Biosynthesis, import and processing of precursor polypeptides of mammalian mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

An immunological analysis has been conducted of early events in the biosynthesis, import and assembly of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). For this purpose, monospecific polyclonal antisera were produced against the intact assembly from ox heart, Mr 8.5 x 10(6), and each of its component polypeptides, E1 alpha, E1 beta, E2, E3 and protein X. Optimal detergent-based incubation mixtures were developed for obtaining clean immunoprecipitation of PDC polypeptides and their precursors from [35S]methionine-labelled extracts of PK-15 (pig kidney), NBL-1 (bovine kidney) and BRL (Buffalo Rat liver) cells. In PK-15 cells, independent higher Mr species, corresponding to precursors of the E2, E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits of PDC, could be detected by immune precipitation and fluorography after incubation of intact cells for 4 h with [35S]methionine and 1-2 mM-2,4-dinitrophenol or 10-15 microM-carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. Similar precursor states could be observed in uncoupler-treated BRL or NBL-1 cells. Pre-E1 alpha, pre-E1 beta and also pre-E3, have signal sequences in the Mr range 1500-3000 while pre-E2 contains a long additional segment of Mr 7000-9000. All of these forms exhibit similar kinetics of processing to the mature subunits with a transit time of 10-12 min. In NBL-1 cells, E3 is present in the immune complexes formed with anti-PDC serum whereas this is not the case in PK-15 cells. Thus, there are significant variations in the affinity of lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) for the E2 core structure in different species. Pre-E1 alpha accumulates only poorly in PK-15 cells and is aberrantly processed on removal of uncoupler. This precursor is markedly more stable in NBL-1 and BRL cells. The lack of detection of a precursor form of component X is also discussed.     

Biosynthetic studies of several of the nuclear-encoded subunits of mammalian NADH dehydrogenase

An investigation into the biogenesis of several of the nuclear-encoded subunits of the iron-protein fragment of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase was undertaken utilising a bovine kidney cell line (NBL-1). Inhibition of import was achieved by treating the cells with the uncoupler carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) and it was demonstrated that the 75-kDa, 51-kDa and 49-kDa components of the enzyme were synthesised as larger polypeptides of 76-kDa, 52-kDa and 53-kDa, respectively. The precursors could subsequently be processed to the mature subunits by reversing the FCCP treatment and chasing for 45 min at 37 degrees C. Subcellular localisation studies using the detergent digitonin illustrated that the 76-kDa, 52-kDa and 53-kDa precursor forms were almost exclusively located in the soluble fraction of the cell, whereas the mature and pulse-chased proteins fractionated with the particulate portion of the cell. Although the mature 30-kDa and 24-kDa subunits of NADH dehydrogenase could be visualised, their precursor forms went undetected in this system.     

Immunology, biosynthesis and in vivo assembly of the branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complex from bovine kidney

Specific, polyclonal antisera have been raised to the native branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCOADC) from bovine kidney and each of its three constituent enzymes: E1, the substrate-specific 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase; E2, the multimeric dihydrolipoamide acyltransferase 'core' enzyme and E3, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. Purified BCOADC, isolated by selective poly(ethyleneglycol) precipitation and hydroxyapatite chromatography, contains only traces of endogenous E3 as detected by a requirement for this enzyme in assaying overall complex activity and by immunoblotting criteria. A weak antibody response was elicited by the E1 beta subunit relative to the E2 and E1 alpha polypeptides employing either purified E1 or BCOADC as antigens. Anti-BCOADC serum showed no cross-reaction with high levels of pig heart E3 indicating the absence of antibody directed against this component. However, immunoprecipitates of mature BCOADC from detergent extracts of NBL-1 (bovine kidney) or PK-15 (porcine kidney) cell lines incubated for 3-4 h in the presence of [35S]methionine contained an additional 55,000-Mr species which was identified as E3 on the basis of immunocompetition studies. Accumulation of newly synthesised [35S]methionine-labelled precursors for E2, E1 alpha and E3 was achieved by incubation of PK-15 cells for 4 h in the presence of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. Pre-E2 exhibited an apparent Mr value of 56,500, pre-E1 alpha, 49,000 and pre-E3, 57,000 compared to subunit Mr values of 50,000, 46,000 and 55,000, respectively, for the mature polypeptides. Thus, like the equivalent lipoate acyltransferases of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDC) and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDC) complexes, pre-E2 of BCOADC characteristically contains an extended presequence. In NBL-1 cells, pre-E2 was found to be unstable since no cytoplasmic pool of this precursor could be detected; moreover, processed E1 alpha was not assembled into intact BCOADC as evidenced by the absence of E2 or E3 in immunoprecipitates with anti-(BCOADC) serum after a 45-min 'chase' period in the absence of uncoupler. Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3), in its precursor state, was not present in immune complexes with anti-(BCOADC) serum, indicating that its co-precipitation with mature complex is by virtue of its high affinity for assembled complex in vivo whereas no equivalent interaction of pre-E3 with its companion precursors occurs prior to mitochondrial import.     

A quantitative histochemical study of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase activities in the bovine corpus luteum of pregnancy

In corpora lutea of pregnancy of dairy cows delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase were demonstrated histochemically and evaluated densitometrically. Serum progesterone was determined radioimmunologically. Activities per volume unit of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in large and small luteal cells as well as progesterone concentrations, exhibited no typical and correlated pattern during pregnancy. Large luteal cells in regressive tissue regions showed weaker delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities than in maturing or well-developed tissue regions. Succinate dehydrogenase activities of small luteal cells were highest in regressive luteal tissue. The results indicate that structural development of bovine luteal tissue during pregnancy is reflected by corresponding enzyme activities.     

Precursor protein is readily degraded in mitochondrial matrix space if the leader is not processed by mitochondrial processing peptidase

It is not known why leader peptides are removed by the mitochondrial processing peptidase after import into the matrix space. The leaders of yeast aldehyde dehydrogenase (pALDH) and malate dehydrogenase were mutated so that they would not be processed after import. The recombinant nonprocessed precursor of yeast pALDH possessed a similar specific activity as the corresponding mature form but was much less stable. The nonprocessed pALDH was transformed into a yeast strain missing ALDHs. The transformed yeast grew slowly on ethanol as the sole carbon source showing that the nonprocessed precursor was functional in vivo. Western blot analysis showed that the amount of precursor was 15-20% of that found in cells transformed with the native enzyme. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that the turnover rate for the nonprocessed precursor was greater than that of the mature protein indicating that the nonprocessed precursor could have been degraded. By using carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, we showed that the nonprocessed precursor was degraded in the matrix space. The nonprocessed precursor forms of precursor yeast malate dehydrogenase and rat liver pALDH also were degraded in the matrix space of HeLa cell mitochondria faster than their corresponding mature forms. In the presence of o-phenanthroline, an inhibitor of mitochondrial processing peptidase, the wild type precursor was readily degraded in the matrix space. Collectively, this study showed that the precursor form is less stable in the matrix space than is the mature form and provides an explanation for why the leader peptide is removed from the precursors.     

Biosynthesis of four rat liver mitochondrial acyl-CoA dehydrogenases: in vitro synthesis, import into mitochondria, and processing of their precursors in a cell-free system and in cultured cells

The synthesis, translocation, processing, and assembly of rat liver short chain acyl-CoA, medium chain acyl-CoA, long chain acyl-CoA, and isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenases were studied. These four acyl-CoA dehydrogenases are homotetrameric flavoproteins which are located in the mitochondrial matrix. They were synthesized in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte lysate system, programmed by rat liver polysomal RNA, as precursor polypeptides which are 2-4 kDa larger than their corresponding mature subunits (Mr 41,000-45,000). When the radiolabeled precursors were incubated with intact rat liver mitochondria, they appeared to bind tightly to the mitochondrial outer membrane. At this stage they were completely susceptible to the action of exogenous trypsin. The precursors bound to mitochondria at 0 degrees C were translocated into the mitochondria and processed when the temperature was raised to 30 degrees C. No reaction occurred when the temperature was kept at 0 degrees C, however, suggesting that the binding of the precursors is temperature independent while the subsequent steps of the pathway are energy dependent. Indeed, the translocation reaction was inhibited by compounds such as dinitrophenol and rhodamine 6G which inhibit mitochondrial energy metabolism. The newly imported (mature) enzymes were inaccessible to the proteolytic action of added trypsin. The processing of the precursors to mature subunits was proteolytically carried out in the mitochondrial matrix, and the processed mature subunits mostly assembled to their respective tetrameric forms. Newly synthesized larger precursors of each of the four acyl-CoA dehydrogenases were recovered from intact, cultured Buffalo rat liver cells in the presence of dinitrophenol. When dinitrophenol was removed in a pulse-chase protocol, the accumulated precursors were rapidly (t1/2 3-5 min) converted to their corresponding mature subunits. On the other hand, when the chase was performed in the presence of the inhibitor, the labeled precursors disappeared with t1/2 of greater than 4 h for long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and 1-2 h for the other three enzyme precursors.     

The processing of interleukin-1 beta studied with antibodies raised against synthetic peptides from the precursor N-terminal region

The exact sequence of events during processing of human interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and the fate of the N-terminal region are unknown. We have used anti-peptide sera specific for the precursor and mature regions of IL-1 beta to study biosynthesis. These were raised against peptides corresponding to amino acids 1-15, 17-32, and 43-54 of the precursor and a peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 33 amino acids of mature human IL-1 beta. Antiserum to the mature region peptide immunoprecipitated the 35-kD precursor from cell lysates and 17-kD mature IL-1 beta and a 31-kD protein from the culture supernatants from radiolabeled human peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Antisera to peptides from the precursor region also immunoprecipitated the 35-kD IL-1 beta precursor but not the 31-kD or 17-kD forms. Of the precursor-specific sera, only antiserum to amino acids 1-15 specifically recognized any other proteins; a peptide of 18 kD and a low molecular weight peptide, both of which accumulated in the medium. The 18-kD protein was not recognized by any of the other antisera and is unlikely to be the N-terminal region of the precursor removed during processing. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that the 31-kD protein could be a processing intermediate and also that it was itself an end product along with full-length precursor. Only 17-kD mature IL-1 beta had biological activity.     

Translocation of proteins into rat liver mitochondria. The precursor polypeptides of a large subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and ornithine aminotransferase and their imports into their own locations of mitochondria

The precursor polypeptides of a large subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and ornithine aminotransferase (the enzymes which are located in the mitochondrial inner membrane and matrix respectively) were synthesized as a larger molecular mass than their mature subunits, when rat liver RNA was translated in vitro. These precursor polypeptides were also detected in vivo in ascites hepatoma cells (AH-130 cells). When the 35S-labeled precursor polypeptides were incubated with isolated rat liver mitochondria at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy-generating system, these two precursors were converted to their mature size and the 35S-labeled mature-size polypeptides associated with mitochondria. Furthermore, these mature-size polypeptides were recovered from their own locations, the inner mitochondrial membrane and the matrix. The precursor of ornithine aminotransferase incubated with rat liver mitochondria at 0 degree C was specifically and tightly bound to the surface of the mitochondria even in the presence of an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. This precursor, bound to the mitochondria, was imported into the matrix when the mitochondria were reisolated and incubated at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy-generating system, suggesting that a specific receptor may be involved in the binding of the precursor. The processing enzyme for both precursor polypeptides seemed to be located in the mitochondrial matrix and was partially purified from the mitochondria. A metal-chelating agent strongly inhibited the processing enzyme and the inhibition was recovered by the addition of Mn2+ or Co2+.     

Co-expression of both the maize large and wheat small subunit genes of ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase in Escherichia coli

A cDNA clone for the precursor form of the small subunit of wheat ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase has been modified to allow the expression in Escherichia coli of a mature form of small subunit that lacks the transit peptide. Synthesis of the protein is controlled by a lac promoter, and translation is initiated from a lacZ ribosome binding site, giving rise to a small subunit with several beta-galactosidase amino acids fused to its N-terminus. A plasmid has been constructed that enables both wheat small subunits and maize large subunits to be synthesized in the bacterial cell, but using different promoters to allow independent expression of the rbcS and rbcL genes. When the small subunit is synthesized in the absence of the large subunit, it is found in the soluble fraction but the polypeptide is unstable and has a half-life of less than 15 min. Its size on sucrose gradients indicates a monomeric or dimeric form. When large subunit synthesis is induced in cells containing the small subunit, both subunits are found predominantly in the insoluble fraction and are fully stable for more than 120 min, suggesting that aggregation of the subunits may occur. The two subunits do not assemble together to form an active holoenzyme in vivo, even when nascent large subunits ware synthesized in a pool of mature small subunits. This indicates that other factors may be required to mediate the assembly of the higher plant enzyme.     

Differential processing and turnover of the oncogenically activated neu/erb B2 gene product and its normal cellular counterpart

In nontransformed DHFR/G-8 cells (NIH 3T3 cells transfected with normal rat neu gene), the normal neu gene product was initially synthesized as a 170-kDa protein bearing endoglycosidase H-sensitive oligosaccharide chains and was then processed to a 175-kDa mature form with endoglycosidase H-resistant, endoglycosidase F-sensitive oligosaccharide chains. Most of this 175-kDa mature form appeared on the cell surface 2 h following synthesis and showed a half-life of approximately 3 h. In the presence of a growth factor(s) partially purified from bovine kidney, the half-life of this 175-kDa normal neu gene product was shortened to less than 30 min. In B104-1-1 cells (NIH 3T3 cells transfected with neu gene activated oncogenically by a point mutation that changes a valine residue to a glutamic acid residue in the putative transmembrane region), the oncogenically activated neu gene product was also synthesized as a 170-kDa precursor with endoglycosidase H-sensitive oligosaccharide chains. However, this 170-kDa precursor diminished very fast and was only partially processed to a 185-kDa mature form which exhibited a half-life of less than 30 min. The 185-kDa activated neu gene product possessed an unidentified post-translational modification in addition to N-linked oligosaccharide chains. Both the precursor and mature forms of the mutationally activated neu gene product showed increased tyrosine-specific phosphorylation as compared with those of their normal counterparts in DHFR/G-8 cells. The mutationally activated neu gene product in B104-1-1 cells shared several features which have been reported previously for the ligand-activated platelet-derived growth factor receptor in v-sis- or c-sis-transformed cells. These properties include: 1) accelerated turnover of the precursor and mature forms compared with the rates of turnover of its normal counterparts, 2) insensitivity of this rapid turnover to lysosomotropic amines, and 3) increased in vivo tyrosine-specific phosphorylation of both the precursor and mature forms. These findings suggest that the mutationally activated neu gene product may transform the cells by mimicking ligand-induced activation.     

Assembly of the iron-sulfur protein into the cytochrome b-c1, complex of yeast mitochondria.

The assembly of the iron-sulfur protein into the cytochrome bc1 complex after import and processing of the precursor form into mitochondria in vitro was investigated by immunoprecipitation of the radiolabeled iron-sulfur protein from detergent-solubilized mitochondria with specific antisera. After import in vitro, the labeled mature form of the iron-sulfur protein was immunoprecipitated by antisera against both the iron-sulfur protein and the entire bc1 complex from mitochondria solubilized with either Triton X-100 or dodecyl maltoside. After sodium dodecyl sulfate solubilization of mitochondria, however, the antiserum against the iron-sulfur protein, but not that against the bc1 complex, immunoprecipitated the radiolabeled iron-sulfur protein. These results suggest that in mitochondria the mature form of the iron-sulfur protein is assembled with other subunits of the bc1 complex that are recognized by the antiserum against the bc1 complex. By contrast, the intermediate and precursor forms of the iron-sulfur protein that accumulated in the matrix when proteolytic processing was blocked with EDTA and o-phenanthroline were not efficiently assembled into the bc1 complex. The import and processing of the iron-sulfur protein also occurred in mitochondria lacking either cytochrome b (W-267) or the iron-sulfur protein (JPJ1). The mature form of the iron-sulfur protein was immunoprecipitated by antisera against the bc1 complex or core protein I after import in vitro into these mitochondria, suggesting that the mature form is associated with other subunits of the bc1 complex in these strains.     

Biosynthesis and degradation of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase of rat kidney

gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma GTP) of rat kidney is an intrinsic glycoprotein bound to the plasma membrane and composed of two nonidentical subunits and an amino-terminal portion of the heavy subunit anchors the enzyme to the membrane. The mechanisms of biosynthesis, post-translational processing and degradation of the enzyme were studied using mono-specific antibody raised to gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase purified from rat kidney. The following results were obtained. Double isotope labeling in vivo showed that gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase is synthesized as a precursor form with a single polypeptide chain of 78,000 daltons, and then processed post-translationally by limited proteolysis, resulting in two subunits of 50,000 and 23,000 daltons. Incorporation of [3H]leucine or [35S]methionine into the precursor form increased until 60 min after their intravenous injection, and a pulse-chase experiment showed that the half life of the precursor form was 53 min. [3H]Fucose and [3H]glucosamine could also be incorporated into the precursor form, showing that glycosylation of the enzyme occurs at the stage of the precursor form. Rat kidney labeled with [3H]fucose was subjected to subcellular fractionation. The Golgi fraction contained the glycosylated precursor form and a small amount of subunits, and the plasma membrane fraction contained mostly subunits with a significant amount of precursor, suggesting that post-translational processing of the precursor occurs on the plasma membrane. The apparent half lives of the native enzyme and the heavy and light subunits were all estimated as 4.3 +/- 0.5 days by labeling with [3H]leucine or [3H]fucose. gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase has a different turnover rate from aminopeptidase M, which is located in the microvillus membrane close to gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase.     

Low immunogenicity of the common lipoamide dehydrogenase subunit (E3) of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes.

The production of high-titre monospecific polyclonal antibodies against the purified pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes from ox heart is described. The specificity of these antisera and their precise reactivities with the individual components of the complexes were examined by immunoblotting techniques. All the subunits of the pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes were strongly antigenic, with the exception of the common lipoamide dehydrogenase component (E3). The titre of antibodies raised against E3 was, in both cases, less than 2% of that of the other subunits. Specific immunoprecipitation of the dissociated N-[3H]ethylmaleimide-labelled enzymes also revealed that E3 alone was absent from the final immune complexes. Strong cross-reactivity with the enzyme present in rat liver (BRL) and ox kidney (NBL-1) cell lines was observed when the antibody against ox heart pyruvate dehydrogenase was utilized to challenge crude subcellular extracts. The immunoblotting patterns again lacked the lipoamide dehydrogenase band, also revealing differences in the apparent Mr of the lipoate acetyltransferase subunit (E2) from ox kidney and rat liver. The additional 50 000-Mr polypeptide, previously found to be associated with the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, was apparently not a proteolytic fragment of E2 or E3, since it could be detected as a normal component in boiled sodium dodecyl sulphate extracts of whole cells. The low immunogenicity of the lipoamide dehydrogenase polypeptide may be attributed to a high degree of conservation of its primary sequence and hence tertiary structure during evolution.     

Comparative Cultivation of Poultry Coccidia in Mammalian Kidney Cell Cultures

SYNOPSIS. Excysted sporozoites of Eimeria meleagrimitis, E. necatrix, E. acervulina , and E. gallopavonis were inoculated into monolayer cell cultures of bovine, ovine, porcine, and human kidney. E. meleagrimitis developed only in bovine embryonic kidney. Mature schizonts were found in the 11th, 16th, and 20th serial passages, but only immature schizonts were in the 4th and 6th passages. E. necatrix developed to mature schizonts in the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 11th, 16th, and 20th passages of bovine kidney and also to immature schizonts in the 175th and 189th passages of PK-15 (cell line porcine kidney). Schizonts, however, did not develop in the 140th and 145th passages of CCI-33 (cloned PK-15). Neither E. meleagrimitis nor E. necatrix developed in the primary, 1st or 2nd passages of bovine embryonic kidney, primary porcine kidney, 45th and 52nd passages of a human embryonic kidney cell line, or in the primary, 5th and 18th passages of ovine kidney. Eimeria acervulina and E. gallopavonis did not develop in any of the cultures.
E. meleagrimitis and E. necatrix probably completed only one asexual generation in culture. The structure of mature schizonts of both species differed greatly from those in the natural host. Schizonts of E. meleagrimitis present at 48 hours were small (13–18 by 12–14 μ) and contained only 12–28 merozoites that were 3.2–3.8 μ long. At 48 hours, E. necatrix schizonts were 15–18 μ in diameter or less and contained only 15–20 merozoites (2.0–3.5 μ long); at 96 hours they were 50–70 by 10–35μ and contained either hundreds of small merozoites (2.0–3.5 μ long) or a lesser number of larger merozoites (9–11 μ).     

Cell-free synthesis of succinate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase of sweet potato

Polyadenylated mRNA was isolated from aged slices of sweet potato root tissue and translated in a wheat germ cell-free system. The synthesis of apoprotein of the flavoprotein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and two of the subunits of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase were detected by indirect immunoprecipitation. The molecular weights of the immunologically identified products were 3,000 and 8,000-9,000 daltons larger than the mature flavoprotein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and the mature subunits of adenosine triphosphatase, respectively.     

Synthesis and processing of mitochondrial steroid hydroxylases. In vivo maturation of the precursor forms of cytochrome P-450scc, cytochrome P-450(11)beta, and adrenodoxin

The synthesis and maturation of the precursor forms of three mitochondrial enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis have been studied in vivo. Primary cultures of bovine adrenocortical cells were radiolabeled with [35S] methionine and newly synthesized cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (P-450scc), 11 beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 (P-450(11)beta), and adrenodoxin immunoisolated using specific antibodies. Both the precursor and mature forms of P-450scc and P-450(11)beta were detected during short periods of pulse labeling; however, the precursor forms were transitory in nature while their corresponding mature forms accumulated. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the precursor form of each cytochrome P-450 had an apparent half-life of 3.5 min. In contrast, the precursor form of adrenodoxin was not readily detected in pulse-labeling experiments until a substantial amount of its mature form had accumulated. When the cultured cells were treated with a chelator of divalent cations (o-phenanthroline) or a mitochondrial uncoupler (dinitrophenol), the maturation of all three precursors was inhibited. The synthesis of the P-450scc and P-450(11)beta precursors was induced in cells maintained in the presence of adrenocorticotropin, and the rates of appearance of their processed forms were also increased. The mature forms of all three proteins were immunoisolated from a trypsinized mitochondrial fraction prepared from the radiolabeled cells, demonstrating that the mature proteins were localized within the organelle. These studies establish that the maturation of the precursor forms of the mitochondrial steroidogenic enzymes are characterized by steps similar to those reported for other mitochondrial precursor proteins.     

Characterization by electron paramagnetic resonance and studies on subunit location and assembly of the iron-sulfur clusters of Bacillus subtilis succinate dehydrogenase

Succinate dehydrogenase is a conserved membrane-bound enzyme consisting of two nonidentical subunits: a flavo iron-sulfur protein (Fp) subunit, containing a covalently bound flavin, and an iron-sulfur protein (Ip) subunit. Bacillus subtilis succinate dehydrogenase in wild type bacteria and 12 well characterized succinate dehydrogenase-defective mutants were examined by low temperature EPR spectroscopy to characterize the enzyme and study subunit location and biosynthesis of its iron-sulfur clusters. The wild type B. subtilis enzyme contains iron-sulfur clusters which are analogous to clusters S-1 and S-3 of bovine heart succinate dehydrogenase but with slightly different EPR characteristics. Spins from cluster S-2 were not detectable as in the case of the intact form of bovine heart succinate dehydrogenase. However, dithionite reduction of the B. subtilis enzyme greatly enhanced spin relaxation of the ferredoxin-type cluster S-1, indicating the presence of the cluster S-2. Iron-sulfur cluster S-1 was found to be assembled in soluble succinate dehydrogenase subunits in the cytoplasm, but only if full-length Fp polypeptides and relatively large fragments of Ip polypeptides were present. Cluster S-1 was not detected in mutants with soluble mutated Fp polypeptides or in a mutant totally lacking Ip subunit polypeptide. Iron-sulfur clusters S-1, S-2, and S-3 were assembled also when the covalently bound flavin in the Fp subunit was absent. Clusters S-1 and S-3 in the membrane-bound flavin-deficient succinate dehydrogenase were not reduced by succinate but could be reduced by electron transfer from NADH dehydrogenase via the menaquinone pool.     

Expression and processing of the activin-A/erythroid differentiation factor precursor: a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily

The biosynthesis and intracellular processing of the polypeptide precursor of the beta A-chain of the fertility hormone inhibin were assessed by infecting a wide spectrum of cell types with a recombinant vaccinia virus. Most cell lines, including follicular granulosa cells, secrete both prohormone and mature hormone as homodimers (activin) composed of disulfide-linked subunits of 54 kDa (proactivin-A) and 14 kDa (activin-A), respectively, and a small amount of prohormone-mature hormone heterodimers. Mature activin is secreted from mouse pituitary cells (AtT-20), while pig kidney cells [PK(15)] secrete mostly proactivin. More prohormone is secreted in the presence of NH4Cl, suggesting that prohormone processing is facilitated by low pH. Proactivin-A is not a ligand for the mannose-6-phosphate/insulin growth factor-II receptor. The recombinant activin stimulates FSH release from pituitary cells and differentiates erythroleukemia cell lines in vitro.     

Processing the nonstructural polyproteins of Sindbis virus: study of the kinetics in vivo by using monospecific antibodies.

Plasmids were constructed which contained a large portion of each of the four nonstructural genes of Sindbis virus fused to the N-terminal two-thirds of the trpE gene of Escherichia coli. The large quantity of fusion protein induced from cells containing these plasmids was subsequently used as an antigen to generate polyclonal antisera in rabbits. Each antiserum was specific for the corresponding nonstructural protein and allowed ready identification of each nonstructural protein and of precursors containing the sequences of two or more nonstructural proteins. These antisera were used to determine the stability of the mature nonstructural proteins and to examine the kinetics of processing of the nonstructural proteins from their respective precursors in vivo. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the precursor P123 is cleaved with a half-life of approximately 19 min to produce P12 and nsP3; P12 is then cleaved with a half-life of approximately 9 min to produce nsP1 and nsP2. Thus, although the rate of cleavage between nsP1 and nsP2 is faster than that between nsP2 and nsP3, the latter cleavage must occur first and is therefore the rate-limiting step. The rate at which P34 is chased suggests that the cleavage between nsP3 and nsP4 is the last to occur; however the regulation of nsP4 function in Sindbis virus-infected cells may be even more complex than was previously thought. The products nsP1 and nsP2 (and nsP4) are relatively stable; nsP3, however, is unstable, with a half-life of about 1 h, and appears to be modified to produce heterodisperse, higher-molecular-mass forms. In general, the processing schemes used by Sindbis virus and Semliki Forest virus appear very similar, the major difference being that most nsP3 in Sindbis virus results from termination at an opal condon, whereas in Semliki Forest virus cleavage of the P34 precursor is required.     

Biosynthesis and import into the mitochondrion of L-3-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, and the effect of thyroid hormone deficiency on gene expression

Mitochondrial L-3-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.5) is synthesised in bovine kidney (NBL-1) cells treated with uncoupler as a cytosolic precursor with Mr = 76,000 indistinguishable from the mature form. In vitro translation of rat liver mRNA also gives rise to a product of Mr = 76,000 but when this is imported into mitochondria it is processed to a product of Mr = 66,000. L-3-Glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity and immunoreactive protein are greatly decreased in liver mitochondria from hypothyroid rats. Paradoxically, in vitro translation of the mRNA from such animals gives rise to large amounts of the protein, much greater than that synthesised from euthyroid mRNA and comparable with that produced from hyperthyroid mRNA.