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

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

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone inreases prolactin mRNA activity in the cytoplasm of GH-cells as measured by translation in a wheat germ cell-free system

A wheat germ embryo extract was used to translate cytoplasmic RNA isolated from rat pituitary tumor cells (GH-cells). This RNA directed the synthesis of a radioactive product which was precipitated with antiserum specific for rat prolactin. The molecular weight of this immunoprecipitated product was 24,500 as determined by electrophoresis in denaturing gels. Prolactin secreted by intact GH-cells had a molecular weight identical to standard pituitary prolactin, reported to be about 22,500. Our finding that a larger form of prolactin is made by the wheat germ system is similar to results recently described by Maurer, Stone and Gorski (J. Biol. Chem., in press). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates prolactin synthesis in GH-cells, and cytoplasmic RNA isolated from cells treated with TRH directed the synthesis in wheat germ extracts of larger amounts of prolactin than RNA isolated from control cells. The increase in translatable cytoplasmic mRNA for prolactin corresponded to the increase in prolactin synthesis which suggests that the increase in prolactin synthesis in TRH-treated cells is a result of the accumulation of cytoplasmic mRNA for prolactin.     

Protein-energy malnutrition during pregnancy alters caffeine's effect on brain tissue of neonate rats

We studied whether protein-energy malnutrition changed brain susceptibility to a small dose of caffeine in newborn rats. Since we had demonstrated previously that caffeine intake during lactation increased the brain neuropeptide on newborns, we investigated further the effects of the prenatal administration of caffeine on TRH and cyclo (His-Pro). From day 13 of gestation to delivery day, pregnant rats in one group were fed either a 20% or a 6% protein diet ad libitum, and those in the other group were pair-fed with each protein diet supplemented with caffeine at an effective dose of 2 mg/100 g body weight. Upon delivery, brain weight, brain protein, RNA, DNA and the neuropeptides thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and cyclo (His-Pro) were measured in the newborn rats. A 6% protein without caffeine diet caused reductions in brain weights and brain protein, RNA and DNA contents, but did not alter brain TRH and cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations in the newborn animals. In the offspring from dams fed a 6% protein diet, caffeine administration significantly elevated brain weights and brain contents of protein, RNA and DNA. In contrast, these values were similar between noncaffeine and caffeine-supplemented animals in a 20% protein diet group. Brain TRH and cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations were not changed by caffeine administration. These data suggest that caffeine augments protein synthesis in the newborn rat brain when malnourished, but that the same dose of caffeine did not affect protein synthesis in brains of newborn rats from normally nourished dams. Therefore, the present findings indicate that the nutritional status of mothers during pregnancy has important implication in the impact of caffeine on their offspring's brains.     

Uptake and incorporation of 3H-orotic acid in isolated perfused rat liver

3H-orotic acid incorporation into RNA and the level of RNA polymerase activity in isolated rat liver perfused for 5 hrs were investigated. In spite of a dramatic decrease in 3H-orotic acid uptake by liver cells during perfusion, a constant rate of RNA synthesis was observed. Moreover, RNA polymerase I and II activities were not affected by a 5-hr perfusion. It is suggested that isolated perfused rat liver can be used to study direct effects of hormones and drugs on RNA synthesis.     

Influence of dopamine and thyrotropin releasing hormone on the volume of nuclei of prolactin cells in rat adenohypophysis in vitro.

The effect of dopamine and TRH on the volume of prolactin cells nuclei in the rat anterior pituitary cultured in vitro has been investigated. A significant increase of volume of prolactin cells nuclei exposed to TRH has been shown. Dopamine had no significant influence on the volume of the nuclei of prolactin cells. The prolactin cells exposed to dopamine showed clearly an increased granulation. The obtained results suggest that dopamine exerts a stronger inhibiting effect on the release of prolactin than on its synthesis.     

proTRH gene expression by fetal pancreatic islets in culture

The hypothalamic tripeptide, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), has been detected in neonatal pancreatic tissue and localized by immunocytochemistry in the islets of Langerhans. To determine whether the TRH gene is expressed in islets, we have extracted RNA from cultured rat islets and probed for proTRH mRNA using a [32P]-labeled antisense RNA. Islet proTRH mRNA comigrated with the 1.6 kilobase proTRH mRNA present in the rat hypothalamus. Normalized to total RNA, islets cultured for 7 days contained at least 10 times more proTRH mRNA than day 1 whole pancreas. We conclude that pancreatic TRH is synthesized in situ in the islets of Langerhans. This is the first attempt to characterize and quantify proTRH mRNA using neoformed foetal islets. We propose that quantitative analysis of proTRH mRNA concentrations in this culture system will enable study of the direct regulation of TRH biosynthesis in the pancreas.     

Macromolecular synthesis in E. coli, isolated mitochondria and L5178Y cells in the presence of hydroxyurea or formamidoxime

The effects of formamidoxime and hydroxyurea over a 10⁵ concentration range were studied on macromolecular synthesis in E. coli, L5178Y mouse leukemic cells, isolated rat liver mitochondria and isolated rat cerebral cortex mitochondria. In E. coli 2 mg per ml of formamidoxime and hydroxyurea inhibited, respectively, RNA synthesis by 20% and 17%, DNA synthesis by 91% and 96%, protein synthesis by 54% and 60% and lipopolysaccharide synthesis by 65% and 48%. In L5178Y mouse leukemic cells 2 mg/ml of formamidoxime and hydroxyurea inhibited, respectively, RNA synthesis by 41% and 24%, DNA synthesis by 90% and 97%, protein synthesis by 59% and 44% and glycoprotein synthesis by 83% and 50%. In isolated rat liver mitochondria 2 mg/ml of formamidoxime and hydroxyurea inhibited, respectively, RNA synthesis by 43% and 52%, DNA synthesis by 42% and 56% and protein synthesis by 18% and 30%. Glycoprotein synthesis was not affected. In isolated rat cerebral cortex mitochondria 2 mg/ml of formamidoxime and hydroxyurea inhibited, respectively, RNA synthesis by 50% and 44%, DNA synthesis by 59% and 66% and protein synthesis by 48% and 40%. Glycoprotein synthesis again was not affected. Lower concentrations of the drugs produced less inhibition of macromolecular synthesis in each of the systems.     

Inhibitory effects of orotate on precursor incorporation into nucleic acids.

The influence of orotic acid on the incorporation of precursors into nucleic acids was studied in mice and rats and in isolated cells. In vivo, orotate levels were modified by two diets which are known to increase the rate of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in rat liver. Of these diets, a 1% orotate diet had greater inhibitory effects than an arginine-deficient diet on the incorporation of [3H]orotate into RNA of mouse kidney than mouse liver. This contrasted with the situation in the rat where there was a greater effect in the liver than the kidney. The situation in the rat was more readily interpreted than in the mouse in terms of previously established effects of these diets on ribonucleotide pool sizes. However, studies using [3H]adenosine as a precursor for incorporation into RNA suggested that even in the mouse the effects of orotate were on pool sizes rather than an inhibitory effect on RNA synthesis. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA was inhibited by orotate to a similar degree in cultured HTC hepatoma cells and a line of rat liver epithelial cells. An effect on DNA synthesis rather than solely on pool sizes was suggested by the observation that the pool size of dTTP was not increased by 5 mM orotate under conditions in which there was a four-fold increase in the level of UTP in HTC cells. An inhibitory effect of orotate on DNA synthesis was further supported by an observation of decreased incorporation of [3H]deoxyadenosine into DNA and a lower rate of cellular proliferation.     

Coexistence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and insulin in cultured fetal rat islets: a light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study during islet neoformation

Pancreatic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is without doubt localized in the insulin-containing beta-cells. A previous study reported cellular continuity between beta-cells and ducts in cultured fetal rat islets, but it is not known whether these insulin-containing beta-cells form a cell type that is different from the TRH cells producing insulin. On the other hand, the subcellular coexistence of both peptides as yet remains unresolved. To overcome these problems the present study was conducted, using light microscopic immunocytochemistry, to verify the cellular distribution of TRH in cultured fetal rat islets with particular regard to the interrelationship between beta-cells and ducts, and using electron microscopic double labeling cytochemistry, to study the subcellular distribution of TRH and insulin. Our data show that both TRH and insulin are expressed in the same cells during islet cell neogenesis, and are localized in the same secretory granules. No topographic segregation of their respective immunoreactive moieties are seen within the secretory granule.     

Further characterization of the effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide preparations on cyclic GMP levels: the importance of macromolecular synthesis

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) greatly increase cGMP levels in short term cultures of rat fetal liver cells without affecting the concentration of cAMP. This effect is produced by very small (1 ng) amounts of LPS and is both dose and time dependent. The time dependence is characterized by an initial lag period of 60-120 min followed by a rapid, persistent increase in cGMP levels. Since this time course suggests that synthesis of an intermediate might play an important role in the cGMP elevation, a series of experiments was done to evaluate the effect of LPS on DNA, RNA, and protein (macromolecular) synthesis. LPS did not measurably effect total macromolecular synthesis. However, inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis markedly reduced cGMP levels in LPS-treated cells, whereas inhibition of DNA synthesis did not. Addition of sodium nitroprusside to control and inhibitor-treated cultures produced large equivalent increases of cGMP levels in both cases, indicating that the cells present were fully capable of responding to a stimulus of guanylate cyclase. Taken together, this data suggests that expression of the LPS-cGMP response in fetal liver cells is dependent on synthesis of an intermediary protein(s) during the lag phase.     

Studies on the synthesis of sterol carrier protein-2 in rat adrenocortical cells in monolayer culture. Regulation by ACTH and dibutyryl cyclic 3',5'-AMP

The effects of ACTH or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) on the synthesis of sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP2) have been studied in rat adrenocortical cells in monolayer culture. Radiolabeling of total cellular proteins with [35S]methionine and immunoprecipitation with antibodies directed against rat liver SCP2, followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography, showed a 3-4-fold increase in the rate of synthesis of SCP2 in cells treated for 48 h with ACTH (1 microM) or Bt2cAMP (0.1 mM). The induction of SCP2 synthesis depended upon the concentrations of ACTH or Bt2cAMP with an ED50 of 8 and 100 nM, respectively, and increased linearly with time between 12 and 48 h of treatment. Immunoprecipitation of SCP2 synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte in vitro translation system programmed with RNA isolated from cells treated with ACTH or Bt2cAMP revealed increased synthesis of SCP2 compared to RNA from control cells. The immunoprecipitable rat adrenal SCP2, synthesized in a cell-free translation system, showed mobility corresponding to Mr of 14,400 upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was clearly larger than immunodetectable SCP2 synthesized in cultured adrenal cells (Mr = 11,300). The electrophoretic mobilities of rat liver SCP2 synthesized in cultured cells and in a cell-free translation system were the same as the respective forms from rat adrenal. It is concluded that the synthesis of SCP2 in rat adrenocortical cells is induced by ACTH and that the induction is mediated by cAMP and may involve increased levels of translatable mRNA encoding a higher molecular weight precursor form of SCP2, which presumably undergoes post-translational processing yielding the mature form.     

Effect of aldehydes on polyamine metabolism. II. Methylglyoxal-induced changes in S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMD) activity and RNA synthesis and degradation in isolated hepatocytes

In isolated rat liver cells methylglyoxal (MeG) inhibits S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity and RNA and protein synthesis; MeG also stimulated RNA degradation. The changes induced by MeG in RNA metabolism are partially prevented (in the case of RNA synthesis inhibition) or totally abolished (in the case of RNA degradation stimulation) by exogenous spermidine addition. This suggests the effects of MeG on RNA metabolism are dependent, at least in part, on SAMD inhibition.     

Regulation of adherens junction protein expression in growth-activated 3T3 cells and in regenerating liver

The expression of the adherens junction proteins vinculin, alpha-actinin, and talin was compared in serum-stimulated 3T3 cells and in regenerating rat liver following partial hepatectomy. The levels of vinculin RNA and protein synthesis were rapidly and transiently elevated in growth-activated fibroblasts (peaking at 2-3 h) and in regenerating liver (at 4-8 h), preceding the replicative stage. alpha-Actinin expression was also induced, but more slowly (peaking at 6-8 h in 3T3 cells and at 28 h in regenerating liver), and remained elevated when DNA synthesis was proceeding in both systems. The expression of talin RNA was only slightly elevated in 3T3 cells following serum stimulation, and it remained largely unchanged in regenerating liver. The levels of RNA coding for fibronectin and for the beta 1-integrin subunit were transiently and extensively induced during liver regeneration (fibronectin with a peak at 8 h and beta 1-integrin at 12 h). The uvomorulin RNA level, and the expression of the liver-specific genes albumin and transthyretin, decreased in regenerating liver. The results suggest a physiologically significant regulation in the expression of structural components which link the extracellular matrix to the microfilament system in growth-activated fibroblasts and in regenerating liver.     

Regulated expression of the prolactin gene in rat pituitary tumor cells

Prolactin (PRL) gene expression in three strains of GH cells (rat pituitary tumor cells) has been quantitated by measurement of: (a) intracellular and extracellular PRL, (b) cytoplasmic translatable PRL-specific mRNA (mRNAPRL), and (c) molecular hybridization of cytoplasmic poly(A) RNA to cDNAPRL (DNA complementary to mRNAPRL). Three GH cell lines utilized in this investigation were a PRL-producing (PRL+) strain, GH4C1, a PRL nonproducing 5-bromo-deoxyuridine resistnat (PRL- BrdUrdr) strain, F1BGH12C1, and a new strain, 928-9b, derived by fusion of PRL+ cells with a nuclear monolayer of the PRL-, BrdUrdr GH cell strain. PRL production is a characteristic of 928-9b cells, but the level of PRL production (2-4 micrograms/mg protein/24 h) is much lower than that of the PRL+ strain, GH4C1 (15-25 micrograms/mg protein/24 h). Levels of cytoplasmic translatable mRNAPRL and cytoplasmic PRL-RNA sequences quantitated with a cDNAPRL probe were also much lower in 928-9b as compared to the PRL+ parent. PRL-RNA sequences could not be detected in the PRL- strain. Thyrotopin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates PRL synthesis about threefold and inhibit a growth hormone (GH) synthesis 72% in the PRL+ strain. TRH has no effect on the synthesis of either PRL or GH in the 928-9b strain, although TRH receptors could be detected in these cells. Stimulation of PRL synthesis in the PRL+ strain by TRH could be correlated with increases in levels of cytoplasmic translatable mRNAPRL and increases in cytoplasmic PRL-RNA sequences. These results demonstrate that the graded expression of the PRL gene at the basal level, and in response to TRH, is caused by the regulated production of specific mRNA, i.e., mRNAPRL in these three GH cell strains.     

Developmental and regional variations in ribonucleic acid synthesis on cerebral chromatin

1. Chromatin was prepared from purified nuclei isolated from liver and cerebral regions of the rat. 2. The capacity of these preparations to promote RNA synthesis in the presence of bacterial RNA polymerase was determined. 3. The rate of RNA synthesis on chromatin was normally 12-21% of the rate observed with native DNA, but was markedly stimulated on addition of 200mm-ammonium sulphate. 4. At physiological concentrations (80mug./ml.), the brain-specific S-100 protein inhibited RNA synthesis on DNA and chromatin. 5. Cerebral chromatin from foetal and newborn animals was more active in RNA synthesis than were the analogous preparations from liver. 6. Cerebellar chromatin maintained a high rate of RNA synthesis during brain maturation. In contrast, RNA synthesis on chromatin from other brain regions and liver declined with age of the rat. 7. RNA synthesized on chromatin stimulated amino acid incorporation in an Escherichia coli ribosomal system and hybridized with homologous DNA. 8. RNA synthesized on chromatin from adult cortex or hindbrain hybridized with DNA to a greater extent than that synthesized on cerebellar chromatin. 9. The proportion of RNA formed on cerebral-cortical chromatin that hybridized with DNA increased with age of the rat. 10. The results indicate that the total amount and the types of RNA synthesized on cerebral chromatin vary regionally and during development.     

Effect of extracellular matrix on prolactin secretion and mRNA accumulation in GH3 cells

The matrix upon which cells grow affects their morphology, growth rate, response to external stimuli, and protein synthesis. GH3 cells, a well-characterized rat pituitary tumor cell line, synthesize and secrete growth hormone and prolactin (Prl). These cells are rounded, attach loosely, and form clumps when plated on plastic. GH3 cells plated on an extracellular matrix (ECM) from bovine corneal endothelial cells become flattened and strongly adherent to the culture dish, and have an initial increased rate of proliferation. Cells cultured on plastic have a 48-hr lag period before the start of cell division; this can be shortened by increasing the concentration of serum in the medium. Since GH3 cells store little Prl, hormone release is a good index of Prl synthesis. Prl secretion from cells cultured on extracellular matrix is twice as great as from cells cultured on plastic. The increase in Prl secretion from cells grown on extracellular matrix paralleled by a concomitant increase in the accumulation of prolactin mRNA. Cells cultured on plastic secrete more Prl in response to TRH stimulation than do cells cultured on ECM. Cells grown on either surface were unresponsive to dopamine. Thus, culturing cells on ECM may change their morphology and affect the synthesis and regulation of specific cellular proteins and their mRNAs.