Cell-surface expression of glia maturation factor beta in astrocytes

Glia maturation factor beta (GMF-beta) is a 17-kDa acidic protein isolated from the brain. When added to cultured cells, GMF-beta promotes the phenotypic expression of glia and neurons and inhibits the proliferation of their respective tumors. Although astrocytes produce GMF-beta and store it inside the cells, they do not secrete the protein into the cultured medium. This poses a question as to how GMF-beta mediates intercellular communication. This paper provides an answer by demonstrating the presence of GMF-beta on the surface of astrocytes, using gold-labeled antibody enhanced with silver. It appears that cell-surface GMF-beta acts on the target cells at close range when cells are in direct contact. In contrast to astrocytes, we failed to detect GMF-beta on the surface of C6 glioma cells, although these cells, like astrocytes, possess endogenous intracellular GMF-beta and are also responsive to GMF-beta added to the medium. The lack of cell-surface expression of GMF-beta in C6 cells may reflect a breakdown in intercellular communication in these malignant cells.     

An improved procedure for the isolation of glia maturation factor

A procedure for the bulk isolation of glia maturation factor (GMF) in high yield and high purity from bovine brains is outlined. The method involves extraction by homogenization and centrifugation, followed by ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography with diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) Sephacel, Sephadex G-75, and hydroxylapatite. The method results in a 10,000-fold purification, a purity exceeding that of previously published procedures, and enables us to handle as much as 2.8 kg brain tissue or eight brains/week. The ability to mass-produce GMF with this method greatly facilitates its biological studies, further purification, and chemical characterization. The isolated GMF shows a molecular weight of 13,000 on Bio-gel P-30 column and an isoelectric point of about 5.4 on isoelectric focusing. The isolated GMF is heat labile and susceptible to papain and ficin but relatively resistant to trypsin, neuraminidase, and endoglycosidase.     

Disulfide isoforms of recombinant glia maturation factor beta

Recombinant human glia maturation factor beta (r-hGMF-beta) is a single-chain polypeptide (141 amino acid residues) containing three cysteines, at positions 7, 86 and 95. Nascent r-hGMF-beta exists in the reduced state and has no biological activity. The protein can be activated through oxidative refolding by incubation with a mixture of reduced and oxidized glutathione. Reverse-phase HPLC analysis of the refolded r-hGMF-beta shows the presence of four peaks, corresponding to the reduced form plus three newly generated intrachain disulfide-containing isoforms predicted from the number of cysteine residues. Only one isoform shows biological activity when tested for growth suppression on C6 glioma cells. We infer from the HPLC elution pattern that the active form contains the disulfide bridge Cys86-Cys95.     

Multiple molecular forms of glia maturation factor.

Glia maturation factor from the pig brain can be detected in two molecular forms: the high molecular weight form which is 200 000 dalton in size and the low molecular weight form which is 40 000 dalton in size, as determined by Sephadex gel filtration. The former accounts for 85% of the total biological activity extracted at physiologic pH. The proportion of the low molecular weight form increases following freeze-thawing and ion-exchange chromatography. In addition to the morphological effects, both forms possess mitogenic activity but no esteropeptidase activity. Both forms show similar enzyme susceptibility, being inactivated by papain, ficin and pronase but resistant to subtilisin, thermolysin and trypsin. The high molecular weight form is more resistant to denaturation by low pH, heating and urea than the low molecular weight form. The high molecular weight factor has an isoelectric point of 4.27 whereas the low molecular weight factor has one of 5.04.     

Gene expression versus sequence for predicting function: Glia Maturation Factor gamma is not a glia maturation factor

It is standard practice, whenever a researcher finds a new gene, to search databases for genes that have a similar sequence. It is not standard practice, whenever a researcher finds a new gene, to search for genes that have similar expression (co-expression). Failure to perform co-expression searches has lead to incorrect conclusions about the likely function of new genes, and has lead to wasted laboratory attempts to confirm functions incorrectly predicted. We present here the example of Glia Maturation Factor gamma (GMF-gamma). Despite its name, it has not been shown to participate in glia maturation. It is a gene of unknown function that is similar in sequence to GMF-beta. The sequence homology and chromosomal location led to an unsuccessful search for GMF-gamma mutations in glioma. We examined GMF-gamma expression in 1432 human cDNA libraries. Highest expression occurs in phagocytic, antigen-presenting and other hematopoietic cells. We found GMF-gamma mRNA in almost every tissue examined, with expre     

Antiproliferative function of glia maturation factor beta.

Recombinant human glia maturation factor beta (GMF-beta) reversibly inhibits the proliferation of neoplastic cells in culture by arresting the cells in the G0/G1 phase. This phenomenon is not target-cell specific, as neural and nonneural cells are equally inhibited. When tested simultaneously, GMF-beta suppresses the mitogenic effect of acidic fibroblasts growth factor (aFGF), but the two are synergistic in promoting the morphologic differentiation of cultured astrocytes. GMF-beta also counteracts the growth-stimulating effect of pituitary extract and cholera toxin on Schwann cells. The results underscore the regulatory role of GMF-beta and its intricate interaction with the mitogenic growth factors.     

Purification of bovine glia maturation factor and characterization with monoclonal antibody

Glia maturation factor (GMF) is purified 100 000-fold to apparent homogeneity from bovine brains by a procedure consisting of ammonium sulfate precipitation, column chromatography with diethylaminoethyl-Sephacel, Sephadex G-75, and hydroxylapatite, and a final step using C4 reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The product shows a single protein band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. It has a molecular weight of 14 000 and an isoelectric point of pH 5.2. Purified GMF stimulates cultured astroblasts to proliferate and to grow out cell processes with half-maximal activity at 8 ng/mL. A monoclonal antibody raised against partially purified GMF adsorbs the activity of pure GMF and immunologically binds the putative GMF protein band.     

Solution structure and dynamics of glia maturation factor from Caenorhabditis elegans

BackgroundThe GMF class of the ADF-H domain family proteins regulate actin dynamics by binding to the Arp2/3 complex and F-actin through their Site-1 and Site-2, respectively. CeGMF of C. elegans is analogous to GMFγ of human and mouse and is 138 amino acids in length.MethodsWe have characterized the solution structure and dynamics of CeGMF by solution NMR spectroscopy and its thermal stability by DSC.ResultsThe solution structure of CeGMF shows canonical ADF-H fold with two additional β-strands in the β4-β5 loop region. The Site-1 of CeGMF is well formed and residues of all three regions of Site-1 show dynamic flexibility. However, the β4-β5 loop of Site-2 is less inclined towards the C-terminal, as the latter is truncated by four residues in comparison to GMF isoforms of human and mouse. Regions of Site-2 show motions on ns-ps timescale, but dynamic flexibility of β4-β5 loop is low in comparison to corresponding F-loop region of ADF/cofilin UNC-60B. A general difference in packing of α3 and α1 between GMF and ADF/cofilins was noticed. Additionally, thermal stability of CeGMF was significantly higher than its ADF/cofilin homologs.ConclusionWe have presented the first solution structure of GMF from C. elegans, which highlights the structural differences between the Site-2 of CeGMF and mammalian GMF isoforms. Further, we have seen the differences in structure, dynamics, and thermal stability of GMF and ADF/cofilin.General significanceThis study provides a useful insight to structural and dynamics factors that define the specificity of GMF towards Arp2/3 complex.     

Stage-specific gene expression in lymphatic filarial nematodes

Lymphatic filarial nematodes remain a significant cause of morbidity throughout much of the tropics. One approach to the development of rational control methods is an improved understanding of the basic biology of these organisms in relation to the mechanisms used to complete their life cycles. In this article, Eileen Devaney, Sam Martin and Fiona Thompson review new approaches to defining stage-specific molecules in filarial nematodes, and discuss their recent work on the isolation and characterization of stage-regulated cDNAs from Brugia pahangi.     

Biological effects of bovine glia maturation factor on glial cells in culture

Optimal bioassay conditions for bovine glia maturation factor (GMF) were determined among glial cells from normal glioblasts to glioma cells. Rat glioblasts 4–8 days after subculture show the highest response to GMF with regard to morphological transformation and mitogenic activity. Bovine GMF enhances DNA synthesis of rat glioblasts at 12 hr after stimulation; maximum incorporation of [methyl-³H]thymidine was detected at 18 hr. GMF increases twofold the saturation density of rat glioblasts but does not alter that of C6 astrocytoma cells. The apparent inhibition of mitogenic activity of high doses of GMF is seen in both normal and malignant glial cells.     

Cytoskeletal changes of glioblasts after morphological differentiation induced by glia maturation factor

There were specific changes in the contents of cytoskeletal components and their organization during glioblast differentiation induced by glia maturation factor (GMF). Vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein increased in their contents, whereas actin did not. Tubulin was only a minor component of the glial cytoskeleton. Diffusely distributed intermediate filaments decreased and a number of fiber bundles were formed in parallel with the long axis of the large processes. The microtubules forming radiating fibers from the nuclear matrix to the cell body periphery were rearranged in such a way that the fibers perpendicular to the nuclear axis decreased whereas those parallel to the axis remained unchanged. Lattice type microfilaments decreased and stress fibers disappeared. The perimeter of the glioblasts, especially terminal webs, was hemmed presumably by actin and made contact with the substratum.     

Mitogenic activity of glia maturation factor: Interaction with insulin and insulin-like growth factor-II

The mitogenic activity of glia maturation factor (GMF) was tested on sparse-cultured cells. GMF stimulates the growth rate of normal astroblasts and fibroblasts grown in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS), and raises the saturation density of the cells over what is imposed by the corresponding serum concentrations. GMF has no mitogenic effect in the complete absence of serum. The mitogenicity of GMF is also demonstrable in defined media where certain serum components are present. In particular, GMF in combination with the defined medium N2 partially mimics the proliferative effect of serum alone. Insulin, an ingredient of N2, can substitute for the complete N2 formula. Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), in turn, can substitute for insulin. The interaction of GMF with insulin or IGF-II can be demonstrated in a sequential manner, suggesting that GMF is a competence factor. Since insulin is required at a concentration well above the physiologic serum level, and must be used at a dose 1000 times higher than IGF-II, we suspected that insulin acts on IGF-II receptors. This was substantiated by the demonstration of IGF-II receptors and the absence of detectable insulin receptors on the astroblasts. The combined effect of IGF-II and GMF mimics the combined effect of 10% FCS and GMF, in both growth rate and saturation density.     

Manganese modulates pro-inflammatory gene expression in activated glia

Redox-active metals are of paramount importance for biological functions. Their impact and cellular activities participate in the physiological and pathophysiological processes of the central nervous system (CNS), including inflammatory responses. Manganese is an essential trace element and it is required for normal biological activities and ubiquitous enzymatic reactions. However, excessive chronic exposure to manganese results in neurobehavioral deficits. Recent evidence suggests that manganese neurotoxicity involves activation of microglia or astrocytes, representative CNS immune cells. In this study, we assessed the molecular basis of the effects of manganese on the modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) production in primary rat cortical glial cells. Cultured glial cells consisted of 85% of astrocytes and 15% of microglia. Within the assayed concentrations, manganese was unable to induce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, whereas it potentiated iNOS and TNF-alpha gene expression by lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma-activated glial cells. The enhancement was accompanied by elevation of free manganese, generation of oxidative stress, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, and increased NF-kappaB and AP-1 binding activities. The potentiated degradation of inhibitory molecule IkappaB-alpha was one of underlying mechanisms for the increased activation of NF-kappaB by manganese. However, manganese decreased iNOS enzymatic activity possibly through the depletion of cofactor since exogenous tetrahydrobiopterin reversed manganese's action. These data indicate that manganese could modulate glial inflammation through variable strategies.     

Oligosaccharide alterations of rat glioblast membrane-bound glycoproteins during differentiation induced by glia maturation factor

Differentiation of normal glioblasts was induced by glia maturation factor (GMF), and the structural change in the oligosaccharide chains of the plasmalemmal glycoproteins was investigated. After the glycopeptides obtained by trypsin treatment of the intact cells had been digested with pronase, the resulting glycopeptides were separated into 4 fractions by gel filtration. The first 2 fractions were found to contain mainly N-glycosidically linked glycopeptides, and the last 2, O-linked oligosaccharides. There were a variety of N-linked oligosaccharides whose apparent molecular weights were greater than that of isomaltoheptaose. As compared to those, O-linked oligosaccharides were fewer in type and lower in molecular weight. The N-linked oligosaccharides corresponding to isomaltohepta- decaose and larger saccharide chains augmented in differentiated glioblasts, whereas the N-linked oligosaccharides smaller than isomaltoheptade- caose decreased. The turnover rate of the high molecular weight oligosaccharides was faster than that of other membrane oligosaccharides, and was accelerated by GMF treatment. The content of an O-linked oligosaccharide fraction increased after GMF treatment.