Abstract Metallo-aminopeptidases (mAPs) control many physiological processes. They are classified in different families according to structural similarities. Neutral mAPs catalyze the cleavage of neutral amino acids from the N-terminus of proteins or peptide substrates; they need one or two metallic cofactors in their active site. Information about marine invertebrate’s neutral mAPs properties is scarce; available data are mainly derived from genomics and cDNA studies. The goal of this work was to characterize the biochemical properties of the neutral APs activities in eight Cuban marine invertebrate species from the Phyla Mollusca, Porifera, Echinodermata, and Cnidaria. Determination of substrate specificity, optimal pH and effects of inhibitors (1,10-phenanthroline, amastatin, and bestatin) and cobalt on activity led to the identification of distinct neutral AP-like activities, whose biochemical behaviors were similar to those of the M1 and M17 families of mAPs. Additionally, M18-like glutamyl AP activities were detected. Thus, marine invertebrates express biochemical activities likely belonging to various families of metallo-aminopeptidases.

中文翻译：

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古巴海岸线海洋无脊椎动物中 M1、M17 和 M18 样氨肽酶的生化证据

摘要 金属氨肽酶 (mAP) 控制着许多生理过程。它们根据结构的相似性被归入不同的家族。中性 mAP 催化从蛋白质或肽底物的 N 端裂解中性氨基酸；它们的活性部位需要一两个金属辅助因子。关于海洋无脊椎动物中性 mAPs 特性的信息很少；可用数据主要来自基因组学和 cDNA 研究。这项工作的目标是表征来自软体动物门、多孔动物门、棘皮动物和刺胞动物的八种古巴海洋无脊椎动物物种中中性 APs 活动的生化特性。确定底物特异性、最佳 pH 值和抑制剂（1,10-菲咯啉、阿司他丁、和 bestatin）和钴的活性导致鉴定出不同的中性 AP 样活性，其生化行为与 mAP 的 M1 和 M17 家族相似。此外，检测到 M18 样谷氨酰 AP 活性。因此，海洋无脊椎动物表达可能属于各种金属氨肽酶家族的生化活动。