Proenkephalin-processing enzymes in chromaffin granules: model for neuropeptide biosynthesis.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-22-1996

Publication Title

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Volume

780

First page number:

121

Last page number:

133

Abstract

Our discovery of precursor preference of processing enzymes indicates possible development of future drugs that target specific proteases uniquely associated associated with processing of a particular prohormone. For example, selective processing of PE by the PTP suggests that future evaluation of modulation of PTP through central nervous system drug reagents may modify the endogenous analgesic effects of the enkephalins. With respect to blood pressure, neuropeptide Y (NPY) that is released from sympathetic nerve terminals is a strong vasoconstrictor. Our finding that only PTP (not PC1/3, PC2, or the aspartic proteinase) possesses the ability to convert pro-NPY to NPY suggests that investigation of inhibitors of peripheral PTP in blood pressure regulation should be initiated. Overall, elucidation of the proteolytic components required in prohormone processing will provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of human disease.

Keywords

Adrenal medulla; Adrenal Medulla/enzymology; Amino acid sequence; Animals; Aspartic acid; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/metabolism; Biological models; Biosynthesis; Cattle; Chromaffin; Chromaffin Granules/enzymology; Cysteine Endopeptidases/metabolism; Diseases; Drugs; Endopeptidases; Enkephalins; Enkephalins/metabolism; Enzymology; Furin; Humans; Men; Models; Biological; Molecular Sequence Data; Neuropeptides; Neuropeptides/biosynthesis; Oligopeptides; Oligopeptides/metabolism; Pharmacology; Proprotein convertases; Protein precursors; Protein Precursors/metabolism; Protein Processing; Post-Translational; Proteins—Synthesis; Rats; Recombinant proteins; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism; Substrate Specificity; Subtilisins; Subtilisins/metabolism; Women

Disciplines

Biochemistry | Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Neurosciences | Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health | Psychiatry

Language

English

Find It

UNLV article access

Search your library

Share

COinS