Peptidylglutamyl-peptide Hydrolase Activity Research Articles

Peptidase activities of the multicatalytic protease in rat liver after voluntary and intragastric ethanol administration.

Ethanol consumption slows down the rate of hepatic protein catabolism. The present study was conducted to determine whether ethanol consumption, given by voluntary (pair) feeding or by intragastric administration, affected the peptidase activities of the proteasome in rat liver. Rats were pair-fed liquid diets containing either ethanol or isocaloric maltose-dextrin. A separate group of animals was intragastrically infused continuously with similar liquid diets containing either ethanol or isocaloric dextrose. Crude liver homogenates and their cytosolic fractions were assayed for their chymotrypsin-like (Cht-L), trypsin-like (T-L), and peptidyl-glutamyl-peptide hydrolase (PGPH) activities, using specific fluorogenic peptides as substrates. Voluntary ethanol feeding did not affect the three peptidase activities of the proteasome. However, intragastric ethanol administration caused a 35% to 40% decline in the Cht-L and the T-L activities, but did not significantly change the PGPH activity. The lower peptidase activities in cytosol samples from intragastrically ethanol-fed rats were not restored to control levels by overnight dialysis, nor by the inclusion of low levels of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or of 0.5 mmol/L adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the proteasome assay mixture. Immunoblot analyses using anti-rat liver proteaseome exhibited equal levels of immunoreactive proteasome subunits in livers of control and ethanol-fed rats. Similar results were obtained when blots were probed with antibody made specifically against the proteasome subunit, LMP-7. The results indicate that intragastric, but not voluntary, ethanol consumption differentially affects the separate catalytic activities of the proteasome without affecting its steady-state levels. Such changes may be related to the degree of ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Activation of the 20S Proteasome of Xenopus Oocytes by SDS: Evidence for the Substrate-Induced Conformational Change Characteristic of Trypsin-Like Peptidase

The 20S proteasome of eukaryotic cells has at least three distinct peptidase activities (trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like and peptidylglutamylpeptide (PGP) hydrolase activities). These peptidases are latent and require appropriate activators. SDS has been widely used as an activator of these peptidases, but the mechanism of its activation remains unresolved. In this study, we investigated the kinetics of the SDS-activated hydrolysis of the above three types of peptidase of the 20S proteasome purified from Xenopus oocytes. When the reaction was started by simultaneous adding both SDS and substrate, maximal rates of hydrolysis were reached after appreciable lag phases with the trypsin-type substrate [t-butyloxycarbonylLeu-Arg-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Boc-LRR-MCA)], but no such lag phases were observed with the chymotrypsin-type and PGP hydrolase-type substrates [succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Suc-LLVY-MCA), and benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Leu-Glu-2-naphthylamide (Cbz-LLE-2NA), respectively]. Similarly, changes in the hydrolysis rate to a reduced level upon dilution of SDS occurred after an appreciable lag phase again in the trypsin-like peptidase, but not in the other types. The lag phase characteristic of the trypsin-like peptidase was dependent on the substrate concentration. Thus, the lag phase was less discernible at very low concentrations of the substrate (e.g. at concentrations in the order of 1/100 of the Km value), but became more conspicuous with the increases in the substrate concentration. This lag phase also vanished upon preincubation of the activator (SDS) for a short period of 5 sec. These results suggest that the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex in the trypsin-like reaction induces a conformational change in the enzyme which makes the SDS activator site(s) in an occluded form, reducing the rates of SDS binding and dissociation.

Proteasome activities decrease during dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of thymocytes.

The induction of apoptosis in thymocytes by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone was used as a model system to investigate whether there are changes in 20 S and 26 S proteasome activities during apoptosis. We observed that thymocytes contain high concentrations of proteasomes and that following treatment with dexamethasone, cell extracts showed a decrease in proteasome chymotrypsin-like activity which correlated with the degree of apoptosis observed. The decrease in chymotrypsin-like activity of 20 S and 26S proteasomes was still apparent after these complexes had been partially purified from apoptotic thymocyte extracts and was therefore not due to competition resulting from a general increase in protein turnover. The trypsin-like and peptidylglutamylpeptide hydrolase activities of proteasome complexes were also observed to decrease during apoptosis, but these decreases were reversed by the inhibition of apoptosis by the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone. However, the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasomes decreased further in the presence of the apoptosis inhibitor. Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone was found to inhibit the chymotrypsin- and trypsin-like activity of 26 S proteasomes in vitro. The decrease in proteasome activities in apoptosis did not appear to be due to a decrease in the concentration of total cellular proteasomes. Thus, the early decreases in 20 S and 26 S proteasome activities during apoptosis appear to be due to a down-regulation of their proteolytic activities and not to a decrease in their protein concentration. These data suggest that proteasomes may be responsible, in thymocytes, for the turnover of a protein that functions as a positive regulator of apoptosis.

Catalytic Properties of 26 S and 20 S Proteasomes and Radiolabeling of MB1, LMP7, and C7 Subunits Associated with Trypsin-like and Chymotrypsin-like Activities

20 and 26 S proteasomes were isolated from rat liver. The procedure developed for the 26 S proteasome resulted in greatly improved yields compared with previously published methods. A comparison of the kinetic properties of 20 and 26 S proteasomes showed significant differences in the kinetic characteristics with certain substrates and differences in the effects of a protein substrate on peptidase activity. Observed differences in the kinetics of peptidylglutamyl peptide hydrolase activity suggest that the 26 S complex cannot undergo the conformational changes of 20 S proteasomes at high concentrations of the substrate benzyloxycarbonyl (Z) -Leu-Leu-Glu-beta-naphthylamide. Various inhibitors that differentially affect the trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities have been identified. Ala-Ala-Phe-chloromethyl (CH2Cl) inhibits chymotrypsin-like activity assayed with succinyl (Suc) -Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-AMC, but surprisingly not hydrolysis of Ala-Ala-Phe-7-amido4-methylcoumarin (AMC). Tyr-Gly-Arg-CH2Cl inhibits Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-AMC hydrolysis as well as trypsin-like activity measured with t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) -Leu-Ser-Thr-Arg-AMC, while Z-Phe-Gly-Tyr-diazomethyl (CHN2) was found to inhibit only the two chymotrypsin-like activities. Radiolabeled forms of peptidyl chloromethane and peptidyl diazomethane inhibitors, [3H]acetyl-Ala-Ala-Phe-CH2Cl, [3H]acetyl- and radioiodinated Tyr-Gly-Arg-CH2Cl, and Z-Phe-Gly-Tyr-(125I-CHN2), have been used to identify catalytic components associated with each of the three peptidase activities. In each case, incorporation of the label could be blocked by prior treatment of the proteasomes with known active site-directed inhibitors, calpain inhibitor 1 or 3, 4-dichloroisocoumarin. Subunits of labeled proteasomes were separated either by reverse phase-HPLC and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography/fluorography and immunoblotting with subunit-specific antibodies. In each case, label was found to be incorporated into subunits C7, MB1, and LMP7 but in different relative amounts depending on the inhibitor used, consistent with the observed effects on the different peptidase activities. The results strongly suggest a relationship between trypsin-like activity and chymotrypsin-like activity. They also help to relate the different subunits of the complex to the assayed multicatalytic endopeptidase activities.

Proteasome inactivation upon aging and on oxidation-effect of HSP 90.

Increases of oxidatively modified protein in the cell have been associated with the aging process. Such an accumulation of damaged protein may be the result of increase in the rate of protein oxidation and/or decrease in the rate of degradation of oxidized protein. The multicatalytic proteinase or proteasome is known to be the major proteolytic system involved in the removal of oxidized protein. We have reported that, after isolation of the 20S proteasome from the liver of young and old male Fischer 344 rat, out of the three peptidase activities (chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like and peptidyl-glutamyl peptide hydrolase) we assayed with fluorogenic peptides, the peptidyl-glutamyl peptide hydrolase activity was declining with age to a value approximately 50% of that observed for protease purified from young rats. The proteasome was subjected to metal catalyzed oxidation to determine the susceptibility of the different peptidase activities to oxidative inactivation. Both trypsin-like and peptidyl-glutamyl peptide hydrolase activities were found sensitive to oxidation. Treatment of the proteasome with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a major lipid peroxidation product, was also found to inactivate the trypsin-like activity. However, the trypsin-like activity was protected from inactivation by metal catalyzed oxidation in proteasome preparations contaminated with HSP 90, a protein that often copurifies with the proteasome. Upon addition of HSP 90 to pure 20S active proteasome, the trypsin-like activity was protected from inactivation by metal catalyzed oxidation and from inactivation by treatment with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. These results suggest a possible intervention of HSP 90 in response to oxidative stress in preventing the inactivation of the proteasome by oxidative damage.

Age-Related Decline of Rat Liver Multicatalytic Proteinase Activity and Protection from Oxidative Inactivation by Heat-Shock Protein 90

To test whether an observed age-related increase in the level of oxidized protein in rat liver is due to a decrease in the activity of the multicatalytic proteinase (MCP), this protease was isolated from liver of young (8-month-old) and old (24-month-old) male Fischer 344 rats. Three peptidase activities of the MCP were assayed using fluorogenic peptides: trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like, and peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase. Only peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activity declined with age, with protease from old animals exhibiting approximately 50% of the activity of that from young animals. Bidimensional gel electrophoresis and thermostability studies did not reveal age-related structural modifications of the MCP subunits. Peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activity and trypsin-like activity were sensitive to metal-catalyzed oxidation. In some preparations, a 95-kDa protein that has been identified as the heat shock protein 90 copurified with the MCP. In the presence of HSP 90, trypsin-like activity is protected from oxidative inactivation and chymotrypsin-like activity is slightly activated. Peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activity remained sensitive to oxidation in protease isolated from young rats, but that from old rats was resistant to oxidative inactivation. Furthermore, addition of rat HSP 90 to rat liver MCP (purified from 8-month-old animals and free of contaminating HSP 90) was found to protect trypsin-like activity from oxidative inactivation.

Processing of N3, a mammalian proteasome β-type subunit

Proteasome subunits are encoded by members of the same gene family and can be divided into two groups based on their similarity to the alpha and beta subunits of the simpler proteasome isolated from Thermoplasma acidophilum. RN3 is the beta-type subunit, N3, of rat proteasomes which has been implicated in the peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activity of the proteinase complex. We have expressed recombinant RN3 protein in Escherichia coli in order to raise subunit-specific polyclonal antibodies. Identification of the position of RN3 on two-dimensional PAGE gels of purified rat liver proteasomes showed a single protein spot of molecular mass 24 kDa and of pI value of about 5. This protein has a free N-terminus, having undergone post-translational processing. After immunoprecipitation from [35S]methionine-labelled human embryo lung L-132 cells using anti-RN3 antibodies, two radiolabelled spots were observed on two-dimensional PAGE gels, one corresponding to the mature N3, the other of molecular mass 28.5 kDa and pI value around 5, which was probably the unprocessed form of N3. However, the latter protein had a higher molecular mass (31 kDa) than was predicted from the sequence of previously cloned cDNA. Therefore rapid amplification of cDNA ends ("RACE') was carried out to determine the full sequence. The lack of detectable RN3 precursor in purified rat liver proteasomes suggests that the processing probably accompanies assembly of the complex. The half-life of the processing was determined to be 31 min in growing L-132 cells. The unprocessed form of N3 was not observed after immunoprecipitation of 35S-labelled complexes with anti-proteasome antibodies. There was no evidence to suggest that unprocessed N3 is found in precursor complexes which have been implicated in the assembly of some other unprocessed beta-type subunits. Interestingly also, the site of cleavage of N3 (ITR decreases TQN) differs significantly from those of other processed animal beta-type proteasome subunits [(H/T)G decreases TT(T/L)], many of which resemble more closely the cleavage site of the Thermoplasma acidophilum beta subunit.

Differential Effects of Bovine PA28 on Six Peptidase Activities of the Lobster Muscle Proteasome (Multicatalytic Proteinase)

PA28, an endogenous activator of the bovine proteasome, stimulated the branched-chain amino acid-preferring (BrAAP; 99-fold activation), small-neutral amino acid-preferring (11-fold), acidic chymotrypsin-like (26-fold), and peptidylglutamyl peptide hydrolase (14-fold) activities of the lobster muscle proteasome, while having little or no effect on the trypsin-like, neutral chymotrypsin-like, and caseinolytic activities. These results show that the BrAAP activity, which has been linked to the degradation of myofibrillar proteins by the heat-activated proteasome, is allosterically regulated. However, the activation by PA28 differs from that induced by heat treatment, since heat activation stimulated both the BrAAP and the proteolytic activities but not the other peptidase activities. PA28 shifted the pH optimum of the acidic chymotrypsin-like activity from pH 6–6.5 to pH 7–7.5, while stimulating the activity about 10-fold. These results suggest that PA28 is involved in the activation of the acidic chymotrypsin-like component at physiological pH.

A Proteasome from the Methanogenic Archaeon Methanosarcina thermophila

A 645-kDa proteasome was purified from Methanosarcina thermophila which had chymotrypsin-like and peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activities and contained alpha (24-kDa) and beta (22-kDa) subunits. Processing of both subunits was suggested by comparison of N-terminal sequences with the sequences deduced from the alpha- and beta-encoding genes (psmA and psmB). Alignment of deduced sequences for the alpha and beta subunits revealed high similarity; however, the N-terminal sequence of the alpha subunit contained an additional 24 amino acids that were not present in the beta subunit. The alpha and beta subunits had high sequence identity with alpha- and beta-type subunits of proteasomes from eucaryotic organisms and the distantly related archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum. The psmB gene was transcribed in vivo as a monocistronic message from a consensus archaeal promoter. The results suggest that proteasomes are more widespread in the Archaea than previously proposed. Southern blotting experiments suggested the presence of ubiquitin-like sequences in M. thermophila.

Cloning and expression of a human pro(tea)some β-subunit cDNA: A homologue of the yeast PRE4-subunit essential for peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activity

The cDNA encoding a human prosome β-subunit (HSBpros26) was isolated from a lymphoma library using the cDNA of the Xenopus homologue as a probe. The cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 233 amino acids and a calculated molecular weight of 25,909. Comparison with interspecies homologues of HSBpros26 from Xenopus (XLB), rat (RN3) and yeast (PRE4) reveals a high degree of identity between the β-subunits except for the N-terminal end, which is probably cleaved post-translationally. The complete coding sequence of HSBpros26 has been expressed in E. coli. The produced protein of about 27 kDa reacts with the prosomal monoclonal antibody MCP205, kindly provided by Dr. K. Hendil. The molecular weight of the native protein is about 28 kDa indicating that the protein is present as monomers. Finally partially purified HSBpros26 preparations do not contain any proteolytical activity.

The multicatalytic proteinase complex (proteasome): structure and conformational changes associated with changes in proteolytic activity

The multicatalytic proteinase complex or proteasome is a high-molecular-mass multisubunit proteinase which is found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Electron microscopy of negatively stained rat liver proteinase preparations suggests that the particle has a hollow cylindrical shape (approximate width 11 nm and height 17 nm using methylamine tungstate as the negative stain) with a pseudo-helical arrangement of subunits rather than the directly stacked arrangement suggested previously. The side-on view has a 2-fold rotational symmetry, while end-on there appears to be six or seven subunits around the ring. This model is very different from that proposed by others for the proteinase from rat liver but resembles the structure of the simpler archaebacterial proteasome. The possibility of conformational changes associated with the addition of effectors of proteolytic activity has been investigated by sedimentation velocity analysis and dynamic light-scattering measurements. The results provide the first direct evidence for conformational changes associated with the observed positive co-operativity in one component of the peptidylglutamylpeptide hydrolase activity as well as with the stimulation of peptidylglutamylpeptide hydrolase activities by MnCl2. In the latter case, there appears to be a correlation between changes in the shape of the molecule and the effect on activity. KCl and low concentrations of SDS may also act by inducing conformational changes within the complex. Sedimentation-velocity measurements also provide evidence for the formation of intermediates during dissociation of the complex by urea, guanidinium chloride or sodium thiocyanate. Dissociation of the complex either by these agents or by treatment at low pH leads to inactivation of its proteolytic components. The results suggest that activation and inhibition of the various proteolytic activities may be mediated by measurable changes in size and shape of the molecules.

Peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activity of the multicatalytic proteinase complex: evidence for a new high-affinity site, analysis of cooperative kinetics, and the effect of manganese ions.

The multicatalytic proteinase (MCP) complex or proteasome is a major nonlysosomal proteinase of eukaryotic cells. The proteinase can cleave peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of hydrophobic, basic, or acidic amino acid residues. These activities have been referred to as "chymotrypsin-like", "trypsin-like", and "peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase" activities, respectively, and have been shown to be catalyzed at distinct sites. The latter activity is often assayed with the synthetic peptide substrate Z-Leu-Leu-Glu-beta-naphthylamide (LLE-NA). N-tBoc-Ala-Ala-Asp-SBzl is also a substrate for the rat liver MCP, suggesting a broader specificity for cleavage on the carboxyl side of acidic residues than the peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase activity previously reported. The pH optimum is in the range of pH 7.0-7.5. Studies of the dependence of velocity on LLE-NA concentration show (a) that there is a high-affinity site (LLE1) which obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km value of approximately 100 microM and (b) that at higher substrate concentrations (LLE2) the curve is sigmoidal, suggesting either allosteric activation of the proteinase at a second site or the involvement of multiple catalytic sites which display positive cooperativity. Activity at the high-affinity site (LLE1) can be distinguished from that of the activity of the LLE2 component by the effect of inhibitors, divalent metal ions, and KCl, as well as by its response to heat treatment. The addition of 1 mM MnCl2 stimulates both LLE1 and LLE2 activities and also permits saturation of MCP with substrate at concentrations of LLE-NA below the solubility limit of this peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Catalytic subunits of the multicatalytic proteinase

The multicatalytic proteinase (MCP) has been found in a wide variety of eukaryotic cells [1,2], and a similar enzyme has been identified in archaebacteria [ 3 ] . MCP is a high molecular mass (700 kDa) non-lysosomal proteinase which may be involved in both ubiquitin-dependent and ubiquitin-independent pathways of intracellular protein degradation. The proteinase complex isolated from rat liver seems to be composed of approximately 20 different components with molecular masses ranging from 22 to 34 kDa and isoelectric points ranging from 5 to 8.5 [41. The subunits appear by electron microscopy to be arranged in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The proteinase complex can cleave peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of basic, hydrophobic and acidic amino acid residues [5], and the proteolytic activities have been referred to as trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like and peptidyl glutamyl peptide hydrolase activities, respectively. Results of studies with a variety of inhibitors have shown that these activities are catalysed at distinct sites. It is of interest to identify which components of the complex are responsible for each of the different proteolytic activities. In this study a method has been devised for selectively labelling MCP components responsible for the trypsin-like activity. The proteinase complex was isolated from fresh rat livers using a series of chromatographic steps [4]. The method of labelling involves use of a site-specific reversible inhibitor of MCP (leupeptin) and a group-specific irreversible inhibitor (N-ethylmaleimide) . Leupeptin inhibits serine and cysteine proteinases by forming a hemiacetal or thiohemiacetal with the catalytic serine or cysteine residue, respectively [7]. Leupeptin selectively inhibits the trypsin-like activity of the MCP complex in a competitive fashion at concentrations which have no effect on the other proteolytic activities. This inhibition can be reversed either by dialysis or by the addition of sodium borohydride to reduce the reactive aldehyde group. However, the recovery of activity by either of these methods was found to be slow. NEM is also an inhibitor of the trypsinlike activity of MCP [El. It also inhibits the peptidyl glutamyl peptide hydrolase activity of MCP but has little effect on the chymotrypsin-like activity. NEM is an irreversible and specific modifier of thiol groups at neutral pH, and is available in a [14C] -labelled form. Leupeptin and NEM were used together in a differential labelling protocol where MCP was first protected by leupeptin and then modified by NEM. Both inhibitors were used at concentrations which were known to fully inhibit the trypsin-like activity. Leupeptin was removed by dialysis and then [14C]NEM was added to label sites which were previously protected by leupeptin. An experiment was also carried out in the absence of leupeptin using only labelled NEM to establish how many thiol groups react with NEM. After dialysis to remove excess labelled NEM, polypeptide components of the two labelled proteinase preparations were separated by two-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Labelled component (s) were identified by fluorography of the dried gel. The results of these experiments showed that up to 28 moles of [l4C1NEM were incorporated in to each mole of unprotected MCP, whereas only approximately two moles of [I4C]NEM were incorporated per mole of MCP following the differential labelling protocol. These results imply protection by leupeptin of two thiol groups per MCP molecule. Fluorography of the two different labelled MCP preparations showed that almost every component of the complex can be labelled by NEM, but that in experiments designed to label only those NEM-reactive thiol groups protected by leupeptin, only one component is strongly labelled. These labelling experiments suggest that the trypsin-like activity is located in only one of the many different components of the proteinase complex. Recent results from the labelling of catalytic sites possessing the chymotrypsin-like activity also suggest that only one component is involved [9]. These findings support the view that MCP is a complex composed of distinct components which have different functions. This work was supported by the Medical Research Council. A.J.R. is a Lister Institute Research Fellow.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate and heat induce two distinct forms of lobster muscle multicatalytic proteinase: The heat-activated form degrades myofibrillar proteins

A multicatalytic proteinase (MCP) purified from lobster claw and abdominal muscles degrades a variety of peptide and protein substrates. The enzyme is activated by low concentrations (0.03%) of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and brief (1 min) heating at 60 °C. The lobster MCP can assume three stable and functionally distinct states in vitro; these are classified as the basal, heat-activated, and SDS-activated forms. The basal MCP possessed high trypsin-like peptidase activity and low chymotrypsin-like peptidase, peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase, and caseinolytic activities; incubation of the basal form with SDS stimulated the peptidylglutamyl-hydrolase activity about 30-fold and inhibited the other three activities 80% to 100%. Heating the basal form stimulated caseinolytic activity about 6-fold with little effect on the peptidase activities. The heat-activated enzyme also degraded myosin, tropomyosin, troponin, and actin depolymerizing factor; α-actinin was resistant to proteolysis. Incubation of the heat-activated MCP with SDS inhibited the trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like, and proteinase activities 95 to 100% and stimulated the peptidylglutamyl-hydrolase activity about 16-fold. Incubation of myosin with either the basal or the heat-activated forms in the presence of SDS generated identical proteolytic fragments of the myosin heavy chain, suggesting that SDS induced a third form that can be produced from either the basal or the heat-activated forms. The heat-activated form produced proteolytic fragments of myosin heavy chain different from those generated by either basal or heat-activated enzymes in the presence of SDS. Furthermore, 100 m m KCl stimulated the caseinolytic activity of the heat-activated form 24% and inhibited the trypsin-like and peptidylglutamyl-hydrolase activities 56 and 20%, respectively. These results, though indirect, suggest that heating induced a proteinase activity that was distinct from the three peptidase activities. Activation of the basal form with SDS was reversible, since precipitation of dodecyl sulfate with 100 m m KCl restored trypsin-like activity and inhibited peptidylglutamyl-hydrolase activity. In contrast, removal of dodecyl sulfate from the SDS-activated form that was derived from the heat-activated MCP induced its conversion to the basal form. Thus, although heat-activation was irreversible, the heat-activated form was converted back to the basal form via the SDS-activated form.