In vivo and in vitro processing of seed reserve protein in the endoplasmic reticulum: evidence for two glycosylation steps

Cotyledons of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) synthesize large amounts of the reserve protein phaseolin. The polypeptides are synthesized on membrane-bound polysomes, pass through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and accumulate in protein bodies. For a study of the biosynthesis and processing of phaseolin, developing cotyledons were labeled with radioactive amino acids, glucosamine and mannose, and isolated fractions (polysomal RNA, polysomes, and rough ER) were used for in vitro protein synthesis. Newly synthesized phaseolin present in the ER of developing cotyledons can be fractioned into four glycopolypeptides by SDS PAGE. In vitro synthesis with polysomal RNA results in the formation of two polypeptides by polysome run-off shows that glycosylation is a co-translational event. The two unglycosylated polypeptides formed by polysome run-off are slightly smaller than the two polypeptides formed by in vitro translation of isolated RNA, indicating that a signal peptide may be present on these polypeptides. Run-off synthesis with rough ER produces a pattern of four polypeptides similar to the one obtained by in vivo labeling. The two abundant glycopolypeptides formed by polysome run-off. This result indicates the existence of a second glycosylation event for the abundant polypeptides. Inhibition of glycosylation by Triton X-100 during chain-completion with rough ER was used to show that these two glycosylation steps normally occur sequentially. Both glycosylation steps are inhibited by tunicamycin. Analysis of carhohydrate to protein ratios of the different polypeptides and of trypsin digests of polypeptides labeled with [(3)H]glucosamine confirmed the conclusion that some glycosylated polypeptides contain two oligosaccharide chains, while others contain only one. An analysis of tryptic peptide maps shows that each of the unglycosylated polypeptides is the precursor for one glycosylated polypeptide with one oligosaccharide chain and one with two oligosaccharide chains.     

Cultured endothelial cells produce heparinlike inhibitor of smooth muscle cell growth

Using cultured cells from bovine and rat aortas, we have examined the possibility that endothelial cells might regulate the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells. Conditioned medium from confluent bovine aortic endothelial cells inhibited the proliferation of growth-arrested smooth muscle cells. Conditioned medium from exponential endothelial cells, and from exponential or confluent smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, did not inhibit smooth muscle cell growth. Conditioned medium from confluent endothelial cells did not inhibit the growth of endothelial cells or fibroblasts. In addition to the apparent specificity of both the producer and target cell, the inhibitory activity was heat stable and not affected by proteases. It was sensitive flavobacterium heparinase but not to hyaluronidase or chondroitin sulfate ABC lyase. It thus appears to be a heparinlike substance. Two other lines of evidence support this conclusion. First, a crude isolate of glycosaminoglycans (TCA-soluble, ethanol-precipitable material) from endothelial cell-conditioned medium reconstituted in 20 percent serum inhibited smooth muscle cell growth; glycosaminoglycans isolated from unconditioned medium (i.e., 0.4 percent serum) had no effect on smooth muscle cell growth. No inhibition was seen if the glycosaminoglycan preparation was treated with heparinase. Second, exogenous heparin, heparin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate B (dermatan sulfate), chondroitin sulfate ABC, and hyaluronic acid were added to 20 percent serum and tested for their ability to inhibit smooth muscle cell growth. Heparin inhibited growth at concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml. Other glycosaminoglycans had no effect at doses up to 10 μg/ml. Anticoagulant and non- anticoagulant heparin were equally effective at inhibiting smooth muscle cell growth, as they were in vivo following endothelial injury (Clowes and Karnovsk. Nature (Lond.). 265:625-626, 1977; Guyton et al. Circ. Res. 46:625-634, 1980), and in vitro following exposure of smooth muscle cells to platelet extract (Hoover et al. Circ. Res. 47:578-583, 1980). We suggest that vascular endothelial cells may secrete a heparinlike substance in vivo which may regulate the growth of underlying smooth muscle cells.     

Individual variation in oviposition preference in the butterfly,Colias eurytheme

Summary We examined intra-population variation in oviposition preference in the pierid butterfly, Colias eurytheme. Females' preferences were tested in the laboratory, using two-way choice tests between the potential hosts, alfalfa and vetch. There were consistent differences in oviposition preference among females within a population. Larval and adult experience had little or no effect on females' preference. These results suggest that the intra-population variation in oviposition preference is genetically based, but the results of experiments designed to estimate the heritability of oviposition preference were not conclusive. We suggest that intra-population variation in host selection characters may play a key role in shifts to new host plants.     

Substructure of the glomerular slit diaphragm in freeze-fractured normal rat kidney

In the renal glomerulus, the narrow slits between adjacent epithelial podocytes are bridged by a diaphragm (2, 8, 11). In rat and mouse kidneys fixed by perfusion with tannic acid and glutaraldehyde (TAG), it has recently been discovered that this diaphragm has a highly ordered, isoporous substructure (9). It consists of a regular array of alternating cross bridges extending from the podocyte plasma membranes to a centrally running filament. This zipperlike pattern results in two rows of rectangular pores, approximately 40 X 140 A in cross section, dimensions consistent with the proposed role of the diaphragm as an important filtration barrier to plasma proteins (6). In the present study, we found in freeze-cleaved and in freeze-etched normal rat glomeruli that the surface of the slit diaphragm has an appearance conforming to the pattern found in sectioned material.     

Use of silica to identify host mechanisms involved in suppression of established Friend virus leukemia.

Silica, an agent predominantly toxic for macrophages, inoculated i.v. to Friend leukemia virus (FLV)-infected mice, blocks the FLV-leukemosuppressive effects of chlorite-oxidized oxyamylose (COAM)-statolon treatment. FLV-infected, COAM-statolon-treated mice that have received silica and have failed to suppress FLV leukemia produced normal amounts of interferon, but did not make antibodies cytotoxic for FLV leukemic cells. Transfer of untreated spleen cells, splenic T cells, or thymocytes from mice with suppressed FLV erythroleukemia to FLV-infected mice treated with silica and COAM-statolon restores the humoral immune response to FLV antigens and results in leukemosuppression. Thus, T lymphocytes from mice with suppressed erythroleukemia participate in FLV leukemosuppression either directly as effector cells, or indirectly as helper cell in the production of antibodies to FLV antigens.     

Characterization of cDNA clones for human myeloperoxidase: predicted amino acid sequence and evidence for multiple mRNA species.

Myeloperoxidase is a component of the microbicidal network of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The enzyme is a tetramer consisting of two heavy and two light subunits. A large proportion of humans demonstrate genetic deficiencies in the production of myeloperoxidase. As a first step in analyzing these deficiencies in more detail, we have isolated cDNA clones for myeloperoxidase from an expression library of the HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Two overlapping plasmids (pMP02 and pMP062) were identified as myeloperoxidase cDNA clones based on the detection with myeloperoxidase antiserum of 70 kDa protein expressed in pMP02-containing bacteria and a 75 kDa polypeptide produced by hybridization selection and translation using pMP062 and HL-60 RNA. Formal identification of the clones was made by matching the predicted amino acid sequences with the amino terminal sequences of the heavy and light subunits. Both subunits are encoded by one mRNA in the following order: pre-pro-sequences--light subunit--heavy subunit. The molecular weight of the predicted primary translation product is 83.7 kDa. Northern blots reveal two size classes of hybridizing RNAs (approximately 3.0-3.3 and 3.5-4.0 kilobases) whose expression is restricted to cells of the granulocytic lineage and parallels the changes in enzymatic activity observed during differentiation.     

Studies on the mechanism for entry of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein g mRNA into membrane-bound polyribosome complexes

Glycoprotein mRNA (G mRNA) of vesicular stomatitis virus is synthesized in the cytosol fraction of infected HeLa cells. Shortly after synthesis, this mRNA associates with 40S ribosomal subunits and subsequently forms 80S monosomes in the cytosol fraction. The bulk of labeled G mRNA is then found in polysomes associated with the membrane, without first appearing in the subunit or monomer pool of the membrane-bound fraction. Inhibition of the initiation of protein synthesis by pactamycin or muconomycin A blocks entry of newly synthesized G m RNA into membrane-bound polysomes. Under these circumstances, labeled G mRNA accumulates into the cytosol. Inhibition of the elongation of protein synthesis by cucloheximide, however, allows entry of 60 percent of newly synthesized G mRNA into membrane-bound polysomes. Furthermore, prelabeled G mRNA associated with membrane-bound polysomes is released from the membrane fraction in vivo by pactamycin or mucomycon A and in vitro by 1mM puromycin - 0.5 M KCI. This release is not due to nonspecific effects of the drugs. These results demonstrate that association of G mRNA with membrane-bound polysomes is dependent upon polysome formation and initiation of protein synthesis. Therefore, direct association of the 3' end of G mRNA with the membrane does not appear to be the initial event in the formation of membrane-bound polysomes.     

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against soybean seed lipoxygenase isoenzymes

Sets of monoclonal antibodies have been prepared using two soybean seed lipoxygenase isoenzymes as the antigens. The antibodies were characterized by ELISA, Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, and in kinetic assays. Several antibodies displaying selectivity for the two closely related polypeptides were obtained, while the majority of the antibodies generated were crossreactive. Antibodies specific to the native and denatured forms of the two proteins were also obtained. Two of the monospecific antibodies were shown to immunoprecipitate the appropriate isoenzyme selectively from a mixture. When these antibodies were immobilized on agarose, they were successful in the immunoaffinity purification of the individual isoenzymes. In kinetic experiments certain antibodies were found to influence catalysis upon incubation with lipoxygenase. Antibodies which both inhibited and stimulated catalysis were identified.     

Virus replication and high-titered interferon production in human leukocyte cultures inoculated with Newcastle disease virus

Wheelock, Frederick E. (Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio). Virus replication and high-titered interferon production in human leukocyte cultures inoculated with Newcastle disease virus. J. Bacteriol. 92:1415-1421. 1966.-High titers of interferon (20,480 culture-protecting units per ml) are produced in freshly prepared human leukocyte cultures inoculated with a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-cell multiplicity of 1:1. NDV replicates to low titers in these cultures. Incubation of leukocytes at 37 C for 24 hr prior to inoculation of NDV results in almost complete loss of detectable interferon production, but virus replicates to higher titers than in the freshly prepared cultures. In contrast, no diminution of interferon production in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) occurs on 24 hr of incubation of cultures prior to addition of PHA. Experiments with cultures of predominantly pure cell fractions of peripheral blood indicate that the lymphocyte fraction produces interferon in response to either NDV or PHA, and that polymorphonuclear leukocytes produce no interferon in response to these agents. These studies suggest a hitherto unsuspected ability of human lymphocytes to produce high titers of interferon in vivo.