Characterization of endopeptidase activity of tripeptidyl peptidase-I/CLN2 protein which is deficient in classical late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Endopeptidase activities of the CLN2 gene product (Cln2p)/tripeptidyl peptidase I (TPP-I), purified from rat spleen, were studied using the synthetic fluorogenic substrates. We designed and constructed decapeptides, based on the known sequence cleavage specificities of bacterial pepstatin-insensitive carboxyl proteases (BPICP). MOCAc-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ile-Pro-Phe-Phe-Arg-Leu-Lys(Dnp)r-NH(2) is readily hydrolyzed by Cln2p/TPP-I (K(cat)/K(m) = 7.8 s(-1) mM(-1)). The enzyme had a maximal activity at pH 3.0 for an endopeptidase substrate, but at pH 4.5 with respect to tripeptidyl peptidase activity. Both endopeptidase and tripeptidyl peptidase activities were strongly inhibited by Ala-Ala-Phe-CH(2)Cl, but not inhibited by tyrostatin, an inhibitor of bacterial pepstatin-insensitive carboxyl proteases, pepstatin, or inhibitors of serine proteases. Fibroblasts from classical late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis patients have less than 5% of the normal tripeptidyl peptidase activity and pepstatin-insensitive endopeptidase activity. Cln2p/TPP-I is a unique enzyme with both tripeptidyl peptidase and endopeptidase activities for certain substrate specificity.