Type VI collagen of the intervertebral disc. Biochemical and electron-microscopic characterization of the native protein.

The collagen framework of the intervertebral disc contains two major fibril-forming collagens, types I and II. Smaller amounts of other types of collagen are also present. On examination of the nature and distribution of these minor collagens within bovine disc tissue, type VI collagen was found to be unusually abundant. It accounted for about 20% of the total collagen in calf nucleus pulposus, and about 5% in the annulus fibrosus. It was discovered by serially digesting disc tissue with chondroitin ABC lyase and Streptomyces hyaluronidase that native covalent polymers of type VI collagen could be extracted. Electron micrographs of this material prepared by rotary shadowing revealed the characteristic dimensions of tetramers and double tetramers of type VI molecules, with their central rods and terminal globular domains. Molecular-sieve column chromatography on agarose under non-reducing non-denaturing conditions gave a series of protein peaks with molecular sizes equivalent to the tetramer, double tetramer and higher multimers. On SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis after disulphide cleavage, these fractions of type VI collagen all showed a main band at Mr 140,000 and four lesser bands between Mr 180,000 and 240,000. On electrophoresis without disulphide cleavage in agarose/2.4% polyacrylamide only dimeric (six chains) and tetrameric (12 chains) forms of type VI molecules were present. The ability to extract all the type VI collagen of the tissue in 4 M-guanidinium chloride, and absence of aldehyde-mediated cross-linking residues on direct analysis, showed that, in contrast with most matrix collagens, type VI collagen does not function as a covalently cross-linked structural polymer.     

Size and shape of bovine interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein by electron microscopy and hydrodynamic analysis

Individual molecules of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), a protein likely to be important in the visual cycle, were visualized by means of electron microscopy. IRBP was coated with a very thin layer of tungsten and photographed by dark-field imaging. IRBP is seen to be a flexible, elongated molecule about 24 nm in length by 3-4 nm in width (statistical modes). These dimensions agree very well with those calculated from the frictional ratio obtained from sedimentation data. Approximately half of these rod-shaped IRBP molecules are straight, and half are bent in the middle, usually with an angle of 60-90 degrees between the two arms. A representation of IRBP as a bendable string of beads yields calculations of dimensions and of hydrodynamic parameters consistent with the electron microscopic and sedimentation data; the sedimentation coefficients derived from this representation are nearly insensitive to molecular bending. When IRBP is bound to saturating amounts of its endogenous ligands, all-trans- or 11-cis-retinol, its sedimentation behavior is unchanged, and the same types of particles are visualized by electron microscopy as with the free protein; however, a greater proportion of the molecules are bent. Deglycosylation of IRBP (with peptide:N-glycosidase F) results in a somewhat smaller molecule that retains its rod-like shape, as shown by gel filtration and sedimentation data. The results indicate that IRBP is an elongated molecule and suggest that a structural change may occur upon ligand binding.     

Physico-chemical properties of rat and dog cardiac alpha-actinin

alpha-Actinin exists in several polymorphic forms which appear to be characteristic of the muscle type from which it is isolated. In order to determine the possible physiological role of this structural protein in cardiac muscle, we describe and compare here the physico-chemical properties of cardiac alpha-actinin from two different mammalian species, rat (fast contracting muscle) and dog (slow contracting muscle). Purification of cardiac alpha-actinin was achieved by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and hydroxyapatite columns. The alpha-actinins isolated were different in their electrophoretic mobility (SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), molecular size and alpha-helical content. However, their shape as revealed by electron microscopy and their activating effect on Mg2+-ATPase activity of actomyosin appear to be similar. These studies suggest that the rat and dog cardiac alpha-actinin are structurally different but functionally similar proteins.     

Structure of thrombospondin

The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of thrombospondin and of a 30,000-Da heparin-binding peptide derived from thrombospondin by treatment with plasmin are identical. The heparin-binding peptide is homogeneous in size but slightly heterogeneous in charge with the predominant isoelectric points being 6.1 and 5.7. Electron microscopy of tungsten replicas of thrombospondin reveals a tripartite structure resembling a "bola" which is about 60 nm across when fully extended. Each part of the molecule terminates in a globular node or head which disappears upon limited plasmin digestion, suggesting that the heparin-binding peptide is located in the head region. In addition to the heparin-binding peptide, a 20,000-Da peptide also apparently associated with the head region is liberated during proteolysis. The electron micrographs indicate that the legs of the bola-like structure must be folded into an extended, flexible, tertiary structure. These legs, each of about 65,000 Da, appear to be attached near the ends opposite the heads, probably by disulfide bonds. Each leg possesses a tab or protein (approximately 20,000 Da) which juts out from this attachment point.     

Detection of a specific isoform of alpha-actinin with antisera directed against dystrophin

We have characterized a protein immunologically related to dystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene. We identify this related protein as a fast-twitch glycolytic isoform (mouse extensor digitorum longus-specific) of myofibrillar alpha-actinin. This specific isoform of alpha-actinin exhibits a more restricted pattern of expression in skeletal muscle than fast-twitch-specific isoforms of both myosin and Ca2+-ATPase. Our results provide evidence that dystrophin and myofibrillar alpha-actinin are related proteins, reinforcing the previous data concerning the sequence homologies noted between nonmuscle cytoskeletal alpha-actinin and dystrophin. In addition, we describe the first antisera directed against a specific myofibrillar skeletal muscle isoform of alpha-actinin.     

Distribution of receptor sites on large glycoprotein molecules by electron microscopy. Application to epiglycanin.

Electron microscopy was used to map the loci of immunochemically active sites on individual glycoprotein molecules. The positions of specific galactose residues and asparagine-linked carbohydrate chains containing specific mannose residues in epiglycanin, a glycoprotein of extended conformation from the surface of TA3 mouse mammary tumour cells, were observed in complexes with Ricinus communis toxin and concanavalin A respectively. The maximum number of Ricinus communis toxin molecules attached to a single epiglycanin molecule was 23, and the average number was 16. Only one concanavalin A molecule was observed attached to any epiglycanin molecule, and this at one end of the molecule, suggesting the presence of only one receptor for this lectin. By means of this new approach for mapping specific residues, evidence has been obtained that suggests microheterogeneity in epiglycanin with respect to the locations of carbohydrate chains containing receptors for Ricinus communis toxin.     

Cloning of the cDNA and nucleotide sequence of a skeletal muscle protease from myopathic hamsters

A neutral protease with an estimated M_r of about 26 kD and responsible for cleavage of myosin LC2 was isolated from hamster skeletal muscle. Complementary DNAs were generated by RT-PCR using total hamster muscle RNA and degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on the sequences of two internal peptides. The nucleotide sequences of the resultant cDNAs were subsequently determined and the complete amino acid sequence of the protease deduced. Although the hamster protein shared 63-85% identity in nucleotide and amino acid sequences with rat and mouse mast cell proteases, it had a higher degree of specificity for myosin LC2 than mast cell proteases which also digested myosin LC1 and myosin heavy chains. As a result, the hamster protease was designated mekratin because of its unique enzymatic specificities to distinguish it from other mast cell proteases. A polyclonal antibody was raised specific to the hamster muscle and human cardiac muscle mekratins without apparent cross-reaction with rat mast cell proteases. We have earlier demonstrated the presence in excess of a neutral protease that specifically cleaves LC2 in human hearts obtained at end stage idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). Western analyses revealed that heart tissue from patients with IDC contained 5-10 fold more mekratin than control samples. Furthermore, the level of the protease in human IDC tissues was similar to that seen in myopathic hamster skeletal muscle. No bands were recognized by the antibody when IDC myofibrils were probed due to the removal of soluble proteins during sample preparation. Thus, these results strongly suggest that the anti-mekratin antibody will provide positive identification of IDC in many cases and diagnosis by exclusion may be replaced.     

Localization of anticoagulantly active heparan sulfate proteoglycans in vascular endothelium: antithrombin binding on cultured endothelial cells and perfused rat aorta

We have studied the interaction of 125I-antithrombin (125I-AT) with microvascular endothelial cells (RFPEC) to localize the cellular site of anticoagulantly active heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). The radiolabeled protease inhibitor bound specifically to the above HSPG with a Kd of approximately 50 nM. Confluent monolayer RFPEC cultures exhibited a linear increase in the amount of AT bound per cell for up to 16 d, whereas suspension RFPEC cultures possessed a constant number of protease inhibitor binding sites per cell for up to 5 d. These results suggest that monolayer RFPEC cultures secrete anticoagulantly active HSPG, which then accumulate in the extracellular matrix. This hypothesis was confirmed by quantitative light and EM level autoradiography which demonstrated that the AT binding sites are predominantly located in the extracellular matrix with only small quantities of protease inhibitor complexed to the cell surface. We have also pinpointed the in vivo position of anticoagulantly active HSPG within the blood vessel wall. Rat aortas were perfused, in situ, with 125I-AT, and bound labeled protease inhibitor was localized by light and EM autoradiography. The anticoagulantly active HSPG were concentrated immediately beneath the aortic and vasa vasorum endothelium with only a very small extent of labeling noted on the luminal surface of the endothelial cells. Based upon the above data, we propose a model whereby luminal and abluminal anticoagulantly active HSPG regulate coagulation mechanism activity.