Human plasma prekallikrein, a zymogen to a serine protease that contains four tandem repeats

The amino acid sequence of human plasma prekallikrein was determined by a combination of automated Edman degradation and cDNA sequencing techniques. Human plasma prekallikrein was fragmented with cyanogen bromide, and 13 homogeneous peptides were isolated and sequenced. Cyanogen bromide peptides containing carbohydrate were further digested with trypsin, and the peptides containing carbohydrate were isolated and sequenced. Five asparagine-linked carbohydrate attachment sites were identified. The sequence determined by Edman degradation was aligned with the amino acid sequence predicted from cDNAs isolated from a lambda gt11 expression library. This library contained cDNA inserts prepared from human liver poly(A) RNA. Analysis of the cDNA indicated that human plasma prekallikrein is synthesized as a precursor with a signal peptide of 19 amino acids. The mature form of the protein that circulates in blood is a single-chain polypeptide of 619 amino acids. Plasma prekallikrein is converted to plasma kallikrein by factor XIIa by the cleavage of an internal Arg-Ile bond. Plasma kallikrein is composed of a heavy chain (371 amino acids) and a light chain (248 amino acids), and these 2 chains are held together by a disulfide bond. The heavy chain of plasma kallikrein originates from the amino-terminal end of the zymogen and is composed of 4 tandem repeats that are 90 or 91 amino acid residues in length. These repeat sequences are also homologous to those in human factor XI. The light chain of plasma kallikrein contains the catalytic portion of the enzyme and is homologous to the trypsin family of serine proteases.     

Location of the disulfide bonds in human coagulation factor XI: the presence of tandem apple domains

Factor XI is a plasma glycoprotein that participates in the blood coagulation cascade. Of the 19 disulfide bonds present in each of the subunits of the human protein, 16 were determined by amino acid sequence analysis of peptide fragments produced by chemical and enzymatic digestion. Four apple domains of 90 or 91 amino acids were identified in the tandem repeats present in the amino-terminal portion of each subunit of factor XI. The disulfide bonds in the carboxyl-terminal portion of the molecule were similar to those in the catalytic region of other serine proteases. The two identical subunits of factor XI were connected by a single disulfide bond at Cys321 linking each of the fourth apple domains while each of the Cys residues at position 11 in the first apple domains forms a disulfide bond with another Cys residue.     

Sequence of the cDNA and gene for angiogenin, a human angiogenesis factor

Human cDNAs coding for angiogenin, a human tumor derived angiogenesis factor, were isolated from a cDNA library prepared from human liver poly(A) mRNA employing a synthetic oligonucleotide as a hybridization probe. The largest cDNA insert (697 base pairs) contained a short 5'-noncoding sequence followed by a sequence coding for a signal peptide of 24 (or 22) amino acids, 369 nucleotides coding for the mature protein of 123 amino acids, a stop codon, a 3'-noncoding sequence of 175 nucleotides, and a poly(A) tail. The gene coding for human angiogenin was then isolated from a genomic lambda Charon 4A bacteriophage library employing the cDNA as a probe. The nucleotide sequence of the gene and the adjacent 5'- and 3'-flanking regions (4688 base pairs) was then determined. The coding and 3'-noncoding regions of the gene for human angiogenin were found to be free of introns, and the DNA sequence for the gene agreed well with that of the cDNA. The gene contained a potential TATA box in the 5' end in addition to two Alu repetitive sequences immediately flanking the 5' and 3' ends of the gene. The third Alu sequence was also found about 500 nucleotides downstream from the Alu sequence at the 3' end of the gene. The amino acid sequence of human angiogenin as predicted from the gene sequence was in complete agreement with that determined by amino acid sequence analysis. It is about 35% homologous with human pancreatic ribonuclease, and the amino acid residues that are essential for the activity of ribonuclease are also conserved in angiogenin. This provocative finding is thought to have important physiological implications.     

Identification and chemical synthesis of a substrate-binding site for factor IX on coagulation factor XIa.

We have previously used monoclonal antibodies to identify an epitope on the heavy chain of factor XIa that is a substrate-binding site for factor IX (Sinha, D., Seaman, F.S., and Walsh, P.N. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 3768-3775; Baglia, F.A., Sinha, D., and Walsh, P.N. (1989) Blood 74, 244-251). To define the factor XIa domain that binds factor IX, we have now screened a panel of factor XI heavy chain-derived synthetic peptides for their capacity to inhibit the formation of an activation peptide reflecting factor IX activation by factor XIa. Peptide Asn145-Ala176 (which is located in the second tandem repeat or A2 domain of the factor XI heavy chain) is a competitive inhibitor of factor IX activation by factor XIa with a Ki of 30 nM, whereas structurally similar peptides in the A1, A3, and A4 domains were required at 10-1000-fold higher concentrations for similar effects, and a synthetic peptide identical with a highly homologous region of the heavy chain A2 domain of prekallikrein (Tyr143-Ala176) had no effect on factor IX activation by factor XIa. Because detailed structural information is lacking, a potential three-dimensional structure for the factor XI A2 domain was calculated based on its sequence information in conjunction with previously determined structural constraints. The resulting structure depicted three juxtaposed beta-stranded stem-loops that, based on biological information, constitute a candidate surface for contact with factor IX. The A2 model was therefore used as a template in the rational design of three synthetic peptides (Ala134-Ile146 (peptide a), Leu148-Arg159 (peptide b), and Ile160-Leu172 (peptide c]. When peptides a and b or a and c were added together and the activation of factor IX by factor XIa was examined, a synergistic inhibitory effect was observed, compared with each peptide added individually, whereas peptides b and c showed additive effects. Our data suggest that the sequence of amino acids from Ala134 through Leu172 of the heavy chain of factor XI contains three antiparallel beta-strands connected by beta-turns that together comprise a continuous surface utilized for the binding of factor IX.     

Amino acid sequence of the b subunit of human factor XIII, a protein composed of ten repetitive segments

Factor XIII is a plasma protein that participates in the final stages of blood coagulation. The complete amino acid sequence of the b subunit of human factor XIII was determined by a combination of cDNA cloning and amino acid sequence analysis. A lambda gt11 cDNA library prepared from human liver mRNA was screened with an affinity-purified antibody against the b subunit of human factor XIII. Nine positive clones were isolated from 2 X 10(6) phage and plaque-purified. The largest cDNA insert was sequenced and shown to contain 2180 base pairs coding for a portion of the leader sequence (19 amino acids), the mature protein (641 amino acids), a stop codon (TGA), a 3' noncoding region (187 nucleotides), and a poly(A) tail. When the b subunit of human factor XIII was digested with cyanogen bromide, nine peptides were isolated by gel filtration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid sequence analyses of these peptides were performed with an automated sequenator, and 299 amino acid residues were identified. These amino acid sequences were in complete agreement with the amino acid sequence predicted from the cDNA. The b subunit of factor XIII contained 10 repetitive homologous segments, each composed of about 60 amino acids and 4 half-cystine residues. Each of these repeated segments is a member of a family of repeats present in human beta 2-glycoprotein I, complement factor B, and haptoglobin alpha 1 chain. Three potential Asn-linked carbohydrate attachment sites were also identified in the b subunit of factor XIII.     

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone for the amino-terminal portion of the pro-alpha 1(II) chain of cartilage collagen

We have isolated a cDNA clone (pRcol 2) which is complementary to the 5'-terminal portion of the rat pro-alpha 1(II) chain mRNA. A synthetic oligonucleotide was used both as a primer for cDNA synthesis and as a probe for screening a cDNA library. The probe was a mixture of sixteen 14-mers deduced from an amino acid sequence present in the amino-terminal telopeptide of the rat cartilage alpha 1(II) chain. This primer was chosen so that the resulting cDNA would contain the sequence of the 5' end of the mRNA. The nucleotide sequences of the cDNA were determined and compared with that of three other interstitial procollagen chain mRNAs (pro-alpha 1(I), pro-alpha 2(I), and pro-alpha 1(III) chain mRNA). pRcol 2 contains a 521-base pair (bp) insert, including 153 bp of the 5' untranslated region plus 368 bp coding for the signal peptide, the amino-terminal propeptide, and a part of the telopeptide. The signal peptide of the type II collagen chain is composed of about 20 amino acids. There is little homology between the amino acid sequence of the signal peptide in the pro-alpha 1(II) chain and that of three other interstitial procollagen chains. The NH2-terminal propeptide is deduced to contain short nonhelical sequences at its amino and carboxyl ends and an internal helical collagenous domain comprising 25 repeats of Gly-X-Y with one interruption. There is a strong conservation of the amino acid sequence of the carboxyl-terminal part of the NH2-terminal propeptide in the pro-alpha 1(II), pro-alpha 1(I), and pro-alpha 2(I) chains. Type II collagen mRNA does not contain a sequence corresponding to a uniquely conserved nucleotide sequence around the translation initiation site which occurs in mRNA for other procollagen chains.     

Molecular cloning of cDNA for the import precursor of human coupling factor 6 of H(+)-ATP synthase in mitochondria

The nucleotide sequence of the import precursor of coupling factor 6 (factor 6) of human H(+)-ATP synthase has been determined from a recombinant cDNA clone isolated by screening a human kidney cDNA library with a cDNA for rat factor 6 as a probe. The sequence was composed of 466 nucleotides including a coding region for the import precursor of factor 6 and noncoding regions on the 5'- and 3'-sides. The import precursor of factor 6 and its mature polypeptide deduced from the open reading frame were found to consist of 108 and 76 amino acid residues with molecular weights of 12,596 and 8,969, respectively. The presequence of 32 amino acids could be the import signal peptide for directing the protein into the mitochondrial matrix.     

cDNA cloning and sequencing for the import precursor of coupling factor 6 in H(+)-ATP synthase from rat liver mitochondria

The nucleotide sequence of the import precursor of coupling factor 6 (factor 6) of rat liver H(+)-ATP synthase has been determined from a recombinant cDNA clone isolated by screening a rat liver cDNA library with a probe DNA. The sequence was composed of 458 nucleotides including a coding region for the import precursor of factor 6 and noncoding regions of both the 5'- and 3'-sides. The import precursor of factor 6 and its mature polypeptide deduced from the open reading frame consisted of 108 and 76 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 12,494 and 8,927, respectively. The presequence of 32 amino acids could be the import signal peptide which serves to direct the protein into the mitochondrial matrix.     

Human laminin B1 chain. A multidomain protein with gene (LAMB1) locus in the q22 region of chromosome 7

We report the isolation and characterization of six overlapping cDNA clones that provide the first and complete amino acid sequence of the human laminin B1 chain. The cDNA clones cover 5613 nucleotides with 5358 nucleotides in an open reading frame encoding 1786 amino acids, including a 21-residue signal peptide-like sequence. Sequence analysis demonstrated the presence of two types of internal homology repeats that were found in clusters within the polypeptide chain. The type A repeats contain about 50 amino acids of which 8 are cysteine. These repeats are present in two clusters toward the NH2-terminal end of the chain and are separated from each other by about 220 amino acids. The two clusters contain five and eight consecutive repeats each. There are two copies of consecutive type B repeats of about 40 amino acids close to the COOH-terminal end. Computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the B1 chain revealed the presence of structurally distinct domains that contain cysteine-rich repeats, globular regions, and helical structures. Using somatic cell hybrid methodology and in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes it was established that the human laminin B1 gene (LAMB1) is located in the q22 region of chromosome 7.     

The structure and evolution of a 461 amino acid human protein C precursor and its messenger RNA, based upon the DNA sequence of cloned human liver cDNAs.

Human liver cDNA coding for protein C has been synthesized, cloned and sequenced. The abundance of protein C message is approximately 0.02% of total mRNA. Three overlapping clones contain 1,798 nucleotides of contiguous sequence, which approximates the size of the protein's mRNA, based upon Northern hybridization. The cDNA sequence consists of 73 5'-noncoding bases, coding sequence for a 461 amino acid nascent polypeptide precursor, a TAA termination codon, 296 3'-noncoding bases, and a 38 base polyadenylation segment. The nascent protein consists of a 33 amino acid "signal", a 9 amino acid propeptide, a 155 amino acid "light" chain, a Lys-Arg connecting dipeptide, and a 262 amino acid "heavy" chain. Human protein C and Factor IX and X precursors possess about one third identical amino acids (59% in the gamma-carboxyglutamate domain), including two forty-six amino acid segments homologous to epidermal growth factor. Human protein C also has similar homology with prothrombin in the "leader", gamma-carboxyglutamate and serine protease domains, but lacks the two "kringle" domains found in prothrombin.     

Amino acid sequence of the a subunit of human factor XIII

Factor XIII is a plasma protein that plays an important role in the final stages of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. The complete amino acid sequence of the a subunit of human factor XIII was determined by a combination of cDNA cloning and amino acid sequence analysis. A lambda gtll cDNA library prepared from human placenta mRNA was screened with an affinity-purified antibody against the a subunit of human factor XIII and then with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe that coded for a portion of the amino acid sequence present in the activation peptide of the a subunit. Six positive clones were identified and shown to code for the a subunit of factor XIII by DNA sequence analysis. A total of 3831 base pairs was determined by sequencing six overlapping cDNA clones. This DNA sequence contains a 5' noncoding region or a region coding for a portion of a pro-piece or leader sequence, the mature protein (731 amino acids), a stop codon (TGA), a 3' noncoding region (1535 nucleotides), and a poly(A) tail (10 nucleotides). When the a subunit of human factor XIII was digested with cyanogen bromide, 11 peptides were isolated by gel filtration and reverse-phase HPLC. Amino acid sequence analyses of these peptides were performed with an automated sequenator, and 363 amino acid residues were identified. These amino acid sequences were in complete agreement with those predicted from the cDNA. The a subunit of factor XIII contained the active site sequence of Tyr-Gly-Gln-Cys-Trp, which is identical with that of tissue transglutaminase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cloning of cDNAs coding for the heavy chain region and connecting region of human factor V, a blood coagulation factor with four types of internal repeats

Human factor V is a high molecular weight plasma glycoprotein that participates as a cofactor in the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin by factor Xa. Prior to its participation in the coagulation cascade, factor V is converted to factor Va by thrombin generating a heavy chain and a light chain, and these two chains are held together by calcium ions. A connecting region originally located between the heavy and light chains is liberated during the activation reaction. In a previous study, a cDNA of 2970 nucleotides that codes for the carboxyl-terminal 938 amino acids of factor V was isolated and characterized from a Hep G2 cDNA library [Kane, W. H., & Davie, E. W. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 6800-6804]. This cDNA has been used to obtain additional clones from Hep G2 and human liver cDNA libraries. Furthermore, a Hep G2 cDNA library prepared with an oligonucleotide from the 5' end of these cDNAs was screened to obtain overlapping cDNA clones that code for the amino-terminal region of the molecule. The composite sequence of these clones spans 6911 nucleotides and is consistent with the size of the factor V message present in Hep G2 cells (approximately 7 kilobases). The cDNA codes for a leader sequence of 28 amino acids and a mature protein of 2196 amino acids. The amino acid sequence predicted from the cDNA was in complete agreement with 139 amino acid residues that were identified by Edman degradation of cyanogen bromide peptides isolated from the heavy chain region and connecting region of plasma factor V.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA for mouse prolactin

The present study was undertaken to find out whether or not sexual dimorphism in biological activities and amino acid compositions of mouse prolactin might be due to heterogeneity in mRNA for mouse prolactin Cloned cDNAs for mouse prolactin were first isolated from a mouse pituitary cDNA library by hybridization with a rat prolactin cDNA. Then, one clone of about 140 positive clones obtained from 2000 transformants was subjected to nucleotide sequence analysis and verified to contain a nearly full length of cDNA sequence coding for mouse prolactin precursor. The deduced complete amino acid sequence indicates that the precursor molecule consists of 31 amino acids as the signal peptide and 197 amino acids of prolactin, in which two amino acids were found to be different from the amino acid sequence previously published elsewhere. S1 nuclease mapping analysis using male and female pituitary RNAs indicates that mouse preprolactin is encoded by two mRNAs in both sexes. The two mRNAs differ from each other based upon the deletion of three nucleotides in the coding region for the signal peptide determined by the nucleotide sequence analysis in other cDNA clones. In the present study, no sexual difference was revealed in murine prolactin mRNA.     

The N terminus of laminin A chain is homologous to the B chains

A major proteolytic fragment (E1/E1-4) of the basement membrane protein laminin, comprising the three short arms with some terminal globules missing, was isolated by elastase digestion, and partial protein sequence data were determined for several tryptic peptides. Sequences which corresponded to A-chain structures were used to synthesize oligonucleotides for the construction and screening of a primer-extended cDNA library from mouse PYS-2 cells. A clone of 1.1 kb was obtained and shown by sequencing to correspond to the 5' end of the 10-kb mRNA of the A chain of laminin. The clone contains 77 nucleotides of 5' untranslated sequence and a region coding for 334 amino acids, including a presumptive signal peptide of 24 amino acids. The sequence is 30% homologous to the corresponding N-terminal part of the B1 chain of laminin, suggesting the same structure for both domains. The data present further evidence for a recent structural model which postulates that each of the three laminin polypeptide chains forms a distinct short arm.     

Structure of murine complement component C3. II. Nucleotide sequence of cloned complementary DNA coding for the alpha chain

From the inserts of two recombinant plasmids isolated from a murine liver cDNA library, the nucleotide sequence coding for the C3 alpha chain was obtained and the corresponding amino acid sequence was derived. The alpha chain portion of the mRNA is 2979 nucleotides long, specifying a polypeptide of 993 amino acids. The molecular weight of the alpha chain, in the absence of carbohydrate, was calculated from the sequence data to be 112,933. Two possible carbohydrate attachment sites were predicted at residues 269 (Asn) and 947 (Asn). In addition, the positions for two putative factor I cleavage sites were predicted from a comparison with the cleavage sites in the human C3 alpha chain. The C3 alpha chain contains 24 cysteine residues, 10 of these clustered in the C-terminal 175 amino acids of the alpha chain. Together with the accompanying report (Lundwall, A, Wetsel, R.A., Domdey, H., Tack, B.F., and Fey, G.H. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 13851-13856), this study completes the nucleotide and amino acid structure of the murine precursor prepro-C3 molecule.     

gamma and gamma' chains of human fibrinogen are produced by alternative mRNA processing

cDNAs and the genomic DNA coding for the gamma and gamma' chains of human fibrinogen have been isolated and characterized by sequence analysis. The cDNAs coding for the gamma and gamma' chains share a common nucleotide sequence coding for the first 407 amino acid residues in each polypeptide chain. The predominant gamma chain contains an additional four amino acids on its carboxyl-terminal end (residues 408-411). These four amino acids, together with the 3' noncoding sequences, are encoded by the tenth exon. Removal of the ninth intervening sequence following the processing and polyadenylation reactions yields a mature mRNA coding for the predominant gamma chain. The less prevalent gamma' chain contains 20 amino acids at its carboxyl-terminal end (residues 408-417). These 20 amino acids are encoded by the immediate 5' end of the ninth intervening sequence. This results from an occasional processing and polyadenylation reaction that occurs within the region normally constituting the ninth intervening sequence. Accordingly, the gene for the gamma chain of human fibrinogen gives rise to two mRNAs that differ in sequence on their 3' ends. These mRNAs code for polypeptide chains with different carboxyl-terminal sequences. Both of these polypeptides are incorporated into the fibrinogen molecule present in plasma.     

Nucleotide sequence of cloned cDNA coding for pumpkin 11-S globulin beta subunit

cDNA coding for preproglobulin beta, a precursor protein of 11-S globulin beta subunit, was cloned and the nucleotide sequence has been determined. The sequence covers the whole coding region (1440 base pairs) with 5' and 3' noncoding region (30 and 214 base pairs, respectively). The deduced amino acid sequence of preproglobulin beta consists of a 21-amino-acid N-terminal signal peptide, preceding the acidic gamma polypeptide region (275 amino acids) and the subsequent basic delta region (184 amino acids). The site for post-translational cleavage of the precursor polypeptide to make the gamma and delta chains is estimated to be located between the asparagine-glycine residues. The N-terminal amino acid of the gamma chain of mature 11-S globulin beta subunit was reported to be blocked by 5-oxoproline (pyroglutamic acid) [Ohmiya et al. (1980) Plant Cell Physiol. 21, 157-167]. It was shown that the blocked N-terminal amino acid is coded as a glutamine residue. The derived amino acid sequence was also compared with those of precursor proteins of other 11-S globulins such as soybean glycinin, cotton beta globulin, pea legumin and rape 11-S globulin by dot matrix analysis.