Purification and some properties of cathepsin A of small molecular size from pig kidney

Cathepsin A [EC 3.4.2.-] of small molecular size (cathepsin A, S) has been purified about 800-fold from pig kidney by procedures including chromatographies on DEAE-Sephadex, SP-Sephadex, and Sephadex G-150. 1. The homogeneity of the purified enzyme was proved by ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight (100,000) and isoelectric point (pI=5.0) were estimated. 2. The enzyme was remarkably stabilized by sucrose and KCl, and was most stable at pH 5-5.5 in the presence of both stabilizers. The enzyme had not only peptidase activity but also esterase and amidase activity; it was optimally active at pH 5.2 for peptide hydrolysis and at pH 8 for the hydrolysis of esters and amides. 3. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate and iodoacetamide completely inhibited these three activities. 4. The enzyme hydrolyzed various benzoyl- and benzyloxycarbonyl-dipeptides with neutral, acidic, and basic amino acids, and proline in the C-terminal position. The carboxypeptidase nature of the enzyme was proved by its action on an oligopeptide. 5. Several enzymatic properties of cathepsin A, S were almost the same as thoas of cathepsin A of large molecular size (cathepsin A, L) and the crude homogenate.