Biogenesis of endoplasmic reticulum membrane in rat liver cells. II. Discharge of the nascent peptides of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5 on the cytoplasmic side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

The direction of discharge of the nascent peptides of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5 from bound polyribosomes of rough microsomes was investigated in order to elucidate the mechanism of separation of these membrane proteins from secretory proteins, which are also synthesized by the same class of ribosomes of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The nascent peptides of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5 in intact rough microsomes were accessible to externally added 125I-Fab's against these proteins, and were susceptible to trypsin digestion, whereas the nascent peptides of serum albumin were not. The nascent peptides of these two microsomal proteins were released into the cytoplasm by puromycin treatment of intact rough microsomes, while the nascent peptides of serum albumin were retained in the microsomal lumen. These observations suggest that the nascent peptides of microsomal proteins, which are present on the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, are exposed on the surface of microsomal vesicles, while those of secretory proteins are enclosed inside the vesicles. Therefore, the topographical separation of microsomal membrane proteins from secretory proteins is accomplished at the step of their synthesis by the bound polyribosomes of rough endoplasmic reticulum.     

Hen oviduct signal peptidase is an integral membrane protein

Membrane preparations from rough endoplasmic reticulum of hen oviduct resemble those of dog pancreas in their capacity to translocate nascent secretory proteins into membrane vesicles present during cell-free protein synthesis. As with the dog membranes, the precursor form of human placental lactogen is transported into the vesicles and processed to the native secretory form by an associated "signal peptidase." The oviduct microsomal membranes glycosylate nascent ovomucoid and ovalbumin in vitro. Attempts to extract the signal peptidase from these membrane vesicles revealed that it is one of the least easily solubilized proteins. A protocol for enrichment of signal peptidase was developed that took advantage of its tight association with these vesicles. These studies indicate that the enzyme has the characteristics of an integral membrane protein which remains active in membrane vesicles even after extraction with low concentrations of detergent that do not dissolve the lipid bilayer or after disruption of membrane vesicles in ice-cold 0.1 M Na2CO3, pH 11.5 (Fujiki, Y., Hubbard, A. L., Fowler, S., and Lazarow, P.B. (1982) J. Cell Biol. 93, 97-102), which releases the majority of membrane-associated proteins. Solubilization requires concentrations of nondenaturing detergents that totally dissolve the lipid bilayer. The detergent-solubilized enzyme retains the activity and the characteristic specificity of the membrane-bound form.     

Mechanism of compartmentation of secretory proteins: transport of exocrine pancreatic proteins across the microsomal membrane

The mechanism by which secretory proteins are segregated within the cisternal space of microsomal vesicles was studied using dog pancreas mRNA which directs the synthesis of 14 well-characterized nonglycosylated pancreatic exocrine proteins. In the absence of microsomal membranes, each of the proteins was synthesized as larger polypeptide chains (presecretory proteins). 1,000-2,000 daltons larger than their authentic counterparts as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS. Conditions optimal for the study of reconstituted rough microsomes in the reticulocyte lysate system were examined in detail using mRNA and microsomal membranes isolated from dog pancreas. Functional reconstitution of rough microsomes was considerably more efficient in the presence of micrococcal nuclease- treated membranes than in the presence of EDTA-treated membranes. Analysis for segregation of nascent secretory proteins by microsomal vesicles, using post-translational incubation in the presence of trypsin and chymotrypsin, 50 μg/ml each, was shown to be inadequate, because of the disruption of vesicles by protease activity. Addition of 1-3 mM tetracaine or 1 mM dibucaine stabilized microsomal membranes incubated in the presence of trypsin and chymotrypsin at either 0 degrees or 22 degrees C. Each of the pancreatic presecretory proteins studied was correctly processed to authentic secretory proteins by nuclease-treated microsomal membranes, as judged by both one-dimensional and two-dimensional gel electophoresis. Post-translational addition of membranes did not result in either segregation or processing of nascent polypeptide chains. Post- translational proteolysis, carried out in the presence of 3 mM tetracaine, indicated that each of the 14 characterized dog pancreas secretory proteins was quantitatively segregated by nuclease-treated microsomal vesicles. Segregation of nascent secretory proteins was irreversible, since radioactive amylase, as well as the other labeled secretory proteins, remained quantitatively sequestered in microsomal vesicles during a 90-min incubation at 22 degrees C after the cessation of protein synthesis. Studies employing synchronized protein synthesis and delayed addition of membranes indicated that all pancreatic presecretory proteins contain amino terminal peptide extensions. These peptide extensions are shown to mediate the cotranslational binding of presecretory proteins to microsomal membranes and the transport of nascent secretory proteins to the vesicular space. The maximum chain lengths which, during synthesis, allow segregation of nascent polypeptide chains varied between 61 (pretrypsinogen 2 + 3) and 88 (preprocarboxypeptidase A1) amino acid residues among dog pancreas presecretory proteins. Reconstitution studies using homologous and heterologous mixtures of mRNA (dog, guinea pig, and rat pancreas; rat liver) and micrococcal nuclease-treated microsomal membranes (dog, guinea pig, and rat liver; dog pancreas), in the presence of placental ribonuclease inhibitor, suggest that the translocation mechanism described is common to the rough endoplasmic reticulum of all mammalian tissues.     

Amino acid sequences of transport peptides associated with canine exocrine pancreatic proteins

Using microsequencing techniques and proteins labeled in vitro with tritiated amino acids we have obtained the following NH2-terminal sequences for six canine pancreatic presecretory proteins: pretrypsinogen 1, pretrypsinogen 2+3, prechymotrypsinogen 2, preproelastase1, preporcarboxypeptidase A1, preamylase. Points of cleavage by the transport peptidase, indicated by the vertical arrows, were located from sequences of authentic products synthesized in the presence of membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. All of the identified residues in the pancreatic transport peptides are hydrophobic. Predictions of secondary structure were calculated for each of the transport peptides. The data indicated neither a common primary of secondary structure which could be interpreted as the signal for functional binding of the nascent presecretory protein to the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane. These findings suggest that the initial interaction with the membrane or membrane receptor may depend in part, on the hydrophobic nature of the transport peptides. Five of the presecretory proteins showed a region with a high probability of forming a beta-turn immediately following the cleavage point. This feature may give the nascent peptide a region of flexibility that would facilitate both its insertion as a loop structure into the membrane and its cleavage by the transport peptidase. The sequences of authentic secretory products derived from a variety of pancreatic tissues suggest that hydrophilic residues are required immediately following the cleavage point in order to allow translocation of the nascent polypeptide chains across the membrane.     

Characterization of molecules involved in protein translocation using a specific antibody

The vectorial translocation of nascent proteins through the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum has been shown to require a specific membrane-bound protein whose cytoplasmic domain can be proteolytically cleaved and isolated as an active peptide of mol wt 60,000 (Meyer and Dobberstein, 1980, J. Cell Biol. 87:503-508). Rabbit antibodies raised against this peptide were used to further characterize the membrane- bound molecule. Immunoprecipitation of solubilized, radiolabeled rough microsomal proteins yielded a single polypeptide of mol wt 72,000, representing the membrane-bound protein from which the 60,000-mol wt peptide was proteolytically derived. The antibody could also be used to remove exclusively the 60,000-mol wt peptide, and thus the translocation activity, from elastase digests tested in a reconstituted system. Moreover, immunoprecipitation of elastase extracts alkylated with [14C] N-ethylmaleimide selected a single species of mol wt 60,000. Immunoprecipitation of in vivo radiolabeled proteins from the appropriate cell type yielded the 72,000-mol wt membrane protein irrespective of the duration of labeling, or if followed by a chase. Subsequent treatment with protease generated the 60,000-mol wt fragment. In addition, the antibody could be used to visualize reticular structures in intact cells which correspond to endoplasmic reticulum at the ultrastructural level. It is thus clear that one membrane component required in the vectorial translocation of nascent secretory (and membrane) proteins is a peptide of mol wt 72,000.     

Long-lived signal peptide of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein pGP-C

Signal peptides (SPs) direct nascent secretory and membrane proteins to the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. They are usually cleaved from the nascent polypeptide by signal peptidase and then further proteolytically processed. The SP of the pre-glycoprotein (pGP-C) of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus SPGP-C (signal peptide of pGP-C) shows different properties: 1) The SPGP-C is unusually long (58 amino acid residues) and contains two hydrophobic segments interrupted by a lysine residue. 2) The SPGP-C is cleaved only from a subset of pGP-C proteins. A substantial portion of pGP-C accumulates that still contains the SPGP-C.3)The cleaved SPGP-C is rather long-lived (t(1/2) of more than 6 h). 4) The cleaved SPGP-C resides in the membrane and is resistant to digestion with proteinase K even in the presence of detergents, suggesting a very compact structure. 5) SPGP-C accumulates in virus particles. These unusual features of the cleaved SPGP-C suggest that SPGP-C not only targets the nascent pGP-C to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane but also has additional functions in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus life cycle.     

Design and synthesis of a consensus signal sequence that inhibits protein translocation into rough microsomal vesicles.

Most signal sequences are found to vary considerably in length and primary sequence, but possess some common structural features. Analysis of known signal sequences has led to the design of a 19-residue sequence that, although not a naturally occurring signal, possesses the structural features that commonly occur in pre-proteins. This peptide has been synthesized by solid-phase methods, and has been shown to inhibit, in a concentration-dependent manner, the processing in vitro of nascent pre-prolactin, pre-forms of pancreatic digestive enzymes, and pre-placental lactogen. The peptide acts at the cytoplasmic surface of microsomal vesicles added to the protein translation system, preventing translocation of the nascent chains to the lumenal space of vesicles where signal peptidase normally cleaves to remove the signal from nascent pre-proteins.     

Translocation of proteins across the endoplasmic reticulum. II. Signal recognition protein (SRP) mediates the selective binding to microsomal membranes of in-vitro-assembled polysomes synthesizing secretory protein

Translocation-competent microsomal membrane vesicles of dog pancreas were shown to selectively bind nascent, in vitro assembled polysomes synthesizing secretory protein (bovine prolactin) but not those synthesizing cytoplasmic protein (alpha and beta chain of rabbit globin). This selective polysome binding capacity was abolished when the microsomal vesicles were salt-extracted but was restored by an 11S protein (SRP, Signal Recognition Protein) previously purified from the salt-extract of microsomal vesicles (Walter and Blobel, 1980. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 77:7112-7116). SRP-dependent polysome recognition and binding to the microsomal membrane was shown to be a prerequisite for chain translocation. Modification of SRP by N-ethyl maleimide abolished its ability to mediate nascent polysome binding to the microsomal vesicles. Likewise, polysome binding to the microsomal membrane was largely abolished when beta-hydroxy leucine, a Leu analogue, was incorporated into nascent secretory polypeptides. The data in this and the preceding paper provide conclusive experimental evidence that chain translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is a receptor-mediated event and thus rule out proposals that chain translocation occurs spontaneously and without the mediation by proteins. Moreover, our data here demonstrate conclusively that the initial events that lead to translocation and provide for its specificity are protein-protein (signal sequence plus ribosome with SRP) and not protein-lipid (signal sequence with lipid bilayer) interactions.     

Ribonucleoparticle-independent transport of proteins into mammalian microsomes

There are at least two different mechanisms for the transport of secretory proteins into the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum. Both mechanisms depend on the presence of a signal peptide on the respective precursor protein and involve a signal peptide receptor on the cis-side and signal peptidase on the trans-side of the membrane. Furthermore, both mechanisms involve a membrane component with a cytoplasmically exposed sulfhydryl. The decisive feature of the precursor protein with respect to which of the two mechanisms is used is the chain length of the polypeptide. The critical size seems to be around 70 amino acid residues (including the signal peptide). The one mechanism is used by precursor proteins larger than about 70 amino acid residues and involves two cytosolic ribonucleoparticles and their receptors on the microsomal surface. The other one is used by small precursor proteins and relies on the mature part within the precursor molecule and a cytosolic ATPase.     

A functional interaction between the signal peptide and the translation apparatus is detected by the use of a single point mutation which blocks translocation across mammalian endoplasmic reticulum

A functional interaction between the signal sequence and the translation apparatus which may serve as a first step in chain targeting to the membrane is described. To this end, we exploited the powerful technique of molecular cloning in a procaryotic system and the well characterized translocation system of mammalian endoplasmic reticulum. The signal peptide of subunit B of the heat labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (EltB) was fused to several proteins. Single base substitutions were introduced in the signal peptide and their effect on protein synthesis and translocation was studied. We sought a single amino acid substitution which may define certain steps in the coordinated regulation of chain synthesis and targeting to the membrane. The substitution of proline for leucine at residue -8 in the signal peptide abolished all known functions of the signal peptide. In contrast to wild type signal peptide, the mutant signal peptide did not lead to arrest of nascent chain synthesis by signal recognition particle or translocation of the precursor protein across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, the mutant signal peptide was not cleaved by purified E. coli signal peptidase. Interestingly, the mutation resulted in about a 2-fold increase in the rate of synthesis of the precursor protein, suggesting a role for the signal peptide in regulating the synthesis of the nascent secretory chain as a means of ensuring early and efficient targeting of this chain to the membrane. This role might involve interaction of the signal peptide with components of the translation apparatus and/or endogenous signal recognition particle. These results were obtained with three different fusion proteins carrying the signal peptide of EltB thus leading to the conclusion that the effect of the mutation on the structure and function of the signal peptide is independent of the succeeding sequence to which the signal peptide is attached.     

cDNA-derived primary structure of the glycoprotein component of canine microsomal signal peptidase complex

Canine microsomal signal peptidase activity has been shown previously to co-migrate as an apparent complex of six polypeptides with molecular masses of 25, 23, 22, 21, 18, and 12 kDa. The 22- and 23-kDa species are differentially glycosylated forms of the same protein, designated SPC 22/23. The amino acid sequence of SPC 22/23 was deduced from cDNA clones. The protein is synthesized without a cleavable amino-terminal signal sequence and contains a single site for N-linked glycosylation. SPC 22/23 appears to be anchored to the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane by a single hydrophobic segment near its amino terminus, with the remainder of the protein positioned on the lumenal side of the membrane. The amino acid sequence of SPC 22/23 shares homology with tryptic peptides derived from the hen oviduct signal peptidase glycoprotein, one of two possible proteins required for signal peptide processing in the avian system (Baker, R.K., and Lively, M.O. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 8561-8567). Therefore, the complete amino acid sequence of SPC 22/23 presented in this report corresponds to one of two possible proteins required for signal peptide processing in higher eukaryotic cells.     

Biogenesis of endoplasmic reticulum membrane in rat liver cells. III. Biosynthesis of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5 by loosely-bound ribosomes.

Membrane-bound ribosomes were separated into two distinct classes (loosely-bound and tightly-bound ribosomes) by treatment with 0.6 M KCl, 1 mM puromycin, 0.05% DOC, or 10 mM EDTA. It was also confirmed that any one of these reagents except for EDTA dissociated the same class of ribosomes from the membrane. A population of lighter microsomal vesicles was formed from rough microsomes upon the dissociation of loosely-bound ribosomes by treatment with these chemicals. Rough microsomes were subfractionated into lighter and heavier fractions, L-rMs and H-rMs, by centrifugation using a discontinuous gradient of sucrose consisting of 1.3 M, 1.5 M, and 2.1 M solutions. It was found that L-rMs was rich in loosely-bound ribosomes, whereas H-rMs contained a high proportion of tightly-bound ribosomes. It is likely that loosely-bound and tightly-bound ribosomes are heterogeneously distributed among rough microsomal vesicles. Loosely-bound ribosomes and tightly-bound ribosomes synthesize different kinds of proteins. Two microsomal membrane proteins, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5, were exclusively synthesized by loosely-bound ribosomes, whereas serum albumin, which is a major component of the secretory proteins of hepatocytes, was synthesized only by tightly-bound ribosomes. Since the nascent peptides of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5 are released from bound ribosomes to the cytoplasmic surface of endoplasmic reticulum, while those of secretory proteins are discharged into the lumen across the membrane, the strength of the association between ribosomes and microsomal membrane seems to be correlated with the direction of release of nascent peptides.     

Nascent secretory polypeptides synthesized on Escherichia coli ribosomes are not translocated across mammalian endoplasmic reticulum.

Cell-free protein-synthesizing systems from Escherichia coli and wheat germ were compared for their capacity to support the translocation of secretory proteins across microsomal membranes derived from mammalian endoplasmic reticulum. Three different secretory proteins, two of bacterial and one of eucaryotic origin, were tested in this respect. In all three cases a contrast between the results in the eucaryotic and procaryotic protein-synthesizing systems was revealed. Whereas the eucaryotic system, as expected, supported the translocation of nascent secretory proteins across the microsomal membranes, the procaryotic system failed to do so. This failure was not due to the absence of a translocation-promoting activity or the presence of a translocation-blocking activity in the procaryotic system. These results demonstrate a specificity in the requirement of components of the protein-synthesizing machinery for protein translocation. These components might participate in forming a functional ribosome-membrane junction during protein translocation. The nascent secretory chain alone is not sufficient for making this junction, which might involve the postulated binding of the ribosome to the signal recognition particle or another component of the membrane.     

ER translocation intermediates are adjacent to a nonglycosylated 34-kD integral membrane protein

We have used the homobifunctional cross-linking reagent disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) to identify proteins that are adjacent to nascent polypeptides undergoing translocations across mammalian rough ER. Translocation intermediates were assembled by supplementing cell free translations of truncated mRNAs with the signal recognition particle (SRP) and microsomal membrane vesicles. Two prominent cross-linked products of 45 and 64 kD were detected. The 64-kD product was obtained when the cell free translation contained SRP, while formation of the 45-kD product required both SRP and translocation competent microsomal membrane vesicles. In agreement with previous investigators, we suggest that the 64-kD product arises by cross-linking of the nascent polypeptide to the 54-kD subunit of SRP. The 45-kD product resists alkaline extraction from the membrane, so we conclude that the 11-kD nascent polypeptide has been crosslinked to an integral membrane protein of approximately 34 kD (imp34). The cross-linked product does not bind to ConA Sepharose, nor is it sensitive to endoglycosidase H digestion; hence imp34 is not identical to the alpha or beta subunits of the signal sequence receptor (SSR). We propose that imp34 functions in concert with SSR to form a translocation site through which nascent polypeptides pass in traversing the membrane bilayer of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.     

Discrete nascent chain lengths are required for the insertion of presecretory proteins into microsomal membranes

Ribosomes synthesizing nascent secretory proteins are targeted to the membrane by the signal recognition particle (SRP), a small ribonucleoprotein that binds to the signal peptide as it emerges from the ribosome. SRP arrests further elongation, causing ribosomes to stack behind the arrested ribosome. Upon interaction of SRP with its receptor on the ER membrane, the translation arrest is released and the ribosome becomes bound to the ER membrane. We have examined the distribution of unattached and membrane-bound ribosomes during the translation of mRNAs encoding two secretory proteins, bovine preprolactin and rat preproinsulin I. We find that the enhancement of ribosome stacking that occurs when SRP arrests translation of these proteins is relaxed in the presence of microsomal membranes. We also demonstrate that two previously described populations of membrane- associated ribosomes, distinguished by their sensitivity to high salt or EDTA extraction, correspond to ribosomes that have synthesized differing lengths of the nascent polypeptide. This analysis has revealed that nascent chain insertion into the membrane begins at distinct points for different presecretory proteins.     

Nascent chicken ovalbumin contains the functional equivalent of a signal sequence

Highly purified mRNA for chicken ovalbumin has been translated in a cell-free protein synthesizing system from rabbit reticulocytes in the presence or absence of EDTA-stripped microsomal membranes from dog pancreas. Nascent--but not completed--ovalbumin was transferred across the microsomal membrane, as demonstrated by cotranslational core glycosylation of ovalbumin nascent chains, by resistance to posttranslational proteolysis of only the glycosylated ovalbumin chains, and by cosedimentation with the membrane of exclusively the glycosylated form. Furthermore, nascent chains of bovine prolactin were observed to compete with nascent ovalbumin for transfer across the microsomal membrane. However, no competition for membrane sites was observed between nascent chains of rabbit globin and either nascent ovalbumin or prolactin. We interpret these results to suggest that nascent ovalbumin contains the functional equivalent of a signal sequence for transfer across membranes, and that membrane components involved in the segregation of secretory proteins with cleaved signal sequences also function in the segregation of ovalbumin.     

Mechanisms that determine the transmembrane disposition of proteins.

The final orientation that a protein assumes in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum is determined by a few types of signal sequences and their respective interactions with the membrane insertion complex. Membrane insertion occurs via a series of discrete steps, some of which are regulated by GTP- and ATP-binding proteins. Analysis of the protein components in proximity to nascent secretory and membrane proteins has revealed novel proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum that may form part of the membrane insertion complex.