High molecular weight-multicatalytic proteinases in premature and mature oocytes of Rana pipiens

High molecular weight, multicatalytic proteinases (named proteasomes) have been for the first time found, on the basis of different protein patterns, in the cytoplasmic soluble fractions of both non-hormone-treated (premature) and progesterone-treated (mature) oocytes of a frog (Rana pipiens).These enzymes, pooled separately as two fractions sedimenting between around 19S and the bottom (over 27S) on glycerol density gradient centrifugation, were composed of several molecular forms with apparent high molecular weights ranging from over 700 kDa, as judged on Sepharose 6B gel filtration. In addition, both the fractions hydrolyzed distinctly a Tyr-containing substrate in the presence of SDS as an activator, and exhibited higher activities toward Arg-containing substrates in the absence of SDS, and activity toward a Glu-containing substrate in the presence and absence of SDS. Immunological experiments using antibodies against proteasomes purified from ovaries of Xenopus laevis clearly revealed characteristic cross-reactivity with both the fractions found in Rana.These data suggest that these enzymes in the two fractions from the respective oocytes in Rana are very similar or identical to the proteasomes of Xenopus. The enzymes in premature oocytes eluted at 0.15–0.18M NaCl on a DEAE-cellulose column disappeared on treatment with TPCK, a well-known chymotrypsin inhibitor, suggesting that the 0.15–0.18M NaCl-eluate contained chymotrypsin-like proteinases probably latent in ovo. The enzymes in mature oocytes had not similar chromatographical patterns to those in premature oocytes.These results suggest that the enzymes already present in premature oocytes may be involved through conformational alterations as to the protein pattern in oocyte maturation following induction by progesterone.Abbreviations AMC 7-Amino-4-methylcoumarin - Boc t-Butyloxycarbonyl - Cbz Carbobenzoxy - GVBD Germinal Vesicle Breakdown - MCA 4-Methylcoumaryl-7-Amide - MPF Maturation Promoting Factor - NA 2-Naphthylamide - SDS Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - Suc Succinyl - TPCK N-Tosyl-L-Phenylalanine Chloromethyl Ketone     

Morphological observations on cultured lampbrush-stage Rana pipiens oocytes.

Early lampbrush-stage oocytes are characterized by small lampbrush chromosome loops, a small amount of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) matrix on the loops, small nucleoli, few RNP particles in the nucleoplasm, and a smooth germinal vesicle contour. In vitro culture of these oocytes in serum-free culture medium for 24 hr at 18°C promotes a number of morphological changes in the oocytes: The lampbrush loops increase in diameter and acquire extensive RNP matrix, the nucleoli increase in size and complexity, the nucleoplasm accumulates numerous polymorphic RNP particles, and the germinal vesicle envelope acquires a sacculated contour. These characteristics are typical of the in vivo maximum lampbrush stage, and their appearance is due to an apparent in vitro acceleration of the lampbrush phase. Two possible interpretations of these observations are discussed.     

Ionic currents underlying the action potential of Rana pipiens oocytes

Ionic currents in immature, ovulated Rana pipiens oocytes (metaphase I) were studied using the voltage-clamp technique. At this stage of maturity the oocyte can produce action potentials in response to depolarizing current or as an "off response" to hyperpolarizing current. Reducing external Na+ to 1/10 normal (choline substituted) eliminated the action potentials and both the negative-slope region and zero-crossing of the I-V relation. Reducing external Cl- to 1/10 or 1/100 normal (methanesulfonate substituted) lengthened the action potential. The outward current was reduced and a net inward current was revealed. By changing external Na+, Cl-, and K+ concentrations and using blocking agents (SITS, TEA), three voltage- and time-dependent currents were identified, INa, IK and ICl. The Na+ current activated at about 0 mV and reversed at very positive values which decreased during maturation. Inward Na+ current produced the upstroke of the action potential. During each voltage-clamp step the Na+ current activated slowly (seconds) and did not inactivate within many minutes. The Na+ current was not blocked by TTX at micromolar concentrations. The K+ current was present only in the youngest oocytes. Because IK was superimposed on a large leakage current, it appeared to reverse at the resting potential. When leakage currents were subtracted, the reversal potential for IK was more negative than -110 mV in Ringer's solution. IK was outwardly rectifying and strongly activated above -50 mV. The outward K+ current produced an after hyperpolarization at the end of each action potential. IK was blocked completely and reversibly by 20 mM external TEA. The Cl- current activated at about +10 mV and was outwardly rectifying. ICl was blocked completely and reversibly by 400 microM SITS added to the bathing medium. This current helped repolarize the membrane following an action potential in the youngest oocytes and was the only repolarizing current in more mature oocytes that had lost IK. The total leakage current had an apparently linear I-V relation and was separated into two components: a Na+ current (IN) and a smaller component carried by as yet unidentified ions.     

Enzymatic and structural characterisation of amphinase, a novel cytotoxic ribonuclease from Rana pipiens oocytes

Besides Onconase (ONC) and its V11/N20/R103-variant, oocytes of the Northern Leopard frog (Rana pipiens) contain another homologue of ribonuclease A, which we named Amphinase (Amph). Four variants (Amph-1-4) were isolated and sequenced, each 114 amino acid residues in length and N-glycosylated at two positions. Sequence identities (a) among the variants and (b) versus ONC are 86.8-99.1% and 38.2-40.0%, respectively. When compared with other amphibian ribonucleases, a typical pattern of cysteine residues is evident but the N-terminal pyroglutamate residue is replaced by a six-residue extension. Amph variants have relatively weak ribonucleolytic activity that is insensitive to human ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI). Values of k(cat)/K(M) with hypersensitive fluorogenic substrates are 10(4) and 10(2)-fold lower than the maximum values exhibited by ribonuclease A and ONC, respectively, and there is little cytosine/uracil or adenine/guanine discrimination at the B(1) or B(2) subsites, respectively. Amph variants have cytotoxic activity toward A-253 carcinoma cells that requires intact ribonucleolytic activity. The glycan component has little or no influence over single-stranded RNA cleavage, RI evasion or cytotoxicity. The crystal structures of natural and recombinant Amph-2 (determined at 1.8 and 1.9 A resolution, respectively) reveal that the N terminus is unlikely to play a catalytic role (but an unusual alpha2-beta1 loop may do so) and the B(2) subsite is rudimentary. At the active site, structural features that may contribute to the enzyme's low ribonucleolytic activity are the fixture of Lys14 in an obstructive position, the accompanying ejection of Lys42, and a lack of constraints on the conformations of Lys42 and His107.     

Ca and Mg control of cytostatic factors from Rana pipiens oocytes which cause metaphase and cleavage arrest.

A Ca-sensitive cytoplasmic factor is extractable from mature oocytes of Rana pipiens, but not from immature oocytes or fertilized embryos, and is capable of inducing cleavage arrest at metaphase when microinjected into one blastomere of a cleaving embryo. This factor, designated “primary cytostatic factor” (1°CSF), is active in the presence of Mg or EGTA, but is rapidly inactivated by Ca at concentrations as low as 10 μM or by EDTA. 1°CSF is also inactivated in vivo by injection into the cytoplasm of a zygote during the first 45 min following insemination. Another factor, the “secondary cytostatic factor” (2°CSF), develops in vitro during the aging of extracts prepared from immature oocytes, mature oocytes, and fertilized eggs, and is also capable of arresting cleavage at metaphase. 2°CSF is insensitive to exogenous Ca or EDTA, and also remains active when injected into a zygote at any time following insemination. Since the responses of the fertilized egg to 1°CSF and to mature oocyte cytoplasm are quite similar, it appears that 1°CSF is equivalent to the factor which maintains metaphase II arrest in the mature oocyte. The possibility of 1°CSF inactivation by endogenous free Ca at the time of fertilization is discussed in the context of changes in the free Ca concentration.     

Vitellogenic cycles in laboratory-maintained females of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens

As a part of studies on the reproduction of laboratory maintained frogs, wild-caught Rana pipiens were ovulated and maintained at 22-27 degrees C for up to 18 months. Vitellogenic oocytes were periodically staged and counted, and a "maturity index" was calculated to assess the progress of the vitellogenic cycle. The initial cycle was similar to that of wild frogs except that the first oocytes to reach stage 5 (mature eggs) usually began to degenerate before later starting oocytes became mature. In addition, a second cycle began before the first was completed. After more than 1 year at room temperature, abnormal cycles were common. Ovaries of such animals contained very few mature eggs. Many of their oocytes were in early stages of vitellogenesis or, if pigmented, had begun to degenerate. These deficiencies were partially corrected in females placed in 4 degrees C for 4-6 weeks. The average number of mature eggs increased 15-fold and ovary weights more than doubled. Oviduct weights almost doubled. Although the rates of cooling, photoperiod, and nutritional status could be important influences, the results imply that cold treatment alone increases estrogen secretion. We suggest that low estrogen secretion may account for the reproductive deficiencies seen in R. pipiens cultured at room temperature.     

Amino acid sequence of an anti-tumor protein from Rana pipiens oocytes and early embryos. Homology to pancreatic ribonucleases

Rana pipiens oocytes and early embryos contain large amounts of a basic protein with antiproliferative/cytotoxic activity against several tumor cell lines in vitro (Darzynkiewicz, Z., Carter, S. P., Mikulski, S. M., Ardelt, W., and Shogen, K. (1988) Cell Tissue Kinet. 21, 169-182; Mikulski, S.M., Viera, A., Ardelt, W., Menduke, H., and Shogen, K. (1990) Cell Tissue Kinet. 23, 237-246), as well as antitumor activity in vivo (Mikulski, S. M., Ardelt, W., Shogen, K., Bernstein, E. H., and Menduke, H. (1990) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 82, 151-153). The protein, provisionally named P-30 Protein, was purified to homogeneity from early embryos and characterized. It is a single-chain protein consisting of 104 amino acid residues in the following sequence: less than Glu1-Asp-Trp-Leu-Thr-Phe-Gln-Lys-Lys-His-Ile-Thr-Asn-Thr- Arg15-Asp-Val-Asp-Cys-Asp-Ans-Ile-Met-Ser-Thr-Asn-Leu-Phe-His-C ys30-Lys-Asp-Lys - Asn-Thr-Phe-Ile-Tyr-Ser-Arg-Pro-Glu-Pro-Val-Lys45-Ala-Ile-Cys-Lys- Gly-Ile-Ile- Ala-Ser-Lys-Asn-Val-Leu-Thr-Thr60-Ser-Glu-Phe-Tyr-Leu-Ser-Asp -Cys-Asn-Val-Thr-Ser-Arg-Por-Cys75-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Leu-Lys-Lys-Ser-Thr -Asn-Lys-Phe- Cys-Val-Thr-Cys90-Glu-Asn-Gln-Ala-Pro-Val-His-Phe-Val-Gly-Val-Gly- Ser-Cys104-OH . Its molecular weight calculated from the sequence is 11,819. The sequence homology clearly indicates that the protein belongs to the superfamily of pancreatic ribonuclease. It is also demonstrated that it indeed exhibits a ribonucleolytic activity against highly polymerized RNA and that this activity seems to be essential for its antiproliferative/cytotoxic effects.     

Influence of exogenous ions on the events of maturation in Rana pipiens oocytes

Full-grown ovarian oocytes removed from non-hormone-treated Rana pipiens females exhibit a low level of protein synthesis, the rate of which is dependent upon the ionic environment. The highest rates of protein synthesis in these oocytes are obtained in media containing either a divalent cation (Ca⁺⁺ or Mg⁺⁺) or high levels of K⁺. The dependence of protein synthesis on ionic environment persists through about the first 18-24 hours of maturation (at 18°C). Normal maturation of oocytes in vitro also has specific ionic requirements for the first 24 hours. In this case, the process requires high ionic strength (T/2 = 1.0-1.2) and divalent cations. The kinetics of K⁺ exchange suggest that K⁺ exists in the ovarian oocyte in two compartments; one in equilibrium with the exogenous medium and freely exchangeable; the other in equilibrium with the exogenous medium and freely exchangeable; the other in equilibrium with the first internal compartment and only very slowly exchangeable. The slowly exchangeable (bound) compartment contains about 95% of all endogenous K⁺. In hormone stimulated oocytes, the kinetics of K⁺ exchange are essentially the same. Oocyte adaptation to ionic environment is discussed as a possible regulatory mechanism during maturation.     

Estradiol synergism and inhibition of insulin-induced meiotic maturation in Rana pipiens oocytes in vitro

Estradiol 17-β (E2) was found to either inhibit or synergize Na-insulin (Ins)-induced meiotic maturation of Rana oocytes. Inhibition of Ins activity occurred in the presence of the follicular investments of the oocyte; synergism with Ins occurred in oocytes denuded of the follicle wall. Similarly, co-incubation of E2 with frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or pregnenolone (Pe) significantly decreased meiotic reinitiation as determined by germinal vesicle dissolution (GVD) in follicle-enclosed oocytes. By contrast, E2 had no consistently significant effect on progesterone (P)-induced meiosis in follicle-enclosed oocytes. Furthermore, E2 had no significant effect, either inhibitory or synergistic, on Pe- or P-induced GVD of denuded oocytes. Thus, of the meiotogens tested (Ins, P, Pe, FPH), all but P were consistently inhibited by E2 in the presence of the follicle wall. Na-insulin was the only meiotogen tested (Ins, P, Pe) which was potentiated by E2 in denuded oocytes, However, when E2 and Ins were spatially separated on the surface of individual intact follicles, the result was synergism of Ins-induced GVD rather than inhibition. These results suggest that Ins acts to induce GVD in the denuded oocyte through a mechanism distinct from that used by P (ie, Ins mechanism allows E2 synergism while the P mechanism does not). The E2 inhibitory effect on Ins-induced GVD appears to be dependent upon simultaneous exposure of follicle wall tissue to mixtures of E2 and Ins. The synergistic effect of E2 on Ins-induced GVD is dependent upon the simultaneous exposure of the oocyte surface to Ins and E2, either as a homogenous mixture in the case of denuded oocytes or as single substances at independent sites, for follicle-enclosed oocytes.     

Lens structural disorders in the leopard frog (Rana pipiens) supplied to the laboratory from wild populations.

Examination of lenses of 48 leopard frogs, Rana pipiens, from three commercial suppliers disclosed a high incidence of histologic aberrations. Only four of 17 lenses that appeared totally clear under the dissecting microscope were found to be free of discernible abnormalities on histologic examination. Deviations were most common in the area of elongation. Because of these findings, the applicability of frog lenses for cellular investigations was questioned.     

Increased Na+ excretion by the skin of Rana pipiens after NaCl loading

In vivo the frog skin excretes sodium and the sodium excretion is increased in response to a NaCl load. The sodium excretion can be demonstrated in vitro, and the rate of excretion is greater in skin from NaCl-loaded animals than from control, non-loaded animals. Unidirectional 22Na flux experiments on paired frog skins, as well as 22Na and 24Na bidirectional flux experiments measured in vitro, confirm the above finding that net sodium excretion occurs in response to the NaCl load.     

Effects of acrylamide on germinal vesicle migration and dissolution in oocytes of the frog, Rana pipiens.

We have demonstrated that when Rana oocytes are treated with 10 mM acrylamide, germinal vesicle migration (GVM) is promoted while meiosis reinitiation by progesterone is inhibited. A number of other specific alterations result from the acrylamide treatment: (i) A dense band of fibrillar material appears adjacent to the oolemma in acrylamide-treated oocytes. Furthermore, (ii) the fibrillar material reacts with an intermediate filament antibody using immunogold techniques applied to transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, (iii) acrylamide inhibits progestogen-induced annulate lamellae breakdown. In addition, (iv) the cortical mitochondria-rich layer appears to be thickened by acrylamide, which also (v) affects oocyte microvillar retraction and organization. Finally, (vi) electrophysiological measurement of membrane voltage indicates that acrylamide does not significantly affect cell viability during the incubation period used in this study. In summary, acrylamide exerts profound effects on the physiological event of GVM, and these are consistent with the hypothesis that changes in the cytoskeleton are a contributing factor in meiosis reinitiation.