Soluble and Particulate Forms of Rat Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Distinguished by Gel Electrophoresis and Immune Fixation

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was visualized in homogenates and subcellular fractions of rat tissues, including liver and brain, by gel electrophoresis, electrophoretic transfer of proteins to nitrocellulose (Western blotting), and immune fixation with antiserum to highly purified soluble rat liver COMT. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of all tissue homogenates examined revealed three major immune-specific proteins with apparent molecular weights 23,000, 26,000, and 66,000 (23K, 26K and 66K). Centrifugation of homogenates at 100,000 X g for 60 min resulted in the enrichment of the 26K species protein in the pellet whereas the 23K and 66K proteins were the predominant forms in the supernatant. The 66K protein appeared in variable amounts depending on the tissue being examined and the length of transfer of protein and is assumed to be an "aggregate" of the smaller form(s). The 26K protein was essentially the only immunoreactive species seen in a purified preparation of rat liver outer mitochondrial membrane. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) under denaturing conditions and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of brain and liver fractions showed that the 23K protein was resolved into three bands of pI 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, whereas the 26K protein had a pI of 6.2. Analysis of COMT activity in slices from nondenaturing IEF gels indicated that the pI 5.1-5.3 species are biologically active; the pI 6.2 species could not be detected under these conditions. COMT activity was demonstrated, however, in outer mitochondrial membranes from rat liver, which contain predominantly the 26K, pI 6.2 immunoreactive species. The major form of COMT in all rat tissues examined is "soluble" with an apparent Mr of 23K and a pI of 5.2. The nature of the modifications giving rise to pI 5.1 and 5.3 forms of this enzyme are not clear, nor is the relationship between the 23K and 26K forms. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship of immunoreactive forms of COMT to each other, their intracellular location, and their functional significance.     

Expression of variant forms of proopiomelanocortin, the common precursor to corticotropin and beta-lipotropin in the rat pars intermedia

Proopiomelanocortin, the common glycoprotein precursor to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), is the most abundant protein synthesized in rat neurointermediate lobes. It represents 30% of the total amount of radioactive proteins obtained after a 1-h pulse incubation with [3H]phenylalanine. Several forms of this protein can be separated by a high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis technique. The three most abundant species which can be reproducibly characterized by their apparent molecular weights (Mr) and isoelectric points (pI) were called form I (Mr 34 000; pI 8.2), form II (Mr 36 000; pI 8.2), and form III (Mr 35 000; pI 7.3). Additional minor forms, representing together approximately 30% of the total forms I, II, and III combined, are also observed. They have very close molecular weights but differ by their isoelectric points. When glycosylation is prevented by tunicamycin, forms I and II are replaced by a new molecule with the same pI of 8.2 but a slightly lower Mr (32 000). This form is referred to as form T1. Similarly, form III is replaced by form T2 (Mr 33 000; pI 7.3). Forms T1 and T2 are supposed to be nonglycoslyated peptides. They were further characterized by microsequencing and peptide mapping. They both have the same N-terminal amino acid sequence with leucine residues in positions 3 and 11, and they both contain identical [3H]phenylalanine-labeled tryptic fragments, two of them corresponding to the sequences 1-8 of ACTH and 61-69 of beta-LPH. However, a limited digestion with the Staphylococcus aureus (V8 strain) protease generates a collection of peptides different for each form. These results suggest the presence of at least two different gene products corresponding to the major forms of proopiomelanocortin in the rat pars intermedia.     

Electrophoretic and immunochemical characterization of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid/dihydrodiol dehydrogenases of rat tissues.

The properties of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid/dihydrodiol dehydrogenase from Sprague-Dawley rat liver cytosol have been re-examined in light of several reports which suggest that multiple forms of the enzyme may exist in this tissue. During enzyme purification, chromatography on DE-52 cellulose and chromatofocusing columns indicated the existence of only one form of the protein. Re-chromatography of the purified enzyme by either of these techniques failed to resolve the protein into additional forms. When the purified enzyme was subjected to SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis a single band corresponding to Mr 34,000 was detected. Two-dimensional gels showed one predominant protein with a pI of 5.9. Using the homogeneous enzyme as antigen, high-titre polyclonal antibody was raised in rabbits. Western-blot analysis of cytosolic proteins prepared from male and female Sprague-Dawley rat liver indicated the presence of a single immunoreactive band with an Mr of 34,000 in both sexes. All of the 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity present in rat liver cytosol could be immunotitrated with the antibody and the resulting titration curve was superimposable on the titration curve obtained with the purified enzyme. Western-blot analysis of cytosolic proteins prepared from livers of male Wistar and Fischer rats also revealed the presence of a single immunoreactive protein with an Mr of 34,000. These data indicate that, contrary to previous reports, only one form of the dehydrogenase may exist in liver cytosols prepared from a variety of rat strains. Although 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity is known to be widely distributed in male Sprague-Dawley rat tissues, Western blots indicate that only the liver, lung, testis and small intestine contain immunoreactive protein with an Mr of 34,000. The levels of immunoreactive protein in these tissues follow the distribution of dihydrodiol dehydrogenase.     

Comparison of the complexed and free forms of rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase and origin of the free form

Arginyl-tRNA synthetase is found in multiple molecular weight forms in extracts from a variety of mammalian tissues. The rat liver enzyme can be isolated either as a component of the synthetase complex (Mr greater than 10(6) or as a free protein (Mr = 60,000). However, based on activity measurements after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the molecular weight of the free form differs from its counterpart in the complex (Mr = 72,000). Both forms of arginyl-tRNA synthetase cross-react with an antibody directed against the complex, and both have similar catalytic properties. Thus, the two proteins have similar apparent Km values for arginine and ATP, the same pH optimum, are inhibited equally by elevated ionic strength and PPi, and they aminoacylate the same population of tRNA molecules. On the other hand, the free and complexed forms differ with respect to their apparent Km values for tRNA (free, 4 microM; complexed, 28 microM), their temperature sensitivity (complexed greater sensitivity), and their hydrophobicity (complexed more hydrophobic). Limited proteolysis of the synthetase complex with papain releases a low molecular weight form of arginyl-tRNA synthetase whose size, temperature sensitivity, and hydrophobicity are similar to that of the endogenous free form. Nevertheless, the usual 2:1 ratio of complexed-to-free form of rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase is not altered by a variety of homogenization or incubation conditions in the presence or absence of multiple protease inhibitors. In contrast to extracts of rat liver, rabbit liver extracts do not contain a free form of arginyl-tRNA synthetase. These results suggest that the complexed and free forms of arginyl-tRNA synthetase are probably the same gene product and that the free form in rat liver extracts is derived from the complexed form by a limited endogenous proteolysis that removes the portion of the protein required for anchoring it in the complex. The question of whether the free form is an artifact of isolation or whether it pre-exists in the cell is discussed.     

Identification of an Mr 77,000 - 80,000 product of in vitro translation of rat liver mRNA using antibody to glycogen synthase

Rabbit antibody to rat liver glycogen synthase has been used to identify a product of Mr 77,000 - 80,000 from in vitro translation of rat liver mRNA. A comparison of various protease inhibitors on the relative molecular weight of rat liver glycogen synthase suggest that higher molecular weight enzyme forms could arise from incomplete hydrolysis of glycogen before enzyme isolation and enzyme subunit Mr determinations.     

Sulfhydryl/disulfide forms of rat liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase

Using radiation inactivation and immunoblotting techniques, evidence for functionally active forms of rat liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase with molecular weights of about 100,000 and 200,000 was obtained. In liver microsomes isolated from rats fed both mevinolin and colestipol, the Mr 100,000 form was the predominant species, whereas in microsomes from animals fed only colestipol, the Mr 200,000 species was the major form. This Mr 200,000 form could be converted to the Mr 100,000 form by addition of dithiothreitol or beta-mercaptoethanol. Although both forms appear to possess catalytic activity, the Mr 200,000 species displays sigmoidal kinetics with respect to the concentration of NADPH, whereas the Mr 100,000 form exhibits typical hyperbolic kinetics.     

Biosynthesis of the multiple forms of rabbit cardiac cathepsin D

Rabbit cardiac cathepsin D exists as multiple isomeric forms of Mr = 48,000 within cardiac tissue. Their mechanism of formation and their functional role in cardiac protein degradation are unknown. We have previously demonstrated that cathepsin D is initially synthesized as an Mr = 53,000 precursor that is processed by limited proteolysis within cardiac lysosomes to the Mr = 48,000 active forms of the enzyme. To determine if the multiple forms of active cathepsin D originate from a common precursor, isolated perfused Langendorff rabbit hearts were labeled in pulse (15 or 30 min) and pulse-chase (30 or 150 min) experiments with [35S]methionine. Newly synthesized cathepsin D was isolated by butanol/Triton X-100 extraction and immunoadsorption with anti-cathepsin D IgG-Sepharose, and the isomeric forms were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and fluorography. After 15- and 30-min pulse perfusions, 35S-labeled cathepsin D appeared as a single precursor form (Mr = 53,000, pI = 6.6). After 30-min pulse and 30-min chase, the precursor was modified to yield multiple precursor forms, all with molecular weight 53,000, but with differing pI values (6.6-6.0). After 30-min pulse and 150-min chase perfusion, multiple forms of both precursor and proteolytically processed active cathepsin D (Mr = 48,000, pI = 6.2-5.6) were detected. The 35S-labeled, proteolytically processed forms of active cathepsin D co-migrated with the major cathepsin D forms present in cardiac tissue. Subcellular fractionation and perfusions in the presence of chloroquine demonstrated that the multiple precursor forms of cathepsin D originated in a nonlysosomal intracellular compartment. Thus, the multiple forms of active cathepsin D originate from a common high molecular weight precursor, and their synthesis occurs prior to the limited proteolysis of the precursor in cardiac lysosomes.     

Control of glycoprotein synthesis. Purification of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:alpha-D-mannoside beta 1-2 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II from rat liver

A new affinity chromatography adsorbant, in which UDP-GlcNAc has been linked to thiopropyl-Sepharose at the 5 position of the uracil via a 5-mercuri mercaptide bond, was utilized to purify UDP-GlcNAc:alpha-D-mannoside beta 1-2 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II 60,000-fold from rat liver. After extraction of rat liver membranes with Triton X-100, the enzyme was found to exist in two molecular weight forms of markedly differing size, separable on Sephadex G-200. The low Mr form was separated from the high Mr form on columns of CM-Sephadex and hydroxylapatite, and was further purified by sequential elutions with NaCl, UDP-GlcNAc, and EDTA from the 5-mercuri-UDP-GlcNAc affinity adsorbant. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified low Mr form under reducing conditions revealed two protein bands of Mr 48,000 and 43,000. The purified enzyme catalyzes the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-GlcNAc to the compound: (Formula: see text) The high Mr form of the enzyme, which eluted in the void volume of Sephadex G-200, was resistant to a number of treatments in attempts to reduce its molecular weight. These results suggest that the high Mr form of the enzyme may represent either a complex which normally exists in Golgi membranes as a result of strong protein-protein interactions or a protein with one or more "anchor" segments.     

Purification and subunit-structural and immunological characterization of five glutathione S-transferases in human liver, and the acidic form as a hepatic tumor marker

Five glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) forms were purified from human liver by S-hexylglutathione affinity chromatography followed by chromatofocusing, and their subunit structures and immunological relationships to rat liver glutathione S-transferase forms were investigated. They were tentatively named GSTs I, II, III, IV and V in order of decreasing apparent isoelectric points (pI) on chromatofocusing. Their subunit molecular weights assessed on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 27 (Mr X 10(-3)), 27, 27.7,27 and 26, respectively, (26, 26, 27, 26, and 24.5 on the assumption of rat GST subunit Ya, Yb and Yc as 25, 26.5 and 28, respectively), indicating that all forms are composed of two subunits identical in size. However, it was suggested by gel-isoelectric focusing in the presence of urea that GSTs I and IV are different homodimers, consisting of Y1 and Y4 subunits, respectively, which are of identical Mr but different pI, while GST II is a heterodimer composed of Y1 and Y4 subunits. This was confirmed by subunit recombination after guanidine hydrochloride treatment. GST III seemed to be identical with GST-mu with regard to Mr and pI. GST V was immunologically identical with the placental GST-pi. On double immunodiffusion or Western blotting using specific antibodies to rat glutathione S-transferases, GST I, II and IV were related to rat GST 1-1 (ligandin), GST III(mu) to rat GST 4-4 (D), and GST V (pi) to rat GST 7-7 (P), respectively. GST V (pi) was increased in hepatic tumors.     

Characterization of sulfated forms of the pro-opiomelanocortin amino-terminal glycopeptide in rat intermediate lobe cells

Explants of rat neurointermediate lobes were incubated in the presence of radioactive amino acids, sugars or sulfate and the labeled proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A double series of acidic peptides (Mr = 16,000-21,500) were identified as variant forms of the amino-terminal glycopeptide of pro-opiomelanocortin (N-POMC). The series of peptides with the higher molecular weights (Mr = 18,000-21,500) contain a tryptic fragment (tentatively identified as the tryptic peptide of the "joining peptide": sequence 77 to 93 of rat POMC) which is absent from the forms of the lower molecular weight series (Mr = 16,000 to 18,000). Pulse-chase studies further showed that the high molecular weight forms of N-POMC could be post-translationally cleaved albeit slowly into the species of Mr = 16,000-18,000 which constitute, at least in part, the final maturation products of the N-terminal region of the precursor molecule. All the variant forms of the N-POMC glycopeptide could be labeled with [35S]sulfate. Our results strongly suggest that most of the sulfate groups are attached to N-linked oligosaccharide side chains of N-POMC. We therefore propose that one of the final maturation products of the N-terminal portion of POMC in rat intermediate lobes is a sulfated glycopeptide (Mr = 16,000-18,000) composed of the 1-74 sequence of rat POMC.     

Different forms of human liver glutathione S-transferases arise from dimeric combinations of at least four immunologically and functionally distinct subunits.

Four immunologically distinct subunits were characterized in glutathione (GSH) S-transferases of human liver. Five cationic enzymes (pI 8.9, 8.5, 8.3, 8.2 and 8.0) have an apparently similar subunit composition, and are dimers of 26 500-Mr (A) and 24 500-Mr (B) subunits. A neutral enzyme, pI 6.8, is a dimer of B-type subunits. One of the anionic enzymes, pI 5.5, is also a dimer of 26 500-Mr subunits. However, the 26 500-Mr subunits of this anionic enzyme form are immunologically distinct from the A subunits of the cationic enzymes, and have been designated as A'. Immunoabsorption studies with the neutral enzyme, BB, and the antibodies raised against the cationic enzymes (AB) indicate that A and B subunits are immunologically distinct. Hybridization in vitro of the A and B subunits of the cationic enzymes (AB) results in the expected binary combinations of AA, AB and BB. Studies with the hybridized enzyme forms indicate that only the A subunits express GSH peroxidase activity. A' subunits have maximum affinity for p-nitrobenzyl chloride and p-nitrophenyl acetate, and the B subunits have highest activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. The other anionic form, pI 4.5, present in liver is a heterodimer of 22 500-Mr (C) and B subunits. The C subunits of this enzyme are probably the same as the 22 500-Mr subunits present in human lung and placental GSH transferases. The distinct immunological nature of B and C subunits was also demonstrated by immunoaffinity and subunit-hybridization studies. The results of two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic analyses indicate that in human liver GSH transferases, three charge isomers of Mr 26 500 (A type), two charge isomers of Mr 24 500 (B type) and two charge isomers of Mr 22 500 (C type) subunits are present.     

Two apparent molecular weight forms of human and monkey phenylalanine hydroxylase are due to phosphorylation

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel analyses of purified human and monkey liver phenylalanine hydroxylase reveal that the enzyme consists of two different apparent molecular weight forms of polypeptide, designated H (Mr = 50,000) and L (Mr = 49,000), each containing three isoelectric forms. The two apparent molecular weight forms, H and L, represent the phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of phenylalanine hydroxylase, respectively. After incubation of purified human and monkey liver enzyme with purified cAMP-dependent protein kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP, only the H forms contained 32P. Treatment with alkaline phosphatase converted the phenylalanine hydroxylase H forms to the L forms. The L forms but not the H forms could be phosphorylated on nitrocellulose paper after electrophoretic transfer from two-dimensional gels. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of human liver phenylalanine hydroxylase is not accompanied by significant changes in tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent enzyme activity. Peptide mapping and acid hydrolysis confirm that the apparent molecular weight heterogeneity (and charge shift to a more acidic pI) in human and monkey liver enzyme results from phosphorylation of a single serine residue. However, phosphorylation by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase does not account for the multiple charge heterogeneity of human and monkey liver phenylalanine hydroxylase.     

The tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal-growth-factor receptor is necessary for phospholipase A2 activation.

Cytosolic glutathione transferases (GSTs) were purified from the rat spleen by S-hexyl-GSH-Sepharose chromatography, and two major forms were identified as GSTs 2-2 and 7-7 (GST P). Besides these forms an acidic form (pI 5.8) was purified by chromatofocusing at pH 7-4 and it accounted for about 1% of the total GST activity bound to S-hexyl-GSH-Sepharose. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that it is a homodimer (subunit Mr 26,000 with pI 5.8). Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that it was immunologically related to GSTs 2-2 and 1-1, and its N-terminal amino acid was apparently blocked, similarly to other forms of the class Alpha. This form had a low activity towards cumene hydroperoxide or 4-hydroxynon-2-enal, indicating that this form differed from GSTs 10-10 and 8-8 as well as from GSTs 1-1 and 2-2. These results suggest that it is a new form of GST belonging to the class Alpha.     

Rat lung glutathione S-transferases: subunit structure and the interrelationship with the liver enzymes

Six forms of glutathione S-transferases designated as GSH S-transferase I (pI 8.8), II (pI 7.2), III (pI 6.8), IV (pI 6.0), V (pI 5.3) and VI (pI 4.8) have been purified from rat lung. GSH S-transferase I (pI 8.8) is a homodimer of Mr 25,000 subunits; GSH S-transferases II (pI 7.2) and VI (pI 4.8) are homodimers of Mr 22,000 subunits; and GSH S-transferases III (pI 6.8), IV (pI 6.0) and V (pI 5.3) are dimers composed of Mr 23,500 and 22,000 subunits. Immunological properties, peptide fragmentation analysis, and substrate specificity data indicate that Mr 22,000, 23,500 and 25,000, are distinct from each other and correspond to Ya, Yb, and Yc subunits, respectively, of rat liver.     

Mevalonate kinase is localized in rat liver peroxisomes.

Recent data suggest that rat liver peroxisomes play a critical role in cholesterol synthesis. Specifically, peroxisomes contain a number of enzymes required for cholesterol synthesis as well as sterol carrier protein-2. Furthermore, peroxisomes are involved in the in vitro synthesis of cholesterol from mevalonate and contain significant levels of apolipoprotein E, a major constituent of several classes of plasma lipoproteins. In this study we have investigated the subcellular localization of mevalonate kinase (EC 2.7.1.36; ATP:mevalonate-5-phosphotransferase). Mevalonate kinase is believed to be a cytosolic enzyme and catalyzes the phosphorylation of mevalonate to form mevalonate 5-phosphate. Mevalonate kinase has been purified from rat liver cytosol and a cDNA clone coding for rat mevalonate kinase has also been isolated and characterized. In this study, utilizing monoclonal antibodies made against the purified rat mevalonate kinase, we demonstrate the presence of mevalonate kinase in rat liver peroxisomes and in the cytosol. Each of these compartments contained a different form of the protein. The pI and the Mr of the peroxisomal protein is 6.2 and 42,000, respectively. The pI and Mr of the cytosolic protein is 6.9 and 40,000, respectively. The peroxisomal protein was also significantly induced by a number of different hypolipidemic drugs. In addition, we present evidence for the unexpected finding that the purified mevalonate kinase (isolated from the cytosol and assumed to be a cytosolic protein) is actually a peroxisomal protein.     

Isolation of three forms of cystatin from submandibular saliva of isoproterenol-treated rats, its properties and kinetic data

Three rat salivary cystatins (designated as RSC-1, RSC-2 and RSC-3) induced by chronic isoproterenol (IPR) treatment, but not detected in normal rats, were purified from submandibular saliva of chronically IPR-treated rats by Mono-Q, hydroxyapatite and TSKgel Phenyl-5PW chromatographies. Their molecular weights (Mr) and isoelectric points (pI) differed from each other as follows: RSC-1 (Mr 16,500, pI 4.4), RSC-2 (Mr 15,500, pI 4.4) and RSC-3 (Mr 14,500, pI 4.5). The amino acid compositions of these inhibitors were very similar and the three forms showed complete immunological identity in a double immunodiffusion system. The partial amino acid sequence results showed that these inhibitors belonged to family 2 of the cystatin superfamily. These three forms strongly inhibited the enzyme activities of ficin and papain, but not of cathepsin B and trypsin. The inhibition constants (Ki) of RSC-1, RSC-2 and RSC-3 for ficin were 0.19, 0.50 and 0.012 nM, and for papain were 1.5, 0.93 and 0.03 nM, respectively. RSC-3 inhibited ficin and papain more strongly than did RSC-1 and RSC-2.     

Human alpha-L-iduronidase. I. Purification and properties of the high uptake (higher molecular weight) and the low uptake (processed) forms

Two major forms of human alpha-L-iduronidase have been individually purified over 175,000-fold to apparent homogeneity by sequential anion exchange, lectin affinity, and gel filtration chromatography. The two forms, initially designated as soluble and membrane-associated, were extracted from human lung in approximately equal amounts. Optimal solubilization of the membrane-associated form was facilitated by use of a non-ionic detergent or mannose 6-phosphate and saponin. Following detergent homogenization, the two forms were separated by anion exchange chromatography and then individually purified. The more electronegative form was membrane-associated, had a pI of approximately 5.9, and was selectively taken up (high uptake) by cultured Hurler syndrome fibroblasts; the more electropositive soluble form had a pI of about 6.6 and was incorporated into Hurler fibroblasts at a markedly lower rate (low uptake). After treatment with alkaline phosphatase, the pI values of both enzymes were about 7.8. Using 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-L-iduronide as substrate, the low and high uptake forms were each purified in milligram quantities to specific activities of 284,000 and 202,000 units/mg, respectively, with a combined yield greater than 35%. Each purified enzyme form migrated as a single protein band which also stained for enzymatic activity when electrophoresed in 7% native polyacrylamide disc gels at pH 4.3. By gel filtration, the high uptake form had an Mr = 85,000 whereas the Mr for the low uptake form was 68,000. Molecular weight estimates by analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 82,000 and 70,000 for the high and low uptake forms, respectively. Rabbit anti-human low uptake alpha-L-iduronidase antibodies cross-reacted with the high uptake form as demonstrated by both immunotitration and Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion. Amino acid analysis revealed that the high uptake (higher molecular weight) form contained more arginine, glycine, alanine, glutamate or glutamine, leucine, isoleucine, histidine, and proline residues per molecule than the low uptake (lower molecular weight) form. Automated Edman degradation determined that the NH2-terminal residues of both forms were blocked. Both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that each purified form was composed of several components; each post-high performance liquid chromatographic component retained catalytic activity and was immunologically cross-reactive with antibodies against the low uptake form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Structural relationship, biosynthesis, and immunocytochemical localization of uteroferrin-associated basic glycoproteins

Uteroferrin, a progesterone-induced secretory protein of the pig uterus, can noncovalently associate with additional progesterone-induced glycoproteins (uteroferrin-associated glycoproteins or UfAP) to form a heterodimer. The UfAP were dissociated from uteroferrin by passage through an immunoaffinity column. The flow through material consisted of two immunologically related variants of different size (Mr = 47,000-50,000 and Mr = 39,000-40,000) forms. By using an antiserum to all molecular weight components of the UfAP, it was shown that these glycoproteins were localized in the glandular epithelium of the uterus. Amino acid sequence analysis of the higher molecular weight (Mr = 47,000-50,000) form indicated it had a common amino-terminal sequence which was distinct from that of the lower molecular weight (Mr = 39,000-40,000) form. Endoglycosidase F treatment converted the Mr = 47,000-50,000 form to a common product with Mr = 43,000. Tryptic peptide analysis showed that the Mr = 39,000-40,000 form was closely related in primary sequence to the larger species. When endometrial RNA was translated in vitro, a single major product (Mr = 45,000) was immunoprecipitated by using the UfAP antiserum. These results suggest that the different forms of the UfAP originate from a single precursor by differential glycosylation and peptide cleavage. Endometrial explant cultures released all forms of the glycoproteins. When [32P]orthophosphate was provided, label was incorporated into the 6-position of D-mannosyl residues on the oligosaccharide chains of the UfAP. Therefore the associated glycoproteins have a structural feature normally associated with lysosomal enzymes.     

The size of human factor VIII heterodimers and the effects produced by thrombin

The heterodimeric structure of factor VIII was demonstrated by two approaches. First, the native molecular weights of several partially purified fractions of factor VIII were determined by measurement of Stokes radii and sedimentation coefficients to be approx. 237 500, 201 000 and 141 000. These measured molecular weights correlated with those derived from polypeptide chain composition, in which each molecule would consist of a doublet polypeptide of Mr 83 000/81 000 plus one predominant high-Mr polypeptide of either 146 000, 120 000 or 93 000. In addition, immunoadsorption using a monoclonal antibody specific for the light-chain doublet removed all of the heavy chains. Separation of the heavy chains from the light chain by EDTA further illustrated the non-covalent nature of the heterodimers. All forms had coagulant activity which was potentiated 13-15-fold by an equimolar amount of human alpha-thrombin. Thrombin converted the Mr 83 000/81 000 doublet to one of Mr 73 000/71 000, and cleaved the largest polypeptides to a transient intermediate form of Mr 93 000 which was further cleaved to polypeptides of Mr 51 000 and 43 000. Potentiation of coagulant activity was correlated with proteolytic cleavage of either or both the doublet and the Mr 93 000 polypeptides. These data indicate that human factor VIII purified from plasma consists of a group of heterodimers, composed of a light chain of Mr 83 000 (81 000) and a heavy chain which varies in size between Mr 170 000 and 93 000, each form of which is similarly potentiated and cleaved by thrombin.