A qualitative difference in the interleukin 2 (IL-2) requirement of helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes

A qualitative difference in the requirement of mouse helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes for interleukin 2 (IL-2) was revealed by offering such cells IL-2 synthesized in Xenopus laevis oocytes that had been microinjected with messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding human IL-2. While both helper and cytotoxic mouse T-cell lines proliferate in response to the IL-2 present in medium conditioned by stimulated human lymphocytes, only helper-T-cell lines respond to human IL-2 secreted from oocytes. This result demonstrates a difference between helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in their response to IL-2. The growth response of murine cells shows that IL-2 secreted from human cells has properties not found in the IL-2 secreted from oocytes, even though a monoclonal antibody directed against the human IL-2 receptor blocks the activity of both types of IL-2. Quite possibly, this difference results from a post-translational modification.     

Quantitative hybridization-arrest of mRNA in Xenopus oocytes using single-stranded complementary DNA or oligonucleotide probes.

The expression of heterologous mRNA in Xenopus oocytes was quantitatively inhibited by coinjection of single-stranded complementary DNA or synthetic complementary oligonucleotides. The lymphokines Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Interleukin-3 (IL-3) were used as model systems to test the effectiveness of this procedure. Messenger RNA samples were hybridized to single stranded complementary DNA or oligonucleotides, injected into oocytes and the oocyte incubation medium assayed for the presence or absence of specific translation products 48 hours later. When IL-2 mRNA was hybridized to a large excess of long (490 bases) single stranded complementary DNA, the expression of IL-2 was effectively blocked (greater than 98%). Complementary oligonucleotides (18-23 bases) were almost as effective as the polynucleotide in inhibiting IL-2 activity (greater than 95%). Oligonucleotides derived from the 5' end, middle or 3' end of the coding sequence were all effective in arresting IL-2 mRNA translation. Oligonucleotide hybrid-arrest was effective even when no NaCl was present in the hybridization buffer, indicating that the annealing reaction could occur within the oocyte after injection. Definite proof that hybrid-arrest could occur in vivo was shown by the fact that oligonucleotides injected before or after mRNA injection, while not as effective as co-injection, still showed substantial inhibition of specific mRNA translation. The oligonucleotide hybrid-arrest method was equally effective in the case of IL-3, demonstrating its general applicability.     

Establishment of an assay system for the detection of translated materials of T-cell-replacing factor mRNA in Xenopus oocytes

We established an assay system for detecting T cell-replacing factor (TRF) activity of translated materials in Xenopus oocytes of poly (A)-positive mRNA extracted from a T cell hybrid cell line, B151K12 (B151) which constitutively produces TRF. Since it was difficult to detect TRF activity of the translated products of B151-mRNA, partly because of low TRF activities, we developed the following two systems. First, RNA was prepared from B151 cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore A23187 because such stimulations augmented TRF production by approximately three to five-fold. Second, interleukin 2 (IL-2, 125 U/ml) was added to the culture of BCL1 cells to detect a small amount of TRF-active materials since IL-2 synergizes with a suboptimal dose of TRF to induce IgM secretion in TRF-responding BCL1 cells (chronic B cell leukemic cells). Here we describe TRF activity of translation products of B151-mRNA in Xenopus oocytes. B151-TRF mRNA was detected in the fractions sedimented between 15 and 18S by analysis using sucrose density gradient centrifugation.     

Synthesis of lens crystallins in Xenopus oocytes as determined by quantitative immunoprecipitation.

Total poly(A)-containing calf lens mRNA was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes and synthesis of alpha, beta, and gamma-crystallins was demonstrated. By a method of quantitative immunoprecipitation the rate of translation of purified 14S alphaA2-crystallin mRNA was compared with translation of 9-S rabbit globin mRNA. Maximal response of oocytes was obtained with virtually the same molar amounts of mRNA, taking into account the larger size of the alphaA2-crystallin mRNA. Kinetics of translation were also very similar and both mRNAs were translated with similar rate and efficiency for at least two days. It was estimated that 20-30 polypeptide chains per hour per mRNA molecule were synthesized.     

卵胞内微注射mRNA后胞膜上出现的新离子流

以胞内微注射技术向爪蟾卵内注射羊气管上皮细胞抽提的Poly(A)~ mRNA,以电压钳技术观察卵膜离子流的变化。注射前卵膜上主要有Ca~(2 ),Cl~-,K~ 和Na~ 流,在高钙溶液(10Ca-ND96)中,瞬间的Ca~(2 )激活Cl~-流较大,此离子流可被9-羟蒽阻断。注射mRNA后在9-羟蒽存在的情况下,向浴槽加入1mmol/L 8-Br-cAMP后新出现一个电压敏感的离子流,使电流电压曲线的零电流电位向右移;但在注射去离子水组未见此离子流。表明羊气管上皮里含有cAMP敏感的离子通道,并可被移植到爪蟾卵膜上。     

Changes in messenger RNAs coding for neurotransmitter receptors and voltage-operated channels in the developing rat cerebral cortex.

The ontogenetic development of poly(A)+ mRNAs coding for receptors to several neurotransmitters (kainate, glutamate, acetylcholine, and serotonin) and voltage-operated channels (sodium and calcium) was studied by isolating total poly(A)+ mRNA from the brains of rats at various developmental stages and injecting it into Xenopus oocytes. The oocytes translated the foreign mRNA and incorporated functional receptor/ion channel complexes into the cell membrane. Thus, recording of induced membrane currents in voltage-clamped oocytes gave a measure of the relative amounts of the different messengers. Responses induced by kainate, glutamate, acetylcholine, and serotonin all increased with age and reached a maximum in oocytes injected with mRNA from adult cortex. Messenger RNAs for the earliest ages examined, Embryonic Days 15 and 18, expressed little or no response to kainate, glutamate, or acetylcholine, while 50-70% of the adult response was reached by Postnatal Day 10. In contrast, the serotonin-induced response was already comparatively large (16% of the adult level) in oocytes injected with mRNA from Embryonic Day 15 brain and increased postnatally to adult levels. The expression of voltage-dependent sodium and calcium channels was small in oocytes injected with mRNA from embryonic animals and increased postnatally to reach a maximum in oocytes injected with mRNA from adult animals.     

Expression of ion channels and receptors in Xenopus oocytes using vaccinia virus.

The cytoplasmic injection of mRNA synthesized in vitro into Xenopus oocytes is widely used for heterologous expression of ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors. We report two new methods for expression of ion channels and receptors in oocytes using vaccinia virus (VV). 1) A recombinant VV carrying the Shaker H4 K+ channel cDNA driven by the VV P7.5 early promoter was injected into oocytes. 2) A recombinant VV containing the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase driven by the P7.5 promoter was coinjected along with plasmids containing a T7 promoter and cDNAs for channels and receptors. The functionally expressed proteins include a) voltage-gated ion channels: the Shaker H4 K+ channel and the rat brain IIA Na+ channel, b) a ligand-gated ion channel: the mouse muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), and c) a G protein-coupled receptor: the rat brain 5HT1C receptor. After virus/cDNA injection into oocytes, these channels and receptors generally showed characteristics and expression levels similar to those observed in mRNA-injected oocytes. However, the AChR expressed at lower levels in virus/cDNA-injected oocytes than in mRNA-injected oocytes. Because our methods bypass mRNA synthesis, they are more rapid and convenient than the mRNA injection method. Potential applications to structure-function studies and expression cloning are discussed.     

Xtr, a plural tudor domain-containing protein, is involved in the translational regulation of maternal mRNA during oocyte maturation in Xenopus laevis

Xtr in the fertilized eggs of Xenopus has been demonstrated to be a member of a messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex that plays a crucial role in karyokinesis during cleavage. Since the Xtr is also present both in oocytes and spermatocytes and its amount increases immediately after spematogenic cells enter into the meiotic phase, this protein was also predicted to act during meiotic progression. Taking advantage of Xenopus oocytes' large size to microinject anti-Xtr antibody into them for inhibition of Xtr function, we examined the role of Xtr in meiotic progression of oocytes. Microinjection of anti-Xtr antibody into immature oocytes followed by reinitiation of oocyte maturation did not affect germinal vesicle break down and the oscillation of Cdc2/cyclin B activity during meiotic progression but caused abnormal spindle formation and chromosomal alignment at meiotic metaphase I and II. Immunoprecipitation of Xtr showed the association of Xtr with FRGY2 and mRNAs such as RCC1 and XL-INCENP mRNAs, which are involved in the progression of karyokinesis. When anti-Xtr antibody was injected into oocytes, translation of XL-INCENP mRNA, which is known to be repressed in immature oocytes and induced after reinitiation of oocyte maturation, was inhibited even if the oocytes were treated with progesterone. A similar translational regulation was observed in oocytes injected with a reporter mRNA, which was composed of an enhanced green fluorescent protein open reading frame followed by the 3' untranslational region (3'UTR) of XL-INCENP mRNA. These results indicate that Xtr regulates the translation of XL-INCENP mRNA through its 3'UTR during meiotic progression of oocyte.     

Xenopus Rbm9 is a novel interactor of XGld2 in the cytoplasmic polyadenylation complex

During early development, control of the poly(A) tail length by cytoplasmic polyadenylation is critical for the regulation of specific mRNA expression. Gld2, an atypical poly(A) polymerase, is involved in cytoplasmic polyadenylation in Xenopus oocytes. In this study, a new XGld2-interacting protein was identified: Xenopus RNA-binding motif protein 9 (XRbm9). This RNA-binding protein is exclusively expressed in the cytoplasm of Xenopus oocytes and interacts directly with XGld2. It is shown that XRbm9 belongs to the cytoplasmic polyadenylation complex, together with cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein (CPEB), cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) and XGld2. In addition, tethered XRbm9 stimulates the translation of a reporter mRNA. The function of XGld2 in stage VI oocytes was also analysed. The injection of XGld2 antibody into oocytes inhibited polyadenylation, showing that endogenous XGld2 is required for cytoplasmic polyadenylation. Unexpectedly, XGld2 and CPEB antibody injections also led to an acceleration of meiotic maturation, suggesting that XGld2 is part of a masking complex with CPEB and is associated with repressed mRNAs in oocytes.     

Photocrosslinking of proteins to maternal mRNA in Xenopus oocytes

Ultraviolet irradiation was used to covalently crosslink poly(A) RNA and associated proteins in Xenopus oocytes and reticulocytes. Each cell type contained similar as well as unique crosslinked proteins. The somatic cells contained a single 78-kDa 3' poly(A) tract binding protein while oocyte poly(A), however, was bound by this protein and at least three additional proteins. Based on the mass of poly(A) RNA, oocytes in their earliest stages of growth contained crosslinked proteins that were generally more prevalent than in fully grown oocytes. An investigation of possible messenger RNA-specific proteins was undertaken by a series of RNA injection experiments. Two radiolabeled SP6-derived mRNAs were injected into oocytes; the first, globin mRNA, assembled into polysomes, while the second, a maternal mRNA termed G10, entered a nontranslating ribonucleoprotein compartment. Following the induction of oocyte maturation, additional globin mRNA was recruited onto polysomes while G10 mRNA remained a nontranslating mRNP. The proteins that can be crosslinked to these injected mRNAs were detected by 32P nucleotide transfer. Each mRNA associated with shared as well as unique proteins, some of which were detected only in mature oocytes. The possible function of these proteins is discussed.     

Expression of rat liver Na+/L-alanine co-transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Effect of glucagon in vivo.

Poly(A)+ RNA (mRNA) isolated from rat liver was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, and expression of Na+/L-alanine transport was assayed by measuring Na(+)-dependent uptake of L-[3H]alanine. Expression of Na+/L-alanine transport was detected 3-7 days after mRNA injection, and was due to an increment of the Na(+)-dependent component. After injection of 40 ng of total mRNA, Na(+)-dependent uptake of L-alanine was 2.5-fold higher than in water-injected oocytes. In contrast with Na+/L-alanine transport by water-injected oocytes, expressed Na+/L-alanine transport was inhibited by N-methylaminoisobutyric acid, was inhibited by an extracellular pH of 6.5 and was saturated at approx. 1 mM-L-alanine. After sucrose-density-gradient fractionation, highest expression of Na+/L-alanine uptake was observed with mRNA of 1.9-2.5 kb in length. Compared with mRNA isolated from control rats, mRNA isolated from glucagon-treated rats showed a approx. 2-fold higher expression of Na+/L-alanine transport. The results demonstrate that both liver Na+/L-alanine transport systems (A and ASC) can be expressed in X. laevis oocytes. Furthermore, the data obtained with mRNA isolated from glucagon-treated rats suggest that glucagon regulates liver Na+/L-alanine transport (at least in part) via the availability of the corresponding mRNA.     

Maturation of Xenopus laevis oocyte by progesterone requires poly(A) tail elongation of mRNA.

Meiotic maturation of Xenopus laevis oocytes by progesterone requires translation of stored maternal mRNAs. We investigated the role of poly(A) tail elongation of mRNAs during this process using cordycepin, which inhibits poly(A) tail elongation of mRNAs. When oocytes were treated with the buffer containing 10 mM cordycepin for 12 h, concentration of 3'-dATP in cytosol of oocytes increased to 0.7 mM, while that of ATP remained constant at around 1.2 mM. Incorporation of [32P]AMP into poly(A) mRNA was inhibited almost completely by this treatment. Progesterone-induced germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was also abolished. Dose dependence of inhibition of progesterone-induced GVBD on cordycepin was similar to that of [32P]AMP incorporation into poly(A) mRNA. However, maturation-promoting factor-induced GVBD was unaffected by treatment of oocytes with cordycepin. Furthermore, the inhibition of GVBD by cordycepin was rescued by removal of cordycepin even in the presence of actinomycin D. Therefore, we concluded that poly(A) tail elongation of mRNA is required for induction of meiotic maturation of X. laevis oocytes. In addition, progesterone induced a 2.7-fold activation of [32P]AMP incorporation into the poly(A) tail of mRNA after a lag period of 3 h whereas GVBD was induced after 6-8 h from the progesterone treatment. Syntheses of most of the proteins were unaffected by treatment of oocytes with progesterone or cordycepin. However, syntheses of several proteins were increased or decreased by progesterone and cordycepin treatment.     

爪蟾p21活化激酶2参与卵母细胞胞质分裂过程不依赖于Cdc42

研究p21活化激酶2(p21-activated kinase2,PAK2)在卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用.以爪蟾卵母细胞为模型,分别向爪蟾卵母细胞显微注射PAK2-N端(PAK2-N-terminal,PAK2-NT)和PAK2-N端突变体(PAK2-N-terminal mutation,PAK2-NTm)mRNA,荧光显微镜下观察胚泡破裂发生.采用共聚焦显微镜,时间延迟摄影法观察正常卵母细胞、PAK2-NTmRNA注射组和PAK2-NTm mRNA注射组卵母细胞胞质分裂、极体形成及与Cdc42活性的关系.结果表明,PAK2-NTmRNA和PAK2-NTm mRNA注射组的卵母细胞与正常卵母细胞胚泡破裂发生相似,但PAK2-NTmRNA和PAK2-NTm mRNA注射组未见胞质分裂和极体形成.结果提示,PAK2参与卵母细胞胞质分裂和极体形成可能不依赖于Cdc42的调节过程.     

Molecular properties and regulation of mRNA expression for murine T cell-replacing factor/IL-5

We previously cloned cDNA for a T cell-replacing factor (TRF) that has been defined as a T cell-derived lymphokine that acts on activated B cells as a B cell growth and differentiation factor. Based on the diverse activities of rTRF on different target cells, we proposed that TRF be called IL-5. In this study, the molecular characteristics of TRF/IL-5 prepared by rDNA technology and TRF/IL-5 mRNA expression in various T cell lines and normal T cells have been studied. Specific immunoassay showed that rTRF/IL-5, which is transiently translated in vitro by rabbit reticulocyte lysate, has an apparent m.w. of 14,000. By contrast, active forms of rTRF/IL-5 translated in Xenopus oocytes has an apparent m.w. of 45,000 to 50,000 in the nonreducing condition and migrates to the m.w. of 25,000 to 30,000 under the reducing condition, indicating that active form of rTRF/IL-5 consists of dimer forms. The rTRF/IL-5 does not show detectable levels of IL-2, IL-3, and B-cell stimulatory factor 1 (IL-4) activities. Northern blot hybridization of poly (A)+ RNA from constitutively TRF-producing B151K12 T cell hybridoma revealed a single 1.7-kb band hybridizing to the cloned murine TRF/IL-5 cDNA. The expression of TRF/IL-5 mRNA in B151K12 was augmented by the stimulation with PMA plus calcium ionophore. In contrast, neither thymoma BW5147 nor IL-2-producing T cell hybridoma A55, both of which produced an undetectable level of TRF, expressed detectable levels of TRF/IL-5 mRNA. Stimulation of EL 4 and D9 cells with PMA and Con A, respectively, induced an increase in the levels of TRF/IL-5 mRNA expression accompanied by TRF/IL-5 production, whereas both cell lines did not show significant gene expression in the absence of the stimulation. In spleen cells from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-primed mice, significant expression of TRF/IL-5 mRNA was detected only when the cells were stimulated with relevant Ag, PPD. Normal spleen cells stimulated with Con A showed a significant, but approximately four-fold less expression of TRF/IL-5 mRNA. Molecular and functional properties of TRF/IL-5 will be discussed.     

Studies of the injection of poly(A) protamine mRNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes

When poly(A)⁺ protamine mRNA from trout testes polysomes was injected into living Xenopus oocytes and the latter labelled with [¹⁴C] or [³H]arginine during subsequent incubation, a highly basic, labelled protein fraction was synthesized and could be extracted with 0.5 M H₂SO₄. In the acid extract, a major polypeptide, indistinguishable from trout protamine by several criteria: polyacrylamide and starch gel electrophoreses, carboxymethylcellulose column chromatography, lack of incorporation of [³H]histidine, and autoradiography of tryptic peptides after two-dimensional paper electrophoresis, could be demonstrated. Since no such protein is found in control oocytes injected with saline, it is concluded that poly(A)⁺ protamine mRNA programs the synthesis of trout protamine within Xenopus oocytes. This confirms our previous reports [1–3] that trout testis poly(A)⁺ protamine mRNA can direct the in vitro synthesis of protamine in Krebs II ascites, rabbit reticulocytes and wheat germ cell-free systems. The protamine synthesized upon injection of poly(A)⁺ protamine mRNA into Xenopus oocytes appears to be partially phosphorylated. Injection of increasing amounts of poly(A)⁺ protamine mRNA led to a linear increase in protamine synthesis. The sensitivity of detection was such that less than 1 ng of poly(A)⁺ protamine mRNA gave a significant response. The translational stability of protamine mRNA appeared to be less than that of globin mRNA.     

Confocal microscopic study of GABA(A) receptors in Xenopus oocytes after rat brain mRNA injection: modulation by tyrosine kinase activity

The expression of GABA(A) receptors in Xenopus oocytes injected with rat brain mRNA was studied by immunocytochemistry and evaluation of the distribution of fluorescent probes at the confocal microscope. The beta(2/3) subunit distributed exclusively on the membrane at the animal pole of the oocytes. Treatment of oocytes for 20 min with the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein, 200 microM, resulted in a lower presence of GABA(A) receptors on the membrane. The inactive genistein analogue daidzein, 200 microM, had no effect even with a 30 min treatment. Alkaline phosphatase but not a protein tyrosine phosphatase, when injected into oocytes, reduced GABA(A) receptor membrane expression. The data indicate that protein tyrosine phosphorylation modulates the expression on the plasma membrane of presynthesized GABA(A) receptors.