[Breakdown of luliberin, somatostatin and substance P as an effect of hypothalamic endopeptidases]

Acid and neutral proteinases were isolated with the purpose of investigating their participation in the breakdown of hypothalamic peptides and proteins. The acid proteinase was purified about 1000-fold from hypothalamus by precipitation with acetone, chromatography on SP-Sephadex G-50, gel filtration through column of G-100 and chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 50.000. Maximal activity against hemoglobin was obtained at pH 3,2--3,5: serum albumin was split much more slowly. Hypothalamus acid proteinase was partially inhibited by beta-phenyl pyruvate, benzothonium cloride, and was completely inhibited by low concentrations of pepstatin. This proteinase splits somatostatin, Substance P and some C-fragments of Substance P. The probable sites of enzyme action on these peptides were determined by the end group dansyl technique. Neutral proteinase was isolated from the supernatant fraction(100.000 g) of a 0,3 M sucrose homogenate of bovine hypothalamus by chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50, gel filtration through Sephadex G-100 and rechromatography on DEAE sephadex A-50 using luliberin as substrate. The rates of breakdown of luliberin and denaturated hemoglobin were measured by fluorometric estimation of acid-soluble peptides wieht o-phthaldialdehyde. The purifed enzyme preparations have a pH optimum of activity at 7--7,5. The enzymes molecular weight was approximatelyy 30--40.000. Enzyme activity was inhibited by L-1-tosylamide-2-phenylethylchloromethyl ketone, p-chloromercuribenzoate and divalent ions Co2+, Zn2+ and was significantly enhanced by dithiothreitol. The Km values for the reaction of hydrolysis of luliberin and hemoglobin were 1,33.10(-5) and 5,2.10(-5) M respectively. The neutral proteinase from the hypothalamus cleaves luliberin, somatostatin and Substance P. Sites of action of the enzyme upon those peptides were determined by means of the dansyl technique. The acid proteinase, most likely cathepsin D, and neutral proteinase from hypothalamus, may play an important role in the formation and breakdown of peptide hormones in the hypothalamus.