The kinetics of intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 binding

The kinetic behaviour of intrinsic factor-vitamin B₁₂ binding has been examined under varying conditions using an albuminised charcoal separation technique. The overall reaction obeys second order rate laws. The intrinsic factor considered alone obeys first order laws; the velocity of reaction of vitamin B₁₂ is too fast for measurement by the technique described but by deduction obeys first order laws. Rate constants as three temperatures, (k₂ at 25°C=1.56·10⁸·mole^?1·s^?1) the activation energy (E=12.7 kJ·mole^?1) and Arrhenius constant (A=2.7·10¹⁰ 1·mole^?1·s^?1 have been calculated. There is the possibility of diffusion control of the reaction in which case the E and A values are invalid. The effect of pH on the reaction has been studied and the results discussed in relation to the pH studies of other workers whose results show disagreement. Albumin coated charcoal was shown to discriminate between intrinsic factor-vitamin B₁₂ and free vitamn B₁₂ over a wide pH range. The apparent under-estimation of intrinsic factor in dilute solution was shown to be due to adsorption of the intrinsic factor to plastic tubes.     

The intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 receptor, cubilin, is assembled into trimers via a coiled-coil alpha-helix

A large protein was purified from bovine kidney, using selective extraction with EDTA to solubilize proteins anchored by divalent cation-dependent interactions. An antiserum raised against the purified protein labeled the apical cell surface of the epithelial cells in proximal tubules and the luminal surface of small intestine. Ten peptide sequences, derived from the protein, all matched the recently published sequences for rat (Moestrup, S. K., Kozyraki, R., Kristiansen, M., Kaysen, J. H., Holm Rasmussen, H., Brault, D., Pontillon, F., Goda, F. O., Christensen, E. I., Hammond, T. G., and Verroust, P. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 5235-5242) and human cubilin, a receptor for intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 complexes, identifying the protein as bovine cubilin. In electron microscopy, a three-armed structure was seen, indicating an oligomerization of three identical subunits. This model was supported by the Mr values of about 1,500,000 for the intact protein and 440,000 for its subunits obtained by analytical ultracentrifugation. In a search for a potential assembly domain, we identified a region of heptad repeats in the N-terminal part of the cubilin sequence. Computer-assisted analysis supported the presence of a coiled-coil alpha-helix between amino acids 103 and 132 of the human cubilin sequence and predicted the formation of a triple coiled-coil. We therefore conclude that cubilin forms a noncovalent trimer of identical subunits connected by an N-terminal coiled-coil alpha-helix.     

Release of vitamin B-12 in vitro from intrinsic factor-vitamin B-12 complex Purification and characterization of a releasing factor from rat ileal brush border

Vitamin B-12 is released from the purified gastric intrinsic factor-[⁵⁷Co]vitamin B-12 (intrinsic factor- [⁵⁷Co]vitamin B-12) complex, when incubated with rat intestinal mucosa. Maximum specific activity for splitting the complex is localized in ileal brush border. Release of [⁵⁷Co]vitamin B-12 is not due to its mere exchange during incubation with endogenous non-radioactive vitamin B-12. The splitting process has specific requirement for Ca²⁺ and ATP and it is thermolabile, time- as well as temperature-dependent. It is also inactivated by the presence of p-chloromercuribenzoate. Further, the vitamin B-12-releasing factor has been isolated from solubilized brush border and is purified 70-fold by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, gel filtration and Con. A-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. In SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it is resolved into a single band of about 25 kDa, indicating its purity. The releasing factor exhibits maximum activity at pH 7.4; isoelectric focusing reveals only one major form with pI 7.52. With intrinsic factor-[⁵⁷Co]vitamin B-12-complex as the substrate, apparent K_m and V_max values obtained are 128.2·10⁻¹² M/1 and 117.6 pg·h⁻¹ 100 μg protein, respectively. Amino acid and carbohydrate analyses reveal the glycoprotein nature of the factor. Intrinsic factor-[⁵⁷Co]vitamin B-12 complex is not susceptible to unspecific proteolytic digestion/ Similarly, the releasing factor does not hydrolyse other proteins. Thus, the observed substrate-specificity of the releasing factor differentiates it from other known proteolytic enzymes of ileal brush borders.     

The intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 receptor, cubilin, is a high-affinity apolipoprotein A-I receptor facilitating endocytosis of high-density lipoprotein.

Cubilin is the intestinal receptor for the endocytosis of intrinsic factor-vitamin B12. However, several lines of evidence, including a high expression in kidney and yolk sac, indicate it may have additional functions. We isolated apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the main protein of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), using cubilin affinity chromatography. Surface plasmon resonance analysis demonstrated a high-affinity binding of apoA-I and HDL to cubilin, and cubilin-expressing yolk sac cells showed efficient 125I-HDL endocytosis that could be inhibited by IgG antibodies against apoA-I and cubilin. The physiological relevance of the cubilin-apoA-I interaction was further emphasized by urinary apoA-I loss in some known cases of functional cubilin deficiency. Therefore, cubilin is a receptor in epithelial apoA-I/HDL metabolism.     

Molecular dissection of the intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 receptor, cubilin, discloses regions important for membrane association and ligand binding.

Cubilin, the receptor for intrinsic factor-vitamin B12, is a novel type of high molecular weight receptor consisting of a 27 CUB (complement components C1r/C1s, Uegf, and bone morphogenic protein-1) domain cluster preceded by 8 epidermal growth factor repeats and a short N-terminal sequence. In addition to binding the vitamin B12-carrier complex, cubilin also binds receptor-associated protein. To delineate the structures for membrane association and ligand binding we established a panel of stable transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing overlapping segments of rat cubilin. Analysis of conditioned media and cell extracts of transfected cells revealed that the N-terminal cubilin region conveys membrane association. Helical plotting of this region demonstrated a conserved amphipathic helix pattern (Lys74-Glu109) as a candidate site for hydrophobic interactions. Ligand affinity chromatography and surface plasmon resonance analysis of the secreted cubilin fragments showed ligand binding in the CUB domain region. Further dissection of binding-active fragments localized the binding site for intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 to CUB domains 5-8 and a receptor-associated protein-binding site to CUB domains 13-14. In conclusion, the N-terminal cubilin region seems crucial for membrane association, whereas the CUB domain cluster harbors distinct sites for ligand binding.     

Effect of X-irradiation on vitamin B12 binding capacity to intrinsic factor.

The effects of whole-body X-irradiation on vitamin B12-protein complex formation in gastric juice after oral administration of [57Co]-B12 have been studied. Two proteins with B12-binding activity have been isolated by gel filtration from gastric juice. 57Co-activity, recovered from B12-protein complex in gastric juice, is found to be about 30% less in the X-irradiated rat. In serum, vitamin B12 is mainly associated with alpha1-globulin. Radioactivity distribution in serum globulins after intraperitoneal injection of [57Co]-B12 was similar in control and X-irradiated rats.     

BCGFII activity on activated B cells of a purified murine T cell-replacing factor (TRF) from a T cell hybridoma (B151K12)

Experiments were performed to examine a growth-promoting activity on B cells or B leukemic cells of T cell-replacing factor (TRF) produced by a murine T cell hybridoma (B151K12) which constitutively produces TRF. The cellfree supernatant (CFS) from B151K12 cells (B151-CFS) could induce terminal differentiation of pre-activated B cells or in vivo passaged chronic B leukemia cells, BCL1, into immunoglobulin-secreting cells, while it did not exert a nominal lymphokine activity such as BCGFI (now known as BSFpl), IL 2, or gamma-interferon. However, it promoted [3H]thymidine uptake of dextran sulfate (DXS)-stimulated normal B cells and in vivo passaged BCL1 cells, suggesting that it also has BCGFII activity. We tried extensively to purify and to separate the TRF active molecule from the BCGFII active molecule by using many types of purification procedures. The purification scheme consisted of ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Blue-Sepharose chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and gel permeation with fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). It was revealed that the BCGFII active molecule was hardly separable from the TRF during the entire purification procedure. The TRF as well as BCGFII active materials were glycoprotein with an apparent m.w. of 50 to 60 Kd on gel permeation chromatography and 18 Kd on SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. The BCGFII active materials were hardly separable from the TRF active one, even after a reverse-phase FPLC, in which both BCGFII and TRF activities were recovered in the fractions eluted at 44 to 48% acetonitrile in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Furthermore, the absorption of TRF and BCGFII active materials by using BCL1 cells removed not only TRF but also BCGFII activity. Moreover, B cell-specific monoclonal antibody (9T1), which can preferentially block TRF-dependent plaque-forming cell responses, also inhibited the expression of BCGFII activity to BCL1 cells. Taking all of the results together, we conclude that the TRF from B151K12 cells promotes growth of appropriately activated, such as DXS-stimulated normal cells and BCL1 tumor cells. These results suggest that B151-TRF may act on B cells as B cell growth and differentiation factors.     

High-molecular-mass proteases (possible proteasomes) in Escherichia coli K12

Two high-molecular-mass proteases have been detected in E.coli K12 and isolated from the periplasmic fraction released by osmotic shock. The two proteases, designated Protease peri7 and Protease peri8, have similar molecular masses (greater than 2000 kDa) and degrade alpha- and beta-casein, but not insulin B chain. Protease peri7 is a metalloprotease activated 3-6 fold by ATP, dATP and GTP but inhibited by AMP. Nucleotide hydrolysis occurs during protein breakdown. Protease peri8, in contrast, is a serine protease unaffected by nucleotides or metal chelators. The two proteases appear by electron microscopy to be ring-shaped particles of approximately 125 A degrees in diameter. These proteases appear to be very similar to the multi-protease complexes (Proteasomes) detected in a variety of eukaryotic cells.     

Effect of the cobalt-N coordination on the cobamide recognition by the human vitamin B12 binding proteins intrinsic factor, transcobalamin and haptocorrin

The binding of several corrinoids to the binding site of human intrinsic factor, transcobalamin or haptocorrin was investigated, p-Cresolyl cobamide and 2-amino-vitamin B12 are complete corrinoids, whose nucleotide at the lower face of the corrin ring is not coordinated to the cobalt. These corrinoids were greater than or equal to 10(3) times less efficiently recognized by intrinsic factor or transcobalamin than vitamin B12, which contains a Co-coordinated nucleotide. Pseudovitamin B12, with a weak Co-N coordination bond, revealed only moderate affinity to intrinsic factor. From these findings it is concluded that the cobamide binding to intrinsic factor and transcobalamin is strongly affected by the Co-N coordination bonds of their lower cobalt nucleotide ligands. We suggest that the Co-N coordination bond positions the nucleotide at a critical distance to the corrin ring, which is recognized by the binding proteins. Human haptocorrin, however, disclosed to distinctive selectivity regarding the different corrinoid structures. The protein bound all corrinoids with similar efficiency, independent of the strength of their Co-N coordinations, or the structures of their lower Co alpha ligands. Hence, the corrin ring, rather than a structural feature induced by the Co-N coordination, has to be considered responsible for the corrinoid binding to haptocorrin.