoxin contamination and displayed IL-1-inducing activities at Ba and Bb concentrations of 50 and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively, that were almost completely inhibited by PMB. To explore further the role of contaminating endotoxin, a Bb preparation was adsorbed with PMB-4B in the presence of a dialyzable detergent to remove LPS bound to the Bb. This LPS-free Bb preparation failed to induce IL-1 production while maintaining intact enzymatic activities. These results indicate that various solid phase or soluble C fragments, including C3b, iC3b, C3d, C3a, C5a, Ba or Bb do not induce IL-1 production in human monocytes in the absence of contaminating endotoxin.

Amino acid sequence of human D of the alternative complement pathway.

The primary structure of human D, the serine protease activating the C3 convertase of the alternative complement pathway, has been deduced by sequencing peptides derived from various chemical (CNBr and o-iodosobenzoic acid) and enzymatic (trypsin, lysine protease, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and chymotrypsin) cleavages. Carboxypeptidase A was also used to confirm the COOH-terminal sequence. The peptides were purified by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The proposed sequence of human D contains 222 amino acids and has a calculated molecular weight of 23 748. It exhibits a high degree of homology with other serine proteases, especially around the NH2-terminus as well as the three residues corresponding to the active-site His-57, Asp-102, and Ser-195 (chymotrypsinogen numbering). This sequence homology is highest (40%) with plasmin, intermediate (35%) with pancreatic serine proteases, such as elastase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and kallikrein, and least (30%) with the serum enzymes thrombin and factor X. D, however, exhibits only minimal amino acid homology with the other sequenced complement serine proteases, Clr (25%) and Bb (20%). The substitution of a basic lysine for a neutral amino acid three residues NH2-terminal to the active-site serine as well as a small serine residue for a bulky aromatic amino acid at position 215 (chymotrypsinogen numbering) in the binding pocket may be important in determining the exquisite substrate specificity of D. The presence of His-40 which interacts with Asp-194 (chymotrypsinogen numbering) to stabilize other serine protease zymogens [Freer, S. T., Kraut, J., Robertus, J. D., Wright, H. T., & Xuong, N. H. (1970) Biochemistry 9, 1997] argues in favor of such a D precursor molecule.

Human complement proteins D, C2, and B. Active site mapping with peptide thioester substrates.

The specificity and reactivity of complement serine proteases D, B, Bb, C2, and C2a were determined using a series of peptide thioester substrates. The rates of thioester hydrolysis were measured using assay mixtures containing the thiol reagent 4,4'-dithiodipyridine at pH 7.5. Each substrate contained a P1 arginine residue, and the effect of various groups and amino acids in the P2, P3, P4, and P5 positions was determined using kcat/Km values to compare reactivities. Among peptide thioesters corresponding to the activation site sequence in B, dipeptide thioesters containing a P2 lysine residue were the best substrates for D. Extending the chain to include a P3 or P4 amino acid resulted in loss of activity, and neither the tripeptide nor the tetrapeptide containing the cleavage sequence of B was hydrolyzed. Overall, D cleaved fewer substrates and was 2-3 orders of magnitude less reactive than C1s against some thioester substrates. C2 and fragment C2a had comparable reactivities and hydrolyzed peptides containing Leu-Ala-Arg and Leu-Gly-Arg, which have the same sequence as the cleavage sites of C3 and C5, respectively. The best substrates for C2 and C2a were Z-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg-SBzl and Z-Leu-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg-SBzl, respectively, where Bzl is benzyl. B was the least reactive among these complement enzymes. The best substrate for B was Z-Lys-Arg-SBzl with a kcat/Km value of 1370 M-1 s-1. The catalytic fragment of B, Bb, had higher activity toward these peptide thioester substrates. The best substrate for Bb was Z-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg-SBzl with a kcat/Km similar to C2a and 10 times higher than the value for B. Both C2a and Bb were considerably more reactive against C3-like than C5-like substrates. Bovine trypsin hydrolyzed thioester substrates with kcat/Km approximately 10(3) higher than the complement enzymes. These thioester substrates for D, B, and C2 should be quite useful in kinetic and active site studies of the purified enzymes.