A microsomal endopeptidase from liver with substrate specificity for processing proproteins such as the vitamin K-dependent proteins of plasma

The microsomal fraction of rabbit liver contains an endopeptidase that cleaves synthetic peptides that mimic the amino acid sequences of the processing sites of many proproteins, including the vitamin K-dependent proteins. The endopeptidase (M(r) 69,000) was extracted from liver microsomes with 1% Lubrol and purified about 2,700-fold. The substrate employed for isolation and characterization of the enzyme was the decapeptide acetyl-Ala- Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asn-Ser-Phe-Leu (prothrombin peptide), in which hydrolysis occurred on the carboxyl side of the paired Arg-Arg residues. The purified enzyme, whose activity was enhanced 1.8-fold by 0.1 mM CoCl₂, has a K(m) = 80 μM and V(max) = 21,000 nmol · min^-1 · mg^-1 and a pH optimum of 8.7. Proteolytic cleavage of decapeptide substrates was dependent on an arginine residue at positions P1 and P4. The enzyme was completely inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline as well as by p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid and Hg²⁺. Inhibitors of serine proteases and cysteine proteases had no effect. Based on the substrate preference, the endopeptidase appears to be a good candidate for the enzyme responsible for the precursor processing of the vitamin K-dependent proteins and a number of other proproteins that are synthesized via the secretory pathway in liver and other tissues.