Identification and structural analysis of a zebrafish apo and holo cellular retinol-binding protein

Cellular retinol-binding proteins (CRBPs) are cytoplasmic retinol-specific binding proteins. Mammalian CRBPs have been thoroughly characterised previously. Here we report on the identification and X-ray structural analysis of the apo (1.7A resolution) and holo (1.4A resolution) forms of a zebrafish CRBP. According to amino acid sequence and structure analyses, the zebrafish CRBP that we have identified resembles closely mammalian CRBP II, suggesting that it is the zebrafish orthologue of this mammalian CRBP type. Zebrafish CRBP forms a tight complex with all-trans retinol, producing an absorption spectrum similar to those of mammalian holo-CRBPs, albeit slightly blue-shifted. The superposition of the alpha-carbon atoms of the liganded (complexed with retinol) and unliganded forms of zebrafish CRBP shows significant differences in correspondence of the betaC-betaD (residues 55-58) and betaE-betaF (residues 74-77) turns, providing evidence for the occurrence of conformational changes accompanying retinol binding/release. Remarkable and well-defined ligand-dependent conformational changes in the protein region comprising the two beta-turns affect both the main chain and the side-chains of several residues. The two beta-turns project towards the interior of the cavity devoid of ligand of the apoprotein. The side-chains of F57, Y60 and L77 change substantially their orientation and position in the apoprotein relative to the holoprotein. In the beta-barrel internal cavity of apo-CRBP they occupy some of the space that is otherwise occupied by bound retinol in holo-CRBP, and are displaced from these positions on ligand binding. These results indicate that a flexible area encompassing the betaC-betaD and betaE-betaF turns may serve as the ligand portal and that these turns undergo conformational changes associated with the not yet clarified mechanism of retinol binding and release in CRBPs.     

Retinol uptake and metabolism,and cellular retinol binding protein expression in an in vitro model of hepatic stellate cells

Liver is a major site of retinoid metabolism and storage, and more than 80% of the liver retinoids are stored in hepatic stellate cells. These cells represent less than 1% of the total liver protein, reaching a very high relative intracellular retinoid concentration. The plasma level of retinol is maintained close to 2 M, and hepatic stellate cells have to be able both to uptake or to release retinol depending upon the extracellular retinol status. In view of their paucity in the liver tissue, stellate cells have been studied in primary cultures, in which they loose rapidly the stored lipids and retinol, and convert spontaneously into the activated myofibroblast phenotype, turning a long-term study of their retinol metabolism impossible. We have analyzed the retinol metabolism in the established GRX cell line, representative of stellate cells. We showed that this cell line behaves very similarly, with respect the retinol uptake and release, to primary cultures of hepatic stellate cells. Moreover, we showed that the cellular retinol binding protein (CRBP-I) expression in these cells, relevant for both uptake and esterification of retinol, responds to the extracellular retinol status, and is correlated to the retinol binding capacity of the cytosol. Its expression is not associated with the overall induction of the lipocyte phenotype by other agents. We conclude that the GRX cell line represents an in vitro model of hepatic stellate cells, and responds very efficiently to wide variations of the extracellular retinol status by autonomous controls of its uptake, storage or release.     

Acyl coenzyme A dependent retinol esterification by acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1

We provide biochemical evidence that enzymes involved in the synthesis of triacylglycerol, namely acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) and acyl coenzyme A:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT), are capable of carrying out the acyl coenzyme A:retinol acyltransferase (ARAT) reaction. Among them, DGAT1 appears to have the highest specific activity. The apparent K_m values of recombinant DGAT1/ARAT for retinol and palmitoyl coenzyme A were determined to be 25.9 ± 2.1 μM and 13.9 ± 0.3 μM, respectively, both of which are similar to the values previously determined for ARAT in native tissues. A novel selective DGAT1 inhibitor, XP620, inhibits recombinant DGAT1/ARAT at the retinol recognition site. In the differentiated Caco-2 cell membranes, XP620 inhibits ～85% of the Caco-2/ARAT activity indicating that DGAT1/ARAT may be the major source of ARAT activity in these cells. Of the two most abundant fatty acyl retinyl esters present in the intact differentiated Caco-2 cells, XP620 selectively inhibits retinyl–oleate formation without influencing the retinyl–palmitate formation. Using this inhibitor, we estimate that ～64% of total retinyl ester formation occurs via DGAT1/ARAT. These studies suggest that DGAT1/ARAT is the major enzyme involved in retinyl ester synthesis in Caco-2 cells.     

Human plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP4) is also a fatty acid-binding protein

RBP4 (plasma retinol-binding protein) is the 21?kDa transporter of all-trans retinol that circulates in plasma as a moderately tight 1:1 molar complex of the vitamin with the protein. RBP4 is primarily synthesized in the liver but is also produced by adipose tissue and circulates bound to a larger protein, transthyretin, TTR, that serves to increase its molecular mass and thus avoid its elimination by glomerular filtration.This paper reports the high resolution three-dimensional structures of human RBP4 naturally lacking bound retinol purified from plasma, urine and amniotic fluid. In all these crystals we found a fatty acid molecule bound in the hydrophobic ligand-binding site, a result confirmed by mass spectrometry measurements.In addition we also report the 1.5?Å resolution structures of human holo-RBP4 and of the protein saturated with palmitic and lauric acid and discuss the interaction of the fatty acids and retinol with the protein.     

Lecithin:retinol acyltransferase is critical for cellular uptake of vitamin A from serum retinol-binding protein

Vitamin A (all-trans-retinol) must be adequately distributed within the mammalian body to produce visual chromophore in the eyes and all-trans-retinoic acid in other tissues. Vitamin A is transported in the blood bound to retinol-binding protein (holo-RBP), and its target cells express an RBP receptor encoded by the Stra6 (stimulated by retinoic acid 6) gene. Here we show in mice that cellular uptake of vitamin A from holo-RBP depends on functional coupling of STRA6 with intracellular lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT). Thus, vitamin A uptake from recombinant holo-RBP exhibited by wild type mice was impaired in Lrat(-/-) mice. We further provide evidence that vitamin A uptake is regulated by all-trans-retinoic acid in non-ocular tissues of mice. When in excess, vitamin A was rapidly taken up and converted to its inert ester form in peripheral tissues, such as lung, whereas in vitamin A deficiency, ocular retinoid uptake was favored. Finally, we show that the drug fenretinide, used clinically to presumably lower blood RBP levels and thus decrease circulating retinol, targets the functional coupling of STRA6 and LRAT to increase cellular vitamin A uptake in peripheral tissues. These studies provide mechanistic insights into how vitamin A is distributed to peripheral tissues in a regulated manner and identify LRAT as a critical component of this process.     

Novel cysteine-rich secretory protein in the buccal gland secretion of the parasitic lamprey, Lethenteron japonicum

Lampreys are one of the most primitive vertebrates diverged some 500 million years ago. It has long been known that parasitic lampreys secrete anticoagulant from their buccal glands and prevent blood coagulation of host fishes. We found two major protein components of 160 and 26 kDa in the buccal gland secretion of parasitic river lamprey, Lethenteron japonicum. The larger protein was identified as river lamprey plasma albumin. The complete primary structure of the 26-kDa protein was determined by protein and cDNA analysis. It belonged to the cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) superfamily that includes recently identified reptile venom ion-channel blockers. Lamprey CRISP blocked depolarization-induced contraction of rat-tail arterial smooth muscle, but showed no effect on caffeine-induced contraction. The result suggests that lamprey CRISP is an L-type Ca(2+)-channel blocker and may act as a vasodilator, which facilitates the parasite to feed on the host's blood. The lamprey CRISP protein contains a number of short insertions throughout the sequence, when aligned with reptilian venom CRISP proteins, probably due to the large evolutionary distance between the Agnatha and the Reptilia, and may represent a novel class of venom CRISP family proteins.     

Alterations of retinol-binding protein 4 species in patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease and their relation to lipid parameters

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been discussed as marker of kidney function. In addition to an elevated concentration, the existence of truncated RBP4 species, RBP4-L (truncated at last C-terminal leucine) and RBP4-LL (truncated at both C-terminal leucines), has been reported in serum of hemodialysis patients. Since little is known about the occurrence of RBP4 species during the progression of CKD it was the aim of this study to analyse this possible association. The presence of RBP4, RBP4-L, RBP4-LL and transthyretin (TTR) was assessed in serum of 45 healthy controls and 52 patients with stage 2-5 of CKD using ELISA and RBP4 immunoprecipitation with subsequent MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. A reduction of glomerular filtration rate was accompanied by a gradual elevation of RBP4 serum levels and relative amounts of RBP4-LL. Correlation analysis revealed a strong association of the RBP4-TTR ratio with parameters of lipid metabolism and with diabetes-related factors. In conclusion, RBP4 serum concentration and the appearance of RBP4-LL seem to be influenced by kidney function. Furthermore, the RBP4-TTR ratio may provide diagnostic potential with regard to metabolic complications in CKD patients.     

Recovery of proteins on a milligram scale from polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels,exemplified by purification of a retinol-binding protein

An apparatus suitable for the recovery of proteins from polyacrylamide gels on a milligram scale by displacement electrophoresis (isotachophoresis) is described along with a buffer system that is suitable for this purpose with most proteins. The technique is illustrated by the recovery of a protein from a 15% polyacrylamide gel. The recovery was almost quantitative and the eluted protein showed little contamination upon quantitative amino acid analysis and automatic Edman degradation.     

Impacts of two point mutations of RPE65 from Leber's congenital amaurosis on the stability, subcellular localization and isomerohydrolase activity of RPE65

RPE65, a membrane-associated protein in the retinal pigment epithelium, is the isomerohydrolase essential for regenerating 11-cis retinal, the chromophore for visual pigments. RPE65 mutations are associated with inherited retinal dystrophies. Here we report that single point mutations of RPE65, Y144D and P363T, identified in patients with Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), significantly decreased the stability of RPE65. Moreover, these mutations altered subcellular localization of RPE65 and abolished its isomerohydrolase activity. These observations suggest that the decreased protein stability and altered subcellular localization of RPE65 may represent a mechanism for these mutations to lead to vision loss in LCA patients.     

The involvement of cytochrome p450 (CYP) 26 in the retinoic acid metabolism of human epidermal keratinocytes

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) levels are controlled by enzymes of the vitamin A metabolism (RDH16, RalDH2, and LRAT) and RA catabolism (CYP26 and CYP2S1). Here, the mRNA expression of these enzymes was investigated in human keratinocytes at different Ca²⁺concentrations and after exposure to RA and CYP26 inhibitors. Cellular differentiation (high Ca²⁺) increased the expression of LRAT, RDH16 and RalDH2, and decreased CYP26B1. RA (1 μM) induced CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2S1, CRABPII and LRAT mRNA. The CYP26 inhibitor talarozole altered CYP26A1 and LRAT mRNA expression in a similar way as RA, increased the cellular accumulation of [³H]RA, and induced a punctate CRABPII staining, also observed after siRNA knock-down of CYP26B1 (but not after RA exposure). Furthermore, CYP26B1 siRNA increased the accumulation of [³H]RA and the CRABPII mRNA, suggesting an augmented retinoid signalling. Thus CYP26B1 appears essential for RA catabolism under physiological conditions, whereas CYP26A1 might play a greater role during RA excess.     

Physiological insights into all-trans-retinoic acid biosynthesis

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) provides essential support to diverse biological systems and physiological processes. Epithelial differentiation and its relationship to cancer, and embryogenesis have typified intense areas of interest into atRA function. Recently, however, interest in atRA action in the nervous system, the immune system, energy balance and obesity has increased considerably, especially concerning postnatal function. atRA action depends on atRA biosynthesis: defects in retinoid-dependent processes increasingly relate to defects in atRA biogenesis. Considerable evidence indicates that physiological atRA biosynthesis occurs via a regulated process, consisting of a complex interaction of retinoid binding-proteins and retinoid recognizing enzymes. An accrual of biochemical, physiological and genetic data have identified specific functional outcomes for the retinol dehydrogenases, RDH1, RDH10, and DHRS9, as physiological catalysts of the first step in atRA biosynthesis, and for the retinal dehydrogenases RALDH1, RALDH2, and RALDH3, as catalysts of the second and irreversible step. Each of these enzymes associates with explicit biological processes mediated by atRA. Redundancy occurs, but seems limited. Cumulative data support a model of interactions among these enzymes with retinoid binding-proteins, with feedback regulation and/or control by atRA via modulating gene expression of multiple participants. The ratio apo-CRBP1/holo-CRBP1 participates by influencing retinol flux into and out of storage as retinyl esters, thereby modulating substrate to support atRA biosynthesis. atRA biosynthesis requires the presence of both an RDH and an RALDH: conversely, absence of one isozyme of either step does not indicate lack of atRA biosynthesis at the site. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Retinoid and Lipid Metabolism.     

Purification and partial characterization of a cellular retinol-binding protein from human liver

A protein with binding specificity for retinol was purified from human liver. [³H]Retinol was added to liver extracts and the [³H]retinol-binding protein isolated by conventional chromatographic techniques including ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and G-50 and preparative isoelectric focusing. The yield was 10–15% in different preparations and the degree of purification was about 3000-fold. The purified protein had a molecular weight of about 15 000 as estimated from both gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate and was homogeneous in several electrophoretic systems. Isoelectric focusing of the purified protein gave a doublet band. Only one fluorescent band at pH 4.70 was seen if the protein solution was incubated with excess retinol prior to isoelectric focusing. The isolated protein did not react with antiserum to the retinol-binding protein of plasma. The amino acid composition and the amino terminal amino acid sequence for the first sixteen amino acids of the purified protein differed significantly from that of the plasma retinol-binding protein.     

Role of conserved residues in structure and stability: tryptophans of human serum retinol-binding protein, a model for the lipocalin superfamily

Serum retinol binding protein (RBP) is a member of the lipocalin family, proteins with up-and-down beta-barrel folds, low levels of sequence identity, and diverse functions. Although tryptophan 24 of RBP is highly conserved among lipocalins, it does not play a direct role in activity. To determine if Trp24 and other conserved residues have roles in stability and/or folding, we investigated the effects of conservative substitutions for the four tryptophans and some adjacent residues on the structure, stability, and spectroscopic properties of apo-RBP. Crystal structures of recombinant human apo-RBP and of a mutant with substitutions for tryptophans 67 and 91 at 1.7 A and 2.0 A resolution, respectively, as well as stability measurements, indicate that these relatively exposed tryptophans have little influence on structure or stability. Although Trp105 is largely buried in the wall of the beta-barrel, it can be replaced with minor effects on stability to thermal and chemical unfolding. In contrast, substitutions of three different amino acids for Trp24 or replacement of Arg139, a conserved residue that interacts with Trp24, lead to similar large losses in stability and lower yields of native protein generated by in vitro folding. The results and the coordinated nature of natural substitutions at these sites support the idea that conserved residues in functionally divergent homologs have roles in stabilizing the native relative to misfolded structures. They also establish conditions for studies of the kinetics of folding and unfolding by identifying spectroscopic signals for monitoring the formation of different substructures.     

Stabilization of RNA strands in protein synthesis by type I procollagen C-proteinase enhancer protein, a potential RNA-binding protein, in hepatic stellate cells.

Type I procollagen C-proteinase enhancer (PCPE) exists in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) which can produce collagen. The deduced amino acid sequence of PCPE contains motifs specific for RNA-binding proteins. The effect of PCPE on the syntheses of collagen and noncollagenous protein was studied using an HSC clone derived from cirrhotic rat liver. When the cells were cultured in the presence of an antisense oligonucleotide (AS) against PCPE mRNA, the synthesis of noncollagenous protein as well as collagen was reduced compared to the cells cultured with addition of a nonsense oligonucleotide (NS). The extent of the reduction was similar in both syntheses. The total RNA content of the AS-treated cells and NS-treated cells did not differ. In the presence of actinomycin D, however, such total RNA content was decreased more rapidly in the AS-treated cells than in the NS-treated cells. PCPE may be involved in stabilization of RNA strands in noncollagenous protein synthesis as well as collagen synthesis.     

Hepatic stellate cell lipid droplets: A specialized lipid droplet for retinoid storage

The majority of retinoid (vitamin A and its metabolites) present in the body of a healthy vertebrate is contained within lipid droplets present in the cytoplasm of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Two types of lipid droplets have been identified through histological analysis of HSCs within the liver: smaller droplets bounded by a unit membrane and larger membrane-free droplets. Dietary retinoid intake but not triglyceride intake markedly influences the number and size of HSC lipid droplets. The lipids present in rat HSC lipid droplets include retinyl ester, triglyceride, cholesteryl ester, cholesterol, phospholipids and free fatty acids. Retinyl ester and triglyceride are present at similar concentrations, and together these two classes of lipid account for approximately three-quarters of the total lipid in HSC lipid droplets. Both adipocyte-differentiation related protein and TIP47 have been identified by immunohistochemical analysis to be present in HSC lipid droplets. Lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), an enzyme responsible for all retinyl ester synthesis within the liver, is required for HSC lipid droplet formation, since Lrat-deficient mice completely lack HSC lipid droplets. When HSCs become activated in response to hepatic injury, the lipid droplets and their retinoid contents are rapidly lost. Although loss of HSC lipid droplets is a hallmark of developing liver disease, it is not known whether this contributes to disease development or occurs simply as a consequence of disease progression. Collectively, the available information suggests that HSC lipid droplets are specialized organelles for hepatic retinoid storage and that loss of HSC lipid droplets may contribute to the development of hepatic disease.     

日本血吸虫SjIrV1的基因特性及免疫保护效果

钙结合蛋白是日本血吸虫生长发育不可缺少的蛋白,具有非常广泛而重要的功能.在课题组日本血吸虫体被表膜蛋白研究基础上,利用PCR技术克隆了中国大陆株日本血吸虫66 kDa钙结合蛋白(SjIrV1)编码基因的cDNA序列,BLAST分析与菲律宾株日本血吸虫SjIrV1 cDNA编码序列一致,荧光定量PCR分析表明该基因在童虫和成虫期不同发育阶段均有表达,其中在35d和42d成虫中表达量较高,在42d雌虫中该基因表达水平远高于42d雄虫.构建重组表达质粒pET28a(+)-SjIrV1,在大肠杆菌中成功诱导表达,重组蛋白主要以可溶性形式存在,通过高效液相色谱法(RP-HPLC)以及串联质谱法(MS/MS)鉴定所获蛋白为目的蛋白SjIrV1.蛋白质印迹(Western blotting)分析结果显示重组蛋白能被感染日本血吸虫鼠血清和免疫鼠血清所识别,SjIrV1蛋白在虫体各发育阶段中均表达.免疫荧光染色实验观察表明SjIrV1主要分布在日本血吸虫成虫的表膜.应用重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠后,免疫鼠血清中检测到较高水平的特异性IgG、IgG1和IgG2a抗体.结果表明SjIrV1可能在日本血吸虫的生长发育过程中起着重要作用.