Translation of albumin messenger RNA in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system derived from wheat germ.

Purified rat liver albumin mRNA directed the synthesis of albumin in a mRNA-dependent cell-free protein-synthesizing system derived from wheat germ extracts. The [3H]leucine-labeled in vitro translation product reacted with antibodies specific for albumin and co-migrated with authentic 14C-labeled serum albumin during gel electrophoresis in the presence or absence of sodium dodecyl sufate. Higher concentrations of potassium and magnesium ions were required for the translation of albumin mRNA than for total liver mRNAs. These requirements were consistent for the purified albumin as well as when it was a component in the liver mRNA mixture. At the higher potassium or magnesium concentrations, only intact albumin molecules were synthesized, whereas lower concentrations of these ions caused the production of antibody-reactive fragments. These fragments were apparently the result of premature termination of peptide synthesis and not due to endogenous proteolytic activity.     

Hemoglobin transition in erythrocytes of developing chick. Studies with cell-free protein-synthesizing systems.

Cell-free hemoglobin-synthesizing systems from erythrocytes of 4- and 17-day chick embryos have been developed. These systems have been used to investigate possible structural and functional differences in factors involved in protein synthesis obtained from these different developmental stages. Each cell-free system consists of three major cellular fractions i.e., the S-100 supernatant, the salt-washed ribosomes, and the 0.5 m KCl ribosomal wash. When the ribosomal wash fraction from one developmental stage is included in a cell-free system containing ribosomes and S-100 supernatant from the other developmental stage, a drastic reduction in the kinetics of [³H]leucine incorporation into globin products is observed, when compared to the homologous control cell-free systems. A similar depression of the kinetics of incorporation is observed when the mixed component is either the S-100 supernatant or the ribosomes. Control rates of incorporation can be reestablished when the corresponding homologous component is added back to the incubation mixture. The predominant types of hemoglobins produced in the salt-wash heterologous systems are those hemoglobins characteristic of the developmental stage of the salt wash. This seems to imply that the ribosomal salt-wash fraction may possess developmental stage specificity for the globins.     

Further studies on the cell-free synthesis of procollagen-collagen by chick embryo polysomes

Free and membrane bound polysomes were prepared from 8-day-old chick embryos. Both polysome preparations were equally active in protein synthesis but procollagen-collagen synthesis was carried out exclusively by the membrane bound polysomes. The collagenous product was analyzed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and after hydroxylation with peptidyl proline hydroxylase had a hydroxyproline/proline ratio of 0.77. This suggests that the collagenous product synthesized by the membrane bound polysomes is procollagen.     

Continuous-exchange cell-free protein-synthesizing system: synthesis of HIV-1 antigen Nef

HIV-1 antigen Nef, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), and the fusion protein GFP-Nef ("Green Fluorescent Nef") were synthesized in bacterial cell-free system with continuous supply of substrates and continuous removal of low-molecular-weight products through a dialysis membrane during incubation, the so-called continuous-exchange cell-free (CECF) system. The identity of synthesized proteins was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility, Western blotting, and GFP fluorescence. The system produced several nanomoles (hundreds of microg) of each protein per ml of the reaction mixture. Construction of GFP-fused proteins is considered as a general strategy for visualization and monitoring of cell-free production of the proteins that have no easily testable functions.     

Characterization of cell-free synthesis of collagen by lung polysomes in a heterologous system.

In normal lung growth, post-pneumonectomy lung growth, and in possibly several lung disorders, there are marked alterations in the density of collagen and changes in the rate of synthesis of collagen relative to the synthesis of other lung proteins. To provide a technology to begin to understand these changes at the molecular level, polysomes were prepared from rabbit lung and translated in a heterologous cell-free system including rabbit reticulocyte 0.5 M KCl ribosomal wash fraction and liver tRNA. Collagen was shown in the cell-free product by collagenase sensitivity, hydroxylation of incorporated proline by peptidyl prolyl hydroxylase, agarose gel chromatography, and sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cell-free system was optimized with respect to K+, Mg2+, amino acids, and ribosomal wash fraction and used under conditions where total protein synthesis and collagen synthesis are linear with respect to time and amount of polysomes. Under these conditions, collagen synthesis was directed almost entirely by polysomes derived from the endoplasmic reticulum. Polysomes isolated from late fetal lung directed collagen synthesis at twice the rate (per polysome) as those polysomes isolated from adult lung. Similar changes were seen if lung tRNA replaced liver tRNA and if lung ribosomal wash fraction replaced reticulocyte wash fraction. Although these changes in cell-free lung collagen synthesis with tissue explants, further studies will have to be carried out to determine whether, in fact, age-related alterations in control of lung collagen synthesis are truly explained by these findings.     

Translation of mouse interferon messenger RNA in a cell-free system

Crude mouse interferon mRNA extracted from poly (I) . poly (C)-induced L929 cells has been translated in a cell-free system from rabbit reticulocytes and in two-cell systems--L929 cells and chick embryo fibroblasts. Translational efficiency of interferon mRNA preparation was 100-fold higher in the cell-free system than in tissue culture cells. Interferon synthesized was species-specific and its antiviral activity was completely neutralized by mouse interferon antiserum.     

Translation of glutamate dehydrogenase mRNA in a reticulocyte cell-free system

Messenger RNA template activity for glutamate dehydrogenase was detected in poly(A)-rich RNA extracted from rat liver polysomes. Enzyme synthesized in cell-free reticulocyte system was detected by measuring enzyme activity in the translation incubation mixture using dual wavelength spectrophotometric technique. The translation product was also identified by a partial purification of the labeled synthesized enzyme and by coelectrophoresis with the carrier enzyme preparation from mitochondrial matrix.     

Enzymatic dissection of embryonic cell adhesive mechanisms: II. Developmental regulation of an endogenous adhesive system in the chick neural retina

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of two functionally distinct intercellular adhesive systems operating among embryonic chick neural retina cells. These systems differ in their proteolytic sensitivity, protection by calcium against proteolysis, dependence on calcium for function, and in vitro morphogenetic potential. In this report we demonstrate that functional expression of the calcium-dependent adhesive system of embryonic chick neural retina cells is developmentally regulated between Days 7 and 16 of development, whereas the calcium-independent adhesive system is not. Age-dependent changes are described in terms of the ability to produce adhesive-competent cells bearing the calcium-dependent adhesive system and in terms of the responses of these cells during aggregation to perturbations with various drugs. Enzyme and ion combinations other than calcium and typsin are shown to yield calcium-dependent adhesive-competent cells. We also describe the protective effect of calcium on the histological and ultrastructural organization of trypsinized embryonic neural retina tissue. The possible role of the calcium-dependent adhesive system in retinal development is discussed.     

Translation of avian myeloblastosis virus RNA in a reticulocyte cell-free system.

AMV-RNA was translated into a precursor polypeptide of 76,000–80,000 daltons in a reticulocyte cell-free system. Besides this high molecular weight precursor, several smaller precursor polypeptides and the four major internal structural viral proteins were also synthesized. These virus-specific translation products were detectable after immunoprecipitation with antiserum against the gs-antigens of AMV.