Protein N-glycosylation is involved in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes such as autoimmunity, tumour progression and metastasis. Signal peptide peptidase-like 3 (SPPL3) is an intramembrane-cleaving aspartyl protease of the GxGD type. Its physiological function, however, has remained enigmatic, since presently no physiological substrates have been identified. We demonstrate that SPPL3 alters the pattern of cellular N-glycosylation by triggering the proteolytic release of active site-containing ectodomains of glycosidases and glycosyltransferases such as N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V, b-1,3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 and b-1,4 galactosyltransferase 1. Cleavage of these enzymes leads to a reduction in their cellular activity. In line with that, reduced expression of SPPL3 results in a hyperglycosylation phenotype, whereas elevated SPPL3 expression causes hypoglycosylation. Thus, SPPL3 plays a central role in an evolutionary highly conserved post-translational process in eukaryotes.

Signal peptide peptidase-like 3 (SPPL3) is a Golgi-resident intramembrane-cleaving protease that is highly conserved among multicellular eukaryotes pointing to pivotal physiological functions in the Golgi network which are only beginning to emerge. Recently, SPPL3 was shown to control protein N-glycosylation, when the key branching enzyme N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) and other medial/trans Golgi glycosyltransferases were identified as first physiological SPPL3 substrates. SPPL3-mediated endoproteolysis releases the catalytic ectodomains of these enzymes from their type II membrane anchors. Protein glycosylation is a multistep process involving numerous type II membrane-bound enzymes, but it remains unclear whether only few of them are SPPL3 substrates or whether SPPL3 cleaves many of them and thereby controls protein glycosylation at multiple levels. Therefore, to systematically identify SPPL3 substrates we used Sppl3-deficient and SPPL3-overexpression cell culture models and analyzed them for changes in secreted membrane protein ectodomains using the proteomics "secretome protein enrichment with click sugars (SPECS)" method. SPECS analysis identified numerous additional new SPPL3 candidate glycoprotein substrates, several of which were biochemically validated as SPPL3 substrates. All novel SPPL3 substrates adopt a type II topology. The majority localizes to the Golgi network and is implicated in Golgi functions. Importantly, most of the novel SPPL3 substrates catalyze the modification of Nlinked glycans. Others contribute to O-glycan and in particular glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, suggesting that SPPL3 function is not restricted to N-glycosylation, but also functions in other forms of protein glycosylation. Hence, SPPL3 emerges as a crucial player of Golgi function and the newly identified SPPL3 substrates will be instrumental to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological function of SPPL3 in the Golgi network and in vivo. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001672. Molecular

Signal peptide peptidase (SPP) and the four homologous SPP‐like (SPPL) proteases constitute a family of intramembrane aspartyl proteases with selectivity for type II‐oriented transmembrane segments. Here, we analyse the physiological function of the orphan protease SPPL2c, previously considered to represent a non‐expressed pseudogene. We demonstrate proteolytic activity of SPPL2c towards selected tail‐anchored proteins. Despite shared ER localisation, SPPL2c and SPP exhibit distinct, though partially overlapping substrate spectra and inhibitory profiles, and are organised in different high molecular weight complexes. Interestingly, SPPL2c is specifically expressed in murine and human testis where it is primarily localised in spermatids. In mice, SPPL2c deficiency leads to a partial loss of elongated spermatids and reduced motility of mature spermatozoa, but preserved fertility. However, matings of male and female SPPL2c−/− mice exhibit reduced litter sizes. Using proteomics we identify the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA2)‐regulating protein phospholamban (PLN) as a physiological SPPL2c substrate. Accumulation of PLN correlates with a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ levels in elongated spermatids that likely contribute to the compromised male germ cell differentiation and function of SPPL2c−/− mice.

Background: SPPL proteases are intramembrane-cleaving aspartyl proteases of the GxGD type. Results: Under certain circumstances, SPPL3 cleaves FVenv independent of prior shedding, generating substrates for subsequent intramembrane proteolysis. Conclusion: Unlike other known GxGD proteases, SPPL3 can act as a sheddase and an intramembrane protease within the regulated intramembrane proteolysis cascade. Significance: This initial biochemical characterization of SPPL3 will help to address its physiological role in later studies.

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