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The MALT1 paracaspase has arginine-directed proteolytic activity. A20 is a dual ubiquitin-editing enzyme involved in termination of NF-κB signaling. Upon T- or B-cell receptor engagement human (h) A20 is cleaved by MALT1 after arginine 439, yielding an N-terminal fragment (hA20p50) and a C-terminal one (hA20p37). The hA20p50 fragment has never been detected directly, thus limiting insight into the functional consequences of MALT1-mediated cleavage of A20. Here, various antibodies were tested, including newly generated hA20p50 and hA20p37 specific antibodies, leading to detection of the hA20p50 fragment produced after MALT1-mediated cleavage of ectopically expressed as well as endogenous A20 proteins. The properties of both A20 fragments, generated upon co-expression with a constitutively active MALT1 protein, were further studied by sub-cellular fractionation and fluorescence microscopy. In contrast to full-length A20 which is particulate and insoluble, we found hA20p50 to be soluble and readily released into the cytosol whereas hA20p37 was partially soluble, thus suggesting loss of compartmentalization as a possible mechanism for MALT1-mediated dampening of A20 function., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mutations in the ubiquitous factor eIF2B involved in protein synthesis and its regulation have been reported in human brain genetic disorders. In order to analyse the functional consequences of the mutations and to find specific biomarkers of eIF2B-related disorders, proteomics and peptidomics studies were performed on lymphoblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients versus healthy patients. Curiously, following two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass fingerprints, mutations in the eIF2B complex did not significantly affect the proteome of the mutated lymphoblasts extracts. However, liquid chromatography based peptidomics studies revealed one apparently instable candidate compound in five out of the six mutated lymphoblastoid cell lines investigated.