Free and polymerized tubulin in cultured bone cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells: the influence of cold and hormones

A low pH method of liposome-membrane fusion (Schneider et al., 1980, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 77:442) was used to enrich the mitochondrial inner membrane lipid bilayer 30-700% with exogenous phospholipid and cholesterol. By varying the phospholipid-to- cholesterol ratio of the liposomes it was possible to incorporate specific amounts of cholesterol (up to 44 mol %) into the inner membrane bilayer in a controlled fashion. The membrane surface area increased proportionally to the increase in total membrane bilayer lipid. Inner membrane enriched with phospholipid only, or with phospholipid plus cholesterol up to 20 mol %, showed randomly distributed intramembrane particles (integral proteins) in the membrane plane, and the average distance between intramembrane particles increased proportionally to the amount of newly incorporated lipid. Membranes containing between 20 and 27 mol % cholesterol exhibited small clusters of intramembrane particles while cholesterol contents above 27 mol % resulted in larger aggregations of intramembrane particles. In phospholipid-enriched membranes with randomly dispersed intramembrane particles, electron transfer activities from NADH- and succinate-dehydrogenase to cytochrome c decreased proportionally to the increase in distance between the particles. In contrast, these electron- transfer activities increased with decreasing distances between intramembrane particles brought about by cholesterol incorporation. These results indicate that (a) catalytically interacting redox components in the mitochondrial inner membrane such as the dehydrogenase complexes, ubiquinone, and heme proteins are independent, laterally diffusible components; (b) the average distance between these redox components is effected by the available surface area of the membrane lipid bilayer; and (c) the distance over which redox components diffuse before collision and electron transfer mediates the rate of such transfer.     

Biosynthesis and secretion of the rat core-specific lectin. Relationship of post-translational modification and assembly to attainment of carbohydrate binding activity

A soluble lectin, the core-specific lectin (CSL), is synthesized and secreted by rat hepatocytes and the rat hepatoma cell line, H-4-II-E. This lectin binds mannose and N-acetylglucosamine residues in the "core" region of Asn-linked oligosaccharides. Secretion of the CSL was found to occur over an extended period of time, greater than 4 h being required for secretion of 50% of the lectin (Brownell, M. D., Colley, K. J., and Baenziger, J. U. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 3925-3932). We have determined that following synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum, the CSL is rapidly transported to the Golgi where it is retained for an extended period of time prior to secretion. The lectin undergoes two post-translational modifications within the Golgi: an increase from Mr 24,000 to 25,000 and a progressive decrease in pI with an accompanying increase in Mr to a final value of 26,000. The lectin is also assembled into high molecular weight complexes of 150-260 X 10(3) and acquires the ability to bind carbohydrate in the Golgi. In hepatoma cells, the 24,000-25,000 modification is completed 20 min after initiation of synthesis. Assembly of the CSL subunits into high molecular weight complexes, acquisition of carbohydrate binding activity, and the 25,000-26,000 modification occur between 20 and 80 min after initiation of synthesis. These events have slower kinetics in primary hepatocytes and this allowed us to determine that the sequence of these biosynthetic events is: the 24,000-25,000 modification, complex assembly, the 25,000-26,000 modification, and acquisition of carbohydrate binding activity. The 24,000-25,000 modification occurs prior to complex assembly. Complex assembly may occur prior to, or concomitant with, the 25,000-26,000 modification. Assembly into the oligomeric form and the 25,000-26,000 modification correlate with the attainment of carbohydrate binding activity. The kinetics of CSL modification and assembly cannot account for its retention within the Golgi. Interaction with Golgi components either through carbohydrate binding or another interaction, may act to selectively retain the lectin within the Golgi.     

Post-translational modifications of the core-specific lectin. Relationship to assembly, ligand binding, and secretion

The rat core-specific lectin (CSL) or mannan-binding protein is synthesized and secreted by rat hepatocytes and H-4-II-E hepatoma cells. Prior to secretion proline and lysine residues with collagen-like sequences undergo hydroxylation and subsequent glycosylation of hydroxylysine to produce glucosylgalactosylhydroxylysine. Hydroxylation and subsequent glycosylation are inhibited by alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl (Colley, K. J., and Baenziger, U. U. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 10290-10295). We have used alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl to investigate the role of hydroxylation and glycosylation on interchain disulfide bond formation, assembly of subunits into high molecular weight complexes, attainment of carbohydrate and lipid binding ability, and secretion. Formation of disulfide-bonded dimers and trimers in the endoplasmic reticulum, assembly into high molecular weight complexes in the Golgi, and attainment of carbohydrate binding activity occur in either the presence or absence of these post-translational modifications. The mature fully processed form of the CSL binds hydrophobic matrices and is secreted at a slow, but linear, rate. Inhibition of proline and lysine hydroxylation and hydroxylysine glycosylation prevents CSL secretion and attainment of binding activity for hydrophobic matrices. Secretion of the lectin, although slow, appears to be an active process and may be related to the capacity to interact with membranes and/or lipids. Other proteins known to contain collagen-like sequences such as acetylcholinesterase, pulmonary surfactant apoproteins, and C1q also interact with lipids and/or membranes. The collagen-like domains of these proteins may also play a role in promoting such interactions.     

Identification of the post-translational modifications of the core-specific lectin. The core-specific lectin contains hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, and glucosylgalactosylhydroxylysine residues

The core-specific lectin (CSL) synthesized and secreted by rat hepatocytes and the rat hepatoma H-4-II-E shows affinity for mannose and N-acetylglucosamine residues in the "core" region of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides. The CSL undergoes two stages of post-translational modification which result in an increase in its Mr from 24,000 to 26,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We have determined that the lectin undergoes hydroxylation of proline and lysine and that the hydroxylysine is glycosylated to form glucosylgalactosylhydroxylysine (GlcGalHyLys). CSL metabolically labeled with [3H]lysine and [3H]proline contains hydroxylated forms of proline and lysine. The mature form of the lectin can also be metabolically labeled with [3H]galactose. alpha,alpha'-Dipyridyl, an inhibitor of collagen prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases, prevents the metabolic incorporation of [3H]galactose and the post-translational increases in the Mr of the CSL, indicating that both events are dependent upon hydroxylation of proline and lysine. Virtually all of the hydroxylysine present in the CSL is recovered as glucosylgalactosylhydroxylysine after alkaline hydrolysis. The post-translational modifications of the CSL place it in a select family of secreted proteins which contain collagen-like sequences, including the pulmonary surfactant proteins, complement component C1q, and the 18 S asymmetric form of acetylcholinesterase.     

Separation of anionic oligosaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography

We have developed methods for rapid fractionation of anionic oligosaccharides containing sulfate and/or sialic acid moieties by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ion-exchange HPLC on amine-bearing columns (Micropak AX-10 and AX-5) at pH 4.0 is utilized to separate anionic oligosaccharides bearing zero, one, two, three, or four charges, independent of the identity of the amnionic moieties (sulfate and/or sialic acid). Ion-exchange HPLC at pH 1.7 allows separation of neutral, mono-, di-, and tetrasialylated, monosulfated, and disulfated oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides containing three sialic acid residues and those bearing one each of sulfate and sialic acid, however, coelute at pH 1.7. Since the latter two oligosaccharide species separate at pH 4.0, analysis at pH 4.0 followed by analysis at pH 1.7 can be utilized to completely fractionate complex mixtures of sulfated and sialylated oligosaccharides. Ion-suppression amine adsorption HPLC has previously been shown to separate anionic oligosaccharides on the basis of net carbohydrate content (size). In this study we demonstrate the utility of ion-suppression amine adsorption HPLC for resolving sialylated oligosaccharide isomers which differ only in the linkages of sialic acid residues (alpha 2.3 vs alpha 2.6) and/or location of alpha 2,3- and alpha 2,6-linked sialic acid moieties on the peripheral branches of oligosaccharides. These two methods can be used in tandem to separate oligosaccharides, both analytically and preparatively, based on their number, types, and linkages of anionic moieties.     

Structure of an antifreeze polypeptide and its precursor from the ocean pout, Macrozoarces americanus

Serum antifreeze polypeptides (AFP) from Newfoundland ocean pout have been resolved by ion exchange chromatography and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography into at least 12 components. The protein sequences of three of the AFP were determined using a combination of protein Edman degradation and cDNA sequencing. The AFP precursor protein encodes for a preprotein of 87 amino acids with no obvious prosequences. Two of the AFP (SP1-A and SP1-C) were separate gene products with minor amino acid sequence differences. The protein structure of SP1-C precursor is MKSVILTGLLFVLLCVDHMTASQSVVAT QLIPINTALTPAMMEGKVTNPIGIPFAEMSQIVGKQVNTPVAKGQTLMPNMVKTYVAGK. The third AFP (SP1-B) is a post-translation modification product of SP1-C. These experiments indicate that the ocean pout AFP are a multigene family with protein structure different from any other known polypeptide antifreezes.     

Production,morphology, and cytogenetic analysis of Elymus caninus (Agropyron caninum) x Triticum aestivum F1 hybrids and backcross-1 derivatives

Summary Intergeneric hybrids were produced between common wheat, Triticum aestivum (2n=6x=42, AABBDD) and wheatgrass, Etymus caninus (Agropyron caninum) (2n=4x=28, SSHH) — the first successful report of this cross. Reciprocal crosses and genotypes differed for percent seed set, seed development and F₁ hybrid plant production. With E. caninus as the pollen parent, there was no hybrid seed set. In the reciprocal cross, seed set was 23.1–25.4% depending upon wheat genotype used. Hybrid plants were produced only by rescuing embryos 12–13 days post pollination with cv Chinese Spring as the wheat parent. Kinetin in the medium facilitated embryo germination but inhibited root development and seedling growth. The hybrids were vigorous, self sterile, and intermediate between parents. These had expected chromosome number (2n=5x=35, ABDSH), very little chromosome pairing (0.51 II, 0.04 III) and some secondary associations. The hybrids were successfully backcrossed with wheat. Chromosome number in the BC₁ derivatives varied 54–58 with 56 as the modal class. The BC₁ derivatives showed unusually high number of rod bivalents or reduced pairing of wheat homologues. These were sterile and BC₂ seed was produced using wheat pollen.     

Differential processing of Asn-linked oligosaccharides on pituitary glycoprotein hormones: implications for biologic function

Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and thyroid-stimulating hormone from pituitary and chorionic gonadotropin from placenta are a family of glycoproteins, each consisting of an and subunit. Within an animal species, the subunit of all four hormones contains the identical amino acid sequence, while each subunit is distinct and confers biologic specificity to the hormone dimer. Despite sharing common subunits, these hormones bear Asn-linked oligosaccharides which differ in structure. Whereas chorionic gonadotropin contains exclusively neutral and sialylated oligosaccharides, the pituitary hormones bear neutral, sialylated, sulfated, and sialylated/sulfated structures. The sulfated oligosaccharides are unique in structure and are more prevalent on certain pituitary hormones, indicating that the synthesis of these unusual oligosaccharides is tightly regulated. The differences in oligosaccharide structures in conjunction with the highly specific endocrine responses elicited by these hormones, suggest an important functional role for the oligosaccharides, such as metabolic clearance, control of hormone response, modulation of hormone potency, and/or intracellular sorting of hormones into separate secretory granules.     

Evidence for transmembrane modulation of the ligand-binding site of the hepatocyte galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific receptor

The ligand-binding activity of the galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific receptor (Gal/GalNAc receptor) present on the surface of hepatocytes can be modulated under a number of conditions in the intact cell. The carboxylic acid ionophores monensin and nigericin inhibit endocytosis by the Gal/GalNAc receptor in a concentration-dependent manner. Monensin at a concentration of 100 microM reduces the number of binding sites for asialo-orosomucoid and a tri-branched glycopeptide (F2) 5-10-fold; however, the number of Gal/GalNAc receptor subunits detected at the cell surface by a competitive radioimmunoassay and by immunoprecipitation of surface labeled receptor is not significantly altered. Replacement of NaCl in the medium with either N-methylglucamine or sorbitol to isotonicity also inhibits binding and endocytosis. The monensin, nigericin, N-methylglucamine, and sorbitol treatments have in common the ability to alkalinize the cytosol of the hepatocyte. None of these agents has any effect on binding by the isolated Gal/GalNAc receptor nor is the intracellular pH shift of such a magnitude that it would alter binding by the isolated Gal/GalNAc receptor. This has led us to conclude that the ligand-binding properties of the Gal/GalNAc receptor at the cell surface can be modulated in a transmembrane fashion by events other than those involving pH or Ca2+ regulation at the ligand-binding site itself. Such transmembrane modulation of ligand binding by the Gal/GalNAc receptor may provide a rapid and efficient mechanism for mediating ligand release and immediate return of the receptor to the cell surface.     

Effect of genotype and medium on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) anther culture

Four winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and two spring wheat cultivars were evaluated in anther culture on three to four different media for their ability to initiate callus and green plants. Five media were used in the experiment: stored-potato medium with Ficoll 400, fresh-potato medium with Ficoll 400, fresh-potato medium with agar, fresh-potato liquid medium without agar or Ficoll 400, and a one tep 85D12-3 medium. Greatly different frequencies of calli and/or green plants were obtained from different cultivars and media. The callus initiation frequency varied from 2.7% for Arapahoe to 52% for Pavon, both on the stored potato medium with Ficoll 400. The frequency of green plant regeneration ranged from 0% for Arapahoe and Siouxland on the stored-potato medium with Ficoll 400 and 0% for Redland and Arapahoe in the fresh-potato medium with Ficoll 400 to 12% for Chris in the 85D12-3 medium (one-step procedure). Chris and Centurk 78, previously reported as having high levels of response, had significantly higher (P < 0.05) frequencies of green plant regeneration on the 851312-3 medium than the other cultivars. An unexpected observation is that wet MSC^– medium enhanced callus regeneration more than a drier MSC^– medium.