The availability of the human genome sequence allowed us to identify a human complement-related, C1r-like protease gene (c1r-LP) located 2 kb centromeric of the C1r gene (c1r). Compared with c1r, c1r-LP carries a large deletion corresponding to exons 4-8 of c1r. The open reading frame of the C1r-LP cDNA predicts a 50 kDa modular protein displaying 52% amino acid residue identity with the corresponding regions of C1r and 75% identity with a previously described murine C1r-LP. The serine protease domain of C1r-LP, despite an overall similarity with the AGY group of complement serine proteases, has certain structural features characteristic of C2 and factor B, thus raising interesting evolutionary questions. Northern blotting demonstrated the expression of C1r-LP mRNA mainly in the liver and ELISA demonstrated the presence of the protein in human serum at a concentration of 5.5+/-0.9 microg/ml. Immunoprecipitation experiments failed to demonstrate an association of C1r-LP with the C1 complex in serum. Recombinant C1r-LP exhibits esterolytic activity against peptide thioesters with arginine at the P1 position, but its catalytic efficiency (kcat/K(m)) is lower than that of C1r and C1s. The enzymic activity of C1r-LP is inhibited by di-isopropyl fluorophosphate and also by C1 inhibitor, which forms stable complexes with the protease. Most importantly, C1r-LP also expresses proteolytic activity, cleaving pro-C1s into two fragments of sizes identical with those of the two chains of active C1s. Thus C1r-LP may provide a novel means for the formation of the classical pathway C3/C5 convertase.
Many secretory proteins are synthesized as proforms that become biologically active through a proteolytic cleavage in the trans-Golgi complex or at a later stage in the secretory pathway. Haptoglobin (Hp) is unusual in that it is cleaved in the endoplasmic reticulum before it enters the Golgi. Here, we present evidence that the recently discovered complement C1r-like protein (C1r-LP) mediates this cleavage. C1r-LP has not previously been shown to possess proteolytic activity, despite its homology to trypsin-like Ser proteinases. We demonstrate that coexpression of the proform of Hp (proHp) and C1r-LP in COS-1 cells effected cleavage of proHp in the endoplasmic reticulum. This cleavage depended on proteolytic activity of C1r-LP because mutation of the putative active-site Ser residue abolished the reaction. Furthermore, incubation of affinity-purified C1r-LP and proHp led to the cleavage of the latter protein. ProHp appeared to be cleaved at the expected site because substitution of Gly for Arg-161 blocked the reaction. C1r-LP showed specificity for proHp, in that it did not cleave the proform of complement C1s, a protein similar to Hp particularly around the cleavage site. C1r-LP accounts for at least part of the endogenous proHp-cleavage activity because suppression of the C1r-LP expression by RNA interference reduced the cleavage of proHp by up to 45% in the cells of a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).
Trypsin-like serine proteases are involved in diverse biological processes such as complement activation, tissue remodeling, cellular migration, tumor invasion, and metastasis. Here we report a novel human C1r-like serine protease analog, CLSPa, derived from dendritic cells (DC). The 487-residue CLSPa protein contains a CUB domain and a serine protease domain, possessing characteristic catalytic triad but lacking typical activation/cleavage sequence. It shares great homology with complement C1r/C1s and mannose-associated serine proteases. CLSPa mRNA is widely expressed, especially abundant in placenta, liver, kidney, pancreas, and myeloid cells, which are a major resources of serine proteases. Upon stimulation by agonistic anti-CD40 Ab, TNF-alpha, or LPS, CLSPa mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in monocytic cells and monocyte-derived immature DC. When overexpressed in 293T cells, CLSPa protein was synthesized into the culture supernatants as a secretory protein, which had an inhibitory effect on complement-mediated cytotoxicity to antibody-sensitized erythrocytes. However, CLSPa itself possesses little protease activity, but it plays an inhibitory role in other active protease catalytic processes. The identification of human CLSPa as a novel Clr-like protein might facilitate future investigation of the regulatory mechanism of CLSPa in complement pathways during inflammation.
Catalysis of the hydrolysis of internal, alpha-peptide bonds in a polypeptide chain by a catalytic mechanism that involves a catalytic triad consisting of a serine nucleophile that is activated by a proton relay involving an acidic residue (e.g. aspartate or glutamate) and a basic residue (usually histidine).
Any process involved in the activation of any of the steps of the classical pathway of the complement cascade which allows for the direct killing of microbes, the disposal of immune complexes, and the regulation of other immune processes.
Many secretory proteins are synthesized as proforms that become biologically active through a proteolytic cleavage in the trans-Golgi complex or at a later stage in the secretory pathway. Haptoglobin (Hp) is unusual in that it is cleaved in the endoplasmic reticulum before it enters the Golgi. Here, we present evidence that the recently discovered complement C1r-like protein (C1r-LP) mediates this cleavage. C1r-LP has not previously been shown to possess proteolytic activity, despite its homology to trypsin-like Ser proteinases. We demonstrate that coexpression of the proform of Hp (proHp) and C1r-LP in COS-1 cells effected cleavage of proHp in the endoplasmic reticulum. This cleavage depended on proteolytic activity of C1r-LP because mutation of the putative active-site Ser residue abolished the reaction. Furthermore, incubation of affinity-purified C1r-LP and proHp led to the cleavage of the latter protein. ProHp appeared to be cleaved at the expected site because substitution of Gly for Arg-161 blocked the reaction. C1r-LP showed specificity for proHp, in that it did not cleave the proform of complement C1s, a protein similar to Hp particularly around the cleavage site. C1r-LP accounts for at least part of the endogenous proHp-cleavage activity because suppression of the C1r-LP expression by RNA interference reduced the cleavage of proHp by up to 45% in the cells of a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).
Pathway which activates the proteins of the complement system, a group of blood proteins of the globulin class involved in the lysis of foreign cells after they have been coated with antibody, and which also promote the removal of antibody-coated foreign particles by phagocytic cells. The pathway proceeds by a cascade reaction of successive binding and proteolytic cleavage of complement components. This pathway can be activated by either IgG or IgM binding to an antigen.
Protein involved in immunity, any immune system process that functions in the response of an organism to a potential internal or invasive threat. The vertebrate immune system is formed by the innate immune system (composed of phagocytes, complement, antimicrobial peptides, etc) and by the adaptive immune system which consists of T- and B- lymphocytes.
Protein involved in innate immunity, an inborn defense mechanism used by organisms to defend themselves against invasion by pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.). Initially discovered in insects which are devoid of an adaptive immune system and rely only on innate immune reactions for their defense, this immediate response accomplishes many activities including recognition and effector functions. Recognition is mediated by broad specificity, pattern recognition, receptors which recognize many related molecular structures (e.g. polysaccharides, polynucleotides) present in microorganisms but not found in the host. The innate responses include the release of antimicrobial peptides, production of cytokines, acute- phase proteins, complement. Although many different innate immune mechanisms are deployed for host defence, a unifying theme of innate immunity is the use of germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors for pathogens or damaged self components, such as the Toll-like receptors, nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (LRR)- containing receptors, retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like RNA helicases and C-type lectin receptors.
Enzyme which catalyzes hydrolysis reaction, i.e. the addition of the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions of water to a molecule with its consequent splitting into two or more simpler molecules.
Proteolytic enzyme with a serine residue (Ser) in its active site. The reactivity of the serine residue is ensured by the vicinity of a histidine and an aspartate residue (catalytic triad), all three residues are required for the charge relay system to take place.
A reference proteome is a set of protein sequences derived from a complete proteome which constitutes a defined standard for a particular user community. Reference proteomes are manually defined according to a number of criteria. They cover the proteomes of well- studied model organisms and other proteomes of interest for biomedical and biotechnological research. Reference proteomes have been selected to provide broad coverage of the tree of life, and constitute a representative cross-section of the taxonomic diversity to be found within UniProtKB.
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