The alpha-macroglobulin bait region. Sequence diversity and localization of cleavage sites for proteinases in five mammalian alpha-macroglobulins.

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Citation

Sottrup-Jensen L, Sand O, Kristensen L, Fey GH

The alpha-macroglobulin bait region. Sequence diversity and localization of cleavage sites for proteinases in five mammalian alpha-macroglobulins.

J Biol Chem. 1989 Sep 25;264(27):15781-9.

PubMed ID
2476433 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The amino acid sequence of a 90-residue segment of human pregnancy zone protein containing its bait region has been determined. Human alpha 2-macroglobulin, human pregnancy zone protein, and rat alpha 1-macroglobulin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, and alpha 1-inhibitor 3 variants 1 and 2 constitute a group of homologous proteins; but the sequences of their bait regions are not related, and they differ in length (32-53 residues). The alpha-macroglobulin bait region is located equivalently with residues 666-706 in human alpha 2-macroglobulin. In view of the extreme sequence variation of the bait regions, the evolutionary constraints for these regions are likely to differ from those of the remainder of the alpha-macroglobulin structure. The sites of specific limited proteolysis in the bait regions of human pregnancy zone protein and rat alpha 1-macroglobulin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, and alpha 1-inhibitor 3 variants 1 and 2 by a variety of proteinases differing in specificity have been determined and compared with those identified earlier in human alpha 2-macroglobulin. The sites of cleavage generally conform to the substrate specificity of the proteinase in question, but the positions and nature of the P4-P4' sites differ. Most cleavages occur in two relatively small segments spaced by 6-10 residues; and in each case, bait region cleavage leads to alpha-macroglobulin-proteinase complex formation. The rate at which a given proteinase cleaves alpha-macroglobulin bait regions is likely to show great variation. Possible structural features of the widely different bait regions and their role in the mechanism of activation are discussed.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Polypeptides
NameUniProt ID
Pregnancy zone proteinP20742Details