Structural and functional characterization of the inhibition of urokinase by alpha 2-macroglobulin

We have investigated the interaction of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) with the serine proteinase urokinase, an activator of plasminogen. Urokinase formed sodium dodecyl sulfate stable complexes with purified alpha 2M and with alpha 2M in plasma. These complexes could be visualized after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by protein blots using 125I-labeled anti-urokinase antibody or by fibrin autography, a measure of fibrinolytic activity. According to gel electrophoretic analyses under reducing conditions, urokinase cleaved alpha 2M subunits and formed apparently covalent complexes with alpha 2M. Urokinase cleaved only about 60% of the alpha 2M subunits maximally at a mole ratio of 2:1 (urokinase: alpha 2M). Binding of urokinase to alpha 2M protected the urokinase active site from inhibition by antithrombin III-heparin and inhibited, to a significant extent, plasminogen activation by urokinase. Reaction of urokinase with alpha 2M caused an increase in intrinsic protein fluorescence and, thus, induced the conformational change in alpha 2M that is characteristic of its interactions with active proteinases. Our results indicate that both in plasma and in a purified system the alpha 2M-urokinase reaction is functionally significant.     

Urokinase binds to a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2-like molecule in placental microvillous membranes

Placental microvillous membranes exhibited saturable binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator with plateau achieved by 30 min at 4 degrees C and 10 min at 37 degrees C. The binding was essentially irreversible. The capacity was about 8 pmol urokinase per mg membrane protein. Half-maximal displacement of 125I-labelled urokinase was achieved with about 1.0 nM unlabelled urokinase when using 75 micrograms membrane protein/ml. 125I-labelled urokinase did not bind when treated with diisopropylfluorophosphate to block the catalytic activity. Single-chain urokinase (prourokinase), devoid of catalytic activity, did not bind. Catalytically active tissue-type plasminogen activator did compete with 125I-labelled urokinase for binding although less efficiently than urokinase. Binding activity remained in the 100,000 x g pellet after treatment of the membranes with 3 M KCl, alkaline stripping at pH 12 or extraction by the detergent Triton X-100. The binding was essentially blocked by antibodies against plasminogen activator inhibitor-type-2 (PAI-2). Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized membranes with bound 125I-labelled urokinase showed that the urokinase-PAI-2 complexes largely migrated in fractions corresponding to a very large Mr although no clearly defined peaks were observed. It is suggested that PAI-2 occurs in a form anchored to syncytiotrophoblast microvilli, possibly to the cytoskeleton.     

Naphthamidine urokinase plasminogen activator inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic properties

A series of non-amide-linked 6-substituted-2-naphthamidine urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) inhibitors are described. These compounds possess excellent binding activities and selectivities with significantly improved pharmacokinetic profiles versus previously described amide-linked inhibitors.     

Interaction of urokinase with alpha2-macroglobulin investigated by isoelectric focusing. Evidence for non-specific dissociable binding.

The binding of urokinase to human alpha2M (alpha2-macroglobulin) was investigated in comparison with the formation of the equimolar trypsin-alpha2M complex. Experiments were performed by molecular-sieving on Sephadex G-200, subunit conversion by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis after reduction and isoelectric focusing in linear sucrose gradients with ampholytes pH 3.5-10.0. Urokinase activity was determined with alpha-N-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester and by activation of plasminogen on unheated fibrin plates. alpha2M was determined by single radial immunodiffusion. alpha2M was capable of binding some urokinase by a non-specific type of attachment that could be disrupted by isoelectric focusing but not by gel filtration. The pI of the undissociated trypsin-alpha2M complex was 6.0, and differed from that of the pure alpha2M (5.2-5.4). Likewise the pI of the immunoreactive alpha2M was 5.2 after exposure to urokinase, whereas the dissociated urokinase focused at pI 10.2. This indicated lack of true inhibitor-complex formation, which was also sustained by total absence of subunit conversion. The results are in agreement with our previous findings with pancreatic and urinary kallikreins.     

Mechanism of the urokinase-catalyzed activation of human plasminogen.

When human plasminogen (Glu-Pga) is activated by urokinase in the presence of pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, the plasmin produced (Glu-Pma) exclusively contains a heavy chain (Glu-Ha) derived intact from the original NH2 terminus of Glu-Pga. Similar activations, utilizing a low molecular weight synthetic plasmin acylating agent, p-nitrophenyl-p-(pyridiniummethyl) benzoate, still result in a plasmin molecule with approximately 50% of the plasmin heavy chain containing the intact NH2 terminus of the original Glu-Pga. Activations performed at high levels of urokinase in the absence of any inhibitors initially produce Glu-Pma. However, the final stable plasmin, Lys-Pmb, which is obtained contains a heavy chain (Lys-Hb) which arises by plasminolysis of a small peptide from the NH2 terminus of Glu-Ha. Alternatively, Lys-Pmb can be formed in a separate series of reactions initially involving plasminolysis of Glu-Pga to yield Lys-Pgb. The peptide removed in this step is identical to the peptide removed in the Glu-Ha to Lys-Hb reaction. Next, urokinase catalyzes the conversion of Lys-Pgb to Lys-Pmb without further loss of peptide material. This latter pathway involving Lys-Pgb is probably the major pathway for human Lys-Pmb generation. These studies support a mechanism of activation of human plasminogen which involves at least two bond cleavages in Glu-Pga. However, these same studies strongly indicate that the Nh2-terminal peptide need not be released from Glu-Pga prior to plasmin formation. Further, we feel that plasmin and not urokinase catalyzes cleavage of the NH2-terminal peptide bond from Glu-Pga and the Glu-Ha heavy chain of Glu-Pma.     

The undecided serpin. The ins and outs of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2) is a nonconventional serine protease inhibitor (serpin) with unique and tantalizing properties that is generally considered to be an authentic and physiological inhibitor of urokinase. However, the fact that only a small percentage of PAI-2 is secreted has been a long-standing argument for alternative roles for this serpin. Indeed, PAI-2 has been shown to have a number of intracellular roles: it can alter gene expression, influence the rate of cell proliferation and differentiation, and inhibit apoptosis in a manner independent of urokinase inhibition. Despite these recent advances in defining the intracellular function of PAI-2, it still remains one of the most mysterious and enigmatic members of the serpin superfamily.     

A highly polymorphic CA/GT repeat in intron 3 of the human urokinase receptor gene (PLAUR)

We describe the first highly polymorphic microsatellite marker for the human urokinase plasminogen activator receptor gene (PLAUR). The urokinase receptor (uPAR) has a central role in cancer invasion and metastasis, which may enable the development of new anti-metastatic therapies. Analysis of the marker genotypes in colorectal cancer cell lines revealed three alleles that were not detected in a series of healthy control individuals, which encourages further genetic study of the role of uPAR in cancer.     

4-amidinobenzylamine-based inhibitors of urokinase

A series of 4-amidinobenzylamine-based peptidomimetic inhibitors of urokinase was synthesized. The most potent one, benzylsulfonyl-D-Ser-Ala-4-amidinobenzylamide 16, inhibits uPA with a K(i) of 7.7 nM but is less selective than 10 with a Gly as P2 residue. Hydroxyamidine and carbonate prodrugs were prepared, which are rapidly converted into the active inhibitors in rats after subcutaneous application.     

Urokinase binding sites on human foreskin cells. Evidence for occupancy with endogenous urokinase

In cultures of human foreskin fibroblasts most of the cell surface binding sites for 2-chain urokinase are masked and can be exposed by 10 min. incubation on ice at pH 2.5 (A. Bajpai and J.B. Baker (1985), Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.133, 475-482). Here we show that incubation on ice at pH 2.5 also releases from the cell surface a plasminogen activator that is similar to 2-chain urokinase in terms of its electrophoretic mobility, chromatographic behavior on concanavalin A-Sepharose or p-amino-benzamidine-Sepharose, and sensitivity to anti-urokinase antibody. Two observations suggest that the masked binding sites are sites occupied by this cell surface urokinase. First, glucocorticoid-treated cells, which lack cell surface urokinase, have a large number of urokinase binding sites but none that are masked. Second, the extraction of surface urokinase and the exposure of urokinase binding sites exhibit similar pH dependence. Both are complete at about pH 4.0.     

Signals via FGF receptor 2 regulate migration of endothelial cells.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) stimulate angiogenesis, of which signals are transduced via FGF receptor (FGFR) tyrosine kinases. Although FGFR1 is a major receptor in endothelial cells, FGFR2 is frequently detectable in endothelial cells. We have previously demonstrated that the intracellular domain of FGFR1 sufficiently transduced signals leading to proliferation, migration, urokinase secretion, and tube formation. However, little is known about the roles of signaling via FGFR2 alone in endothelial cells. Murine brain capillary endothelial cells, denoted IBE cells, express small amounts of IIIc FGFR2, which is not activated by keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). We then transfected the IIIb FGFR2 in these cells. Three stable cell lines expressing IIIb FGFR2 demonstrated chemotaxis toward KGF, but never proliferated, secreted urokinase, or formed tube-like structure by KGF treatment. Weak but sustained activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was observed in these cells. Chemotaxis toward KGF was significantly attenuated by treatment with PD98059. This is the first demonstration that signaling solely via FGFR2 in endothelial cells only contributes to motility through MAPK.     

Urokinase: a chemotactic factor for polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vivo

The effects of injecting urokinase into subdermal air sacs on the back of mice was studied. Urokinase was leukotactic in the concentration range of 2 X 10(-13) to 2 X 10(-15) M. This response was absolutely dependent on the enzyme activity of the serine esterase, but was found to be independent of generation of the chemotactic complement split product C5a. At high doses of urokinase (greater than 2 X 10(-12) M), no cellular infiltration was observed. Injection of 2 X 10(-10) M urokinase i.p. led to the systemic desensitization of mice when challenged in the skin with a lower dose (2 X 10(-14) M) of urokinase. Urokinase desensitization did not alter the ability of mice to respond to the chemical chemotactic factor f-met-leu-phe or to respond to C5a-dependent chemotactic stimuli. Urokinase desensitized mice failed to demonstrate a chemotactic response to nerve growth factor, thrombin, plasmin, or factor X activating enzyme, all of which were chemotactic in non-urokinase pre-treated animals. The results of these studies indicate the presence of three physiologically independent inflammatory pathways in mice: independent of C5 and not influenced by pretreatment with urokinase, independent of C5 and inhibited by pretreatment with urokinase, and dependent on C5 and not influenced by pretreatment with urokinase.     

Effect of dithiothreitol on activity and protein structure of human urine urokinase

Human urine urokinase [EC 3.4.21.31] was found to be inactivated by dithiothreitol (DTT) much more severely than by 2-mercaptoethanol at the same concentration on the basis of -SH groups. Removal of DTT by dialysis restored the activities of esterase toward acetyl-glycyl-L-lysine methyl ester, plasminogen activation, and amidase toward 7-(glutaryl-glycyl-L-arginine-amido)-4-methyl coumarin. But the restoration of amidase activity was much less than that of esterase activity. The addition of DTT mediated the conversion of high molecular weight urokinase to low molecular weight urokinase, releasing several peptides. This suggests that the urokinase consists of several polypeptides linked by disulfide bonds. The molecular weight of urokinase produced with DTT was smaller than that of low molecular weight urokinase obtained by autodigestion of high molecular weight urokinase. The autodigestion was also accompanied by liberation of some peptides. But, those peptides released on autodigestion of high molecular weight urokinase were different from those appearing in the presence of DTT.     

Heparin binding to the urokinase kringle domain.

The binding of urokinase to immobilized heparin and dextran sulfate was studied using activity assays of the bound urokinase. The markedly higher binding observed with high M(r) urokinase compared to low M(r) urokinase indicated a role for the amino-terminal fragment (ATF). This was confirmed by the use of inactive truncated urokinase and monoclonal antibodies specific for the ATF in competition assays of urokinase binding. Antibody competition assays suggested a site in the kringle domain, and a synthetic decapeptide Arg-52-Trp-62 from the kringle sequence (kringle numbering convention) was competitive in assays of urokinase binding to dextran sulfate and heparin. Heparin binding to the urokinase kringle was unambiguously demonstrated via 1H NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz. Effective equilibrium association constants (K(a)*) were determined for the interaction of isolated kringle fragment and low M(r) heparin at pH 7.2. The binding was strong in salt-free 2H2O (K(a)* approximately 57 mM-1) and remained significant in 0.15 M NaCl (K(a)* approximately 12 mM-1), supporting a potential physiological role for the interaction. This is the first demonstration of a function for the kringle domain of urokinase, and it suggests that while the classical kringle structure has specificity for lysine binding, there may also exist a class of kringles with affinity for polyanion binding.     

Characterization of an antibody-urokinase conjugate. A plasminogen activator targeted to fibrin

The plasminogen activator urokinase was linked covalently to a monoclonal antibody specific for the amino terminus of the beta chain of human fibrin by means of the unidirectional cross-linking reagent N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate. N-Succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate allowed the amino groups on urokinase to be coupled to the sulfhydryl groups on iminothiolane (which had been introduced into the antibody before the coupling reaction). The inter-heavy chain sulfhydryl of the Fab' of this antibody was also linked to N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate-substituted urokinase. The antibody- or Fab'-urokinase complexes were purified by two affinity chromatography steps. In the first, benzamidine was used as ligand for urokinase, in the second, a heptapeptide consisting of the 7 amino-terminal residues of the beta chain of fibrin (beta peptide) was used as ligand for the antibody. The activity of the purified conjugates was compared with that of urokinase alone in an assay measuring lysis of 125I-fibrin monomer covalently linked to Sepharose CL-4B. For any concentration of either urokinase alone or urokinase-antifibrin antibody conjugate, an equivalent amount of lysis (release of labeled peptide from fibrin monomer-Sepharose) was obtained with 1/250 the concentration (with respect to urokinase content) of antifibrin antibody-urokinase conjugate. The antifibrin Fab'-urokinase conjugate exhibited a similar enhancement of activity in comparison with urokinase. Enhanced fibrinolysis was fully inhibited by beta peptide. These results suggest that antibody targeting enhances the concentration of urokinase in the vicinity of immobilized fibrin monomer, thereby also increasing the local conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, which in turn degrades its substrate, fibrin. Univalent antigen-antibody binding is sufficient for optimal efficiency.     

Recombinant toxins that bind to the urokinase receptor are cytotoxic without requiring binding to the alpha(2)-macroglobulin receptor

The alpha(2-)macroglobulin receptor (alpha(2)MR) has been reported to mediate the internalization of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) via ligand binding to both receptors. To target malignant uPAR-expressing cells and to determine whether uPAR can internalize without ligand binding to alpha(2)MR, we engineered two recombinant toxins, ATF-PE38 and ATF-PE38KDEL. Each consists of the amino-terminal fragment (ATF) of human urokinase and a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) devoid of domain Ia, which binds alpha(2)MR. ATF-PE38 and ATF-PE38KDEL were cytotoxic toward malignant uPAR-bearing cells, with IC(50) values as low as 0.02 ng/ml (0.3 pM). Cytotoxicity could be blocked using either recombinant urokinase or free ATF, indicating that the cytotoxicity of the recombinant toxins was specific. Radiolabeled ATF-PE38 had high affinity for uPAR (K(d) = 0.4-8 nM) on a variety of different malignant cell types and internalized at a rate similar to that of ATF. The cytotoxicity was not diminished by receptor-associated protein, which binds and shields the alpha(2)MR from other proteins, or by incubation with phorbol myristate acetate, which is known to decrease the number of alpha(2)MRs in U937 cells or by antibodies to alpha(2)MR. Therefore, these recombinant toxins appear to internalize via uPAR without association with the alpha(2)MR.     

Regulation of urokinase/urokinase receptor interaction by heparin-like glycosaminoglycans

We show here that the interaction between the urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor, which plays a critical role in cell invasion, is regulated by heparan sulfate present on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix. Heparan sulfate oligomers showing a composition close to the dimeric repeats of heparin (glucosamine-NSO(3)(6-OSO(3))-iduronic acid(2-OSO(3))) n = 5 and n > 5, where iduronic acid may alternate with glucuronic acid, exhibit affinity for urokinase plasminogen activator and confer specificity on urokinase/urokinase receptor interaction. Cell surface clearance of heparan sulfate reduces the affinity of such interaction with a parallel decrease of specific urokinase binding in the presence of an unaltered expression of receptor. Transfection of human urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in normal Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts and in Chinese hamster ovary cells defective for the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans results in specific urokinase/receptor interaction only in nondefective cells. Heparan sulfate/urokinase and receptor/urokinase interactions exhibit similar K(d) values. We concluded that heparan sulfate functions as an adaptor molecule that confers specificity on urokinase/receptor binding.     

ATF-PAI2CD融合蛋白的生物学功能

为了解尿激酶型纤溶酶激活物 (urokinase typeplaminogenactivator,uPA)的氨基末端片段 (amino terminalfrag ment,ATF)和纤溶酶激活物抑制剂 2 (plasminogenactivatorinhibitortype 2 ,PAI 2 )突变体PAI 2CD融合蛋白在大肠杆菌的表达情况及进一步研究其生物学活性、将ATF PAI2CD融合基因与大肠杆菌表达载体pLY 4重组得到表达质粒pZWE ATF PAI2CD ,以其转化大肠杆菌JF112 5 ,经温度诱导 ,ATF PAI2CD获得较高水平表达 ,融合蛋白质以包涵体形式存在 ,占菌体总蛋白质的 15 %。包涵体经洗涤、8mol L尿素溶解、稀释复性及离子交换色谱一步分离 ,纯度达 90 % ,分子量与理论值相符。每升发酵液得重组融合蛋白质 5 0mg。经牛奶板法检测具有纤溶抑制活性 ,比活性达 12 0 0 0IU mg ;应用放射竞争法证实融合蛋白质能与肿瘤细胞表面的uPA受体特异性结合。双功能融合蛋白质的纤溶抑制活性与野生型PAI 2 (或PAI 2突变体 ,PAI 2CD)基本一致 ,与肿瘤细胞表面的uPA受体的结合能力同pro uPA。     

Divergent phenotypic patterns and commitment to apoptosis of Caco-2 cells during spontaneous and butyrate-induced differentiation

Caco-2 cells differentiate spontaneously when cultured in confluence and on exposure to the physiologically relevant short-chain fatty acid, butyrate. This study aimed to compare the phenotype induced by these pathways and their relations to cell turnover. Caco-2 cells were treated with butyrate at a nontoxic concentration of 2 mM for 3 days, or allowed to spontaneously differentiate for 0-21 days. Brush border hydrolase activities and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression, transepithelial resistance and dome formation, expression of components of the urokinase system, and cell turnover by flow cytometry, and the degree of DNA fragmentation were quantified. Butyrate induced increases in alkaline phosphatase activity and CEA expression but not the activities of other hydrolases, while culture alone induced progressive increases in the activities/expression of all markers. Butyrate induced a significantly greater increase in transepithelial resistance (TER) than occurred during culture alone but the densities of domes were similar. Butyrate induced a ninefold increase in urokinase receptor expression and twofold increase in urokinase activity, while culture alone induced a significantly smaller increase in receptor expression, an increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 but no change in activity. While both stimuli induced cell cycle arrest, only butyrate increased the proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis. In conclusion, differentiation of Caco-2 cells can proceed along multiple pathways but does not necessarily lead to apoptosis. The phenotypic changes during spontaneous differentiation mimic those that occur in normal colonic epithelial cells in vivo during their migration from the crypt base to neck, while butyrate-induced effects more closely follow those occurring when normal colonic epithelial cells migrate from crypt neck to the surface compartment.     

A sequence-dependent monoclonal antibody specific for single-chain urokinase

To mimic the sequence spanning the primary site (the Lys158-Ile159 bond) cleaved by plasmin in its conversion of single-chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) to urokinase, we synthesized the peptide Cys(Acm)-Leu-Arg-Pro-Arg-Phe-Lys-Ile-Ile-Gly-Gly-Glu-Phe-Cys [Cys(Acm)scuPA(153-164)Cys]. Immunization of A/J mice with the Cys(Acm)scuPA(153-164)Cys peptide linked to hemocyanin, followed by somatic cell fusion with a myeloma cell line (SP2/0), yielded a monoclonal antibody (SCOOP1) that bound to single-chain urokinase but not to urokinase or plasmin-treated single-chain urokinase. SCOOP1 could discriminate between single-chain urokinase and urokinase by greater than three orders of magnitude. In a radioimmunoassay, Cys(Acm)scuPA(153-164)Cys completely inhibited SCOOP1 binding to single-chain urokinase, whereas an equimolar mixture of two heptapeptides comprising the amino terminal [Cys-scuPA(153-158)] and carboxy terminal [scuPA(159-164)Cys)] halves of the cleavage site peptide did not. Thus the epitope recognized by SCOOP1 includes the Lys158-Ile159 peptide bond.     

Re-engineering of human urokinase provides a system for structure-based drug design at high resolution and reveals a novel structural subsite

Inhibition of urokinase has been shown to slow tumor growth and metastasis. To utilize structure-based drug design, human urokinase was re-engineered to provide a more optimal crystal form. The redesigned protein consists of residues Ile(16)-Lys(243) (in the chymotrypsin numbering system; for the urokinase numbering system it is Ile(159)-Lys(404)) and two point mutations, C122A and N145Q (C279A and N302Q). The protein yields crystals that diffract to ultra-high resolution at a synchrotron source. The native structure has been refined to 1.5 A resolution. This new crystal form contains an accessible active site that facilitates compound soaking, which was used to determine the co-crystal structures of urokinase in complex with the small molecule inhibitors amiloride, 4-iodo-benzo(b)thiophene-2-carboxamidine and phenylguanidine at 2. 0-2.2 A resolution. All three inhibitors bind at the primary binding pocket of urokinase. The structures of amiloride and 4-iodo-benzo(b)thiophene-2-carboxamidine also reveal that each of their halogen atoms are bound at a novel structural subsite adjacent to the primary binding pocket. This site consists of residues Gly(218), Ser(146), and Cys(191)-Cys(220) and the side chain of Lys(143). This pocket could be utilized in future drug design efforts. Crystal structures of these three inhibitors in complex with urokinase reveal strategies for the design of more potent nonpeptidic urokinase inhibitors.