Neutrophil-activating peptide 2 and gro/melanoma growth-stimulatory activity interact with neutrophil-activating peptide 1/interleukin 8 receptors on human neutrophils

Neutrophil-activating peptide 1/interleukin 8 (NAP-1/IL-8), neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), and gro/melanoma growth-stimulatory activity (gro/MGSA) are potent inflammatory cytokines with homologous structure and similar neutrophil-activating properties. Receptors on human neutrophils that interact with these peptides were studied. Analysis of 125I-NAP-1/IL-8 binding at 0-4 degrees C revealed 64,500 +/- 14,000 receptors/cell with an apparent Kd of 0.18 +/- 0.07 nM (mean +/- S.D. of six independent experiments). Unlabeled NAP-1/IL-8, NAP-2, and gro/MGSA competed with 125I-NAP-1/IL-8 for binding to human neutrophils. Competition with increasing concentrations of unlabeled NAP-2 and gro/MGSA resolved two classes of NAP-1/IL-8 binding sites: about 70% of them bound NAP-2 and gro/MGSA with high affinity (Kd: 0.34 +/- 0.2 and 0.14 +/- 0.02), while 30% were of low affinity (Kd: 100 +/- 20 and 130 +/- 10 nM). Different binding sites, however, were not apparent upon competition with unlabeled NAP-1/IL-8, suggesting that both classes of receptors have similar affinities for NAP-1/IL-8. The existence of two receptors was also suggested by ligand cross-linking and cross-desensitization experiments. Two neutrophil membrane proteins with apparent Mr of 66,000-74,000 and 42,000-46,000 became cross-linked to 125I-NAP-1/IL-8, and the labeling was decreased when excess NAP-1/IL-8, NAP-2, or gro/MGSA was present. Stimulation of neutrophils with NAP-1/IL-8 resulted in desensitization toward a subsequent challenge with NAP-2 or gro/MGSA as shown by the rise in cytosolic free calcium. By contrast, following primary stimulation with NAP-2 or gro/MGSA, responses to NAP-1/IL-8 were only moderately attenuated, supporting the existence of NAP-1/IL-8 receptors which bind NAP-2 or gro/MGSA with low affinity. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that NAP-2 and gro/MGSA act upon human neutrophils by directly interacting with two classes of receptors for NAP-1/IL-8.     

Chemical synthesis, purification, and characterization of two inflammatory proteins, neutrophil activating peptide 1 (interleukin-8) and neutrophil activating peptide

Two recently identified pro-inflammatory proteins, namely, neutrophil activating peptide 1 (NAP-1) [also termed interleukin-8 (IL-8)] and NAP-2, were chemically synthesized, purified, and characterized. The fully protected NAP-1/IL-8 (72 residues) and NAP-2 (70 residues) peptide chains were assembled by automated solid-phase methods with average stepwise yields of 99.5 and 99.3%, resulting in overall chain assembly yields of 70 and 62%, respectively. Deprotection resulted in crude products, which were allowed to fold by air oxidation, and were purified by two cycles of reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, yielding 27 mg of NAP-1/IL-8 and 22 mg of NAP-2. Purity was established by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and isoelectric focusing, and the primary structures of the purified products were verified by using mass spectrometry and Edman sequencing methods. Synthetic and recombinant NAP-1/IL-8 were equally active on human neutrophil granulocytes as determined by measuring the induction of cytosolic free calcium, elastase release, and chemotaxis. Synthetic NAP-2 was equivalent to purified natural NAP-2 in the elastase release and calcium mobilization assays, but it was consistently less potent (3-5-fold) as a stimulus of chemotaxis, perhaps indicative of additional chemotactic components in the natural preparation. The results indicate that by chemical synthesis these cytokines can be obtained in purity and quantities suitable for further structural analysis, as well as functional studies both in vivo and in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Isolation, characterization, and immunological detection of neutrophil-activating peptide 2: a proteolytic degradation product of platelet basic protein.

Neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), corresponding to platelet basic protein fragment 25-94, was prepared by chymotryptic digestion of its precursors, low affinity platelet factor 4 or beta-thromboglobulin, followed by purification by high performance liquid chromatography. NAP-2 (0.1-1.5 microns) caused the release of human granulocyte elastase from cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. In the same system, beta-thromboglobulin, human platelet factor 4, S-pyridylethyl NAP-2, and platelet basic protein C-terminal fragment (77-94) were inactive, whereas platelet basic protein fragment 22-89 had low, but significant, activity. Sensitive immunological identification of NAP-2 based on nonequilibrium isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting is described.     

Neutrophils can generate their activator neutrophil-activating peptide 2 by proteolytic cleavage of platelet-derived connective tissue-activating peptide III

We have investigated the conditions that lead to the generation of the neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2) from its precursor, the platelet-derived connective tissue-activating peptide III (CTAP-III). Lysed platelets were found to contain predominantly CTAP-III in the cytosolic fraction, but further truncated derivatives, among these NAP-2, occurred tightly bound to the membrane fraction of fresh platelets. NAP-2 biological activity, as measured by the induction of enzyme release in human neutrophils [polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)] was released by stimulated platelets to a low degree. Much higher activities were formed in the presence of peripheral blood leukocytes. Coincubation of CTAP-III with PMN resulted in the almost complete conversion of the precursor to NAP-2, as did incubation of CTAP-III with PMN-conditioned medium. In both situations, the generation of NAP-2 could be prevented by serine-protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride but not by inhibitors specific for Ca(2+)-dependent or thiol proteases. From several PMN-derived proteases tested, only cathepsin G had the capacity to cleave CTAP-III into NAP-2 with high specificity and in a relatively short period of time (30 min). Our data indicate that NAP-2, released by platelets in small quantities, could cause PMN to enter into a positive feedback cycle by initiating the secretion of serine proteases, which in turn could convert platelet-derived CTAP-III into biologically active NAP-2.     

Neutrophil-activating peptide 1/interleukin 8 mRNA expression and protein secretion by human monocytes: effect of cyclosporin A

Neutrophil-activating peptide 1/interleukin 8 (NAP-1/IL-8) is a recently described cytokine with potent chemotactic activity for human neutrophil granulocytes (PMN) and T cells. In psoriasis, a chronic hyperproliferative and inflammatory skin disorder, PMN and T cells are found as prominent cells in the inflammatory infiltrate of the lesions; however, monocytes were shown to be the first cells invading a newly formed plaque. NAP-1/IL-8 was found to be present in high amounts in the skin and in scale material of psoriatic patients. Psoriasis responds well to systemic treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA), an immunosuppressive peptide. Therefore, we addressed the question of whether the clinical improvement of psoriatic patients during CsA therapy may be due to an inhibition of NAP-1/IL-8 production and secretion from monocytes. Purified human monocytes were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in the presence or absence of various concentrations of CsA. Production of NAP-1/IL-8 was determined as expression of specific mRNA by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Secreted peptide was measured by bioassay (PMN chemotaxis) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using specific monoclonal antibodies. The results show that CsA neither inhibited mRNA expression for NAP-1/IL-8 nor secretion of the peptide. These findings support the hypothesis that the pharmacological effect of CsA may be restricted to the inhibition of T-cell activation and proliferation.     

Differential effects of neutrophil-activating peptide 1/IL-8 and its homologues on leukocyte adhesion and phagocytosis.

Several structural homologues of the chemotactic peptide neutrophil-activating peptide 1/IL-8 (NAP-1/IL-8) were tested for their ability to influence the expression and function of adhesion-promoting receptors on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). NAP-2, melanoma growth stimulatory activity, and two forms of NAP-1/IL-8 (ser-NAP-1/IL-8 and ala-NAP-1/IL-8, consisting of 72 and 77 amino acids, respectively), each caused an increase in the expression of CD11b/CD18 (CR3) and CR1, which was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1, LECAM-1). The binding activity of CD11b/CD18 was also enhanced 3- to 10-fold by these peptides, but enhanced function was transient: binding of erythrocytes coated with C3bi reached a maximum by 30 min and declined thereafter. Ser-NAP-1/IL-8, ala-NAP-1/IL-8, NAP-2, and melanoma growth stimulatory activity also caused a two- to threefold enhancement of the phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) by PMN without causing a large increase in the expression of Fc gamma receptors. Enhanced phagocytosis of EIgG appeared to be mediated through CD11b/CD18, because F(ab')2 fragments of an antibody directed against CD18 inhibited NAP-1/IL-8-stimulated ingestion of EIgG. The four active peptides caused a rapid, transient increase in the amount of F-actin within PMN, indicating that they are capable of influencing the structure of the microfilamentous cytoskeleton, which participates in phagocytosis. Two other NAP-1/IL-8-related peptides, platelet factor 4 and connective tissue-activating peptide III, were without effect on expression of CD11b/CD18, CR1, and LAM-1, binding activity of CD11b/CD18, or Fc-mediated phagocytosis, and increased actin polymerization only slightly. Our observations indicate that several members of the NAP-1/IL-8 family of peptides were capable of promoting integrin-mediated adhesion and Fc-mediated phagocytosis, processes important in the recruitment of PMN to sites of inflammation and antimicrobial responses of PMN.     

Structure-function studies of chemokine-derived carboxy-terminal antimicrobial peptides

Recent reports which show that several chemokines can act as direct microbicidal agents have drawn renewed attention to these chemotactic signalling proteins. Here we present a structure-function analysis of peptides derived from the human chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α/CCL20), interleukin-8 (IL-8), neutrophil activating protein-2 (NAP-2) and thrombocidin-1 (TC-1). These peptides encompass the C-terminal α-helices of these chemokines, which have been suggested to be important for the direct antimicrobial activities. Far-UV CD spectroscopy showed that the peptides are unstructured in aqueous solution and that a membrane mimetic solvent is required to induce a helical secondary structure. A co-solvent mixture was used to determine solution structures of the peptides by two-dimensional ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The highly cationic peptide, MIP-3α_51-70, had the most pronounced antimicrobial activity and displayed an amphipathic structure. A shorter version of this peptide, MIP-3α_59-70, remained antimicrobial but its structure and mechanism of action were unlike that of the former peptide. The NAP-2 and TC-1 proteins differ in their sequences only by the deletion of two C-terminal residues in TC-1, but intact TC-1 is a very potent antimicrobial while NAP-2 is inactive. The corresponding C-terminal peptides, NAP-2_50-70 and TC-1_50-68, had very limited and no bactericidal activity, respectively. This suggests that other regions of TC-1 contribute to its bactericidal activity. Altogether, this work provides a rational structural basis for the biological activities of these peptides and proteins and highlights the importance of experimental characterization of peptide fragments as distinct entities because their activities and structural properties may differ substantially from their parent proteins.     

Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha potentiates neutrophil degranulation in response to host defense cytokines neutrophil-activating peptide 2 and IL-8 by modulating intracellular cyclic AMP levels.

The neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2) and IL-8 are closely related in structure and function. In order to further determine their potential biologic roles in inflammation, we studied their interaction with TNF-alpha-primed human polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes at the levels of effector functions and signal transduction. After short term priming (5 min) by TNF-alpha, suspended cytochalasin B-treated PMN responded to NAP-2 or rIL-8 by substantial augmentation of the degranulation response. After priming with 3 ng/ml TNF-alpha marker release from both azurophilic and specific granules was near maximum. NAP-2 and rIL-8 cooperated with TNF-alpha in very similar ways, as indicated by the almost identical increases in release rates that were induced by equipotent doses of either secondary stimulus. At the signal transduction level, pharmacologic elevation of intracellular cAMP led to the inhibition of NAP-2- or rIL-8-induced degranulation in primed and unprimed PMN, indicating a role for this second messenger as a negative feedback signal. Direct measurement of intracellular cAMP revealed that TNF-alpha by itself did not affect its levels. Instead, TNF-alpha reduced both the scale as well as the duration of the cAMP burst generated in response to secondary stimuli NAP-2 or rIL-8. Thus, there is evidence that TNF-alpha priming of neutrophils for enhanced NAP-2- or rIL-8-promoted degranulation involves the antagonistic down-modulation of stimulus-induced rises in cAMP.     

Tracking peptide-membrane interactions: insights from in situ coupled confocal-atomic force microscopy imaging of NAP-22 peptide insertion and assembly

Elucidating the role that charged membrane proteins play in determining cell membrane structure and dynamics is an area of active study. We have applied in situ correlated atomic force and confocal microscopies to characterize the interaction of the NAP-22 peptide with model membranes prepared as supported planar bilayers containing both liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered domains. Our results demonstrated that the NAP-22 peptide interacts with membranes in a concentration-dependent manner, preferentially inserting into DOPC (ld) domains. While at low peptide concentrations, the NAP-22 peptide formed aggregate-like structures within the ld domains, at high peptide concentrations, it appeared to sequester cholesterol into the ld domains and recruited phosphatidyl-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate by inducing a blending effect that homogenizes the phase-segregated domains into one liquid-ordered domain. This study describes a possible mechanism by which the NAP-22 peptide can affect neuronal morphology.     

Structure and Bioactivity of Recombinant Human CTAP-III and NAP-2

Connective tissue-activating peptide III (CTAP-III) and neutrophil-activating peptide-2 (NAP-2) are both derived from a common precursor, platelet basic protein (PBP), which is stored in the -granules of platelets and released upon their activation. CTAP-III is an 85-residue peptide which is converted to NAP-2 by enzymic removal of the 15 amino-terminal residues. Both peptides play a role in the early stages of wound healing and inflammation through different activities. We have cloned the cDNA for PBP and expressed constructs coding for the CTAP-III and NAP-2 polypeptides in Escherichia coli. We have purified and renatured these recombinant proteins. The integrity of the recombinant proteins has been ascertained by in vitro bioassays. CTAP-III causes 51% histamine release from the basophilic cell lin KU812 at 10^–7 M, whereas NAP-2 only causes 28% release at the same concentration. In assays on human neutrophils, NAP-2 had an EC ₅₀ of 2×10^–8 M in chemotaxis, an EC ₅₀ of 3×10^–8 M for shape change, and could displace IL-8 from neutrophils with a K _d of 7.5×10^–9 M. CTAP-III had no activity in these assays. The disulfide bonds have been identified by peptide mapping and sequence analysis, and are in the positions predicted by homology to interleukin-8 and platelet factor 4. Measurement of the molecular mass at physiologic concentrations by gel permeation chromatography has shown that CTAP-III forms predominantly tetramers and dimers, whereas NAP-2 is only dimetric. SDS/PAGE analysis of samples cross-linked with disuccinimidyl suberate support these topologies. We postulate a mechanism for tetramer formation based on the interaction of the amino-terminal extension in CTAP-III involving a helix–helix interaction that could stabilize the association of two CTAP-III dimers.     

Activation of human basophils through the IL-8 receptor.

IL-8 and its structural analogs derived from blood platelets have been proposed as stimuli of IgE-independent basophil activation. In order to clarify the mechanism of action of these peptides, we examined the effects of pure IL-8, connective tissue-activating peptide III (CTAP-III), neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), and platelet factor 4 (PF-4) on blood basophils with and without pretreatment by IL-3, which modulates mediator release. After pretreatment with IL-3, significant histamine release was observed with 10(-8) M and 10(-7) M IL-8 and 10(-7) M NAP-2, but not with the other peptides. At higher concentrations (10(-6) M), however, all IL-8 analogs, as well as the unrelated cationic peptides poly-D-lysine, histone VS, and lysozyme, induced histamine release to variable degrees. Binding and competition studies with [125I]IL-8 revealed specific IL-8R on basophils from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia and normal individuals. From 3500 to 9600 receptors with a mean Kd value of 0.15 nM were found on average per chronic myelogenous leukemia and normal basophil, respectively. NAP-2 weakly competed for IL-8 binding. IL-8 and, to a lesser extent, NAP-2 led to a transient rise of cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), which was independent of a preexposure to IL-3. IL-8 prevented the [Ca2+]i rise induced by NAP-2, but did not influence [Ca2+]i responses to other agonists, e.g. C5a, C3a, or platelet-activating factor. IL-8 induced [Ca2+]i changes and histamine release in IL-3-primed basophils were pertussis toxin sensitive. CTAP-III or PF-4 did not compete for IL-8 binding, did not induce [Ca2+]i changes, and did not influence the [Ca2+]i response to IL-8 and NAP-2. This study shows that IL-8 and NAP-2 activate human basophils by a receptor-mediated mechanism similar to that operating in neutrophils. At high concentrations histamine release can also be induced by cationic peptides by a mechanism that does not involve the IL-8R, and probably depends on cationic interactions.     

NAP-1/IL-8 induces up-regulation of CR1 receptors in human neutrophil leukocytes

The effect of the neutrophil-activating peptide NAP-1/IL-8 on the expression of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) in human neutrophils was studied. NAP-1/IL-8 enhanced CR1 expression at concentrations between 10(-10) and 10(-8) M. The maximum increase with respect to unstimulated control cells was on average 2.3 fold. The effect was rapid: Half-maximum enhancement was obtained in 4 min and the plateau was reached in 15 min. The chemotactic peptide fMLP, tested for comparison, was effective between 10(-9) and 10(-7) M, showed a similar time course and a somewhat higher maximum effect (2.8 fold increase). The effect of NAP-1/IL-8 was prevented by pretreatment of the cells with B.pertussis toxin and desensitization was observed following restimulation. Stimulus combination experiments suggested that NAP-1/IL-8 mobilizes the same or a similar intracellular pool of CR1 receptors as fMLP or C5a.     

Induction of raft-like domains by a myristoylated NAP-22 peptide and its Tyr mutant

The N-terminally myristoylated, 19-amino acid peptide, corresponding to the amino terminus of the neuronal protein NAP-22 (NAP-22 peptide) is a naturally occurring peptide that had been shown by fluorescence to cause the sequestering of a Bodipy-labeled PtdIns(4,5)P2 in a cholesterol-dependent manner. The present work, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), extends the observation that formation of a PtdIns(4,5)P2-rich domain is cholesterol dependent and shows that it also leads to the formation of a cholesterol-depleted domain. The PtdIns(4,5)P2 used in the present work is extracted from natural sources and does not contain any label and has the native acyl chain composition. Peptide-induced formation of a cholesterol-depleted domain is abolished when the sole aromatic amino acid, Tyr11 is replaced with a Leu. Despite this, the modified peptide can still sequester PtdIns(4,5)P2 into domains, probably because of the presence of a cluster of cationic residues in the peptide. Cholesterol and PtdIns(4,5)P2 also modulate the insertion of the peptide into the bilayer as revealed by 1H NOESY MAS/NMR. The intensity of cross peaks between the aromatic protons of the Tyr residue and the protons of the lipid indicate that in the presence of cholesterol there is a change in the nature of the interaction of the peptide with the membrane. These results have important implications for the mechanism by which NAP-22 affects actin reorganization in neurons.     

Crystal structure of a myristoylated CAP-23/NAP-22 N-terminal domain complexed with Ca2+/calmodulin

A variety of viral and signal transduction proteins are known to be myristoylated. Although the role of myristoylation in protein-lipid interaction is well established, the involvement of myristoylation in protein-protein interactions is less well understood. CAP-23/NAP-22 is a brain-specific protein kinase C substrate protein that is involved in axon regeneration. Although the protein lacks any canonical calmodulin (CaM)-binding domain, it binds CaM with high affinity. The binding of CAP-23/NAP-22 to CaM is myristoylation dependent and the N-terminal myristoyl group is directly involved in the protein-protein interaction. Here we show the crystal structure of Ca2+-CaM bound to a myristoylated peptide corresponding to the N-terminal domain of CAP-23/NAP-22. The myristoyl moiety of the peptide goes through a hydrophobic tunnel created by the hydrophobic pockets in the N- and C-terminal domains of CaM. In addition to the myristoyl group, several amino-acid residues in the peptide are important for CaM binding. This is a novel mode of binding and is very different from the mechanism of binding in other CaM-target complexes.     

Isolation and characterization of mouse homolog of the neutrophil activating peptide-2.

In the presence of thrombopoietin (TPO), megakaryocytes mature by polyploidization and cytoplasmic maturation, and the matured megakaryocytes induce drastic morphological change and proplatelet formation and release a number of platelets. However, the regulatory mechanism of this unique differentiation process is still obscure. We therefore attempted to identify the factors, expression of which is induced by TPO stimulation in mouse bone marrow megakaryocytes. We isolated the mouse homolog of the neutrophil activating peptide-2 (NAP-2). Mouse NAP-2 cDNA encodes a predicted sequence of 113 amino acids and contains the Cys motif (CXC) found in other members of the alpha-chemokine family. At the amino acid level, the predicted mouse NAP-2 has 50.4%, 51.8%, and 72.6% identity with the predicted human, pig, and rat NAP-2, respectively. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that mouse NAP-2 is expressed only in spleen. Furthermore, the RT-PCR technique shows that the mouse NAP-2 gene is clearly upregulated by TPO stimulation in mouse megakaryocytes.     

Identification of distinct surface-expressed and intracellular CXC-chemokine receptor 2 glycoforms in neutrophils: N-glycosylation is essential for maintenance of receptor surface expression

The G protein-coupled CXC-chemokine receptor CXCR-2 mediates activation of neutrophil effector functions in response to multiple ligands, including IL-8 and neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2). Although CXCR-2 has been successfully cloned and expressed in several cell lines, the molecular properties of the native neutrophil-expressed receptor have remained largely undefined. Here we report on the identification and characterization of distinct CXCR-2 glycoforms and their subcellular distribution in neutrophils. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analyses of surface-expressed receptors covalently linked to IL-8 or NAP-2 as well as in their unloaded state revealed the occurrence of a single CXCR-2 variant with an apparent size of 56 kDa. According to deglycosylation experiments surface-expressed CXCR-2 carries two N-linked 9-kDa carbohydrate moieties that are both of complex structure. In addition, two other CXCR-2 variants of 38 and 40 kDa were found to occur exclusively intracellular and to carry N-glycosylations of high mannose or hybrid type. These receptors did not participate in ligand-induced receptor trafficking, while surface-expressed CXCR-2 was internalized and re-expressed following stimulation with NAP-2. By enzymatic removal of one 9-kDa carbohydrate moiety in surface-expressed CXCR-2 we can show that neither NAP-2-induced trafficking nor signaling of the receptor is dependent on its full glycosylation. Instead, glycosylation was found to protect CXCR-2 from proteolytic attack, as even partial deglycosylation is associated with serine protease-mediated disappearance of the receptor from the neutrophil surface. Thus, although not directly involved in signaling, glycosylation appears to be required to maintain neutrophil responsiveness to CXC-chemokines during inflammation.     

Neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in rabbit. cDNA cloning and their expression in spleen cells

Rabbit neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (NAP-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were investigated. Rabbit spleen cells stimulated with 5 micrograms/ml of Con A produced both neutrophil and monocyte chemotactic activity. Physicochemical characteristics of those activities obtained by HPLC gel filtration and HPLC chromatofocusing were very similar to those of human NAP-1 and MCP-1, suggesting that rabbit spleen cells produce NAP-1 and MCP-1 after Con A stimulation. A cDNA library was constructed from mRNA purified from Con A-stimulated rabbit spleen cells and screened with oligonucleotide probes. By two rounds of screening, NAP-1 and MCP-1 cDNA were cloned. NAP-1 cDNA comprises 1500 bp with an open reading frame that encodes for a 101-amino acid protein highly similar to human NAP-1. MCP-1 cDNA comprises 607 bp with an open reading frame that encodes for a 124-amino acid protein highly similar to human MCP-1. Expression of NAP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA by rabbit spleen cells was studied. Both Con A- and LPS-stimulated spleen cells expressed NAP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA, but the kinetics of expression were different. Con A rapidly induced high NAP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA expression. LPS also rapidly induced NAP-1 mRNA expression, but high MCP-1 mRNA expression was not observed until 15 h after stimulation. Immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled NAP-1 and MCP-1 with anti-human NAP-1 or MCP-1 polyclonal antibodies was attempted. Immunoprecipitated rabbit NAP-1 with a molecular mass of about 7 kDa was detected by SDS-PAGE and radioautography, but MCP-1 was not. Cloned rabbit NAP-1 and MCP-1 will give us opportunities to study the role of NAP-1 and MCP-1 in vivo.     

NAP-2: histone chaperone function and phosphorylation state through the cell cycle

We have recently cloned the human nucleosome assembly protein 2 (NAP-2). Here, we demonstrate that casein kinase 2 (CKII) from HeLa cell nuclear extracts interacts with immobilized NAP-II, and phosphorylates both NAP-2 and nucleosome assembly protein 1 (NAP-1) in vitro. Furthermore, NAP-1 and NAP-2 phosphorylation in crude HeLa cell extracts is abolished by heparin, a specific inhibitor of CKII. Addition of core histones can stimulate phosphorylation of NAP-1 and NAP-2 by CKII. NAP-2 is also a phosphoprotein in vivo. The protein is phosphorylated at the G0/G1 boundary but it is not phosphorylated in S-phase. Here, we show that NAP-2 is a histone chaperone throughout the cell cycle and that its cell-cycle distribution might be governed by its phosphorylation status. Phosphorylated NAP-2 remains in the cytoplasm in a complex with histones during the G0/G1 transition, whereas its dephosphorylation triggers its transport into the nucleus, at the G1/S-boundary, with the histone cargo, suggesting that binding to histones does not depend on phosphorylation status. Finally, indirect immunofluorescence shows that NAP-2 is present during metaphase of HeLa and COS cells, and its localization is distinct from metaphase chromosomes.     

Nef of HIV-1 interacts directly with calcium-bound calmodulin

It was recently found that the myristoyl group of CAP-23/NAP-22, a neuron-specific protein kinase C substrate, is essential for the interaction between the protein and Ca(2+)-bound calmodulin (Ca(2+)/CaM). Based on the N-terminal amino acid sequence alignment of CAP-23/NAP-22 and other myristoylated proteins, including the Nef protein from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we proposed a new hypothesis that the protein myristoylation plays important roles in protein-calmodulin interactions. To investigate the possibility of direct interaction between Nef and calmodulin, we performed structural studies of Ca(2+)/CaM in the presence of a myristoylated peptide corresponding to the N-terminal region of Nef. The dissociation constant between Ca(2+)/CaM and the myristoylated Nef peptide was determined to be 13.7 nM by fluorescence spectroscopy analyses. The NMR experiments indicated that the chemical shifts of some residues on and around the hydrophobic clefts of Ca(2+)/CaM changed markedly in the Ca(2+)/CaM-Nef peptide complex with the molar ratio of 1:2. Correspondingly, the radius of gyration determined by the small angle X-ray scattering measurements is 2-3 A smaller that of Ca(2+)/CaM alone. These results demonstrate clearly that Nef interacts directly with Ca(2+)/CaM.