Relationship among types of nerve growth factor receptors on PC12 cells

We analyzed the kinetics and thermodynamics of 125I-nerve growth factor (125I-NGF) binding to NGF-receptor on PC12 cells. We used conditions of pseudo-first order kinetics and techniques to quantitate internalized complexes, "slow" or high affinity binding complexes, and cell surface "fast" or low affinity complexes. Two possible models were examined: binding to two independent receptors at the cell surface (i.e. high and low affinity forms of NGF-receptor) and a model for consecutive formation of fast, low affinity binding followed by slow, high affinity binding or internalization. Our data are consistent with the consecutive model only. The rates of association and dissociation of NGF with slow, high affinity sites and internalized, acid wash-resistant sites are indistinguishable from each other. We also analyzed, in detail, the two assays primarily used to distinguish slow binding complexes from internalized complexes. Scatchard analysis of total binding and dissociation of pre-equilibrated 125I-NGF in the presence of unlabeled NGF at high concentration (cold wash). Neither of these assays shows any evidence that the slow, high affinity binding step is different from internalization of the 125I-NGF-receptor complex. Based on this analysis, there are only two detectable forms of NGF-receptor on PC12 cells: complexes on the surface of the cells with a binding affinity of 0.5 nM at 37 degrees C and complexes internalized by the cells. Furthermore, the data are consistent with a model in which NGF-receptor is internalized constitutively and independently of occupancy by NGF. We also examined the fate of internalized 125I-NGF. In the first 60 min after contact with PC12 cells, no degradation of 125I-NGF was observed. Moreover, a significant amount of 125I-NGF recirculates to the cell surface and is released as intact, Mr = 13,000 NGF. The cells were also stimulated by NGF in a primary neurite outgrowth assay with an ED50 of 2-16 pM under conditions of low initial cell numbers in a large extracellular volume of NGF-containing medium. Thus, low level occupancy of the cell surface receptors, Kd = 0.5 nM, for several days is sufficient to stimulate neurite outgrowth. This indicates the presence of spare NGF-receptors on the surface PC12 cells.     

Characterization of nerve growth factor binding to cultured neural crest cells: evidence of an early developmental form of the NGF receptor

Cultured neural crest cells undergoing differentiation have been shown to contain a subpopulation of cells with specific receptors for nerve growth factor (NGF). These cells are the potential targets of NGF during differentiation and development. This study was done to pharmacologically characterize the binding of NGF to long-term (1- to 3-week) cultures of quail neural crest cells. The data indicate that 125I-NGF binding was specific and saturable, with less than 20% nonspecific binding. Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of one type (class) of receptors with a binding constant (Kd) similar to that of the low-affinity binding site described for embryonic dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia (approximately 3.2 nM). This was corroborated by displacement experiments (Kd of 1.3 nM), in which 125I-NGF binding was measured in the presence of increasing concentrations of nonradioactive NGF. In addition, affinity labeling revealed that the 125I-NGF-receptor complex had a molecular weight of about 93K, characteristic of the low-affinity NGF receptor of PC12 cells. The NGF receptor of cultured neural crest cells was trypsin-sensitive, as is typical of the low-affinity NGF binding sites. These findings indicate that differentiating neural crest cells lack high-affinity 125I-NGF binding sites. In contrast, embryonic dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia cells, known NGF targets, have both high- and low-affinity receptors. Measurements of the differential release of surface-bound 125I-NGF indicated that a relatively small amount (about 14%) of NGF is internalized over a 1-hr period. Cultured neural crest cells which bear NGF receptors were also shown by light microscopic radioautographic techniques to incorporate [3H]thymidine. I suggest, therefore, that cultured neural crest cells which have not terminally differentiated, as judged by morphological criteria and continued proliferation, may express an early developmental form of the NGF receptor.     

Appearance of nerve growth factor receptors on cultured neural crest cells

Light microscopic radioautography of differentiating quail neural crest cultures (1 to 2 weeks after explanation) incubated with Iodine-125-labeled nerve growth factor (125I-NGF) revealed that approximately 35% of the cells bound NGF. The binding was specific and saturable; it was blocked by an excess of nonradioactive NGF, and was not detected following incubation with biologically inactive 125I-NGF. In addition, the binding did not appear to be blocked or diminished by insulin. Cell cultures prepared from somites or notochord showed no specific binding of 125I-NGF. Melanocytes comprised approximately 10% of the cell population in these cultures and appeared to be unlabeled. The subpopulation of cells with NGF receptors that were morphologically similar to other non-melanocyte unlabeled cells present in the neural crest cultures are probably the targets of the factor during differentiation and development. In contrast, there was no evidence of 125I-NGF binding by premigratory neural crest (adherent to the isolated neural tube) or by early migratory neural crest cells (24 hr after explantation). Both of these types of neural crest cells are relatively undifferentiated. The cells of the neural tube were also unlabeled. The binding of 125I-NGF to differentiating neural crest cells was not noticeably diminished by a brief pretreatment with trypsin or Dispase, enzymes used in the isolation of neural tubes. Hence, the absence of NGF receptors on premigratory neural crest and early migratory neural crest cultures was not due to enzymatic alterations of the receptor. It seems, therefore, that receptors for NGF appear on neural crest cells during the time when these cells are acquiring their phenotypic characteristics.     

Evidence for separate receptors for insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I in choroid plexus of rat brain by quantitative autoradiography

Binding of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to the choroid plexus was quantitatively characterized using autoradiography and computer densitometry. Slide-mounted brain slices were incubated in 0.1 nM [125I]-insulin or [125I]-[Thr59]IGF-I. To determine specificity of the binding sites, the labeled peptides were mixed with unlabeled analogues. Autoradiography was done with LKB Ultrofilm and analyzed with a computer image analysis system and program for densitometry. Results showed that binding was time and temperature dependent and reversible. Binding of the iodinated insulin and IGF-I was inhibited by unlabeled peptides in a dose-dependent manner. The rank order of potency of these peptides in competing for the choroid plexus iodoinsulin binding sites was: chicken insulin greater than porcine insulin greater than desoctapeptide insulin greater than IGF-I. IGF-I was more potent than porcine insulin in competing for the choroid plexus iodolGF-I binding sites. Somatostatin was ineffective. Non-linear regression analysis revealed the presence of high- (Kd 1.3 +/- 0.2 nM) and low-affinity (Kd 36 +/- 1.4 nM) binding sites for insulin and a single high-affinity binding site (Kd 3.1 +/- 0.3 nM) for IGF-I in the choroid plexus. There were approximately 50 times more binding sites (Bmax) for IGF-I than for insulin high-affinity sites, whereas the number of low-affinity sites for insulin was about equal to the number of IGF-I high-affinity sites. The results of these binding studies with iodinated insulin and [Thr59]IGF-I support the conclusion that the rat choroid plexus has separate high-affinity receptors for insulin and IGF-I, and that the IGF-I receptors outnumber the insulin receptors.     

Insulin receptors and insulin modulation of norepinephrine uptake in neuronal cultures from rat brain

Neuronal cells from 1-day-old rat brain in primary culture have been utilized in the present study to characterize insulin-binding sites and a possible action of insulin on these cells. Binding of 125I-insulin to neuronal cultures was 90% specific and time-dependent and reached equilibrium in 120 min. Specific binding was reversible with greater than 90% of binding dissociable within 120 min with a t1/2 of dissociation of 15 min. Various insulin analogues competed for 125I-insulin binding to neuronal cultures according to their known biological potencies. Scatchard analysis of competition data yielded a typical curvilinear plot providing a class of high affinity (Kd = 11 nM) and low affinity (Kd = 65 nM) binding sites. Light microscopic autoradiographic analysis of 125I-insulin bound to neuronal cultures revealed the presence of silver grains predominantly on the neurites with occasional occurrence on the cell soma. Insulin had no effect on neuronal 2-deoxyglucose uptake in contrast with our previous findings demonstrating a 2-fold stimulation of 2-dGlc uptake into astrocyte glial cells from rat brain (Clarke, D.W., Boyd, F.T., Jr., Kappy, M.S., and Raizada, M. K. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 11672-11675). Incubation of neuronal cultures with insulin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake with significant inhibition occurring at 1.67 X 10(-11) M. These findings demonstrate that: 1) neuronal cells in primary culture possess specific insulin receptors which are predominantly located on neurites and 2) insulin modulates monoamine uptake in these cultures which suggests that insulin may modulate neural signaling via specific neuronal insulin receptors.     

Metabolism of receptor-bound and matrix-bound basic fibroblast growth factor by bovine capillary endothelial cells

Bovine capillary endothelial (BCE) cells were incubated at 4 degrees C with 5 ng/ml 125I-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to equilibrate 125I-bFGF with high affinity cell surface receptors and low affinity matrix binding sites. 67% of the added 125I-bFGF bound to the matrix and 7% bound to receptors. The fate of bound bFGF was followed after cells were incubated in bFGF-free medium and were shifted to 37 degrees C to restore cell metabolism. 125I-bFGF bound to receptors decreased rapidly while the amount of 125I-bFGF bound to matrix was reduced more slowly. The rapid decrease in receptor-bound 125I-bFGF appeared to be due to a down-regulation of bFGF receptors; cells that had been treated for 5 h with bFGF had 60% fewer high affinity receptors than untreated cells. Despite the initial high level of 125I-bFGF binding to matrix, most of this 125I-bFGF was mobilized and metabolized by the cells. 125I-bFGF was internalized by the cells at 37 degrees C, leading to a constant accumulation of 125I-bFGF within the cell. Internalized bFGF was rapidly cleaved from an 18-kD form to a 16-kD form. The 16-kD form was more slowly degraded with a half-life of approximately 8 h. Degradation of internalized 125I-bFGF was inhibited by chloroquine, suggesting that the digestion occurred in a lysosomal compartment. The role of matrix binding sites in the internalization process was investigated. Binding to matrix sites seemed not to be directly involved in the internalization process, since addition of heparin at a concentration that blocked 95% of the binding to matrix had no effect on the initial rate of internalization of bFGF. BCE cells also released a substance that competed for the binding of bFGF to matrix but not to receptors. This substance bound to DEAE-cellulose and was sensitive to heparinase treatment, suggesting that it was a heparinlike molecule. Thus, heparinlike molecules produced by BCE cells can modulate the cellular interaction with bFGF. Matrix-associated heparinlike molecules bind bFGF which can later be metabolized by the cell, and secreted heparinlike molecules release bFGF from matrices.     

The internalization of nerve growth factor by high-affinity receptors on pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.

The internalization and subsequent fate of the two populations of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors on pheochromocytoma PC12 cells were explored either by identifying the relative amounts and sizes of the receptors, after incubation of cells with [125I]NGF, by cross-linking with a photoreactive heterobifunctional reagent or by following the topological distribution of the cross-linked receptors with time. The ratio of the slow, high-affinity to the fast, low-affinity NGF receptor decreased over a 5-h incubation with [125I]NGF in a process which did not involve proteolytic conversion of the slow to the fast receptor. During this period the cross-linked slow receptor moved from a trypsin-labile to a trypsin-stable site suggestive of internalization. In contrast, the cross-linked fast NGF receptor remained trypsin sensitive for at least 2 h of incubation, indicative of a constant cell surface localization. The internalized [125I]NGF in the cross-linked slow NGF receptor was not degraded, indicating that cross-linking, by preventing the acid pH-induced dissociation of the NGF-receptor complex in the endosomes, blocks normal sorting of [125I]NGF to the lysosomes. The cross-linked receptor was not recycled to the cell surface. If this reflects the properties of the unmodified receptor then another process, possibly receptor conversion, is required to replenish slow NGF receptors in the cell surface.     

Characterization of bombesin receptors in a rat pituitary cell line

Bombesin is a tetradecapeptide which stimulates prolactin secretion in rats and man and in cultures of GH4C1 cells, a clonal strain of rat pituitary tumor cells. We have utilized [125I-Tyr4]bombesin to identify and characterize specific high affinity receptors in GH4C1 cells. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data at 4 degrees C indicated the presence of a single class of non-interacting binding sites for bombesin (RT = 3600 +/- 500 sites/cell). The value for the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd = 1.2 +/- 0.4 nM) agreed closely with the ED50 (0.5 nM) for bombesin stimulation of prolactin release. [125I-Tyr4]Bombesin binding at steady state at 37 degrees C was inhibited by increasing concentrations of unlabeled bombesin in a dose-dependent manner, with an ID50 = 1.4 +/- 0.2 nM. However, binding of [125I-Tyr4] bombesin was not inhibited by 100 nM thyrotropin-releasing hormone, vasoactive intestinal peptide, epidermal growth factor, or somatostatin. Therefore, [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binds to a receptor distinct from the receptors for other peptides which regulate hormone secretion by GH4C1 cells. The analog specificity for high affinity binding showed that the receptors for bombesin recognize the COOH-terminal octapeptide sequence in the molecule. Among five pituitary cell strains tested, two which contained saturable binding sites for [125I-Tyr4]bombesin (GH4C1 and GH3) had previously been shown to respond to bombesin with increased hormone secretion, whereas three which lacked receptors (GC, F4C1, and AtT20/D16v) were unresponsive. Therefore, the [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding sites appear to be necessary for the biological actions of bombesin. Examination of the processing and metabolism of receptor-bound peptide demonstrated that at 4 degrees C [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binds to receptors on the surface of GH4C1 cells. At 37 degrees C, receptor-bound peptide is rapidly internalized and subsequently degraded in lysosomes. In summary, we have characterized for the first time specific, high affinity pituitary bombesin receptors which are necessary for the biological action of bombesin.     

Binding and degradation of nerve growth factor by PC12 pheochromocytoma cells

The specific binding of various concentrations of 125I-labeled nerve growth factor (NGF) to PC12 cells at 37 degrees C reached maxima after 90 min and then declined to 25% of maximal binding after 10 h. Decreased binding was accompanied by degradation of 125I-NGF and the appearance of acid-soluble biologically inactive 125I (mainly 125I-monoiodotyrosine) in the medium as well as a decrease in the number of surface NGF receptors. The time-dependent decrease in binding and the degradation of 125I-NGF were inhibited by low temperature and the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine while degradation was inhibited by metabolic energy inhibitors in the absence of glucose. Chloroquine also produced an increase in the accumulation of 125I-NGF which was not readily removed from the cells. These data suggest that 125I-NGF bound to PC12 cells is efficiently internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis and degraded by the lysosomes. It appears from other data that this process does not produce the intracellular signals regulating neurite outgrowth.     

Binding, internalization, and degradation of basic fibroblast growth factor in human microvascular endothelial cells

The binding, internalization, and degradation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in human omental microvascular endothelial cells (HOME cells) were investigated. Binding studies of bFGF in human endothelial cells have not yet been reported. Basic FGF bound to HOME cells (KD of 42.0 +/- 3.8 pM and 70,526 +/- 6121 binding sites/cell for the high-affinity sites, KD of 0.933 +/- 0.27 nM and 630,252 +/- 172,459 sites/cell for low-affinity binding sites). The number of low-affinity binding sites was found to be variable. Washing the cells with 2 M phosphate-buffered saline removed completely 125I-bFGF bound to low-affinity binding sites but decreased also the high-affinity binding. The majority of the surface-bound 125I-bFGF was removed by washing the cells with acetic acid buffer at pH 3. At 37 degrees C, 30% of the cell-associated 125I-bFGF became resistant to the acidic wash after 90 min, suggesting that this fraction of bound 125I-bFGF was internalized. At this temperature, degradation of the internalized ligand was followed after 1 h by the appearance of three major bands of 15,000, 10,000, and 8,000 Da and was inhibited by chloroquine. These results demonstrated two classes of binding sites for bFGF in HOME cells; the number of high-affinity binding sites being larger than the number reported for bovine capillary endothelial cells. The intracellular processing of bFGF in HOME cells seems to be different from that of heparin binding growth factor-1 in murine lung capillary endothelial cells and of eye-derived growth factor-1 in Chinese hamster fibroblasts.     

Binding of epidermal growth factor in rat pancreatic acini

Specific, saturable EGF receptors were demonstrated in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Binding of EGF to these receptors was one-half maximal at 20 min and maximal at 120 min. Scatchard analyses revealed a single order of binding sites with a Kd of 4.90 nM. Following binding, EGF was rapidly internalized and converted to two acidic species. EGF did not alter either basal amylase release or the rate of [3H]phenylalanine incorporation into TCA-precipitable protein. The finding of high affinity EGF receptors in pancreatic acinar cells supports the hypothesis that EGF participates in the long-term regulation of pancreatic exocrine function.     

Transforming growth factor-beta modulates the high-affinity receptors for epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor mediates the induction of a transformed phenotype in normal rat kidney (NRK) cells by transforming growth factors (TGFs). The ability of EGF and its analogue TGF-alpha to induce the transformed phenotype in NRK cells is greatly potentiated by TGF-beta, a polypeptide that does not interact directly with binding sites for EGF or TGF-alpha. Our evidence indicates that TGF-beta purified from retrovirally transformed rat embryo cells and human platelets induces a rapid (t 1/2 = 0.3 h) decrease in the binding of EGF and TGF-alpha to high-affinity cell surface receptors in NRK cells. No change due to TGF-beta was observed in the binding of EGF or TGF-alpha to lower affinity sites also present in NRK cells. The effect of TGF-beta on EGF/TGF-alpha receptors was observed at concentrations (0.5-20 pM) similar to those at which TGF-beta is active in promoting proliferation of NRK cells in monolayer culture and semisolid medium. Affinity labeling of NRK cells and membranes by cross-linking with receptor-bound 125I-TGF-alpha and 125I-EGF indicated that both factors interact with a common 170-kD receptor structure. Treatment of cells with TGF-beta decreased the intensity of affinity-labeling of this receptor structure. These data suggest that the 170 kD high-affinity receptors for EGF and TGF-alpha in NRK cells are a target for rapid modulation by TGF-beta.     

PC12 cell mutants that possess low- but not high-affinity nerve growth factor receptors neither respond to nor internalize nerve growth factor

Four mutant PC12 pheochromocytoma cell lines that are nerve growth factor (NGF)-nonresponsive (PC12nnr) have been selected from chemically mutagenized cultures by a double selection procedure: failure both to grow neurites in the presence of NGF and to survive in NGF-supplemented serum-free medium. The PC12nnr cells were deficient in all additional NGF responses surveyed: abatement of cell proliferation, changes in glycoprotein composition, induction of ornithine decarboxylase, rapid changes in protein phosphorylation, and cell surface ruffling. However, PC12nnr cells closely resembled non-NGF-treated PC12 cells in most properties tested: cell size and shape; division rate; protein, phosphoprotein, and glycoprotein composition; and cell surface morphology. All four PC12nnr lines differed from PC12 cells in three ways in addition to failure of NGF response: PC12nnr cells failed to internalize bound NGF by the normal, saturable, high-affinity mechanism present in PC12 cells. The PC12nnr cells bound NGF but entirely, or nearly entirely, at low-affinity sites only, whereas PC12 cells possess both high- and low-affinity NGF binding sites. The responses to dibutyryl cyclic AMP that were tested appeared to be enhanced or altered in the PC12nnr cells compared to PC12 cells. Internalization of, and responses to, epidermal growth factor were normal in the PC12nnr cells ruling out a generalized defect in hormonal binding, uptake, or response mechanisms. These findings are consistent with a causal association between the presence of high-affinity NGF receptors and of NGF responsiveness and internalization. A possible relationship is also suggested between regulation of cAMP responses and regulation of NGF responses or NGF receptor affinity.     

Expression of haptoglobin receptors in human hepatoma cells.

The uptake of radio-labeled hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex (Hb-Hp) by human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 cells was investigated in an attempt to characterize the uptake process and intracellular transport. Human hepatoma cells took up Hb-Hp in a receptor-mediated manner. Scatchard analysis of binding revealed that PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 cells exhibited about 21,000 and 63,000 haptoglobin receptors/cell, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 8.0 and 17 nM, respectively. Human hepatocytes in primary culture also expressed about 84,000 receptors/cells, with a Kd of 7.4 nM. The hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex was internalized and subsequently the internalized Hb-Hp was slowly degraded in the cells. Preincubation of the cells with Hb-Hp resulted in a decrease in binding of the radioactive Hb-Hp to the cell surface, and was accompanied with an accumulation of intracellular receptors. The uptake of Hb-Hp by the cells was not inhibited by 100 microM chloroquine or by 10 mM methylamine, but was inhibited by 50 microM monodansylcadaverine. Hemoglobin-heme taken up by the cells induced microsomal heme oxygenase. Thus, human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 cells can take up Hb-Hp by haptoglobin receptor-mediated endocytosis and Hb-Hp probably causes translocation of the haptoglobin receptors from the cell surface to the cell interior where they can be degraded. The internalized heme-moiety of hemoglobin can regulate the expression of heme oxygenase.     

Two receptor classes for epidermal growth factor on pheochromocytoma cells, distinguishable by temperature, lectins, and tumor promoters

Rat pheochromocytoma cells (clone PC12) display cell surface receptors for both nerve growth factor (NGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and therefore provide a useful model system with which to study the role of these receptors in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation. In this paper PC12 cells are demonstrated to possess two classes of EGF receptors, a high-affinity class with 7,600 sites per cell and an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.05 nM, and a low-affinity class with 62,000 sites per cell and a Kd of 14.1 nM. These findings are contrary to literature data (Huff et al., 1981; Vale and Shooter, 1983) but can be explained in part by differences in experimental conditions. Binding studies at 37 degrees C compared with room temperature demonstrated similar affinities of both classes, but during prolonged incubation at 37 degrees C, the binding capacities of both classes decreased. Furthermore the high-affinity class was sensitive to lectins, such as concanavalin A (Con A), and to the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Both compounds caused a decrease of the affinity of the high-affinity class without affecting the low-affinity class. At high concentrations of Con A or TPA, a decrease of the apparent number of binding sites of the low-affinity class was also observed. The similarities between the characteristics of EGF binding and NGF binding in PC12 cells are striking and will be discussed.     

Molecular characteristics of nerve growth factor receptors on PC12 cells

Cross-linking of 125I-nerve growth factor (NGF) to PC12 cells with the photoreactive heterobifunctional agent N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate results in the labeling of two major bands with Mr 158,000 and 100,000 and a minor band with Mr 225,000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing and reducing conditions. Binding of 125I-NGF to and cross-linking into all these species is abolished in the presence of excess unlabeled NGF but not in the presence of unlabeled epidermal growth factor, insulin, or bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. When PC12 cells with bound 125I-NGF are incubated in excess unlabeled NGF at 0 degree C prior to cross-linking, only the Mr 158,000 species remains. In addition, binding of 125I-NGF to the Mr 158,000 complex is trypsin-resistant, whereas binding to the Mr 100,000 complex is not. These experiments identify the Mr 158,000 species as the slow NGF-receptor complex (chase stable at 0 degree C) and the smaller Mr 100,000 species as the fast NGF-receptor complex (trypsin sensitive). Furthermore, 125I-NGF bound to the former but not to the latter species is displaced by very-low concentrations of NGF, showing that at least a significant fraction of the high-molecular-weight slow receptor is also a high-affinity receptor. This identification is supported by the finding that chick sensory neurons which possess both high- and low-affinity receptors exhibit two major labeled bands with Mr 145,000 and 105,000 as a result of cross-linking with 125I-NGF, whereas a cell population enriched in non-neuronal cells, which possess only low-affinity receptors, exhibits only the Mr 105,000 component. A shift in molecular weight of both species after pretreatment with neuraminidase indicates that both complexes contain sialoglycoproteins and rules out the possibility that differences in sialic acid content are responsible for the difference in molecular weight of the two complexes. The relative amount of the labeling of these two complexes is not affected by the presence of protease inhibitors nor by a variation of 5000-fold in cross-linker concentration. These results place some limits on possible models for the NGF receptors and their interconversion.     

A comparison of binding properties and structure of NGF receptor on PC12 pheochromocytoma and A875 melanoma cells

Rat PC12 pheochromocytoma and human A875 melanoma cells express nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors on their surfaces. Covalent crosslinking of bound 125I-NGF to PC12 or A875 intact cells or plasma membrane-enriched fractions resulted in labelling of a peptide doublet at Mr = 110,000 and a single labelled peptide at Mr = 200,000 for each of the cell and membrane preparations. However, a difference between equilibrium binding properties of NGF-receptor on PC12 and A875 cells was observed. PC12 cells exhibited biphasic binding properties with two apparent binding sites: KD = 5.2 nM sites and KD = 0.3 nM sites. The high-affinity PC12 binding sites were trypsin resistant, and 125I-NGF dissociated slowly from them. A875 cells exhibited sites with homogeneous properties (KD = 1.0 nM), all binding sites were trypsin sensitive, and 125I-NGF dissociated rapidly in the presence of unlabelled NGF. Membrane-enriched fractions from either cell type contained binding sites with a uniform low affinity (KD = 3 nM) that were trypsin sensitive, and 125I-NGF rapidly dissociated from them. Sixty to 80 percent of binding sites in membranes could be converted to the high-affinity, trypsin-resistant state by addition of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). The loss of high-affinity, trypsin-resistant sites from PC12 cells during preparation of plasma membrane fractions does not appear to be the result of selective isolation of low-affinity sites or proteolytic degradation since there is a loss of 125I-NGF binding immediately after cell lysis which is not blocked by protease inhibitors. Also, high-affinity, trypsin-resistant binding sites are not found associated with other cell fractions. The differences between receptor properties on PC12 cells and on A875 cells apparently are the result of differences in the respective intracellular environments. Thus, significant structural homology exists between receptors on A875 and PC12 cells. Cell components other than the binding unit of the NGF receptor may be responsible for the different properties of receptor.     

Nerve growth factor receptors on PC12 cells: Evidence for two receptor classes with differing cytoskeletal association

PC12, an NGF responsive cell line, exhibits two classes of NGF receptors which we designate “Fast” and “Slow.” Fast receptors, accounting for 75% of specific NGF binding, are distinguished by their rapid rates for association and dissociation of ¹²⁵I-NGF. At 37°C, binding of ¹²⁵I-NGF to Fast receptors is 5-fold more rapid than to Slow receptors and dissociation of ¹²⁵I-NGF from Fast receptors is 40-fold more rapid than from Slow receptors. No evidence was obtained for a ligand-induced conversion of receptors from Fast to Slow characteristics. Scatchard analysis of binding experiments indicates that PC12 cells possess 60,000 specific receptors for NGF of which 15,000 are of the Slow class. Despite having very different kinetic constants, Slow and Fast receptors have similar equilibrium binding constants (about 2 × 10^?10 M) due to cancelling effects of differing association and dissociation rates. Brief digestion of PC12 cells with trypsin before addition of NGF inactivates essentially all Fast receptors without significantly affecting Slow receptors. Therefore Fast and Slow classes of receptors must exist prior to addition of NGF, and the observed receptor heterogeneity is not due to ligand-induced changes. ¹²⁵I-NGF bound to Slow receptors is preferentially associated with preparations of Triton X-100 insoluble cytoskeletons, while ¹²⁵I-NGF bound to Fast receptors is solubilized by this procedure. Cytoskeletally associated NGF is almost exclusively associated with the extranuclear cytoskeletal matrix rather than with the nucleus itself. Preparation of nuclei by various methods suggests that the presence of contaminating cytoskeletal elements should be considered in evaluating the existence of translocation and binding of NGF to the nucleus. Inhibition of endocytotic internalization of NGF either by lowering of temperature to O°C or by preincubation of cells with sodium azide in medium lacking glucose does not reduce the slowly released component of bound NGF, nor alter its cytoskeletal association. The possible functional roles of Slow and cytoskeletal receptors are discussed.     

Binding and crosslinking of 125I-labeled recombinant human tumor necrosis factor to cell surface receptors

Highly purified recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (molecular mass determined as 17 kilodaltons (kDa) by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and as 36 kDa by Sephadex G-100 gel chromatography) was labeled with 125I to a specific activity of 5 microCi/micrograms without appreciable loss of activity. The binding of 125I-TNF to eighteen human and twelve animal cell lines was examined. The binding varied considerably among different cell lines. In most cell lines, the binding was inhibited up to greater than 90% by the addition of a 100-fold excess of unlabeled TNF. Some human and mouse cell lines showed no significant binding above background levels, suggesting that these cell lines had no receptors for TNF. Among the TNF receptor-positive cell lines, there was no direct correlation between the level of specific TNF binding and the level of sensitivity to the cytotoxic or cytostatic effect of TNF. Some cell lines were sensitive to TNF, whereas others were not affected at all by TNF. The TNF receptor-negative cell lines were also resistant to TNF. Therefore, although the existence of TNF receptor seems to be necessary, it does not alone determine cellular sensitivity to TNF. Scatchard analysis of the binding data revealed that human HeLa S3 and THP-1 had about 50,000 and 10,000 receptors/cell with a dissociation constant (KD) of 0.3-0.5 nM, respectively. Similarly, mouse L-929 and L-M cells had about 5,000 receptors/cell with KD of 3-5 nM. 125I-TNF bound to HeLa S3 cells was rapidly internalized at 37 degrees C, presumably by receptor-mediated endocytosis, and degraded to acid-soluble products. The turnover of TNF receptors on HeLA S3 cells seemed to be rapid, since the level of specific binding quickly decreased after treatment with 100 micrograms/ml of cycloheximide at 37 degrees C with a half-life of about 1.5 h. The crosslinking of the cell-bound 125I-TNF with the use of disuccinimidyl suberate yielded a complex of 105 kDa for HeLa S3 and THP-1 cells, and a complex of 100 kDa for U937 cells. The crosslinking was completely inhibited by the addition of a 100-fold excess of unlabeled TNF. Assuming that the complex was due to a one-to-one association of the dimeric form of TNF (34 kDa) with the receptor, we estimated the molecular size of the human TNF receptor to be 71 kDa for HeLa S3 and THP-1, and 66 kDa for U937.     

Characterization of a neuronal subtype of insulin-like growth factor I receptor

Primary neuronal cultures from fetal rat brain were utilized to investigate the possible role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in neuronal growth and differentiation. 125I-IGF-I binding to intact cultured neurons was specific and saturable with an apparent Kd of 7.0 +/- 1.2 nM and a Bmax of 1.8 +/- 0.3 pmol/mg protein. Binding of 125I-IGF-I to neurons was inhibited by IGF-I, followed by IGF-II and insulin. 7 S nerve growth factor, but not beta-nerve growth factor, also inhibited 125I-IGF-I binding. A similar binding site was detected on brain membranes. Affinity cross-linking of 125I-IGF-I to intact cultured neurons revealed, under reducing conditions, a major binding moiety with an Mr of 115,000 and a minor component at Mr 260,000. The former represents a neuronal type of the IGF-I receptor alpha subunit, whereas the latter probably represents an alpha dimer. The Mr = 115,000 binding component for 125I-IGF-I was also present in membranes prepared from postnatal whole brain. In contrast, the binding moiety in cultured glial cells was of Mr = 135,000, which was identical to the IGF-I receptor alpha subunit of placenta. Thus mature brain, despite its cellular heterogeneity, expresses a structural subtype of IGF-I receptor which appears to be unique to differentiated neurons. Moreover, glial and neuronal cultures secreted a polypeptide which specifically bound IGF-I; the apparent Mr of this binding protein was determined by affinity cross-linking to be approximately 35,000. The presence of neuronal IGF-I receptors and binding proteins suggested that IGF-I may exert neurotrophic effects on developing neurons. This possibility was supported by the observation that IGF-I markedly stimulated neuronal RNA synthesis.