Two precursors of thyrotropin-releasing hormone from skin of Xenopus laevis. Each contains seven copies of the end product.

From the skin of Xenopus laevis, the cloned cDNAs of two precursors of thyrotropin-releasing hormone have been isolated and sequenced. These encode almost identical precursor polypeptides each containing seven copies of the end product flanked by typical prohormones processing signals. Northern blot analysis has corroborated the existence of two thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor mRNAs of similar size as the cloned cDNA and demonstrated the existence of a third smaller species as well. Two or more mRNAs for this precursor are also present in the brain and eyes of X. laevis adults and tadpoles.     

A cDNA from brain of Xenopus laevis coding for a new precursor of thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is found in large amounts in the skin of Xenopus laevis. In this tissue, 3 TRH precursor mRNAs can be detected of which the 2 more expressed encode almost identical proteins. However, Northern blot analysis of TRH precursor mRNAs in the brain of X. laevis revealed the existence of a new mRNA of about 1200 nucleotides which was present along with the larger TRH precursor mRNA identified in the skin. A cloned cDNA of a TRH precursor, corresponding in size to this new mRNA, was isolated and sequenced from a Xenopus brain lambda gt11 library. It encodes a precursor polypeptide which also contains 7 copies of TRH. However, at the amino acid level it differs by about 16% from the corresponding prepro-TRHs from skin. We have also attempted to characterize the gene encoding this prepro-TRH from Xenopus brain. Only the first and part of the second exon could be detected which are separated by an intron containing more than 8000 base pairs. Interestingly, the 5'-flanking region of this gene does not contain the characteristic promoter elements of the mammalian TRH genes suggesting marked differences in the regulation of their expression.     

Transforming growth factor-alpha in the mammalian brain. Immunohistochemical detection in neurons and characterization of its mRNA

In this communication, we demonstrate that adult mammalian brain neurons express transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). We used the anti-TGF-alpha monoclonal antibody, MF9, to immunohistochemically localize TGF-alpha in human and rat brain. We found specific immunoreactivity in neurons throughout the brain which was not a result of cross-reactivity of MF9 with the neuropeptide, synenkephalin. Northern blot analysis of bovine and rat brain RNA using human and rat TGF-alpha cDNA probes, respectively, revealed a single 4.8-kilobase pair mRNA with approximately equal abundance in the bovine brainstem, cerebellum, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex. Fetal rat brain had about 2-fold more TGF-alpha mRNA than did adult rat. The brain TGF-alpha cDNA was cloned from a human neonatal brainstem library. Four identical clones were isolated after screening 10(6) recombinant lambda gt11 phage. The sequence of the 894-base pair cDNA was virtually identical with the cDNA isolated from a human renal cell carcinoma. A single alanine codon was deleted in the brain cDNA at an exon-exon junction. The alanine deletion is within the amino-terminal region of the TGF-alpha precursor that is thought to be removed by proteolytic processing of the precursor to the mature growth factor. These studies indicate that the normal mammalian brain neurons express TGF-alpha.     

Cloning, characterization, and tissue distribution of messenger RNA species expressed at moderate and scarce frequencies within the lactating guinea pig mammary gland

In the lactating guinea pig mammary gland, the most abundant mRNA species encoding the major milk proteins, alpha-lactalbumin and caseins A, B, and C, have been extensively studied. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of cloned cDNA sequences representative of moderately abundant and scarce mammary gland mRNA species present at estimated concentrations of 1,400 (pgpO5), 540 (pgpKE6), 36 (pgpK1), and 2 (pgpJF4) copies per sequence per cell. RNA blotting showed these to represent mRNA species of 1,150, 1,900, 1,250, and 3,300 nucleotides in size, respectively. Hybrid selection cell-free synthesis showed that the mRNAs encoded proteins of Mr 33,000 (pgpO5), 58,000 (pgpKE6), and 36,000 (pgpK1). Studies on the tissue distribution of mammary gland mRNAs showed that the mRNA species of lower abundance, but not milk protein mRNAs, were expressed in other tissues but at concentrations differing from those in the mammary gland. None were expressed in all tissues, and so were not typical "housekeeping" proteins. We have used these cloned cDNA species to reinvestigate the apparent differential accumulation of moderately abundant poly(A)-containing mRNA species in polyadenylated and nonpolyadenylated cytoplasmic RNA populations of the mammary gland. Unlike previous observations, based on RNA excess hybridization using fractionated cDNA probes, the use of sequence-specific cloned cDNA probes showed that little intact mRNA was present in the nonpolyadenylated fraction. Thus previous observations were a reflection of the preferential accumulation of fragments of moderately abundant mRNA species, possibly a result of enhanced turnover. The significance of our results in terms of future investigations into factors which determine mRNA accumulation and tissue-specific expression is discussed.     

Apolipoprotein E gene mapping and expression: localization of the structural gene to human chromosome 19 and expression of ApoE mRNA in lipoprotein- and non-lipoprotein-producing tissues

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) binds to specific cell-surface receptors and appears to be an important determinant in lipoprotein metabolism in man. Cloned human apoE cDNA (pAE155) was used as a probe in chromosome mapping studies to detect the structural gene sequences in human--Chinese hamster cell hybrids. Southern blot analysis of HincII-digested DNAs from 13 hybrids localized the gene to human chromosome 19. This observation indicates that apoE is syntenic to at least two other genes related to lipid metabolism, those for the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (the LDLR) and apoC-II. The cloned apoE cDNA was further used to detect the presence of apoE mRNA in RNA extracts of various human and baboon tissues. Northern gel analysis using the 32P-labeled pAE155 as a probe demonstrated the presence of hybridizable apoE mRNAs in human liver and in baboon liver, intestine, spleen, kidney, adrenal gland, and brain but not in baboon skeletal muscle. The apoE mRNAs appear to be intact and migrate on an agarose gel under denaturing conditions at approximately 18 S. To assay for the biological activity of the apoE mRNAs in these tissues, they were translated in a reticulocyte lysate system in vitro. Immunoprecipitation with an apoE-specific antiserum followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and fluorography demonstrated that immunoreactive apoE with the expected apparent size was a product of translation of mRNAs from baboon liver, intestine, kidney, spleen, and brain but not that from baboon skeletal muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Genetic evidence for α2-adrenergic receptor subtypes in rat brain,heart and adrenal gland

Summary A complementary DNA (cDNA) clone - cA₂-47 - corresponding to a new ₂-adrenergic receptor subtype has been isolated from a rat brain cDNA library and used as a hybridization probe to scrutinize the ₂-receptor poly(A⁺) RNAs in rat brain, heart and adrenal gland. Hybridization of the 5 half of the coding region of this cDNA at 37°C to rat brain poly(A+) RNA revealed a single band at 5.8 kb as the size of its corresponding mRNA. Under identical hybridization conditions, a human platelet ₂-receptor genomic probe failed to hybridize to any rat brain mRNAs.Under lower stringency conditions, hybridization of the full-length cDNA, cA₂-47, to selected rat tissue poly(A⁺) RNA showed the presence of four different sized mRNAs in brain and three in both heart and adrenal gland. Messages of 1.3 kb and 2.1 kb were common in all three tissues (although the band at 2.1 kb was slightly higher in the heart and adrenal gland). A 5.8 kb mRNA was unique to the brain and a slightly higher band at 6.0 kb was consistently present in heart and adrenal gland but was absent in the brain. A fourth message at 3.4 kb was found predominantly in the brain and was either absent or present at very low levels in the other tissues examined. Under the same conditions, a human platelet ₂-receptor probe hybridized to similar sized messages of 2.1 and 5.8 kb in rat brain and 2.2 and 6.0 kb in rat heart and adrenal gland. This probe, however, failed to detect the abundant 1.3 kb mRNA common to all tissues or the 3.4 kb message in rat brain. The extent of homology of these messages with cA₂-47 is not confined to limited regions of the cDNA since similar hybridization patterns were observed using either 5-noncoding or 5-coding regions of the probe.These results provide the first direct evidence of a surprisingly large range of mRNA sizes for members of the ₂-receptor family in brain, heart, and adrenal gland. The unique nature of certain members of the family in each of the tissues examined raises the curious possibility that these members might contribute to some of the individualized functions of the brain, cardiovasculature and adrenal gland.     

Cloning and characterization of cDNA encoding human A-type endothelin receptor.

A cDNA coding for the human A-type endothelin receptor (ETA) was cloned from a human placenta cDNA library. The cDNA contained the entire coding sequence for the 427 amino acid protein with a relative Mr of 48,722. The deduced amino acid sequence of the human ETA was, respectively, 94% and 93% homologous with the sequence of bovine ETA and rat ETA, but was only 64% homologous with that of the human ETB receptor. Upon expression in COS-1 cells, the human ETA receptor showed binding activity to ETA, with the highest selectivity to ET-1. Northern blot analysis showed that the mRNA of human placenta ETA consists of one species 5 kilo-nucleotides in length, and the same analysis for the uterus, testis, heart and adrenal gland of Cynomolgus monkey showed that the cognate mRNAs are widely distributed.     

Tissue distribution of rat angiotensinogen mRNA and structural analysis of its heterogeneity

The tissue distribution and the structural heterogeneity of the rat angiotensinogen mRNA have been investigated with the aid of a previously cloned cDNA as well as a genomic DNA for rat angiotensinogen as analytical probes. The angiotensinogen mRNA is expressed not only in the liver but also in various tissues including the brain, kidney, adrenal gland, ovary, and lung. The relative levels of the mRNA in the above tissues have been estimated to be 3-4, 20-30 (for the next three tissues), and around 100 times less than that in the liver, respectively. The mRNAs in both hepatic and extrahepatic tissues are encoded by a single gene in the rat genome. At least four different size classes of the angiotensinogen mRNA that start with a single 5' terminus and differ only in the lengths of their 3'-untranslated regions have been identified, and these multiple mRNA species are most likely generated by using the polyadenylation signals AAUAAA and AUUAAA found 10-30 nucleotides upstream from the four polyadenylation sites. Because the structures of these multiple mRNA species do not vary among the tissues of the liver, brain, and kidney, angiotensinogen synthesized locally is structurally identical to that produced in the liver and may have some biological roles independent of the circulating angiotensinogen, mainly derived from the liver. In addition, the sequence of the 5'-flanking region of the angiotensinogen gene has been determined, and some features common to other steroid hormone-responsive genes have been discussed.     

Purification from brain of synenkephalin, the N-terminal fragment of proenkephalin

Abstract: The primary sequence of adrenal proenkephalin was recently deduced from the structure of the cloned cDNA that codes for this protein. Several enkephalin-containing proteins with molecular weights between 8,000 and 20,000 daltons were purified from the bovine adrenal medulla. These proteins appear to represent intermediates in the processing of proenkephalin into physiologically active opioid peptides. While the concentrations of these large processing intermediates in the adrenal medulla are quite high, similar proteins have not yet been shown to be present in brain, and there is some question as to whether the brain synthesizes an enkephalin precursor similar to adrenal proenkephalin. We report here the purification from bovine caudate nucleus of synenkephalin, the N-terminal fragment of adrenal proenkephalin. The amino acid composition of synenkephalin indicates that the protein represents residues 1–70 of adrenal proenkephalin. Thus the brain and adrenal glands appear to utilize a similar precursor for enkephalin biosynthesis.     

A novel human insulin-like growth factor I messenger RNA is expressed in normal and tumor cells

We have identified and characterized a novel human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) precursor from the transplantable T61 human breast cancer xenograft and from normal liver. The mRNA encoding this precursor contains a 5'-untranslated region that is 83% identical to the corresponding region of a previously described variant rat IGF-I. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA predicts an IGF-IA protein precursor of 137 amino acids, including a 32 residue signal peptide, 70 amino acid IGF-I, and a 35 residue COOH-terminal extension or E peptide. The exon encoding this variant maps in the genome between IGF-I exons 1 and 2, in a similar location to the homologous rat exon 1a. The rat and human exons 1a are 59% identical over 1443 nucleotides, with DNA sequence conservation occurring in a mosaic pattern. Human IGF-I mRNAs encoding this novel exon are expressed in liver, T61 tumor cells, and in an ovarian carcinoma cell line, NIH OVCAR3. These studies demonstrate that as in the rat, the human IGF-I gene contains six exons that are variably processed into multiple IGF-I mRNAs. The mechanisms responsible for generating different IGF-I mRNAs thus appear to be conserved among mammalian species.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the human growth hormone structural gene.

An almost complete cDNA copy of human growth hormone has been cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence confirms the known protein sequence and predicts the sequence of a precursor region of 26 amino acids. We have compared the nucleotide sequence to that for the homolgous proteins, rat growth hormone and human chorionic somatomammotropin (Seeburg et al. and Shine et al., Nature 270, 486 (1977)). There appears to be evolutionary conservation of mRNA sequence features not related to protein structure.     

Cloning and sequencing of the rat preproepidermal growth factor cDNA: comparison with mouse and human sequences.

We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA corresponding to the rat preproepidermal growth factor (ppEGF) mRNA. The cDNA contained 4,801 nucleotides, similar to that reported for the mouse (4,749 nucleotides) and the human mRNAs (4,871 nucleotides). The predicted protein sequence would contain 1,133 amino acids, smaller than that reported for the mouse (1,217 amino acids) and the human sequences (1,207 amino acids). The results of the sequencing of several cDNA clones suggested the existence of more than one structural gene for ppEGF. In addition, there was an occurrence of alternative splicing events, resulting in deletions of entire exons from the mature mRNA. These alternative splicing events do not create frameshift mutations but cause a deletion of one or more of the "EGF-like" repeat units from the ppEGF. There is approximately the same homology between the rat and mouse amino acid sequences both in the EGF region and in the other regions of the ppEGF protein. We conclude that, because of this conservation of homology, there may be an important function performed by these other regions of the ppEGF besides their function as a precursor for the EGF protein.     

cDNA cloning and expression of human lactosylceramide synthase

Lactosylceramide synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of galactose from UDP-Gal to glucosylceramide, and thus participates in the biosynthesis of most glycolipids in mammals. We have isolated and sequenced the cDNA clone encoding human lactosylceramide synthase. The deduced amino acid sequence of the human lactosylceramide synthase showed 94.2% identity with rat lactosylceramide synthase. Northern blotting analysis revealed that lactosylceramide synthase mRNA was expressed in various tissues, with the highest level in brain and adrenal gland.     

cDNA cloning and expression of human lactosylceramide synthase.

Lactosylceramide synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of galactose from UDP-Gal to glucosylceramide, and thus participates in the biosynthesis of most glycolipids in mammals. We have isolated and sequenced the cDNA clone encoding human lactosylceramide synthase. The deduced amino acid sequence of the human lactosylceramide synthase showed 94.2% identity with rat lactosylceramide synthase. Northern blotting analysis revealed that lactosylceramide synthase mRNA was expressed in various tissues, with the highest level in brain and adrenal gland.