Purification of the Thy-1 molecule from rat brain.

The present paper describes the characterization of the Thy-1 molecule from rat brain. The molecule was recognized by its antigens, which could be solubilized from brain membrane with deoxycholate. In the solubilized form the Thy-1 antigens were associated with a homogenous component with the following hydrodynamic properties: s20,w=2.2s,v=0.72ml/g and Stokes radius=3.0nm. The mol.wt. of the deoxycholateantigen complex was estimated to be 27000; these values are not significantly different from those obtained thymocyte Thy-1. Brain Thy-1 was further purified by affinity chromatography with lentil lectin coupled to Sepharose 4B, and more than 80% of the antigen was bound. The material eluted with methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside was then filtered on a column of Sephadex G-200, and only one glycoprotein was found in the antigenically active fraction. On sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis the glycoprotein was very similar to the Thy-1 from thymocytes that binds to lentil lectin. Its apparent mol.wt. on 12.5% acrylamide gels was 24000, and it electrophoresed as a symmetrical band. Brain Thy-1 was antigenically indistinguishable from thymocyte Thy-1 when analysed with rabbit antisera raised against brain or thymocyte Thy-1.     

Purification and characterization of the mouse thymocyte Thy-1 glycoprotein.

The thymocyte Thy-1 glycoprotein was purified from mouse strain NMRI (Thy 1.2) thymus. Crude membranes were prepared in Tween 20 and solubilized in deoxycholate. The glycoproteins were isolated by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose, and Thy-1 was further purified by two gel-filtration cycles on Sephacryl S-200. The concentration of Thy-1 in fractions obtained during purification was measured by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay with pure mouse brain Thy-1 as standard. Analysis of the purified preparation by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed at least five distinct bands in the apparent-Mr region 25000-30000, the polymorphism probably being due to carbohydrate heterogeneity. Amino-acid-analysis data were compatible with the previously published sequence of mouse brain Thy-1. Sugar content was determined at 31% (w/w), and the carbohydrate composition indicates the presence of 'complex-type' oligosaccharide chains. The mean Mr of mouse thymocyte Thy-1 was calculated to be 18 100.     

A Thy-1 − mutant defining a gene acting in trans position to regulate cell-surface Thy-1 glycoprotein expression and Thy-1 messenger RNA content

The Thy-1 glycoprotein is a differentiation antigen which exhibits tissue-specific regulation. A mutant of a Thy-1.1⁺ T-cell lymphoma has been isolated which does not express Thy-1 glycoprotein on the cell surface and does not accumulate Thy-1 mRNA in the cytoplasm. Hybrids between the mutant and a Thy-1.2⁺ T-cell lymphoma express 20–30-fold lower levels of Thy-1 glycoprotein on their cell surface compared to wild-type T-cell lymphomas, and they have correspondingly low levels of cytoplasmic Thy-1 mRNA. A revertant of one hybrid was isolated which expressed wild-type levels of both Thy-1 alleles on its surface and contained correspondingly increased levels of Thy-1 mRNA. A Thy-1⁺ revertant of the Thy-1 ^– mutant was isolated by cell sorting. A second generation Thy-1 ^– mutant could be isolated from this revertant which also did not accumulate Thy-1 mRNA and which behaved in a way similar to the first generation mutant when hybridized to a Thy-1.2⁺ lymphoma. No changes in the structure or copy number of the Thy-1 structural gene could be detected in this series of mutants and revertants. These properties are consistent with a mutation in one (or more) gene(s) which acts in trans position to regulate Thy-1 glycoprotein expression.     

Purification and characterization of Rana pipiens brain Thy-1 glycoprotein

The occurrence of Thy-1 antigens in Rana brain has been studied by the use of heterologous anti-Rana brain antisera raised in rabbit and BALB/c mouse (Thy-1.2) and AKR/J mouse (Thy-1.1) strains and by monoclonal anti-mouse Thy-1.1 and anti-mouse Thy-1.2 antibodies with the use of quantitative absorption assays. Three antigenic determinants were defined on Rana brain and referred to as: 1) the Rana-specific xenoantigen, 2) the Rana-mouse cross-reacting xenoantigen, and 3) the Thy-1.1 antigen. Thy-1 antigenic activities were solubilized from crude brain membranes in deoxycholate and followed by measuring the Rana-specific and the Thy-1.1 antigenic determinants. After solubilization, Rana brain Thy-1 antigens were purified by lentil lectin affinity chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. A 605-fold and 400-fold enrichment in the Rana-specific and the Thy-1.1 antigenic activities with a yield of 25% and 17%, respectively, were obtained. Both antigenic activities were associated with a single glycoprotein of molecular size 3.1 nm and m.w. estimated at 27,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The serologic and biochemical properties of our purified Rana brain Thy-1 glycoprotein were very similar to those of the mammalian Thy-1 molecule, suggesting the conservation of the gene coding for Thy-1 during vertebrate evolution.     

Evidence for a gene extinguishing cell-surface expression of the Thy-1 antigen

Hybrids between the Thy-1^– murine myeloma S194 and the Thy-l⁺ lymphoma BW5147 (Thy-l⁺) express neither the Thy-1.1 nor the Thy-1.2 antigen on their cell-surface. Subclones isolated from Thy-1^– clones express both Thy-1.1 and Thy-1.2 antigens in amounts similar to those present on wild-type Thy-1⁺ lymphomas, demonstrating that the Thy-1^– hybrids retain all the genes necessary for Thy-1 expression. The results are consistent with the idea that myeloma cells have a functional gene which acts to extinguish cell-surface Thy-1 expression in hybrids. The exact mechanism by which the gene acts to produce the Thy-1^– phenotype remains to be determined.     

Partial characterization of the oligosaccharides of mouse thymocyte Thy-1 glycoprotein.

Four glycopeptides (I, IIA, IIB, III) with different oligosaccharide structures were isolated from purified mouse thymocyte Thy-1 glycoprotein. The glycoprotein was digested with Pronase, and the glycopeptide fraction was isolated by gel filtration and acetylated with [3H]acetic anhydride. The different glycan structures were separated by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B and lentil lectin-Sepharose 4B. Size determinations of intact and exoglycosidase- and endoglycosidase-digested glycopeptides were performed by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-6, calibrated with glycopeptides of known structure. On the basis of these experiments and on the behaviour of the glycopeptides on the lectin columns, the following structures of the oligosaccharide chains were proposed: I, triantennary 'complex-type' with terminal fucose; IIA, biantennary 'complex-type' without fucose; IIB, biantennary 'complex-type' with fucose; III, a mixture of 'high-mannose' chains containing either five or six mannose residues (approx. 50% of each). Amino acid analysis of the glycopeptides showed that the predominant oligosaccharide at glycosylation-site Asn-23 was of 'high-mannose' type, whereas the other two sites (Asn-75 and Asn-99) were glycosylated with 'complex-type' chains. Both these sites were shown to be variably glycosylated. The major glycans linked to Asn-75 were of structures I and IIB, whereas all three 'complex-type' chains were represented at Asn-99. The results presented explain the previously reported carbohydrate heterogeneity of thymocyte Thy-1 glycoprotein.     

Purification, some properties, and tissue distribution of a major lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein (r-lamp-2) of rat liver.

We previously purified and characterized a major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (r-lamp-1) from rat liver [Akasaki et al. (1990) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 38, 2766-2770]. The present study describes the purification of another major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (r-lamp-2) from rat liver and compares the tissue distribution of r-lamp-1 and r-lamp-2 in rats. R-lamp-2 was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity from rat liver by a simple method with a protein yield of approximately 4.0 micrograms/g wet weight of liver. The purification procedure includes: preparation of tritosomal membranes, extraction of tritosomal membranes with Lubrol PX, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and monoclonal antibody-Sepharose affinity chromatography. R-lamp-2 exhibited an Mr of 96,000 on SDS-PAGE and had an acidic pI of less than 3.5. R-lamp-2 contained 52.3% carbohydrates. Its carbohydrate moieties were composed of numerous sialyl complex type N-linked oligosaccharides and small amounts of O-linked oligosaccharides. Both r-lamp-1 and r-lamp-2 were detected in all rat tissues examined by immunoblot analyses, while their apparent molecular weights differed among the tissues. Immunological quantitative analysis showed that the protein concentrations of r-lamp-2 were consistently lower than those of r-lamp-1 in all the tissues tested. There was a significant correlation with a regression coefficient of 0.86 in the tissue distribution between r-lamp-1 and r-lamp-2. A good correlation was also observed in the tissue distribution between acid phosphatase and r-lamp-2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and location of the major glycoprotein of vaccinia virus.

A glycoprotein component of vaccinia virus was extracted with a non-ionic detergent NP-40 (Nonidet P-40) and purified by gel chromatography. The single antigen extracted by the detergent had a molecular weight estimated between 100,000 and 200,000 daltons. This glycoprotein was found to contain less than 1% hexosamine which would correspond to 5--10 sugar residues per molecule. Antibodies produced against this glycoprotein were able to neutralize vaccinia virus. Using immunoelectron microscopy, this molecule was found to be located in the outer layer of the virion. These results further suggest that this protein called complex E (for external) is a surface component of vaccinia virus.     

The purification and characterization of a Thy-1-like glycoprotein from chicken brain.

We have purified from chicken forebrain a membrane glycoprotein that is enriched in purified synaptic membranes and has an apparent mol.wt. of 22 800 in 15% sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels. This molecule was compared with rat and human brain Thy-1 glycoproteins purified by the same procedure in order to determine whether it could be a homologue of Thy-1. Although polyvalent heterologous antisera raised against the rat and chicken molecules showed no immunological cross-reactivity with the other glycoprotein, a great deal of physical and chemical similarity was demonstrated between the chicken glycoprotein and rat Thy-1. Their apparent molecular weights, subcellular localization and amino acid and amino sugar compositions are very similar. C.d. spectra show that both molecules contain predominantly a beta-sheet and structure with no detectable alpha-helix. Electrophoretic analysis of the CNBr-cleaved molecules under reducing and non-reducing conditions shows that both molecules contain intramolecular disulphide bridges. Taken together these results suggest that the chicken brain glycoprotein is an immunologically distinct homologue of the mammalian Thy-1 glycoproteins.     

Sulfated glycans directly interact with mouse Thy-1 and negatively regulate Thy-1-mediated adhesion of thymocytes to thymic epithelial cells.

Thy-1 is a major brain cell surface glycoprotein of adult mammal species also expressed in rodent thymus. Despite extensive studies, the function(s) of this molecule has remained so far ill defined. We have recently shown that Thy-1 was involved in the adhesion of mouse thymocytes to thymic epithelium through a specific interaction with a heterophilic ligand(s) expressed on the epithelial cell surface. In the present study, we aimed at evaluating the interaction of sulfated glycans with mouse Thy-1, as well as its consequence on Thy-1-mediated thymic lympho-epithelial cell interaction. It was shown that 125I-labeled Thy-1 directly bound to immobilized heparin. Sulfated glycans such as pentosan sulfate, dextran sulfate, and fucoidan were found to strongly inhibit the binding of Thy-1 to heparin. In contrast, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate, and heparan sulfate were not inhibitory. Sulfated glycans (e.g., pentosan sulfate, assayed at a concentration of 50 micrograms/ml) completely blocked the Thy-1-dependent adhesion of T cells to a mouse thymic epithelial cell monolayer. To explore the mechanism of this inhibition, we compared the ability of T cell to adhere to mouse thymic epithelial cell monolayer or to sulfated glycans. Our results suggest that sulfated glycans bind to a Thy-1 site distinct from that with which this molecule interacts with its heterophilic ligand. Moreover, sulfate glycans could modulate the binding of rat mAb directed at spatially distinct Thy-1 epitopes. The present results identified a potential mechanism regulating Thy-1-mediated lympho-epithelial cell adhesion.     

Comparative analysis of the N-glycans of rat, mouse and human Thy-1. Site-specific oligosaccharide patterns of neural Thy-1, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily

Protein structure and tissue type are known to influence glycosylationof proteins. We have previously investigated the N-glycans ateach of the three glycosylation sites of the cell surface glycoproteinThy-1 when isolated from rat brain and thymocytes. Here we reporta comparative analysis of the site-specific N-glycosylationpatterns from rat (Asn 23, 74, 98), mouse (Asn 23, 75, 99) andhuman (Asn 23, 60, 100) neural Thy-1. Despite considerable differencesin amino acid sequence, the results show a remarkable conservationof the pattern of N-glycans at corresponding sites between thethree species, as judged by chromatographic comparisons andglycosidase susceptibility. This is particularly marked forsites at Asn 74/75 in rat/mouse and the equivalent site at 60in human Thy-1, as well as for sites at Asn 98/99 and 100, respectively.The sites at Asn 23 in rat/mouse also contained almost identicalglycosylation paterns, but at this site human Thy-1 showed significantlydifferent glycosylation patterns. These site glycosylation patternsare discussed in relation to the likely accessibility of theoligosaccharides for processing. It is known that within a species,the glycosylation of Thy-1 is tissue specific; therefore, thisdegree of conservation of glycosylation of Thy-1 expressed inthe same tissue in different species is all the more striking,given the known variation between species in the amino acidsequence of Thy-1. It is therefore proposed that neural cellshave a particular requirement for specific surface carbohydratesand that the Thy-1 polypep-tide serves as an appropriate carrierfor these structures. glycosylation site-specific Thy-1     

Glycolipid anchors are attached to Thy-1 glycoprotein rapidly after translation.

The attachment of glycolipid anchors to the Thy-1 glycoprotein during biosynthesis was followed by the change of detergent-binding properties of biosynthetically labelled Thy-1 precursors upon phospholipase C treatment in the murine thymoma lines BW5147 and S1A. In S1A, 80% of the Thy-1 molecules were phospholipase-C-sensitive after a 2 min pulse with [35S]methionine, indicating that these molecules were already anchored via a glycolipid tail. In BW5147, 47% of the Thy-1 molecules had phospholipase-C-sensitive anchors attached after a 1.5 min labelling and, with longer pulses, this percentage rose to 76%. Tunicamycin did not block the addition of glycolipid anchors, and glycolipid attachment also occurred at 21 degrees C. The findings suggest that the attachment of glycolipid anchors occurs in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.     

Purification and chemical characterization of the major glycoprotein of avian myeloblastosis virus.

The major glycoprotein of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) has been purified to an apparent state of homogeneity by gel filtration on a Sepharose 4B column in the presence of 6 m guanidine hydrochloride followed by dialysis against distilled water and then extraction with chloroform-methanol. The AMV glycoprotein remains soluble in the aqueous phase whereas contaminating proteins precipitate, either upon dialysis against distilled water or after treatment with chloroform-methanol.Carbohydrate, represented by glucosamine, mannose, galactose, fucose, and sialic acid, constitutes 40% of the weight of AMV glycoprotein. Glucosamine is the major carbohydrate component whereas fucose and sialic acid are present in relatively low amount. Amino acid analysis indicates a relatively high content of aspartic and glutamic acid, serine, threonine, and glycine. Based on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a molecular weight value of 77,500 ± 500 was determined for AMV glycoprotein.     

The interaction of a glycosaminoglycan, heparin, with HIV-1 major envelope glycoprotein.

We demonstrate in vitro the occurrence of a specific but low-affinity interaction between soluble tetrameric rgp160 or soluble monomeric or tetrameric rgp120 and heparin-agarose (HA). This interaction is saturable, pH and temperature-dependent, and can be inhibited by soluble heparin, but not by soluble dextran. In buffer supplemented with 10 mM CaCl2, the C50 of soluble heparin, i.e., the concentration of soluble heparin which leads to 50% inhibition of the binding of [125I]rgp160 or of [125I]rgp120 to HA, is 1.1 x 10(-4) disaccharidic molar concentration for rgp160 and 3.2 x 10(-4) dissacharidic molar concentration for rgp120, which indicates low-affinity interactions. Upon chromatography on HA, [125I]rgp160 is repeatedly eluted as a retarded fraction when compared to the elution volume of [125I]rgp160-soluble heparin complex. Under the same experimental conditions, [125I]rgp120 is also eluted, but as a less retarded fraction than [125I]rgp160. Taken together, these results suggest that, at least part of the described anti HIV-1 activity of heparin might be mediated by interaction with HIV-1 major envelope glycoprotein.     

Purification and characterization of a major glycoprotein in rat hepatoma plasma membranes. One of the membrane proteins released by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

A major glycoprotein of rat hepatoma plasma membranes was selectively released as a soluble form by incubating the membrane with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. The soluble form corresponding to the glycoprotein was also prepared by butan-1-ol extraction of microsomal membranes at pH 5.5, whereas extraction at pH 8.5 yielded an electrophoretically different form with a hydrophobic nature. The soluble glycoprotein extracted at pH 5.5 was purified by sequential chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-300 and anti-(alkaline phosphatase) IgG-Sepharose, the last step being used to remove a contaminating alkaline phosphatase. The glycoprotein thus purified was a single protein with Mr 130,000 in SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, although it behaved as a dimer in gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The glycoprotein was analysed for amino acid and carbohydrate composition. The composition of the carbohydrate moiety, which amounted to 64% by weight, suggested that the glycoprotein contained much larger numbers of N-linked oligosaccharide chains than those with O-linkage. It was confirmed that the purified glycoprotein was immunologically identical not only with that released by the phospholipase C but also with the hydrophobic form extracted with butan-1-ol at pH 8.5. The results indicate that the glycoprotein of rat hepatoma plasma membranes, which has an unusually high content of carbohydrate, is another membrane protein released by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, as documented for alkaline phosphatase, acetylcholinesterase and Thy-1 antigen.