Distinct Elements in the Proteasomal β5 Subunit Propeptide Required for Autocatalytic Processing and Proteasome Assembly

Eukaryotic 20S proteasome assembly remains poorly understood. The subunits stack into four heteroheptameric rings; three inner-ring subunits (β1, β2, and β5) bear the protease catalytic residues and are synthesized with N-terminal propeptides. These propeptides are removed autocatalytically late in assembly. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, β5 (Doa3/Pre2) has a 75-residue propeptide, β5pro, that is essential for proteasome assembly and can work in trans. We show that deletion of the poorly conserved N-terminal half of the β5 propeptide nonetheless causes substantial defects in proteasome maturation. Sequences closer to the cleavage site have critical but redundant roles in both assembly and self-cleavage. A conserved histidine two residues upstream of the autocleavage site strongly promotes processing. Surprisingly, although β5pro is functionally linked to the Ump1 assembly factor, trans-expressed β5pro associates only weakly with Ump1-containing precursors. Several genes were identified as dosage suppressors of trans-expressed β5pro mutants; the strongest encoded the β7 proteasome subunit. Previous data suggested that β7 and β5pro have overlapping roles in bringing together two half-proteasomes, but the timing of β7 addition relative to half-mer joining was unclear. Here we report conditions where dimerization lags behind β7 incorporation into the half-mer. Our results suggest that β7 insertion precedes half-mer dimerization, and the β7 tail and β5 propeptide have unequal roles in half-mer joining.

Abstract 10306: Identification and Characterization of Orally Bioavailable Small Molecule Protease Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin-like Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors (Best of Basic Science Abstract)

Intervention with drugs to reduce low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) has proven to decrease mortality and morbidity. Here, we report the development of small molecules that lower LDL-C by targeting the LDL-receptor (LDLR) degradation pathway, which is modulated by the protease proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9 (PCSK9). PCSK9 is synthesized as a 72-kDa zymogen that undergoes autocatalytic processing between the prodomain and catalytic domain, an important step that is absolutely required for secretion of PCSK9 and its function. Secreted PCSK9 binds to the LDLR and enhances its degradation. We have identified inhibitors of the autocatalytic processing by virtual docking of millions of commercial compounds into the atomic structure of the PCSK9 active site. Top scoring compounds that showed the best fit in the active site were selected for screening. These compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the autocatalytic processing/secretion of PCSK9. The most potent compounds exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of the PCSK9 processing/secretion with IC50’s in the nanomolar range. These compounds were tested for selectivity against other PCSK’s. The data demonstrated that these compounds were selective in that they inhibit PCSK9 processing/secretion without affecting the secretion of other related PCSK’s. Furthermore, these compounds exhibited a 5- to 10-fold LDLR upregulation at 1.6 μM in two recombinant cell-based assays as well as exhibited an increase in the fluorescently labeled DiI-LDL uptake in situ in the nanomolar range. In animal studies, intraperitoneal (IP) injection of these compounds administered alone resulted in more than 20% reduction in LDL-C in mice fed a high fat/high cholesterol diet and over 40% reduction in LDL-C if administered in combination with atorvastatin. In vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) evaluation of these compounds demonstrated that they are orally efficacious, with one compound exhibiting 43% oral bioavailability. Thus, identifying small molecule, orally active PCSK9 modulators represents a significant advance and opportunityfor drug development.

Variable processing of the IgA protease autotransporter at the cell surface of Neisseria meningitidis

As with all classical monomeric autotransporters, IgA protease of Neisseria meningitidis is a modular protein consisting of an N-terminal signal sequence, a passenger domain and a C-terminal translocator domain (TD) that assists in the secretion of the passenger domain across the outer membrane. The passenger of IgA protease consists of three separate domains: the protease domain, the γ-peptide and the α-peptide that contains nuclear localization signals (NLSs). The protease domain is released into the extracellular milieu either via autocatalytic processing or via cleavage by another autotransporter, NalP, expression of which is phase-variable. NalP-mediated cleavage results in the release of a passenger that includes the α- and γ-peptides. Here, we studied the fate of the α-peptide when NalP was not expressed and observed strain-dependent differences. In meningococcal strains where the α-peptide contained a single NLS, the α-peptide remained covalently attached to the TD and was detected at the cell surface. In other strains, the α-peptide contained four NLSs and was separated from the TD by an IgA protease autoproteolytic cleavage site. In many of those cases, the α-peptide was found non-covalently associated with the cells as a separate polypeptide. The cell surface association of the α-peptides may be relevant physiologically. We report a novel function for the α-peptide, i.e. the binding of heparin – an immune-modulatory molecule that in the host is found in the extracellular matrix and connected to cell surfaces.

Chaperone-assisted assembly of the proteasome core particle

The 26S proteasome is a non-lysosomal protease in the cytosol and nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Its main function is to mediate ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. The 26S proteasome is a multimeric complex composed by the 20S proteasome CP (core particle) and the 19S RPs (regulatory particles). Although the atomic structure of the 26S proteasome has not yet been determined, high-resolution structures are available for its CP. Studies on the complicated assembly pathway of the proteasome have revealed that it involves an unprecedented number of dedicated chaperones. Assembly of the CP alone involves three conserved proteasome-assembly chaperones [PAC1–PAC2, PAC3–PAC4 and UMP1 (ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis 1)]. Whereas the two heterodimeric PACs have been implicated in the formation of rings of the seven distinct α subunits, UMP1 is important for the formation and dimerization of proteasome precursor complexes containing β subunits. Dimerization coincides with the incorporation of the last β subunit (β7). Additional modules important for the assembly of precursor complexes and their dimerization reside in the β subunits themselves, either as transient or as permanent extensions. Particularly important domains are the propeptide of β5 and the C-terminal extensions of β2 and β7. Upon maturation of the active sites by autocatalytic processing, UMP1 is degraded by the native proteasome.

Autocatalytic Processing of m-AAA Protease Subunits in Mitochondria

m-AAA proteases are ATP-dependent proteolytic machines in the inner membrane of mitochondria which are crucial for the maintenance of mitochondrial activities. Conserved nuclear-encoded subunits, termed paraplegin, Afg3l1, and Afg3l2, form various isoenzymes differing in their subunit composition in mammalian mitochondria. Mutations in different m-AAA protease subunits are associated with distinct neuronal disorders in human. However, the biogenesis of m-AAA protease complexes or of individual subunits is only poorly understood. Here, we have examined the processing of nuclear-encoded m-AAA protease subunits upon import into mitochondria and demonstrate autocatalytic processing of Afg3l1 and Afg3l2. The mitochondrial processing peptidase MPP generates an intermediate form of Afg3l2 that is matured autocatalytically. Afg3l1 or Afg3l2 are also required for maturation of newly imported paraplegin subunits after their cleavage by MPP. Our results establish that mammalian m-AAA proteases can act as processing enzymes in vivo and reveal overlapping activities of Afg3l1 and Afg3l2. These findings might be of relevance for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders associated with mutations in different m-AAA protease subunits.