JBC, Vol. 251, Issue 1, 204-208, Jan, 1976
Proteolytic enzymes of the K-1 strain of Streptomyces griseus obtained from a commercial preparation (Pronase). Purification and characterization of the carboxypeptidase
J. F. Seber, T. P. Toomey, J. T. Powell, K. Brew and W. M. Awad Jr
We described earlier the facilitated purifications of the trypsin and
aminopeptidase components present in Pronase (Vosbeck, K. D., Chow, K. -F.,
and Awad, W. M., Jr. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 6029-6034). A partially
resolved protein mixture left over after one of the steps in that procedure
was passed through a Sephadex G-75 column. By this means, a component with
carboxypeptidase activity was separated from associated serine
endopeptidases. Further purification of this exopeptidase to apparent
homogeneity was acheived by refiltration through the same Sephadex column
and by CM-cellulose chromatography. A single protein band was observed
after acrylamide gel electrophoresis; analysis by sedimentation equilibrium
using the meniscus depletion method gave a molecular weight of 30,300. This
enzyme demonstrates activity against
Nalpha-benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-L-leucine and hippuryl-D,L-phenyllactate; no
activity was found against Nalpha-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester,
Nalpha-benzoyl-D,L-arginine-p-nitroanilide, or L-leuckne-p-nitroanilide.
The maximum activity lies between pH values of 7 and 8; the enzyme is
stable between pH values of 6 and 10. At room temperature
1,10-phenanthroline inactivates the enzyme completely whereas EDTA has no
effect. Of the many cations tested, only Co2+, Ni2+, or Zn2+ restores
activity to the 1,10-phenanthroline-treated enzyme; Co2+ provided 3 times
the native activity. The metal in the native protein was found to be zinc.
These findings are similar to those recorded with bovine pancreatic
carboxypeptidase A, and suggest the possibility that the present enzyme may
ge genetically related to the mammalian protein, as in previously noted
examples of homology of three Pronase endopeptidases to pancreatic serine
enzymes.