Soybean lectin and related proteins in seeds and roots of le and le soybean varieties

The localizations of soybean lectin (SBL) and antigenically related proteins in cotyledons and roots of lectin positive (Le⁺) and lectin negative (Le⁻) soybean cultivars were compared by light level immunocytochemistry using antibodies produced against the 120 kilodalton (kD) native seed lectin tetramer or its subunits. Lectin is present in the protein bodies of cotyledons cells as are two other seed proteins, the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor and the storage protein glycinin. Analysis of single seed extracts by immunoblotting of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels using the same antibodies, reveals up to 4 milligrams of the 30 kD seed lectin protein is present per seed in the Le⁺ varieties. There is no detectable lectin in the protein bodies of Le⁻ cotyledons as determined by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed this result to a sensitivity of less than 20 nanograms per seed. In contrast, the roots of both Le⁺ and Le⁻ plants bind the seed lectin antibody during immunocytochemistry, with fluorescence mainly localized in vacuole-like bodies in the epidermis. Root extracts contain a 33 kD polypeptide that binds anti-SBL antibody at an estimated minimal level of 20 nanograms per 4-day seedling, or 2.0 nanograms per primary root tip. This polypeptide is also present in the embryo axis and in leaves. The latter also contain a 26 kD species that binds seed lectin antibody. The 30 kD seed lectin subunit, however, is not detectable in roots or leaves.     

Detection of early changes in androgen-induced mouse renal beta-glucuronidase messenger ribonucleic acid using cloned complementary deoxyribonucleic acid

beta-Glucuronidase mRNA was purified from androgen-induced mouse kidney by immunoadsorption of polysomes to protein A-Sepharose. Cell-free translation of mRNA isolated from the protein A bound RNA followed by immunoprecipitation revealed that beta-glucuronidase mRNA represented approximately 2% of the purified mRNA fraction. This mRNA preparation was used to produce complementary DNA clones by recombination with pBR322. Clones containing sequences that were enriched during the purification procedure were selected by differential colony hybridization. These were further screened for homology with beta-glucuronidase mRNA by hybrid-selected translation. A beta-glucuronidase cDNA clone, designated pGUS7, was identified by these criteria. With this plasmid, the abundance of beta-glucuronidase mRNA in total poly(A) mRNA from androgen-induced mouse kidney was estimated to be less than 0.04%. The beta-glucuronidase cDNA plasmid hybridized to a mRNA of 2.6 kb in length, which was induced in an androgen receptor dependent fashion over a time course of 21 days. Treatment of female mice with a single dose of testosterone (10 mg) revealed that beta-glucuronidase mRNA concentration begins to increase between 12 and 24 h after hormone administration.     

Molecular cloning and analysis of four potato tuber mRNAs

Tuberization in potato is a complex developmental process involving the expression of a specific set of genes leading to the synthesis of tuber proteins. We here report the cloning and analysis of mRNAs encoding tuber proteins. From a potato tuber cDNA library four different recombinants were isolated which hybridized predominantly with tuber mRNAs. Northern blot hybridization experiments showed that three of them, pPATB2, p303 and p340, can be regarded as tuber-specific while the fourth, p322, hybridizes to tuber and stem mRNA. Hybrid-selected in vitro translation and nucleotide sequence analysis indicate that pPATB2 and p303 represent patatin and the proteinase inhibitor II mRNA respectively. Recombinant p322 represents an mRNA encoding a polypeptide having homology with the soybean Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor while p340 represents an mRNA encoding a polypeptide showing homology with the winged bean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. In total, these four polypeptides constitute approximately 50% of the soluble tuber protein. Using Southern blot analysis of potato DNA we estimate that these mRNAs are encoded by small multigene families.     

A fern spore storage protein is genetically similar to the 1.7 S seed storage protein ofBrassica napus

The ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris L., contains two globulin spore storage proteins of 2.2 S and 11.3 S, with physical characteristics similar to those of seed storage proteins of Brassica napus (rapeseed) and Raphanus sativus (radish). By the use of a cloned cDNA that encodes the 1.7 S B. napus storage protein (napin), gene sequences that hybridized with napin were detected in fern nuclear DNA, and a 900-nucleotide homologous mRNA was detected in developing spores. In vitro translation of this fern mRNA produced a 22-kD polypeptide comparable in size to the 21-kD precursor polypeptide identified in Brassica. No hybridizations were observed between the Brassica 12 S clone and either fern DNA or developing spore mRNA.     

cDNA cloning and in vitro synthesis of the Dolichos biflorus seed lectin

The Dolichos biflorus seed lectin contains two structurally related subunits. A cDNA library was constructed using RNA isolated from D. biflorus seeds actively synthesizing the seed lectin. The library was expressed in Escherichia coli using a lambda Charon 16 vector, and lectin-specific antiserum was used to isolate a seed lectin cDNA. Hybridization of the D. biflorus seed lectin cDNA to RNA isolated from seeds actively producing both lectin subunits identifies a single-size RNA of 1100 bases. An oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe, constructed from an amino acid sequence common to both lectin subunits, detects the same size RNA. Translation of seed mRNA in vitro and immunoprecipitation of translation products using a lectin-specific antiserum yields a single polypeptide of slightly higher molecular mass than the largest seed lectin subunit. This seed lectin precursor is indistinguishable from a polypeptide synthesized from mRNA hybrid selected by the seed lectin cDNA. These data support the existence of a single polypeptide precursor for both subunit types of the D. biflorus seed lectin and suggest that differences between the subunit types arise by posttranslational processing.     

Immunoadsorption of specific chicken oviduct polysomes. Isolation of ovalbumin, ovomucoid, and lysozyme messenger RNA.

The messenger RNA coding for the egg white proteins ovalbumin, ovomucoid, and lysozyme were isolated by immunoadsorption of polysomes synthesizing these proteins. Monospecific antibodies against ovalbumin, ovomucoid, and lysozyme, raised in rabbits, were reacted with chicken oviduct polysomes. The antibody-polysome complexes were isolated by immunoadsorption onto sheep anti-rabbit antibodies coupled to an insoluble matrix. The specifically bound polysomes were eluted and the mRNA was obtained by poly(U)-Sepharose chromatography. The three specific RNAs were further purified by preparative gel electrophoresis. The purity of the mRNA preparations was demonstrated by analytical gel electrophoresis, the capability to direct the synthesis of specific protein products in a wheat germ cell-free system, and by hybridization to cDNA transcribed from mRNAoa and mRNAomu. Purified mRNAoa was shown to contain less than 0.1% mRNAomu and purified mRNAomu was about 99% pure with respect to mRNAoa. Purified mRNAly was contaminated with mRNAoa to 0.34% and with mRNAomu to 2.9%.     

Endogenous lectin from cultured soybean cells. Chemical characterization of the lectin of SB-1 cells

A lectin has been identified in the cell line, SB-1, originally derived from the roots of Glycine max. This lectin, which we shall refer to as SB-1 lectin, was isolated on the basis of its carbohydrate-binding activity (affinity chromatography on Sepharose column derivatized with N-caproyl-galactosamine) and its immunological cross-reactivity (immunoblotting with rabbit antibodies directed against seed soybean agglutinin (SBA]. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting analysis of SB-1 lectin revealed a major polypeptide (Mr approximately equal to 30,000) which co-migrated with seed SBA. This form of the lectin was observed in fractions purified from culture medium of SB-1 cells or supernatant fraction of SB-1 cell suspension after enzymatic removal of cell wall. Extracts of SB-1 cells under some other conditions yielded a major band (Mr approximately equal to 60,000) as revealed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with rabbit anti-seed SBA; prolonged incubation of these samples in the presence of SDS resulted in the appearance of the 30-kDa polypeptide. It appears that the 60-kDa band represented a highly stable, even under SDS-PAGE conditions, dimeric form of the 30-kDa subunit. The SB-1 lectin derived from the culture medium was compared with seed SBA by gel filtration and by peptide mapping after limited proteolysis; no difference between the lectins from the two sources was found. Extracts of soybean roots fractionated on N-caproyl-galactosamine-Sepharose affinity columns yielded, upon elution with galactose, polypeptides of Mr 30,000 and 60,000. These results suggest that soybean roots contain a lectin whose polypeptide composition corresponds to that of seed SBA and SB-1 lectin.     

Cotyledon nuclear proteins bind to DNA fragments harboring regulatory elements of phytohemagglutinin genes.

The effects of deleting DNA sequences upstream from the phytohemagglutinin-L gene of Phaseolus vulgaris have been examined with respect to the level of gene product produced in the seeds of transgenic tobacco. Our studies indicate that several upstream regions quantitatively modulate expression. Between -1000 and -675, a negative regulatory element reduces expression approximately threefold relative to shorter deletion mutants that do not contain this region. Positive regulatory elements lie between -550 and -125 and, compared with constructs containing only 125 base pairs of upstream sequences (-125), the presence of these two regions can be correlated with a 25-fold and a 200-fold enhancement of phytohemagglutinin-L levels. These experiments were complemented by gel retardation assays, which demonstrated that two of the three regions bind cotyledon nuclear proteins from mid-mature seeds. One of the binding sites maps near a DNA sequence that is highly homologous to protein binding domains located upstream from the soybean seed lectin and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor genes. Competition experiments demonstrated that the upstream regions of a bean beta-phaseolin gene, the soybean seed lectin gene, and an oligonucleotide from the upstream region of the trypsin inhibitor gene can compete differentially for factor binding. We suggest that these legume genes may be regulated in part by evolutionarily conserved protein/DNA interactions.     

The closely related homomeric and heterodimeric mannose-binding lectins from garlic are encoded by one-domain and two-domain lectin genes, respectively.

Lectin cDNA clones for two different lectins from garlic (Allium sativum L.) bulbs, ASAI and ASAII (ASA, Allium sativum agglutinin), were isolated and characterized. The first lectin, ASAI, is a heterodimer composed of two different subunits of 11.5 kDa and 12.5 kDa. It is translated from an mRNA of 1400 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 306 amino acids with two very similar domains. N-terminal sequencing of the two polypeptides of the mature lectin confirmed that both subunits are derived from the same precursor and that each corresponds to one of the two domains in the sequence. In contrast to ASAI, the second garlic lectin, ASAII, is a homodimer of two identical 12-kDa subunits. It is translated from an mRNA of approximately 800 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 154 amino acids. Interestingly, the coding region of the ASAII cDNA clones is almost identical to that of the second domain of the ASAI cDNA clones.     

Endogenous lectins from cultured soybean cells: isolation of a protein immunologically cross-reactive with seed soybean agglutinin and analysis of its role in binding of Rhizobium japonicum

Incubation of Rhizobium japonicum with the cultured soybean cell line SB-1, originally derived from the roots of Glycine max, resulted in specific adhesion of the bacteria to the plant cells. This binding interaction appears to be mediated via carbohydrate recognition, since galactose can inhibit the heterotypic adhesion but glucose cannot. Affinity chromatography, on a Sepharose column derivatized with N-caproyl-galactosamine, of the supernatant fraction of a SB-1 cell suspension after enzymatic removal of cell wall yielded a single polypeptide (Mr approximately 30,000) on immunoblotting analysis with rabbit antibodies directed against seed soybean agglutinin. Fluorescently labeled rabbit anti-seed soybean agglutinin also yielded specific immunofluorescent staining on the cell wall and plasma membrane of the SB-1 cells. These results suggest that one likely candidate that may mediate the recognition between the Rhizobium and the soybean cells is the endogenously produced SB-1 lectin. This notion is supported by the observation that rabbit anti-seed soybean agglutinin blocked the Rhizobium-soybean cell adhesion, whereas control antibodies did not.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase beta subunit from dog kidney

cDNA complementary to mRNA coding for the beta subunit of dog renal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase has been cloned into lambda gt11 and the nucleotide sequence of the DNA has been determined. The amino acid sequence of the beta subunit polypeptide has also been deduced from the DNA. The mature form of the dog kidney beta subunit contains 302 amino acids with three potential asparagine-linked attachment sites for carbohydrate. The initiation methionine is removed during processing of the polypeptide to its mature form. Although the beta subunit is an integral membrane protein there is no signal sequence for the polypeptide, and hydropathy analysis predicts that the beta subunit polypeptide spans the cell membrane only once. Secondary structure predictions and a model for the structure of the beta subunit are proposed. DNA sequencing of the 5' non-coding region of the mRNA revealed a 200 bp inverted repeat from the coding region. Blot hybridization of a fragment of the beta subunit cDNA identified a single mRNA species of 2.7 kb in dog kidney and several rat tissues. RNA from rat liver was deficient in mRNA that hybridized to the dog kidney beta subunit cDNA, although mRNA that hybridized to an alpha subunit cDNA was detected. RNA from a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, however, contained comparable levels of mRNA for both the alpha and the beta subunits.     

Synthesis of S100 Protein on Free and Membrane-Bound Polysomes of the Rabbit Brain

Abstract: Free and membrane-bound polysomes were isolated from the cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum of the young adult rabbit. The two polysomal populations were translated in an mRNA-dependent cell-free system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. Analysis of the [³⁵S]methionine-labeled translation products on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels indicated an efficient separation of the two classes of brain polysomes. The relative synthesis of S100 protein by free and membrane- bound polysomes was determined by direct immuno-precipitation of the cell-free translation products in the presence of detergents to reduce nonspecific trapping. Synthesis of S100 protein was found to be twofold greater on membrane-bound polysomes compared with free polysomes isolated from either the cerebral hemispheres or the cerebellum. In addition, the proportion of poly- (A+)mRNA coding for SlOO protein was also twofold greater in membrane-bound polysomes compared with free polysomes isolated from the cerebral hemispheres. These results indicate that the cytoplasmic S100 protein is synthesized predominantly on membrane-bound polysomes in the rabbit brain. We suggest that the nascent S100 polypeptide chain translation complex is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum by an ionic interaction involving a sequence of 13 basic amino acids in S100 protein.     

Soybean Seed Protein Genes Are Regulated Spatially during Embryogenesis

We used in situ hybridization to investigate Kunitz trypsin inhibitor gene expression programs at the cell level in soybean embryos and in transformed tobacco seeds. The major Kunitz trypsin inhibitor mRNA, designated as KTi3, is first detectable in a specific globular stage embryo region, and then becomes localized within the axis of heart, cotyledon, and maturation stage embryos. By contrast, a related Kunitz trypsin inhibitor mRNA class, designated as KTi1/2, is not detectable during early embryogenesis. Nor is the KTi1/2 mRNA detectable in the axis at later developmental stages. Outer perimeter cells of each cotyledon accumulate both KTi1/2 and KTi3 mRNAs early in maturation. These mRNAs accumulate progressively from the outside to inside of each cotyledon in a "wave-like" pattern as embryogenesis proceeds. A similar KTi3 mRNA localization pattern is observed in soybean somatic embryos and in transformed tobacco seeds. An unrelated mRNA, encoding [beta]-conglycinin storage protein, also accumulates in a wave-like pattern during soybean embryogenesis. Our results indicate that cell-specific differences in seed protein gene expression programs are established early in development, and that seed protein mRNAs accumulate in a precise cellular pattern during seed maturation. We also show that seed protein gene expression patterns are conserved at the cell level in embryos of distantly related plants, and that these patterns are established in the absence of non-embryonic tissues.     

Two major antigens of heart sarcolemma are Ca2(+)-binding glycoproteins that copurify with the dihydropyridine receptor.

Ca2+ binding has been studied in isolated heart sarcolemmal membranes using the 45Ca overlay technique. 45Ca bound to two sarcolemmal polypeptides of 125 kDa and 97 kDa in preparations from dog, rabbit, cow and pig. During fractionation on DEAE ion-exchange and wheat-germ lectin affinity columns, the two Ca2(+)-binding polypeptides copurified with the dihydropyridine receptor associated with the voltage gated Ca2+ channel. These polypeptides were the major proteins in the isolated fraction as judged by silver staining in SDS-PAGE. Antisera raised against purified dog heart, sarcolemma indicated that the 125 and 97 kDa polypeptides were highly antigenic components of this membrane. The antisera cross-reacted with similar polypeptides in cardiac sarcolemmal preparations from rabbit, cow and pig, but not sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. Purified antibodies against the 125 kDa polypeptide did not cross-react with the 97 kDa polypeptide, while antibodies against the 97 kDa polypeptide did not cross-react with the 125 kDa polypeptide. Both the 125 kDa and 97 kDa polypeptides bound wheat-germ lectin, suggesting both were glycoproteins. It is unlikely that these Ca2+ binding glycoproteins represent subunits of the dihydropyridine receptor-Ca2+ channel in this membrane.     

Do antibody binding techniques identify polysomes synthesizing a specific protein?

Specific binding of antibody directed against MOPC-21 myeloma protein to MOPC-21 polysomes has been demonstrated. It was also shown that this same antibody bound specifically to the ribosomal subunits of these polysomes, suggesting that the antibody is not binding exclusively to the nascent polypeptide chains on the polysomes. The antibody was bound specifically to polysomes of a nonproducing variant XC1 which had been isolated in the presence of MOPC-21 myeloma protein while the antibody was not bound to XC1 polysomes isolated in the absence of myeloma protein. This suggests that the myeloma protein is adsorbed to the polysomes during the isolation procedure.     

cDNA cloning, primary structure, and in vitro biosynthesis of the DB58 lectin from Dolichos biflorus

Previous studies have shown that the Dolichos biflorus plant contains a lectin in its stems and leaves, called DB58, that is closely related to the D. biflorus seed lectin. DB58 is a heterodimer composed of two closely related subunits. Immunoprecipitation of total translation products from D. biflorus stem and leaf mRNA suggests a single polypeptide precursor for both of these subunits. Several identical cDNA clones representing the entire coding region of the DB58 mRNA have been isolated from a D. biflorus stem and leaf cDNA library. The DB58 cDNA represents an mRNA encoding a polypeptide of Mr = 29,545. The predicted polypeptide is equal in length to the larger subunit of DB58 with the addition of a 22-amino acid amino-terminal signal sequence. The sequence of the DB58 lectin exhibits 84% homology to the D. biflorus seed lectin at the amino acid level, suggesting that these lectins are encoded by differentially expressed genes and may have evolved to carry out tissue-specific functions. Comparison of the DB58 sequence to other leguminous seed lectins indicates a high degree of structural conservation.     

Endogenous lectin from cultured soybean cells: exposure of the SB-1 lectin on the cell wall

Digestion of seed soybean agglutinin with V-8 protease yielded seven distinct fragments (Mr 10,000-20,000) that were well-resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Each individual peptide (F1 through F7) was isolated; determination of the amino acid sequence at the NH2-terminal portion of each peptide established its position in the intact polypeptide of soybean agglutinin. The isolated peptides were used as affinity adsorbents to obtain antibodies that bound individual fragments (anti-F1 through anti-F7). These antibody preparations were, in turn, used in immunofluorescence staining of intact cultured soybean (SB-1) cells. Only those antibody preparations that bind to the NH2-terminal portion (residues 1-124) of the intact soybean agglutinin showed significant cell surface labeling. In contrast, the antibody preparations that bound to residues 125-253 failed to bind to intact SB-1 cells. These results suggest that the SB-1 lectin has the NH2-terminal portion of the polypeptide chain exposed and accessible at the cell surface, while the COOH-terminal portion of the same molecule may be masked, either through protein folding or through embedding in the cell wall. Limited digestion of the cell wall polysaccharides by cellulase or pectinase released the majority of the cell surface lectin.     

Cloning and characterization of DNA complementary to rat liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase mRNA

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (transferase) clones were isolated from a cDNA bank constructed in pBR322 using transferase-enriched mRNA from the livers of phenobarbital-treated rats. The enrichment of mRNA was accomplished by polysome immunoadsorption with antibody to purified mouse liver transferase. This antibody was shown to bind specifically to rat transferase by Ouchterlony double diffusion analysis, immunoadsorption of glucuronidating activities, and selective inhibition of the immunoadsorption of in vitro synthesized enzyme by purified rat liver transferase. The isolated clones were verified to contain DNA complementary to transferase mRNA by hybrid translation-selection. Three classes of transferase cDNAs were characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping, and the largest insert-containing clone of each class was designated pUDPGTr-1, pUDPGTr-2, and pUDPGTr-3. Their insert sizes were approximately 2,400, 2,000, and 2,000 bp, respectively. All three cDNAs hybridized with a 2,300 +/- 150 bp mRNA, and each selected the translation of a 52,000-dalton polypeptide. Immunoadsorption of the 35S-labeled translation product could be competitively inhibited in each case by the addition of purified rat liver transferase. pUDPGTr-1 and pUDPGTr-3 inserts shared extensive sequence homology. This was demonstrated by Southern blot analysis using purified inserts and electron microscopic heteroduplex analysis. Southern blot analysis revealed that these cDNAs hybridized to overlapping genomic fragments. pUDPGTr-2 shared less sequence homology with the other two classes of cDNAs, based on the above criteria. In addition, mRNA corresponding to pUDPGTr-2 was elevated 5-fold by phenobarbital treatment, whereas the other mRNAs levels were unaffected. These studies demonstrate that in rat liver there are a minimum of three distinct transferase mRNAs, two of which may be associated with a common gene or gene family.