A point mutation in the juxtamembrane stalk of human angiotensin I-converting enzyme invokes the action of a distinct secretase.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is one of a number of integral membrane proteins that is proteolytically shed from the cell surface by a zinc metallosecretase. Mutagenesis of Asn(631) to Gln in the juxtamembrane stalk region of ACE resulted in more efficient secretion of the mutant protein (ACE(NQ)) as determined by pulse-chase analysis. In contrast to the wild-type ACE, the cleavage of ACE(NQ) was not blocked by the metallosecretase inhibitor batimastat but by the serine protease inhibitor, 1,3-dichloroisocoumarin. Incubation of the cells at 15 degrees C revealed that ACE(NQ) was cleaved in the endoplasmic reticulum, and mass spectrometric analysis of the secreted form of the protein indicated that it had been cleaved at the Asn(635)-Ser(636) bond, three residues N-terminal to the normal secretase cleavage site at Arg(638)-Ser(639). These data clearly show that a point mutation in the juxtamembrane region of an integral membrane protein can invoke the action of a mechanistically and spatially distinct secretase. In light of this observation, previous data on the effect of mutations in the juxtamembrane stalk of shed proteins being accommodated by a single secretase having a relaxed specificity need to be re-evaluated.