Biochemical evidence of key residues for the activation and autoprocessing of tomato type II metacaspase

To investigate the autolysis pattern and activation of metacaspase in higher plants, the biochemical characteristics of purified recombinant type II metacaspase (LeMCA1) from tomato were explored. Western blotting analysis indicated that four cleaved bands were formed; two N-terminal fragments and two C-terminal fragments. N-terminal sequencing confirmed that LeMCA1 cleaves at Lys223 and Arg332. Site mutants indicated that catalytic Cys139, cleaved Lys223, Arg332 and predicted calcium binding Asp116/Asp117 are the key residues that are responsible for its Ca2+ and pH dependent activation. The cleavage of the full-size fragment seemed crucial for the activation of LeMCA1 in vitro.