Faculty Collaboration Database

Proapelin is processed extracellularly in a cell line-dependent manner with clear modulation by proprotein convertases. Amino Acids 2019 Mar;51(3):395-405

Date

11/16/2018

Pubmed ID

30430332

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7101949

DOI

10.1007/s00726-018-2674-8

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85056464644 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   6 Citations

Abstract

Apelin is a peptide hormone that binds to a class A GPCR (the apelin receptor/APJ) to regulate various bodily systems. Upon signal peptide removal, the resulting 55-residue isoform, proapelin/apelin-55, can be further processed to 36-, 17-, or 13-residue isoforms with length-dependent pharmacological properties. Processing was initially proposed to occur intracellularly. However, detection of apelin-55 in extracellular fluids indicates that extracellular processing may also occur. To test for this, apelin-55 was applied exogenously to HEK293A cells overexpressing proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 3 (PCSK3), the only apelin processing enzyme identified thus far, and to differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which endogenously express apelin, PCSK3 and other proprotein convertases. Analysis of culture media constituents from each cell type by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and western blot demonstrated a time-dependent decrease in apelin-55 levels. This decrease was partially, but not fully, attenuated by PCSK inhibitor treatment in both cell lines. Comparison of the resulting apelin-55-derived peptide profile between the two cell lines demonstrated distinct processing patterns, with apelin-36 production apparent in 3T3-L1 adipocytes vs. detection of the prodomain of a shorter isoform (likely the apelin-13 prodomain, observed after additional proteolytic processing) in PCSK3-transfected HEK293A cells. Extracellular processing of apelin, with distinct cell type dependence, provides an alternative mechanism to regulate isoform-mediated physiological effects of apelin.

Author List

Shin K, Landsman M, Pelletier S, Alamri BN, Anini Y, Rainey JK

Author

Kyungsoo Shin PhD Assistant Professor in the Biophysics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

3T3-L1 Cells
Adipocytes
Animals
Apelin
Extracellular Space
HEK293 Cells
Humans
Mice
Proprotein Convertases
Protein Precursors
Protein Processing, Post-Translational