Amino terminal sequence of porcine pre-β-lactoglobulin. Comparison with its ovine counterpart

Porcine mammary gland mRNAs were translated in a wheat germ cell-free system in the presence of radioactive amino acids. Automated Edman degradation performed on β-lactoglobulin isolated by immunoprecipitation from the mixture of radiolabeled lactoproteins showed the occurrence of a hydrophobic amino terminal extension made up of 18 amino acid residues. Comparison of the amino terminal seque?nces of porcine and ovine pre-β-lactoglobulins revealed a high degree of homology in the signal peptide region. This suggests that the efficient transfer of that protein across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane requires the structural integrity of the transient amino terminal extension.     

Identification of a peroxisomal targeting signal at the carboxy terminus of firefly luciferase

Translocation of proteins across membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion, and chloroplast has been shown to be mediated by targeting signals present in the transported proteins. To test whether the transport of proteins into peroxisomes is also mediated by a peptide targeting signal, we have studied the firefly luciferase gene that encodes a protein transported to peroxisomes in both insect and mammalian cells. We have identified two regions of luciferase which are necessary for transport of this protein into peroxisomes. We demonstrate that one of these, region II, represents a peroxisomal targeting signal because it is both necessary and sufficient for directing cytosolic proteins to peroxisomes. The signal is no more than twelve amino acids long and is located at the extreme carboxy-terminus of luciferase. The location of the targeting signal for translocation across the peroxisomal membrane therefore differs from the predominantly amino-terminal location of signals responsible for transport across the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, or mitochondrion.     

Identification of an antimicrobial peptide from human methionine sulfoxide reductase B3

Human methionine sulfoxide reductase B3A (hMsrB3A) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) reductase that catalyzes the stereospecific reduction of methionine-R-sulfoxide to methionine in proteins. In this work, we identified an antimicrobial peptide from hMsrB3A protein. The N-terminal ER-targeting signal peptide (amino acids 1-31) conferred an antimicrobial effect in Escherichia coli cells. Sequence and structural analyses showed that the overall positively charged ER signal peptide had an Argand Pro-rich region and a potential hydrophobic α-helical segment that contains 4 cysteine residues. The potential α-helical region was essential for the antimicrobial activity within E. coli cells. A synthetic peptide, comprised of 2-26 amino acids of the signal peptide, was effective at killing Gram-negative E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella paratyphi, but had no bactericidal activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus.     

A former amino terminal signal sequence engineered to an internal location directs translocation of both flanking protein domains

To determine whether a functional amino terminal signal sequence can be active at an internal position, a hybrid gene was constructed in which the entire coding region of bovine preprolactin cDNA was inserted into chimpanzee alpha-globin cDNA 109 codons downstream from the initiation codon of globin. When RNA synthesized in vitro from this plasmid (pSPGP1) was translated in the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system, a 32-kD protein was produced that was both prolactin and globin immunoreactive. When microsomal membranes were present during translation (but not when added posttranslationally), a 26-kD and a 14-kD product were also observed. By immunoreactivity and electrophoretic mobility, the 26-kD protein was identical to mature prolactin, and the 14-kD protein appeared to be the globin domain with the prolactin signal sequence attached at its carboxy terminus. From (a) posttranslational proteolysis in the presence and absence of detergent, (b) sedimentation of vesicles in the presence and absence of sodium carbonate pH 11.5, and (c) N-linked glycosylation of the globin-immunoreactive fragment after insertion of an Asn-X-Ser N-linked glycosylation site into the globin coding region of pSPGP1, it appears that all of the 26-kD and some of the 14-kD products, but none of the 32-kD precursor, have been translocated to the lumen of the membrane vesicles. Thus, when engineered to an internal position, the prolactin signal sequence is able to translocate both flanking protein domains. These data have implications for the understanding of translocation of proteins across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum.     

鸡含锰超氧化物歧化酶cDNA克隆及序列分析

 为弄清鸡含锰超氧化物歧化酶 (manganese containingsuperoxidedismutase ,MnSOD)的cDNA序列 ,以开展动物锰营养学的深入研究 ,根据已知鸡MnSOD的N端氨基酸序列设计简并引物 ,应用 3′RACE(rapidamplificationofcDNAends)技术 ,扩增克隆了鸡心肌MnSOD 990bp的 3′cDNA片段 .再根据 3′RACE片段测序结果设计引物进行 5′RACE ,结果获取了一个与 3′RACE片段相互重叠的鸡心肌MnSOD 52 1bp的 5′RACE片段 ,并对其进行了克隆测序 .最后根据 3′RACE片段和 5′RACE片段序列信息进行拼接 ,从而获取鸡MnSODcDNA的全序列信息 .研究结果表明 :鸡MnSODcDNA全长为 110 8个核苷酸 ,其中 5′非翻译区 2 5个核苷酸 ,编码区 675个核苷酸 ,3′非翻译区 4 0 8个核苷酸 ,编码一个长 2 2 4个氨基酸残基的蛋白质前体 .其中信号肽长 2 6个氨基酸残基 ,成熟肽长 198个氨基酸残基 ,分子量为 2 2kD .与人、大鼠、线虫、果蝇等真核生物MnSOD氨基酸序列的同源性分别为82 4 %、84 .7%、62 .4 %、59.3% .     

The signal peptide of the G protein-coupled human endothelin B receptor is necessary for translocation of the N-terminal tail across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane

The initial step of the intracellular transport of G protein-coupled receptors, their insertion into the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, follows one of two different pathways. Whereas one group uses the first transmembrane domain of the mature receptor as an uncleaved signal anchor sequence for this process, a second group possesses additional cleavable signal peptides. The reason this second subset requires the additional signal peptide is not known. Here we have assessed the functional significance of the signal peptide of the endothelin B (ET(B)) receptor in transiently transfected COS.M6 cells. A green fluorescent protein-tagged ET(B) receptor mutant lacking the signal peptide was nonfunctional and retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that it has a folding defect. To determine the defect in more detail, ET(B) receptor fragments containing the N-terminal tail, first transmembrane domain, and first cytoplasmic loop were constructed. We assessed N tail translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in the presence and absence of a signal peptide and show that the signal peptide is necessary for N tail translocation. We postulate that signal peptides are necessary for those G protein-coupled receptors for which post-translational translocation of the N terminus is impaired or blocked by the presence of stably folded domains.     

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.     

Signal peptide fragments of preprolactin and HIV-1 p-gp160 interact with calmodulin.

Secretory proteins and most membrane proteins are synthesized with a signal sequence that is usually cleaved from the nascent polypeptide during transport into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Using site-specific photo-crosslinking we have followed the fate of the signal sequence of preprolactin in a cell-free system. This signal sequence has an unusually long hydrophilic n-region containing several positively charged amino acid residues. We found that after cleavage by signal peptidase the signal sequence is in contact with lipids and subunits of the signal peptidase complex. The cleaved signal sequence is processed further and an N-terminal fragment is released into the cytosol. This signal peptide fragment was found to interact efficiently with calmodulin. Similar to preprolactin, the signal sequence of the HIV-1 envelope protein p-gp160 has the characteristic feature for calmodulin binding in its n-region. We found that a signal peptide fragment of p-gp160 was released into the cytosol and interacts with calmodulin. Our results suggest that signal peptide fragments of some cellular and viral proteins can interact with cytosolic target molecules. The functional consequences of such interactions remain to be established. However, our data suggest that signal sequences may be functionally more versatile than anticipated up to now.     

Identification of signal sequence binding proteins integrated into the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

An azidophenacyl derivative of a chemically synthesized consensus signal peptide has been prepared. The peptide, when photoactivated in the presence of rough or high-salt-stripped microsomes from pancreas, leads to inhibition of their activity in cotranslational processing of secretory pre-proteins translated from their mRNA in vitro. The peptide binds specifically with high affinity to components in the microsomal membranes from pancreas and liver, and photoreaction of a radioactive form of the azidophenacyl derivative leads to covalent linkage to yield two closely related radiolabelled proteins of Mr about 45,000. These proteins are integrated into the membrane, with large 30,000-Mr domains embedded into the phospholipid bilayer to which the signal peptide binds. A smaller, endopeptidase-sensitive, domain is exposed on the cytoplasmic surface of the microsomal vesicles. The specificity and selectivity of the binding of azidophenacyl-derivatized consensus signal peptide was demonstrated by concentration-dependent inhibition of photolabelling by the 'cold' synthetic consensus signal peptide and by a natural internal signal sequence cleaved and isolated from ovalbumin. The properties of the labelled 45,000-Mr protein-signal peptide complexes, i.e. mass, pI, ease of dissociation from the membrane by detergent or salts and immunological properties, distinguish them from other proteins, e.g. subunits of signal recognition particle, docking protein and signal peptidase, already known to be involved in targetting and processing of nascent secretory proteins at the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Although the 45,000-Mr signal peptide binding protein displays properties similar to those of the signal peptidase, a component of the endoplasmic reticulum, the azido-derivatized consensus signal peptide does not interact with it. It is proposed that the endoplasmic reticulum proteins with which the azidophenacyl-derivatized consensus signal peptide interacts to yield the 45,000-Mr adducts may act as receptors for signals in nascent secretory pre-proteins in transduction of changes in the endoplasmic reticulum which bring about translocation of secretory protein across the membrane.     

Isolation, characterization, and expression of cDNA encoding a rat liver endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase

We have isolated a cDNA encoding an endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase, an asparagine-linked oligosaccharide processing enzyme, from a rat liver lambda gt11 library. Two degenerate oligonucleotides, based on amino acid sequence data from the purified enzyme, were used as primers in the polymerase chain reaction with liver cDNA as a template to generate an unambiguous cDNA probe. The cDNA fragment (524 base pair) obtained was then used to isolate cDNA clones by hybridization. We isolated two overlapping clones which were used to construct a full-length cDNA of 3392 base pairs. A single open reading frame of 1040 amino acids encodes a protein with a molecular mass of 116 kilodaltons containing the six known peptide sequences. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed no classical signal sequence or membrane-spanning domain. The alpha-mannosidase encoding cDNA can be expressed transiently in COS cells using the mammalian expression vector pXM, causing a 400-fold increase in alpha-mannosidase activity as well as a dramatic increase in immunoreactive polypeptide. The rat liver endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase bears striking homology to the vacuolar alpha-mannosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Translocation of dynorphin neuropeptides across the plasma membrane. A putative mechanism of signal transmission

Several peptides, including penetratin and Tat, are known to translocate across the plasma membrane. Dynorphin opioid peptides are similar to cell-penetrating peptides in a high content of basic and hydrophobic amino acid residues. We demonstrate that dynorphin A and big dynorphin, consisting of dynorphins A and B, can penetrate into neurons and non-neuronal cells using confocal fluorescence microscopy/immunolabeling. The peptide distribution was characterized by cytoplasmic labeling with minimal signal in the cell nucleus and on the plasma membrane. Translocated peptides were associated with the endoplasmic reticulum but not with the Golgi apparatus or clathrin-coated endocytotic vesicles. Rapid entry of dynorphin A into the cytoplasm of live cells was revealed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The translocation potential of dynorphin A was comparable with that of transportan-10, a prototypical cell-penetrating peptide. A central big dynorphin fragment, which retains all basic amino acids, and dynorphin B did not enter the cells. The latter two peptides interacted with negatively charged phospholipid vesicles similarly to big dynorphin and dynorphin A, suggesting that interactions of these peptides with phospholipids in the plasma membrane are not impaired. Translocation was not mediated via opioid receptors. The potential of dynorphins to penetrate into cells correlates with their ability to induce non-opioid effects in animals. Translocation across the plasma membrane may represent a previously unknown mechanism by which dynorphins can signal information to the cell interior.     

Release of signal peptide fragments into the cytosol requires cleavage in the transmembrane region by a protease activity that is specifically blocked by a novel cysteine protease inhibitor

Signal peptides of secretory and membrane proteins are generated by proteolytic processing of precursor proteins after insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Liberated signal peptides can be further processed, and the resulting N-terminal fragments are released toward the cytosol, where they may interact with target proteins like calmodulin. We show here that the processing of signal peptides requires a protease activity distinct from signal peptidase. This activity is inhibited specifically with a newly developed cysteine protease inhibitor, 1, 3-di-(N-carboxybenzoyl-l-leucyl-l-leucyl)amino acetone ((Z-LL)(2) ketone). Inhibitor studies revealed that the final, (Z-LL)(2) ketone-sensitive cleavage event occurs within the hydrophobic transmembrane region of the signal peptide, thus promoting the release of an N-terminal fragment into the cytosol.     

Hepatitis B surface antigen: an unusual secreted protein initially synthesized as a transmembrane polypeptide.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the major coat protein of hepatitis B virus, is also secreted from cells as a subviral particle, without concomitant cleavage of N-terminal amino acid sequences. We examined this unusual export process in a cell-free system and showed that the initial product of HBsAg biosynthesis is an integral transmembrane protein, with most or all of its C-terminal half on the lumenal side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. To study the nature of its topogenic signals, we synthesized fusion proteins between HBsAg and the nonsecreted protein alpha-globin. Fusion proteins in which approximately 100 amino acids of globin preceded all HBsAg sequences were successfully translocated in vitro; the same domain as in the wild-type HBsAg was transported into the vesicle lumen. Fusions in which the entire globin domain was C terminal were able to translocate both the C-terminal region of HBsAg and its attached globin domain. Thus, uncleaved signal sequences in p24s function to direct portions of the molecule across the membrane and are able to perform this function even when positioned in an internal protein domain.     

The corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2a contains an N-terminal pseudo signal peptide

The corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2a (CRF(2(a)) receptor) belongs to the family of G protein-coupled receptors. The receptor possesses a putative N-terminal signal peptide that is believed to be cleaved-off after mediating the endoplasmic reticulum targeting/insertion process, like the corresponding sequence of the homologous CRF(1) receptor. Here, we have assessed the functional significance of the putative signal peptide of the CRF(2(a)) receptor and show that it is surprisingly completely incapable of mediating endoplasmic reticulum targeting, despite meeting all sequence criteria for a functional signal by prediction algorithms. Moreover, it is uncleaved and forms part of the mature receptor protein. Replacement of residue Asn(13) by hydrophobic or positively charged residues converts the sequence into a fully functional and cleaved signal peptide demonstrating that conventional signal peptide functions are inhibited by a single amino acid residue. Deletion of the domain leads to an increase in the amount of immature, intracellularly retained receptors demonstrating that the sequence has adopted a new function in receptor trafficking through the early secretory pathway. Taken together, our results identify a novel hydrophobic receptor domain in the family of the heptahelical G protein-coupled receptors and the first pseudo signal peptide of a eukaryotic membrane protein. Our data also show that the extreme N termini of the individual CRF receptor subtypes differ substantially.     

Signal peptide of Lassa virus glycoprotein GP-C exhibits an unusual length

Lassa virus glycoprotein is synthesized as precursor GP-C into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and cleaved posttranslationally into the N-terminal subunit GP-1 and the C-terminal subunit GP-2 by subtilase SKI-1/S1P. The N-terminal portion of the primary translation product preGP-C contains a signal peptide of unknown length. In order to demonstrate the signal peptide cleavage site, purified viral GP-1 isolated from Lassa virus particles was N-terminally sequenced as TSLYKGV, identical to amino acids 59-65 of GP-C. Mutational analysis of the amino acid residues flanking the putative cleavage site led to non-cleavable preGP-C indicating that no other signal peptide cleavage site exists. Interestingly, GP-C mutants with a non-cleavable signal peptide were not further processed by SKI-1/S1P. This observation suggests that the signal peptide cleavage is necessary for GP-C maturation and hence for Lassa virus replication.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of a gene encoding an extracellular proteinase from Lactobacillus helveticus CP790

A 2.6-kilobase HaeIII DNA fragment corresponding to an extracellular proteinase gene (prtY) was cloned from chromosomal DNA of Lactobacillus helveticus CP790 in Escherichia coli using a pKK223-3 vector. The transformant expressed a 48-kDa protein that reacts with monoclonal antibodies specific to the proteinase and seemed to be a pre-proproteinase, but had no proteolytic activity. About 1.6 kilobases of the 2.6-kilobase DNA fragment, which contained the complete gene for the proteinase was sequenced. Sequence analysis found an open reading frame with a capacity to encode a protein of 449 amino acids. The coding region contained a Gram-positive-type signal peptide of 30 amino acids. The N-terminal sequences of the proproteinase and the mature proteinase have been observed in the polypeptide at position + 31 and + 38. The putative amino acid sequence showed a significant similarity to a surface layer protein of L. helveticus and Lactobacillus acidophilus in the amino terminal signal sequence and carboxyl terminus.