Macrophage catabolism of lipid A is regulated by endotoxin stimulation

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a Gram-negative bacterial glycolipid that is believed to cause, by virtue of its stimulatory actions on macrophages and other eukaryotic cells, the life-threatening symptoms associated with Gram-negative infections. Macrophages both respond to and catabolically deactivate LPS. The lipid A moiety of LPS is responsible for the stimulatory actions of LPS on macrophages. We have previously developed methods employing a radiolabeled bioactive lipid A precursor, 4'-32P-lipid IVA, to study the interaction of this class of lipids with animal cells (Hampton, R. Y., Golenbock, D. T., and Raetz, C. R. H. (1988). J. Biol. Chem. 263, 14802-14807). In the current work, we have examined the uptake and catabolism of 4'-32P-lipid IVA by the RAW 264.7 cell line in serum-containing medium at physiological temperatures and have studied the effect of LPS stimulation on the ability of these cells to catabolize lipid IVA. RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells avidly take up 4'-32P-lipid IVA under cell culture conditions at nanomolar concentrations. Uptake of lipid IVA was accompanied by lysosomal dephosphorylation of a fraction of the lipid to yield 4'-monophosphoryl lipid IVA. Chemically generated 4'-monophosphoryl lipid IVA was found to be substantially less bioactive than lipid IVA in the RAW cell, indicating that this catabolic dephosphorylation results in detoxification. In uptake experiments of 3-4 h duration, all metabolism of lipid IVA is blocked by ligands of the macrophage scavenger receptor. In longer experiments (24 h), both scavenger receptor-dependent and -independent uptake are responsible for the lysosomal catabolism of lipid IVA. Preincubation of RAW 264.7 cells with LPS caused dose-dependent inhibition of lipid IVA dephosphorylation. Sufficient LPS stimulation resulted in essentially complete inhibition of lipid IVA catabolism in both short- and long-term uptake experiments. This effect occurred at physiologically relevant concentrations of LPS (IC50 less than 1 ng/ml), and our data indicate that LPS-induced blockade of lipid IVA catabolism was due to the resultant physiological stimulation of the cells, and not inhibition of dephosphorylation by competition for uptake or enzymatic sites or by simple sequestration of labeled lipid IVA by LPS aggregates. We suggest that in the macrophage, LPS can modulate its own catabolism by virtue of its pharmacological properties. This effect of LPS could play a role in LPS pathophysiology as well as in macrophage biology.     

Direct photoaffinity labeling of proteins with adenosine 3'-[32P]phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate. Atractyloside inhibits labeling of a Mr = 34,000 protein in an adrenal medullary Golgi fraction

Direct photoaffinity labeling with radioactively labeled adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography was used to identify PAPS binding proteins in a Golgi membrane preparation of bovine adrenal medulla. [3'-32P]PAPS was synthesized from adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS) and [gamma-32P]ATP using APS kinase prepared from yeast and was purified by reverse-phase ion pair high performance liquid chromatography. Upon irradiation with UV light, [3'-32P]PAPS, as well as [35S]PAPS under conditions which minimized sulfotransferase-catalyzed incorporation of 35SO4 from [35S]PAPS into proteins, bound selectively to a 34-kDa protein of the Golgi membrane preparation. PAPS binding to the 34-kDa protein was strongly inhibited by the presence of 50 microM atractyloside. The 34-kDa PAPS binding protein therefore appears to be similar to the mitochondrial ATP/ADP translocator with regard to both molecular weight and inhibition by atractyloside of adenine nucleotide binding. Photoaffinity labeling will be useful in the purification and functional identification of the 34-kDa protein.     

The molybdate-stabilized L-cell glucocorticoid receptor isolated by affinity chromatography or with a monoclonal antibody is associated with a 90-92-kDa nonsteroid-binding phosphoprotein

We have previously reported that molybdate-stabilized cytosol prepared from 32P-labeled L-cells contains two phosphoproteins (a 90-92- and a 98-100-kDa protein) that elute from an affinity resin of deoxycorticosterone-derivatized agarose in a manner consistent with the predicted behavior of the glucocorticoid receptor (Housley, P. R., and Pratt, W. B. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4630-4635). In the present work we report that both the 90-92- and 98-100-kDa 32P-labeled proteins are also extracted from molybdate-stabilized cytosol by incubation with a monoclonal antibody and protein A-Sepharose. Only the 98-100-kDa protein is specifically labeled when either L-cell cytosol or L-cell cytosol proteins bound to the affinity resin are labeled with the glucocorticoid binding site-specific affinity ligand [3H]dexamethasone 21-mesylate. The 98-100-kDa protein labeled with [3H]dexamethasone mesylate is adsorbed to protein A-Sepharose in an immune-specific manner after reaction with the monoclonal antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel analysis of the protein A-Sepharose-bound material resulting from incubating the monoclonal antibody with a mixture of 32P-labeled cytosol and [3H]dexamethasone mesylate-labeled cytosol demonstrates identity of the 98-100-kDa [3H]dexamethasone mesylate-labeled band with the 98-100-kDa 32P-labeled band and clear separation from the nonsteroid-binding 90-92-kDa phosphoprotein. The results of immunoblot experiments demonstrate that the 90-92-kDa protein is structurally distinct from the 98-100-kDa steroid-binding protein. As the 90-92-kDa nonsteroid-binding phosphoprotein co-purified with the 98-100-kDa uncleaved form of the glucocorticoid receptor by two independent methods, one of which is based on recognizing a steroid-binding site and the other of which is based on recognizing an antibody binding site, we propose that the 90-92-kDa phosphoprotein is a component of the molybdate-stabilized, untransformed glucocorticoid-receptor complex in L-cell cytosol.     

Isolation of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-resistant mutant, with defective LPS binding, of cultured macrophage-like cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-resistant mutants which did not respond to LPS were isolated from a macrophage-like mouse cell line, J774.1. Unlike the parental J774.1 cells, these mutants grew even in LPS added medium as well as in normal growth medium without any morphological changes. Assay of 125I-LPS binding to the cell monolayers revealed that one of these LPS-resistant mutants (LR-9) was strikingly defective in LPS-binding activity. Scatchard plot showed that LR-9 cells lacked the high affinity binding sites which were present in J774.1. The high affinity binding was inhibited by addition of excess unlabeled LPS, lipid A, lipid IVA (tetraacyl-beta(1'-6)-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide-1,4'-bisphosphate), and lipid X (2,3-diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate) and sensitive to proteinase K. LPS enhanced O2- generation and the release of arachidonic acid in J774.1 cells but not in LR-9 cells. Other stimulants such as zymosan and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, however, induced the release of arachidonic acid in LR-9 cells as well as in J774.1 cells. LPS-photocross-linked assay allowed the identification of 65- and 55-kDa LPS-binding proteins in the membrane fraction of J774.1 cells. Both of the bands were not detectable in that of LR-9 cells and disappeared by competing with unlabeled LPS or lipid X. These results show that one or both of the two LPS-binding proteins might relate to the specific membrane receptor for LPS.     

Evolution of lipoprotein receptors. The chicken oocyte receptor for very low density lipoprotein and vitellogenin binds the mammalian ligand apolipoprotein E

The laying hen expresses two different lipoprotein transport receptors in cell-specific fashion. On the one hand, a 95-kDa oocyte membrane protein mediates the uptake of the major yolk precursors, very low density lipoprotein, and vitellogenin; on the other hand, somatic cells synthesize a 130-kDa receptor that is involved in the regulation of cellular cholesterol homeostasis (Hayashi, K., Nimpf, J., and Schneider, W. J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 3131-3139). Here we show that the oocyte-specific receptor binds, in addition to the yolk precursor proteins, an apolipoprotein of mammalian origin, apolipoprotein E. Ligand blotting, a solid-phase binding assay, and antireceptor antibodies were employed to demonstrate that binding of vitellogenin, very low density lipoprotein (via apolipoprotein B), and apolipoprotein E occurs to closely related, if not identical, sites on the 95-kDa oocyte receptor. The binding properties of lipovitellin, which harbors the receptor recognition site of vitellogenin, are analogous to those of apolipoprotein E: both require association with lipid for expression of functional receptor binding. The ligand specificity of the avian oocyte lipoprotein receptor supports the hypothesis that vitellogenin, which has evolved in oviparous species, represents a counterpart to mammalian apolipoprotein E.     

Heparin inhibits osteoclastic differentiation and function

We investigated the effects of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on mouse monocytic cell line in regard to their differentiation, proliferation, and function in vitro. RAW 264.7 cells were cultured with receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and various GAGs. Osteoclastic cells were visualized by staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and detected using a phenyl-phosphate substrate method. RAW 264.7 cells were also cultured with stimulants contained in BD BioCoat OSTEOLOGIC(TM) kit, and bone resorption activity was assessed by counting the numbers of resorption pits. We also examined the effect of heparin on cell growth using MTT assay, while the expression level of c-Src protein was determined by immunoblot analysis. Heparin suppressed TRAP-positive multinucleated cell formation and TRAP activity induced by RANKL, whereas the other GAGs showed no effects on osteoclast differentiation. Heparin also inhibited the formation of resorption pits, while the others did not. In the MTT assay, none of the tested GAGs had an influence on RAW 264.7 cell proliferation. However, heparin reduced the level of c-Src protein in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with RANKL. To determine the affinity of heparin and RANKL, they were subjected by HiTrap heparin column chromatography and each fraction was collected. Western blotting analysis revealed the expression of RANKL in the fraction bound to heparin. The binding of RANKL and heparin was confirmed by quartz-crystal microbalance. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of heparin toward osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL is due to the binding of heparin to RANKL.     

Detection of (2'-5')oligoadenylate binding proteins by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and affinity blotting onto nitrocellulose

A latent endoribonuclease, RNase L, binds to and is activated by (2'-5')oligoadenylates ((2'-5')(A)n, n = 2-15). Binding to a labeled derivative of (2'-5')(A)n, [32P](2'-5')(A)3pCp, is detected as a protein-ligand complex observed following nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. One major binding complex and two minor binding complexes are readily seen in cytoplasmic extracts from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, murine tissue extracts and rabbit liver tissue extracts. At least one of the more rapidly migrating complexes appears to be a proteolytic degradation product of the larger [32P](2'-5')(A)3pCp binding protein. Cell and tissue extracts containing [32P](2'-5')(A)3pCp binding activity can be immobilized onto nitrocellulose filters and [32P](2'-5')(A)3pCp binding activity detected using a simple, rapid, economical affinity blot assay. Detection of [32P](2'-5')(A)3pCp binding proteins following electrophoresis on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels and the affinity blot assay significantly improve and simplify the analysis of (2'-5')(A)n binding proteins.     

Accumulation of lysophosphatidylinositol in RAW 264.7 macrophage tumor cells stimulated by lipid A precursors

N2,O3-Diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate (lipid X), a monosaccharide precursor of Escherichia coli lipid A, was used to stimulate RAW 264.7 macrophage tumor cells, and the effects on macrophage phospholipid metabolism were examined. The addition of E. coli lipid X to the medium of cells that had been uniformly labeled with 32Pi resulted in a 4-8-fold increase in the level of lysophosphatidylinositol. This effect was maximal at 5 microM lipid X. Lysophosphatidylinositol levels reached a maximum 45 min after stimulation, followed by a gradual decline to near normal levels within 2 h. The formation of lysophosphatidylinositol was dependent upon extracellular calcium and was almost completely inhibited when cycloheximide was added at the time of stimulation. The addition of the disaccharide lipid A precursor IVA, commercial lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram/ml), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10(-7) M), or calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-6) M) to these cells resulted in a similar increase in lysophosphatidylinositol levels, but phosphatidic acid was inactive. The stimulation by IVA and phorbol myristate acetate was blocked by cycloheximide, but the stimulation by lipopolysaccharide was only partially blocked. The stimulation by A23187 was unaffected by cycloheximide. The increase in lysophosphatidylinositol levels might be related to the stimulation of arachidonate release and prostaglandin synthesis that is also observed in cells treated with lipid A precursors. The disaccharide precursor, IVA, was at least 100 times more effective than lipid X at stimulating lysophosphatidylinositol formation and prostaglandin release. The relative ability of lipid X and IVA to stimulate these cells correlated well with their effects on other lipopolysaccharide-responsive systems. Macrophage tumor cells also had the ability to inactivate lipid X by dephosphorylating it.     

A phosphotransferase that generates phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns-4-P) from phosphatidylinositol and lipid A in Rhizobium leguminosarum. A membrane-bound enzyme linking lipid a and ptdins-4-p biosynthesis

Membranes of Rhizobium leguminosarum contain a 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo)-activated lipid A 4'-phosphatase required for generating the unusual phosphate-deficient lipid A found in this organism. The enzyme has been solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified 80-fold. As shown by co-purification and thermal inactivation studies, the 4'-phosphatase catalyzes not only the hydrolysis of (Kdo)2-[4'-32P]lipid IVA but also the transfer the 4'-phosphate of Kdo2-[4'-32P]lipid IVA to the inositol headgroup of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) to generate PtdIns-4-P. Like the 4'-phosphatase, the phosphotransferase activity is not present in Escherichia coli, Rhizobium meliloti, or the nodulation-defective mutant 24AR of R. leguminosarum. The specific activity for the phosphotransferase reaction is about 2 times higher than that of the 4'-phosphatase. The phosphotransferase assay conditions are similar to those used for PtdIns kinases, except that ATP and Mg2+ are omitted. The apparent Km for PtdIns is approximately 500 microM versus 20-100 microM for most PtdIns kinases, but the phosphotransferase specific activity in crude cell extracts is higher than that of most PtdIns kinases. The phosphotransferase is absolutely specific for the 4-position of PtdIns and is highly selective for PtdIns as the acceptor. The 4'-phosphatase/phosphotransferase can be eluted from heparin- or Cibacron blue-agarose with PtdIns. A phosphoenzyme intermediate may account for the dual function of this enzyme, since a single 32P-labeled protein species (Mr approximately 68,000) can be trapped and visualized by SDS gel electrophoresis of enzyme preparations incubated with Kdo2-[4'-32P]lipid IVA. Although PtdIns is not detected in cultures of R. leguminosarum/etli (CE3), PtdIns may be synthesized during nodulation or supplied by plant membranes, given that soybean PtdIns is an excellent phosphate acceptor. A bacterial enzyme for generating PtdIns-4-P and a direct link between lipid A and PtdIns-4-P biosynthesis have not been reported previously.     

Lipid A-like molecules that antagonize the effects of endotoxins on human monocytes

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin is implicated as the bacterial product responsible for the clinical syndrome of Gram-negative septicemia. Although the lipid A domain of LPS appears to be responsible for the toxicity of endotoxin, lipid A from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RSLA) and a disaccharide precursor of lipid A from enteric bacteria, termed lipid IVA, have little activity on human cells. Using the human promonomyelocytic cell line THP-1 and human monocytic cells, we now show that both lipid IVA and RSLA are antagonists of LPS. Complete, apparently competitive, inhibition of LPS activity is possible at a 10-100-fold excess of antagonist, as judged by measuring the release of cytokines and prostaglandin E2. Both antagonists prevent monocyte stimulation by endotoxin extracted from a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. Cells pretreated with either inhibitor and subsequently washed still show attenuated responses to LPS. Stimulation of monocytes by whole Gram-negative bacteria is also antagonized in a dose-dependent manner. Lipid X has no inhibitory effect in the same dose range as lipid IVA and RSLA. These findings rule out LPS sequestration as the explanation for the observed antagonism. Neither inhibitor alters monocyte stimulation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, Staphylococcus aureus, or purified protein derivative, demonstrating specificity for LPS. Although RSLA appears to inhibit LPS when tested with macrophages from both humans and mice, lipid IVA had the unique ability to act as an LPS antagonist with human-derived cells but to exhibit LPS-like effects with murine-derived cells. Like LPS, lipid IVA stimulated the release of both tumor necrosis factor alpha and arachidonic acid from murine-derived RAW 264.7 macrophage tumor cells. The range of concentrations necessary for lipid IVA to induce LPS-like effects in murine cells was similar to that necessary to antagonize the actions of LPS in human monocytes. The agonist activities of lipid IVA were completely inhibitable by RSLA. This unique species-dependent pharmacology observed with lipid IVA may reflect differences between human and murine LPS receptors. RSLA and lipid IVA may be useful in defining the role of LPS in Gram-negative bacterial infections and may prove to be prototypical therapeutic agents for the treatment of Gram-negative septicemia.     

Oxidized low density lipoprotein induces macrophage endoplasmic reticulum stress via CD36.

The purpose of the present study is to explore the effect of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and the underlying mechanisms in ox-LDL-induced macrophage foam-forming process. RAW264.7 macrophages were cultured in DMEM medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, and then treated with ox-LDL (25, 50 and 100 mg/L), anti-CD36 monoclonal antibody+ox-LDL and tunicamycin (TM), respectively. After incubation for 24 h, the cells were collected. The cellular lipid accumulation was showed by oil red O staining and the content of cellular total cholesterol was quantified by enzymatic colorimetry. The expression of glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94), a molecular marker of ERS, was determined by immunocytochemistry assay. The levels of GRP94 protein, phosphorylated inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (p-IRE1) and X box binding protein 1 (XBP1) in RAW264.7 cells were detected by Western blotting. The results indicated that after incubation with ox-LDL (25, 50 and 100 mg/L) for 24 h, a large amount of lipid droplets were found in the cytoplasm, and the contents of cellular total cholesterol were increased by 2.1, 2.8 and 3.1 folds compared with the control, respectively. Anti-CD36 antibody decreased markedly the cellular lipid accumulation induced by ox-LDL at 100 mg/L. Both ox-LDL and TM, a specific ERS inducer, could up-regulate the protein expression of GRP94 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, p-IRE1 and XBP1, two key components of the unfolded protein response, were also significantly induced by the treatment with ox-LDL. The up-regulations of the three proteins induced by ox-LDL were inhibited significantly when the macrophages were pre-incubated with anti-CD36 antibody. These results suggest that ox-LDL may induce ERS in a dose-dependent way and subsequently activate the unfolded protein response signaling pathway in RAW264.7 macrophages, which is potentially mediated by scavenger receptor CD36.     

Biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide in Escherichia coli. Cytoplasmic enzymes that attach 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid to lipid A

Previous studies in our laboratory led to the elucidation of the covalent structure of a tetraacyldisaccharide 1,4'-bisphosphate precursor of lipid A (designated lipid IVA), that accumulates at 42 degrees C in temperature-sensitive mutants defective in 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO) biosynthesis (Raetz, C. R. H., Purcell, S., Meyer, M. V., Qureshi, N., and Takayama, K. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 16080-16088). Using [4'-32P]lipid IVA as the probe, we now demonstrate the existence of cytoplasmic KDO-transferases in Escherichia coli capable of attaching 2 KDO residues, derived from CMP-KDO, to lipid IVA. A partial purification has been developed to obtain a cytoplasmic subfraction that adds these 2 KDO residues with a 90% yield. The product is shown to have the stoichiometry of (KDO)2-IVA by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The partially purified enzyme can utilize alternative lipid-disaccharide cosubstrates bearing five or six fatty acyl chains, but it has an absolute requirement for a monophosphate residue at position 4' of the lipid acceptor. When reincubated with a crude cytoplasmic fraction, a nucleoside triphosphate and Mg2+, (KDO)2-IVA is rapidly metabolized to more polar substances, the identity of which is unknown. The KDO-transferase(s) described in the present study should be very useful for the semisynthetic preparation of complex lipopolysaccharide substructures and analogs.     

The laying hen expresses two different low density lipoprotein receptor-related proteins

We have identified, by a combination of ligand, 45Ca2+, and immunoblotting, two large membrane proteins akin to the mammalian so-called low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein (LRP) in chicken tissues. LRP has thus far been demonstrated only in mammalian species where it is thought to act as a receptor for proteinase-alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes and/or chylomicron remnants, lipoproteins not produced in birds. One of the chicken LRPs was demonstrated in liver, and has the same apparent Mr and hallmark biochemical properties as rat liver LRP. The other chicken LRP is smaller (approximately 380 kDa) and is expressed in ovarian follicles, but is undetectable in liver. Immunological analysis demonstrated a lack of cross-reactivity between the two LRPs, as well as between them and the previously identified chicken oocyte-specific 95-kDa receptor for the yolk precursors, very low density lipoprotein, and vitellogenin (Stifani, S., Barber, D. L., Nimpf, J., and Schneider, W. J. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 1955-1959). As shown by ligand blotting, both chicken LRPs have the ability to interact with vitellogenin, a property they share not only with rat LRP, but also with mammalian LDL receptors. To obtain independent confirmation of the ligand blotting results, the smaller (follicular) LRP was purified and high-affinity binding of vitellogenin to it was demonstrated by a solid-phase filtration binding assay. Amino acid sequences of tryptic fragments of the smaller LRP were obtained, and its homology with human LRP demonstrated through unambiguous alignment of three fragments. Both chicken LRPs, the chicken oocyte 95-kDa receptor, as well as rat LRP, could be shown by ligand blotting to interact specifically with chicken serum alpha 2-macroglobulin. In addition, human apolipoprotein E, a ligand implicated in receptor-mediated metabolism of chylomicron remnants, also binds to the smaller chicken LRP, further emphasizing the similarities between LDL receptors and related proteins from a variety of species. In analogy to the known dichotomy of chicken LDL receptors, which is characterized by the production of the 95-kDa oocyte-specific receptor on one hand and a 130-kDa LDL receptor that is exclusively expressed in somatic cells (Hayashi, K., Nimpf, J., and Schneider, W. J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 3131-3139), it appears that the smaller and larger chicken LRPs also may be restricted to the oocyte and somatic cells, respectively.     

Molybdate-stabilized nonactivated glucocorticoid-receptor complexes contain a 90-kDa non-steroid-binding phosphoprotein that is lost on activation

We have used a monoclonal antibody to purify glucocorticoid-receptor complexes from WEHI-7 mouse thymoma cells. Molybdate-stabilized, nonactivated complexes were found to contain two distinct proteins which could be separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing and reducing conditions. One of the proteins, 100 kDa, was labeled when cytosol was incubated with the affinity ligand [3H]dexamethasone 21-mesylate. The second protein, 90 kDa, was not labeled. Several lines of evidence, including Western blot analysis of purified nonactivated complexes, indicate that only the 100-kDa protein is directly recognized by the antibody. The 90-kDa protein appears to be purified as a component of the nonactivated complex due to noncovalent association with the 100-kDa protein. Both the 100-kDa and 90-kDa components of the nonactivated complex become labeled with 35S when cells are grown in medium containing [35S]methionine. Using cells labeled in this manner, we have shown that activated (i.e. DNA-binding) cytosolic complexes, formed by warming either in intact cells or under cell-free conditions, contain only the 100-kDa protein. Complexes extracted from nuclei of warmed cells similarly contain only the 100-kDa protein. These results indicate that the 100-kDa and 90-kDa components of nonactivated complexes separate upon activation. Purification of nonactivated complexes from cells grown in medium containing [32P]orthophosphoric acid indicates that both the 100-kDa and 90-kDa components are phosphoproteins which can be labeled with 32P. Therefore, resolution of the two proteins will be essential in order to determine whether the receptor is dephosphorylated on activation.     

Overexpression of protein kinase C isoforms protects RAW 264.7 macrophages from nitric oxide-induced apoptosis: involvement of c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase, p38 kinase, and CPP-32 protease pathways

Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. To elucidate the inhibitory effects of protein kinase C (PKC) on NO-induced apoptosis, we generated clones of RAW 264.7 cells that overexpress one of the PKC isoforms and explored the possible interactions between PKC and three structurally related mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in NO actions. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO-generating agent, activated both c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 kinase, but did not activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1 and ERK-2. In addition, SNP-induced apoptosis was slightly blocked by the selective p38 kinase inhibitor (SB203580) but not by the MAP/ERK1 kinase inhibitor (PD098059). PKC transfectants (PKC-beta II, -delta, and -eta) showed substantial protection from cell death induced by the exposure to NO donors such as SNP and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). In contrast, in RAW 264.7 parent or in empty vector-transformed cells, these NO donors induced internucleosomal DNA cleavage. Moreover, overexpression of PKC isoforms significantly suppressed SNP-induced JNK/SAPK and p38 kinase activation, but did not affect ERK-1 and -2. We also explored the involvement of CPP32-like protease in the NO-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of CPP32-like protease prevented apoptosis in RAW 264.7 parent cells. In addition, SNP dramatically activated CPP32 in the parent or in empty vector-transformed cells, while slightly activated CPP32 in PKC transfectants. Therefore, we conclude that PKC protects NO-induced apoptotic cell death, presumably nullifying the NO-mediated activation of JNK/SAPK, p38 kinase, and CPP32-like protease in RAW 264.7 macrophages.     

Low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in cardiac muscle. Association with a 32-kDa component related to connexins.

Low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins and their cellular interactions were examined in cardiac muscle. Heart homogenate was separated into various subcellular fractions by differential and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Various fractions were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, blotted to nitrocellulose, and GTP-binding proteins detected by incubating with [alpha-32]GTP. Three polypeptides of M(r) 23,000, 26,000, and 29,000 were specifically labeled with [alpha-32P]GTP in all the fractions examined and enriched in sarcolemmal membranes. The 23-kDa polypeptide was labeled to a higher extent with [alpha-32P]GTP than the 26- and 29-kDa polypeptides. A polypeptide of M(r) 40,000 was weakly labeled with [alpha-32P]GTP in the sarcolemmal membrane and tentatively identified as Gi alpha by immunostaining with anti-Gi alpha antibodies. Cytosolic GTP-binding proteins were labeled with [alpha-32P]GTP and their potential sites of interaction investigated using the blot overlay approach. A polypeptide of 32 kDa present in sarcolemmal membranes, intercalated discs, and enriched in heart gap junctions was identified as a major site of interaction. The low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins associated with the 32-kDa polypeptide through a complex involving cytosolic components of M(r) 56,000, 36,000, 26,000, 23,000, and 12,000. A monoclonal antibody against connexin 32 from liver strongly recognized the 32-kDa polypeptide in heart gap junctions, whereas polyclonal antibodies only weakly reacted with this polypeptide. The low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins associated with a 32-kDa polypeptide in liver membranes that was also immunologically related to connexin 32. These results indicate the presence of a subset of low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in a membrane-associated and a cytoplasmic pool in cardiac muscle. Their association with a 32-kDa component that is related to the connexins suggests that these polypeptides may be uniquely situated to modulate communication at the cell membrane.