Unexpected role of the L-domain of calpastatin during the autoproteolytic activation of human erythrocyte calpain

Autoproteolysis of human erythrocyte calpain-1 proceeds in vitro at high [Ca²⁺], through the conversion of the 80-kDa catalytic subunit into a 75-kDa activated enzyme that requires lower [Ca²⁺] for catalysis. Importantly, here we detect a similar 75 kDa calpain-1 form also in vivo, in human meningiomas. Although calpastatin is so far considered the specific inhibitor of calpains, we have previously identified in rat brain a calpastatin transcript truncated at the end of the L-domain (cast110, L-DOM), coding for a protein lacking the inhibitory units. Aim of the present study was to characterize the possible biochemical role of the L-DOM during calpain-1 autoproteolysis in vitro, at high (100 µM) and low (5 µM) [Ca²⁺]. Here we demonstrate that the L-DOM binds the 80 kDa proenzyme in the absence of Ca²⁺ Consequently, we have explored the ability of the 75 kDa activated protease to catalyze at 5 µM Ca²⁺ the intermolecular activation of native calpain-1 associated with the L-DOM. Notably, this [Ca²⁺] is too low to promote the autoproteolytic activation of calpain-1 but enough to support the catalysis of the 75 kDa calpain. We show for the first time that the L-DOM preserves native calpain-1 from the degradation mediated by the 75 kDa form. Taken together, our data suggest that the free L-domain of calpastatin is a novel member of the calpain/calpastatin system endowed with a function alternative to calpain inhibition. For this reason, it will be crucial to define the intracellular relevance of the L-domain in controlling calpain activation/activity in physiopathological conditions having altered Ca²⁺ homeostasis.