Defective plasma membrane assembly in yeast secretory mutants.

Yeast mutants that are conditionally blocked at distinctive steps in secretion and export of cell surface proteins have been used to monitor assembly of integral plasma membrane proteins. Mutants blocked in transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (sec18), from the Golgi body (sec7 and sec14), and in transport of secretory vesicles (sec1) show dramatically reduced assembly of galactose and arginine permease activities. Simultaneous induction of galactose permease and alpha-galactosidase (a secreted glycoprotein) in sec mutant cells at the nonpermissive temperature (37 degrees C) shows that both activities accumulate and can be exported coordinately when cells are returned to the permissive temperature (24 degrees C) in the presence or absence of cycloheximide. Plasma membrane fractions isolated from sec mutant cells radiolabeled at 37 degrees C have been analyzed by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. Although most of the major protein species seen in plasma membranes from wild-type cells are not efficiently localized in sec18 or sec7, several of these proteins appear in plasma membranes from sec1 cells. These results may be explained by contamination of plasma membrane fractions with precursor vesicles that accumulate in sec1 cells. Alternatively, some proteins may branch off during transport along the secretory pathway and be inserted into the plasma membrane by a different mechanism.     

Identification of the 16 degrees C compartment of the endoplasmic reticulum in rat liver and cultured hamster kidney cells

In many systems transfer between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus is blocked at temperatures below 16 degrees C. In virus-infected cells in culture, a special membrane compartment is seen to accumulate. Our studies with rat liver show a similar response to temperature both in situ with slices and in vitro with isolated transitional endoplasmic reticulum fractions. With isolated transitional endoplasmic reticulum fractions, when incubated in the presence of nucleoside triphosphate and a cytosol fraction, temperature dependent formation of vesicles occurred with a Q10 of approximately 2 but was apparent only at temperatures greater than 12 degrees C. A similar response was seen in situ at 12 degrees C and 16 degrees C where fusion of transition vesicles with cis Golgi apparatus, but not their formation, was blocked and transition vesicles accumulated in large numbers. At 18 degrees C and below and especially at 8 degrees C and 12 degrees C, the cells responded by accumulating smooth tubular transitional membranes near the cis Golgi apparatus face. With cells and tissue slices at 20 degrees C neither transition vesicles nor the smooth tubular elements accumulated. Those transition vesicles which formed at 37 degrees C were of a greater diameter than those formed at 4 degrees C both in situ and in vitro. The findings show parallel responses between the temperature dependency of transition vesicle formation in vitro and in situ and suggest that a subpopulation of the transitional endoplasmic reticulum may be morphologically and functionally homologous to the 16 degrees C compartment observed in virally-infected cell lines grown at low temperatures.     

Effect of restrictive temperature on cell wall synthesis in a temperature-sensitive mutant of Bacillus stearothermophilus.

A temperature-sensitive mutant of Bacillus stearothermophilus, TS-13, was unable to grow above 58 degrees C, compared to 72 degrees C for the wild type. Actively growing TS-13 cells lysed within 2 h when exposed to a restrictive temperature of 65 degrees C. Peptidoglycan synthesis stopped within 10 to 15 min postshift before a shut down of other macromolecular syntheses. Composition of preexisting peptidoglycan was not altered, nor was new peptidoglycan of aberrant composition formed. No significant difference in autolysin activity was observed between the mutant and the wild type at 65 degrees C. Protoplasts of TS-13 cells were able to synthesize cell wall material at 52 degress C, but not at 65 degrees C. This wall material remained closely associated with the cell membrane at the outer surface of the protoplasts, forming small, globular, membrane-bound structures which could be visualized by electron microscopy. These structures reacted with fluorescent antibody prepared against purified cell walls. Production of this membrane-associated wall material could be blocked by bacitracin, which inhibited cell wall synthesis at the level of transport through the membrane. The data were in agreement with previous studies showing that at the restrictive temperature this mutant is unable to alter its membrane fatty acid and phospholipid composition with temperature such that it is not able to maintain a membrane lipid composition which permits normal membrane function at the restrictive temperature.     

Early steps in cold sensing by plant cells: the role of actin cytoskeleton and membrane fluidity

Many plants acquire freezing tolerance through cold acclimatization (CA), a prolonged exposure to low but non-freezing temperatures at the onset of winter. CA is associated with gene expression that requires transient calcium influx into the cytosol. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cells treated with agents blocking this influx are unable to cold-acclimatize. Conversely, chemical agents causing increased calcium influx induce cold acclimatization-specific (cas) gene expression in alfalfa at 25 degrees C. How low temperature triggers calcium influx is, however, unknown. We report here that induction of a CA-specific gene (cas30), calcium influx and freezing tolerance at 4 degrees C are all prevented by cell membrane fluidization, but, conversely, are induced at 25 degrees C by membrane rigidification. cas30 expression and calcium influx at 4 degrees C are also prevented by jasplakinolide (JK), an actin microfilament stabilizer, but induced at 25 degrees C by the actin microfilament destabilizer cytochalasin D (CD). JK blocked the membrane rigidifier-induced, but not the calcium channel agonist-induced cas30 expression at 25 degrees C. These findings indicate that cytoskeleton re-organization is an integral component in low-temperature signal transduction in alfalfa cell suspension cultures, serving as a link between membrane rigidification and calcium influx in CA.     

Stimulation of rat Sertoli cell adenylate cyclase by germ cells in vitro

The effect of germ cells or germ cell fractions on adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in membrane preparations from cultured rat Sertoli cells has been examined. Whole germ cells or 30,000 X g pellet or supernatant fractions of germ cells have the ability to stimulate Sertoli cell AC to levels comparable to those measured in follicle-stimulating hormone-stimulated Sertoli cell membranes. Treatment at 100 degrees C but not 60 degrees C for 1 min abolished the ability of germ cell preparations to stimulate Sertoli AC. Germ cell stimulation of Sertoli cell AC was not calcium dependent, was not blocked by propranolol, and was observed to be dose dependent.     

Receptor-mediated endocytosis in cultured fibroblasts: cryptic coated pits and the formation of receptosomes

Concentrative receptor-mediated endocytosis of many specific ligands by cultured fibroblasts occurs through the coated pit-receptosome pathway. The formation of receptosomes was studied using two impermeant electron-dense labels for the cell surface, ruthenium red and concanavalin A-horseradish peroxidase. These studies show that at 4 degrees C, virtually all coated structures near the plasma membrane are in communication with the cell surface, and are not isolated coated vesicles. On warming cells to 37 degrees C for only 1 minute, a major portion of these structures become cryptic, that is, not labeled by these surface markers. However, on cooling cells immediately back to 4 degrees C, virtually all of these structures are again in communication with the surface. Many images showed that membrane of these cryptic pits to be continuous with the cell surface when caught in the appropriate plane of section; often there was a very narrow entrance that excluded extracellular label. At 37 degrees C, receptosomes could be occasionally seen forming as an invagination of membrane adjacent to the coated region. Mechanisms by which receptosomes may form and other evidence demonstrating the failure of coated pits to pinch off to form isolated coated vesicles during endocytosis are discussed.     

Induction of gel-phase lipid in plasma membrane of chick intestinal cells after coccidial infection.

When chickens are infected with the coccidial parasite Eimeria necatrix, the plasma membrane of intestinal cells harbouring second-generation schizonts becomes refractory to mechanical shearing, hypotonic shock and ultrasonication. Plasma membrane from these infected cells was isolated to high purity as judged by enriched levels of ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg2-dependent ATPase activity and sialic acid content, the lack of detectable cytochrome oxidase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities and electron microscopic analysis of the final preparation. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns recorded from the isolated membranes revealed that during the later stages of parasite maturation the host cell plasma membrane acquires increasing proportions of gel-phase lipid. By contrast, purified membrane from isolated parasites is in a liquid-crystalline state. The transition temperature of host cell plasmalemma at 100 h postinfection is 61 degrees C, about 20 degrees C above physiological temperature. By contrast, liposomes of plasma membranes from infected cells undergo a thermal transition at about 28 degrees C. The accumulation of gel-phase lipid in the host cell plasma membrane is not attributable either to an increase in the constituent ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids or to a significant change in the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio. During the late stages of infection, the cells become stainable with trypan blue which suggests that the acquisition of crystalline phase lipid disrupts the permeability of the host cell plasmalemma.     

Identification and partial characterization of a novel plasma membrane-associated lytic factor isolated from highly purified adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells.

We have identified and partially purified a novel cytolytic factor isolated from enriched plasma membranes prepared from highly purified lymphokine-activated killer cells (adherent-LAK. A-LAK cells) and a large granular lymphocytic NK cell leukemia, CRNK-16. The enriched plasma membranes were shown to be physically devoid of lytic granules and contained no detectable pore-forming protein (PFP, perforin) activity. The plasma membrane-associated cytolytic factor (designated M-CTX) was solubilized in biologically active form and was highly lytic to a large panel of target cells in 2- to 4-hr 51Cr release assays. Characteristics of the M-CTX include: (1) it is plasma membrane- not granule-associated: (2) it is not hemolytic and functions in the absence of Ca2+: (3) nucleated target cells are lysed in 2 to 4 hr at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C: (4) it induces apoptotic cell death with nuclear DNA fragmentation and massive membrane blebbing: (5) it is isolated from the plasma membranes of cultured A-LAK cells, a lytically active LGL leukemia (CRNK-16), and fresh spleen cells but not from thymocytes or L929 fibroblasts: and (6) the lytic activity of the partially purified toxin is inactivated by trypsin, serum, and heat, but is not blocked by antibodies that inactivate TNF-alpha, LT or IFN-gamma. Taken collectively, these data suggest that M-CTX may represent a heretofore undescribed membrane-associated toxin possibly involved in contact-mediated cell killing.     

Yeast secretory mutants that block the formation of active cell surface enzymes

Yeast cells secrete a variety of glycosylated proteins. At least two of these proteins, invertase and acid phosphatase, fail to be secreted in a new class of mutants that are temperature-sensitive for growth. Unlike the yeast secretory mutants previously described (class A sec mutants; Novick, P., C. Field, and R. Schekman, 1980, Cell., 21:205-420), class B sec mutants (sec 53, sec 59) fail to produce active secretory enzymes at the restrictive temperature (37 degrees C). sec 53 and sec 59 appear to be defective in reactions associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Although protein synthesis continues at a nearly normal rate for 2 h at 37 degrees C, incorporation of [3H]mannose into glycoprotein is reduced. Immunoreactive polypeptide forms of invertase accumulate within the cell which have mobilities on SDS PAGE consistent with incomplete glycosylation: sec 53 produces little or no glycosylated invertase, and sec 59 accumulates forms containing 0-3 of the 9-10 N-linked oligosaccharide chains that are normally added to the protein. In addition to secreted enzymes, maturation of the vacuolar glycoprotein carboxypeptidase Y, incorporation of the plasma membrane sulfate permease activity, and secretion of the major cell wall proteins are blocked at 37 degrees C.     

A role for clathrin in the sorting of vacuolar proteins in the Golgi complex of yeast.

We have investigated the role of clathrin in vacuolar protein sorting using yeast strains harboring a temperature-sensitive allele of clathrin heavy chain (chc1-ts). After a 5 min incubation at the non-permissive temperature (37 degrees C), the chc1-ts strains displayed a severe defect in the sorting of lumenal vacuolar proteins. Sorting of a vacuolar membrane protein, alkaline phosphatase, and transport to the surface of a cell wall protein, was not affected at 37 degrees C. In chc1-ts cells incubated at 37 degrees C, secretion of the missorted lumenal vacuolar protein carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) was blocked by the sec1 mutation which prevents fusion of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. Unexpectedly, chc1-ts cells incubated for extended periods at 37 degrees C regained the ability to sort CPY. Cells carrying deletions of the CHC1 gene (chc1 delta) also sorted CPY to the vacuole even when subjected to temperature shifts. Vacuolar delivery of CPY in chc1 delta cells was not blocked by sec1 suggesting that transport does not occur by secretion and endocytosis. These results provide in vivo evidence that clathrin plays a role in the Golgi complex in sorting of vacuolar proteins from the secretory pathway. With time, however, yeast cells lacking functional clathrin heavy chains are able to adapt in a way that allows restoration of vacuolar protein sorting in the Golgi complex. These conclusions clarify previous studies of chc1 delta cells which raised the possibility that clathrin is not involved in vacuolar protein sorting.     

Inhibition of intracellular sorting and processing of lysosomal cathepsins H and L at reduced temperature in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

Our recent studies with pulse-chase kinetic analysis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes suggest that newly synthesized lysosomal cathepsins H and L are initially synthesized as larger proform enzymes, and then the precursor molecules are subsequently converted to the mature enzymes by limited proteolysis during the intracellular sorting process. This proteolytic maturation of procathepsins appears to proceed within an acidic environment, and these processing events are closely connected with the activation of enzymes. To further characterize the intracellular processing site for lysosomal cathepsins H and L, the pulse-chase kinetic study was carried out at 20 degrees C in cultured rat hepatocytes, because the transport of the procathepsins was expected to be blocked at the trans-Golgi compartment at 20 degrees C. We show here that the newly synthesized procathepsins are accumulated intracellularly and the processing for lysosomal cathepsins is completely arrested at 20 degrees C along the sorting pathway. The procathepsins thus accumulated in the cell are presumed to be transported to the Golgi complex, since the oligosaccharide moieties of these polypeptides appear to be phosphorylated. When the cells were shifted to 37 degrees C after an incubation for 4 h at 20 degrees C, a gradual increase of the mature forms was found. However, the processing kinetics generating the mature enzymes were slow compared to those in control cells at 37 degrees C. When the NH4Cl was present in the cells after the temperature shift to 37 degrees C, the intracellular processing of procathepsins was considerably retarded and the release of intracellular procathepsins into the extracellular medium was observed. These results indicate that NH4Cl might exert the inhibitory effect on the mannose 6-phosphate receptor-mediated intracellular targeting mechanism for the lysosomal cathepsins. Hence, the intracellular location of procathepsins accumulated at 20 degrees C is considered to be in proximity to the trans-Golgi compartment. Taken together, the present observations suggest that the propeptide-processing step for procathepsins, which is a critical step for generating the active enzymes, proceeds within the prelysosomal compartment or the lysosomes after the enzymes leave the trans-Golgi compartment.     

Receptor-linked degradation of 125I-insulin is mediated by internalization in isolated rat hepatocytes

When hepatocytes were freshly isolated from rat liver and incubated for various periods of time at 37 degrees C, the media from the incubation, when completely separated from the cells, actively degraded 125I-insulin. THis soluble protease activity was strongly inhibited by bacitracin but was unaffected by the lysosomatropic agent ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). When hepatocytes were incubated with 125I-insulin at 37 degrees C in the presence or absence of 8 mM NH4Cl the ligand initially bound to the plasma membrane and was subsequently internalized as a function of time. When hepatocytes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes with 125I-insulin in the presence of bacitracin and NH4Cl or bacitracin alone and the cells were washed, diluted, and the cell-bound radioactivity allowed to dissociate, the percent intact 125I-insulin in the cell pellet and in the incubation media was greater in the presence of NH4Cl at each time point of incubation. Under these same conditions a higher proportion of the cell-associated radioactivity was internalized and a higher proportion was associated with lysosomes. The data suggest that receptor-mediated internalization is required for insulin degradation by the cell, and that this process, at least in part, involves lysosomal enzymes. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that internalization is not blocked by the presence of bacitracin or NH4Cl in the incubation media, but that degradation is inhibited.     

Transport of a fluorescent phosphatidylcholine analog from the plasma membrane to the Golgi apparatus

We have examined the internalization and degradation of a fluorescent analog of phosphatidylcholine after its insertion into the plasma membrane of cultured Chinese hamster fibroblasts. 1-acyl-2-(N-4- nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)-aminocaproyl phosphatidylcholine (C6-NBD- PC) was incorporated into the cell surface by liposome-cell lipid transfer at 2 degrees C. The fluorescent lipid remained localized at the plasma membrane as long as the cells were kept at 2 degrees C; however, when the cells were warmed to 37 degrees C, internalization of some of the fluorescent lipid occurred. Most of the internalized C6-NBD- PC accumulated in the Golgi apparatus although a small amount was found randomly distributed throughout the cytoplasm in punctate fluorescent structures. Internalization of the fluorescent lipid at 37 degrees C was blocked by the presence of inhibitors of endocytosis. Incubation of cells containing C6-NBD-PC at 37 degrees C resulted in a rapid degradation of the fluorescent lipid. This degradation occurred predominantly at the plasma membrane. The degradation of C6-NBD-PC resulted in the release of NBD-fatty acid into the medium. We have compared the internalization of the fluorescent lipid with that of a fluorescent protein bound to the cell surface. Both fluorescent lipid and protein remained at the plasma membrane at 2 degrees C and neither were internalized at 37 degrees C in the presence of inhibitors of endocytosis. However, when incubated at 37 degrees C under conditions that permit endocytosis, the two fluorescent species appeared at different intracellular sites. Our data suggest that there is no transmembrane movement of C6-NBD-PC and that the fluorescent probe reflects the internalization of the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane lipid bilayer. The results are consistent with the Golgi apparatus as being the primary delivery site of phospholipid by bulk membrane movement from the plasma membrane.     

Temperature-sensitive cell cycle mutants: a chinese hamster cell line with a reversible block in cytokinesis.

A thermosensitive line (TS 111) was isolated from a suspension culture of Chinese hamster fibroblasts, using a BUdR suicide selection technique. In this line, cytokinesis is blocked at 39 degrees C. DNA and protein synthesis are not arrested but keep on at a steady rate. Giant cells are produced which accumulate either numerous nuclei or one big nucleus with several nucleoli and more than a hundred chromosomes. At each nuclear cycle, all the chromosomes in the cell appear to condense in a synchronous manner, although it is possible that not all the sets of chromosomes duplicate. When the culture is returned to the permissive temperature (34 degrees C) after a prolonged arrest at the restrictive temperature, cytokinesis resumes with early extrusion of karyoplasts from multinucleated cells. The division block is independent of cell density in suspension culture and is not prevented by cell contact when cells grow attached to Petri dishes. At 34 degrees C, a residual expression of the mutation is indicated by the presence of binucleate and up to 30% anucleate cells. A remarkable similarity and some synergism exists between the mutation and cytochalasin B effects.     

Mutant chinese hamster cells with a thermosensitive hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase.

By selecting variants of Chinese hamster cells that were resistant to 6-thioguanine at 39 degrees C, but which would continue to grow in HAT medium at 33 degrees C, we have isolated cell lines with thermosensitive phenotypes. These clones form colonies in HAT medium and incorporate 14-C-hypoxanthine much more efficiently at 33 degrees C than at 39 degrees C. The specific activity of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribo-syltransferase is at least 10 times higher in variant cells grown at 33 degrees C than in those grown in 39 degrees C, and the enzymes from the variant clones are inactivated in vitro at 39 degrees C 7-9 times more rapidly than is the enzyme from wild-type cells. The results are consistent with the conclusion that the selected clones have missense mutations in the structural gene for the enzyme.     

Cell polarity and locomotion,as well as endocytosis,depend on NSF

NEM-sensitive factor (NSF) is an essential protein required during membrane transport. We replaced part of the endogenous D. discoideum NSF gene (nsfA) by a PCR-mutagenised library and isolated 11 mutants temperature-sensitive (ts) for growth. Two of these have been studied in detail. As expected, both are ts for FITC-dextran uptake by macropinocytosis, for internalising their surface membrane (monitored with FM1-43) and for phagocytosis. However, after 10-20 minutes at 28 degrees C, they round up and cease to chemotax, move or cap ConA receptors. They fully recover when returned to 22 degrees C. These cells carry out a normal 'cringe' reaction in response to cAMP, indicating that the actin cytoskeleton and this signal transduction pathway are still functional at 28 degrees C. The behaviour of these mutants shows that NSF-catalysed processes are required not only for the different endocytic cycles but also for the maintenance of cell polarity. As cell locomotion depends on a cell having a polarity, the mutants stop moving at high temperature. A tentative model is proposed to explain the surprising link between membrane recycling and cell polarity revealed here.     

Effects of hypertonic and sodium-free medium on transport of a membrane glycoprotein along the secretory pathway in cultured mammalian cells

Incubation of cultured cells in hypertonic medium and sodium-free medium have been shown to block transport at two different stages along the endocytic pathway. To determine the effects of these treatments on the exocytic pathway, we studied the transport of the membrane glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) in cells infected with tsO45 mutant virus. This mutant synthesizes a VSV-G that accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) when cells are incubated at 39.5 degrees C. In addition, VSV-G accumulates in the post-ER pre-Golgi compartment when cells are incubated at 15 degrees C and in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) when cells are incubated at 18 degrees C. Upon transfer of cells to 32 degrees C in control medium, VSV-G exits each of these compartments and is transported to the cell surface. Incubation in sodium-free medium at 32 degrees C did not block transport from any of these three compartments. In contrast, incubation in hypertonic medium blocked export from the ER, transport from the pre-Golgi compartment to the Golgi complex, and transport from the TGN to the cell surface. Our results, in combination with previous studies, suggest that hypertonic medium blocks at least five distinct transport steps; the three exocytic steps described here, endocytosis from the cell surface, and transport of cell surface proteins into the Golgi complex. This raises the possibility that vesicular transport in different parts of the cell shares common elements that are inhibited by this treatment.     

Transbilayer movement of a fluorescent phosphatidylethanolamine analogue across the plasma membranes of cultured mammalian cells

The internalization of a fluorescent analogue of phosphatidylethanolamine following its insertion into the plasma membrane of cultured Chinese hamster fibroblasts was examined. When liposomes composed of 50 mol % 1-acyl-2-(N-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)-aminocaproyl phosphatidylethanolamine (C6-NBD-PE) and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine were incubated with monolayer cell cultures at 2 degrees C, a spontaneous transfer of the fluorescent lipid from liposomes to cells occurred. As long as the cells were kept at 2 degrees C, the fluorescent lipid remained at the plasma membrane. However, if, after removing the fluorescent liposomes, the cultures were warmed to 37 degrees C, the C6-NBD-PE was internalized and resided in the nuclear envelope, mitochondria, and Golgi apparatus in addition to the plasma membrane. Delivery of the fluorescent lipid to the Golgi apparatus could be blocked by the addition of 2-deoxyglucose plus sodium azide to the incubation medium. Evidence is presented suggesting that while delivery of the fluorescent lipid to the Golgi apparatus was mainly dependent on endocytosis, delivery to the nuclear envelope and mitochondria occurred by rapid transbilayer movement of the lipid across the plasma membrane followed by translocation of lipid monomers. Rapid transbilayer movement of C6-NBD-PE across the plasma membrane was found to be a temperature-dependent process that was blocked below 7 degrees C.     

The synthesis, turnover, and artificial restoration of a major cell surface glycoprotein.

A large glycoprotein (molecular weight equals 220,000 daltons) can be isolated from the surfaces of chick embryo fibroblasts. Such a protein had been shown by others to be present on normal cells in vitro, but missing from transformed variants of these cells, suggesting a possible role in growth control. We have estimated the turnover rate of this cell surface protein (CSP) and show that it is not more rapid than that of other cell proteins. We have also examined the resynthesis of CSP after removal from cells by trypsinization. This restoration is gradual, requiring more than 24 hr, and is affected by cell density. Restoration can be blocked by cycloheximide. Using cycloheximide to maintain cells depleted of CSP, we have demonstrated that isolated CSP can be progressively reabsorbed at 37 degrees C onto these denuded cell surfaces, and that this adsorption is not observed at 4 degrees C. This information on the turnover, depletion, and restoration of CSP may provide a means of directly testing its function.     

Binding and processing of (125)I-ACTH by isolated rat splenic lymphocytes

The effect of incubation temperature and ligand competition was tested for (125)I-ACTH binding to isolated rat lymphocytes. AlphaMSH but not Agouti-like peptide was an effective competitive inhibitor for cell surface binding at 4 degrees C. Cells incubated with (125)I-ACTH at 37 degrees C rapidly associated ligand for 10 min and then gradually lost the radioactivity with time. Cells incubated with (125)I-ACTH at 4 degrees C accumulated ligand to only about half the maximal amount when compared to cells incubated at 37 degrees C for 10 min. Temperatures below 20 degrees C and toxins that block lysosomal degradation blocked the loss of cell-associated radioactivity. These results suggest the lymphocyte ACTH receptor is the Melanocortin 5 receptor and the receptor is internalized by endocytosis to deliver ligand to the lysosome.