Photoaffinity labeling of the canine renal receptor for parathyroid hormone

Studies were undertaken to identify and characterize components of the parathyroid hormone receptor. An analog of the bovine parathyroid hormone(1-34) sequence was derivatized at the 23-tryptophan position with the photoreactive reagent 2-nitro-5-azidophenylsulfenyl chloride. 2-Nitro-5-azidophenylsulfenyl-bovine parathyroid hormone (NAPS-bPTH) analog retained full biological activity with respect to receptor binding and activation of adenylate cyclase in canine renal cortical plasma membranes. 125I-bPTH(1-34) analog was also derivatized without loss of receptor-binding activity. When 125I-NAPS-bPTH(1-34) analog was incubated with canine renal plasma membranes and then photolyzed, at least two 125I-labeled membrane components were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The incorporation of 125I radioactivity into one of these components (Mr congruent to 60,000) was inhibited when incubation and photolysis were performed in the presence of excess, unlabeled bPTH(1-34). Furthermore, photolysis of membranes in the presence of NAPS-bPTH(1-34) analog led to activation of adenylate cyclase which persisted following washing to remove noncovalently bound peptide, suggesting a functional, covalent hormone-receptor complex had been formed. We conclude that the M r congruent to 60,000 membrane component may be a part of the renal receptor for parathyroid hormone.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the human erythrocyte monosaccharide transporter with an aryl azide derivative of D-glucose

A photoreactive, radioiodinated derivative of glucose, N-(4-iodoazidosalicyl)-6-amido-6-deoxyglucopyranose (IASA-glc), has been synthesized and used as a photoaffinity label for the human erythrocyte monosaccharide transporter. Photoinactivation and photoinsertion are both light-dependent and result in a marked decrease in the absorption spectra of the compound. When [125I]IASA-glc was photolyzed with erythrocyte ghost membranes, photoinsertion of radiolabel was observed in three major regions, spectrin, band 3, and a protein of 58,000 daltons located in the zone 4.5 region. Of the three regions which were photolabeled, only labeling of polypeptides in the zone 4.5 region was partially blocked by D-glucose. In the non-iodinated form, N-(4-azidosalicyl)-6-amido-6-deoxy-glucopyranose inhibited the labeling of the transporter by [125I]IASA-glc more effectively than D-glucose. The ability to synthesize this [125I]containing photoprobe for the monosaccharide transporter at carrier-free levels offers several new advantages for investigating the structure of this transport protein in the erythrocyte.     

Identification of a constituent of the junctional feet linking terminal cisternae to transverse tubules in skeletal muscle

This study describes the biochemical composition of junctional feet in skeletal muscle utilizing a fraction of isolated triad junctions. [3H]Ouabain entrapment was employed as a specific marker for T-tubules. The integrity of the triad junction was assayed by the isopycnic density of [3H]ouabain activity (24-30% sucrose for free T-tubules, 38- 42% sucrose for intact triads). Trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pronase all caused separation of T-tubules from terminal cisternae, indicating that the junction is composed as least in part of protein. Trypsin and chymotrypsin hydrolyzed four proteins: the Ca2+ pump, a doublet 325,000, 300,000, and an 80,000 Mr protein. T-tubules which had been labeled covalently with 125I were joined to unlabeled terminal cisternae by treatment with K cacodylate. The reformed triads were separated from free T-tubules and then severed by passage through a French press. When terminal cisternae were separated from T-tubules, some 125I label was transferred from the labeled T-tubules to the unlabeled terminal cisternae. Gel electrophoresis showed that, although T-tubules were originally labeled in a large number of different proteins, only a single protein doublet was significantly labeled in the originally unlabeled terminal cisternae. This protein pair had molecular weights of 325,000 and 300,000 daltons. Transfer of label did not occur to a substantial degree without K cacodylate treatment. We propose that the transfer of 125I label from T-tubules to terminal cisternae during reformation and breakage of the triad junction is a property of the protein which spans the gap between T-tubules and terminal cisternae.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the follitropin receptor

A photoactivatable derivative of human follitropin was used to identify the follitropin receptor on porcine granulosa cells. The hormone was condensed with a heterobifunctional reagent, the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 4-azidobenzoylglycine, and radioiodinated. The 125I-labeled hormone (125I-hormone) derivative associated with the same number of receptors as 125I-hormone itself, but with a slightly lower Ka, 1.12 X 10(10) M-1 compared with 1.4 X 10(10) M-1 for the 125I-hormone. The binding could be blocked with untreated hormone. Its alpha and beta subunits could be cross-linked to produce alpha beta dimer by photolysis. When the 125I-hormone derivative bound to the cells was photolyzed for crosslinking and the products resolved by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels under reducing conditions, two new bands (106 and 61 kDa) of lower electrophoretic mobility appeared in addition to the alpha, beta, and alpha beta bands. Formation of these crosslinked complexes required photolysis, and the 125I-hormone derivative specifically bound to cells bearing the receptor. Binding could be blocked by excess untreated follitropin but not with human choriogonadotropin and thyrotropin. Under nonreducing conditions, one major band (104 kDa) of cross-linked complexes appeared. Upon reduction with dithiothreitol and second-dimensional electrophoresis, the 104-kDa band produced two smaller complexes of 75 and 61 kDa, indicating the loss of two components and the existence of intercomponent disulfides. Successful production of the 104-kDa complex requires blocking of free sulfhydryl groups with N-ethylmaleimide. It is, however, independent of various protease inhibitors or the temperature and the time period of hormone incubation with cells or the plasma membrane fraction. The mass estimates and the interaction with the hormone of the photoaffinity-labeled components are discussed.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the oxysterol receptor

A cytosolic receptor protein for oxygenated sterols, postulated to be involved in the regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and cholesterol biosynthesis, can be labeled covalently by photoactivation of 7,7'-azo-[5,6-3H]cholestane-3 beta,25-diol. Other compounds tested for their potential as photoaffinity reagents were: 25-hydroxycholesta-4,6-dien-3-one, 3 beta,25-dihydroxycholest-5-en-7-one, and 3 beta-hydroxycholesta-8(14),9(11)-dien-15-one. These sterols did not bind to the receptor with adequate affinity, were not readily photolyzed, or did not react covalently with the receptor during photolysis. The successful photoaffinity label, 7,7'-azocholestane-3 beta,25-diol, binds to the receptor with high affinity (Kd = 9.1 nM). After activation of the partially purified oxysterol-receptor complex with UV light (greater than 300 nm), several covalently labeled proteins were found upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. Labeling of one protein, Mr approximately 98,000, was much reduced when the binding reaction was carried out in the presence of an excess of unlabeled oxysterol. Under the reaction conditions investigated so far, approximately 1% of the specifically bound sterol was covalently linked after photolysis. These results are consistent with previous information suggesting that the Mr of the receptor subunit is approximately 97,000. The covalent labeling of the receptor reported herein should facilitate its further purification and characterization.     

Radioiodinated, photoactivatable phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine: transfer properties and differential photoreactive interaction with human erythrocyte membrane proteins

An isotopically labeled cross-linking reagent, succinimido 3-(3-[125I]iodo-4-azidophenyl)propionate, has been synthesized and coupled to 1-acyl-2-(aminocaproyl)phosphatidylcholine according to previously described procedures [Schroit, A. J., & Madsen, J. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 3617-3623]. 125I- and N3-labeled phosphatidylserine (125I-N3-PS) was produced from the phosphatidylcholine (PC) analogue by phospholipase D catalyzed base exchange in the presence of L-serine. These phospholipid analogues are photoactivatable, are labeled with 125I at high specific activity, completely incorporate into synthetic vesicles, and spontaneously transfer between membranes. When an excess of acceptor vesicles or red blood cells (RBC) was mixed with a population of donor vesicles containing the 125I-N3-phospholipids, approximately 40% of the analogues transferred to the acceptor population. After transfer in the dark to RBC, all of the 125I-N3-PC incorporated into the cells could be removed by washing with serum, whereas the 125I-N3-PS could not. After photolabeling of intact RBC, approximately 50% of the PC and 20% of the PS cross-linked to membrane proteins as determined by their insolubility in CHCl3/MeOH. Analysis of probe distribution by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that 125I-N3-PS preferentially labeled a Mr 30,000 peptide which contained approximately 30% of the protein-bound label.     

Improved synthesis and iodination of a cleavable photoactivated probe

J. B. Denny and G. Blobel (1984, Proc, Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 5286-5290) have described the synthesis of a water-soluble novel heterobifunctional 125I-labeled photocrosslinking reagent, N-[4-(p-azido-m-[125I]iodophenylazo)benzoyl]-3-aminopropionyl-N'- oxysulfosuccinimide, which contains a cleavable internal azo bond. We report several modifications of their synthesis which greatly increase the yield of a synthetic intermediate, N-[4-(p-aminophenylazo)benzoyl]-3-aminopropionic acid (compound VII). Evidence is presented that direct iodination of compound VII with chloramine-T produces low yields of 125I-labeled compound VII in a reaction which is difficult to control. Alternatively, the yield of 125I-labeled reagent can be greatly improved if the iodination is performed following the derivatization of N-[4-(p-axidophenylazo)benzoyl]-3-aminopropionyl-N'-oxysulfosuc cinimide (compound IX) to a ligand such as dextran. We have demonstrated the transfer of 125I label from the reagent when derivatized to amino-dextran to proteins in solution after photolysis and cleavage of this 125I-labeled reagent.     

Identification of specific fragments containing the 5'' end of poliovirus RNA after ribonuclease III digestion.

The small protein (VPg) covalently linked to the 5' end of poliovirus Type 1 (PV-1) RNA has been labeled in vitro with 125I using the Bolton and Hunter reagent. The RNA is not degraded under the conditions used and nearly all the label enters VPg and not the poly-nucleotide chain. When this 125I-labeled RNA is cleaved with RNase III at low monovalent salt concentrations, one major 125I-labeled fragment, approximately 100 nucleotides long, is produced. The corresponding fragment from similar digests of 32P-labeled RNA has also been identified. The 32P-labeled fragment changes electrophoretic mobility after protease treatment indicating that it contains VPg. Furthermore, the RNase T1 oligonucleotide known to be at the 5' terminus of poliovirus RNA is found in T1 digests of the purified fragment. These results confirm that the fragment is derived from the 5' end of the RNA. This fragment will be useful in studies concerning the initiation of protein synthesis during poliovirus infection.     

The uptake of the apoprotein and cholesteryl ester of high-density lipoproteins by the perfused rat liver

The uptake of the 125I-labeled apolipoprotein and 3H-labeled cholesteryl ester components of rat apolipoprotein E-deficient HDL by the perfused liver was studied. The uptake of the cholesteryl ester moiety was 4-fold higher than that of apolipoprotein. The concentration-dependent uptake of labeled protein was saturable and competed for by an excess of unlabeled HDL. The uptake of cholesteryl ester was not saturable over the concentration range studied. In the presence of a 50-fold excess of unlabeled HDL, the uptake of both radiolabeled components was decreased by over 75%, indicating that three-quarters of the hepatic uptake of HDL is by a receptor-mediated process. After 15 min of perfusion, 37% of the apolipoprotein radioactivity that was initially bound at 5 min was released into the perfusate as a more dense particle. After 5, 15, 30 and 60 min of perfusion the subcellular distribution of the apolipoprotein and cholesteryl ester components was analyzed by Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Over the 60 min period, there appeared to be transfer of radioactivity from the plasma membrane fraction to the lysosomal fraction. However, the internalization and degradation of cholesteryl ester was more rapid than that of the apolipoprotein. Our findings indicate that there is preferential uptake of HDL cholesteryl ester relative to protein by the liver and that the internalization of these components may occur independently.     

Synthesis and properties of radioiodinated phospholipid analogues that spontaneously undergo vesicle-vesicle and vesicle-cell transfer

An efficient method for the synthesis and purification of a variety of iodinated phospholipid analogues is described. 1-Acyl-2-[[[3-(3-[125I]iodo-4-hydroxyphenyl)- propionyl]amino]caproyl]phosphatidylcholine (125I-PC) was prepared by alkylation of 1-acyl-2-(aminocaproyl)phosphatidylcholine with monoiodinated Bolton-Hunter reagent. 125I-Labeled phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine were produced from 125I-PC by phospholipase D catalyzed base exchange in the presence of ethanol-amine or L-serine. All of these lipid analogues transferred readily from donor vesicles into recipient membranes. When an excess of acceptor vesicles was mixed with a population of donor vesicles containing the iodinated analogues, approximately 50% of the 125I-labeled lipids transferred to the acceptor vesicle population. In addition, under appropriate incubation conditions, these lipids were observed to transfer from vesicles to mammalian cells. Autoradiographic analysis of 125I-labeled lipids extracted from the cells after incubation with vesicles at 2 degrees C for 60 min revealed that a large proportion of the 125I-labeled phosphatidic acid was metabolized to 125I-labeled diglyceride and 125I-labeled phosphatidylcholine, whereas no metabolism of exogenously supplied 125I-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine or 125I-labeled phosphatidylcholine could be detected.     

The covalent tagging of the cell surface insulin receptor in intact cells with the generation of an insulin-free, functional receptor. A new approach to the study of receptor dynamics

A new method is described in which the cell surface insulin receptor can be radioactively tagged in a specific manner with a small insulin-free probe. After protecting the amino groups of insulin essential for binding and bio-activity, insulin is coupled to the heterobifunctional, cleavable cross-linking reagent SASD (sulfosuccinimidyl 2-(p-azidosalicylamido)-1,3'-dithiopropionate), via displacement of the N-hydroxysuccinimide moiety of SASD. Removal of the protecting groups results in the formation of 2-(p-azidosalicylamido)-1,3'-dithiopropionate (ASD)-insulin with insulin receptor binding activity equivalent to unmodified insulin. Iodination of ASD-insulin results in the incorporation of 125I into both the azidohydroxybenzoyl moiety of SASD and a tyrosine residue of insulin. Following binding of 125I-ASD-insulin to intact monolayers of 3T3-C2 cells, radiolabel is incorporated exclusively into a 135-kDa protein in a manner dependent upon the length of exposure of the cells to short wavelength ultraviolet light. This protein corresponds in molecular weight to the alpha subunit of the insulin receptor. Labeling of this protein can be inhibited by excess unlabeled insulin. Reduction of the disulfide bond of ASD with 10 mM glutathione causes the release of the 125I-insulin portion of the reagent from the receptor complex, with the iodinated photoactivated end of ASD covalently attached to the receptor. Insulin receptor labeled in this manner retains its ability to bind insulin. General metabolic processes of the intact cells do not appear to be perturbed by this labeling procedure, and the cellular processing of the insulin receptor does not appear to be modified by the covalent labeling of the receptor protein. This procedure therefore provides a way to specifically label the cell surface insulin receptor in a manner which does not perturb the normal functioning of the labeled cell and equally importantly, does not perturb the normal cellular processing of the insulin receptor itself.     

Identification of a spectrin-like protein in Sertoli cells

Sertoli cells prepared from rats ages 15 and 25 days were shown to contain a spectrin-like protein. Indirect immunofluorescence with monospecific antimouse erythrocyte immunoglobulin G (IgG) and with monospecific antimouse brain spectrin IgG revealed specific staining in Sertoli cells. Both antibodies precipitated two spectrin-like peptides of 240,000 and 235,000 daltons from cells solubilized with octyl glucoside. Proteins from Sertoli cell membranes were separated by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate and electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose membrane. Incubation of nitrocellulose membrane with either of the two antibodies, followed by horseradish peroxidase conjugated to second antibody, revealed only the larger, or alpha, spectrin subunit (Western blots). Both antibodies were used to provide immunoautoradiographic identification of the spectrin-like protein. In this procedure, spectrin and Sertoli cell membranes were shown to compete with [125I]-labeled spectrin from mouse erythrocytes for binding to antimouse erythrocyte spectrin IgG. Finally, two-dimensional proteolytic mapping of the 240,000- and 235,000-dalton peptides demonstrated limited spot homology with rat erythrocyte spectrin. However, subcellular fractions from Sertoli cells all contained a spectrin-like protein showing high homology from fraction to fraction. It is concluded that Sertoli cells contain a spectrin-like protein that is seen in cell fractions prepared by centrifugation, i.e., mitochondria, microsomes, nuclei, cytoplasm, and plasma membranes. Although homology with spectrin from erythrocytes or brain is not seen in peptide maps, the alpha subunit shares antigenic determinants with spectrin from erythrocytes. The beta subunit is believed to be precipitated by antispectrin as the result of binding to the alpha subunit, since the beta subunit shows no detectable antigenic homology with that of spectrin.     

Brain ankyrin. Purification of a 72,000 Mr spectrin-binding domain

Polypeptides of Mr = 190,000-220,000 that cross-react with erythrocyte ankyrin were detected in immunoblots of membranes from pig lens, pig brain, and rat liver. The cross-reacting polypeptides from brain were cleaved by chymotrypsin to fragments of Mr = 95,000 and 72,000 which are the same size as fragments obtained with erythrocyte ankyrin. The brain 72,000 Mr fragment associated with erythrocyte spectrin, and the binding occurred at the same site as that of erythrocyte ankyrin 72,000 Mr fragment since (a) brain 72,000 Mr fragment was adsorbed to erythrocyte spectrin-agarose and (b) 125I-labeled erythrocyte spectrin bound to brain 72,000 Mr fragment following transfer of the fragment from a sodium dodecyl sulfate gel to nitrocellulose paper, and this binding was displaced by erythrocyte ankyrin 72,000 Mr fragment. Brain 72,000 Mr fragment was purified about 400-fold by selective extraction and by continuous chromatography on columns attached in series containing DEAE-cellulose followed by erythrocyte spectrin coupled to agarose, and finally hydroxylapatite. The brain 72,000 Mr fragment was not derived from contaminating erythrocytes since peptide maps of pig brain and pig erythrocyte 72,000 Mr fragments were distinct. The amount of brain 72,000 Mr fragment was estimated as 0.28% of membrane protein or 39 pmol/mg based on radioimmunoassay with 125I-labeled brain fragment and antibody against erythrocyte ankyrin. Brain spectrin tetramer was present in about the same number of copies (30 pmol/mg of membrane protein) based on densitometry of Coomassie blue-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. The binding site on brain spectrin for both brain and erythrocyte ankyrin 72,000 Mr fragments was localized by electron microscopy to the midregion of spectrin tetramers about 90 nM from the near end and 110 nM from the far end. These studies demonstrate the presence in brain membranes of a protein closely related to erythrocyte ankyrin, and are consistent with a function of the brain ankyrin as a membrane attachment site for brain spectrin.     

Identification of a Mr = 17,000 protein as the plastoquinone-binding protein in the cytochrome b6-f complex from spinach chloroplasts

An azidoquinone derivative, 3-azido-2-methyl-5-methoxy-6-(3,7-dimethyl[3H]octyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (azido-Q), was used to study the plastoquinone-protein interaction and to identify the plastoquinone-binding protein in the cytochrome b6-f complex from spinach chloroplasts. When the lipid- and plastoquinone-deficient cytochrome b6-f complex is incubated with varying concentrations of azido-Q and illuminated with long wavelength UV light for 7 min at 2 degrees C, the enzymatic activity, assayed after reconstitution with lipid, decreases as the concentration of azido-Q increases. Maximum inactivation (45%) is observed when 30 mol of azido-Q is used per mol of cytochrome f. The extent of the decrease in activity upon illumination correlates with the amount of azido-Q incorporated into the protein. The 50% inactivation is in good agreement with that expected based on the amount of plastoquinone deficiency of the isolated enzyme complex. When the photolyzed, [3H]azido-Q-treated sample is extracted with organic solvent and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, radioactivity is found primarily in the Mr = 17,000 subunit. When the enzyme is pretreated with the electron transfer inhibitor 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropylbenzoquinone or 5-n-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole, significantly less radioactive label is observed in the Mr = 17,000 protein, suggesting that the action sites of these inhibitors are the same or near the plastoquinone-binding site. When the deficient complex is reconstituted with glycolipid prior to the addition of azido-Q, less than 5% inactivation is observed upon photolysis, and the amount of radioactive label on the Mr = 17,000 protein decreases greatly, suggesting that the plastoquinone-binding site is easily masked by glycolipid when endogenous plastoquinone is absent. Plastoquinol-2 apparently competes with azido-Q for the plastoquinone-binding site since it decreases the radioactive label on the Mr = 17,000 protein.     

A stable diazo photoaffinity label with high absorptivity and effective photoactivation beyond 300 nm.

The sulfosuccinimidyl active ester of 3-(3-carbethoxy-4-diazo-5-oxo-2-pyrrolin-1-yl)propanoic acid (DIAZOPY-SE) has been synthesized for use as a photoaffinity labeling reagent. This compound was obtained from commercial chemicals by a four-step synthesis requiring no complex procedures or special apparatus. The active ester efficiently derivatizes protein amino groups with the chromophore 3-carbethoxy-4-diazo-5-oxo-2-pyrroline (DIAZOPY, epsilon 8800 M-1 cm-1 at lambda max 330 nm), which on irradiation yielded products expected from formation of a reactive carbene intermediate. Brief irradiation of DIAZOPY in 2-propanol using wavelengths greater than 300 nm for photolysis yielded mainly an isopropyl ether resulting from insertion of the carbene into the O-H bond of the alcohol. Formed concurrently and to a somewhat lesser extent was an isopropyl ester, resulting from a ring-contracting Wolff rearrangement of the carbene and subsequent reaction with isopropanol. Analogous products were produced by photolysis in 2-propanol of DIAZOPY-PA (for DIAZOPY propanoic acid), the carboxylic acid precursor of DIAZOPY-SE. Facile protein derivatization by DIAZOPY-SE was demonstrated using actin and sheep IgG. Actin labeled with DIAZOPY-SE and irradiated while in the F-actin (reversibly polymerized) form was crosslinked to yield a covalently-linked dimer, illustrating the potential of the reagent in photoaffinity applications. Advantages of DIAZOPY-SE as a photoaffinity labeling reagent include ease of synthesis, chemical and photostability, efficient photolysis at wavelengths greater than 300 nm, and a capacity for crosslinking by carbene insertion processes.     

STUDIES ON THE ORIGIN OF RIBOSOMES IN AMOEBA PROTEUS

The origin of cytoplasmic RNA and ribosomes was studied in Amoeba proteus by transplantation of a radioactive nucleus into an unlabeled cell followed by examination of the cytoplasm of the recipient for the presence of label. When a RNA-labeled nucleus was used, label appeared in the ribosomes, ribosomal RNA, and soluble RNA. Since the kinetics of appearance of labeled RNA indicates that the nucleus was not injured during the transfer, and since the transferred nuclear pool of labeled acid-soluble RNA precursors is inadequate to account for the amount of cytoplasmic RNA label, it is concluded that cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA is derived from acid-insoluble nuclear RNA and is probably transported as an intact molecule. Likewise, cytoplasmic soluble RNA probably originated in the nucleus, although labeling by terminal exchange in the cytoplasm is also possible. The results were completely different when a protein-labeled nucleus was grafted into an unlabeled host. In this case, label was found only in soluble proteins in the host cell cytoplasm, and there were no (or very few) radioactive ribosomes. This suggests that the nuclear pool of ribosomal protein and ribosomal protein precursors is relatively small and perhaps nonexistent (and, furthermore, shows that there was no cytoplasmic ribosomal contamination of the transferred nucleus).     

Affinity chromatography of catalytic autoantibody to vasoactive intestinal peptide

An autoantibody in human IgG that hydrolyzes vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was identified. The IgG did not hydrolyze VIP unless an unidentified inhibitor was removed by dialysis. The VIP antibody was fractionated by affinity chromatography on immobilized VIP by using IgG without VIP-hydrolytic activity as the starting material. The affinity-purified antibody catalyzed the hydrolysis of VIP (nominal kcat/Km: 1.1 X 10(6) M-1 min-1). The values of Km for the affinity-purified antibody preparation and unfractionated IgG (110 nM and 112 nM) suggested relatively tight antibody-VIP binding. A comparison of the reverse phase HPLC profiles of antibody-treated [Tyr10-125I]VIP with that of synthetic [125I]VIP(1-16) suggested that unfractionated IgG and the affinity-purified antibody cleaved the same peptide bond in VIP (Gln16-Met17).     

Metabolism of low-density lipoprotein-proteoglycan complex by macrophages: further evidence for a receptor pathway

Earlier, we (Vijayagopal, P., et al. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 837-251) have shown that complexes of plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and arterial chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate proteoglycan aggregate promote LDL degradation and cholesteryl ester accumulation in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Further studies were conducted to determine whether LDL-proteoglycan complex is metabolized by a receptor-mediated process. Native proteoglycan aggregate was isolated from bovine aorta by associative CsCl isopycnic centrifugation. Complex of 125I-labeled LDL and proteoglycan aggregate formed in the presence of 30 mM Ca2+ was incubated with macrophages, and the binding at 4 degrees C and degradation at 37 degrees C of 125I-labeled LDL in the complex was monitored. Both binding and degradation of the complex were specific and saturable, suggesting that the processes are receptor mediated. The Kd for binding was 23 micrograms LDL protein per ml in the complex. Degradation of 125I-labeled LDL-proteoglycan complex was not suppressed by preincubation of macrophages with excess unlabeled complex, suggesting that the receptor for the complex is not subject to down regulation. Both binding and degradation of the complex and the resultant stimulation of cholesteryl ester synthesis were inhibited by limited treatment of cells with low doses of trypsin and pronase, indicating that the binding sites are protein or glycoprotein in nature. Binding was not inhibited by an excess of native LDL and beta-VLDL and exhibited only partial competition by excess unlabeled acetyl-LDL; however, polyinosinic acid, fucoidin and dextran sulfate, known inhibitors of acetyl-LDL binding and degradation in macrophages, did not affect LDL-proteoglycan complex binding and degradation. Similarly, excess unlabeled LDL-proteoglycan complex produced only partial inhibition of the binding and degradation of 125I-labeled acetyl-LDL by macrophages, suggesting that the binding sites for acetyl-LDL and LDL-proteoglycan complex are probably not identical. These studies provide evidence for a receptor-mediated pathway for the metabolism of LDL-proteoglycan complex in macrophages.     

Synapsin I-mediated interaction of brain spectrin with synaptic vesicles

We have established a new binding assay in which 125I-labeled synaptic vesicles are incubated with brain spectrin covalently immobilized on cellulosic membranes in a microfiltration apparatus. We obtained saturable, high affinity, salt- (optimum at 50-70 mM NaCl) and pH- (optimum at pH 7.5-7.8) dependent binding. Nonlinear regression analysis of the binding isotherm indicated one site binding with a Kd = 59 micrograms/ml and a maximal binding capacity = 1.9 micrograms vesicle protein per microgram spectrin. The fact that the binding of spectrin was via synapsin was demonstrated in three ways. (a) Binding of synaptic vesicles to immobilized spectrin was eliminated by prior extraction with 1 M KCl. When the peripheral membrane proteins in the 1 M KCl extract were separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose paper and incubated with 125I-brain spectrin, 96% of the total radioactivity was associated with five polypeptides of 80, 75, 69, 64, and 40 kD. All five polypeptides reacted with an anti-synapsin I polyclonal antibody, and the 80- and 75-kD polypeptides comigrated with authentic synapsin Ia and synapsin Ib. The 69- and 64-kD polypeptides are either proteolytic fragments of synapsin I or represent synapsin IIa and synapsin IIb. (b) Pure synapsin I was capable of competitively inhibiting the binding of radioiodinated synaptic vesicles to immobilized brain spectrin with a Kl = 46 nM. (c) Fab fragments of anti-synapsin I were capable of inhibiting the binding of radioiodinated synaptic vesicles to immobilized brain spectrin. These three observations clearly establish that synapsin I is a primary receptor for brain spectrin on the cytoplasmic surface of the synaptic vesicle membrane.     

Receptor-mediated endocytosis of alpha 2-macroglobulin and transferrin in rat caput epididymal epithelial cells in vitro

The endocytic activity of epithelial cells from the rat epididymis in vitro has been examined by following the uptake of tracer compounds conjugated to proteins. Transferrin-gold and alpha 2-macroglobulin-gold were taken up initially in coated pits, internalized and sequestered into tubular-vesicular structures, multivesicular bodies and, in the case of alpha 2-macroglobulin, into lysosomes. Uptake could be prevented by an excess of unlabeled protein. Studies using 125I-alpha 2-macroglobulin and 125I-transferrin also showed that the uptake of these proteins was specific and could be displaced with increasing amounts of unlabeled protein. In addition, binding of 125I-transferrin to cells was saturable at 4 degrees C. These studies indicate that transferrin and alpha 2-macroglobulin are taken up by receptor-mediated endocytosis. In contrast, a fluid phase marker, bovine serum albumin-gold (BSA-gold), was initially taken up predominantly in uncoated caveolae rather than coated pits, and could not be displaced with excess BSA. By virtue of their charge, polycationized ferritin and unlabeled colloidal gold were taken up and internalized by adsorptive endocytosis, a pathway which is similar to fluid phase endocytosis. The uptake and internalization of alpha 2-macroglobulin and transferrin differed in a number of respects. Uptake and internalization of alpha 2-macroglobulin but not of transferrin was dependent on extracellular calcium. Only alpha 2-macroglobulin was transferred into lysosomes, whereas transferrin was recycled to the cell surface. Although the proton ionophore, monensin, and the transglutaminase inhibitor, dansylcadaverine, did not stop uptake and internalization of either alpha 2-macroglobulin or transferrin, they did prevent the transfer of alpha 2-macroglobulin to lysosomes.