Selective replacement of the catalytic zinc of the human stromelysin-1 catalytic domain

We have selectively replaced the catalytic zinc of the catalytic domain of stromelysin-l (SCD) with other transition metals. Dialysis of the enzyme against 2 mM 1,10-phenanthroline, 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.5 in the presence of 10 mM CaCl2 removes the catalytic zinc, leaving the structural zinc site intact. Dialysis with metal-free buffer followed by the new metal ion replaces the catalytic zinc forming a metal hybrid enzyme. Full incorporation of 1 mol Co2+, Ni2+, or Cd2+/mol enzyme is confirmed by atomic absorption spectrometry while the weaker binding Mn2+ yields a value of 0.4 mol Mn2+/mol enzyme after dialysis against 1 mu M Mn2+. The activity of the monozinc enzyme is <10% while its activity is restored upon the addition of zinc and other transition metals. The k(cat) values for the Co2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+ enzymes are respectively 99%, 54%, 19%, and 17% of the value for the native enzyme, while the respective k(cat)/K-m values are 36%, 29%, 7%, and 16% toward the fluorescent heptapeptide substrate, DnsPLALRAR. The zinc and metal hybrid SCD cleave DnsPLA down arrow LRAR, and DnsPLE down arrow LFAR, exclusively at one bond, while DnsPLA down arrow L down arrow WAR and DnsPLA down arrow L down arrow FAR are cleaved at two positions. The double cleavage of DnsPLALWAR and DnsPLALFAR catalyzed by SCD is in marked contrast to the close structurally related matrilysin. A notable feature of SCD catalysis is the different cleavage site specificity of the metal hybrids toward the A-L and L-W bonds of the DnsPLALWAR substrate. Thus the k(cat) values of: the Co/Zn hybrid for the cleavage of the A-L bond in the DnsPLALRAR and DnsPLAWAR substrates are 5- and X-fold greater than those for the Cd/Zn hybrid compared to a 140-fold difference for the corresponding k(cat) values for the L-W bond cleavage. These results imply that the catalytic metal of SCD is not only involved in catalysis but also influences the substrate specificity of the enzyme.