Nuclear GTP-binding proteins of Swiss 3T3 cells

The GTP-binding proteins of Swiss 3T3 cell nuclei were analyzed by filter binding assay and UV cross-linking analysis. The results showed the presence of multiple GTP-binding proteins in the nuclei. Scatchard analysis revealed that the Kd value for GTP binding to high-affinity components was 69 nM, that to low-affinity components being 2.7 microM. The GTP-binding activities of some nuclear proteins were found to change significantly in response to the growth conditions of the cells. During culture of cells in medium without serum, the GTP-binding activity of a 140 kDa protein clearly decreased, whereas that of a 40 kDa protein increased.     

Binding of isolated 3T3 surface membranes to growing 3T3 cells and their effect on cell growth

We have quantitated by autoradiography the binding of [¹²⁵I]labeled 3T3 plasma membrane fragments to 3T3 cells growing on the surface of plastic dishes; ie, the same conditions in which these membranes specifically arrest the growth of 3T3 cells early in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle. We have been able to demonstrate that binding of membranes to cells is coincidental with the expression of the growth inhibitory activity of protein(s) present in the membrane fragments. Treatments that reduce binding (heat denaturation of the membranes or culture in the presence of high scrum) also reduce growth inhibitory activity. [¹²⁵I]labeled membranes bound to cells are located primarily on the cell surface (as determined by electron microscope autoradiography) and are exchangeable with unlabeled membranes. We conclude that binding of membranes to cells is necessary but may not be sufficient for the expression of the growth inhibitory activity of these membranes. This approach provides information not only on the average level of binding of membranes to cells, but also provides a quantitative assessment of the variation of the level of membrane to cell binding between different cells in the population.     

[3H]Imipramine Labels Sites on Brain Astroglial Cells Not Related to Serotonin Uptake

Brain astroglial cells, whether from a bulk isolated preparation or in culture, have been shown to take up serotonin actively. [3H]imipramine has been proposed as a specific label for serotonin uptake sites in brain. We therefore studied the binding of [3H]imipramine to C6 astroglial cells in culture to determine if some of the binding of this radioligand in brain homogenates is actually to serotonin transporting sites on glia. [3H]Imipramine binds saturably (Bmax = 202 fmol/mg protein) and with high affinity (KD = 1.72 nM) to C6 cells. This binding is competitively inhibited by other tricyclic antidepressants. The C6 cells actively transport [3H]serotonin with a Km of 2 microM and a Vmax of 1080 fmol/10(6) cells/min. However, the pharmacological profile for inhibition of serotonin uptake does not correlate with the pharmacological profile for inhibition of [3H]imipramine binding. These results suggest that the binding of [3H]imipramine to astroglial cells is not related to their capacity for active uptake of serotonin. Further, in brain homogenates, some of the binding of [3H]imipramine may not be to neuronal uptake sites but rather may be to sites on astroglial cells.     

Adrenocorticotropin binding activity of B16/C3 melanoma cells

The binding of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to B16/C3 murine melanoma cells was found to be specific and saturable. The binding capacity of the cells changed as a function of the age of the culture. Scatchard analysis revealed one class of high-affinity ACTH binding sites. The specificity of ACTH binding to the cells was tested by displacement experiments with human leukocyte interferon (alpha-IFN) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) as the competitors. Structure-activity relationship of ACTH, alpha-MSH and alpha-IFN was discussed.     

Guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate and the action of alkylating agents.

The intracellular level of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) has been measured in Walker carcinoma cells in tissue culture after treatment with various alkylating agents. At concentrations which caused a rise in the level of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) chlorambucil and 5-(1-aziridinyl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB 1954) produced only a small (35%) elevation of cGMP, while merophan had no such effect. This suggests that any effect of cAMP will not be outweighed by an equivalent rise in cGMP. Sepcific cytosolic binding of cGMP decreased with increasing resistance of Walker cells to alkylating agents, while the dissociation constant, KD, for binding increased. This was also observed with cAMP binding which suggests that the same protein in responsible for binding both nucleotides.     

Characterization of the high-affinity receptors on Swiss 3T3 cells which mediate the binding, internalization and degradation of the mitogenic peptide bombesin.

Bombesin and bombesin-related peptides such as gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) stimulate DNA synthesis and proliferation of Swiss 3T3 cells in culture. We have used 125I-labelled [Tyr4]bombesin and 125I-labelled GRP to characterize and identify the receptors for these peptides on Swiss 3T3 cells. The binding of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin, which retained full biological activity, was maximal between 20 and 30 min incubation at 37 degrees C, after which continued incubation led to a decline in cell-associated radioactivity. This decline was markedly slowed by the presence of lysosomal enzyme inhibitors. Specificity of the binding site was indicated by the competitive inhibition of binding by bombesin-related peptides, but not by unrelated peptides and growth factors. Scatchard analysis of binding data indicated a single class of high-affinity receptors. The calculated value for the dissociation constant (Kd) was 2.1 nM and each cell possesses approx. 240,000 receptors. Because [Tyr4]bombesin has no free amino group, 125I-GRP was used in chemical cross-linking studies. When disuccinimidyl suberate was used to covalently couple 125I-GRP to the cells, two major radiolabelled complexes were detected with molecular masses of approx. 80,000-85,000 and 140,000. The binding of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin to the cells was pH-dependent with maximal binding at pH 6.5-7.5 and effectively no specific binding at pH values below 4.5. At 37 degrees C, cell-associated 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin quickly became resistant to removal by acidic buffers, suggesting its rapid transfer to an intracellular compartment. However, pre-incubation with unlabelled [Tyr4]bombesin did not induce down-regulation of bombesin receptors as measured by the subsequent binding of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin. In contrast with the Swiss 3T3 cells, specific binding of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin was not detectable in two cell lines which are biologically unresponsive to bombesin-related peptides.     

Effects of novel 26,27-dialkyl analogs of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on differentiation-inducing activity of human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells in serum-supplemented or serum-free culture.

Monocytic differentiation-inducing activity of steroidal side chain-lengthened 26,27-dialkyl analogs of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was examined in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells in serum-supplemented or serum-free culture. The order of in vitro potency for reducing nitroblue tetrazolium was 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-26,27-dimethylvitamin D3 greater than or equal to 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-26,27-diethylvitamin D3 much greater than 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-26,27-dipropylvitamin D3 under serum-free culture conditions. Analysis by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation or polyethylene glycol precipitation technique showed that the potency order for differentiation-inducing activity correlated well with binding affinity of these analogs for vitamin D3 receptor of HL-60 cells. Under serum-supplemented culture conditions, the lack of correlation between biologic activity and analog-binding affinity for receptor was caused by differences in binding affinity of these analogs for serum vitamin D-binding proteins. These results suggest that serum vitamin D-binding proteins apparently modulate monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells by these analogs under serum-supplemented culture conditions.     

Characterization of a specific, high affinity binding macromolecule for 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in cultured chick kidney cells

Cytosol prepared from vitamin D3-deficient kidney cells in culture contains a 3.7 S protein that specifically binds 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with high affinity and low capacity. Whole kidney homogenate cytosol preparations are shown to possess two 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 binding macromolecules. One of the binding proteins sediments at 3.5 to 3.7 S while the second sediments at 6.0 S. The 6.0 S component has a greater affinity for 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 than for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Cultured cell cytosol was found to have little 6.0 S 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 binding protein. Scatchard analysis of the cultured cell cytosol reveals an equilibrium binding constant (KD) of 5.6 x 10 (-11) with 57 fmol of sites/mg of protein. The receptor-like protein has a Mr = 72,000 and as with other steroid receptors it aggregates in the presence of low potassium concentrations. Analog competition for receptor binding reveals the following potency order: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 > 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 > 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 > 24(R),25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; the receptor had no detectable affinity for vitamin D3. The kidney cells respond to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by diminishing 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1 alpha-hydroxylation and increasing 24R-hydroxylation. Cultured cells provide a preparation of cytosol which has allowed extensive characterization of the renal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor and should facilitate investigations into the role this receptor plays in renal control of vitamin D3 metabolism.     

Expression of the functional erythropoietin receptors on interleukin 3-dependent murine cell lines

Two distinct hemopoietic growth factors, interleukin 3 (IL-3) and erythropoietin (EPO), support the growth and development of erythroid cells in a sequential manner in vitro. Stimulation of multipotential stem cells by IL-3 appears to develop committed erythroid progenitor cells that respond to EPO. When several murine IL-3-dependent cell lines were assayed for their ability to respond to EPO, the growth and survival of the three cell lines showing the profiles of either myeloid or mast cell lineage (IC-2, DA-1, FDC-P2) were stimulated by EPO in a dose-dependent fashion. To determine whether the biologic effects were mediated through the specific receptors for EPO, we performed binding experiments on these cells with radioiodinated EPO. All of these cells displayed significant levels of specific binding for EPO. Among a family of hemopoietic growth factors, only unlabeled EPO was able to compete for the binding of radioiodinated EPO to the cells. Analysis of the binding data revealed the existence of a single case of binding sites in extremely low abundance. IC-2 cells were used to study the effects of IL-3 on the regulation of expression of EPO receptors. It was demonstrated that a decrease in IL-3 concentration in the culture medium increased the responsiveness to EPO and the amount in specific binding of EPO as well. These results suggest that some IL-3-dependent cell lines have functional EPO receptors and their expression may be modulated by IL-3.     

Endogenous hyaluronate-cell surface interactions in 3T3 and simian virus-transformed 3T3 cells

3T3 cells have a large, pericellular coat which contains 30 times more hyaluronate than the amount of cell surface hyaluronate associated with simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 (SV-3T3) cells. On the other hand, SV-3T3 cells have high affinity binding sites for exogenously added hyaluronate, whereas 3T3 cells have much lower affinity sites. Removal of cell surface hyaluronate from SV-3T3 cells by treatment with hyaluronidase caused a reproducible increase in their maximum binding capacity for exogenous hyaluronate but no significant change in binding affinity or specificity. For 3T3 cells, however, the maximum amount of binding decreased and the affinity of binding increased after hyaluronidase treatment. When endogenous cell surface hyaluronate was labeled metabolically and then the cells incubated in the presence of exogenous unlabeled hyaluronate, the labeled cell surface hyaluronate was quantitatively displaced from the SV-3T3 cells but was not displaced from the 3T3 cells. Chondroitin sulfate and heparin did not displace cell surface hyaluronate from either cell type. Membranes isolated from SV-3T3 cells bound hyaluronate specifically and with high affinity, whereas membranes from 3T3 cells did not consistently bind a significant amount of hyaluronate. We conclude from these studies that the retention of endogenous hyaluronate on the surface of SV-3T3 cells is mediated by binding sites similar to those detected by the addition of exogenous hyaluronate, and the mechanism of retention of endogenous hyaluronate on the surface of 3T3 cells differs from SV-3T3 cells.     

Purification and characterization of human recombinant insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (hIGFBP-3) stably expressed in chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO cells) has been purified to homogeneity from serum-free culture media. The purified protein migrates as a doublet (45/43 kDa) upon SDS-PAGE. The purified recombinant hIGFBP-3 is fully active and binds one mole of IGF-I per mole of recombinant binding protein. When the transfected CHO cells are treated with tunicamycin a single 29 kDa hIGFBP-3 protein is observed. This expressed hIGFBP-3 protein maintains its ability to bind IGF-I. N-Glycanase treatment of the purified hIGFBP-3 protein results in a protein that migrates similar to E. coli-derived IGFBP-3 upon SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions (30 kDa). Carboxymethylation of hIGFBP-3 suggests that all 18 cysteines are involved in disulfide linkages. These results represent the first purification and characterization of recombinant hIGFBP-3 expressed in CHO cells.     

Analysis of phorbol ester receptors in phorbol ester unresponsive 3T3 cell variants

The phorbol ester tumor promoters induce multiple cellular responses in cell culture, including mitogenesis. We have analyzed 3 variants of mouse 3T3 cells mitogenically unresponsive to the phorbol esters for phorbol ester receptors. All resembled control 3T3 cells in their specific [³H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding. The variants thus appear to be altered at steps distal to receptor occupancy in the mitogenic response to the phorbol esters.     

Effect of active vitamin D3 on the levels of NADPH-dependent cytosolic 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine-binding protein

Effect of 1 alpha-OH-vitamin D3 (1 alpha-OH-D3) and 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2-dihydroxycholecalciferol)(1,25-(OH)2-D3) on the levels of NADPH-dependent cytosolic 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)-binding protein (CTBP) was studied in rats and cultured dRLh cells. Deprivation of rats from vitamin D decreased the activity of cytosolic NADPH-dependent T3 binding in rat kidney and liver. The decrease was restored by administration of 1 alpha-OH-D3(0.2 micrograms/kg). The activity of cytosolic NADPH-dependent T3 binding was increased in the dRLh cells by addition of 1,25-(OH)2-D3 to the culture medium. The maximal binding capacity (MBC) was increased by 1,25-(OH)2-D3 without changes in the affinity constant. These results suggested that active vitamin D3 plays an important role in the regulation of cellular T3 translocation through increasing the binding capacity of NADPH-dependent cytosolic T3-binding protein.     

Interactions of high-density lipoprotein 3 with brain capillary endothelial cells

High-density lipoprotein 3 (HDL3) binds to capillary endothelial cells when their lumen surfaces are exposed to 125I-HDL3 by post-mortem perfusion of whole brain. Kinetic studies of binding of HDL3 to isolated membranes show that HDL3 binds only to endothelial membranes with high affinity (Kd = 7 micrograms/ml). Trypsin treatment of membranes abolishes HDL3 binding. High-affinity binding sites for HDL3 were recovered when endothelial cells from bovine brain capillaries were maintained in culture (Kd = 13 micrograms/ml HDL3 protein). The characteristics of the binding were preserved up to the 6th passage. Competition experiments using isolated luminal membranes or cultured endothelial cells indicate that only HDL3 and not LDL or methylated LDL, are able to compete binding of 125I-HDL3. Furthermore, the inhibition of 125I-HDL3 binding by lipoprotein A-I and lipoprotein A-I:A-II strongly suggests that apolipoprotein A-I is implicated in the formation of HDL3-receptor complexes. The binding is increased by loading cells with free cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. In addition, surface-bound 125I-HDL3 remains sensitive to mild trypsin treatment after subsequent incubation of BBCE at 37 degrees C. HDL3 bound to the cell surface is not endocytosed, but rather rapidly released into the medium after binding (t1/2 = 5 min).     

Biological activity of 24,24-difluoro-1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-26,23-lactone in inducing differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells

Vitamin D compounds added to the culture medium induce differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60 cells) by binding to a specific cytosol receptor protein. This system provides a biologically relevant and technically simple assay to examine the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity of vitamin D compounds. Using this culture system, the biological activity of 24,24-F2-1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 and 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-26,23-lactone was assayed. 24,24-F2-1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 was four to seven times more potent than 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 in inducing phagocytosis and C3 rosette formation of HL-60 cells, though both compounds bound equally well to the cytosol receptor, suggesting that the defuorination at the 24-carbon position may stimulate membrane permeability of the compound. 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-26,23-lactone, on the other hand, was only 1/200th as active as 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. The binding affinity of the lactone for the cytosol receptor was identical with that of 1 alpha (OH)D3, suggesting that the lactone formation between the 26 and 23 positions masks the function of the 25-hydroxyl group. The binding affinity of vitamin D3 derivatives to the specific cytosol receptor of HL-60 cells was well correlated with that of intestinal cytosol protein specifically bound to 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3.     

Loss of choleragen receptors and ganglioside upon differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiate in culture into cells having the enzymatic and morphological characteristics of adipocytes. Differentiation is accompanied by a decrease in total cellular ganglioside content; the ganglioside level is 1.8 to 2.5-fold higher in undifferentiated than in differentiated cells. Gangliosides GM3 and GD1a constitute a majority of total cell gangliosides in both cell types, while ganglioside GM1, the putative choleragen receptor, constitutes less than 5%. Differentiation results in a 75 to 85% decrease in ganglioside GM1. An inverse correlation exists between the percentage of adipocytes in the cell population and: 1) total ganglioside and ganglioside GM1 content, and 2) surface ganglioside GM1 as estimated by choleragen binding or fluorescent staining of bound choleragen. Nondifferentiating 3T3-C2 control cells do not exhibit changes in total ganglioside, ganglioside GM1, or choleragen binding that are observed with 3T3-L1 cells.     

Binding of 3H-aldosterone and 3H-dexamethasone in primary monolayer cultures of kidney cortical collecting tubule (CCT) cells

Specific binding of corticosteroids in cultured CCT cells was measured as a function of time, of temperature, of pH, and of concentration. Scatchard analysis revealed the existence of two species of binding sites for both, 3H-aldosterone type I A: KD = 2.3.10(-9) M, N = 33.10(-17) mol/10(4) cells; type I B: KD = 51.10(-9) M, N = 55.10(-17) mol/10(4) cells) and dexamethasone (type II A: KD = 4.7.10(-9) M, N = 2.3.10(17) mol/10(4) cells; type II B: KD = 22.10(-9) M, N = 6.5.10(-17) mol/10(4) cells). The data demonstrate that CCT cells in primary monolayer culture express corticosteroid binding sites similar to cells of the CCT in vivo.     

Regulation of cell differentiation by hNUDC via a Mpl-dependent mechanism in NIH 3T3 cells

Thrombopoietin receptor (Mpl) belongs to the cytokine receptor surperfamily with a large extracellular N-terminal portion responsible for cytokine recognition and binding. Thrombopoietin (TPO) has so far been the only widely studied cytokine for Mpl. However we have recently identified human NUDC (hNUDC), previously described as a human homolog of a fungal nuclear migration protein, as another putative binding partner of Mpl. The purpose of this study is to test the extent of the functioning of hNUDC by identifying protein-protein interactions with Mpl in mammalian cells. The full-length cDNAs encoding Mpl and hNUDC were cloned into pEGFP-N1 and pDsRed2-N1 respectively which were subsequently expressed as Mpl-EGFP (green) and hNUDC-DsRed (red) fusion proteins. Using ELISA and immunofluorescence studies, we have demonstrated the direct binding of hNUDC to cell surface-captured Mpl. We also observed that hNUDC induced significant changes in cellular morphology in NIH 3T3 cells stably transfected with pMpl-EGFP. Interestingly, these morphological changes were characteristic of cells undergoing megakaryocyte differentiation. Extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) have been shown to mediate such megakaryocyte-like differentiation. In addition, co-expression of Mpl-EGFP and hNUDC-DsRed led to the release of hNUDC-DsRed into the culture medium.     

Studies on the nuclear 3, 5, 3'-triiodo-L-thyronine binding sites in cytotrophoblast

Human placental trophoblasts contain 3, 5, 3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) nuclear receptors not only at term but all throughout pregnancy. We determined which of the trophoblast, cytotrophoblast (C-cell) or syncytiotrophoblasts (S-cell) respond to thyroid hormone, and whether the T3 binding capacity changes with placental aging. Nuclear protein of mononuclear cells purified from term chorionic tissue by enzymatic digestion and Percoll gradient centrifugation had an apparent association constant (Ka) of 5.2 x 10(9)M-1 and a binding capacity of 445 fmol T3/mg DNA, 8 times greater than that of term trophoblasts. Primary harvested mononuclear cells reacted against neither anti-hCG-beta nor anti-hPL antibodies, although some of them reacted immunocytochemically against anti-hCG-alpha antibody. These cells aggregated with each other and transformed into multinuclear cells in culture after 96 hrs of incubation, showing that these primary harvested cells were C cells that had morphologically transformed into S cells. The transformed cells secreted hCG and hPL and immunocytochemically stained for these markers, suggesting that the C cells had functionally transformed into S cells. Nuclear binding of T3 in trophoblastic tissue is present not only at term but throughout pregnancy. Although each nuclei had a similar Ka value, the binding capacity decreased towards term. These findings suggest that nuclear T3 receptors of placental trophoblast change with placental aging and this change is mainly due to the change in the C/S cell ratio. We concluded that the cytotrophoblast is an active target cell of thyroid hormone.     

IL-3 specifically inhibits GM-CSF binding to the higher affinity receptor

The inhibition of binding between human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and its receptor by human interleukin-3 (IL-3) was observed in myelogenous leukemia cell line KG-1 which bore the receptors both for GM-CSF and IL-3. In contrast, this phenomenon was not observed in histiocytic lymphoma cell line U-937 or in gastric carcinoma cell line KATO III, both of which have apparent GM-CSF receptor but an undetectable IL-3 receptor. In KG-1 cells, the cross-inhibition was preferentially observed when the binding of GM-CSF was performed under the high-affinity binding condition; i.e., a low concentration of ¹²⁵I-GM-CSF was incubated. Scatchard analysis of ¹²⁵I-GM-CSF binding to KG-1 cells in the absence and in the presence of unlabeled IL-3 demonstrated that IL-3 inhibited GM-CSF binding to the higher-affinity component of GM-CSF receptor on KG-1 cells. Moreover, a chemical cross-linking study has revealed that the cross-inhibition of the GM-CSF binding observed in KG-1 cells is specific for the β-chain, M_r 135,000 binding protein which has been identified as a component forming the high-affinity GM-CSF receptor existng specifically on hemopoietic cells.