Phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of the CD6 glycoprotein renders two isoforms of 130 and 105 kilodaltons. Effect of serum and protein kinase C activators

The molecular nature of the structural changes on the T cell-CD6 glycoprotein upon cell activation has been investigated. Cell surface 125I labeling and immunoprecipitation studies from PBMC revealed that after stimulation by different activators of protein kinase C, or after exposure to either human or FCS, the anti-CD6 mAb precipitated an additional protein of 130 kDa, together with the 105-kDa protein present in resting cells. Cell surface expression of this 130-kDa CD6 protein form could be detected as early as 15 min after PKC activation, without requiring de novo protein synthesis. Pulse and chase activation experiments of radioiodinated cells suggested that the 130-kDa molecule is the result of a posttranslational modification of the 105-kDa protein and that this conversion is a reversible process. Studies of 32P-cell labeling and immunoprecipitation by anti-CD6 mAb revealed that only the 130-kDa form was phosphorylated, whereas the 105-kDa protein was unphosphorylated both in resting and activated cells. Moreover, the removal of phosphate groups from the 130-kDa CD6-form by enzymatic treatment with alkaline phosphatase resulted in its conversion to the 105-kDa form. Taken together, these results demonstrate the existence of two CD6 molecular forms that are in a dynamic equilibrium and differ only at their degree of phosphorylation: a 105-kDa unphosphorylated form present in resting T cells that changes very rapidly to a 130-kDa phosphorylated form by exposure of cells either to serum or to activators of PKC.     

Biosynthesis of rat insulin-like growth factor II. I. Immunochemical demonstration of a approximately 20-kilodalton biosynthetic precursor of rat insulin-like growth factor II in metabolically labeled BRL-3A rat liver cells

BRL-3A rat liver cells synthesize mature 7484-dalton rat insulin-like growth factor II (rIGF-II) as a approximately 22-kDa precursor, presumably prepro-rIGF-II. In the present study, we have biosynthetically labeled intact BRL-3A cells with [35S]cysteine and immunoprecipitated cell lysates and media with antisera to rIGF-II. A approximately 20-kDa protein was identified in immunoprecipitates of cell lysates having properties consistent with pro-rIGF-II. The approximately 20-kDa protein is precipitated by immune sera but not by nonimmune serum. Its immunoprecipitation is specifically inhibited by unlabeled rIGF-II but not by insulin. It is not precipitated from labeled lysates of a subclone of BRL-3A cells (BRL-3A2) that does not synthesize rIGF-II. The approximately 20-kDa protein is rapidly labeled intracellularly (10 min) but is not detected in BRL-3A media. In pulse-chase experiments, radioactivity in the approximately 20-kDa protein disappears during the chase and appears, at later times, in specifically immunoprecipitated approximately 19-, approximately 10-, approximately 8-, and approximately 7-kDa proteins in media and, to a limited extent, intracellularly. A protein with electrophoretic mobility identical to that of the approximately 20-kDa protein observed in cell lysates is immunoprecipitated from 35S-proteins whose synthesis is directed by BRL-3A RNA in a reticulocyte lysate cell-free translation system supplemented with microsomal membranes, and presumably arises by cotranslational removal of the signal peptide from approximately 22-kDa prepro-rIGF-II. Processing of the approximately 20-kDa protein in intact BRL-3A cells to intermediate and mature rIGF-II species appears to occur at the time of secretion and/or shortly thereafter, with the different forms appearing at approximately the same time.     

Intracellular accumulation and oligosaccharide processing of alkaline phosphatase under disassembly of the Golgi complex caused by brefeldin A

Electron microscopic observations showed that the fungal metabolite brefeldin A caused disassembly of the Golgi complex in human choriocarcinoma cells and accumulation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope, where ALP was not apparently detectable in control cells. Pulse/chase experiments with [35S]methionine demonstrated that in the control cells, ALP synthesized as a 63-kDa precursor form was rapidly converted to a 66-kDa form, by processing of its N-linked oligosaccharides from the high-mannose type to the complex type, which was expressed on the cell surface after 30 min of chase. In contrast, in the brefeldin-A-treated cells the precursor was gradually converted to a 65-kDa form, slightly smaller than the control mature form, which was not expressed on the cell surface even after a prolonged time of chase. Kinetics of the ALP processing in the brefeldin-A-treated cells demonstrated that the precursor was initially converted to an intermediate form, partially sensitive to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (endo H), then to an endo-H-resistant 65-kDa form. In addition, this form was found to be sensitive to neuraminidase digestion, though its sialylation was not so complete as that of the control mature form. Taken together, these results suggest that under disassembly of the Golgi complex caused by brefeldin A, oligosaccharide-processing enzymes including sialyltransferase, an enzyme in the trans Golgi cisterna(e) and/or the trans Golgi network, might be redistributed into the ER and involved in processing of the oligosaccharides of ALP accumulating there.     

Two different types of lipid moieties are present in glycophosphoinositol-anchored membrane proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Numerous glycoproteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are anchored in the lipid bilayer by a glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Mild alkaline hydrolysis reveals that the lipid components of these anchors are heterogeneous in that both base-sensitive and base-resistant lipid moieties can be found on most proteins. The relative abundance of base-resistant lipid moieties is different for different proteins. Strong alkaline or acid hydrolysis of the mild base-resistant lipid component liberates C18-phytosphingosine indicating the presence of a ceramide. Two lines of evidence suggest that proteins are first attached to a base-sensitive GPI anchor, the lipid moiety of which subsequently gets exchanged for a base-resistant ceramide: (i) an early glycolipid intermediate of GPI biosynthesis only contains base-sensitive lipid moieties; (ii) after a pulse with [3H]myo-inositol the relative abundance of base-sensitive GPI anchors decreases significantly during chase. This decrease does not take place if GPI-anchored proteins are retained in the ER.     

Biosynthesis and intracellular transport of alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase in rat hepatoma cells.

We investigated biosynthesis, intracellular transport and release of beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase in a dexamethasone-inducible rat hepatoma cell line. Confluent cells were induced by 10 microM dexamethasone for 24 h, and metabolically labelled with [35S]methionine/cysteine, followed by immunoprecipitation of sialyltransferase and electrophoretic/fluorographic analysis. The 35S-labelled enzyme was synthesized as a 46-kDa precursor, converted to an intermediate 47-kDa form after 1 h, and gradually to a mature form of 48 kDa within the following 3 h. By means of either tunicamycin inhibition of N-glycosylation or cleavage of N-glycans from isolated sialyltransferase using N-glycosidase F, the sizes of the precursor and the mature form were reduced to 41 kDa and 43 kDa, respectively. After a 4-h chase, treatment with endoglycosidase H revealed two distinct molecular forms of sialyltransferase, bearing either two N-acetyllactosamine-type or one oligomannose-type and one N-acetyllactosamine-type N-linked sugar chain. In addition, sialyltransferase became sensitive to neuraminidase digestion after a 4-h chase. The half-life of intracellular [35S]sialyltransferase was estimated at 3 h. A soluble form was detectable in the supernatant, 2 h after the pulse. Only 12% of the initially labelled sialyltransferase was found in the medium after 12 h, while 73% of the enzyme was degraded intracellularly. To characterize a possible intracellular degradation site, we studied intracellular transport in the presence of either secretion-blocking or acidotropic agents or protease inhibitors. Degradation was significantly delayed by all treatments. Our results show that sialyltransferase follows the secretory pathway as a membrane protein and is retained at a late Golgi stage. We suggest that the bulk of sialyltransferase in rat hepatoma cells is diverted to a post-Golgi degradation pathway. This route contrasts with the post-Golgi trafficking of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase in HeLa cells, which is constitutively secreted [Strous, G. J. A. M. & Berger, E. G. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7623-7628].     

Biosynthesis and processing of the type II insulin-like growth factor receptor in H-35 hepatoma cells

The biosynthesis and post-translational processing of the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) receptor has been studied in H-35 hepatoma cells using a specific polyclonal anti-receptor immunoglobulin preparation. Cells were pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine followed by incubation with excess unlabeled methionine (chase). Gel electrophoresis of the immunoadsorbed receptors shows that the receptor is first synthesized as a 245-kDa precursor which is transformed to the mature 250-kDa form with a half-time of about 2 h. The 245-kDa precursor could also be labeled biosynthetically with [3H]mannose, only one-half of which was ultimately found associated with the 250-kDa product. Neuraminidase converts the 250-kDa receptor species to a 245-kDa form. Whereas the 250-kDa receptor is insensitive to detectable cleavage by endoglycosidase H, digestion of the 245-kDa species with this enzyme produces a 232-kDa form. A similar 232-kDa receptor species accumulates in H-35 cells incubated with tunicamycin (2 micrograms/ml). This tunicamycin-induced aglyco-receptor is not further processed to the 250-kDa form. Monensin (50 nM) blocks receptor processing at the 245-kDa stage. Endoglycosidase H treatment of the monensin-induced 245-kDa species indicates that this is a mixture of partially processed precursors having equivalent Mr. No evidence was obtained for the presence of O-linked oligosaccharides on the IGF-II receptor. The IGF-II binding activity of the three different biosynthetic forms of the receptor was assessed by affinity cross-linking of 125I-IGF-II to the receptors using disuccinimidyl suberate. Both the mature 250-kDa receptor and the neuraminidase-digested 245-kDa form specifically bound 125-I-IGF-II. However, the 232-kDa aglyco-receptor had no detectable IGF-II binding activity using this method. In summary, these studies show: 1) that the H-35 cell IGF-II receptor is synthesized first as a 245-kDa precursor having 4-6 high-mannose oligosaccharide side chains, 2) processing of the receptor oligosaccharides by mannose removal and terminal sialylation converts the 245-kDa precursor to the 250-kDa mature product which has been previously identified as the functional receptor in the plasma membrane, 3) the apparent molecular mass of the receptor in the absence of N-glycosylation is 232-kDa, and 4) glycosylation of the IGF-II receptor is required for the acquisition of IGF-II binding activity.     

Optimization of protein synthesis in isolated higher plant chloroplasts. Identification of paused translation intermediates

Protein synthesis in isolated, intact pea chloroplasts was optimized and compared to translation within chloroplasts in vivo. Many polypeptides labeled with [35S]methionine in isolated intact chloroplasts did not comigrate with polypeptides which were labeled within chloroplasts in vivo. Antibodies to the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) immunoprecipitated [35S]-labeled large subunit plus several lower-molecular-mass translation products of isolated chloroplasts. The lower-molecular-mass soluble translation products synthesized in pulse-labeled chloroplasts were converted into full-length large-subunit polypeptides during a subsequent chase period. This result suggests that many of the polypeptides observed in pulse-labeled chloroplasts are incomplete translation products which are the result of ribosome pausing at discrete points along chloroplast mRNAs. The pulse-chase technique was used to follow synthesis of the 34.5-kDa precursor of the psb A gene product and its processing to the mature 32-kDa polypeptide in isolated chloroplasts. Chloroplast translation profiles obtained using the pulse-chase assay were very similar to translation profiles obtained in vivo thus extending the utility of protein synthesis in isolated chloroplasts.     

Product of SEC53 is required for folding and glycosylation of secretory proteins in the lumen of the yeast endoplasmic reticulum

Yeast secretory mutant sec53 cells accumulate inactive secretory glycoprotein precursors that remain associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at the restrictive temperature (37 degrees C). The possibility that precursor polypeptides fail to penetrate completely into the ER lumen was tested by examining the protease accessibility of accumulated invertase, mating pheromone precursor prepro-alpha-factor and the vacuolar protein precursor procarboxypeptidase Y in cell lysates. In all three cases, the secretory protein precursors are protected from the action of exogenous protease unless the membrane is permeabilized by including Triton X-100 or saponin in the incubation. These results suggest that the sec53 defect allows complete polypeptide translocation. Consistent with this interpretation, the precursor of invertase accumulates in a signal peptide-processed form. In addition, invertase and prepro-alpha-factor precursors contain a small amount of possibly aberrant carbohydrate. In mutant cells or in wild type cells treated with tunicamycin, a 10-kDa fragment of the N terminus of mature invertase assumes a conformation that is resistant to trypsin with or without detergent. This domain may be associated with an ER protein or may simply assume an unusual conformation as a consequence of deficient glycosyl modification.     

Transient aggregation of nascent thyroglobulin in the endoplasmic reticulum: relationship to the molecular chaperone, BiP

Because of its unusual length, nascent thyroglobulin (Tg) requires a long time after translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to assume its mature tertiary structure. Thus, Tg is an ideal molecule for the study of protein folding and export from the ER, and is an excellent potential substrate for molecular chaperones. During the first 15 min after biosynthesis, Tg is found in transient aggregates with and without interchain disulfide bonds, which precede the formation of free monomers (and ultimately dimers) within the ER. By immunoprecipitation, newly synthesized Tg was associated with the binding protein (BiP); association was maximal at the earliest chase times. Much of the Tg released from BiP by the addition of Mg-ATP was found in aggregates containing interchain disulfide bonds; other BiP-associated Tg represented non-covalent aggregates and unfolded free monomers. Importantly, the immediate precursor to Tg dimer was a compact monomer which did not associate with BiP. The average stoichiometry of BiP/Tg interaction involved nearly 10 BiP molecules per Tg molecule. Cycloheximide was used to reduced the ER concentration of Tg relative to chaperones, with subsequent removal of the drug in order to rapidly restore Tg synthesis. After this treatment, nascent Tg aggregates were no longer detectable. The data suggest a model of folding of exportable proteins in which nascent polypeptides immediately upon translocation into the ER interact with BiP. Early interaction with BiP may help in presenting nascent polypeptides to other helper molecules that catalyze folding, thereby preventing aggregation or driving aggregate dissolution in the ER.     

Biosynthesis and post-translational processing of the precursor to brain-derived neurotrophic factor

We examined the biosynthesis and post-translational processing of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (pro-BDNF) in cells infected with a pro-BDNF-encoding vaccinia virus. Metabolic labeling, immunoprecipitation, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveal that pro-BDNF is generated as a 32-kDa precursor that is N-glycosylated and glycosulfated on a site, within the pro-domain. Some pro-BDNF is released extracellularly and is biologically active as demonstrated by its ability to mediate TrkB phosphorylation. The precursor undergoes N-terminal cleavage within the trans-Golgi network and/or immature secretory vesicles to generate mature BDNF (14 kDa). Small amounts of a 28-kDa protein that is immunoprecipitated with BDNF antibodies is also evident. This protein is generated in the endoplasmic reticulum through N-terminal cleavage of pro-BDNF at the Arg-Gly-Leu-Thr(57)- downward arrow-Ser-Leu site. Cleavage is abolished when Arg(54) is changed to Ala (R54A) by in vitro mutagenesis. Blocking generation of 28-kDa BDNF has no effect on the level of mature BDNF and blocking generation of mature BDNF with alpha(1)-PDX, an inhibitor of furin-like enzymes, does not lead to accumulation of the 28-kDa form. These data suggest that 28-kDa pro-BDNF is not an obligatory intermediate in the formation of the 14-kDa form in the constitutive secretory pathway.     

Role of glycosylation in the processing of newly translated insulin proreceptor in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

A procedure was developed for the immunoprecipitation of glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms of the insulin receptor and its precursors without prior purification using lectins. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were labeled with [35S]methionine after which 35S-labeled receptor polypeptides were specifically immunoprecipitated and characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The first 35S-polypeptide detected was a 190-kDa glycosylated proreceptor which was rapidly (t1/2 approximately equal to 15 min) processed to a 210-kDa intermediate. The latter precursor was more slowly (t1/2 approximately equal to 2 h) proteolytically processed to 125-kDa (alpha') and 83-kDa (beta') precursors of the mature alpha- and beta-receptor subunits. Immediately prior to insertion into the plasma membrane, i.e. about 3 h after translation, the alpha'- and beta'-precursor polypeptides were converted to the mature 135-kDa alpha- and 95-kDa beta-receptor subunits. The characteristics of the oligosaccharide moieties of the receptor precursors and products were investigated. The 210-kDa precursor and its two products, the 125-kDa alpha'- and 83-kDa beta'-species, and the mature alpha- and beta-receptor subunits bind tightly to wheat germ lectin, whereas the 190-kDa proreceptor species is not bound. Upon incubation with endoglycosidase H, both the 210- and 190-kDa species are converted to a 180-kDa species. The 125-kDa alpha'- and 83-kDa beta'-species are also cleaved by endoglycosidase H, being reduced in size to 97 and 79 kDa, respectively. Based on their sensitivity to endoglycosidase H and insensitivity to neuraminidase, the oligosaccharide chains of the receptor precursors (190, 210, 125, and 83 kDa) do not contain terminal sialic acid (or other capping sugars). However, near the time of insertion into the plasma membrane, capping of the alpha'- and beta'-species by sialic acid occurs, giving rise to the mature 135-kDa alpha- and 95-kDa beta-receptor subunits, which are partially endoglycosidase H-resistant and neuraminidase-sensitive. When 3T3-L1 adipocytes are treated with tunicamycin, a 180-kDa proreceptor aglycopolypeptide is synthesized which is incapable of undergoing further processing and proteolytic cleavage to the alpha- and beta (or alpha'- and beta'-)-subunits. The 180-kDa species, which appears to be the aglyco-form of hte 190-kDa proreceptor generated by endoglycosidase H, is resistant to trypsin in the intact cell and apparently has not reached the cell surface. Thus, the oligosaccharide moieties of the insulin receptor precursor are crucial for proper processing, intracellular translocation, and formation of functionally competent insulin re     

Effects of castanospermine and 1-deoxynojirimycin on insulin receptor biogenesis. Evidence for a role of glucose removal from core oligosaccharides

The insulin proreceptor is a 190-kDa glycoprotein that is processed to mature alpha (135-kDa) and beta (95-kDa) subunits. In order to determine the role of carbohydrate chain processing in insulin receptor biogenesis, we investigated the effect of inhibiting glucose removal from core oligosaccharides of the insulin proreceptor with glucosidase inhibitors, castanospermine and 1-deoxynojirimycin. Cultured IM-9 lymphocytes treated with inhibitors had 50% reduction in surface insulin receptors as demonstrated by ligand binding, affinity cross-linking with 125I-insulin, and lactoperoxidase/Na 125I labeling studies. Degradation rates of surface labeled receptors were similar in both control and inhibitor-treated cells (t1/2 = 5 h); thus, accelerated receptor degradation could not account for this reduction. Biosynthetic labeling experiments with [3H]leucine and [3H]mannose identified an apparently higher molecular size proreceptor (approximately 205 kDa) that failed to show the characteristic decline with time as seen in the normal 190-kDa proreceptor. Along with this finding, the biosynthetic label appearing in the mature subunits was reduced in these inhibitor-treated cells. Endoglycosidase H treatment of both precursors produced identical 170-kDa bands. Carbohydrate chains released from the 205-kDa precursor by endoglycosidase H migrated in the same position as the Glc2-3Man9GlcNAc standards when separated by high performance liquid chromatography, whereas the 190-kDa proreceptor oligosaccharides migrated similar to the Man7-9GlcNAc chains. Although the mature subunits of control and inhibitor-treated cells demonstrated equal electrophoretic mobility, the endoglycosidase H-sensitive oligosaccharides of the mature subunits in treated cells also contained residues that migrated similar to the Glc2-3Man9GlcNAc standards. Thus, glucose removal from core oligosaccharides is apparently not necessary for the cleavage of the insulin proreceptor, but does delay processing of this precursor, which probably accounts for the reduction in cell-surface receptors.     

Sec23p and a novel 105-kDa protein function as a multimeric complex to promote vesicle budding and protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum.

A cell-free protein transport reaction has been used to monitor the purification of a functional form of the Sec23 protein, a SEC gene product required for the formation or stability of protein transport vesicles that bud from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Previously, we reported that Sec23p is an 84-kDa peripheral membrane protein that is released from a sedimentable fraction by vigorous mechanical agitation of yeast cells and is required for ER to Golgi transport assayed in vitro. We have purified soluble Sec23p by complementation of an in vitro ER to Golgi transport reaction reconstituted with components from sec23 mutant cells. Sec23p overproduced in yeast exists in two forms: a monomeric species and a species that behaves as a 250- to 300-kDa complex that contains Sec23p and a distinct 105-kDa polypeptide (p105). Sec23p purified from cells containing one SEC23 gene exists solely in the large multimeric form. A stable association between Sec23p and p105 is confirmed by cofractionation of the two proteins throughout the purification. p105 is a novel yeast protein involved in ER to Golgi transport. Like Sec23p, it is required for vesicle budding from the ER because p105 antiserum completely inhibits transport vesicle formation in vitro.     

Intracellular formation and processing of the heterotrimeric gH-gL-gO (gCIII) glycoprotein envelope complex of human cytomegalovirus

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gCIII complex contains glycoprotein H (gH; gpUL75), glycoprotein L (gL; gpUL115), and glycoprotein O (gO; gpUL74). To examine how gH, gL, and gO interact within HCMV-infected cells to assemble the tripartite complex, pulse-chase experiments were performed. These analyses demonstrated that gH and gL associate by the end of the pulse period to form a disulfide dependent gH-gL complex. Subsequently, the gH-gL complex interacts with a 100-kDa precursor form of gO to form a 220-kDa precursor of the mature gH-gL-gO complex that contains a 125-kDa form of gO. The 220-kDa precursor complex (pgCIII) was sensitive to treatment with endoglycosidase H (endo H), while the mature gCIII complex was essentially resistant to digestion with this enzyme, suggesting that formation of pgCIII complex occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is processed to mature gH-gL-gO (gCIII) in a post-ER compartment. While the N-linked glycans on the 100-kDa form of gO were modified to endo H-resistant states as the 125-kDa gO formed, additional posttranslational modifications were detected on gO. These processing alterations were non-N-linked oligosaccharide modifications that could not be accounted for by phosphorylation or by O-glycosylation of the type sensitive to O-glycanase. Of gH, gL, gO, and the various complexes that they form, only the mature form of the complex was detectable at the infected cell membrane, as judged by surface biotinylation studies.     

Tim18p, a new subunit of the TIM22 complex that mediates insertion of imported proteins into the yeast mitochondrial inner membrane

Import of carrier proteins from the cytoplasm into the mitochondrial inner membrane of yeast is mediated by a distinct system consisting of two soluble 70-kDa protein complexes in the intermembrane space and a 300-kDa complex in the inner membrane, the TIM22 complex. The TIM22 complex contains the peripheral subunits Tim9p, Tim10p, and Tim12p and the integral membrane subunits Tim22p and Tim54p. We identify here an additional subunit, an 18-kDa integral membrane protein termed Tim18p. This protein is made as a 21.9-kDa precursor which is imported into mitochondria and processed to its mature form. When mitochondria are gently solubilized, Tim18p comigrates with the other subunits of the TIM22 complex on nondenaturing gels and is coimmunoprecipitated with Tim54p and Tim12p. Tim18p does not cofractionate with the TIM23 complex upon immunoprecipitation or nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. Deletion of Tim18p decreases the growth rate of yeast cells by a factor of two and is synthetically lethal with temperature-sensitive mutations in Tim9p or Tim10p. It also impairs the import of several precursor proteins into isolated mitochondria, and lowers the apparent mass of the TIM22 complex. We suggest that Tim18p functions in the assembly and stabilization of the TIM22 complex but does not directly participate in protein insertion into the inner membrane.     

Biosynthesis of the adenosine deaminase-binding protein in human fibroblasts and hepatoma cells

The adenosine deaminase-binding protein has previously been localized to the cell surface of human fibroblasts (Andy, R. J., and Kornfeld, R. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7922-7925). In this study we examine the biosynthesis of binding protein in human fibroblasts, human hepatoma HepG2 cells, and a human kidney tumor cell line. Binding protein immunoprecipitated from radioiodinated detergent-extracted fibroblast membranes has a molecular weight of 120,000 when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An additional band of Mr 100,000 is also present which we believe is a result of proteolysis of the 120,000 band. Purified soluble kidney binding protein has an Mr of 112,000. Binding protein from fibroblasts pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine for 15 min migrates as a 110-kDa band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Within 30-60 min of chase, the intensity of the 110-kDa band is diminished, and a 120-kDa band has appeared. Binding protein reaches the cell surface of fibroblasts within 30-60 min of chase. The same results are obtained with the other cell lines studied. Thus, binding protein is initially synthesized as a precursor of 110 kDa which chases into a 120-kDa mature form. The shift of 10 kDa is probably due to processing of its oligosaccharide chains since soluble kidney-binding protein contains 7-9 complex N-linked chains. Upon endoglycosidase H treatment, the 110,000 precursor shifts to a Mr of 89,000 while the 120,000 mature band shifts to 115,000, consistent with the presence of 7-9 high mannose chains on the precursor and 1-2 high mannose chains on the mature form. These results and the presence of complex N-linked chains on binding protein were confirmed by lectin affinity chromatography of glycopeptides derived from [2-3H]mannose-labeled binding protein. Analysis of [6-3H]glucosamine-labeled binding protein indicates the presence of 1 sialic acid residue per chain.     

Calnexin acts as a molecular chaperone during the folding of glycoprotein B of human cytomegalovirus.

Human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B (gB) is synthesized as a 105-kDa nonglycosylated polypeptide and cotranslationally modified by addition of N-linked oligosaccharides to a 160-kDa precursor in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It is then transported to the Golgi complex, where it is endoproteolytically cleaved to form the disulfide-linked mature gp55-116 complex. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrate that the 160-kDa gB precursor was transiently associated with calnexin, a membrane-bound chaperone, in the ER. The association was maximal immediately after synthesis, and they dissociated with a half-time of 15 min. Complete inhibition of binding by tunicamycin or castanospermine indicates the importance of N-linked oligosaccharides for it. Nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that during an initial stage in the biogenesis, the 160-kDa gB precursor was first synthesized as a fully reduced form and rapidly converted to an oxidized form, with a half-time of 18 min. Both forms of the gB precursor could bind to calnexin. The kinetics of the conversion from the fully reduced to the oxidized form coincided with that of dissociation of the 160-kDa gB precursor from calnexin, suggesting that the two steps are closely related.     

Purification and characterization of human recombinant precursor interleukin 1 beta

We have purified the 31-kDa precursor of human interleukin 1 beta (proIL1 beta) from recombinant Escherichia coli expressing the protein. The recombinant precursor was characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, spectroscopy, Western blot, and for biological and receptor binding activity. The protein migrates at the expected molecular weight on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analytical gel filtration columns. The specific activity of the recombinant precursor is less than 10(2) units/mg in the EL4 thymoma assay compared with 5 x 10(8) units/mg for the recombinant 17-kDa mature protein. The inactivity of the precursor is attributable to the inability of the protein to bind the IL1 receptor on EL4 cells as shown by receptor competition studies using 125I-labeled 17-kDa IL1 beta. Inactivity of the IL1 beta precursor is not due to degradation of the protein in either the bioactivity or receptor binding assays. The inactive IL1 beta precursor is converted to an active form following proteolysis with chymotrypsin which generates a carboxyl-terminal fragment of 17 kDa that is 6 orders of magnitude more active than the starting IL1 beta precursor. Removal of the first 114 amino acids from proIL1 beta generates a fully active molecule. In contrast, removal of the first 77 amino acids by treatment with trypsin only partially restores activity. The resultant 22-kDa protein exhibits a 600-fold increase in both biological and receptor binding activity, demonstrating a direct correlation between the ability of sequences within the pro-region to inhibit biological activity and inhibit binding to the IL1 receptor. Far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy indicates that proIL1 beta is similar in secondary structure to mature IL1 beta; both proteins are nonhelical beta sheet proteins.     

Biosynthesis of gastric mucus glycoprotein of the rat

We have studied the biosynthesis of rat gastric mucin in stomach segments using an antiserum against rat gastric mucin specific for peptide epitopes. Pulse-chase experiments were performed with [35S]methionine, [3H]galactose, and [35S]sulfate to label mucin precursors in different stages of biosynthesis, which were analyzed after immunoprecipitation. The earliest mucin precursor that could be detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was a 300-kDa protein. The occurrence of N-linked "high-mannose" oligosaccharides on this protein was shown by susceptibility to degradation by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. This precursor could be labeled with [35S]methionine and not with [3H]galactose or [35S]sulfate. The 300-kDa precursor was converted into mature mucin after extensive glycosylation and sulfation. The mature mucin but not the 300-kDa precursor was in part secreted into the medium. Specific inhibition of sulfation with sodium chlorate had no effect on rate and amount of mucin secretion. In addition, we show that two core proteins are expressed in rats, slightly varying in Mr among individual animals.     

Biosynthesis of the insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II)/mannose-6-phosphate receptor in rat C6 glial cells: the role of N-linked glycosylation in binding of IGF-II to the receptor.

We examined the role of N-linked glycosylation of the insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II)/mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) receptor in binding of [125I]IGF-II to the receptor. First we studied the synthesis and posttranslational processing of this receptor in rat C6 glial cells, which have abundant IGF-II/Man-6-P receptors. Cells were pulse labeled with [35S]methionine and lysed, and the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor was immunoprecipitated using a specific IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor antibody (no. 3637). Analysis of the immunoprecipitate by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with reduction of disulfide bonds showed a 235-kDa receptor precursor that was processed into the mature 245-kDa IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor within 2 h of chase. Digestion of the 235-kDa precursor with endoglycosidase-H (Endo H) produced a 220-kDa form, whereas the mature 245-kDa receptor was relatively resistant to cleavage by Endo H. When cells were cultured in the presence of 2 microM monensin, the 235-kDa receptor was not further processed into the mature Endo H-resistant receptor form. In addition, the presence of swainsonine in C6 glial cell cultures led to the formation of a 240-kDa receptor hybrid molecule, which was cleaved by Endo H into a 225-kDa species. When tunicamycin was present during the pulse-chase labeling experiment, a 220-kDa receptor species accumulated. This species was 205 kDa by immunoblotting when SDS-PAGE was performed under nonreducing conditions. Pure IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor was digested with N-glycosidase-F, and the digest was immunoblotted with antiserum 3637 after SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions. Whereas undigested receptor was a single band of 215 kDa under nonreducing conditions, digested receptor was 205 kDa. The binding affinity of IGF-II for the digested receptor was the same as the binding affinity of IGF-II for the undigested receptor. In addition, affinity cross-linking experiments showed that [125I]IGF-II also bound to the unglycosylated receptor precursor that accumulated in the tunicamycin-treated cells, and the binding affinity of IGF-II for this species was indistinguishable from the binding affinity of IGF-II for the mature receptor. We conclude that IGF-II can bind to an IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor that lacks N-linked oligosaccharides.