Ovine luteinizing hormone. III. Relationships between the charge heterogeneity of partially purified subunits and the native hormone

Extracts of anterior pituitaries from wethers were prepared by homogenization and centrifugation at 100,000 X g. When chromatofocused on pH 10.5-7.0 gradients, eight peaks of immunoreactive ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) were observed: six exhibited apparent pIs in the range of 9.33-8.83, one eluted unbound (apparent pI greater than 9.8), and one was bound to the column (apparent pI less than or equal to 7.0). A portion of the same extracts was subjected to gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 Superfine to resolve native oLH and its uncombined subunits. oLH, oLH alpha, and oLH beta were present at concentrations of 0.907 +/- 0.127, 0.089 +/- 0.020, and 0.010 +/- 0.023 microgram/mg tissue, respectively, which translated to oLH alpha/oLH and oLH beta/oLH molar ratios of approximately equal to 0.19 and approximately equal to 0.02. Fractions containing immunoreactive oLH or uncombined subunits (oLH alpha and oLH beta) were pooled, lyophilized, and chromatofocused. Native oLH resolved from uncombined subunits by gel filtration displayed a similar pattern of isohormones to those in crude extracts. In contrast, three purified oLH preparations exhibited distinct chromatofocusing patterns. Uncombined oLH alpha in pituitary extracts resolved from native oLH by gel filtration exhibited a higher percentage (approximately equal to 37%) of acidic components when chromatofocused, while more than 97% of purified oLH alpha focused as basic forms having pIs greater than 8.9. When uncombined oLH beta in pituitary extracts was chromatofocused, more than half of the immunoreactivity was bound to the column (apparent pI less than or equal to 7.0); purified oLH beta displayed a nearly identical pattern. These results suggest that native oLH resolved from uncombined subunits by gel filtration displays a similar chromatofocusing profile to that of oLH in crude pituitary extracts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ovine luteinizing hormone. I. Effects of castration and steroid administration on the charge heterogeneity of pituitary luteinizing hormone

Chromatofocusing was used to separate and characterize the isohormones of ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) in the pituitaries of rams, wethers, and wethers receiving Silastic implants containing 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), or DHT plus E2. Extracts of anterior pituitaries were prepared by homogenization and centrifugation at 100,000 X g. Castration reduced the amount of oLH in the pituitary, even though peripheral levels were elevated. Pituitary oLH concentrations in wethers were further reduced by all three steroid treatments. When subjected to chromatofocusing on pH 10.5 to 7.0 gradients, pituitary extracts yielded eight peaks of immunoreactive oLH, which eluted with apparent isoelectric points of greater than 9.8, 9.26, 9.14, 9.07, 8.98, 8.91, and less than or equal to 7.0. These isohormones were designated A-G and Z, respectively. In rams, isohormones F and G were the predominant species, representing approximately equal to 57% of the immunoreactive oLH recovered from the column. Castration resulted in a subtle shift toward more basic isohormones. DHT administration caused an increase in the relative amount of isohormone A, whereas E2 treatment resulted in an increase in isohormone Z. DHT and E2 in combination produced increases in the relative amounts of both isohormones A and Z. All eight oLH isohormones were active in an in vitro LH bioassay and exhibited biological-to-immunological-assay (B/I) ratios in the ram ranging from 0.4 to 2.8. Isohormone F exhibited the highest B/I ratio in all the treatment groups. Similarly, isohormone F was clearly the predominant biologically active form of oLH in all groups. These results demonstrate that at least eight immunoreactive and biologically active forms of pituitary oLH can be separated by using chromatofocusing; the pattern of oLH isohormones is markedly different from that in the rat; castration has a minimal effect on the pattern of oLH isohormones in pituitary extracts; and exogenous gonadal steroid administration reduces the amount of oLH in the pituitary and changes the pattern of oLH isohormones, resulting in a higher percentage of less biologically active forms.     

Modification of ovine luteinizing hormone subunits with SMPT and its effect on subunit recombination, immunological activity, receptor binding and steroidogenic activity

The increasing use of heterobifunctional cross-linking agents in the design of defined conjugates for selective targeting and inducing immune response has prompted us to study the role of epsilon-NH2 group modification of oLH subunits, their recombination and effect on immunoreactivity, receptor binding and biological activity. The epsilon-NH2 groups of alpha oLH and beta oLH subunits were separately modified by using SMPT. The alpha oLH-SMPT modified derivatives hybridize to beta oLH. Similarly, the beta oLH-SMPT derivatives recombined with alpha oLH. The recombination was judged by gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC analysis. The sequential modification of subunits led to progressive reduction in immunoreactivity and receptor binding activity. The modification of six or more epsilon-NH2 groups in alpha oLH although recombine fully with native beta oLH but failed to react to anti-oLH antibody. Moreover, the steroidogenic activity was also abolished. Introduction upto four SMPT groups in alpha oLH compromised immunological and biological activities but further addition of two or more SMPT groups completely abolished antibody reactivity, receptor binding and steroidogenic activity indicating the importance of later two amino groups in the receptor binding and steroidogenic activity. The present investigation clearly demonstrate that only 1:2-3 molar ratio of oLH subunits:SMPT could generate the site(s) in the subunits of the oLH that retained reasonable immunological, receptor binding and biological activity of the hormone. Therefore, this molar ratio may be used in future for the design and synthesis of bioeffective hormonotoxins.     

Effect of lysine residue modification of ovine luteinizing hormone by heterobifunctional crosslinking reagent SPDP on subunit-subunit association, receptor binding and biological activity.

The increasing use of heterobifunctional crosslinking agent in the design of hormone-carrier conjugates for selective targeting or inducing immune response against the hormone has prompted us to study the effect of epsilon-NH2 group modification of oLH-subunit, their recombination, immunoreactivity, receptor binding and biological activity. The epsilon-NH2 groups of oLH alpha and oLH beta subunits were modified by using SPDP. The SPDP modified oLH alpha derivatives hybridize to native OLH beta as judged by RP-HPLC analysis. The sequential modification of alpha and beta subunits led to progressive reduction in immunoreactivity and receptor binding activities. The steroidogenic potential of oLH beta.SPDP.alpha oLH recombinant was relatively comparable. The modification of six or more epsilon-NH2 groups in oLH alpha although recombine fully with native oLH beta but failed to react to anti-oLH antibody. Moreover, steroidogenic activity was also abolished. Introduction up to four SPDP groups in oLH alpha compromised immunological and biological activities but further addition of two more SPDP groups completely abolished antibody reactivity, receptor binding and steroidogenic activity indicating the importance of later two -NH2 groups in the receptor recognition and steroidogenic potential.     

Charge microheterogeneity of ovine follicle-stimulating hormone in rams and steroid-treated wethers

Chromatofocusing was utilized to separate the isohormones of ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (oFSH) in pituitary extracts from rams, wethers, and wethers receiving Silastic implants of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), or both DHT and E2. Pituitary extracts were prepared by homogenization and centrifugation at 100,000 x g. Extracts of ram pituitaries yielded at least nine species (isohormones) of immunoreactive oFSH having apparent isoelectric points (pIs) of greater than 7.40, 6.74, 6.52, 5.76, 5.20, 4.74, 4.44, 4.10, and less than 4.00. These isohormones were designated by the letters A-H and Z, respectively. Eighty-four percent of the immunoreactive ram oFSH recovered from the chromatofocusing column was very acidic in nature, having apparent pIs less than 5.30. The majority of the immunoreactive oFSH was focused in an area different from that of most of the immunoreactive ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) and ovine thyroid-stimulating hormone (oTSH). Pituitary extracts from control and steroid-treated wethers also contained these nine oFSH isohormones, but significant differences were noted in the relative distribution among the isohormones. Castration resulted in a 4-fold increase in isohormone B and a concomitant reduction in isohormones E and H. DHT administration returned these levels to the values observed in the ram, whereas E2 administration produced a significant 2-fold increase in the most acidic form (isohormone Z). The implant combination produced isohormone profiles comparable to that of E2 alone. Neuraminidase treatment in vitro of both crude pituitary extracts or highly purified iodinated oFSH abolished the most acidic form and caused a marked shift in the isohormone pattern to more basic species. These results demonstrate that 1) at least nine isohormones of oFSH can be separated reproducibly from the male ovine pituitary by chromatofocusing, 2) the majority of FSH in the pituitary exists in acidic form, 3) castration and steroid administration alter the distribution of oFSH in the pituitary among its isohormones, and 4) at least a portion of oFSH-charge microheterogeneity appears to be due to the presence of sialic acid residues on the molecule.     

Selective proteolysis of ovine lutropin or its beta subunit by endoproteinase Arg-C. Properties of the Arg beta 43 cleaved hormone

Ovine lutropin (oLH) and its beta subunit (oLH beta) were nicked by short-term incubations with endoproteinase Arg-C. Isolated oLH beta was rapidly nicked and converted from an Mr 18,000 band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels to an Mr 13,000 band. Partial nicking of only the beta subunit in intact oLH was also observed as indicated by the appearance of small amounts of the Mr 13,000 band detected in Arg-C-treated oLH samples. The alpha subunit was protected by association with the beta subunit, but free alpha subunit was rapidly degraded. Sequence analysis of nicked oLH beta indicated that one of the peptide bonds on either side of Arg43 was cleaved by the protease, with a slight preference for the amino side of this residue. Nicked oLH beta was reassociated with oLH alpha, and the resulting dimer was separated from unrecombined subunits. The biologic activity of nicked oLH beta + oLH alpha in an LH radioligand assay was only 2% that of intact oLH.     

Deglycosylation of gonadotropins with an endoglycosidase

A commercially available endoglycosidase (N-glycanase, Genzyme, Boston, Mass.) purified from Flavobacterium meningosepticum with a specificity for cleaving asparagine-linked carbohydrate moieties in glycoproteins was tested on several pituitary and chorionic gonadotropins as substrates. All intact hormones tested were resistant to the action of the enzyme as were all beta subunits from the respective gonadotropins. All alpha subunits, however, were susceptible to the enzyme as evidenced by a decrease in molecular size when examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Preparative experiments with ovine luteinizing hormone subunit (oLH alpha) indicated that only 35-40% of the carbohydrate was removed after N-glycanase treatment, suggesting that perhaps only one of the two carbohydrate moieties was cleavable under the conditions employed. The enzyme-modified subunit (DG-oLH alpha) was able to recombine with untreated oLH beta. An in vitro steroidogenic bioassay (rat Leydig cell) showed that the recombinant (DG-oLH alpha-oLH beta) was about 22% as potent as the native oLH, but in a testicular membrane binding assay for LH, it was equal in potency to the native hormone in competing with the radioligand.     

Direct evidence for the localization of the steroid-binding site of the plasma sex steroid-binding protein (SBP or SHBG) at the interface between the subunits.

Complete dissociation of dimeric plasma sex steroid-binding protein (SBP or SHBG) was obtained in 6 M urea at 10 degrees C. Removal of urea resulted in the refolding of monomers, followed by reformation of dimeric SBP, which migrates with the same mobility as the native protein. Dimerization does not require Ca+2 or steroid. Renatured monomers yield dimers with dissociation constants for 5 alpha-dihydrotesterone (DHT) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) indistinguishable from those of native human SBP. This phenomenon was also demonstrated by mixing human and rabbit SBPs that, upon renaturation, form a hybrid dimer composed of one human subunit and one rabbit subunit. The hybrid binds both DHT and E2 in contrast to rSBP, which only binds the androgen. Therefore, we conclude that (1) docking of the two subunits creates an asymmetric steroid-binding site located at the interface between the subunits, and (2) only one face of the dimer defines the specificity for binding E2 by encompassing portion of a structural motif that recognizes the flat ring A of E2. The remaining portion, which recognizes the saturated ring A of DHT, is shared by both faces of the dimer. Because native monomers do not exist alone, the often-asked question of whether the SBP monomer binds steroid can be considered meaningless; steroid-binding activity is expressed only in the dimeric state. Finally, formation of the hybrid indicates that SBP dimerization represents a conserved event during the molecular evolution of SBP, suggesting that the structural elements responsible for dimerization will be homologous in SBPs from other species.     

Effects of intermittent pulsatile infusion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on dihydrotestosterone-suppressed gonadotropin secretion in castrate rams

The feedback effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on gonadotropin secretion in rams were investigated using DHT-implanted castrate rams (wethers) infused with intermittent pulsatile luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) for 14 days. Castration, as anticipated, reduced both serum testosterone and DHT but elevated serum LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Dihydrotestosterone implants raised serum DHT in wethers to intact ram levels and blocked the LH and FSH response to castration. The secretory profile of these individuals failed to show an endogenous LH pulse during any of the scheduled blood sampling periods, but a small LH pulse was observed following a 5-ng/kg LHRH challenge injection. Dihydrotestosterone-implanted wethers given repeated LHRH injections beginning at the time of castration increased serum FSH and yielded LH pulses that were temporally coupled to exogenous LHRH administration. While the frequency of these secretory episodes was comparable to that observed for castrates, amplitudes of the induced LH pulses were blunted relative to those observed for similarly infused, testosterone-implanted castrates. Dihydrotestosterone was also shown to inhibit LH and FSH secretion and serum testosterone concentrations in intact rams. In summary, it appears that DHT may normally participate in feedback regulation of LH and FSH secretion in rams. These data suggest androgen feedback is regulated by deceleration of the hypothalamic LHRH pulse generator and direct actions at the level of the adenohypophysis.     

The effect of infusions of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone or estradiol-17 beta on the concentration of some steroids in the human testicular vein and artery

The concentrations of testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, estradiol-17 beta and testosterone-glucosiduronate were measured in the plasma of the testicular vein and artery simultaneously with the estimation in peripheral venous and arterial plasma 60 min after an infusion of 3000 micrograms dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or estradiol (E2), respectively, in patients undergoing orchiectomy for prostatic cancer. The results were as follows; following infusion of DHT or E2, both steroids were completely metabolized by the testes. After DHT the testicular secretion of E2 was significantly reduced. In peripheral plasma 3 alpha-diol concentration was increased. Following E2 a transient elevation of testosterone in the spermatic vein was observed, whereas a slight decrease of DHT and an increase especially of 3 beta-diol levels occurred. It is assumed that DHT as well as E2 plays a role as intratesticular regulator of steroid synthesis and metabolism.     

Inhibition of luteinizing hormone secretion by localized administration of estrogen, but not dihydrotestosterone, is enhanced in the ventromedial hypothalamus during feed restriction in the young wether

The ability of steroids to inhibit LH secretion is enhanced during undernutrition. To identify potential hypothalamic sites at which this enhancement may occur, we examined LH secretion in feed-restricted or fed young wethers treated with locally administered metabolites of testosterone. In experiment 1, microimplants containing crystalline estradiol-17beta (E) or cholesterol were administered via chronic guide tubes directed to the preoptic area (POA) or ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in fed or feed-restricted wethers. E treatment in the VMH decreased LH pulse frequency, pulse amplitude, and mean LH concentration in feed-restricted, but not fed, wethers. E may act in the POA to suppress LH under feed restriction, but definite conclusions cannot be drawn because of steroid-independent effects of feed restriction on LH pulse frequency. In experiment 2, the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the VMH was determined. DHT administration to the VMH did not alter LH secretion in either feed-restricted or fed wethers. Thus the VMH is one site wherein E negative feedback is enhanced during feed restriction in the wether. In contrast, we found no evidence for enhanced responsiveness to androgen negative feedback within the VMH of feed-restricted wethers. We suggest that increased sensitivity within the VMH to E, but not to DHT, is important for suppressing LH secretion in undernourished male sheep.     

Studies on the subunits of Escherichia coli coenzyme A transferase. Reconstitution of an active enzyme.

The alpha and beta subunits of the acetyl-CoA:acetoacetate-CoA transferase were purified by isoelectric focusing of the enzyme in the presence of 6 M urea. The purified beta subunit, in which the active center of the enzyme is located, exhibits low catalytic activity (2% of the specific activity of the native enzyme) which is stimulated 5-6-fold in the presence of an equimolar concentration of alpha subunit. The presence of the substrate,acetoacetyl-CoA, is required to recover the catalytic activity of the beta subunit and mixtures containing purified alpha and beta subunits. When the enzyme is dissociation in the presence of 6 M urea and the subunits are not fractioned, removal of the urea by dialysis results in the recovery of 88-98% of enzymic activity and the native alpha2beta2 subunit structure. However, analysis of this renatured enzyme by immunochemical techniques shows that the enzyme does not refold to a completely native conformation. This renatured enzyme exhibits an immunological reactivity more closely resembling the isolated alpha subunit. The results indicate that the alpha subunit serves as a structural subunit, or possible a maturation subunit, imposing a conformation on the beta subunit that is catalytically more competent.     

The effects of E7 and E11 mutations on the kinetics of ligand binding to R state human hemoglobin

Association and dissociation rate constants for O2, CO, and methyl isocyanide binding to native and distal pocket mutants of R state human hemoglobin were measured using ligand displacement and partial photolysis techniques. Individual rate constants for the alpha and beta subunits were resolved by comparisons between the kinetic behavior of the native and mutant proteins. His-E7 was replaced with Gly and Gln in both alpha and beta subunits and with Phe in beta subunits alone. In separate experiments Val-E11 was replaced with Ala, Leu, and Ile in each globin chain. The parameters describing ligand binding to R state alpha subunits are sensitive to the size and polarity of the amino acids at positions E7 and E11. The distal histidine in this subunit inhibits the bimolecular rate of binding of both O2 and CO, sterically hinders bound CO and methyl isocyanide, and stabilizes bound O2 by hydrogen bonding. The Val-E11 side chain in alpha chains also appears to be part of the kinetic barrier to O2 and CO binding since substitution with Ala causes approximately 10-fold increases in the association rate constants for the binding of these diatomic ligands. However, substitution of Val-E11 by Ile produces only small decreases in the rates of ligand binding to alpha subunits. For R state beta subunits, the bimolecular rates of O2 and CO binding are intrinsically large, approximately 2-5-fold greater than those for alpha subunits, and with the exception of Val-E11----Ile mutation, little affected by substitutions at either the E7 or E11 positions. For the beta Val-E11----Ile mutant the association rate and equilibrium constants for all three ligands decreased 10-50-fold. All of these results agree with Shaanan's conclusions that the distal pocket in liganded beta subunits is more open whereas in alpha subunits bound ligands are more sterically hindered by adjacent distal residues (Shaanan, B. (1983) J. Mol. Biol. 171, 31-59). In the case of O2 binding to alpha subunits, the unfavorable steric effects are compensated by the formation of a hydrogen bond between the nitrogen atom of His-E7 and bound dioxygen.     

Studies on pituitary follitropin. V. Isolation of the subunits of the human hormone and reaction of the amino groups with acylating agents.

The alpha and beta subunits of human follitropin were isolated in a high state of purity. The tryptophan fluorescence of the native hormone and the isolated beta subunit are different. The N-terminus of the alpha and beta subunits was identified as valine and aspartic acid respectively. While recombination of the isolated alpha and beta subunits restores the electrophoretic mobility of the intact hormone, its receptor binding activity cannot be fully regenerated. Substitution of the human follitropin alpha by an ovine lutropin alpha subunit, to form a recombinant with the follitropin beta subunit, generates a complex with 2-3 receptor binding activity of the native human follitropin and the same activity as ovine follitropin. Acylation of the intact hormone does not disrupt the quaternary structure but leads to complete inactivation. Acylation studies with the subunits suggests the crucial role of the epsilon-amino groups of the alpha subunit in determining biological activity.     

Disulfide linked αoLH-gelonin conjugate failed to recombine with βoLH subunit to generate bioeffective hormonotoxin

Since, linking of ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) to ribosome inactivating protein gelonin (in oLH-gelonin conjugate) occur via the alpha-subunit, oLH, an attempt has been made to develop a universal hormonotoxin for selective targeting to specific cells in the gonads. Four different molar ratios of oLH and N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP) were used to activate the epsilon amino (-NH₂) groups of oLH. The oLH-SPDP derivatives recombine to native beta subunit of oLH (oLH) and the purified recombinants retained substantial receptor binding, steroidogenic activity and immunoreactivity to native oLH. The disulfide linked oLH-S-S-gelonin conjugates prepared by SPDP method were purified by gel filtration chromatography and analysed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). In order to obtain specificity and bioeffectivity, the oLH-S-S-gelonin conjugates were allowed to recombine to native oLH and the recombination mixture was further purified by gel-filtration chromatography. The RP-HPLC analysis of these recombinants indicated that oLH-S-S-gelonin did not recombine to oLH. The failure of recombination may be due to the reasons. (i) The site of -NH₂ activation by SPDP may be different in the oLH than the native oLH. (ii) The activation site may be in close proximity to the annealing site which facilitates the recombination of -subunit but failured to reassociate to oLH-S-S-gelonin conjugate. (iii) The introduction of gelonin (30 kDa basic protein) might have induced some steric hinderence for oLH to recombine to the oLH site which might have been masked in oLH-S-S-gelonin conjugates. (Mol Cell Biochem120: 95–102, 1993)Abbreviations oLH ovine Luteinizing Hormone - oLH alpha subunit of oLH - oLH beta subunit of oLH - BSA Bovine Serum Albumin - DTT Dithiothreitol - RP-HPLC Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography - TSH Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone - LH Luteinizing Hormone - eCG equine Chorionic Gonadotropin - DMEM Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium - HEPES 4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-1 Piperazine Ethane Sulfonic acid - PAP Pokeweed Antiviral Protein - RIA Radioimmunoassay - hCG human Chorionic Gonadotropin - TRH Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone - CRF Corticotropin Releasing Factor - hPL human Placental Lactogen - TFA Trifluroacetic Acid - oLH-SPDP SPDP activated derivative of oLH     

Stoichiometry of subunits in the H+-ATPase complex of Escherichia coli

The H+-ATPase (F1F0) of Escherichia coli was purified from cells labeled with either [35S]sulfate or [U-14C-D] glucose, and the molar ratio of subunits in the complex determined. The molar ratio was calculated from the radioactivity incorporated into each subunit, using either the subunit sulfur content or subunit molecular weight. These labeling experiments confirm an alpha 3 beta 3 gamma 1 delta 1 epsilon 1 ratio of subunits in F1, and indicate a chi 1 psi 2 omega 10 ratio of subunits in F0. The chi, psi, and omega designations used here refer to the subunits of F0 in order of decreasing molecular weight. Staining with Coomassie brilliant blue gave a reliable indication of the molar ratio of subunits in F1, but very erroneous values for each of the subunits of F0. We attempted to estimate the ratio of subunits in the native membrane, since the stoichiometry determined for the purified complex could be an anomaly of purification. These estimates were made after labeling cells with [35S]sulfate during amplification of the ATPase genes carried on a lambda transducing phage. The subunit ratios in the native membrane were reasonably close to those obtained with purified F1F0. We conclude that the stoichiometry determined reflects the composition of F1F0 in the native membrane. The most surprising conclusion from this study is that there are 10 +/- 1 omega ("proteolipid") subunits in each F1F0 complex. This is considerably more than had been assumed previously.     

Unfolding/refolding studies of smooth muscle tropomyosin. Evidence for a chain exchange mechanism in the preferential assembly of the native heterodimer

The thermal and the urea-induced unfolding profiles of the coiled-coil alpha-helix of native and refolded tropomyosin from chicken gizzard were studied by circular dichroism. Refolding of tropomyosin at low temperature from alpha + beta subunits, dissociated by guanidinium chloride, urea, or high temperature, predominantly produced alpha alpha + beta beta homodimers in agreement with earlier studies of refolding from guanidinium chloride (Graceffa, P. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 1282-1287). The presence of two unfolding transitions in low salt solutions with about equal helix loss verified the composition with the first unfolding transition of the homodimer mixture originating from alpha alpha. In contrast, refolding by equilibrating at temperatures close to physiological, however, produced the native alpha beta heterodimer, which unfolded in a single transition. The refolding kinetics of dissociated alpha + beta subunits indicated that beta beta homodimers form first, leading to alpha alpha homodimers both of which are relatively stable against chain exchange below approximately 25 degrees C. Equilibrating the homodimer mixture at 37-40 degrees C for long times, however, produced the native alpha beta molecule via chain exchange. The equilibria involved indicate that the free energy of formation from subunits of alpha beta is much less than that of (alpha alpha + beta beta)/2. In vivo folding of alpha beta from the two separate alpha and beta gene products is, therefore, thermodynamically favored over the formation of homodimers and biological factors need not be considered to explain the native preferred alpha beta composition.     

Molecular mechanisms involved in the differential effects of sex steroids on the reproduction and infectivity of Taenia crassiceps

The in vitro exposure of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci to 17-beta estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) stimulated their reproduction and infectivity. Testosterone (T4) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) inhibited their reproduction and reduced their motility and infectivity. E2 and P4 increased, whereas T4 and DHT reduced, the expression of parasite c-fos and c-jun and DNA synthesis. In vitro exposure of cysticerci to sex steroids before their inoculation into recipient noninfected mice resulted in large parasite loads when pretreated with E2 and P4 and in smaller loads when pretreated with T4 and DHT To determine the possible molecular mechanisms by which sex steroids affect T. crassiceps, sex steroid receptors were amplified. Taenia crassiceps expressed estrogen receptors (both alpha and beta isoforms) and androgen receptors but no P4 receptors. These results demonstrate that sex steroids act directly on parasite reproduction by binding to a classic and specific sex steroid receptor on the parasite. The differential response of cysticerci to sex steroids may also be involved in their ability to grow faster in the murine female or feminized male host. This is the first report of direct sex steroid effects on the parasite possibly through sex steroid receptors in the cysticerci.     

Properties of equine luteinizing hormone alpha subunit alone and in combination with various beta subunits

Previous studies have shown that equine luteinizing hormone (eLH) inhibits production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) induced by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in preparations of seminiferous tubules from immature rats. It was also shown that the inhibitory effect was a function of the equine LH (eLH) alpha subunit. To explore this phenomenon further, the intrinsic FSH-like activities of eLH alpha alone and in combination with ovine (o) LH beta, ovine FSH beta, and equine FSH beta were evaluated in several assay systems. In a radioreceptor assay employing 125I-o-FSH and testis membranes from day-old calves, eLH was twice as active as oFSH, eLH alpha was 6% as active as oFSH, and other subunits showed a lack of activity (less than 1.5%). Whereas oLH was only 0.1% as active as oFSH, the hybrid eLH alpha-oLH beta was 3.0% as active. The binding activity of eLH alpha-FSH beta hybrids tended to be higher than the oFSH alpha-FSH beta hybrids. In the cAMP production assay, eLH alpha-FSH beta hybrids exhibited dampened dose-response curves when compared to the oFSH alpha-FSH beta hybrids. In a plasminogen activator assay (PAA) employing granulosa cells from intact 21-24-day-old female rats primed with diethylstilbestrol, eLH had activity comparable to that of oFSH, while eLH alpha was inactive. When eLH alpha was recombined with oFSH beta, eFSH beta, or oLH beta, the PAA stimulatory activity was not altered compared to that of the hybrids oLH alpha-oFSH beta, oFSH alpha-eFSH beta, and the recombinant oLH alpha-oLH beta, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)