Localization of the conglutinin binding site on the third component of human complement

The binding site on the human third complement component for bovine conglutinin has been located. C3 fragments were purified to homogeneity by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Only the N-terminal 27,000 dalton (Da) fragment of the alpha'-chain and the beta-chain were found to be glycosylated, and the carbohydrate was susceptible to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. This finding indicates that only high mannose or hybrid-type oligosaccharide chains are present on the C3 molecule. Binding to conglutinin was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and occurred with C3b, iC3b, C3c, the alpha-chain, and the 27,000 Da fragment of the alpha'-chain, but not with C3d or the C-terminal 40,000 Da fragment of the alpha'-chain. The beta-chain displayed very weak interaction. Binding to conglutinin could be inhibited by EDTA, N-acetylglucosamine, and to a lesser degree by mannose. Enzymatic removal of the carbohydrate from the C3 molecule abolished binding to conglutinin. It is concluded that bovine conglutinin binds to the carbohydrate moiety located on the N-terminal 27,000 Da polypeptide of the alpha-chain.     

Orientation of the beta subunit polypeptide of (Na+ + K+)ATPase in the cell membrane

Although the animal cell (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is composed of two polypeptide subunits, alpha and beta, very little is known about the beta subunit. In order to obtain information about the structure of this polypeptide, the beta subunit has been investigated using proteolytic fragmentation, chemical modification of carbohydrate residues, and immunoblot analysis. The sialic acid moieties on the oligosaccharide groups on the beta subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were labeled with NaB3H4 after oxidation by sodium periodate, or the penultimate galactose residues on the oligosaccharides were similarly labeled after removal of sialic acid with neuraminidase and oxidation by galactose oxidase. All of the carbohydrate residues of the protein are located on regions of the beta subunit that are found on the non-cytoplasmic surface of the membrane. Cleavage of the galactose oxidase-treated, NaB3H4-labeled beta subunit by chymotrypsin at an extracellular site produced labeled fragments of 40 and 18 kDa, indicating multiple glycosylation sites along the polypeptide. Neither the 40 kDa fragment nor the 18 kDa fragment was released from the membrane by chymotrypsin digestion alone, but after cleavage the 40 kDa fragment could be removed from the membrane by treatment with 0.1 M NaOH. This indicates that the 40 kDa fragment does not span the lipid bilayer. The 40 kDa fragment and the 18 kDa fragment are also linked by at least one disulfide bond. The 18 kDa fragment also contains all of the binding sites found on the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase for anti-beta subunit antibodies. Both the 40 kDa fragment and the 18 kDa fragment were also generated using papain or trypsin to cleave the beta subunit. These data indicate that the beta subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase contains multiple sites of glycosylation, that it inserts into the cell membrane near only one end of the polypeptide, and that one region of the polypeptide is particularly sensitive to proteolytic cleavage relative to the rest of the polypeptide.     

Cleavage of human C5 by trypsin: characterization of the digestion products by gel electrophoresis.

Human C5 is composed of two nonidentical polypeptide chains, alpha and beta (m.w. 130,000 and 80,000, respectively) linked together by disulfide bonds and noncovalent forces. Cleavage of C5 by trypsin fragments with increased anodic mobilities. Limited digestion of C5 by trypsin (substrate to enzyme ratio 10:1 w/w at 37 degrees C for 1 min) resulted in the release of a small terminal alpha-chain peptide (alpha1, m.w. 15,000) probably analogous to C5a, from a large fragment, C5b (m.w. 195,000) composed of an intact beta-chain disulfide linked to an alpha-chain that has a lower m.w. (alpha' 115,000). Further digestion (37 degrees C, 5 min) resulted in cleavage of the alpha-chain at multiple sites with the production of three peptides from the alpha'-chain (alpha2I, 23,500; alpha2II 15,700 and alpha2III 10,200) and a residual fragment, C5c (m.w. 144,000). The alpha1 and alpha2 peptides are not covalently linked to the beta-chain nor to one another. The C5c fragment on the other hand is composed of small peptides of the alpha'c chain (alpha3 14,000; alpha4I 9,000; ALPHA 4II 11,000; alpha 5 23,000 to 30,000) which are linked to the beta-chain and also probably to one another by covalent bonds. Secondary cleavage occurred upon prolonged digestion with trypsin (37 degrees C, 20 min), and this resulted in the progressive erosion of the alpha'c peptides and the conversion of C5c to smaller C5c-like species.     

Heat-induced thiol-disulfide interchange reaction on the third component of human complement, C3

The third component of human complement, C3 is composed of two disulfide-bridged polypeptide chains of Mr 120,000 (alpha chain) and Mr 70,000 (beta chain). C3 has a thioester bond that serves as a binding site for targets when C3 is activated. Heat treatment of C3 induces autolytic peptide bond cleavage at the thioester site in the alpha chain as well as rupture of the thioester bond. The alpha chain fragments are linked to each other and beta chain via disulfide bonds. This study, however, documented that prolonged heating gave rise to liberation of several fragments including beta and the larger fragment of alpha chain. Using a fluorescent thiol reagent and [14C]iodoacetamide, we analyzed thiol residues present on each fragment, and elucidated that the thiol residue exposed by rupture of the thioester bond shifts in turn to another fragment resulting in the liberation of the fragments. The results were compatible with those on C4, and suggested that the generated thiol residue induces thiol-disulfide interchange reaction. On heating of plasma, fragments of C3 were not released, while the cleavage of the alpha chain occurred more effectively. The heated C3 (56 degrees C, 15 min) became insusceptible to C3b inactivator (I) and factor H, suggesting that additional conformational change is accompanied with cleavage of the thioester bond.     

Physiologic inactivation of fluid phase C3b: isolation and structural analysis of C3c, C3d,g (alpha 2D), and C3g

The fragments that result from the inactivation of C3b have not been completely characterized. Initial inactivation is catalyzed by the protease factor I, which, in the presence of its cofactor (factor H), cleaves two peptide bonds in the alpha'-chain of C3b. This results in the release of a small peptide (C3f, Mr 3000) from iC3b, which consists of the C3 beta chain covalently bonded to two alpha'-chain-derived peptides (Mr 68,000 and Mr 43,000). Surface-bound iC3b is cleaved at a third site by factor I to produce C3c and C3d,g (or alpha 2D). The factor I cofactor for this cleavage is the C3b receptor that is present on erythrocyte and leukocyte membranes. This report describes the isolation and initial structural characterization of C3c and C3d,g generated in whole blood after complement activation with cobra venom factor. These fragments were compared with the C3 fragments isolated from the serum and plasma of a patient with complement activation in vivo. The fragments were isolated with two solid phase monoclonal antibodies, one of which recognizes a determinant on C3g (clone 9) and one of which recognizes a determinant on C3c (clone 4). C3c isolated from normal blood showed three polypeptides that had apparent m.w. of 75,000, 43,000, and 27,000. The C3d,g consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a m.w. of 40,000. Amino terminal sequence analysis showed that the Mr 27,000 peptide from C3c is derived from the amino terminal portion of the alpha'-chain of C3b, whereas the Mr 43,000 peptide is derived from the carboxy terminus of the same chain. Amino terminal sequence analysis showed also that C3g is derived from the amino terminus of C3d,g. The C3 fragments isolated from a patient with partial lipodystrophy, nephritic factor activity, low serum C3 levels, and circulating C3 cleavage products showed a more complicated pattern on SDS-PAGE. The fragment isolated with clone 9 had an apparent m.w. of 40,000, identical to C3d,g generated in vitro, and it had the same amino terminal sequence as C3d,g generated in vitro. The eluate from insolubilized clone 4, however, showed prominent bands with Mr of 75,000, 56,000, 43,000, and 27,000, together with a triple-banded pattern at 68,000 and a minor band at 80,000. This eluate thus appears to contain C3c, and iC3b or an iC3b-like product. The origin of the Mr 56,000 and Mr 80,000 peptides have not yet been determined. These studies, with previous data, definitively order the C3c and C3d,g peptides in the alpha-chain of C3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Formation and structure of the C5b-7 complex of the lytic pathway of complement.

The formation and structure of the complement cytolytic intermediary complex, C5b-7, were studied with the aim of determining the interactive regions of C5, C6, and C7. The structure of human complement component C5 was elucidated by the application of limited proteolysis which generated well characterized major polypeptide fragments of this molecule. Plasmin, thrombin, and kallikrein cleave C5b with greater facility than C5. The most useful cleavage of C5b was effected by plasmin because the fragmentation pattern was similar to the processing of C3b by factors H, I, and kallikrein. Plasmin hydrolyzes peptide bonds within the alpha'-chain of C5b, resulting in a four-chain fragment, C5c (M(r) = 142,000), and a single chain fragment, C5d (M(r) = 43,000). Circular dichroism spectroscopic analyses indicated that C5d is substantially richer in alpha-helical content than is C5c (27 versus 9%). Polyclonal antibodies directed against C5c blocked the interaction of C5b-6 with C7, whereas antibodies directed against C5d inhibited the binding of C5 with C3b. Chemical cross-linking using a cleavable radioiodinated photoreactive reagent revealed that both C6 and C7 associate preferentially with the alpha'-chain of C5b. The reversible interactions of C5 with C6, C7, and major polypeptide fragments derived from these were investigated with solid phase binding assays. The results indicate that the carboxyl-terminal domains of C6 and C7, which have cysteine-rich modules homologous to those found in factors H and I, have the capacity to link specifically with C5.     

A 34-amino acid peptide of the third component of complement mediates properdin binding

In this study, a peptide of 34 amino acids from the Mr 40,000 C terminus alpha-chain fragment of C3 was found to mediate properdin (P) binding. Treatment of the Mr 40,000 fragment with CNBr generated one major Mr 17,000 fragment that was capable of binding P. Amino acid sequence data placed the Mr 17,000 fragment within residues 1385 to 1540 of the C3 sequence. After analyzing this sequence for highly conserved segments within the C3 from other species (which bind P) and segments of low similarity within human C4, mouse C5, and alpha 2-macroglobulin (which do not bind P), a 34-amino acid (1402 to 1435) peptide was synthesized. This synthetic peptide bound to P and inhibited its binding to C3b. In addition, it exhibited negative regulatory activity on the alternative pathway as it inhibited the lysis of rabbit erythrocytes by normal human serum. These results show that the P-binding site is located within the residues 1402 to 1435 of the C3 sequence.     

Mapping of the microvillar 110K-calmodulin complex (brush border myosin I). Identification of fragments containing the catalytic and F-actin-binding sites and demonstration of a calcium ion dependent conformational change

In intestinal microvilli, the 110K-calmodulin complex is the major component of the cross-bridges which connect the core bundle of actin filaments to the membrane. Our previous work showed that the 110-kDa polypeptide can be divided into three functional domains: a 78-kDa fragment that contains the ATPase activity and the ATP-reversible F-actin-binding site, a 12-kDa fragment required for binding calmodulin molecules, and a terminal 20-kDa domain of unknown function [Coluccio, L. M., & Bretscher, A. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 106, 367-374]. By analysis of limited alpha-chymotryptic cleavage products, we now show that the molecular organization is very similar to that described for the S1 fragment of myosin. The catalytic site was identified by photoaffinity labeling with [5,6-3H]UTP, and fragments binding F-actin were identified by cosedimentation assays. Cleavage of the 78-kDa fragment yielded major fragments of 32 and 45 kDa, followed by cleavage of the 45-kDa fragment to a 40-kDa fragment. Of these, only the 32-kDa fragment was labeled by [5,6-3H]UTP. Physical characterization revealed that the 45- and 32-kDa fragments exist as a complex that can bind F-actin, whereas the 40-kDa/32-kDa complex cannot bind actin. We conclude that the catalytic site is located in the 32-kDa fragment and the F-actin-binding site is present in the 45-kDa fragment; the ability to bind actin is lost upon further cleavage of the 45-kDa fragment to 40 kDa. Peptide sequence analysis revealed that the 45-kDa fragment lies within the molecule and suggests that the 32-kDa fragment is the amino terminus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Controlled tryptic digestion of prostaglandin H synthase. Characterization of protein fragments and enhanced rate of proteolysis of oxidatively inactivated enzyme

Treatment of prostaglandin H (PGH) synthase (70 kDa) with trypsin generates fragments of 33 and 38 kDa. Each of the fragments was purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using acetonitrile/water/trifluoroacetic acid gradients. Amino acid sequence analysis indicates that the 33-kDa protein contains the NH2 terminus of PGH synthase. Neither the 33- nor 38-kDa fragment isolated by HPLC exhibits any PGH synthase activity; however, cleavage of intact enzyme to 33- and 38-kDa fragments to the extent of 90% only reduces cyclooxygenase activity by 40%. This implies that the cleaved proteins or a complex formed between them retains the conformation necessary for enzyme activity. Extensive attempts to resolve active fragments from each other or from intact enzyme were unsuccessful; intact enzyme and digestion fragments cochromatograph under all conditions employed. Treatment of PGH synthase with [3H]acetylsalicylic acid followed by trypsin digestion introduces [3H]acetyl moieties into the intact protein and the 38-kDa fragment (0.8-0.9 acetyl group/subunit). Nearly complete conversion of PGH synthase to 33- and 38-kDa fragments by exposure to high concentrations of trypsin prior to [3H]acetylsalicylic acid treatment results in labeling of the 38-kDa fragment, but not the 33-kDa fragment. The present findings are consistent with the presence of a membrane-binding domain (33 kDa) and an active site domain (38 kDa) in the 70-kDa subunit of PGH synthase. They also suggest that, following cleavage, the 38-kDa fragment retains the structural features responsible for the cyclooxygenase activity and selective aspirin labeling of PGH synthase. PGH synthase undergoes self-catalyzed inactivation by oxidants generated during its catalytic turnover. When PGH synthase, inactivated by treatment with arachidonic acid or hydrogen peroxide, was treated with trypsin it was cleaved two to three times faster than unoxidized enzyme. Addition of heme to oxidized PGH synthase did not reconstitute cyclooxygenase activity or resistance to trypsin cleavage. Spectrophotometric studies demonstrated that oxidatively inactivated enzyme did not bind heme. This implies that oxidation of protein residues as well as the heme prosthetic group is an important determinant of proteolytic sensitivity. Oxidative modification may mark PGH synthase for proteolytic cleavage and turnover.     

Localization of the complement-component-C3b-binding site and the cofactor activity for factor I in the 38kDa tryptic fragment of factor H.

Trypsin treatment of human factor H (H160) [enzyme/substrate ratio 1:100 (w/w), 30 min, 37 degrees C] generated a 38 kDa (H38) and a 142 kDa (H142) fragment linked by disulphide bonds (H38/142). The fragments were purified by reduction with 2-mercapto-ethanol, gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column and affinity chromatography with monoclonal anti-(factor H) antibody coupled to Sepharose 4B. This monoclonal antibody bound to a site in the 38 kDa fragment. To localize the C3b binding site in factor H we used two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (e.l.i.s.a.). For the first test, e.l.i.s.a. plates were coated with C3b; H160, H38/142, H38 and H142 were added, and their binding was monitored by goat anti-(factor H) and peroxidase-labelled rabbit anti-goat antibodies. Only intact factor H bound to the C3b-coated plates. For the second test, e.l.i.s.a. plates were coated with comparable amounts of factor H or its fragments, and C3b was offered at several dilutions. In contrast with the results from the first assay, C3b bound to intact factor H, H38/142 and H38 but not to H142, thus characterizing H38 as the fragment carrying the C3b-binding site. To identify the fragment responsible for the cofactor activity of factor H (cleavage of fluid-phase C3b by factor I), 125I-C3b was incubated with either H38 or H142 and factor I. H142 had no cofactor activity, whereas H38 had the same cofactor function as intact H. To further investigate the relationship between the C3b-binding site and the site of factor H essential for its cofactor activity, we made use of monoclonal antibodies directed against the H38. Those antibodies inhibiting the binding of C3b to H160 also inhibited the cofactor function, whereas those without effect on the C3b binding also did not interfere with the cofactor activity. This suggests that the C3b-binding site and the site essential for the cofactor activity of factor H are both localized in the 38 kDa tryptic fragment of factor H in close proximity or are identical.     

The structure of bovine complement component 3 reveals the basis for thioester function

The third component of complement (C3) is a 190 kDa glycoprotein essential for eliciting the complement response. The protein consists of two polypeptide chains (alpha and beta) held together with a single disulfide bridge. The beta-chain is composed of six MG domains, one of which is shared with the alpha-chain. The disulfide bridge connecting the chains is positioned in the shared MG domain. The alpha-chain consists of the anaphylatoxin domain, three MG domains, a CUB domain, an alpha(6)/alpha(6)-barrel domain and the C-terminal C345c domain. An internal thioester in the alpha-chain of C3 (present in C4 but not in C5) is cleaved during complement activation. This mediates covalent attachment of the activated C3b to immune complexes and invading microorganisms, thereby opsonizing the target. We present the structure of bovine C3 determined at 3 Angstroms resolution. The structure shows that the ester is buried deeply between the thioester domain and the properdin binding domain, in agreement with the human structure. This domain interface is broken upon activation, allowing nucleophile access. The structure of bovine C3 clearly demonstrates that the main chain around the thioester undergoes a helical transition upon activation. This rearrangement is proposed to be the basis for the high level of reactivity of the thioester group. A strictly conserved glutamate residue is suggested to function catalytically in thioester proteins. Structure-based design of inhibitors of C3 activation may target a conserved pocket between the alpha-chain and the beta-chain of C3, which appears essential for conformational changes in C3.     

Endothelial lipase is inactivated upon cleavage by the members of the proprotein convertase family

Mature endothelial lipase (EL) is a 68 kDa glycoprotein. In HepG2 cells infected with adenovirus encoding human EL, the mature EL was detectable in the cell lysates and heparin-releasable fractions. In contrast, cell media of these cells contained two EL fragments: an N-terminal 40 kDa fragment and a C-terminal 28 kDa fragment. N-terminal protein sequencing of the His-tagged 28 kDa fragment revealed that EL is cleaved on the C terminus of the sequence RNKR330, the consensus cleavage sequence for mammalian proprotein convertases (pPCs). Replacement of Arg-330 with Ser by site-directed mutagenesis totally abolished EL processing. EL processing could efficiently be attenuated by specific inhibitors of pPCs, alpha1-antitrypsin Portland (alpha1-PDX) and alpha1-antitrypsin variant AVRR. Coexpression of the pPCs furin, PC6A, and PACE4 with EL resulted in a complete conversion of the full-length EL to a truncated 40 kDa fragment. Exogenously added EL was also processed by cells, and the processing could be attenuated by alpha1-PDX. The expressed N-terminal 40 kDa fragment of EL (EL-40) harboring the catalytic site failed to hydrolyze [14C]NEFA from [14C]dipalmitoyl-PC-labeled HDL. EL-40 was incapable of bridging 125I-labeled HDL to the cells and had no impact on plasma lipid concentration when overexpressed in mice. Thus, our results demonstrate that pPCs are involved in the inactivation process of EL.     

C3b2-IgG complexes retain dimeric C3 fragments at all levels of inactivation

C3b2-IgG complexes are formed during complement activation in serum by attachment of two C3b molecules (the proteolytically activated form of C3) to one IgG heavy chain (IgG HC) via ester bonds. Because of the presence of two C3b molecules, these complexes are very efficient activators of the alternative complement pathway. Likewise, dimeric C3b is known to enhance complement receptor 1-dependent phagocytosis, and dimeric C3d (the smallest thioester-containing fragment of C3) linked to a protein antigen facilitates CR2-dependent B-cell proliferation. Because the efficiency of all these interactions depends on the number of C3 fragments, we investigated whether C3b2-IgG complexes retained dimeric structure upon physiological inactivation. We used two-dimensional SDS-PAGE and Western blot to study the arrangement of the C3b molecules by analyzing the fragmentation pattern after cleavage of the ester bonds. Upon inactivation with factors H and I, a 185-kDa band was generated under reducing conditions. It released IgG HC and the 65-kDa fragment of C3b alpha' chain after hydrolysis of the ester bonds with hydroxylamine. The two C3b molecules were not 65-kDa-to-40-kDa linked, because neither ester-bonded 65 kDa HC nor 65 kDa-40 kDa fragments were observed, nor was a 40-kDa peptide released after hydroxylamine cleavage. Factor I and CR1 cleaved the C3b2-IgG molecule to its final physiological product, C3dg2-IgG, which migrated as a 133-kDa fragment in reduced form. This fragment released exclusively C3dg (the final physiological product of C3b inactivation by factor I) and IgG HC. C3dg2-HC appeared as a double band on SDS-PAGE only at low gel porosity, suggesting the presence of two conformers of the same composition. Our results suggest that, upon physiological inactivation, C3b2-IgG complexes retain dimeric inactivated C3b and C3dg, which allows bivalent binding to the corresponding complement receptors.     

Plasminogen is a complement inhibitor

Plasminogen is a 92-kDa single chain glycoprotein that circulates in plasma as a zymogen and when converted to proteolytically active plasmin dissolves preformed fibrin clots and extracellular matrix components. Here, we characterize the role of plasmin(ogen) in the complement cascade. Plasminogen binds the central complement protein C3, the C3 cleavage products C3b and C3d, and C5. Plasminogen binds to C3, C3b, C3d, and C5 via lysine residues, and the interaction is ionic strength-dependent. Plasminogen and Factor H bind C3b; however, the two proteins bind to different sites and do not compete for binding. Plasminogen affects complement action in multiple ways. Plasminogen enhanced Factor I-mediated C3b degradation in the presence of the cofactor Factor H. Plasminogen when activated to plasmin inhibited complement as demonstrated by hemolytic assays using either rabbit or sheep erythrocytes. Similarly, plasmin either in the fluid phase or attached to surfaces inhibited complement that was activated via the alternative and classical pathways and cleaved C3b to fragments of 68, 40, 30, and 17 kDa. The C3b fragments generated by plasmin differ in size from those generated by the complement protease Factor I, suggesting that plasmin-mediated C3b cleavage fragments lack effector function. Plasmin also cleaved C5 to products of 65, 50, 30, and 25 kDa. Thus, plasmin(ogen) regulates both complement and coagulation, the two central cascade systems of a vertebrate organism. This complement-inhibitory activity of plasmin provides a new explanation why pathogenic microbes utilize plasmin(ogen) for immune evasion and tissue penetration.     

Leishmanial protein kinases phosphorylate components of the complement system.

Externally oriented protein kinases are present on the plasma membrane of the human parasite, Leishmania. Since activation of complement plays an important role in the survival of these parasites, we examined the ability of protein kinases from Leishmania major to phosphorylate components of the human complement system. The leishmanial protein kinase-1 (LPK-1) isolated from promastigotes of L. major was able to phosphorylate purified human C3, C5 and C9. Only the alpha-chain of C3 and C5 was phosphorylated. The beta-chain appeared not to be a substrate for this enzyme. C3b which is formed by proteolytic cleavage of C3 was not phosphorylated by LPK-1. Trypsin treatment of phosphorylated C3 (P-C3) resulted in the disappearance of 32P from the alpha-chain. This was correlated with the conversion of the C3 alpha-chain to the alpha'-chain of C3b, and the appearance of a 9 kDa 32P fragment comigrating with the C3a fragment of C3. P-C3 was more resistant to cleavage by trypsin than nonphosphorylated C3. LPK-1 phosphorylated purified C3a and two synthetic peptides, C3a21R and YA-C3a10R, derived from its COOH-terminal end, which contain the C3a binding site to leukocytes and platelets. LPK-1 did not phosphorylate C3a8R. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the synthetic peptides indicated that serine 71 of C3a was phosphorylated by LPK-1. Treatment of C3 with either methylamine or freeze-thaw C3 (H2O) prevented phosphorylation by the LPK-1 suggesting that substrate conformation may be involved in recognition by the leishmanial enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Localization of the sites of ADP-ribosylation and GTP binding in the eukaryotic elongation factor EF-2

Tryptic cleavage of EF-2, molecular mass 93 kDa, produced an 82-kDa polypeptide and a 10-kDa fragment, which was further degraded. By a slower reaction the 82-kDa polypeptide was gradually split into a 48-kDa and a 34-kDa fragment. Similarly, treatment with chymotrypsin resulted in the formation of an 82-kDa polypeptide and a small fragment. In contrast to the tryptic 82-kDa polypeptide the corresponding chymotryptic cleavage product was relatively resistant to further attack. The degradation of the 82-kDa polypeptide with either trypsin or chymotrypsin was facilitated by the presence of guanosine nucleotides, indicating a conformational shift in native EF-2 upon nucleotide binding. No effect was observed in the presence of ATP, indicating that the effect was specific for guanosine nucleotides. After affinity labelling of native EF-2 with oxidized [3H]GTP and subsequent trypsin treatment the radioactivity was recovered in the 48-kDa polypeptide showing that the GTP-binding site was located within this part of the factor. Correspondingly, tryptic degradation of EF-2 labelled with [14C]NAD+ in the presence of diphtheria toxin showed that the site of ADP-ribosylation was within the 34-kDa polypeptide. By cleavage with the tryptophan-specific reagent N-chlorosuccinimide the site of ADP-ribosylation could be located at a distance of 40-60 kDa from the GTP-binding site and about 4-11 kDa from the nearest terminus.     

Structure of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-heavy chains of 22 S outer arm dynein obtained from Tetrahymena cilia

Here we document the UV-induced, vanadate-dependent cleavage of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-heavy chains of 22 S outer arm dynein obtained from Tetrahymena cilia. All three polypeptides have a single site of photocleavage in the presence of Mg2+, ATP, and vanadate (termed V1 cleavage). The alpha-chain yields complementary fragments with masses of 232 and 185 kDa, the beta-chain has complementary fragments with masses of 225 and 195 kDa, and the gamma-chain has complementary fragments with masses of 242 and 161 kDa. In the absence of ATP, only the beta-chain undergoes V1 cleavage. All three polypeptides have one single site of V2 cleavage, which are unaffected by the presence of nucleotide and only require the presence of Mn2+ and vanadate. V2 cleavage always occurs on the larger V1 fragments and is separated from the V1 site by 52, 48, and 57 kDa for the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-heavy chains, respectively. We have also found a third type of UV-induced vanadate-dependent cleavage which we have termed VMT cleavage. VMT cleavage occurs when dynein is bound to microtubules in an ATP-sensitive manner under V1 solution conditions that should only support cleavage of the beta-chain (i.e. vanadate, Mg2+, and absence of ATP). Under these conditions V1 cleavage of the beta-chain and V2 cleavage of all three chains occur. This is the first documented evidence of V2 cleavage occurring under V1 solution conditions and implies a change in dynein structure when it binds to a microtubule. Using a combination of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, we have been able to construct linear polypeptide maps of all three heavy chains. Their relationship to the polypeptide maps previously obtained for heavy chains obtained from the dynein of Chlamydomonas and sea urchin axonemes is discussed.     

Structural and functional analysis of the complement component factor H with the use of different enzymes and monoclonal antibodies to factor H.

The action of six different enzymes on the function and structure of Factor H was investigated by use of sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, haemagglutination, two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems and an assay for Factor I cofactor activity. Six monoclonal antibodies directed against the 38 kDa tryptic fragment of Factor H [which contains the binding site for C3b (a 180 kDa fragment of the third component of complement) and the cofactor activity] were also used to detect cleavage products derived from the same fragment. Elastase, chymotrypsin A4 or trypsin first cleaved Factor H to 36-38 kDa fragments carrying all six monoclonal anti-(Factor H)-binding sites. In parallel, the interaction of Factor H with surface-bound C3b was lost, whereas the cofactor function was preserved. Further cleavage of the 36-38 kDa fragments into two 13-19 kDa fragments (one carrying the MAH4 and MRC OX 24 epitopes, the other the MAH1, MAH2, MAH3 and MRC OX 23 epitopes) destroyed cofactor activity. Pepsin, bromelain or papain rapidly split off a 13-15 kDa fragment of Factor H carrying the MAH1, MAH2, MAH3 and MRC OX 23 epitopes and destroyed all tested functions of Factor H. Ficin cleaved Factor H into disulphide-linked fragments smaller than 25 kDa, but did not affect the functions of the Factor H molecule. The 38 kDa tryptic fragment of Factor H is the N-terminal end of the Factor H molecule, as determined by N-terminal sequence analysis. A model is presented of the substructure of Factor H.     

Disulfide-linked cyanogen bromide peptides of bovine fibrinogen. I. Isolation of peptide F-CB3 and characterization of its single disulfide bond by cleavage with cyanide.

A fragment F-CB3 which originates from the alpha-chain constituent of bovine fibrinogen could be liberated by CNBr cleavage and was purified by molecular sieve and ion-exchange chromatography. This fragment had a molecular weight of 36 000 and consisted of a single polypeptide chain which is folded into a loop by a single disulfide bridge. Further cleavage of F-CB3 by cyanide or by 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid gave rise to three fragments, CN1, CN2 and CN3, with molecular weights of 23 000, 8000 and 7000, respectively. With both reagents the yield of cleavage did not exceed 50%. Radioactive labeling and amino acid analysis of the purified fragments indicated the order CN1-CN2-CN3 in intact F-CB3. A shorter and apparently degraded form of F-CB3 was observed in some fibrinogen preparations. The shortening involved a region of about 3000 daltons at the N-terminal site of F-CB3, i.e. in fragment CN1.     

Limited proteolysis of complement protein C3b by regulatory enzyme C3b inactivator: isolation and characterization of a biologically active fragment, C3d,g

Limited proteolysis of C3b by C3b inactivator (factor I) consists of a two-step reaction; rapid cleavage of C3b to yield a nicked C3b derivative, iC3b, and followed by slow cleavage of iC3b to yield two antigenically distinct fragments, C3c and C3d,g. Using a fluorescence-labeled C3b as a substrate for I, we have investigated in detail the optimal conditions for the sequential cleavages of C3b by I. The pH optimum for the first cleavage was markedly affected by the ionic strength of buffers. The cleavage was maximum at pH 6.0 under physiological ionic strength but at pH 8.5 under low ionic strength (such as 1.7 mS). The second cleavage was a slow reaction and occurred only under low ionic strength and within a narrow pH range around pH 6.0. One of the products of the second cleavage, C3d,g, was isolated and shown to be a single polypeptide chain of 41,000 daltons with pI 5.0. C3d,g had leucocytosis-inducing activity, like C3d-k, which is a C3d fragment released by the action of plasma kallikrein. Trypsin digestion of C3d,g produced two fragments of 30,000 and 10,000 daltons and the 10,000-dalton fragment retained the leucocytosis inducing activity.