{{Short description|Enzymes that cleaves peptides but not proteins}} thumb|Prolyloligopeptidase complexed with a peptide<ref name="fullop">{{cite journal|year=1998|title=Prolyl oligopeptidase: an unusual beta propeller domain regulates proteolysis|journal=Cell|volume=94|issue=2|pages=161–170|doi=10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81416-6|pmid=9695945|vauthors=Fülöp V, Böcskei Z, Polgár L|s2cid=17074611|doi-access=free}}</ref>An '''Oligopeptidase''' is an enzyme that cleaves peptides but not proteins. This property is due to its structure: the active site of this enzyme is located at the end of a narrow cavity which can only be reached by peptides.
==History==
=== Background === Proteins are essential macromolecules of living organisms. They are continuously being degraded into their constituent amino acids which can be reused in the synthesis of new proteins. Every cellular protein has its own half-life time. In humans, for instance, 50% of the liver and plasma proteins are replaced in 10 days, whereas in muscles it takes 180 days. On average, about 50% of our proteins are replaced every 80 days.<ref name="pmid3018930">{{citation |vauthors=Bachmair A, Finley D, Varshavsky A | title = ''In vivo'' half-life of a protein is a function of its amino-terminal residue | journal = Science | volume = 234| issue = 4773 | pages = 179–86 |date=Oct 1986 | pmid = 3018930 | doi=10.1126/science.3018930| bibcode = 1986Sci...234..179B }}</ref> Although the regulation of protein degradation is as important as their synthesis to keep cellular protein concentrations at optimum levels, research in this area remained until the end of the 1970s. Up to this time, lysosomes, discovered in the 1950s by the Belgian cytologist Christian de Duve, were thought responsible for the complete digestion of intra- and extracellular proteins by the lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
Between the 1970s and 1980s, this view drastically changed. New experimental evidences showed that, under physiological conditions, non-lysosomal proteases were responsible for limited proteolysis of intra- and/or extracellular proteins, a concept originally conceived by Linderstᴓm-Lang in 1950.<ref name="pmid15442905">{{citation |vauthors=Linderstrøm-Lang K | title = ''In vivo'' half-life of a protein is a function of its amino-terminal residue | journal = Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol | volume = 14 | pages = 117–26 | year = 1950 | pmid = 15442905| doi = 10.1101/sqb.1950.014.01.016 }}</ref> Endogenous or exogenous proteins are processed by non-lysosomal proteases into intermediate-sized polypeptides, which display gene and metabolic regulation, neurologic, endocrine, and immunological roles, whose dysfunction might explain a number of pathologies. Consequently, protein degradation did not represent anymore the end of the biological function of proteins, but rather the beginning of a yet unexplored side of the biology of the cells. A number of intra- or extracellular proteases release protein fragments endowed with essential biological activities. These hydrolytic processes could be carried out by proteases such as Proteasomes, Proprotein Convertases,<ref name="pmid21388412">{{citation |vauthors=Seidah NG| title = What lies ahead for the proprotein convertases? | journal = Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences | volume = 1220 | pages = 149–61 |date=Mar 2011 | issue = 1 | pmid = 21388412 | doi = 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05883.x | bibcode = 2011NYASA1220..149S | s2cid = 22864082 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Caspases, Rennin and Kallikreins. Among the products released by the non-lysosomal proteases are the bioactive oligopeptides such as hormones, neuropeptides and epitopes that, once released, could be modulated in their biological activities by specific peptidases, which promote the trimming, conversion and/or inactivation of the bioactive oligopeptides.
=== Early study === The history of oligopeptidases originates in the late 1960s, when the rabbit brain was searched for enzymes that cause inactivation of the nonapeptide bradykinin.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Camargo AC, Graeff F | year = 1969 | title = Subcellular distribution and properties of the bradykinin inactivation system in rabbit brain homogenates | journal = Biochem Pharmacol | volume = 18 | issue = 2| pages = 548–549 | pmid = 5778163 | doi=10.1016/0006-2952(69)90235-4}}</ref> In the early and mid 1970s two thiol-activated endopeptidases, responsible for more than 90% of bradykinin inactivation, were isolated from cytosol of rabbit brain, and characterized.<ref name="shapanka">{{cite journal|date=April 1973|title=Preparation, assay, and partial characterization of a neutral endopeptidase from rabbit brain|journal=Biochemistry|volume=12|issue=9|pages=1838–44|doi=10.1021/bi00733a028|pmid=4699240|vauthors=Camargo AC, Shapanka R, Greene LJ}}</ref><ref name="oliveira">{{cite journal|year=1976|title=Isolation of brain endopeptidases: Influence of size and sequence of substrates structurally related to bradykinin|journal=Biochemistry|volume=15|issue=9|pages=1967–1974|doi=10.1021/bi00654a026|pmid=5120|vauthors=Oliveira EB, Martins AR, Camargo AC}}</ref> They correspond to EOPA (endooligopeptidase A, EC 3.4.22.19), and Prolyl endopeptidase or Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) (EC 3.4.21.26). Since their activities are restricted to oligopeptides (usually from 8-13 amino acid residues), and do not hydrolyze proteins or large peptides (>30 amino acid residues), they were designated oligopeptidases.<ref name="camargo">{{cite journal|year=1979|title=Susceptibility of a peptide derived from bradykinin to hydrolysis by brain endo-oligopeptidases and pancreatic proteinases|journal=J Biol Chem|volume=254|issue=12|pages=5304–5307|pmid=447650|vauthors=Camargo AC, Caldo H, Reis ML|doi=10.1016/S0021-9258(18)50595-0|doi-access=free}}</ref> In the early and mid 1980s other oligopeptidases, mostly metallopeptidases, were described in the cytosol of mammalian tissues, such as the TOP (thimet oligopeptidase, EC 3.4.24.15),<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Orlowski M, Michaud C, Chu TG | year = 1983 | title = A soluble metalloendopeptidase from rat brain. Purification of the enzyme and determination of specificity with synthetic and natural peptides | journal = Eur J Biochem | volume = 135 | issue = 1| pages = 81–88 | doi = 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1983.tb07620.x | pmid = 6349998 | doi-access = }}</ref> and the neurolysin (EC 3.4.24.16).<ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 6308159 | volume=41 | issue=2 | title=Degradation of neurotensin by rat brain synaptic membranes: involvement of a thermolysin-like metalloendopeptidase (enkephalinase), angiotensin-converting enzyme, and other unidentified peptidases | date=August 1983 | journal=J. Neurochem. | pages=375–84 |vauthors=Checler F, Vincent JP, Kitabgi P | doi=10.1111/j.1471-4159.1983.tb04753.x| s2cid=21440301 }}</ref> Earlier on, the ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme, EC 3.4.15.1), and the NEP (neprilysin, EC 3.4.24.11), had been described, at the end of the 1960s,<ref name="erdos">{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.144600|title = Angiotensin I–Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Are Allosteric Enhancers of Kinin B1 and B2 Receptor Function|year = 2010|last1 = Erdös|first1 = Ervin G.|last2 = Tan|first2 = Fulong|last3 = Skidgel|first3 = Randal A.|journal = Hypertension|volume = 55|issue = 2|pages = 214–220|pmid = 20065150|pmc = 2814794}}</ref> and in 1973,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kerr MA, Kenny AJ | year = 1974 | title = The purification and specificity of a neutral endopeptidase from rabbit kidney brush border | journal = Biochem J | volume = 137 | issue = 3| pages = 477–488 | pmid = 4423492 | pmc=1166147 | doi=10.1042/bj1370477}}</ref> respectively.
==Function and clinical significance== Short 'oligopeptides', predominantly smaller than 30 amino acids in length, play essential roles as hormones, in the surveillance against pathogens, and in neurological activities. Therefore, these molecules constantly need to be specifically generated and inactivated, which is the role of the oligopeptidases. Oligopeptidase is a term coined in 1979 to designate a sub-group of the endopeptidases,<ref name="camargo" /><ref>{{cite journal|date=July 1992|title=Oligopeptidases, and the emergence of the prolyl oligopeptidase family|journal=Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler|volume=373|issue=2|pages=353–60|doi=10.1515/bchm3.1992.373.2.353|pmid=1515061|vauthors=Barrett AJ, Rawlings ND}}</ref> which are not involved in the digestion nor in the processing of proteins like the pancreatic enzymes, proteasomes, cathepsins among many others. The prolyl-oligopeptidase or prolyl endopeptidase (POP) is a good example of how an oligopeptidase interacts with and metabolizes an oligopeptide. The peptide has first to penetrate into a 4 Å hole on the surface of the enzyme in order to reach an 8,500Å<sup>3</sup> internal cavity, where the active site is located.<ref name="fullop" /><ref name="chines">{{cite journal|year=2010|title=Induced-fit mechanism for prolyl endopeptidase|journal=J Biol Chem|volume=285|issue=28|pages=21487–21495|doi=10.1074/jbc.M109.092692|pmid=20444688|vauthors=Li M, Chen C, Davies DR, Chiu TK|pmc=2898448|doi-access=free}}</ref> Even though the size of the peptide is crucial for its docking, the flexibility of both enzyme and ligand seems to play an essential role in determining whether a peptide bond will be hydrolyzed or not.<ref name="jacchieri">{{cite journal|date=June 1998|title=A comparative conformational analysis of thimet oligopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.15) substrates|journal=The Journal of Peptide Research|volume=51|issue=6|pages=452–9|pmid=9650720|vauthors=Jacchieri SG, Gomes MD, Juliano L, Camargo AC|doi=10.1111/j.1399-3011.1998.tb00644.x}}</ref><ref name="portaro">{{cite journal|year=1999|title=Thimet oligopeptidase and the stability of MHC class I epitopes in macrophage cytosol|journal=Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.|volume=255|issue=3|pages=596–601|doi=10.1006/bbrc.1999.0251|pmid=10049756|vauthors=Portaro F, Gomes MD, Cabrera A, etal|bibcode=1999BBRC..255..596P }}</ref> This contrasts with the classical specificity of proteolytic enzymes, which derives from the chemical features of the amino acid side chains around the scissile bond.<ref>{{cite journal|year=1967|title=On the size of the active site in proteases I. Papain|journal=Biochem Biophys Res Commun|volume=27|issue=2|pages=157–162|doi=10.1016/s0006-291x(67)80055-x|pmid=6035483|vauthors=Schechter I, Berger A|bibcode=1967BBRC...27..157S }}</ref> A number of enzymatic studies supports this conclusion.<ref name="jacchieri" /><ref>{{cite journal|year=1997|title=Structural features which make oligopeptides susceptible to hydrolysis by recombinant endooligopeptidase 24.15 (EC 3.4.24.15)|journal=Biochem J|volume=324|issue=Pt 2|pages=517–522|doi=10.1042/bj3240517|pmid=9182712|vauthors=Camargo AC, Gomes MD, Reichl AP, Jacchieri SG, Juliano L|pmc=1218460}}</ref> This peculiar specificity suggests that the concept of conformational melding of the peptides used to explain the interaction between T-cell receptor and its epitopes,<ref>{{cite journal|year=2012|title=Structural and dynamic control of T-cell receptor specificity, cross-reactivity, and binding mechanism|journal=Immunological Reviews|volume=250|issue=1|pages=10–31|doi=10.1111/j.1600-065X.2012.01165.x|pmid=23046120|vauthors=Backer BM, Scott DR, Blevins SJ, Hawse WF|s2cid=9837194}}</ref> seems more likely to describe the enzymatic specificity of the oligopeptidases. Another important feature of the oligopeptidases is their sensitivity to the oxidation-reduction (redox) state of the environment.<ref name="shapanka" /><ref name="oliveira" /> An "on-off" switch provides a qualitative change in peptide binding and/or degradation activity. However, the redox state only exerts strong influence on cytosolic enzymes (TOP<ref>{{cite journal|year=1997|title=Thiol activation of endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.15). A novel mechanism for the regulation of the catalytic activity|journal=J Biol Chem|volume=272|issue=28|pages=17395–17399|doi=10.1074/jbc.272.28.17395|pmid=9211880|vauthors=Shrimpton CN, Glucksman MJ, Lew RA, etal|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|year=2004|title=Crystal structure of human thimet oligopeptidase provides insight into substrate recognition, regulation, and localization|journal=J Biol Chem|volume=279|issue=19|pages=20480–20489|doi=10.1074/jbc.M400795200|pmid=14998993|vauthors=Ray K, Hines CS, Coll-Rodriguez J, Rodgers DW|doi-access=free}}</ref> neurolysin<ref>{{cite journal|year=1997|title=Targeting of endopeptidase 24.16 to different subcellular compartments by alternative promoter usage|journal=J Biol Chem|volume=272|issue=24|pages=15313–15322|doi=10.1074/jbc.272.24.15313|pmid=9182559|vauthors=Kato A, Sugiura N, etal|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|year=2013|title=The effects of para-chloromercuribenzoic acid and different oxidative and sulfhydryl agents on a novel, non-AT1, non-AT2 angiotensin binding site identified as neurolysin|journal=Regul Pept.|volume=184|pages=104–114|doi=10.1016/j.regpep.2013.03.021|pmid=23511333|vauthors=Santos KL, Vento MA, etal |pmc=4152863}}</ref> POP<ref>{{cite journal|year=2000|title=Catalysis of serine oligopeptidases is controlled by a gating filter mechanism|journal=EMBO Rep|volume=1|issue=3|pages=277–281|doi=10.1093/embo-reports/kvd048|pmc=1083722|pmid=11256612|vauthors=Fulöp V, Szeltner Z, Polgár L}}</ref> and Ndl-1 oligopeptidase,<ref>{{cite journal|year=1993|title=Dynorphin-derived peptides reveal the presence of a critical cysteine for the activity of brain endo-oligopeptidase A|journal=Biochem Biophys Res Commun|volume=197|issue=2|pages=501–507|doi=10.1006/bbrc.1993.2507|pmid=7903528|vauthors=Gomes MD, Juliano L, etal|bibcode=1993BBRC..197..501G }}</ref><ref name="hayashi">{{cite journal|year=2005|title=Inhibition of NUDEL (nuclear distribution element-like)-oligopeptidase activity by disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1|journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA|volume=102|issue=10|pages=3828–3833|doi=10.1073/pnas.0500330102|pmc=553309|pmid=15728732|vauthors=Hayashi MA, Portaro FC, Bastos MF, etal|bibcode=2005PNAS..102.3828H|doi-access=free}}</ref> not on cytoplasmic membrane oligopeptidases (angiotensin-converting enzyme and neprilysin). Thus, the redox state of the intracellular environment very likely modulates the activity of the thiol-sensitive oligopeptidases, thereby contributing to define the fate of proteasome products, driving them to complete hydrolysis, or, alternatively, converting them into bioactive peptides, such as the MHC-Class I peptides.<ref name="portaro" /><ref name="kessier">Kessier JH, Khan S, Seifert U et al. (2011) Antigen processing by nardilysin and thimet oligopeptidase generates cytotoxic T cell epitopes. Nature Immunology- http://www.nature.com/ni/journal/v12/n1/full/ni.1974.html</ref><ref name="carlito">{{cite journal|year=1999|title=Thimet Oligopeptidase (EC.3.4.24.15) is a novel protein on the route of MHC class I antigen presentation|journal=Biochem Biophys Res Commun|volume=255|issue=3|pages=591–595|doi=10.1006/bbrc.1999.0250|pmid=10049755|vauthors=Silva CL, Portaro FC, Bonato VL, etal|bibcode=1999BBRC..255..591S }}</ref>
Since the discovery of the neuropeptides and peptide hormones from the central nervous system (ACTH, β-MSH, endorphin, oxytocin, vasopressin, LHRH, enkephalins, substance P), and of peripheral vasoactive peptides (angiotensin, bradykinin) around the middle of last century, the number of known biologically active peptides has exponentially increased. They are signaling molecules, participating in all essential aspects of life, from physiological homeostasis (as neuropeptides, peptide hormones, vasoactive peptides), to immunological defense (as MHC class I and II, cytokinins), and as regulatory peptides displaying more than a single action. These peptides result from partial proteolysis of intracellular or extracellular protein precursors performed by several processing enzymes or protease complexes (rennin, kallikreins, calpains, prohormone convertases, proteasomes, endosomes, lysosomes), which convert proteins into peptides, including those with biological activities. The resulting protein fragments of various sizes are either readily degraded into free amino acids,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Goldberg AL | year = 2003 | title = Protein degradation and protection against misfolded or damaged proteins | journal = Nature | volume = 426 | issue = 6968| pages = 895–899 | doi = 10.1038/nature02263 | pmid = 14685250 | bibcode = 2003Natur.426..895G | s2cid = 395463 }}</ref> or captured by oligopeptidases, whose peculiar binding and/or catalytic properties allow them to fulfill their physiological roles by trimming inactive peptide precursors leading to their active form,<ref name="kessier" /><ref name="erdos" /> converting bioactive peptides into novel ones.,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Camargo AC, Oliveira EB, Toffoletto O, etal | year = 1997 | title = Brain endo-oligopeptidase A, a putative enkephalin converting enzyme | doi = 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1987.tb05655.x | journal = J Neurochem | volume = 48 | issue = 4| pages = 1258–1263 | pmid = 2880931 | s2cid = 27763093 }}</ref> inactivating them, thus restraining the continuous activation of specific receptors,<ref name="shapanka" /><ref name="oliveira" /> or protecting the newly generated bioactive peptide from further degradation, suggesting a peptide chaperon-like activity.<ref name="portaro" /><ref name="carlito" /> TOP, a ubiquitous cytosolic oligopeptidase, is a remarkable example of how this enzyme could play an essential role in immune defense against cancer cells.<ref name="kessier" /> It has also been successfully used as a hook to fish novel bioactive peptides from cytosol of cells.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Gelman JS, Sironi J, Castro LM, etal | year = 2010 | title = Hemopressins and other hemoglobin-derived peptides in mouse brain: comparison between brain, blood, and heart peptidome and regulation in Cpefat/fat mice | journal = J. Neurochem. | volume = 113 | issue = 4| pages = 871–880 | doi = 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06653.x | pmid=20202081 | pmc=2867603}}</ref>
The involvement of peptides in cell-cell interactions and in neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, and neurovegetative diseases are waiting for peptidomics<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Gelman JS, Sironi J, Castro LM, etal | year = 2011 | title = Peptidomic analysis of human cell lines | journal = J Proteome Res | volume = 10| issue = 4| pages = 1583–1592| doi = 10.1021/pr100952f | pmid = 21204522 | pmc = 3070057}}</ref> and gene silencing approaches, which will expedite the formation of new concepts in an emerging era for oligopeptidases.
The participation of oligopeptidases in a number of pathologies has long been reported. The ACE has benefited the most from a thorough knowledge on the enzyme structure and its mechanism of catalysis leading to the better understanding of its role in cardiovascular pathologies and therapeutics. Accordingly, for over 30 years, the treatment of human arterial hypertension has taken advantage of ACE inhibition by active site-directed inhibitors like captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, and others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK47119/|title=Drug Class Review: Direct Renin Inhibitors, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers: Final Report|series=Drug Class Reviews|year=2010|publisher=Oregon Health & Science University|pmid=21089241 |last1=Norris |first1=S. |last2=Weinstein |first2=J. |last3=Peterson |first3=K. |last4=Thakurta |first4=S. }}</ref> For the other oligopeptidases, especially those involved in human diseases, the existing studies are promising but not yet as developed as for the ACE. Some examples are: a) the POP of nervous tissues has been suggested to be involved in neuropsychiatric disorders, like in post-traumatic stress, depression, mania, nervous bulimia, anorexia, and schizophrenia, as reviewed in.<ref name="chines" /> b) NEP has been involved in cancer;<ref>[Maguer-Satta V, Besançon R, Bachelard-Cascale E (2011). Concise Review: Neutral Endopeptidase (NEP/CD10): a Multifaceted Environment Actor in Stem Cells, Physiological Mechanisms and Cancer. Stem Cells Jan 7; see www.StemCells.com for supporting information available online]</ref> c) the TOP has been involved in tuberculosis<ref name="carlito" /> and in cancer;<ref name="kessier" /> d) the EOPA or NUDEL/EOPA (NDEL1/EOPA gene product) has been involved in neuronal migration during the cortex formation in human embryo (lissencephaly) and neurite outgrowth in adults, as in schizophrenia.<ref name=hayashi /><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hayashi MA, Guerreiro JR, Charych E, etal | year = 2010 | title = Assessing the role of endooligopeptidase activity of Ndel1 (nuclear-distribution gene E homolog like-1)in neurite outgrowth | journal = Mol Cell Neurosci | volume = 44 | issue = 4| pages = 353–361 | doi = 10.1016/j.mcn.2010.04.006| pmid = 20462516 | s2cid = 28105773 }}</ref> Coincidentally, an activity related to the development of nervous tissue has been suggested for POP, nevertheless not involving its proteolytic activity.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hannula MJ, Männistö PT, Myöhänen TT | year = 2010 | title = Sequential Expression, Activity and Nuclear Localization of Prolyl Oligopeptidase Protein in the Developing Rat Brain | url = https://zenodo.org/record/3439257 | journal = Dev Neurosci | volume = 33 | issue = 1 | pages = 38–47 | doi = 10.1159/000322082 | pmid = 21160163 | s2cid = 39094074 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The absence of an oligopeptidase in the intestine was also responsible for the decreased serum zinc levels observed in patients who have the disease Acrodermatitis Enteropathica.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Beigi, Pooya Khan Mohammd |author2=Maverakis, Emanual | year = 2015 | title = Acrodermatitis Enteropathica: A Clinician's Guide}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://merops.sanger.ac.uk/cgi-bin/family_index?type=P#M The MEROPS online database for peptidases and their inhibitors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404112415/http://merops.sanger.ac.uk/cgi-bin/family_index?type=P#M |date=2017-04-04 }}
{{Proteases}} {{Enzymes}} {{Portal|Biology}}
Category:Hydrolases Category:EC 3.4 Category:Proteases Category:Metabolism Category:Immunology