Interaction of the alpha beta dimers of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor is required for receptor autophosphorylation.

We have recently found that association of the two alpha beta dimers of the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I) receptor is required for formation of a high-affinity binding site for IGF I [Tollefsen, S. E., & Thompson, K. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 16267-16273]. To determine the structural requirements for IGF I activated kinase activity, we have examined the effect of dissociation of the two alpha beta dimers of the IGF I receptor on beta subunit autophosphorylation. The alpha beta dimers formed after treatment with 2 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) at pH 8.75 for 5 min were separated from IGF I receptor remaining as tetramers after DTT treatment by fast protein liquid chromatography on a Superose 6 gel filtration column. Purification of the alpha beta dimers was confirmed by Western blot analysis using 125I-labeled alpha IR-3, a monoclonal antibody to the IGF I receptor. Autophosphorylation of the IGF I receptor (alpha beta)2 tetramer, treated without DTT or remaining after DTT treatment, is stimulated 1.6-2.9-fold by IGF I. In contrast, autophosphorylation of the alpha beta dimers incubated in the presence or absence of IGF I (100 ng/mL) does not occur. Both IGF I receptor dimers and tetramers exhibit similar kinase activities using the synthetic substrate Arg-Arg-Leu-Ile-Glu-Asp-Ala-Glu-Tyr-Ala-Ala-Arg-Gly, indicating that the failure to detect autophosphorylation of the IGF I receptor dimers does not result from inactivation of the kinase by DTT treatment. We conclude that autophosphorylation of the IGF I receptor depends upon the interaction of the two alpha beta dimers.     

Separation of the high affinity insulin-like growth factor I receptor from low affinity binding sites by affinity chromatography

We have identified high and low affinity insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I)-binding sites with mean dissociation constants of 0.37 and 6.25 nM, respectively, in solubilized placental membranes. We have separated these sites and purified the high affinity IGF I receptor 1,300-fold, with an overall yield of 9.9%, using wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose chromatography, insulin affinity chromatography, and IGF I affinity chromatography. The Scatchard plot of IGF I binding to the high affinity receptor is linear, suggesting the purification of a single homogeneous class of binding sites. Insulin is two orders of magnitude less effective than IGF I in competitively inhibiting IGF I binding to this receptor. The high affinity IGF I receptor is composed of alpha and beta subunits with apparent molecular weights of 135,500 and 96,200, respectively. IGF I at concentrations of greater than or equal to 50 ng/ml stimulates autophosphorylation of the beta subunit of the purified high affinity receptor 4.6-fold. Low affinity IGF I-binding sites run through the IGF I affinity column or are eluted from the insulin affinity column. The separation of IGF I receptors with different binding affinities by sequential affinity chromatography will make it possible to examine directly the determinants of receptor affinity.     

Subunit structure and dynamics of the insulin receptor

A model for the minimum subunit composition and stiochiometry of the physiologically relevant insulin receptor has been deduced based on results obtained by affinity labeling of this receptor in a variety of cell types and species. We propose that the receptor is a symmetrical disulfide-linked heterotetramer composed of two alpha (apparent Mr = 125,000) and two beta (apparent Mr = 90,000) glycoprotein subunits in the configuration (beta-S-S-alpha)-S-S-(alpha-S-S-beta). The disulfide or disulfides linking the two (alpha-S-S-beta) halves (class I disulfides) exhibit greater sensitivity to reduction by exogenous reductants than those linking the alpha and beta subunits (class II disulfides). When the class I disulfides are reduced by addition of diothiothreitol to intact cells, the receptor retains its ability to bind insulin and to effect a biological response. The beta subunit contains a site at about the center of its amino acid sequence that is extremely sensitive to proteolytic cleavage by elastaselike proteases, yielding a beta 1 fragment (Mr = 45,000) that remains disulfide linked to the receptor complex and a free beta 2 fragment. Binding of insulin to the receptor complex appears to result in the formation or stabilization of a new receptor conformation as evidenced by an altered susceptibility of the alpha subunit to exogenous trypsin. A receptor structure with high affinity for insulinlike growth factor (IGF) I and low affinity for insulin in fibroblast and placental membranes has also been affinity labeled. It exhibits the same structural features found for the insulin receptor, including two classes of disulfide bridges and beta subunits highly sensitive to proteolytic cleavage. These recent observations identifying the presence of distinct insulin and IGF-I receptors that share similar complex structures suggest that these hormones may also share common mechanisms of transmembrane signaling.     

Kinetics of colchicine binding to purified beta-tubulin isotypes from bovine brain.

Tubulin, the constituent protein of microtubules, is an alpha beta heterodimer; both alpha and beta exist in several isotypic forms whose functional significance is not precisely known. The antimitotic alkaloid colchicine binds to mammalian brain tubulin in a biphasic manner under pseudo-first-order conditions in the presence of a large excess of colchicine (Garland, D. L. (1978) Biochemistry 17, 4266-4272). We have studied the kinetics of colchicine binding to purified beta-tubulin isotypes and find that each of the purified beta-tubulin isotypes binds colchicine in a monophasic manner. The apparent on-rate constants for the binding of colchicine to alpha beta II-, alpha beta III-, and alpha beta IV-tubulin dimers are respectively 132 +/- 5, 30 +/- 2, and 236 +/- 7 M-1 s-1. When the isotypes are mixed, the kinetics become biphasic. Scatchard analysis revealed that the isotypes differ significantly in their affinity constants (Ka) for binding colchicine. The affinity constants are 0.24 x 10(6), 0.12 x 10(6), and 3.31 x 10(6) M-1, respectively, for alpha beta II-, alpha beta III-, and alpha beta IV-tubulin dimers. Our results are in agreement with the hypothesis that the beta-subunit of tubulin plays a major role in the interaction of colchicine with tubulin. Our binding data raise the possibility that the tubulin isotypes might play important regulatory roles by interacting differently with other non-tubulin proteins in vivo, which in turn, may regulate microtubule-based functions in living cells.     

The purification of fully active recombinant transforming growth factor alpha produced in Escherichia coli

Recombinant human transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), which is active as assessed by competition with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for binding to the EGF receptor, has been produced in Escherichia coli and separated from misfolded and inactive forms of recombinant TGF alpha using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The purified recombinant TGF alpha was used to produce a monoclonal antibody that binds to active TGF alpha specifically. The antibody was coupled to Sepharose and used as an independent method for purifying active TGF alpha. The EGF receptor binding activity of antibody affinity purified TGF alpha is comparable to that of high performance liquid chromatography-purified active TGF alpha, and is 0.55 mg of EGF eq/mg of TGF alpha. The disulfide arrangement of the active TGF alpha was determined after digestion with thermolysin, and found to be analogous to the disulfide arrangement previously determined for EGF (Savage, C. R., Hash, J. H., and Cohen, S. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 7666-7672).     

Dithiothreitol activation of the insulin receptor/kinase does not involve subunit dissociation of the native alpha 2 beta 2 insulin receptor subunit complex

The subunit composition of the dithiothreitol- (DTT) activated insulin receptor/kinase was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration chromatography under denaturing (0.1% SDS) or nondenaturing (0.1% Triton X-100) conditions. Pretreatment of 32P-labeled insulin receptors with 50 mM DTT followed by gel filtration chromatography in 0.1% SDS demonstrated the dissociation of the alpha 2 beta 2 insulin receptor complex (Mr 400,000) into the monomeric 95,000 beta subunit. In contrast, pretreatment of the insulin receptors with 1-50 mM DTT followed by gel filtration chromatography in 0.1% Triton X-100 resulted in no apparent alteration in mobility compared to the untreated insulin receptors. Resolution of this complex by nonreducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography demonstrated the existence of the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complex with essentially no alpha beta heterodimeric or free monomeric beta subunit species present. This suggests that the insulin receptor can reoxidize into the Mr 400,000 complex after the removal of DTT by gel filtration chromatography. Surprisingly, these apparently reoxidized insulin receptors were also observed to be functional with respect to insulin binding, albeit with a 50% decrease in affinity for insulin and insulin stimulation of the beta subunit autophosphorylation. To prevent reoxidation, the insulin receptors were pretreated with 50 mM DTT followed by incubation with excess N-ethylmaleimide prior to gel filtration chromatography in 0.1% Triton X-100. Under these conditions the insulin receptors migrated as the Mr 400,000 alpha 2 beta 2 complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ions binding to S100 proteins. II. Conformational studies and calcium-induced conformational changes in S100 alpha alpha protein: the effect of acidic pH and calcium incubation on subunit exchange in S100a (alpha beta) protein

A rapid separation method for bovine brain S100 alpha alpha, S100a, and S100b protein using fast protein liquid chromatography on a Mono Q column and its application in preparation of a large amount of S100 alpha alpha protein are described. The conformation of S100 alpha alpha in the metal-free forms as well as in the presence of calcium were studied by UV absorption, circular dichroism, intrinsic fluorescence, sulfhydryl reactivity, and interaction with a hydrophobic fluorescent probe. The alpha-subunit appears to have nearly identical conformation in S100 alpha alpha and S100a protein dimers. We also confirmed that only the alpha-subunit exposes hydrophobic domains to solvent in the presence of calcium and that cysteine residues exposed upon Ca2+ binding to S100 proteins correspond to Cys 85 alpha and Cys 84 beta. Incubation of S100a with calcium and KCl proved that calcium binding to the putative calcium-binding sites (site I alpha, I beta) triggers a time- and temperature-dependent conformational change in the protein structure which decreases the antagonistic effect of KCl on calcium binding to sites II alpha and II beta and provokes subunit exchanges between protein dimers and the emergence of S100 alpha alpha and S100b (beta beta) proteins. Dynamic fluorescence measurements showed that incubating calcium at high S100a protein concentrations (greater than 10(-5) M) induces an apparent slow dimer-monomer equilibrium which might result in total subunit dissociation at lower protein concentrations. The effect of acidic pH on subunit dissociation in S100a protein (Morero, R. D., and Weber, G. (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 703, 231-240) arises from conformational changes in the protein structure that are similar to those induced by Ca2+ incubation.     

Expression cloning of the human IL-3 receptor cDNA reveals a shared beta subunit for the human IL-3 and GM-CSF receptors.

A cDNA for a human interleukin-3 (hIL-3) binding protein has been isolated by a novel expression cloning strategy: a cDNA library was coexpressed with the cDNA for the beta subunit of human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor (hGMR beta) in COS7 cells and screened by binding of 125I-labeled IL-3. The cloned cDNA (DUK-1) encodes a mature protein of 70 kd, which belongs to the cytokine receptor family and which alone binds hIL-3 with extremely low affinity (Kd = 120 +/- 60 nM). A high affinity IL-3-binding site (Kd = 140 +/- 30 pM) was reconstituted by coexpressing the DUK-1 protein and hGMR beta, indicating that hIL-3R and hGMR share the beta subunit. Therefore, we designated DUK-1 as the alpha subunit of the hIL-3R. As in human hematopoietic cells, hIL-3 and hGM-CSF complete for binding in fibroblasts expressing the cDNAs for hIL-3R alpha, GMR alpha, and the common beta subunit, indicating that different alpha subunits compete for a common beta subunit.     

The C region of human insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I is required for high affinity binding to the type 1 IGF receptor

We have produced and characterized the binding properties of three structural analogs of human insulin-like growth factor I (hIGF-I). These analogs are [1-62]hIGF-I, an analog lacking the carboxyl-terminal 8-amino acid D region of hIGF-I; [1-27, Gly4, 38-70]hIGF-I, an analog in which residues 28-37 of the C region of hIGF-I are replaced by a 4-reside glycine bridge; and [1-27,Gly4,38-62]hIGF-I, an analog with the C region glycine replacement and a D region deletion. The removal of the D region of hIGF-I has little effect on binding to the type 1 and type 2 insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors. [1-62]hIGF-I has 2-fold higher affinity for the insulin receptor and 4-fold higher affinity for IGF serum-binding proteins. The replacement of the C region of hIGF-I with a four-glycine span results in a 30-fold loss of affinity for the type 1 IGF receptor. However this analog has near normal affinity for the type 2 IGF receptor, the insulin receptor, and IGF serum-binding proteins. Incorporating the C region glycine replacement and the D region deletion into one analog does not affect binding to either the type 2 receptor or to IGF serum-binding proteins. As predicted from the single deletion analogs [1-27,Gly4,38-62]hIGF-I has reduced affinity for the type 1 IGF receptor (approximately 40-fold) and increased affinity for the insulin receptor (5-fold). These data indicate that determinants in the C region of hIGF-I are involved in maintaining high affinity binding to the type 1 IGF receptor and that neither the C region nor the D region are required for high affinity binding to the type 2 IGF receptor or to IGF serum-binding proteins.     

Insulin-dependent intermolecular subunit communication between isolated alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptor complexes

The dissociation of the purified human placental alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric insulin receptor complex into an alpha beta heterodimeric state was found to occur in a pH- and dithiothreitol (DTT)-dependent manner. Formation of the alpha beta heterodimeric complex, under conditions which preserved tracer insulin binding and protein kinase activities (pH 8.75 for 25 min followed by 2.0 mM DTT for 5 min) occurred with an approximate 50% efficiency. The resulting nondissociated alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complexes could then be separated effectively by Bio-Gel A-1.5m gel filtration chromatography at neutral pH. The isolated DTT-treated but nondissociated alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complex was resistant to any further dissociation by a second round of DTT and alkaline pH treatment, whereas the isolated alpha beta heterodimeric complex was stable to spontaneous reassociation for at least 72 h at pH 7.60. Kinetic analyses of the insulin receptor protein kinase activity demonstrated that the insulin stimulation of glutamic acid:tyrosine (4:1) synthetic polymer phosphorylation for both the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric and alpha beta heterodimeric complexes occurred via an increase in Vmax without any significant change in Km. Examination of beta subunit autophosphorylation of the alpha beta heterodimeric complex, in the presence but not in the absence of insulin, demonstrated the appearance of the covalent 32P-labeled alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complex. Further, the initial rate of insulin-stimulated beta subunit autophosphorylation in the isolated alpha beta heterodimeric complex occurred in a dilution-dependent (intermolecular) manner. These data demonstrate that the isolated alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptor complex is fully capable of expressing insulin-dependent activation of the beta subunit protein kinase domain with the covalent reassociation of the alpha beta heterodimeric complex into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric disulfide-linked state.     

Insulin-like growth factor binding to the atypical insulin receptors of a human lymphoid-derived cell line (IM-9).

The cells of the IM-9 human lymphocyte-derived line contain a sub-population of insulin-binding sites whose immunological and hormone-binding characteristics closely resemble those of the atypical insulin-binding sites of human placenta. These binding sites, which have moderately high affinity for multiplication-stimulating activity [MSA, the rat homologue of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II] and IGF-I, are identified on IM-9 cells by 125I-MSA binding. They account for approximately 30% of the total insulin-receptor population, and do not react with a monoclonal antibody to the type I IGF receptor (alpha IR-3). The relative concentrations of unlabelled insulin, MSA and IGF-I required to displace 50% of 125I-MSA from these binding sites (1:4.7:29 respectively) are maintained for cells, particulate membranes, Triton-solubilized membranes precipitated either by poly(ethylene glycol) or a polyclonal antibody (B-10) to the insulin receptor, and receptors purified by insulin affinity chromatography. Because the atypical insulin/MSA-binding sites outnumber the type I IGF receptors in IM-9 cells by approximately 10-fold, they also compete with the latter receptors for 125I-IGF-I binding. Thus 125I-IGF-I binding to IM-9 cells is inhibited by moderately low concentrations of insulin (relative potency ratios for insulin compared with IGF-I are approx. 1/14 to 1/4) and is partially displaced (65-80%) by alpha IR-3. When type I IGF receptors are blocked by alpha IR-3 or removed by B-10 immunoprecipitation or insulin affinity chromatography, the hormone-displacement patterns for 125I-IGF-I binding resemble those of the atypical insulin/MSA-binding sites.     

A1 adenosine receptors of bovine brain couple to guanine nucleotide-binding proteins Gi1, Gi2, and Go

A1 adenosine receptors and associated guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) were purified from bovine cerebral cortex by affinity chromatography (Munshi, R., and Linden, J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 14853-14859). In this study we have identified the pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein subunits that co-purify with A1 adenosine receptors by immunoblotting with specific antipeptide antisera. Gi alpha 1, Gi alpha 2, Go alpha, G beta 35, and G beta 36 were detected. Of the total [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate [( 35S]GTP gamma S) binding sites, Gi alpha 1 and Go alpha each accounted for greater than 37% whereas Gi alpha 2 comprised less than 13%. G beta 35 was found in excess over G beta 36. Low molecular mass (21-25 kDa) GTP-binding proteins were not detected. We also examined the characteristics of purified receptors and various purified bovine brain G proteins reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. All three alpha-subunits restored GTP gamma S-sensitive high affinity binding of the agonist 125I-aminobenzyladenosine to a fraction (25%) of reconstituted receptors with a selectivity order of Gi2 greater than Go greater than or equal to Gi1 (ED50 values of G proteins measured as fold excess over the receptor concentration were 4.7 +/- 1.2, 24 +/- 5, and 34 +/- 7, respectively). Furthermore, receptors occupied with the agonist R-phenylisopropyladenosine catalytically increased the rate of binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to reconstituted G proteins by 6.5-8.5-fold. These results suggest that A1 adenosine receptors couple indiscriminately to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins.     

High affinity ligand binding is not essential for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor activation.

The high affinity receptor of the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a heterodimer composed of two members of the cytokine receptor superfamily. GM-CSF binds to the alpha-subunit (GM-R alpha) with low affinity and to the receptor alpha beta complex (GM-R alpha beta) with high affinity. The GM-CSF.GM-R alpha beta complex is responsible for biological activity. Interactions of the N-terminal helix of mouse GM-CSF with mGM-R alpha beta were examined by introducing single alanine substitutions of hydrophilic residues in this region of mGM-CSF. The consequences of these substitutions were evaluated by receptor binding and biological assays. Although all mutant proteins exhibited near wild-type biological activity, most were defective in high affinity receptor binding. In particular, substitution of Glu-21 with alanine abrogated high affinity binding leaving low affinity binding unaffected. Despite near wild-type biological activity, no detectable binding interaction of this mutant with mGM-R beta in the context of mGM-R alpha beta was observed. Cross-linking studies showed an apparent interaction of this mutant protein with mGM-R alpha beta. The deficient receptor binding characteristics and near wild-type biological activity of this mutant protein demonstrate that mGM-CSF receptor activation can occur independently of high affinity binding, suggesting that conformational changes in the receptor induced by mGM-CSF binding generate an active ligand-receptor complex.     

Binding modes of L35 to alpha- and beta-semihemoglobins: structural insights into the inequivalence of alpha- and beta-subunits of hemoglobin

It has been thought for several years that the greatly lowered oxygen affinity, high cooperativity, and heterotropic modulation displayed by tetrameric human hemoglobin (Hb) was an exclusive result of the assembly of high affinity alpha(1)beta(1) dimers into alpha(2)beta(2) tetramers. However, in recent times, it has been shown that alpha- and beta-semihemoglobins, namely alpha(heme)beta(apo) and alpha(apo)beta(heme), which are dimers of Hb characterized by a high affinity for oxygen and lack of cooperativity do respond to effectors such as 2-[4-(3,5-dichlorophenylureido) phenoxy]-2-methylpropionic acid (L35), a bezafibrate (BZF) related compound, by decreasing the ligand affinity to a considerable extent (between 60- and 130-fold). In order to shed some light on the structural basis of this phenomenon, we have developed a binding mode of L35 to semihemoglobins through docking analysis using the program GRID. Molecular modelling studies did identify sites on semihemoglobins where favourable interactions with L35 can occur. We found that the effector binds differently to the two semihemoglobins exhibiting high affinity only for the alpha chain heme pocket. The proposed binding models are consistent with the experimental findings and may be rationalized in terms of different hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics between alpha- and beta-heme pockets of Hb.     

The chicken liver cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor lacks the high affinity binding site for insulin-like growth factor II

The chicken liver cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor has been purified to apparent homogeneity by affinity chromatography on pentamannose phosphate-Sepharose and tested for its ability to bind iodinated human IGF-I, human IGF-II, and chicken IGF-II. In contrast to the bovine, rat, and human cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptors, which bind human IGF-II and IGF-I with nanomolar and micromolar affinities, respectively, the chicken receptor failed to bind either radioligand at receptor concentrations as high as 1 microM. The bovine receptor binds chicken IGF-II with high affinity while the chicken receptor binds this ligand with only low affinity, which we estimate to be in the micromolar range. These data demonstrate that the chicken cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor lacks the high affinity binding site for IGF-II. These results provide an explanation for the failure of previous investigators to identify the type II IGF receptor by IGF-II cross-linking to chicken cells and indicate that the mitogenic activity of IGF-II in chick embryo fibroblasts is most likely mediated via the type I IGF receptor.     

Structural elements underlying the high binding affinity of human cytomegalovirus UL18 to leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor-1

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes UL18, a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I homologue that binds to the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LIR)-1 (also called ILT2/CD85j/LILRB1), an inhibitory receptor expressed on myeloid and lymphoid immune cells. The molecular basis underlying the high affinity binding of UL18 to LIR-1, compared to MHC class I molecules (MHC-I), is unclear. Based on a comparative structural analysis of a molecular model of UL18 with the crystal structure of the HLA-A2/LIR-1 complex, we identified three regions in UL18 influencing interaction with LIR-1. Comparison of the relative binding affinities of mutated UL18 proteins to LIR-1 demonstrated the importance of specific residues in each region. Substitution of residues K42/A43 and Q202, localized in the alpha1 and alpha3 domains, respectively, reduced binding affinity to LIR-1 nearly by half. The model also suggested the formation of an additional disulfide bridge in the alpha3 domain of UL18 between residues C240 and C255, not present in MHC-I. Substitution of either cysteine residue prevented association of UL18 to beta2m, abolishing binding to LIR-1. All observed differences in binding affinities translated directly into functional consequences in terms of inhibition of IFN-gamma production by T cells, mediated through the UL18-LIR-1 interaction. The larger amount of interacting regions, combined with an increased stability of the alpha3 and beta2m domains allow a higher recognition affinity of UL18 by LIR-1.     

Structural requirements for the transmembrane activation of the insulin receptor kinase

Tetrameric insulin holoreceptor (alpha 2 beta 2) was reduced with dithiothreitol into alpha beta dimers such that they maintain up to 50% of insulin binding at tracer ligand concentrations. Scatchard analysis of insulin binding to dimers revealed that they had a reduced affinity for ligand by a factor of 3-6 compared to holoreceptor, whereas the maximum number of high affinity binding sites was not affected. The alpha beta dimers can be separated from holoreceptor by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and hence, they are not associated by noncovalent interactions. Insulin-dependent autophosphorylation of alpha beta dimers isolated from low ionic strength sucrose density gradients was minimal and was always accompanied by reoxidation of dimers to the tetrameric holoreceptor. The reformed tetramer exhibited a strong insulin-dependent autophosphorylation reaction. Reoxidation was prevented by isolating alpha beta dimers in sucrose density gradients containing 0.15 M NaCl. Under these conditions, no insulin-dependent autophosphorylation was observed. When insulin receptor was first autophosphorylated and then reduced, receptor kinase activity, as assayed by histone phosphorylation, was not affected. Also, the insulin-independent, basal autophosphorylation was maintained after reduction into alpha beta dimers. We conclude that alpha beta-alpha beta interaction is not necessary for the maintenance of basal kinase activity or for insulin-activated kinase activity once autophosphorylation occurs. However, dimer-dimer interaction appears critical for the insulin-dependent activation of the receptor's intrinsic kinase activity.     

Coupling of a mutated form of the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor to Gi and Gs. Requirement for multiple cytoplasmic domains in the coupling process.

We constructed five genes encoding mutant human beta 2-adrenergic receptor sequence (beta 2AR) which contained 12-22 amino acid substitutions with corresponding sequence from the human alpha 2AAR in order to assess the receptor domains involved in Gs versus Gi recognition and coupling. Mutant beta 2AR with substitutions in the N (S1)- and C-terminal (S2) portions of the third intracellular loop, the proximal cytoplasmic tail (S3), and two combinations thereof (S2,3 and S1,2,3), were stably expressed in Chinese hamster fibrobasts (CHW-1102), as were the human beta 2AR and alpha 2AAR at comparable receptor levels. All mutant receptors with S2 substitutions (i.e. S2, S2,3, S1,2,3) were significantly (approximately 85%) uncoupled from Gs. Upon exposure to pertussis toxin, which uncouples receptors from Gi, S1,2,3 exhibited a 526 +/- 99% increase in agonist-stimulated adenylylcyclase activity compared with a 59 +/- 13% increase with the wild type receptor. This enhanced ability of S1,2,3 to interact with Gs following pertussis toxin treatment indicates that, in the absence of toxin exposure, substantial coupling occurs between the mutant receptor and Gi. Mutant beta 2AR bearing only one or two alpha 2AAR-substituted sequences showed no such enhancement. Forskolin-stimulated enzyme activities were increased by pertussis toxin treatment to similar degrees in all clones examined, indicating that the observed effects are confined to the receptor-mediated pathway. In the absence of GTP, competition binding experiments with S1,2,3, beta 2AR and alpha 2AAR revealed that approximately 40-50% of the receptors formed a high affinity binding state for agonist. Pertussis toxin treatment markedly reduced this to approximately 19% with S1,2,3, while having no effect on beta 2AR and completely eliminating high affinity agonist binding to alpha 2AAR. These results suggest that S1,2,3 interacts with Gi as well as Gs, and that receptor:G protein coupling requires the concerted participation of multiple cytoplasmic receptor domains.     

Integrin alpha(2)I domain recognizes type I and type IV collagens by different mechanisms

The collagens are recognized by the alphaI domains of the collagen receptor integrins. A common structural feature in the collagen-binding alphaI domains is the presence of an extra helix, named helix alphaC. However, its participation in collagen binding has not been shown. Here, we have deleted the helix alphaC in the alpha(2)I domain and tested the function of the resultant recombinant protein (DeltaalphaCalpha(2)I) by using a real-time biosensor. The DeltaalphaCalpha(2)I domain had reduced affinity for type I collagen (430 +/- 90 nM) when compared with wild-type alpha(2)I domain (90 +/- 30 nM), indicating both the importance of helix alphaC in type I collagen binding and that the collagen binding surface in alpha(2)I domain is located near the metal ion-dependent adhesion site. Previous studies have suggested that the charged amino acid residues, surrounding the metal ion-dependent adhesion site but not interacting with Mg(2+), may play an important role in the recognition of type I collagen. Direct evidence indicating the participation of these residues in collagen recognition has been missing. To test this idea, we produced a set of recombinant alpha(2)I domains with mutations, namely D219A, D219N, D219R, E256Q, D259N, D292N, and E299Q. Mutations in amino acids Asp(219), Asp(259), Asp(292), and Glu(299) resulted in weakened affinity for type I collagen. When alpha(2) D219N and D292N mutations were introduced separately into alpha(2)beta(1) integrin expressed on Chinese hamster ovary cells, no alterations in the cell spreading on type I collagen were detected. However, Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing double mutated alpha(2) D219N/D292N integrin showed remarkably slower spreading on type I collagen, while spreading on type IV collagen was not affected. The data indicate that alpha(2)I domain binds to type I collagen with a different mechanism than to type IV collagen.     

Rhodopsin and the retinal G-protein distinguish among G-protein beta gamma subunit forms

The beta gamma subunits of G-proteins are composed of closely related beta 35 and beta 36 subunits tightly associated with diverse 6-10 kDa gamma subunits. We have developed a reconstitution assay using rhodopsin-catalyzed guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding to resolved alpha subunit of the retinal G-protein transducin (Gt alpha) to quantitate the activity of beta gamma proteins. Rhodopsin facilitates the exchange of GTP gamma S for GDP bound to Gt alpha beta gamma with a 60-fold higher apparent affinity than for Gt alpha alone. At limiting rhodopsin, G-protein-derived beta gamma subunits catalytically enhance the rate of GTP gamma S binding to resolved Gt alpha. The isolated beta gamma subunit of retinal G-protein (beta 1, gamma 1 genes) facilitates rhodopsin-catalyzed GTP gamma S exchange on Gt alpha in a concentration-dependent manner (K0.5 = 254 +/- 21 nM). Purified human placental beta 35 gamma, composed of beta 2 gene product and gamma-placenta protein (Evans, T., Fawzi, A., Fraser, E.D., Brown, L.M., and Northup, J.K. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 176-181), substitutes for Gt beta gamma reconstitution of rhodopsin with Gt alpha. However, human placental beta 35 gamma facilitates rhodopsin-catalyzed GTP gamma S exchange on Gt alpha with a higher apparent affinity than Gt beta gamma (K0.5 = 76 +/- 54 nM). As an alternative assay for these interactions, we have examined pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the Gt alpha subunit which is markedly enhanced in rate by beta gamma subunits. Quantitative analyses of rates of pertussis modification reveal no differences in apparent affinity between Gt beta gamma and human placental beta 35 gamma (K0.5 values of 49 +/- 29 and 70 +/- 24 nM, respectively). Thus, the Gt alpha subunit alone does not distinguish among the beta gamma subunit forms. These results clearly show a high degree of functional homology among the beta 35 and beta 36 subunits of G-proteins for interaction with Gt alpha and rhodopsin, and establish a simple functional assay for the beta gamma subunits of G-proteins. Our data also suggest a specificity of recognition of beta gamma subunit forms which is dependent both on Gt alpha and rhodopsin. These results may indicate that the recently uncovered diversity in the expression of beta gamma subunit forms may complement the diversity of G alpha subunits in providing for specific receptor recognition of G-proteins.