Immunological Cross-Reactivity among Corresponding Proteins of Photosystems I and II from Widely Divergent Photosynthetic Organisms

Immunological cross-reactivity among corresponding proteinsassociated with photosystems I and II in higher plants, greenalgae, red algae and cyanobacteria were examined with antiseraraised against the proteins from Synechococcus elongatus andspinach. (1) Generally, the cross-reactivity was very high betweenclosely related species but decreased with increasing phylogeneticdistances between organisms. Exceptionally, proteins from redalgae showed lower reactivities with the antisera against thecyanobacterial proteins than did corresponding proteins fromgreen algae and higher plants. (2) The extent of the cross-reactivitywas found to vary with the antisera used. Three antisera preparedagainst large chlorophyll-carrying proteins of photosystem Iand photosystem II reaction center complexes of Synechococcusreacted with the corresponding proteins of all the organismsexamined. By contrast, an antiserum raised against the extrinsic35 kDa protein of the cyanobacterium reacted with none of corresponding33 kDa proteins of other species. The antiserum against thespinach 33 kDa protein showed a wider range of cross-reactivity.Antisera raised against the Dl and D2 proteins from spinachwere highly reactive with corresponding proteins from otherphotosynthetic organisms, whereas an antiserum against a well-conservedsequence of the spinach D2 protein showed limited cross-reactivity.The results show that, although the extent of immunologicalcross-reactivity is determined mainly by the homology betweenproteins, caution is indicated in the application of immunologicalmethods to determinations of the distribution of various proteinsrelated to photosystems I and II in very different organisms. (Received December 8, 1989; Accepted March 12, 1990)     

Antisera specific for rap 1 proteins distinguish between processed and nonprocessed rap 1b

Polyclonal antisera were generated against synthetic peptides corresponding to distinct regions of the rap 1 protein sequences. A "rap 1-common" antiserum, prepared against an 18-amino acid segment of the rap 1a protein near the proposed GTP-binding region, reacted with both rap 1a and rap 1b recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli and with two low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins of 22 and 24 kDa in unstimulated human platelets. An antiserum raised against a carboxyl-terminal peptide of rap 1b containing the putative site of post-translational processing reacted strongly with bacterial-expressed recombinant rap 1b and with a 24-kDa GTP-binding protein in platelets, but not with recombinant rap 1a or a 22-kDa GTP-binding protein. The mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of this rap 1b immunoreactive protein coincided with that of bacterial-expressed rap 1b and not with the faster migrating form of rap 1b that incorporates radioactivity from [3H]mevalonic acid in the insect/baculovirus system. This suggests that our rap 1b-specific antiserum recognizes only one form of rap 1b, that which has not undergone carboxyl-terminal post-translational processing.     

Beta B1 crystallin is an amine-donor substrate for tissue transglutaminase

The effects of tissue transglutaminase on the water-soluble proteins in bovine lens homogenates are described. Addition of liver transglutaminase and Ca2+ to calf lens homogenates resulted not only in the appearance of 50- and 57-kDa dimers, but also in a decrease in the amount of beta B1 crystallin and the almost complete disappearance of beta B3 and beta A3. This is not the result of Ca2+-induced proteolysis, since histamine completely inhibits this phenomenon. It may be concluded that these polypeptides are involved in beta-crystallin crosslinking by transglutaminase. This notion was confirmed by using beta B1- and beta Bp-specific antisera. Both sera reacted with the 57-kDa dimer; the beta Bp-specific antiserum also reacted with the 50-kDa dimer. No reaction in the region 50-57 kDa was detectable when EDTA was used instead of Ca2+. Using reconstituted mixtures of beta B1- and beta Bp-crystallin chains, and N-terminally truncated derivatives thereof, it was shown that in the beta B1/beta Bp dimer, glutamine residue -9 of beta Bp crosslinks to one of the lysine residues in the N-terminal extension of beta B1.     

Identification of immunologically cross-reactive proteins of Sindbis virus: evidence for unique conformation of E1 glycoprotein from infected cells

Hyperimmune antisera to purified Sindbis (SIN) or Semliki Forest (SF) virus were used to identify alphavirus-specific and cross-reactive proteins in virions and infected cells. The hyperimmune sera participated in homologous and cross-cytolysis of alphavirus-infected cells, and the use of monospecific antisera to SIN structural proteins suggested that E1 and E2 could serve as target proteins in cytolysis. Proteins from purified virions or infected cells were extracted with Nonidet P-40, denatured by procedures for sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose solid supports, and reacted with hyperimmune sera and 125I-labeled protein A (immunoblotting on denatured proteins). Alternatively, native proteins extracted by mild Nonidet P-40 treatment were precipitated with hyperimmune sera before denaturation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After immunoblotting, homologous antiserum reacted with the virus structural proteins E1, E2, capsid extracted from purified virions, and the counterparts of these proteins extracted from infected cells. In addition, PE2 and a 92,000-molecular-weight protein from infected cells reacted with homologous antiserum. These proteins were also immunoprecipitated with homologous antiserum. After immunoblotting, the Sindbis capsid protein was shown to be cross-reactive whether derived from purified virions or from infected cells; no cross-reactivity was observed with PE2 or E2 from either source, and the E1 glycoprotein was shown to be cross-reactive only when obtained from virions. However, the E1 glycoprotein could be cross-immunoprecipitated from infected cells (as well as from disrupted virions), and, in addition, capsid and a 92,000-molecular-weight protein were cross-immunoprecipitated from infected cells. These results suggest that a native conformation of the cell-associated E1 glycoproteins may be required for immunological cross-reactivity (immune precipitation), whereas virion but not cell-associated E1 retains immunological cross-reactivity after denaturation (immunoblot technique). The findings extend our previously published evidence which suggested that alphavirus maturation is accompanied by a change in immunological cross-reactivity with respect to E1.     

Characterization of a novel gelatin-binding 21 kDa protein secreted by cultured adherent cells

A novel gelatin-binding 21 kDa protein was identified in the culture medium of fibroblastic and sarcoma cells by affinity chromatography on gelatin-Sepharose. Its affinity for gelatin was lower than that of the other gelatin-binding proteins, fibronectin and the 70 kDa protein, as judged by stepwise elution by urea and arginine. The protein bound also to spermine and to some extent to heparin but not to staphylococcal protein A, bovine serum albumin, concanavalin A or plain Sepharose 4B. In gel filtration chromatography the protein eluted in fractions differing from those of fibronectin and the Mr 70,000 protein and retained its ability to bind to gelatin-Sepharose, indicating that the binding was not mediated by the two other gelatin-binding proteins. It contains intrachain disulfide bridges, as judged by analysis under nonreducing and reducing conditions. The protein is composed of two major subtypes with pI values of 5.85-6.10 and 6.55-6.75. It was sensitive to trypsin but not to collagenase or thrombin. Antiserum was raised in rabbits against the gelatin-binding proteins isolated from serum-free conditioned fibroblast culture medium. The antiserum reacted with fibronectin, the Mr 70,000 protein and the Mr 21,000 protein in immunoprecipitation experiments. Absorption of the antiserum with human plasma fibronectin did not decrease its reactivity with the Mr 70,000 and 21,000 proteins. However, absorption with the Mr 70,000 protein abolished also the reactivity against the Mr 21,000 protein, suggesting immunological cross-reactivity. The protein was synthesized independently from the Mr 70,000 protein, as shown by pulse-chase labeling experiments of cells. The production of the Mr 21,000 protein in cultured cells was enhanced by transforming growth factor-beta.     

Immunological identification of G protein alpha- and beta-subunits in tail membranes of bovine spermatozoa.

Heterotrimeric G proteins are believed to play important roles as signal transducing components in various mammalian sperm functions. To assess the distribution of G proteins in bovine sperm tails, we purified membranes by hypoosmotic swelling of bovine spermatozoa followed by disruption of plasma membranes in a homogenizer and various centrifugation steps. Electron microscopy revealed highly purified membranes of bovine sperm tails. Subsequently, antisera against synthetic peptides were used to identify G proteins in immunoblots. An antiserum directed against the C-terminal decapeptide of Gi3 and detecting all known pertussis toxin-sensitive alpha-subunits, reacted specifically with a 40-kDa protein. In contrast, various other specific peptide antisera against alpha-subunits did not detect any G protein in enriched tail membranes. An antiserum recognizing the beta 2-subunit of G proteins and an antiserum reacting with both beta 1- and beta 2-subunits identified a 35-kDa protein in sperm tail membranes. In contrast, antisera against the 36-kDa beta 1-subunit did not detect any relevant proteins in the membrane fraction. Neither G protein alpha-subunits nor G protein beta-subunits were found in the cytosol. Our results suggest that G proteins in membranes of tails of bovine spermatozoa most likely belong to a novel subtype of G protein alpha-subunits, whereas the putative beta-subunit could be identified as a beta 2-subunit.     

Cloning and antigenic expression of two genes from Chlamydia psittaci avian strain

Abstract: Genes from Chlamydia psittaci P-1041 were cloned into the Bam HI site of pUC19 and were transformed to host Escherichia coli JM109. Two recombinant plasmids that expressed protein antigens of Chlamydia were isolated. The sizes of the DNA fragments were 1350 and 1710 bp, and encoded for polypeptides of M _r 25 and 42 kilodaltons (kDa), respectively. The 25-kDa protein had cross-reactivity with antisera to ten C. psittaci strains and two C. trachomatis strains, whereas the 42-kDa protein reacted only with homologous antiserum to the C. psittaci P-1041 strain. Furthermore, in Southern hybridization analysis these two fragments as probes hybridized with DNA of ten C. psittaci strains and four C. trachomatis strains. These results indicated that the two fragments shared a DNA sequence common to the chlamydial genus.     

Purification of collagen-binding proteins ofLactobacillus reuteri NCIB 11951

Collagen type-I-binding proteins ofLactobacillus reuteri NCIB 11951 were purified. The cell surface proteins were affinity purified on collagen Sepharose and eluted with an NaCl gradient. Two protein bands were eluted from the column (29 kDa and 31 kDa), and both bound radio-labeled collagen type I. Rabbit antisera raised against the 29 kDa and 31 kDa protein reacted with the affinity-purified proteins in a Western blot with whole-cell extract used as antigen. The N-terminal sequence of the 29-kDa and 31-kDa proteins demonstrated the closest homologies with internal sequences from anEscherichia coli trigger factor protein (TIG.ECOLI). Out of nine other lactobacilli, the antisera reacted only with theL. reuteri and not with the other species tested.     

Immunological properties of gap junction protein from mouse liver

Hepatic gap junctions were purified as plaques from BALB/c mice and separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Antisera were raised in rabbits and rats against gap junction plaques as well as protein bands of the following apparent molecular weights: 44K to 49K ("dimer" proteins), 26K, and 21K. Using an enzyme immunoassay, we found that the reactivities of the different antisera towards gap junction plaques decreased in the following order: anti-plaque antisera, anti-26K antisera, anti-"dimer" protein antisera, and anti-21K antisera. The gap junction protein bands separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were transferred by blotting onto nitrocellulose paper and the immunological cross-reactivities were compared: the anti-26K antisera reated with the dimer protein bands and the 26K band but did not cross-react with the 21K protein band. The rabbit anti-21K antiserum reacted weakly with the 21K protein. The missing immunological cross-reaction of the 26K and the 21K protein band can be most easily explained if both proteins were independent of each other. No inhibition of metabolic cooperation between fibroblastoid mouse 3T6 cells was observed in the presence of Fab fragments prepared from rabbit antiplaque antiserum or from rabbit anti 26K antiserum. When the total proteins of plasma membranes from mouse liver were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, only the 26K protein reacted with rabbit anti 26K antiserum. This result opens the possibility for direct quantitation of gap junction protein in tissues and cell fractions.     

Two cell surface proteins bind the sponge Microciona prolifera aggregation factor

Two extracellular matrix cell surface proteins which bind the proteoglycan-like aggregation factor from the marine sponge Microciona prolifera (MAF) and which may function as physiological receptors for MAF were identified and characterized for the first time. By probing nitrocellulose blots of nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate gels containing whole sponge cell protein with iodinated MAF, a 210- and a 68-kDa protein, which have native molecular masses of approximately 200-400 and 70 kDa, were identified. MAF binding to blots is species-specific. It is also sensitive to reduction and is completely abolished by pretreatment of live cells with proteases, as was cellular aggregation, indicating that the 210- and 68-kDa proteins may be located on the cell surface. The additional observations that the 68 kDa is an endoglycosidase F-sensitive glycoprotein and that antisera against whole sponge cells or membranes can immunoprecipitate the 210 kDa when prebound to intact cells are consistent with a cell surface location. Both proteins can be isolated from sponge cell membranes and from the sponge skeleton (insoluble extracellular matrix), but the 210-kDa MAF-binding protein can also be found in the soluble extracellular matrix (buffer washes of cells and skeleton) as well. A third MAF-binding protein of molecular mass 95 kDa was also found in the sponge extracellular matrix but rarely on cells. Both of the cell-associated 210- and 68-kDa proteins are nonintegral membrane proteins, based on Triton X-114 phase separation, flotation of liposomes containing sponge membrane lysates, and their extraction from membranes by buffer washes. Both proteins bind MAF affinity resins, indicating that they each exhibit a moderate affinity for MAF under native conditions. They can also be separated from each other and from the bulk of the protein in an octylpolyoxyethylene extract of membranes by fast protein liquid chromatography Mono Q anion exchange chromatography, as assessed by native dot blot and denaturing Western blot assays. Although neither protein bound to heparin, gelatin, hexosamine, or uronic acid-Sepharose resins, their affinity for an invertebrate proteoglycan, their roles in sponge cell adhesion, and their peripheral membrane protein natures suggest that they may represent early invertebrate analogs of cell-associated vertebrate extracellular matrix adhesion proteins, such as fibronectin or vitronectin, or else an entirely novel set of cell adhesion molecules.     

Thrombin-reactive polypeptides of human blood. Some biochemical and immunological properties

Two polypeptides of 74 kDa and 55 kDa have been isolated from human platelets by immunoaffinity and lectin affinity chromatography and their effects on thrombin reactivity have been examined. These proteins in combination enhanced the aggregation of platelets by thrombin while aggregation induced by trypsin, collagen and adenosine diphosphate was not significantly affected. An enhancement in the action of thrombin on fibrinogen, N-benzoylarginine ethyl ester and H-D-phenylalanyl-L-pipecolyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide dihydrochloride was also observed in the presence of the platelet proteins. Under similar conditions, the proteins did not influence the esterolytic activity of trypsin or plasmin. Studies at different thrombin and protein concentrations showed maximum enhancement of enzyme reactivity when the ratio between the peptides and thrombin was optimal. In the presence of these proteins, the affinity of thrombin for N-benzoylarginine ethyl ester was about twofold higher than in the control. Two polypeptides with properties similar to those described above have also been isolated from human plasma. Antibodies to the above proteins isolated from either platelets or plasma were raised in rabbits. Intact platelets solubilized in Triton X-100 or plasma showed two precipitin lines in immunoelectrophoresis against both of the above antisera and a similar pattern was observed with the isolated polypeptides. The polypeptides did not interact in immunoelectrophoresis with antisera to whole serum, antithrombin, C4 binding protein or protein S. These 74-kDa and 55-kDa polypeptides contained radioactivity when radioiodinated platelets were used suggesting that they are located on the cell surface. Fresh plasma was analyzed by gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing and denaturing conditions and the proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose sheets. Staining with antibody to these thrombin-reactive proteins and 125I-protein A showed several reactive plasma proteins under nondenaturing conditions with the major band migrating in the albumin area. In plasma treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate, the 74-kDa and 55-kDa components were observed. A prominent 74-kDa band and a fainter 55-kDa component were again observed when platelets solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate were analysed by the above procedure. It is proposed that human platelets and plasma contain polypeptides which may directly modulate thrombin reactivity.     

Mass spectrometric sequencing of endotoxin proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. konkukian extracted from polyacrylamide gels

The amino acid sequences of the crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. konkukian strain HL-47 are unknown. We used 1-D denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoresis, nano-ESI-Q-TOF-MS, and protein database searching to analyze these proteins. On SDS-PAGE gels, a preparation of purified crystal proteins exhibited 110, 102, 76, 55, 37, and 30 kDa protein bands. Immunoblotting of the gel with antiserum raised to this preparation revealed that four crystal proteins, of 110, 102, 55, and 37 kDa, reacted with the specific antiserum. The 102-kDa major protein reacted strongly. The other crystal proteins showed weak immunoreactivity. The 102 and 55 kDa proteins were analyzed by ESI-MS. The internal amino acid sequence of the 102-kDa major protein has similarity to the sequences of the surface layer protein of B. thuringiensis ssp. finitimus and B. anthracis. However, the internal amino acid sequences of the 55 kDa protein did not show any homology to proteins in the databases. Proteomic analysis of these proteins leads to the conclusion that the sequence data provided the protein databases of the crystal proteins of the konkukian ssp.     

Demonstration of two forms of calcium pumps by thapsigargin inhibition and radioimmunoblotting in platelet membrane vesicles

In mixed membrane vesicles prepared from human platelets, the presence of two distinct calcium pump enzymes (molecular mass 100 and 97 kDa) was demonstrated by 32P autoradiography, immunoblotting, and thapsigargin inhibition. Both the 100- and 97-kDa membrane proteins showed calcium-dependent phosphoenzyme formation and reacted with a polyclonal anti-sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump antiserum, while only the 100-kDa protein reacted with the antiserum specific for the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum-type calcium transport ATPase 2b isoform. Thapsigargin, inhibiting active calcium transport in platelet membrane vesicles, predominantly blocked the phosphoenzyme formation of the 100-kDa isoform and of the tryptic calcium pump fragments of 55 and 35 kDa, while lanthanum specifically increased the phosphoenzyme formation of the 97-kDa enzyme and of the tryptic fragment of 80 kDa. These results indicate the presence of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum-type calcium transport ATPase 2b isoform and of a yet unidentified, 97-kDa calcium pump protein in human platelet membranes.     

Chemical and biological activities of a 64-kilodalton outer sheath protein from Treponema denticola strains.

This study examined the distribution of the major outer sheath proteins (MOSP) in several Treponema denticola strains and reports the isolation of a 64-kDa protein from the outer sheath of human clinical isolate T. denticola GM-1. The outer sheath was isolated by freeze-thaw procedures, and the distribution of outer sheath proteins was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). T. denticola GM-1, MS25, SR-5, and three low-passage clinical isolates possessed an MOSP with a relative molecular mass of 60 to 64 kDa. This MOSP was absent in T. denticola ATCC 35404 (TD-4) and clinical isolate SR-4. The latter possessed an MOSP of 58 kDa. 125I labeling revealed both MOSP to be dissociated forms of higher-molecular-mass oligomeric units between 116 and 162 kDa. Two-dimensional SDS-PAGE confirmed the modifiability of these MOSP. Isoelectric focusing of the 64-kDa MOSP indicated a pI of 6.7. Immunoblots with antiserum to GM-1 whole cells revealed the 64-kDa protein to be immunogenic and not cross-reactive with the MOSP of TD-4 or SR-4, and monospecific antibody to the 64-kDa protein recognized common epitopes on the high-molecular-weight oligomeric protein. These antibodies did not react with any component of TD-4 whole cells in immunoblots or in immunogold electron microscopy. Fab fragments inhibited the adherence of T. denticola GM-1 to human gingival fibroblasts by 78% (1:1,600; 0.72 micrograms of protein per ml), while TD-4 adherence was not inhibited. Amino acid analysis revealed a slightly acidic protein, devoid of cysteine, with 36% hydrophobic residues. Cyanogen bromide fragmentation of the 64-kDa protein revealed that a 42-kDa fragment contained a T-L-D-L-A-L-D segment which was 100% homologous with an integrin alpha subunit of a human leukocyte adhesion glycoprotein p 150,95.     

βB1 crystallin is an amine-donor substrate for tissue transglutaminase

The effects of tissue transglutaminase on the water-soluble proteins in bovine lens homogenates are described. Addition of liver transglutaminase and Ca²⁺ to calf lens homogenates resulted not only in the appearance of 50- and 57-kDa dimers, but also in a decrease in the amount of βB1 crystallin and the almost complete disappearance of βB3 and βA3. This is not the result of Ca²⁺-induced proteolysis, since histamine completely inhibits this phenomenon. It may be concluded that these polypeptides are involved in β-crystallin crosslinking by transglutaminase. This notion was confirmed by using βB1- and βBp-specific antisera. Both sera reacted with the 57-kDa dimer; the βBp-specific antiserum also reacted with the 50-kDa dimer. No reaction in the region 50–57 kDa was detectable when EDTA was used instead of Ca²⁺. Using reconstituted mixtures of βB1- and βBp-crystallin chains, and N-terminally truncated derivatives thereof, it was shown that in the βB1/βBp dimer, glutamine residue -9 of βBp crosslinks to one of the lysine residues in the N-terminal extension of βB1.     

Characterization and fine-structural localization of actin-and fibronectin-like proteins in planaria (Dugesia lugubris s.l.)

Summary Actin- and fibronectin-like proteins were characterized in the planarian, Dugesia lugubris s.l., by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analysis using antisera to vertebrate actin and fibronectin. These antisera recognized protein bands of 42 kDa and 220 kDa, respectively. In addition, the immunohistochemical distribution of both actin- and fibronectin-like material was examined by using immuno-electron microscopy. Actin-like protein was localized in myofibrils in various differentiation stages, and in the peripheral cytoplasm and lamellipodia of cells that were migrating. The fibronectin-like component was associated with the extracellular matrix in the fibrillar structures and with the surface of the migrating cells. Our data suggest that similar cellular and molecular mechanisms are involved in cell-matrix interactions and in the morphogenesis of living organisms at different evolutionary levels.     

Fibronectin-Binding Proteins of a Human Oral Spirochete Treponema denticola

Major polypeptides from a human oral spirochete Treponema denticola ATCC 33520 were examined to demonstrate their ability to bind to human plasma fibronectin by immunoblot analysis. Of three main polypeptides separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels 53,000-daltons (53-kDa) and 72-kDa surface antigenic proteins and a 38-kDa axial flagellar protein showed the ability to bind to fibronectin, suggesting that fibronectin on host cells can mediate cytoadherence of T. denticola by its binding to the surface proteins or the exposed 38-kDa axial flageller protein.     

Further characterization of porcine plasma fibronectin which contains fucosylated carbohydrate chains

Porcine plasma fibronectin and its functional four fragments produced by cathepsin B digestion were examined for biological, immunochemical and biochemical properties. Native fibronectin, 150-kDa and 130-kDa fragments exhibited similar cell attachment-promoting activity to each other. In an Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion system, these three polypeptides formed a precipitin line with anti-fibronectin antiserum, while the 50-kDA and 30-kDa fragments did not. The 150-kDa and 130-kDa fragments contained free sulfhydryl(s). The glycopeptide fractions were prepared by pronase digestion of porcine and human plasma fibronectin, and radiolabeled with [¹⁴C]acetic anhydride. The results of affinity chromatography with concanavalin A and lentil lectin immobilized on agarose indicated that the porcine glycopeptide fraction was different from the human fraction in that a larger part (58%) of the former was bound to lentil lectin. About 90% of this lentil lectin-reactive glycopeptides lost this reactivity upon α-L-fucosidase digestion. The glycopeptide fractions were also prepared from three carbohydrate-containing domains. Less than 30% of the radioactivity of the glycopeptide fractions of 150-kDa and 130-kDa fragments was retained on the lentil lectin-agarose, while about 90% of that from the 50-kDa fragment was retained. These results indicate that porcine plasma fibronectin has characteristics very similar to those of human plasma fibronectin and others, but is unique in that it contains fucosylated carbohydrate chains which unevenly distribute through functional domains.     

The 230-kDa gamete surface protein of Plasmodium falciparum is also a target for transmission-blocking antibodies

Immunization with extracellular sexual stages of the malaria parasites can induce the production of antibodies which block the development of the parasites in the midgut of a mosquito after a blood meal. We have generated a number of monoclonal antibodies against gametes and zygotes of the human malaria Plasmodium falciparum. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reacting with a 230-kDa gamete surface protein (mAb 1B3 and 2B4 both isotype IgG2a) were found to block transmission of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. Blocking was complement dependent and this was verified in vitro by the rapid lysis of newly formed gametes and zygotes in the presence of the mAb and active complement. Both mAb reacted by immunofluorescence with the surface of gametes and zygotes from isolates of P. falciparum from various geographical areas. Each mAb immunoprecipitated a 230-kDa protein from 125I-labeled surface proteins of newly formed gametes and zygotes and immunoblotted a protein doublet of about molecular mass 260 and 230 kDa from gametocytes and gametes of P. falciparum. Only the 230-kDa protein is expressed on the surface of newly formed macrogametes and zygotes. The 230-kDa gamete surface protein forms a molecular complex with two proteins of 48 and 45 kDa. The 48- and 45-kDa gamete surface proteins have previously been shown to be targets of mAb which block infectivity of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. The present study now demonstrates that antibodies against the 230-kDa gamete surface protein block transmission of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. The 230-kDa gamete protein is thus a potential candidate for a gamete vaccine.     

Tissue (type II) transglutaminase covalently incorporates itself, fibrinogen, or fibronectin into high molecular weight complexes on the extracellular surface of isolated hepatocytes. Use of 2-[(2-oxopropyl)thio] imidazolium derivatives as cellular transglutaminase inactivators.

Rabbit hepatocyte surface-expressed tissue (type II) transglutaminase is shown to act as a binding site for fibrinogen or fibronectin and to covalently incorporate these glycoproteins, in addition to itself, into extracellular high molecular weight complexes. This concept is supported by the observation that a nonpeptidyl, active site-directed transglutaminase inactivator (L683685) elicited concentration-dependent (0.1-10 microM) decreases in the calcium-dependent binding and covalent cross-linking of 125I-fibrinogen, 125I-fibronectin, or [14C]putrescine by hepatocyte suspensions. In corroboration with these findings, an antiserum against rabbit liver transglutaminase, which did not cross-react with rabbit factor XIII, elicited concentration-dependent decreases in the calcium-dependent binding and covalent cross-linking of 125I-fibrinogen or [14C]putrescine by hepatocyte suspensions. Western blots of sodium dodecyl sulfate/Triton-insoluble hepatocyte fractions conducted with this antiserum, with a polyclonal antiserum against human erythrocyte transglutaminase, or with a monoclonal antibody (CUB-7401) against guinea pig liver transglutaminase detected the 80-kDa tissue transglutaminase, as well as tissue transglutaminase-immunoreactive bands of higher molecular mass (range of 90 to greater than 200 kDa). The higher molecular weight species were preferentially incorporated, in a time- and calcium-dependent manner, into very high molecular weight complexes which did not enter the stacking gel. Incorporation of these tissue transglutaminase-containing bands into the high molecular weight complexes was inhibited by L683685, indicating that cross-linking by the enzyme was responsible for the assembly of the complexes of which tissue transglutaminase was itself a component. Cellular integrins did not mediate ligand binding under the experimental conditions, as evidenced by the failure of the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser tetrapeptide or anti-integrin antibodies to inhibit binding or cross-linking of 125I-fibrinogen or 125I-fibronectin, in the presence or absence of transglutaminase inactivators.