Critical requirement for professional APCs in eliciting T cell responses to novel fragments of histidyl-tRNA synthetase (Jo-1) in Jo-1 antibody-positive polymyositis

Polymyositis (PM) is an autoimmune muscle disease characterized by oligoclonal T cell infiltrates mediating myocytotoxicity. Although antigenic triggers for this process remain undefined, clinically homogeneous subsets of PM patients are characterized by autoantibodies directed against nuclear and cytoplasmic Ags that include histidyl-tRNA synthetase (Jo-1). Available evidence suggests that formation of anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies is Ag-driven and therefore dependent on CD4(+) T cells that may also direct cytolytic CD8(+) T cells involved in myocyte destruction. To assess peripheral blood T cell responses to Jo-1, we first subcloned full-length human Jo-1 as well as novel fragments of Jo-1 into the maltose-binding protein expression vector pMALc2. Expressed proteins were then used in standard proliferation assays with either PBMC or autologous DCs as sources of APCs. Although PBMC-derived APCs and DCs both supported peripheral blood T cell proliferation when primed with full-length human Jo-1, only DCs promoted proliferative responses to a unique amino-terminal fragment of Jo-1. mAb blockade of different HLA Ags revealed that these responses were MHC class II dependent. Therefore, for the first time, these studies demonstrate anti-Jo-1 T cell responses in Jo-1 Ab-positive PM patients as well as in healthy control subjects. More importantly, this work underscores the critical importance of APC type in dictating T cell responses to a novel antigenic fragment of Jo-1.     

Rat liver histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Purification and inhibition by the myositis-specific anti-Jo-1 autoantibody

Myositis is an autoimmune inflammatory muscle disease of unknown etiology. We demonstrate directly that the antigen to the myositis-specific anti-Jo-1 antibody is histidyl-tRNA synthetase. The anti-Jo-1 antibody inhibits human HeLa and rat liver histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Using conventional and immunoaffinity chromatography with immobilized anti-Jo-1 antibody, we have purified rat liver histidyl-tRNA synthetase which has a subunit M_r 64,000 and an estimated native M_r suggesting an α₂ structure. The evidence indicates that the Jo-1 antigen is histidyl-tRNA synthetase, and that some of the histidyl-tRNA synthetase structure are conserved across species.     

Purification of mammalian histidyl-tRNA synthetase and its interaction with myositis-specific anti-Jo-1 antibodies

Histidyl-tRNA synthetase is purified to near homogeneity from rat liver. The subunit molecular weight of histidyl-tRNA synthetase is 50,000, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The Stokes radius and the sedimentation coefficient of histidyl-tRNA synthetase are 38 A and 6.0 S, respectively. The native molecular weight of histidyl-tRNA synthetase is calculated to be 96,000 on the basis of its hydrodynamic properties. The purified histidyl-tRNA synthetase reacts with the myositis-specific anti-Jo-1 antibodies. Anti-Jo-1 immunoglobulin G reacts with the native form of histidyl-tRNA synthetase and does not react or only weakly reacts with the denatured form. The anti-Jo-1 antibodies exhibit stronger inhibition toward histidyl-tRNA synthetase that has been preincubated with tRNA than that without preincubation. Anti-Jo-1 antibodies behave as a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to tRNA in the aminoacylation reaction catalyzed by histidyl-tRNA synthetase. The structural features of the antigen of the anti-Jo-1 antibodies in light of these results are discussed.     

Histidyl-tRNA synthetase, the myositis Jo-1 antigen, is cytoplasmic and unassociated with the cytoskeletal framework

The myositis-specific anti-Jo-1 autoantibody, which is directed against histidyl-tRNA-synthetase, is found in 30% of polymyositis patients. The Jo-1 antigen has been reported to be a nuclear antigen by some authors. On the contrary we show that less than 2% of the total histidyl-tRNA and lysyl-tRNA synthetase activities are associated with purified rat liver nuclei or the hepatocyte intermediate filament-nuclear fraction. In the presence of polyethylene glycol, in which the high Mr multi-enzyme complex containing lysyl-tRNA synthetase is insoluble, 65% of the lysyl-tRNA synthetase and only 15% of histidyl-tRNA synthetase activities remained associated with the cytoskeletal framework. The Jo-1 antigen exhibited a diffuse granular cytoplasmic distribution in cultured rat hepatocytes as determined by indirect immunofluorescent microscopy. Hence, the Jo-1 antigen is cytoplasmic and unassociated with the cytoskeletal framework or high Mr synthetase complex in situ.     

Mammalian folylpoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase. 1. Purification and general properties of the hog liver enzyme

Folylpolyglutamate synthetase was purified 30,000-150,000-fold from hog liver. Purification required the use of protease inhibitors, and the protein was purified to homogeneity in two forms. Both forms of the enzyme were monomers of Mr 62,000 and had similar specific activities. The specific activity of the homogeneous protein was over 2000-fold higher than reported for partially purified folylpolyglutamate synthetases from other mammalian sources. Enzyme activity was absolutely dependent on the presence of a reducing agent and a monovalent cation, of which K+ was most effective. The purified enzyme catalyzed a MgATP-dependent addition of glutamate to tetrahydrofolate with the concomitant stoichiometric formation of MgADP and phosphate. Under conditions that resembled the expected substrate and enzyme concentrations in hog liver, tetrahydrofolate was metabolized to long glutamate chain length derivatives with the hexaglutamate, the major in vivo folate derivative, predominating. Enzyme activity was maximal at about pH 9.5. The high-pH optimum was primarily due to an increase in the Km value for the L-glutamate substrate at lower pH values, and the reaction proceeded effectively at physiological pH provided high levels of glutamate were supplied.     

Purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of lipoate-activating enzyme from bovine liver

In mammals, lipoate-activating enzyme (LAE) catalyzes the activation of lipoate to lipoyl-nucleoside monophosphate. The lipoyl moiety is then transferred to the specific lysine residue of lipoate-dependent enzymes by the action of lipoyltransferase. We purified LAE from bovine liver mitochondria to apparent homogeneity. LAE activated lipoate with GTP at a 1000-fold higher rate than with ATP. The reaction absolutely required lipoate, GTP, and Mg(2+) ion, and the reaction product was lipoyl-GMP. LAE activated both (R)- and (S)-lipoate to the respective lipoyl-GMP, although a preference for (R)-lipoate was observed. Similarly, lipoyltransferase equally transferred both the (R)- and (S)-lipoyl moieties from the respectively activated lipoates to apoH-protein. Interestingly, however, only H-protein carrying (R)-lipoate was active in the glycine cleavage reaction. cDNA clones encoding a precursor LAE with a mitochondrial presequence were isolated. The predicted amino acid sequence of LAE is identical with that of xenobiotic-metabolizing/medium-chain fatty acid:CoA ligase-III, but an amino acid substitution due to a single nucleotide polymorphism was found. These results indicate that the medium-chain acyl-CoA synthetase in mitochondria has a novel function, the activation of lipoate with GTP.     

Purification and some properties of the histidyl-tRNA synthetase from the cytosol of rabbit reticulocytes.

The histidyl-tRNA synthetase of rabbit reticulocyte cytosol has been purified 84 000-fold to apparent homogeneity with a specific activity of 687 nmol of histidyl-tRNA formed per min per mg of protein. Ten to 15% of the enzyme activity is sedimented with the ribosomes while the remainder is in the cytosol. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 122 000 as determined by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Gel electrophoresis in the presence of 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate suggests that it is composed of two similar subunits with a molecular weight of approximately 64 000. The enzyme has a magnesium optimum of 45 mM; however, this is reduced to 5 mM in the presence of an intracellular potassium concentration (160 nM). The enzyme acylates the two histidine tRNA isoacceptors of rabbit reticulocytes with similar Km values and at similar rates.     

Immunochemical comparison of a bifunctional enzyme, aspartokinase II-homoserine dehydrogenase II, and its two proteolytic fragments.

We report here a comparison between immunochemical properties of the bifunctional enzyme aspartokinase II-homoserine dehydrogenase II of E.coli K12 and of its two isolated proteolytic fragments. Both fragments, one inactive and one endowed with homoserine dehydrogenase activity, react with antibodies raised against the native enzyme. Some of the antibodies elicited against the dehydrogenase fragment can recognize regions of this fragment which are not exposed in the entire enzyme.The immunochemical results are used to discuss a simple model in which this bifunctional enzyme is folded up in two domains. The organization of aspartokinase II-homoserine dehydrogenase II is compared to that of another bifunctional enzyme aspartokinase I-homoserine dehydrogenase I with which it shares some sequence homology.     

Purification, tandem mass characterization, and inhibition studies of oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase enzyme from bovine liver

The oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (OSC) from bovine liver has been isolated from the microsomal membrane fraction and purified to homogeneity by ultracentrifugation, Q-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite, and HiTrap heparin chromatographies. The purified protein required Triton X-100 to retain its highest activity. The cyclase had a molecular mass of approximately 70 and approximately 140 kDa, as evidenced by a single protein band on silver-stained SDS-PAGE and Coomassie-stained PAGE, respectively. Results from Edman degradation of OSC suggested that it might have a blocked N-terminus. Further peptide mapping coupled with tandem mass spectrometric determination identified three peptide fragments, ILGVGPDDPDLVR, LSAEEGPLVQSLR, and NPDGGFATYETK, which are highly homologous to human, rat, and mouse OSCs. The purified cyclase showed pH and temperature optima at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C, respectively. The apparent K(M) and k(cat)/K(M) values were estimated to be 11 microM and 1.45 mM(-1)min(-1), respectively. Inhibition studies using both Ro48-8071 and N-(4-methylenebenzophenonyl)pyridinium bromide showed potent inhibition of OSC with an IC(50) of 11 nM and 0.79 microM, respectively. Results from DTNB modification and DTNB coupled with Ro48-8071 competition study suggest that two sulfhydryl groups are involved in the catalysis but not located in the substrate binding pocket or catalytic active site. The purified OSC was maximally inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate near neutral pH and re-activated by hydroxylamine, indicating the modification of histidine residues. The stoichiometry of histidine modification and the extent of inactivation showed that two essential histidine residues per active site are necessary for complete bovine liver OSC activity.     

Structure, function and control of complement c5 and its proteolytic fragments

As part of the innate immune system, the complement system recognises a wide range of non-self structures present on pathogens or altered self cells. Its activation elicits proteolytic cascades which eventually results in the cleavage of the C5 protein into two fragments, C5a and C5b. The small anaphylatoxin C5a induces a variety of biological responses upon binding to the 7TM receptors C5aR and the C5L2, while the large C5b fragment nucleates formation of the membrane attack complex capable of killing susceptible pathogens by the formation of a pore structure in association with complement components C6, C7, C8, and C9. A number of regulatory molecules help to control C5 mediated immune responses towards host cells, but in several major inflammatory conditions including sepsis and arthritis, C5a is believed to contribute significantly to disease etiology. Inhibition of membrane attack complex assembly is already approved for treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. A number of recent crystal structures have provided a comprehensive insight into the architecture and properties of intact C5 and its fragments, and how pathogens interfere with their function. Here we review the functional and structural aspects of C5 and its fragments, the pathological conditions associated with them, and strategies employed by pathogens to interfere with the biological function of C5. Structural insight and elucidation of evasion strategies employed by pathogens present a unique opportunity for promoting the development of novel selective C5 inhibitors with therapeutic applications.     

Purification and characterization of the elastase-like enzyme of the bovine granulocyte

The extracts of granules isolated from bovine granulocytes show elastase- and chymotrypsin-like activities, as detected with specific synthetic substrates. Extraction of these enzymes depends upon salt concentration. In the course of the present studies a 21-fold purification of the elastase-like enzyme was achieved on a (Ala)3-CH-Sepharose 4B gel. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 33 000, as determined by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The elastase-like activity is inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, soybean trypsin inhibitor, basic pancreatic inhibitor and by heparin at different rates. Elastatinal inhibits the enzyme competitively (Ki = 80 microM). The cytosol of bovine granulocytes contains a protein which strongly inhibits the elastase-like enzyme of the bovine granulocyte (Ki = 0.4 nM) as well as porcine pancreatic elastase (Ki = 11 nM).     

Purification and characterization of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, a natural misacylating enzyme

Glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was purified by sequential column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose, Mono Q, and Mono S. The apparent molecular mass of the protein when analyzed under both denaturing conditions (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and nondenaturing conditions (rate zonal sedimentation on glycerol gradients) was 62,000 Da; this indicates that the active enzyme is a monomer. The purified glutamyl-tRNA synthetase was identified as the chloroplast enzyme by its tRNA charging specificity. Reversed-phase chromatography of unfractionated C. reinhardtii tRNA resolved four peaks of glutamate acceptor RNA when assayed with the purified enzyme. The enzyme can also glutamylate Escherichia coli tRNA(2Glu), but not cytoplasmic tRNA(Glu) from yeast or barley. In addition, the enzyme misacylates chloroplast tRNA(Gln) with glutamate. A similar mischarging phenomenon has been demonstrated for the barley chloroplast enzyme (Sch?n, A., Kannangara, C.G., Gough, S., and S?ll, D. (1988) Nature 331, 187-190) and for Bacillus subtilis glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (Proulx, M., Duplain, L., Lacoste, L., Yaguchi, M., and Lapointe, J. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 753-759).