Developmental expression and intracellular location of P400 protein characteristic of Purkinje cells in the mouse cerebellum

The developmental expression and intracellular localization of a cerebellum-characteristic 250-kDa glycoprotein, P400 protein, were studied by immunohistochemical and immunoblot methods using a monoclonal antibody against P400 protein. In the cerebellum of normal mouse, the expression of P400 protein increased from Postnatal Day 3 to Day 21. This enhancement of P400 protein expression occurred only in the Purkinje cells and proceeded with the growth of their dendritic arborization. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that P400 protein is present at the plasma membrane, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the postsynaptic densities of Purkinje cells. Immunohistochemistry of the cerebella of neurological mutant mice indicated that the Purkinje cells of reeler, weaver, and pcd mutant mice retain the ability to produce a large amount of P400 protein. However, the Purkinje cells of staggerer mutant mouse proved to be incapable of enhanced P400 protein expression. These results indicate that P400 protein is a Purkinje cell-characteristic plasma membrane-associated glycoprotein, which is also present at the postsynaptic density and endoplasmic reticulum and that the expression of P400 protein in Purkinje cells is closely associated with the growth of their dendritic arborization.     

Characterization of Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 from Mouse Brain and Its Localization in the Cerebellar Cortex

Microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 2 was purified from the microtubule fraction of mouse brain by heat treatment and BioGel A-5m gel filtration. The purified preparation showed a single protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using both a gradient gel (3.75-12.5%) and a low-percentage gel (5%), a finding indicating that MAP2B was absent under the conditions used. Amino acid analysis revealed that mouse MAP2 was an acidic protein with an isoelectric point (pI 4.5) and amino acid composition similar to those of porcine brain MAP2. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the antigens that reacted with MAP2 antiserum were present in large quantities in mouse brain. However, we also found a weak reaction in various tissues other than brain, and the major antigens involved were recognized to be common molecular species with the same molecular mass, 162 and 170 kilodaltons. Using antiserum against mouse brain MAP2, the developmental localization patterns of MAP2 in the mouse cerebellar cortex were studied by immunohistochemistry. MAP2 was mainly localized in the neuronal cells throughout development, with the expression in Purkinje cell dendrites being especially remarkable in the growth of arborization from postnatal day 3 to day 20. At the mature stage, the reaction was strong in the dendritic tree but very weak in the proximal dendrites and cell bodies.     

A potential approach for gene therapy targeting hepatoma using a liver-specific promoter on a retroviral vector.

Recent technological advances made in molecular biology and in vitro culture of human and other mammalian cells have led to broad medical and scientific acceptance of the feasibility of gene therapy for genetic diseases. Cancer might practically be one of the attractive targets for such therapy. For the treatment of cancer, it is important to manipulate the gene of interest such that it is expressed solely in cancer cells. We have developed a tissue-specific gene expression system, based on a tissue-specific promoter on a retroviral vector. A murine ecotropic retroviral vector was constructed in which the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene served as a reporter; it was expressed under control of the albumin enhancer element and promoter. The tissue specificity of this vector was first assessed in vitro, and beta-galactosidase activity was detected exclusively in hepatoma cell lines. This recombinant retrovirus was injected directly into a subcutaneous tumor composed of transplantable murine MH-134 hepatoma cells, and expression of the gene was observed in vivo. Then this recombinant retrovirus was injected via the spleen or directly into the liver, resulting in the gene expression in dividing hepatocytes in partially hepatectomized mice, but not in nondividing hepatocytes in normal mice. Gene transfer specific to dividing hepatocytes and expression by means of retroviral vectors should possess high potential for selective elimination of hepatoma cells surrounded by nondividing normal hepatocytes.     

Pyridylamino sugar chain as an acceptor for galactosyltransferase

Pyridylamino asialo-agalacto-biantennary sugar chain (PA-acceptor), prepared from human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, was incubated with bovine milk galactosyltransferase. Transfer of galactose residues to PA-acceptor was detected by HPLC analysis, and thus PA-acceptor was shown to be useful for galactosyltransferase assay. Moreover, three species of products, i.e. PA-acceptor monogalactosylated on the Man alpha 1-3 branch of the trimannosyl core, PA-acceptor monogalactosylated on the Man alpha 1-6 branch, and digalactosylated PA-acceptor, were separated and identified by reversed-phase HPLC, so we could simultaneously determine the branch specificity (the ratio of galactosylation on Man alpha 1-3 branch to that on Man alpha 1-6 branch) of the galactosyltransferase. We fractionated the bovine milk galactosyltransferase on a DEAE-5PW column and confirmed that there was a heterogeneity in this enzyme preparation. Each fraction was assayed for acceptor specificity (the ratio of the activity towards N-acetylglucosamine to that towards PA-acceptor) and branch specificity using the PA-acceptor. However, we could not detect differences in the specificities among the fractions. In addition, we found that alpha-lactalbumin stimulated the galactosyltransferase activity towards PA-acceptor.     

Detection of brain-specific gene expression in brain cells in primary culture: a novel promoter assay based on the use of a retrovirus vector.

Promoter activities of the brain-specific genes for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) were investigated in brain cells in primary culture with the use of a novel retrovirus vector, pIP200. With this vector, promoter activity can be expressed in terms of beta-galactosidase activity. Differentiation of the primary brain cells to mature glial cells was not affected by treatment with the pIP200 virus vector. The 256-bp 5'-flanking region of the GFAP gene directed astrocyte-specific expression of lacZ. It was silent in fibroblasts, even in multiple copies. The 1.3-kb 5'-flanking region of the MBP gene exhibited strict tissue (oligodendrocyte) specificity under the present assay method but showed some leakiness when integrated into the chromosome in multiple copies. Promoter regions conferring cell type specificity in brain were effectively identified by the present method.     

Localization of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-like protein in plasmalemmal caveolae

Activation of various receptors by extracellular ligands induces an influx of Ca2+ through the plasma membrane, but its molecular mechanism remains elusive and seems variable in different cell types. In the present study, we utilized mAbs generated against the cerebellar type I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor and performed immunocytochemical and immunochemical experiments to examine its localization in several non-neuronal cells. By immunogold electron microscopy of ultrathin frozen sections as well as permeabilized tissue specimens, we found that a mAb to the type I InsP3 receptor (mAb 4C11) labels the plasma membrane of the endothelium, smooth muscle cell and keratinocyte in vivo. Interestingly, the labeling with the antibody was confined to caveolae, smooth vesicular inpocketings of the plasma membrane. The reactive protein, with an M(r) of 240,000 by SDS-PAGE, could be biotinylated with a membrane-impermeable reagent, sulfo-NHS-biotin, in intact cultured endothelial cells, and recovered by streptavidin-agarose beads, which result further confirmed its presence on the cell surface. The present findings indicate that a protein structurally homologous to the type I InsP3 receptor is localized in the caveolar structure of the plasma membrane and might be involved in the Ca2+ influx.