cDNA cloning, gene organization and expression analysis of human peptidylarginine deiminase type VI

Peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) catalyzes the post-translational modification of protein through the conversion of arginine to citrulline in the presence of calcium ions. Human, similar to rodents, has four isoforms of PAD (type I, II, III and IV/V), each of which is distinct in substrate specificity and tissue specific expression. In our large-scale sequencing project, we identified a new human PAD cDNA from a human fetal brain cDNA library. The putative protein encoded by this cDNA is designated hPADVI. Expression analysis of hPADVI showed that it is mainly expressed in adult human ovary and peripheral blood leukocytes. We conclude that hPADVI may be orthologous to mouse ePAD, basing on sequence comparison, chromosome localization and exon-intron structure analysis. PAD-mediated deimination of epithelial cell keratin resulting in cytoskeletal remodeling suggests a possible role for hPADVI in cytoskeletal reorganization in the egg and in early embryo development. This study describes a new important member of the human PAD family.     

Purification, molecular cloning, and immunohistochemical localization of dipeptidyl peptidase II from the rat kidney and its identity with quiescent cell proline dipeptidase

We purified dipeptidyl peptidase II (DPP II) to homogeneity from rat kidney and determined its physicochemical properties, including its molecular weight, substrate specificity, and partial amino acid sequence. Furthermore, we screened a rat kidney cDNA library, isolated the DPP II cDNA and determined its structure. The cDNA was composed of 1,720 base pairs of nucleotides, and 500 amino acid residues were predicted from the coding region of cDNA. Human quiescent cell proline dipeptidase (QPP) cloned from T-cells is a 58-kDa glycoprotein existing as a homodimer formed with a leucine zipper motif. The levels of amino acid homology were 92.8% (rat DPP II vs. mouse QPP) and 78.9% (rat DPP II vs. human QPP), while those of nucleotide homology were 93.5% (rat DPP II vs. mouse QPP) and 79.4% (rat DPP II vs. human QPP). The predicted amino acid sequences of rat DPP II and human and mouse QPP possess eight cysteine residues and a leucine zipper motif at the same positions. The purified DPP II showed similar substrate specificity and optimal pH to those of QPP. Consequently, it was thought that DPP II is identical to QPP. Northern blot analysis with rat DPP II cDNA revealed prominent expression of DPP II mRNA in the kidney, and the order for expression was kidney > testis > or = heart > brain > or = lung > spleen > skeletal muscle > or = liver. In parallel with Northern blot analysis, the DPP II antigen was detected by immunohistochemical staining in the cytosol of epithelial cells in the kidney, testis, uterus, and cerebrum.     

Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a cDNA encoding human pancreatic elastase 2

We have cloned a DNA that is complementary to the messenger RNA that encodes human pancreatic elastase 2 from a human pancreatic cDNA library using a cloned cDNA for rat pancreatic elastase 2 messenger RNA. This complementary DNA contains the entire protein coding region of 807 nucleotides which encodes preproelastase of 269 amino acids, and 4 and 82 nucleotides of the 5'- and 3'-untranslated sequences, respectively. When this deduced amino acid sequence was compared with known amino acid sequences it showed 82% homology with rat pancreatic elastase 2. This deduced sequence also contains a 16-amino-acid peptide identical with the N-terminal sequence determined for native human pancreatic proelastase 2. Taking the above findings together, we conclude that the cloned cDNA encodes a mature enzyme of 241 amino acids including 16 and 12 amino acids for a signal peptide and an activation peptide, respectively. Moreover, the predicted key amino acid residues involved in determining the substrate specificity of mammalian pancreatic elastase 2 are retained in the human enzyme. Cloned human pancreatic elastase 2 cDNA was expressed in E. coli as a mature and pro-form protein. Both resulting proteins showed immunoreactivity toward anti-elastase serum and enzymatic activity. We have also cloned and sequenced a porcine pancreatic elastase 2 cDNA.     

Molecular cloning, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid structure and predicted full-length amino acid sequence of the hormone-inducible regulatory subunit of 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from human testis

In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of a full-length cDNA clone for the hormone-inducible regulatory subunit RII beta (formerly called RII51) of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase from a human testis cDNA library. The cloned cDNA demonstrated tissue-specific expression of RII beta mRNA in human tissues, with the highest mRNA levels in testis and ovary. The isolated human cDNA clone was 3.3 kilobases (kb) in length and contained 166 base pairs (bp) of G/C-rich 5'-noncoding sequence, an open reading frame of 1254 bp and an A/T-rich 3'-nontranslated region containing 1836 bp followed by an 89 nucleotide long poly(A)-tail. The predicted protein contains 418 amino acids including the start methionine, and the estimated mol wt of human RII beta is 53,856. The nucleotide sequence within the open reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of human RII beta are highly conserved compared with partial rat RII beta sequences, displaying 91% and 97% similarity, respectively. Codon preference analysis of the cloned cDNA sequence indicated that the two cAMP-binding domains and the hinge region are highly conserved through evolution, whereas the dimerization domain displayed a codon preference pattern indicative of appearance at a later stage of evolution. The isolated human cDNA detected an FSH- and cAMP-inducible mRNA of 3.2 kb in rat Sertoli cells, thus confirming that the cloned cDNA represents the hormone-inducible regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. This is the first report documenting the isolation of a full-length cDNA clone for the RII beta of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Molecular characterization of peptidylarginine deiminase in HL-60 cells induced by retinoic acid and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3).

Three types of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD), which converts a protein arginine residue to a citrulline residue, are widely distributed in animal tissues. Little is known about PAD of hemopoietic cells. We found that PAD activity in human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells was induced with the granulocyte-inducing agents retinoic acid and dimethyl sulfoxide and with the monocyte-inducing agent 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). We cloned and characterized a PAD cDNA from retinoic acid-induced cells. The cDNA was 2,238 base pairs long and encoded a 663-amino acid polypeptide. The HL-60 PAD had 50-55% amino acid sequence identities with the three known enzymes and 73% identity with the recently cloned keratinocyte PAD. The recombinant enzyme differs in kinetic properties from the known enzymes. Immunoblotting and Northern blotting with an antiserum against the enzyme and the cDNA, respectively, showed that a protein of approximately 67 kDa increased concomitantly with increase of mRNA of approximately 2.6 kilobases during granulocyte differentiation. During monocyte differentiation the same mRNA and protein increased as in granulocyte differentiation. Neither the enzyme activity nor the protein was found in macrophage-induced cells. These results suggested that expression of the PAD gene is tightly linked to myeloid differentiation.     

Cloning and sequencing of a rat type II activin receptor.

A full-length cDNA for a rat type II activin receptor was cloned by hybridization from a rat ovary cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence (513 residues) containing a single membrane-spanning domain and an intracellular kinase domain with predicted serine/threonine specificity. The amino acid sequence is 99.8% and 99.4% identical in the coding region with the previously cloned mouse and human type II activin receptor, and only 66.7% identical in the coding region with the previously cloned rat type IIB activin receptor. We examined the effect of PMSG-hCG on the mRNA level of type II activin receptor in immature rat ovaries. Northern blot analysis of ovarian RNA revealed two mRNAs (3.0 kb and 6.0 kb).     

Isolation, characterization, and expression of cDNAs encoding murine alpha-mannosidase II, a Golgi enzyme that controls conversion of high mannose to complex N-glycans

Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (GlcNAc transferase I-dependent alpha 1,3[alpha 1,6] mannosidase, EC 3.2.1.114) catalyzes the final hydrolytic step in the N-glycan maturation pathway acting as the committed step in the conversion of high mannose to complex type structures. We have isolated overlapping clones from a murine cDNA library encoding the full length alpha-mannosidase II open reading frame and most of the 5' and 3' untranslated region. The coding sequence predicts a type II transmembrane protein with a short cytoplasmic tail (five amino acids), a single transmembrane domain (21 amino acids), and a large COOH-terminal catalytic domain (1,124 amino acids). This domain organization which is shared with the Golgi glycosyl-transferases suggests that the common structural motifs may have a functional role in Golgi enzyme function or localization. Three sets of polyadenylated clones were isolated extending 3' beyond the open reading frame by as much as 2,543 bp. Northern blots suggest that these polyadenylated clones totaling 6.1 kb in length correspond to minor message species smaller than the full length message. The largest and predominant message on Northern blots (7.5 kb) presumably extends another approximately 1.4-kb downstream beyond the longest of the isolated clones. Transient expression of the alpha-mannosidase II cDNA in COS cells resulted in 8-12-fold overexpression of enzyme activity, and the appearance of cross-reactive material in a perinuclear membrane array consistent with a Golgi localization. A region within the catalytic domain of the alpha-mannosidase II open reading frame bears a strong similarity to a corresponding sequence in the rat liver endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase and the vacuolar alpha-mannosidase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Partial human alpha-mannosidase II cDNA clones were also isolated and the gene was localized to human chromosome 5.     

Evolution of human von Willebrand factor: cDNA sequence polymorphisms, repeated domains, and relationship to von Willebrand antigen II

Four cDNAs extending into the 5'-noncoding region of the human von Willebrand factor cDNA have been characterized. Thirty-four residues of amino-terminal protein sequence for von Willebrand antigen II matched that predicted from the cDNA sequence, confirming that the propeptide of von Willebrand factor is von Willebrand antigen II. Among the known cDNA sequences there are four confirmed single nucleotide differences, of which two may be in linkage disequilibrium, and two would alter the protein sequence. Based on comparisons among the four repeated D domains, an evolutional model has been proposed to account for the distribution of these sequence elements in prepro-von Willebrand factor.     

Human testis cDNA for the regulatory subunit RII alpha of cAMP-dependent protein kinase encodes an alternate amino-terminal region

Phosphorylations catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase are essential for sperm motility, and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase in mature sperm has been shown to be firmly bound to the flagellum via the regulatory subunit, RII. The present study documents high-levelled expression of a human, testis-specific RII alpha mRNA (2.0 kb) analogous to the rat mRNA which is induced in haploid germ cells [(1988) FEBS Lett. 229, 391-394]. We report the molecular cloning of a full-length human cDNA corresponding to this unique testis mRNA, and the presence of an alternative amino-terminal region (amino acids 45-75) of the predicted RII alpha protein (404 amino acids) compared with the previously published mouse and rat sequences. However, this alternate region is also shown to be present in RII alpha mRNA (7.0 kb) of human somatic cells. Our data indicate the divergent amino-terminal sequence to be due to species differences, suggesting an active evolutionary pressure on this particular region, which could be involved in subcellular attachment of RII alpha and thereby localization of kinase activity to certain targets within the cell.     

Molecular cloning of the human casein kinase II alpha subunit

A human cDNA encoding the alpha subunit of casein kinase II and a partial cDNA encoding the rat homologue were isolated by using a Drosophila casein kinase II cDNA probe. The 2.2-kb human cDNA contains a 1.2-kb open reading frame, 150 nucleotides of 5' leader, and 850 nucleotides of 3' noncoding region. Except for the first 7 deduced amino acids that are missing in the rat cDNA, the 328 amino acids beginning with the amino terminus are identical between human and rat. The Drosophila enzyme sequence is 90% identical with the human casein kinase II sequence, and there is only a single amino acid difference between the published partial bovine sequence and the human sequence. In addition, the C-terminus of the human cDNA has an extra 53 amino acids not present in Drosophila. Northern analysis of rat and human RNA showed predominant bands of 5.5, 3.1, and 1.8 kb. In rat tissues, brain and spleen had the highest levels of casein kinase II alpha subunit specific RNA, while skeletal muscle showed the lowest. Southern analysis of human cultured cell and tissue genomic DNA using the full-length cDNA probe revealed two bands with restriction enzymes that have no recognition sites within the cDNA and three to six bands with enzymes having single internal sites. These results are consistent with the possibility that two genes encode the alpha subunits.     

Sequence and expression of a human type II mesothelial keratin

Using mRNA from cultured human mesothelial cells, we constructed bacterial plasmids and lambda phage vectors that contained cDNA sequences specific for the keratins expressed in these cells. A cloned cDNA encoding keratin K7 (55 kD) was identified by positive hybrid selection. Southern Blot analysis indicated that this sequence is represented only once in the human genome, and Northern Blot analysis demonstrated that the gene encoding K7 is expressed in abundance in cultured bronchial and mesothelial cells, but only weakly in cultured epidermal cells and not at all in liver, colon, or exocervical tissue. The predicted amino acid sequence of this keratin has revealed a striking difference between this keratin and the type II keratins expressed in epidermal cells: whereas all of the epidermal type II keratins thus far sequenced have long nonhelical termini rich in glycine and serine, this mesothelial type II keratin has amino and carboxy terminal regions that are unusually short and lack the inexact repeats of glycine and serine residues.     

Structure, function and tissue-specific gene expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/5-ene-4-ene isomerase enzymes in classical and peripheral intracrine steroidogenic tissues

The membrane-bound enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/5-ene-4-ene isomerase (3β-HSD) catalyses an essential step in the transformation of all 5-pregnen-3β-ol and 5-androsten-3β-ol steroids into the corresponding 3-keto-4-ene-steroids, namely progesterone as well as all the precursors of androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. We have recently characterized two types of human 3β-HSD cDNA clones and the corresponding genes which encode type I and II 3β-HSD isoenzymes of 372 and 371 amino acids, respectively, and share 93.5% homology. The human 3β-HSD genes containing 4 exons were assigned by in situ hybridization to the p11-p13 region of the short arm of chromosome 1. Human type I 3β-HSD is the almost exclusive mRNA species present in the placenta and skin while the human type II is the predominant mRNA species in the adrenals, ovaries and testes. The type I protein possesses higher 3β-HSD activity than type II. We elucidated the structures of three types of rat 3β-HSD cDNAs as well that of one type of 3β-HSD from bovine and macaque ovary λgt11 cDNA libraries, which all encode a 372 amino acid protein. The rat type I and II 3β-HSD proteins expressed in the adrenals, gonads and adipose tissue share 93.8% homology. Transient expression of human type I and II as well as rat type I and II 3β-HSD cDNAs in HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells reveals that 3β-ol dehydrogenase and 5-ene-4-ene isomerase activities reside within a single protein. These expressed 3β-HSD proteins convert 3β-hydroxy-5-ene-steroids into 3-keto-4-ene derivatives and catalyze the interconversion of 3β-hydroxy and 3-keto-5α-androstane steroids. By site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrated that the lower activity of expressed rat type II compared to rat type I 3β-HSD is due to a change of four residues probably involved in a membrane-spanning domain. When homogenates from cells transfected with a plasmid vector containing rat type I 3β-HSD is incubated in the presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) using NAD? as co-factor, 5α-androstanedione was formed (A-dione), indicating an intrinsic androgenic 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activity of this 3β-HSD. We cloned a third type of rat cDNA encoding a predicted type III 3β-HSD specifically expressed in the rat liver, which shares 80% similarity with the two other isoenzymes. Transient expression in human HeLa cells reveals that the type III isoenzyme does not display oxidative activity for the classical substrates of 3β-HSD. However, in common with the type I enzyme, it converts A-dione and DHT to the corresponding 3β-hydroxysteroids, thus showing an exclusive 3-ketosteroid reductase activity. When NADPH is used as co-factor, the affinity for DHT of the type III enzyme becomes 10-fold higher than that of the type I. Rat type III mRNA was below the detection limit in intact female liver. Following hypophysectomy, its concentration increased to 55% of the values measured in intact or hypophysectomized male rats, an increase which can be blocked by administration of ovine prolactin (oPRL). Treatment with oPRL for 10 days starting 15 days after hypophysectomy markedly decreased ovarian 3β-HSD mRNA accumulation accompanied by a similar decrease in 3β-HSD activity and protein levels. Treatment with the gonadotropin hCG reversed the potent inhibitory effect of oPRL on these parameters and stimulated 3β-HSD mRNA levels in ovarian interstitial cells. These data indicate that the presence of multiple 3β-HSD isoenzymes offers the possibility of tissue-specific expression and regulation of this enzymatic activity that plays an essential role in the biosynthesis of all hormonal steroids in classical as well as peripheral intracrine steroidogenic tissues.     

Cloning and expression of cDNA for human endonexin II, a Ca2+ and phospholipid binding protein

Endonexin II is a member of the family of Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding proteins known as annexins. We cloned human endonexin II cDNA and expressed it in Escherichia coli. The apparent size and Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding properties of purified recombinant endonexin II were indistinguishable from those of the placental protein. A single mRNA of approximately 1.6 kilobase pairs was found to be expressed in human cell lines and placenta and was in close agreement with the length of the cDNA clone (1.59 kilobase pairs). The cDNA predicted a 320-amino acid protein with a sequence that was in agreement with the previously determined partial amino acid sequence of endonexin II isolated from placenta. Endonexin II contained 58, 46, and 43% sequence identity to protein II, calpactin I (p36, protein I), and lipocortin I (p35), respectively. The partial sequence of bovine endonexin I was aligned with the sequence of endonexin II to give 63% sequence identity. Like these other proteins, endonexin II had a 4-fold internal repeat of approximately 70 residues preceded by an amino-terminal domain lacking similarity to the repeated region. It also had significant sequence identity with 67-kDa calelectrin (p68), a protein with an 8-fold internal repeat. Comparing the amino-terminal domains of these four proteins of known sequence revealed that, in general, only endonexin II and protein II had significant sequence identity (29%). Endonexin II was not phosphorylated by Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme (protein kinase C) even though it contained a threonine at a position analogous to the protein kinase C phosphorylation sites of lipocortin I, calpactin I, and protein II.     

Expression of the functional soluble form of human fas ligand in activated lymphocytes.

Fas is a type I membrane protein which mediates apoptosis. Fas ligand (FasL) is a 40 kDa type II membrane protein expressed in cytotoxic T cells upon activation that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family. Here, we found abundant cytotoxic activity against Fas-expressing cells in the supernatant of COS cells transfected with human FasL cDNA but not with murine FasL cDNA. Using a specific polyclonal antibody against a peptide in the extracellular region of human FasL, a protein of 26 kDa was detected in the supernatant of the COS cells. The signal sequence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was attached to the extracellular region of human FasL. COS cells transfected with the cDNA coding for the chimeric protein efficiently secreted the active soluble form of human FasL (sFasL). Chemical crosslinking and gel filtration analysis suggested that human sFasL exists as a trimer. Human peripheral T cells activated with phorbol myristic acetate and ionomycin also produced functional sFasL, suggesting that human sFasL works as a pathological agent in systemic tissue injury.     

The human CCG1 gene, essential for progression of the G1 phase, encodes a 210-kilodalton nuclear DNA-binding protein.

The human CCG1 gene complements tsBN462, a temperature-sensitive G1 mutant of the BHK21 cell line. The previously cloned cDNA turned out to be a truncated form of the actual CCG1 cDNA. The newly cloned CCG1 cDNA was 6.0 kb and encoded a protein with a molecular mass of 210 kDa. Using an antibody to a predicted peptide from the CCG1 protein, a protein with a molecular mass of over 200 kDa was identified in human, monkey, and hamster cell lines. In the newly defined C-terminal region, an acidic domain was found. It contained four consensus target sequences for casein kinase II and was phosphorylated by this enzyme in vitro. However, this C-terminal region was not required to complement tsBN462 mutation since the region encoding the C-terminal part was frequently missing in complemented clones derived by DNA-mediated gene transfer. CCG1 contains a sequence similar to the putative DNA-binding domain of HMG1 in addition to the previously detected amino acid sequences common in nuclear proteins, such as a proline cluster and a nuclear translocation signal. Consistent with these predictions, CCG1 was present in nuclei, possessed DNA-binding activity, and was eluted with similar concentrations of salt, 0.3 to 0.4 M NaCl either from isolated nuclei or from a DNA-cellulose column.     

Cloning, expression, and functional characterization of the substrate binding subunit of rat type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase

Type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase catalyzes the bioactivation of thyroid hormone in the brain. In astrocytes, this approximately 200-kDa, membrane-bound enzyme is composed of at least one p29 subunit, an approximately 60-kDa, cAMP-induced activation protein, and one or more unidentified catalytic subunit(s). Recently, an artificial type II-like selenodeiodinase was engineered by fusing two independent cDNAs together; however, no native type II selenodeiodinase polypeptide is translated in the brain or brown adipose tissue of rats. These data suggest that the native type II 5'-deiodinase in rat brain is unrelated to this artificial selenoprotein. In this report, we describe the cloning of the 29-kDa subunit (p29) of type II 5'-deiodinase from a lambdazapII cDNA library prepared from cAMP-induced astrocytes. The 3.3-kilobase (kb) cDNA encodes an approximately 30-kDa, 277-amino acid long, hydrophobic protein lacking selenocysteine. Northern blot analysis showed that a 3.5-kb p29 mRNA was present in tissues showing type II 5'-deiodinase activity such as brain and cAMP-stimulated astrocytes. Domain-specific, anti-p29 antibodies specifically immunoprecipitated enzyme activity. Overexpression of exogenous p29 or a green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged p29 fusion protein led to a >100-fold increase in deiodinating activity in cAMP-stimulated astrocytes, and the increased activity was specifically immunoprecipitated by anti-GFP antibodies. Steady-state reaction kinetics of the enzyme in GFP-tagged p29-expressing astrocytes are identical to those of the native enzyme in brain. Direct injection of replication-deficient Ad5-p29(GFP) virus particles into the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats leads to a approximately 2-fold increase in brain type II 5'-deiodinating activity. These data show 1) that the 3.3-kb p29 cDNA encodes an essential subunit of rat type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase and 2) identify the first non-selenocysteine containing subunit of the deiodinase family of enzymes.