Mammalian mitochondrial extracts possess DNA end-binding activity.

Mammalian mitochondrial protein extracts possess DNA end-binding (DEB) activity. Protein binding to a 394 bp double-stranded DNA molecule was measured using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Mitochondrial DEB activity was highly specific for linear DNA. Inclusion of a vast excess of non-radioactive circular DNA did not disrupt binding to radioactive f394. In contrast, binding was abolished by the inclusion of linear competitor DNA. In mammals, nuclear DEB activity is due to Ku, a hetero-dimer composed of the Ku70 and Ku86 proteins. To determine whether mitochondrial DEB activity was also due to Ku, protein extracts were prepared from the Chinese hamster XR-V15B cell line, which lacks this protein. As anticipated, nuclear extracts prepared from these cells lacked DEB activity. In contrast, mitochondrial extracts prepared from these cells had wild-type levels of DEB activity, demonstrating that this latter activity is not a consequence of nuclear contamination. Although the nuclear and mitochondrial DEB activities are independent of each other, they are nevertheless closely related, since mitochondrial DEB activity was 'supershifted' by both anti-Ku70 and anti-Ku86 antisera. The nuclear DEB protein Ku plays an essential role in nuclear DNA double-strand break repair. The DEB activity described herein may therefore play a similar role in mitochondrial DNA repair.     

Synthesis and processing of precursor polypeptides to murine mammary tumor virus structural proteins.

Biosynthesis of murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) proteins was studied in the chronically MuMTV-infected epithelial cell line MuMT-73 by using monospecific antisera to the major MuMTV core protein p27 and the major envelope glycoprotein gp47. In pulse-labeling experiments using [35S]methionine, monospecific antisera to p27 precipitated a 75,000-molecular-weight protein as the major intracellular component. Analysis of the same cellular extracts with monospecific antisera to gp47 revealed that the gp47 precursor was a 70,000-dalton protein. After chase periods, there was a loss of label from the precursors and a concomitant increase of labeled extracellular mature viral proteins. The glycoprotein precursor incorporated labeled glucosamine and seemed to be processed more rapidly than the p27 precursor. Considerable amounts of apparently nonvirion-associated gp47 and glycoprotein precursor could be detected in the extracellular culture fluid.     

Synthesis of an elastin component of molecular weight about 70,000 by polysomes from chick embryo aortas

Polysomes were isolated from aortas of 17-day-old chick embryos, and the synthesis of the nascent polypeptide chains was completed in vitro. When a mixture of a labeled amino acids found in elastin was used, the major radioactive product obtained was of molecular weight about 70,000 and was similar to elastin by several criteria. The 70,000 molecular weight product was extractable in propanol-butanol, it was not labeled with [³⁵S]methionine, and it was precipitated by antibodies against elastin. Polypeptides larger than 70,000 molecular weight were also synthesized but these larger polypeptides incorporated relatively small amounts of [¹⁴C]valine, and they appeared to represent proα chains of procollagen. The results suggest that the major gene product for elastin has a molecular weight of about 70,000.     

Human Ku70/80 associates physically with telomerase through interaction with hTERT

Telomere length maintenance, an activity essential for chromosome stability and genome integrity, is regulated by telomerase- and telomere-associated factors. The DNA repair protein Ku (a heterodimer of Ku70 and Ku80 subunits) associates with mammalian telomeres and contributes to telomere maintenance. Here, we analyzed the physical association of Ku with human telomerase both in vivo and in vitro. Antibodies specific to human Ku proteins precipitated human telomerase in extracts from tumor cells, as well as from telomerase-immortalized normal cells, regardless of the presence of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit. The same Ku antibodies also precipitated in vitro reconstituted telomerase, suggesting that this association does not require telomeric DNA. Moreover, Ku associated with the in vitro translated catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) in the absence of telomerase RNA (hTR) or telomeric DNA. The results presented here are the first to report that Ku associates with hTERT, and this interaction may function to regulate the access of telomerase to telomeric DNA ends.     

Interaction of monoclonal antibodies with alpha-bungarotoxin and (-)-nicotine binding sites in goldfish brain. Identification of putative nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

Monoclonal antibodies raised against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of Electrophorus electricus electroplaque have been used as probes to characterize putative nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in goldfish brain. One monoclonal antibody (mAb), mAb 47, recognized a protein which binds both (-)-[3H]nicotine and 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin with high affinity. Another monoclonal antibody (mAb 172) recognized a protein which binds (-)-[3H]nicotine but not 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin. Both antibodies precipitated a protein(s) (biosynthetically labeled with [35S]methionine) in the absence, but not in the presence, of excess purified nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo nobiliana. The dilution of mAb 47 that precipitated half of the maximum amount of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin binding protein was the same as that which precipitated half of the maximum amount of (-)-[3H]nicotine binding activity. When used in combination, the two antibodies precipitated more (-)-[3H]nicotine radioactivity than either antibody alone. The (-)-[3H]nicotine and 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin binding component-mAb complexes were characterized by sucrose density centrifugation. In the presence of either mAb 172 or 47, the (-)-[3H] nicotine binding component migrated further into the gradient, but only mAb 47 shifted the 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin peak. Incubation of solubilized brain extract with alpha-bungarotoxin-coupled Sepharose reduced the amount of (-)-[3H]nicotine radioactivity precipitated by mAb 47 but not by mAb 172. These data suggest that the antibodies may recognize distinct subtypes of (-)-nicotine binding sites in goldfish brain, one subtype which binds both 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin and (-)-[3H]nicotine and a second subtype which binds only (-)-[3H] nicotine.     

Specific association of simian virus 40 tumor antigen with simian virus 40 chromatin

Simian virus 40 tumor antigen (SV40 T antigen) was bound to both replicating and fully replicated SV40 chromatin extracted with a low-salt buffer from the nuclei of infected cells, and at least a part of the association was tight specific. T antigen cosedimented on sucrose gradients with SV40 chromatin, and T antigen-chromatin complexes could be precipitated from the nuclear extract specifically with anti-T serum. From 10 to 20% of viral DNA labeled to steady state with [3H]thymidine for 12 h late in infection or 40 to 50% of replicating viral DNA pulse-labeled for 5 min was associated with T antigen in such immunoprecipitates. After reaction with antibody, most of the T antigen-chromatin complex was stable to washing with 0.5 M NaCl, but only about 20% of the DNA label remained in the precipitate after washing with 0.5 M NaCl-0.4% Sarkosyl. This tightly bound class of T antigen was associated preferentially with a subfraction of pulse-labeled replicating DNA which comigrated with an SV40 form I marker. A tight binding site for T antigen was identified tentatively by removing the histones with dextran sulfate and heparin from immunoprecipitated chromatin labeled with [32P]phosphate to steady state and then digesting the DNA with restriction endonucleases HinfI and HpaII. The site was within the fragment spanning the origin of replication, 0.641 to 0.725 on the SV40 map.     

Identification of Schistosoma mansoni glycoproteins recognized by protective antibodies from mice immunized with irradiated cercariae

The humoral immune responses of mice patently infected with Schistosoma mansoni and of mice vaccinated with radiation-attenuated cercariae were compared by radioimmunoassays and one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel analyses of radioimmunoprecipitates. The binding observed with antibodies of mice vaccinated twice with radiation-attenuated cercariae over a period of 7 to 11 wk was less than 50% of the binding observed with antibodies of mice patently infected for 20 wk, but three to four times greater than that obtained with antibodies of mice infected for 6 wk, irrespective of whether the test antigen extracts were derived from schistosomula or adult worms. Sera of vaccinated mice precipitated a restricted number of predominantly high m.w. glycoproteins of both schistosomula and adult worms metabolically labeled with [35S] methionine. Each of the glycoproteins of 36 hr in vitro-cultured schistosomula that was precipitated by the sera of vaccinated mice was also precipitated by sera of infected mice. In contrast, sera of vaccinated mice uniquely precipitated a 38,000 m.w. glycoprotein of schistosomula cultured for 5 days and a 94,000 m.w. glycoprotein of adult male worms. Although radiation-attenuated larvae do not reach the adult stage, mice vaccinated with these still elicit a strong immune response against egg glycoproteins. In particular, an egg glycoprotein of 85,000 to 70,000 and isoelectric point of 4.8 showed an enhanced reactivity with sera of vaccinated mice in comparison with infected mice. These results show that the antibody response in mice vaccinated with radiation-attenuated larvae differs qualitatively and quantitatively from that of infected mice.     

Identification of proteins specific for human herpesvirus 6-infected human T cells.

Proteins specific for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)-infected human T cells (HSB-2) were examined by using polyclonal rabbit antibodies and monoclonal antibodies against HHV-6-infected cells and human sera. More than 20 proteins and six glycoproteins specific for HHV-6-infected cells were identified from [35S]methionine- and [3H]glucosamine-labeled total-cell extracts. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies immunoprecipitated 33 [35S]methionine-labeled HHV-6-specific polypeptides with approximate molecular weights ranging from 180,000 to 31,000. In immunoprecipitation and Western immunoblot reactions, a patient's serum also recognized more than 30 HHV-6-specific proteins and seven glycoproteins. In contrast, sera from individuals with high-titered antibodies against other human herpesviruses reacted with fewer HHV-6-infected cell proteins, and only a 135,000-Mr polypeptide was prominent. Monoclonal antibodies to HHV-6-infected cells reacted with single and multiple polypeptides specific for virus-infected cells and immunoprecipitated three distinct sets of glycoproteins, which were designated gp105k and gp82k, gp116k, gp64k, and gp54k, and gp102k.     

Monoclonal antibodies to two glycoproteins of herpes simplex virus type 2.

Monoclonal antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 were found to precipitate different numbers of radiolabeled polypeptides from lysates of virus-infected cells. Antibodies directed against two viral glycoproteins were characterized. Antibodies from hybridoma 17 alpha A2 precipitated a 60,000-molecular-weight polypeptide which chased into a 66,000- and 79,000-molecular-weight polypeptide. All three polypeptides labeled in the presence of [3H]glucosamine and had similar tryptic digest maps. The 60,000-molecular-weight polypeptide also chased into a 31,000-molecular-weight species which did not label with [3H]glucosamine. Antibodies from hybridoma 17 beta C2 precipitated a 50,000-molecular-weight polypeptide which chased into a 56,000- and 80,000-molecular weight polypeptide. These polypeptides also shared a similar tryptic digest map and labeled with [3H]glucosamine. Both monoclonal antibodies were herpes simplex virus type 2 specific. The viral proteins precipitated by 17 alpha A2 antibodies had characteristics similar to those reported for glycoprotein E, whereas the proteins precipitated by 17 beta C2 antibodies appeared to represent a glycoprotein not previously described. This glycoprotein should be tentatively designated glycoprotein F.     

Antibodies against the COOH-terminal undecapeptide of subunit II, but not those against the NH2-terminal decapeptide, immunoprecipitate the whole human cytochrome c oxidase complex

Antibodies against synthetic peptides derived from the DNA sequence of human cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) have been tested for their capacity to immunoprecipitate the whole enzyme complex. Antibodies against the COOH-terminal undecapeptide of COII (anti-COII-C), when incubated with a Triton X-100 mitochondrial lysate from HeLa cells pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine under conditions selective for mitochondrial protein synthesis and chased for 18 h in unlabeled medium, precipitated the pulse-labeled three largest subunits (mitochondrially synthesized) of cytochrome c oxidase in proportions close to equimolarity. Antibodies against the NH2-terminal decapeptide of COII (anti-COII-N), although equally reactive as the anti-COII-C antibodies with the sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized COII, did not precipitate any of the three labeled subunits from the Triton X-100 mitochondrial lysate. In other experiments, all the 13 subunits which have been identified in the mammalian cytochrome c oxidase were immunoprecipitated from a Triton X-100 mitochondrial lysate of cells long-term labeled with [35S]methionine by anti-COII-C antibodies, but not by anti-COII-N antibodies. By contrast, in immunoblots of total mitochondrial proteins dissociated with sodium dodecyl sulfate, the anti-COII-C antibodies reacted specifically only with COII. These results strongly suggest that, in the native cytochrome c oxidase complex, the epitope recognized by the anti-COII-C antibodies is in the COII subunit and that, therefore, in such complex, the COOH-terminal peptide of COII is exposed to antibodies, whereas the NH2-terminal peptide is not accessible.     

Biosynthesis of bikunin (urinary trypsin inhibitor) in rat hepatocytes.

One of the major sulfated proteins secreted by rat hepatocytes contains a low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate chain and its apparent molecular mass upon sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shifts from 40 to 28 kDa upon chondroitinase ABC treatment (E. M. Sj?berg and E. Fries, 1990, Biochem. J. 272, 113-118). These properties suggest that this protein is the rat homologue of the major trypsin inhibitor of human urine which was recently named bikunin. In serum, bikunin occurs mainly as a subunit of the pre-alpha-inhibitor and the inter-alpha-inhibitor; in these proteins it is covalently linked to the other polypeptides through its chondroitin sulfate chain. Bikunin has been shown to be synthesized by liver cells as a 42-kDa precursor, in which it is linked to alpha 1-microglobulin by two basic amino acids. We have isolated bikunin from rat urine and prepared antibodies against it. In rat hepatocytes pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine, these antibodies precipitated a labeled protein of 42 kDa. Upon chase, three different labeled proteins were recognized by the antibodies in the medium: one protein of 40 kDa (free bikunin), one of 125 kDa (presumably pre-alpha-inhibitor), and one greater than 240 kDa (possibly a protein related to the inter-alpha-inhibitor). Pulse-chase experiments with [35S]sulfate showed that these proteins occurred intracellularly as precursors containing alpha 1-microglobulin. These results demonstrate that the completion of the chondroitin sulfate chain and its coupling to other polypeptide chains occur before the cleavage of the alpha 1-microglobulin/bikunin precursor.     

Major membrane surface proteins of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae selectively modified by covalently bound lipid.

Surface protein antigens of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were identified by direct antibody-surface binding or by radioimmunoprecipitation of surface 125I-labeled proteins with a series of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Surface proteins p70, p65, p50, and p44 were shown to be integral membrane components by selective partitioning into the hydrophobic phase during Triton X-114 (TX-114)-phase fractionation, whereas p41 was concomitantly identified as a surface protein exclusively partitioning into the aqueous phase. Radioimmunoprecipitation of TX-114-phase proteins from cells labeled with [35S]methionine, 14C-amino acids, or [3H] palmitic acid showed that proteins p65, p50, and p44 were abundant and (with one other hydrophobic protein, p60) were selectively labeled with lipid. Covalent lipid attachment was established by high-performance liquid chromatography identification of [3H]methyl palmitate after acid methanolysis of delipidated proteins. An additional, unidentified methanolysis product suggested conversion of palmitate to another form of lipid also attached to these proteins. Alkaline hydroxylamine treatment of labeled proteins indicated linkage of lipids by amide or stable O-linked ester bonds. Proteins p65, p50, and p44 were highly immunogenic in the natural host as measured by immunoblots of TX-114-phase proteins with antisera from swine inoculated with whole organisms. These proteins were antigenically and structurally unrelated, since hyperimmune mouse antibodies to individual gel-purified proteins were monospecific and gave distinct proteolytic epitope maps. Intraspecies size variants of one surface antigen of M. hyopneumoniae were revealed by a MAb to p70 (defined in strain J, ATCC 25934), which recognized a larger p73 component on strain VPP11 (ATCC 25617). In addition, MAb to internal, aqueous-phase protein p82 of strain J failed to bind an analogous antigen in strain VPP11. These studies establish that a highly restricted set of distinct, lipid-modified hydrophobic membrane proteins are major surface antigens of M. hyopneumoniae and that structural variants of surface antigens occur within this species.     

Apoptotic nuclear morphological change without DNA fragmentation.

Apoptosis is characterized morphologically by condensation and fragmentation of nuclei and cells and biochemically by fragmentation of chromosomal DNA into nucleosomal units [1]. CAD, also known as CPAN or DFF-40, is a DNase that can be activated by caspases [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. CAD is complexed with its inhibitor, ICAD, in growing, non-apoptotic cells [2] [7]. Caspases that are activated by apoptotic stimuli [8] cleave ICAD. CAD, thus released from ICAD, digests chromosomal DNA into nucleosomal units [2] [3]. Here, we examine whether nuclear morphological changes induced by apoptotic stimuli are caused by the degradation of chromosomal DNA. Human T-cell lymphoma Jurkat cells, as well as their transformants expressing caspase-resistant ICAD, were treated with staurosporine. The chromosomal DNA in Jurkat cells underwent fragmentation into nucleosomal units, which was preceded by large-scale chromatin fragmentation (50-200 kb). The chromosomal DNA in cells expressing caspase-resistant ICAD remained intact after treatment with staurosporine but their chromatin condensed as found in parental Jurkat cells. These results indicate that large-scale chromatin fragmentation and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation are caused by an ICAD-inhibitable DNase, most probably CAD, whereas chromatin condensation during apoptosis is controlled, at least in part, independently from the degradation of chromosomal DNA.     

Characterization of bullous pemphigoid antigen: A unique basement membrane protein of stratified squamous epithelia

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) antigen is a normal basement membrane zone antigen of epidermis and other stratified squamous epithelia. It is defined immunologically by antibodies in the sera of patients with the subepidermal blistering disease BP. In this study we sought to demonstrate that epidermal cells synthesize this antigen, to determine the immunological specificity of BP antibodies and to characterize this antigen. Cultured human epidermal cells (HEC) and a spontaneously transformed mouse epidermal cell line (Pam) both demonstrated BP antigen by indirect immunofluorescence. To characterize the antigen, these cells were radiolabeled with ³⁵S-methionine or ¹⁴C-amino acids and extracts were immunoprecipitated using nine different BP sera. Immunoprecipitated proteins were identified using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and fluorography. All nine BP sera precipitated a protein with disulfide-linked chains of apparent molecular weight approximately 220 kd. Eight normal human sera and six pemphigus vulgaris sera, as well as antibodies directed against fibronectin and laminin, did not precipitate this protein. Furthermore, it was not precipitated by BP sera from radiolabeled extracts of fibroblasts. The protein was soluble in Tris-HCI buffered saline but was not secreted into the culture medium. These studies demonstrate that BP antigen is synthesized by epidermal cells in culture, different patients with BP have antibodies against the same protein, and BP antigen can be identified on SDS-PAGE as a high molecular weight protein consisting of disulfide-linked chains of approximate molecular weight 220 kd.     

ATP-stimulated degradation of endogenous proteins in cell-free extracts of BHK 21/C13 fibroblasts. A key role for the proteinase, macropain, in the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of short-lived proteins.

Baby hamster kidney (BHK) 21/C13 cell proteins, labeled with [35S]methionine, [14C]leucine or [3H]leucine in intact cells, were degraded in soluble, cell-free extracts by an ATP-stimulated process. The stimulatory effect of ATP appeared to require ATP hydrolysis and was mediated to a large extent by ubiquitin. Although the cell extracts contained endogenous ubiquitin, supplementation with exogenous ubiquitin increased ATP-dependent proteolysis by up to 2-fold. Furthermore, antibodies against the E1 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme specifically inhibited both conjugation of [125I]ubiquitin to endogenous proteins and ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. Addition of purified E1 to antibody-treated extracts restored conjugation and proteolysis. Proteins containing the amino acid analogues canavanine and azatryptophan were also degraded in vitro by an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent process but at a rate up to 2-fold faster than normal proteins. These results indicate that soluble, cell-free extracts of BHK cells can selectively degrade proteins whose rates of degradation are increased in intact cells. Treatment of cell-free extracts with antibodies against the high molecular weight proteinase, macropain, also greatly inhibited the ATP/ubiquitin-dependent degradation of endogenous proteins. Proteolysis was specifically restored when purified macropain L was added to the antibody-treated extracts. Treatment of cell extracts with both anti-macropain and anti-E1 antibodies reduced ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis to the same extent as treatment with either antibody alone. Furthermore, proteolysis could be restored to the double antibody treated extracts only after addition of both purified E1 and macropain. These results provide strong evidence for an important role for macropain in the ATP/ubiquitin-dependent degradation of endogenous proteins in BHK cell extracts.