Preparation, characterization, and localization of antisera against bovine MP26, an integral protein from lens fiber plasma membrane

Polyclonal antisera were prepared in rabbits using both native and chymotrypsin-digested bovine lens fiber plasma membranes. MP26, the principal protein of lens fiber plasma membranes, and CT20, a chymotryptic fragment of MP26, were isolated electrophoretically and used to purify anti-MP26 and anti-CT20 activity from the respective antisera by affinity chromatography. These affinity-purified antisera were characterized by immunoreplica. Immunofluorescence microscopy localized MP26 on sections of methacrylate-embedded lenses in the lens fiber plasma membranes, but not the lens epithelium. Immunocytochemistry of isolated native or chymotrypsin-digested lens fiber plasma membranes localized both the MP26 and the CT20 only in the nonjunctional plasma membranes, with no detectable activity in the lens fiber junctions themselves. Electron microscopy revealed a second set of pentalaminar profiles, thinner by 4 nm than the lens fiber junctions, which contained demonstrable anti-MP26 and anti-CT20 activity following immunocytochemistry. These results indicate either that MP26 is not a component of the lens fiber junctions, or that significant conformational changes accompany assembly of MP26 into lens fiber junctions, resulting in the masking of MP26 antigenic determinants.     

Limited proteolysis of gap junction protein is intrinsic in mammalian lens fiber-cell plasma membranes

We demonstrate that the limited proteolysis of the lens fiber-cell gap junction protein, MP26, is intrinsic in mammalian lens fiber plasma membranes. Incubations of isolated intact bovine lens fiber plasma membranes in buffer alone did not elicit proteolysis of MP26. Incubations in the buffer with detergent, however, resulted in the limited proteolysis of MP26 which was totally inhibited by calcium chelators, thiol-alkylating agents, and protease inhibitors. As the limited proteolysis required the presence of detergent, it must depend on an enzymatic activity intrinsic in the lens fiber plasma membranes or in MP26 itself.     

Direct evidence for cholesterol crystalline domains in biological membranes: role in human pathobiology

This review will discuss the use of small-angle X-ray diffraction approaches to study the organization of lipids in plasma membranes derived from two distinct mammalian cell types: arterial smooth muscle cells and ocular lens fiber cells. These studies indicate that cholesterol at an elevated concentration can self-associate and form immiscible domains in the plasma membrane, a phenomenon that contributes to both physiologic and pathologic cellular processes, depending on tissue source. In plasma membrane samples isolated from atherosclerotic smooth muscle cells, the formation of sterol-rich domains is associated with loss of normal cell function, including ion transport activity and control of cell replication. Analysis of meridional diffraction patterns from intact and reconstituted plasma membrane samples indicates the presence of an immiscible cholesterol domain with a unit cell periodicity of 34 Å, consistent with a cholesterol monohydrate tail-to-tail bilayer, under disease conditions. These cholesterol domains were observed in smooth muscle cells enriched with cholesterol in vitro as well as from cells obtained ex vivo from an animal model of atherosclerosis. By contrast, well-defined cholesterol domains appear to be essential to the normal physiology of fiber cell plasma membranes of the human ocular lens. The organization of cholesterol into separate domains underlies the role of lens fiber cell plasma membranes in maintaining lens transparency. These domains may also interfere with cataractogenic aggregation of soluble lens proteins at the membrane surface. Taken together, these analyses provide examples of both physiologic and pathologic roles that sterol-rich domains may have in mammalian plasma membranes. These findings support a model of the membrane in which cholesterol aggregates into structurally distinct regions that regulate the function of the cell membrane.     

Direct evidence for cholesterol crystalline domains in biological membranes: role in human pathobiology

This review will discuss the use of small-angle X-ray diffraction approaches to study the organization of lipids in plasma membranes derived from two distinct mammalian cell types: arterial smooth muscle cells and ocular lens fiber cells. These studies indicate that cholesterol at an elevated concentration can self-associate and form immiscible domains in the plasma membrane, a phenomenon that contributes to both physiologic and pathologic cellular processes, depending on tissue source. In plasma membrane samples isolated from atherosclerotic smooth muscle cells, the formation of sterol-rich domains is associated with loss of normal cell function, including ion transport activity and control of cell replication. Analysis of meridional diffraction patterns from intact and reconstituted plasma membrane samples indicates the presence of an immiscible cholesterol domain with a unit cell periodicity of 34 A, consistent with a cholesterol monohydrate tail-to-tail bilayer, under disease conditions. These cholesterol domains were observed in smooth muscle cells enriched with cholesterol in vitro as well as from cells obtained ex vivo from an animal model of atherosclerosis. By contrast, well-defined cholesterol domains appear to be essential to the normal physiology of fiber cell plasma membranes of the human ocular lens. The organization of cholesterol into separate domains underlies the role of lens fiber cell plasma membranes in maintaining lens transparency. These domains may also interfere with cataractogenic aggregation of soluble lens proteins at the membrane surface. Taken together, these analyses provide examples of both physiologic and pathologic roles that sterol-rich domains may have in mammalian plasma membranes. These findings support a model of the membrane in which cholesterol aggregates into structurally distinct regions that regulate the function of the cell membrane.     

Is the cytoskeleton-plasma membrane complex involved in lens protein biosynthesis?

Calf lens fiber cells contain a population of polyribosomes that direct, at leastin vitro, the synthesis of a specific plasma membrane protein MP26. This protein may serve as a marker in terminal differentiation, since it is absent in the lens epithelium but appears in lens fiber plasma membranes. The MP26 manufacturing polyribosomes are found to be associated with a structural complex in which also the cytoskeleton and plasma membranes participate. They can be released from the complex by treatment with DNAse I. This result presumably reflects the involvement of actin in the linkage of the MP26 synthesizing polyribosomes to the cytoskeleton-membrane complex.     

Lipid composition of lens plasma membrane fractions enriched in fiber junctions

Little is known about the lipid environment of lens fiber junctions, the plasma membrane structure proposed to be responsible for passage of low molecular weight metabolites between adjacent lens fiber cells. Plasma membranes of the ocular lens are especially rich in fiber junctions. The resistance of junctional domains to disruption by detergent or alkali treatment provides the opportunity to isolate a lens plasma membrane fraction enriched in fiber junctions. When examined by electron microscopy, the fiber junction fraction prepared from bovine lenses was enriched with junctional structures by about twofold when compared to total plasma membrane. We compared the protein, phospholipid, and cholesterol concentration of total plasma membrane with fiber junctional membrane from rat and cow lens and from aged normal cataractous human lenses. The principal finding was that junctional membrane contained 20-40% more total lipid than that of the total plasma membrane. This was due to a proportionate increase in the relative content (mg/mg protein) of both phospholipid and cholesterol. Exclusive of one exception (nucleus of bovine lens), the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratios of the two fractions were similar. In the bovine nucleus, the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio was substantially higher in the fiber junctional-enriched membrane fraction than in the total plasma membrane, suggesting a special association of cholesterol with bovine nuclear fiber junctions. The relative lipid compositions of the plasma membrane and fiber junction-enriched fractions from human normal and cataractous lenses were similar, suggesting that human senile cataractogenesis involves changes in the lens plasma membrane more subtle than would be reflected by gross changes in the membrane lipid composition.     

Evidence for distinct cholesterol domains in fiber cell membranes from cataractous human lenses

Previous studies in our laboratory have provided direct evidence for the existence of distinct cholesterol domains within the plasma membranes of human ocular lens fiber cells. The fiber cell plasma membrane is unique in that it contains unusually high concentrations of cholesterol, with cholesterol to phospholipid (C/P) mole ratios ranging from 1 to 4. Since membrane cholesterol content is disturbed in the development of cataracts, it was hypothesized that perturbation of cholesterol domain structure occurs in cataracts. In this study, fiber cell plasma membranes were isolated from both normal (control) and cataractous lenses and assayed for cholesterol and phospholipid. Control and cataractous whole lens membranes had C/P mole ratios of 3.1 and 1.7, respectively. Small angle x-ray diffraction approaches were used to directly examine the structural organization of the cataractous lens plasma membrane versus control. Both normal and cataractous oriented membranes yielded meridional diffraction peaks corresponding to a unit cell periodicity of 34.0 A, consistent with the presence of immiscible cholesterol domains. However, comparison of diffraction patterns indicated that cataractous lens membranes contained more pronounced and better defined cholesterol domains than controls, over a broad range of temperature (5-40 degrees C) and relative humidity (52-92%) levels. In addition, diffraction analyses of the sterol-poor regions of cataractous membranes indicated increased membrane rigidity as compared with control membranes. Modification of the membrane lipid environment, such as by oxidative insult, is believed to be one potential mechanism for the formation of highly resolved cholesterol domains despite significantly reduced cholesterol content. The results of this x-ray diffraction study provide evidence for fundamental changes in the lens fiber cell plasma membrane structure in cataracts, including the presence of more prominent and highly ordered, immiscible cholesterol domains.     

Activation of phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity is associated with decreased differentiation in adult bovine lens

The postnatal vertebrate eye lens provides an opportunity to study possible involvement of reversible protein phosphorylation in the differentiation process of epithelial cells. Epithelial cells at the lens equator, indeed, differentiate continuously into fiber cells throughout life but this capacity progressively decreases with age. Here we describe the characterization of a phosphotyrosine-protein phosphatase(s) (PTPase(s)) in the equatorial epithelium of bovine lens which exhibits a high level of specific activity. PTPase(s) is detected in cellular detergent extracts using phospholabeled synthetic peptides, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, and lens epithelial membranes as substrates. We show that activity of this PTPase(s) is increased in the equatorial epithelium as the age is increased. We also show that this enzyme(s) exerts its dephosphorylating activity predominantly on a calpactin-like protein associated with lens epithelial membranes. Dephosphorylation of this protein is only obtained when membranes are subjected to extracts in the presence of fibroblast growth factor (FGF). It is suggested that an FGF-activated PTPase(s) might conceivably counteract effects of differentiation stimulatory factors for limiting differentiation of lens throughout life. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Direct evidence for immiscible cholesterol domains in human ocular lens fiber cell plasma membranes.

The molecular structure of human ocular lens fiber cell plasma membranes was examined directly using small angle x-ray diffraction approaches. A distinct biochemical feature of these membranes is their high relative levels of free cholesterol; the mole ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid (C/P) measured in these membranes ranges from 1 to 4. The organization of cholesterol in this membrane system is not well understood, however. In this study, the structure of plasma membrane samples isolated from nuclear (3.3 C/P) and cortical (2.4 C/P) regions of human lenses was evaluated with x-ray diffraction approaches. Meridional diffraction patterns obtained from the oriented membrane samples demonstrated the presence of an immiscible cholesterol domain with a unit cell periodicity of 34.0 A, consistent with a cholesterol monohydrate bilayer. The dimensions of the sterol-rich domains remained constant over a broad range of temperatures (5-20 degrees C) and relative humidity levels (31-97%). In contrast, dimensions of the surrounding sterol-poor phase were significantly affected by experimental conditions. Similar structural features were observed in membranes reconstituted from fiber cell plasma membrane lipid extracts. The results of this study indicate that the lens fiber cell plasma membrane is a complex structure consisting of separate sterol-rich and -poor domains. Maintenance of these separate domains may be required for the normal function of lens fiber cell plasma membrane and may interfere with the cataractogenic aggregation of soluble lens proteins at the membrane surface.     

Immunocytochemical localization of the lens main intrinsic polypeptide (MIP26) in communicating junctions

Plasma membranes of vertebrate lens fiber cells contain a major intrinsic polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 26,000 (MIP26). These plasma membranes are extremely rich in communicating junctions, and it has been suggested that MIP26 is a component of them. MIP26 was purified from cow lenses using preparative SDS gel electrophoresis followed by hydroxylapatite column chromatography. From gel electrophoresis patterns and aggregational properties it was concluded that the MIP26 preparation was homogeneous. The purified MIP26 was used to produce monospecific antibodies in rabbits as assessed by double immunodiffusion and crossed immunoelectrophoresis of purified MIP26 and solubilized lens plasma membranes against the antiserum. Indirect immunocytochemical studies were performed on open and closed lens plasma membrane vesicles by incubation in anti-MIP antiserum followed by ferritin-conjugated goat antirabbit IgG. The conjugate bound unequivocally to lens communicating junctions, indicating that MIP26 is a component of these structures.     

Changes in fibronectin staining in the human lens during ageing and cataractogenesis

The content and localization of fibronectin, an extracellular glycoprotein, in the serial sections of lenses of normal human donors and cataractous patients of different ages were determined by the indirect immunoperoxidase staining technique. This was followed by the evaluation with quantitative morphometric analysis. It was shown that fibronectin was present in the area of cell contacts as single deposits of faint orange-brown stained material in the lens samples of young donors. The fibronectin level was raised in lens sections from aged donors. Its accumulation was detected mostly within the spaces of the lens fiber cells. At different stages of cataractogenesis a dramatic decrease of the fibronectin content was detected in the lens sections obtained from patients of different ages. A new linear spectrophotometric technique was developed for evaluation of the lens transparency, to correlate the lens opacity with corresponding histological data obtained from the immunostaining technique. Morphological studies performed further suggested that the lens fiber cell plasma membrane structures were deteriorated. This was observed as changes of fibronectin staining in the lens sections at different periods of human ageing and cataract development. It is concluded that a decrease of fibronectin staining in the human lens is an indication for the structural damage of the lens fiber cell plasma membranes during ageing and cataractogenesis.     

Characterization of the cytochrome c oxidase in isolated and purified plasma membranes from the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans

Functionally intact plasma membranes were isolated from the cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Anacystis nidulans through French pressure cell extrusion of lysozyme/EDTA-treated cells, separated from thylakoid membranes by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and purified by repeated recentrifugation. Origin and identity of the chlorophyll-free plasma membrane fraction were confirmed by labeling of intact cells with impermeant protein markers, [35S]diazobenzenesulfonate and fluorescamine, prior to membrane isolation. Rates of oxidation of reduced horse heart cytochrome c by purified plasma and thylakoid membranes were 90 and 2 nmol min-1 (mg of protein)-1, respectively. The cytochrome oxidase in isolated plasma membranes was identified as a copper-containing aa3-type enzyme from the properties of its redox-active and EDTA-resistant Cu2+ ESR signal, the characteristic inhibition profile, reduced minus oxidized difference spectra, carbon monoxide difference spectra, photoaction and photodissociation spectra of the CO-inhibited enzyme, and immunological cross-reaction of two subunits of the enzyme with antibodies against subunits I and II, and the holoenzyme, of Paracoccus denitrificans aa3-type cytochrome oxidase. The data presented are the first comprehensive evidence for the occurrence of aa3-type cytochrome oxidase in the plasma membrane of a cyanobacterium similar to the corresponding mitochondrial enzyme (EC 1.9.3.1).     

Characterization of alpha-crystallin-plasma membrane binding

Alpha-crystallin, a large lenticular protein complex made up of two related subunits (alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin), is known to associate increasingly with fiber cell plasma membranes with age and/or the onset of cataract. To understand better the binding mechanism, we developed a sensitive membrane binding assay using lens plasma membranes and recombinant human alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins conjugated to a small fluorescent tag (Alexa350). Both alphaA and alphaB homopolymer complexes, as well as a reconstituted 3:1 heteromeric complex, bind to lens membranes in a specific, saturable, and partially irreversible manner that is sensitive to both time and temperature. The amount of alpha-crystallin that binds to the membrane increases under acidic pH conditions and upon removal of exposed intrinsic membrane protein domains but is not affected at high ionic strength, suggesting that alpha-crystallin binds to the fiber cell plasma membranes mainly through hydrophobic interactions. The binding capacity and affinity for the reconstituted 3:1 heteromeric complex were measured to be 3. 45 +/- 0.11 ng/microg of membrane and 4.57 +/- 0.50 x 10(-4) microg(-1) of membrane, respectively. The present membrane binding data support the hypothesis that the physical properties of a mixed alpha-crystallin complex may hold particular relevance for the function of alpha-crystallin within the lens.     

Temperature-induced structural transition in-situ in porcine lens — Changes observed in void size distribution

The function of mammalian ocular lens is to provide a sharp image to the retina. Accordingly, the lens needs to be transparent and minimize light scattering. To do so the lens fiber cells first loose intracellular organelles, organize the cytoplasm and arrange the fiber cell membranes. Because the fiber cells are metabolically inactive, the plasma membrane becomes the only cellular organelle and consequently, the phase behavior of these membranes determines the physiological state of the lens. Previous studies have shown that lipids extracted from the nuclear and cortical region of human lens show a temperature-induced phase transition close to the body temperature. Yet, the physiological function of this phase transition is not known, and even the presence of the phase transition in intact lenses is unknown. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) was used to characterize the sub-nanometer-sized local structure of intact porcine lens and these studies were complemented with differential scanning calorimeter and mass spectrometric analysis in extracted porcine lens lipids. Using PALS, we present evidence for the presence of a temperature-dependent structural transition centered at 35.5 °C in-situ in clear extracted porcine lenses. Further studies employing extracted lens lipids and purified egg-yolk sphingomyelin and cholesterol mixtures suggest that the nano-scale transition emerges from the phase behavior of lens lipids. Based on our results, PALS seems to be a viable method for gaining additional information on biological tissues, especially since it enables non-destructive studies on intact tissues.     

NADH diferric transferrin reductase in liver plasma membrane

Evidence is presented that rat liver plasma membranes contain a distinct NADH diferric transferrin reductase. Three different assay procedures for demonstration of the activity are described. The enzyme activity is highest in isolated plasma membrane, and activity in other internal membranes is one-eighth or less than in plasma membrane. The activity is inhibited by apotransferrin and antitransferrin antibodies. Trypsin treatment of the membranes leads to rapid loss of the transferrin reductase activity as compared with NADH ferricyanide reductase activity. Erythrocyte plasma membranes, which lack transferrin receptors, show no diferric transferrin reductase activity, although NADH ferricyanide reductase is present. The transferrin reductase is inhibited by agents that inhibit diferric transferrin reduction by intact cells and is activated by CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfate) detergent. Inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport have no effect on the activity. We propose that the NADH diferric transferrin reductase in plasma membranes measures the activity of the enzyme that causes the reduction of diferric transferrin by intact cells. This transmembrane electron transport system requires the transferrin receptor for diferric transferrin reduction. Because the transmembrane electron transport has been shown to stimulate cell growth, the reduction of diferric transferrin at the cell surface may be an important function for diferric transferrin in stimulation of cell growth, in addition to its role in iron transport.     

Properties of the aromatase system associated with the mitochondrial fraction of human placenta

The aromatase system associated with the mitochondrial fraction of human term placenta, present at 35–50% the specific activity of the microsomal enzyme, is substantially the same as the microsomal enzyme as determined by the following: 1) The rate of aromatization of androstenedione, 19-nortestosterone, and 16α-hydroxytestosterone in mitochondria was a nearly constant proportion of the microsomal rate; 2) Sensitivity to carbon monoxide was the same; 3) The magnitude of cytochrome P-450 Type I spectral interactions with androgen substrates was a constant proportion in mitochondria and microsomes; 4) Sensitivity to an antibody raised against hepatic microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was the same. When inner and outer mitochondrial membrane subfractions were prepared, the predominant aromatase activity was associated with the outer membrane preparation. This aromatase activity could not be accounted for by microsomal contamination as determined by inosine diphosphatase activity, a microsomal marker. After correction, the rate of aromatization in the outer membrane preparation was almost six times that in the inner membranes and three times that of the whole mitochondrial fraction     

Bilateral congenital cataracts result from a gain-of-function mutation in the gene for aquaporin-0 in mice

Cataract Tohoku (Cat(Tohm)) is a dominant cataract mutation that leads to severe degeneration of lens fiber cells. Linkage analysis showed that the Cat(Tohm) mutation is located on mouse chromosome 10, close to the gene for aquaporin-0 (Aqp0), which encodes a membrane protein that is expressed specifically in lens fiber cells. Sequence analysis of Aqp0 revealed a 12-bp deletion without any change in the reading frame, which resulted in a deletion of four amino acids within the second transmembrane region of the AQP0 protein. Targeted expression of the mutated Aqp0 caused lens opacity in transgenic mice, the pathological severity of which depended on the expression level of the transgene. The mutated AQP0 protein was localized to the intracellular and perinuclear spaces rather than to the plasma membranes of the lens fiber cells. The cataract phenotype of Cat(Tohm) is caused by a gain-of-function mutation in the mutated AQP0 protein and not by a loss-of-function mutation.     

Characterization of the bovine lens plasma membrane substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase

cAMP-dependent protein kinase, derived from either calf lens or bovine heart, promotes the phosphorylation of three lens plasma membrane proteins of molecular mass 28 kDa, 26 kDa and 18 kDa. Correlation of the maximal level of phosphorylation of these components with the Coomassie blue staining intensity of fractionated lens membranes suggests that the phosphorylation of the 28 kDa and 18 kDa components may be approximately stoichiometric. The protein kinase substrates could be dephosphorylated by a cardiac sarcoplasmic-reticulum-bound protein phosphatase activity. The 26 k Da component comigrated with MP26, the major lens membrane component that has been localized to the lens fiber cell junction. Treatment of phosphorylated lens membranes with chymotrypsin did not suggest that any of the three major phosphorylated components was derived from the partial proteolysis of a larger phosphoprotein. After electrophoretic separation of phosphorylated proteins, treatment with N-chlorosuccinimide confirmed that there was little similarity in the structure of the three phosphoproteins. Chymotrypsin did, however, reveal a cryptic phosphorylation site in a 22 kDa fragment that appeared to be derived from MP26. Treatment of phosphorylated membranes with reducing agents resulted in the disappearance of the 28 kDa phosphorylated component and the appearance of a new phosphorylated component of 18 kDa; neither MP26 nor the original 18 kDa component was affected by such treatment. It is not clear whether the original 18 kDa phosphoprotein, present in unreduced samples, is the same as that generated with reducing agents from the 28 kDa phosphorylated lens membrane component.     

Cytochemical localization of 5'-nucleotidase in the frog (Rana pipiens) retina. A histochemical and cytochemical study

Localization of 5'-nucleotidase in the frog retina was investigated using histochemical and cytochemical techniques. Light-microscopic observations revealed the presence of this enzyme in the inner retinal layers (the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer). Ultrastructural investigations revealed that the enzyme activity is associated with the plasma membranes of the Müller cell processes, whereas the Müller cell processes present in the outer retinal layers did not demonstrate any detectable enzyme activity. This observation would appear to confirm our previous findings, that 5'-nucleotidase is an ectoenzyme, but its distribution in frog retina differs from that in rodents and it is only present in the inner layers of the retina. The prominent localization of 5'-nucleotidase on the glial plasma membrane may be viewed in the context of the widely accepted interaction between neurones and glial cells. Since nucleotides do not penetrate the plasma membrane, a mechanism to produce membrane-permeable adenosine, important for neuronal function, is postulated. It is known that 5'-nucleotidase produces adenosine by hydrolyzing adenosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP). Therefore one would expect that the glial membrane-bound enzyme can accomplish the final step in this mechanism by producing the adenosine in the extracellular spaces.     

Disruption of lens fiber cell architecture in mice expressing a chimeric AQP0-LTR protein.

Aquaporin-0 (AQP0) is the major intrinsic protein of lens fiber cells and the founder member of the water channel gene family. Here we show that disruption of the AQP0 gene by an early transposon (ETn) element results in expression of a chimeric protein, comprised of approximately 75% AQP0 and approximately 25% ETn long terminal repeat (LTR) sequence, in the cataract Fraser (CatFr) mouse lens. Immunoblot analysis showed that mutant AQP0-LTR was similar in mass to wild-type AQP0. However, immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that AQP0-LTR was localized to intracellular membranes rather than to plasma membranes of lens fiber cells. Heterozygous CatFr lenses were similar in size to wild-type but displayed abnormal regions of translucence and light scattering. Scanning electron microscopy further revealed that mature fiber cells within the core of the heterozygous CatFr lens failed to stratify into uniform, concentric growth shells, suggesting that the AQP0 water channel facilitates the development of the unique cellular architecture of the crystalline lens.