Post-proline endopeptidase. Partial purification and characterization of the enzyme from pig kidneys

Abstract

Post-proline endopeptidase was isolated from pig kidneys and partially purified. The procedure consisted of fractionation with ammonium sulphate, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and rechromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The preparation had 55 times higher specific activity than the crude extract and did not contain any contaminating enzymic activities. The enzyme cleaved a number of proline-containing peptides and was strictly specific in catalyzing the hydrolysis of the peptide bond on the carboxyl side of the proline residue. The optimum pH for the hydrolysis of the synthetic peptides benzyl-oxycarbonylglycyl-prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide and benzyloxycarbonyl-glycyl-proline β-naphtylamide was 7.8-8.0 and, in the case of benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-proline p-nitroanilide, 7.2 to 7.5. For the hydrolysis of the tetrapeptide benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide, the Km value of 75 μ mol l-1 was obtained.