Fate of injected glucagon taken up by rat liver in vivo. Degradation of internalized ligand in the endosomal compartment.

The uptake and processing of glucagon into liver endosomes were studied in vivo by subcellular fractionation. After injection of [[125I]iodo-Tyr10]glucagon and [[125I]iodo-Tyr13]glucagon to rats, the uptake of radioactivity into the liver was maximum at 2 min (6% of the dose/g of tissue). On differential centrifugation, the radioactivity in the homogenate was recovered mainly in the nuclear (N), microsomal (P) and supernatant (S) fractions, with maxima at 5, 10 and 40 min, respectively; recovery of radioactivity in the mitochondrial-lysosomal (ML) fraction did not exceed 6% and was maximal at 20 min. On density-gradient centrifugation, the radioactivity associated first (2-10 min) with plasma membranes and then (10-40 min) with Golgi-endosomal (GE) fractions, with 2-5-fold and 20-150-fold enrichments respectively. Subfractionation of the GE fractions showed that, unlike the Golgi marker galactosyltransferase, the radioactivity was density-shifted by diaminobenzidine cytochemistry. Subfractionation of the ML fraction isolated at 40 min showed that more than half of the radioactivity was recovered at lower densities than the lysosomal marker acid phosphatase. Throughout the time of study, the [125I]iodoglucagon associated with the P, PM and GE fractions remained at least 80-90% trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-precipitable, whereas that associated with other fractions, especially the S fraction, became progressively TCA-soluble. On gel filtration and h.p.l.c., the small amount of degraded [125I]iodoglucagon associated with GE fractions was found to consist of monoiodotyrosine. Chloroquine treatment of [125I]iodoglucagon-injected rats caused a moderate but significant increase in the late recovery of radioactivity in the ML, P and GE fractions, but had little effect on the association of the ML radioactivity with acid-phosphatase-containing structures. Chloroquine treatment also led to a paradoxical decrease in the TCA-precipitability of the radioactivity associated with the P and GE fractions. Upon h.p.l.c. analysis of GE extracts of chloroquine-treated rats, at least four degradation products less hydrophobic than intact [125I]iodoglucagon were identified. Radio-sequence analysis of four of these products revealed three cleavages, affecting bonds Ser2-Gln3, Thr5-Phe6 and Phe6-Thr7. When GE fractions containing internalized [125I]iodoglucagon were incubated in iso-osmotic KCl at 30 degrees C, a rapid generation of TCA-soluble products was observed, with a maximum at pH 4. We conclude that endosomes are a major site at which internalized glucagon is degraded, endosomal acidification being required for optimum degradation.     

Renal metabolism of 3'-iodohippuryl N(epsilon)-maleoyl-L-lysine (HML)-conjugated Fab fragments

Renal localization of radiolabeled antibody fragments constitutes a problem in targeted imaging and radiotherapy. Recently, we reported use of a novel radioiodination reagent, 3'-[131I]iodohippuryl N(epsilon)-maleoyl-L-lysine (HML), that liberates m-iodohippuric acid before antibody fragments are incorporated into renal cells. In mice, HML-conjugated Fab demonstrated low renal radioactivity levels from early postinjection times. In this study, renal metabolism of HML-conjugated Fab fragments prepared by different thiolation chemistries and by direct radioiodination were investigated to determine the mechanisms responsible for the low renal radioactivity levels. Fab fragments were thiolated by 2-iminothiolane modification or by reduction of disulfide bonds in the Fab fragments, followed by conjugation with radioiodinated HML to prepare [131I]HML-IT-Fab and [125I]HML-Fab, respectively. In biodistribution studies in mice, both [131I]HML-IT-Fab and [125I]HML-Fab demonstrated significantly lower renal radioactivity levels than those of [125I]Fab. In subcellular distribution studies, [125I]Fab showed migration of radioactivity from the membrane to the lysosomal fraction of the renal cells from 10 to 30 min postinjection. On the other hand, the majority of the radioactivity was detected only in the membrane fraction at the same time points after injection of both [131I]HML-IT-Fab and [125I]HML-Fab. In metabolic studies, while [125I]Fab remained intact at 10 min postinjection, both HML-conjugated Fab fragments generated m-iodohippuric acid as a radiometabolite at the same postinjection time. [131I]HML-IT-Fab registered two radiometabolites (intact [131I]HML-IT-Fab and m-iodohippuric acid), whereas additional radiometabolites were observed with [125I]HML-Fab. This suggested that metabolism of both HML-conjugated Fab fragments would occur in the membrane fractions of the renal cells. The findings of this study reinforced our previous hypothesis that radiochemical design of antibody fragments that liberate radiometabolites that are excreted into the urine by the action of brush border enzymes would constitute a useful strategy to reduce renal radioactivity levels from early postinjection times.     

The processing of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]somatostatin by RINm5F insulinoma cells

The peptide somatostatin (SRIF) is secreted by delta cells of the endocrine pancreas and inhibits the secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. We have previously shown that [125I-Tyr11]SRIF binds to specific, high affinity receptors on RINm5F insulinoma cells and that these receptors mediate the action of SRIF to inhibit insulin release. In the present study we investigated the processing of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF in this clonal cell line. Surface-bound and internalized peptides were distinguished by the ability of an acid/salt solution (0.2 M acetic acid, 0.5 M NaCl, pH 2.5) to dissociate only exposed ligand-receptor complexes. Surprisingly, greater than 80% of saturably bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF was removed by this acid wash independent of the time or temperature of the binding incubation. In contrast, the processing of receptor-bound [125I]EGF (epidermal growth factor) in RINm5F cells was markedly temperature-dependent. Although over 90% of saturably bound [125I]EGF was dissociated by acid after a 4 degrees C binding incubation, less than 10% was removed by acid treatment after 37 degrees C binding. The radioactivity released upon dissociation of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and shown to consist of a mixture of intact peptide (40%) and [125I]tyrosine (60%). However, neither the rate of [125I-Tyr11]SRIF dissociation nor its degradation were affected by NH4Cl, methylamine, or leupeptin at concentrations which inhibited the lysosomal degradation of [125I] EGF. Of 11 other protease inhibitors tested, only the metalloendoprotease inhibitor, phosphoramidon, substantially reduced the degradation of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF. These data indicate that, unlike [125I] EGF, receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF is not rapidly internalized by RINm5F cells and is degraded by a nonlysosomal process which may involve a metalloendoprotease.     

Characterization of ligand binding and processing by bombesin receptors in an insulin-secreting cell line.

Bombesin is a tetradecapeptide which stimulates insulin secretion in vivo by isolated islets and by HIT-T15 cells, a clonal line of hamster pancreatic-islet cells. In the present study we have used [125I-Tyr4]bombesin to characterize bombesin receptors in HIT-T15 cells. [125I-Tyr4]Bombesin binding was time- and temperature-dependent: maximum binding occurred after 45 min, 90 min and 10 h at 37, 22 and 4 degrees C respectively. Thereafter, cell-associated radioactivity declined at 37 degrees C and 22 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. Scatchard analysis of [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding measured at 4 degrees C showed that HIT-T15 cells contain a single class of binding sites (approximately equal to 85000/cell) with an apparent Kd of 0.9 +/- 0.11 nM. Structurally unrelated neuropeptides did not compete for [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding. However, the relative potencies of bombesin and four bombesin analogues in inhibiting the binding of [125I-Tyr4]bombesin correlated with their ability to stimulate insulin release. Receptor-mediated processing of [125I-Tyr4]bombesin was examined by using an acid wash (0.2 M-acetic acid/0.5 M-NaCl, pH 2.5) to dissociate surface-bound peptide from the cells. Following [125I-Tyr4]bombesin binding at 4 degrees C, more than 85% of the cell-associated radioactivity could be released by acid. When the temperature was then increased to 37 degrees C, the bound radioactivity was rapidly (t1/2 less than 3 min) converted into an acid-resistant state. These results indicate that receptor-bound [125I-Tyr4]bombesin is internalized in a temperature-dependent manner. In fact, the entire ligand-receptor complex appeared to be internalized, since pretreatment of cells with 100 nM-bombesin for 90 min at 37 degrees C decreased the subsequent binding of [125I-Tyr4]bombesin by 90%. The chemical nature of the cell-associated radioactivity was determined by reverse-phase chromatography of the material extracted from cells after a 30 min binding incubation at 37 degrees C. Although 70% of the saturably bound radioactivity was co-eluted with intact [125I-Tyr4]bombesin 90% of the radioactivity subsequently dissociated from cells chromatographed as free iodide. At least some of the degradation of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr4]bombesin appeared to occur in lysosomes, since chloroquine increased the cellular accumulation of [125I-Tyr4]bombesin at 37 degrees C and slowed the release of radioactivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Insulin-degrading enzyme is capable of degrading receptor-bound insulin

In the investigation of the intracellular sites of insulin degradation, it might be important whether receptor-bound insulin could be a substrate for insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). Insulin receptor and IDE were purified from rat liver using a wheat germ agglutinin column and monoclonal anti-IDE antibody affinity column, respectively. [125I]insulin-receptor complex was incubated with various amounts of IDE at 0 degree C in the presence of disuccinimidyl suberate and analyzed by reduced 7.5% SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. With increasing amounts of IDE, the radioactivity of 135 kd band (insulin receptor alpha-subunit) decreased, whereas that of 110 kd band (IDE) appeared then gradually increased, suggesting that IDE could bind to receptor-bound insulin. During incubation of insulin-receptor complex with IDE at 37 degrees C, about half of the [125I]insulin was dissociated from the complex. However, the time course of [125I]insulin degradation in this incubation was essentially identical to that of free [125I]insulin degradation. Cross-linked, non-dissociable receptor-bound [125I]insulin was also degraded by IDE. Rebinding studies to IM-9 cells showed that the receptor binding activity of dissociated [125I]insulin from insulin-receptor complex incubated with IDE was significantly (p less than 0.001) decreased as compared with that without the enzyme. These results, therefore, show that IDE could recognize and degrade receptor-bound insulin, and suggest that IDE may be involved in insulin metabolism during receptor-mediated endocytosis through the degradation of receptor-bound insulin in early neutral vesicles before their internal pH is acidified.     

Characterization of glucagon receptors in Golgi fractions of rat liver: evidence for receptors that are uncoupled from adenylyl cyclase

Glucagon receptors have been identified and characterized in intermediate (Gi) and heavy (Gh) Golgi fractions from rat liver. At saturation, plasma membranes bound 3500 fmol of hormone/mg of membrane protein, while Gi and Gh bound 24 and 60 fmol of 125I-glucagon/mg of protein, respectively. Half-maximal saturation of binding to plasma membranes, Gi, and Gh occurred at approximately 4, 10, and 20 nM 125I-glucagon, respectively. Trichloroacetic acid precipitation of intact, but not degraded, glucagon was used to correct binding isotherms for hormone degradation. After such correction, half-maximal saturation of binding to plasma membranes, Gi, and Gh was observed in the presence of approximately 2, 7, and 14 nM hormone, respectively. After 90 min of dissociation in the absence of guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP), 86% of 125I-glucagon remained bound to plasma membranes, whereas only 42% remained bound to Golgi membranes. GTP significantly increased the fraction of 125I-glucagon released from plasma membranes but only slightly augmented the dissociation of hormone from Golgi fractions. 125I-Glucagon/receptor complexes solubilized from plasma membranes fractionated by gel filtration as high molecular weight (Kav = 0.16), GTP-sensitive complexes and lower molecular weight (Kav = 0.46), GTP-insensitive complexes. 125I-Glucagon complexes solubilized from Golgi membranes fractionated almost exclusively as the lower molecular weight species. The lower affinity of Golgi than plasma membrane receptors for hormone, the ability of glucagon to stimulate plasma membrane, but not Golgi membrane, adenylyl cyclase, and the near absence of high molecular weight, GTP-sensitive complexes in solubilized Golgi membranes demonstrate that plasma membrane contamination of Golgi fractions cannot account for the 125I-glucagon binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Internalization-sequestration and degradation of cholecystokinin (CCK) in tumoral rat pancreatic AR 4-2 J cells

Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors were investigated in the tumoral acinar cell line AR 4-2 J derived from rat pancreas, after preincubation with 20 nM dexamethasone. At steady state binding at 37 degrees C (i.e., after a 5 min incubation), less than 10% of the radioactivity of [125I]BH-CCK-9 (3-(4-hydroxy-[125I]iodophenyl)propionyl (Thr34, Nle37) CCK(31-39)) could be washed away from intact cells with an ice-cold acidic medium, suggesting high and rapid internalization-sequestration of tracer. By contrast, more than 85% of the tracer dissociated rapidly after a similar acid wash from cell membranes prelabelled at steady state. In intact AR 4-2 J cells, internalization required neither energy nor the cytoskeleton framework. Tracer internalization was reversed partly but rapidly at 37 degrees C but slowly at 4 degrees C. In addition, two degradation pathways of the tracer were demonstrated, one intracellular and one extracellular. Intracellular degradation occurred at 37 degrees C but not at 20 degrees C and resulted in progressive intracellular accumulation of [125I]BH-Arg that corresponded, after 1 h at 37 degrees C, to 35% of the radioactivity specifically bound. This phenomenon was not inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors and modestly only by monensin and chloroquine. Besides, tracer degradation at the external cell surface was still observable at 20 degrees C and yielded a peptide (probably [125I]BH-Arg-Asp-Tyr(SO3H)-Thr-Gly). This degradation pathway was partly inhibited by bacitracin and phosphoramidon while thiorphan, an inhibitor of endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.11, was without effect.     

Autoradiographic localization of [125I]-C-ANP compared to [125I]-ANP in rat tissue.

Whole-body autoradiography demonstrated the different distribution of [125I]-C-ANP and [125I]-ANP to rat tissues. Highest enrichment of radioactivity of both labelled peptides was found in the kidney. In some organs we found remarkable differences between [125I]-ANP and [125I]-C-ANP. In the kidney cortex, especially in the glomeruli, as well as in the endocardium, the zona glomerulosa and the medulla of the adrenal gland, where high levels of radioactivity after [125I]-ANP administration were detected, no or just few radioactivity was found after administration of [125I]-C-ANP. On the other hand in the kidney papilla and the outer subcortical medulla, characteristic blackening was found after [125I]-C-ANP administration. Those differences might be important for the understanding of pharmacological actions of ANP analogues.     

Comparative Study of 125I- and [3H]Acetate-Labeled Antibodies in Detecting Iridescent Viruses

Radioimmunoassays for detecting cell-associated or released virus are described using either (125)I- or [(3)H]acetate-labeled antibodies. In the first assay system, antigen-antibody complexes were separated from free antibody by centrifugation. Sensitivities of 0.1 mug of iridescent virus could be achieved with either (125)I- or [(3)H]acetate-labeled antibody. In the second assay, the antigen was fixed to cover-slip cell cultures, and then reacted with labeled antibody, unbound radioactivity being removed by repeated washing. Nonspecific binding with this method was 0.5 to 1% of the total radioactivity added and sensitivities of 0.1 or 10 mug were achieved with (125)I and [(3)H]acetate, respectively. Immunoglobulins were labeled at the rate of 1 in 300 for (125)I and 1 in 200 with [(3)H]acetate although there was a 400-fold greater isotopic abundance of (125)I relative to (3)H. The possibility of preparing labeled protein of high specific activity using carrier-free [2-(3)H]iodoacetic acid is discussed.     

On the enterohepatic cycle of triiodothyronine in rats; importance of the intestinal microflora

Until 70 h after a single iv injection of 10 uCi [125I]triiodothyronine (T3), normal rats excreted 15.8 +/- 2.8% of the radioactivity with the feces and 17.5 +/- 2.7% with the urine, while in intestine-decontaminated rats fecal and urinary excretion over this period amounted to 25.1 +/- 7.2% and 23.6 +/- 4.0% of administered radioactivity, respectively (mean +/- SD, n = 4). In fecal extracts of decontaminated rats 11.5 +/- 6.8% of the excreted radioactivity consisted of T3 glucuronide (T3G) and 10.9 +/- 2.8% of T3 sulfate (T3S), whereas no conjugates were detected in feces from normal rats. Until 26 h after ig administration of 10 uCi [125I]T3, integrated radioactivity in blood of decontaminated rats was 1.5 times higher than that in normal rats. However, after ig administration of 10 uCi [125I]T3G or [125I]T3S, radioactivity in blood of decontaminated rats was 4.9- and 2.8-fold lower, respectively, than in normal rats. The radioactivity in the serum of control animals was composed of T3 and iodide in proportions independent of the tracer injected, while T3 conjugates represented less than 10% of serum radioactivity. These results suggest an important role of the intestinal microflora in the enterohepatic circulation of T3 in rats.     

Intravenous injection of human sex steroid hormone-binding globulin in mouse decreases blood clearance rate and testicular accumulation of orally administered [2-125I]iodobisphenol A

Bisphenol A, an environmental compound with estrogenic activity, has been shown to bind human sex steroid hormone-binding globulin (hSHBG), the main plasma transport protein which regulates the metabolism of androgens and estrogens and limits their access to target organs. The present study was conducted to determine whether physiologically relevant concentrations of hSHBG can influence the blood clearance rate of bisphenol A and its accumulation in the testes. A radioactive [2-125I]iodobisphenol tracer was synthesized with an association constant (Ka) for binding to hSHBG of 0.14 +/- 0.01 x 10(6) M(-1) at 37 degrees C, a value much lower than for [2-125I]iodoestradiol, which was also synthesized. We used i.v. injection of immunopurified hSHBG in adult male mice to maintain hSHBG levels within the physiologically possible range for humans (27-267 nM) before gavage administration of [2-125I]iodobisphenol or [2-125I]iodoestradiol, for measuring the blood clearance rate of radioactive signal in blood samples taken during the following 120 min. Testicular accumulation of radioactivity was measured 24 h and 48 h after gavage of [2-125]iodobisphenol A. In mice receiving immunopurified hSHBG or vehicle, the time-dependent blood clearance of radioactivity exhibited a bi-exponential decrease which indicated alpha-diffusion and beta-elimination phases for both radioactive ligands. The presence of circulating hSHBG significantly and dose-dependently lowered the clearance rate of radioactivity. However, much higher circulating levels of hSHBG were required to retard the blood clearance of [2-125I]iodobisphenol A as compared to those required for [2-125I]iodoestradiol, in keeping with the important difference in their respective Ka value for binding to SHBG. In addition, mice treated with hSHBG exhibited significantly (P = 0.036) reduced testicular accumulation of radioactivity 24 h and 48 h after ingestion of [2-125I]iodobisphenol A. Provided that the binding properties of bisphenol A for hSHBG are not substantially different from those measured for [2-125I]iodobisphenol A, these findings suggest that, although hSHBG binds 2-mono-iodobisphenol A with a relatively low binding affinity, high enough concentrations of circulating hSHBG (range concentrations between 85 and 267 nM) are potentially able to exert a protective effect against exposure to bisphenol A.     

A reversible radioligand specific for the ETB receptor: [125I]Tyr13-Suc-[Glu9,Ala11,15]-endothelin-1(8- 21), [125I]IRL 1620.

Suc-[Glu9,Ala11,15]-endothelin(ET)-1(8-21), IRL 1620, is a linear ET-analog specific for the ET-isopeptide-nonselective ETB receptor. The radio-iodinated analog, [125I]IRL 1620, showed a single class of saturable binding to the ETB receptors in porcine lung membranes with a Kd of 18 pM and a Bmax of 930 fmol/mg protein, which are almost comparable to the values obtained with [125I]ET-3 (6 pM and 900 fmol/mg protein). In competitive binding assays with [125I]IRL 1620, unlabeled ET-1, ET-3, IRL 1620 and [monoiodo-Tyr13]-IRL 1620 showed almost identical displacement curves with Ki of 8 to 16 pM. However, [125I]IRL 1620 was dissociated from the binding sites by addition of an excess amount (100 nM) of any of these unlabeled peptides, each with the same t1/2 of 100 min. This was in marked contrast to [125I]ET-3 which was hardly dissociated from the binding sites.     

Avidin binding of radiolabeled biotin derivatives

Three N-acyl derivatives of biotinylethylenediamine were prepared: I, biotinylamidoethyl-3-(3-[125I]iodo-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionamide; II, biotinylamidoethyl-[3H]acetamide; and III, biotinylamidoethyl-3-(3,5-[125I]diiodo-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionamid e. Each compound was combined with a large excess of avidin, yielding 1:1 molar complexes. Aside from a small fraction of each complex that dissociated more rapidly, the dissociation half-lives of these complexes were: I, 41 days; II, 4.4 days; and III, 148 days. The iodo- (mono or di) hydroxyphenylpropionyl moieties of I and III, therefore, contribute significantly to the binding strength of these compounds toward avidin. We also formed 4:1 complexes of I, II, and III with avidin (compound in excess), each of which exhibited biphasic dissociation, with initial half-lives of 4, 3.2, and 24 days, respectively. Thus, I or especially III potentially can be used as a sensitive tracer in quantitative studies with avidin.     

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of [188Re]organorhenium-labeled antibody fragments with renal enzyme-cleavable linkage for low renal radioactivity levels

Renal localization of radiolabeled antibody fragments constitutes a problem in targeted imaging and radiotherapy. We have reported that Fab fragments labeled with 3'-[131I]iodohippuryl Nepsilon-maleoyl-lysine (HML) showed markedly low renal radioactivity levels even shortly after injection, due to a rapid and selective release of m-[131I]iodohippuric acid by the action of brush border enzymes. To estimate the applicability of the molecular design to metallic radionuclides, [188Re]tricarbonyl(cyclopentadienylcarbonate)rhenium ([188Re]CpTR-COOH) was conjugated with Nepsilon-tert-butoxycarbonyl-glycyl-lysine or Nepsilon-maleoyl-glycyl-lysine to prepare [188Re]CpTR-GK-Boc or [188Re]CpTR-GK. The cleavage of the glycyl-lysine linkage of the two compounds generates a glycine conjugate of [188Re]CpTR-COOH ([188Re]CpTR-Gly), which possesses in vivo behaviors similar to those of m-iodohippuric acid. The hydrolysis rate of the peptide bond in [188Re]CpTR-GK-Boc was compared with that in 3'-[125I]iodohippuryl Nepsilon-Boc-lysine ([125I]HL-Boc) using brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) prepared from rat kidneys. [188Re]CpTR-GK was conjugated to thiolated Fab fragments to prepare [188Re]CpTR-GK-Fab. The biodistribution of radioactivity after injection of [188Re]CpTR-GK-Fab was compared with that of [125I]HML-Fab and [188Re]CpTR-Fab prepared by conjugating N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of [188Re]CpTR-COOH with antibody fragments. While [188Re]CpTR-GK-Boc liberated [188Re]CpTR-Gly in BBMVs, [125I]HL-Boc liberated m-[125I]iodohippuric acid at a much faster rate. In addition, although [125I]HL-Boc was hydrolyzed by both metalloenzymes and nonmetalloenzymes, metalloenzymes were responsible for the cleavage of the peptide linkage in [188Re]CpTR-GK-Boc. In biodistribution studies, [188Re]CpTR-GK-Fab exhibited significantly lower renal radioactivity levels than did [188Re]CpTR-Fab. However, the renal radioactivity levels of [188Re]CpTR-GK-Fab were slightly higher than those of [125I]HML-Fab. The analysis of urine samples collected for 6 h postinjection of [188Re]CpTR-GK-Fab showed that [188Re]CpTR-Gly was the major radiometabolite. In tumor-bearing mice, [188Re]CpTR-GK-Fab significantly reduced renal radioactivity levels without impairing the radioactivity levels in tumor. These findings indicate that the molecular design of HML can be applied to metallic radionuclides by using a radiometal chelate of high inertness and by designing a radiometabolite of high urinary excretion when released from antibody fragments following cleavage of a glycyl-lysine linkage. This study also indicates that a change in chemical structure of a radiolabel attached to a glycyl-lysine linkage significantly affected enzymes involved in the hydrolysis reaction. Since there are many kinds of enzymes that cleave a variety of peptide linkages on the renal brush border membrane, selection of a peptide linkage optimal to a radiometal chelate of interest may provide radiolabeled antibody fragments that exhibit renal radioactivity levels similar to those of [131I]HML-labeled ones. The in vitro system using BBMVs might be useful for selecting an appropriate peptide linkage.     

Receptor-mediated degradation of insulin in isolated rat adipocytes. Formation of a degradation product slightly smaller than insulin

More than 90% of the radioactivity associated with isolated rat adipocytes incubated with [TyrA14-125I]monoiodoinsulin represented at steady state iodoinsulin possessing full binding affinity. In contrast, about half of the radioactivity dissociating from the cells was [125I]monoiodotyrosine. The other half was of a molecular size similar to that of iodoinsulin as judged from gel-filtration chromatography. However, the descending limb of the 'insulin' peak (i.e., the smaller molecules) possessed a reduced binding activity compared with native iodoinsulin, material from the ascending limb, or a similar fraction isolated from dissociation medium from IM-9 lymphocytes, a cell type devoid of receptor-mediated insulin degradation. The cells, thus, release an intermediary degradation product.     

Photoaffinity labeling of (Na+K+)-ATPase with [125I]iodoazidocymarin

A radioiodinated, photoactive cardiac glycoside derivative, 4'-(3-iodo-4-azidobenzene sulfonyl)cymarin (IAC) was synthesized and used to label (Na+K+)-ATPase in crude membrane fractions. In the dark, IAC inhibited the activity of (Na+K+)-ATPase in electroplax microsomes from Electrophorus electricus with the same I50 as cymarin. [125I]IAC binding, in the presence of Mg2+ and Pi, was specific, of high affinity (KD = 0.4 microM), and reversible (k-1 = 0.11 min-1) at 30 degrees C. At 0 degree C, the complex was stable for at least 3 h, thus permitting washing before photolysis. Analysis of [125]IAC photolabeled electroplax microsomes by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) (7-14%) showed that most of the incorporated radioactivity was associated with the alpha (Mr = 98,000) and beta (Mr = 44,000) subunits of the (Na+K+)-ATPase (ratio of alpha to beta labeling = 2.5). A higher molecular weight peptide (100,000), similar in molecular weight to the brain alpha(+) subunit, and two lower molecular weight peptides (12,000-15,000), which may be proteolipid, were also labeled. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (isoelectric focusing then SDS-PAGE, 10%) resolved the beta subunit into 12 labeled peptides ranging in pI from 4.3 to 5.5. When (Na+K+)-ATPase in synaptosomes from monkey brain cortex was photolabeled and analyzed by SDS-PAGE (7-14%), specific labeling of the alpha(+), alpha, and beta subunits could be detected (ratio of alpha(+) plus alpha to beta labeling = 35). The results show that [125I]IAC is a sensitive probe of the cardiac glycoside binding site of (Na+K+)-ATPase and can be used to detect the presence of the alpha(+) subunit in crude membrane fractions from various sources.     

Disposition of 125I-labeled recombinant human tumor necrosis factor in the tumor-bearing mouse

Disposition of [125I]rHu-TNF was elucidated in BALB/c mice bearing Meth A fibrosarcoma 7 days after transplantation. After i.v. administration, [125I]rHu-TNF measured by radioactivity and immunoreactivity biphasically decreased in plasma. Tumor level of [125I]rHu-TNF was the maximum at 1 h, then decreased and finally remained essentially constant. After i.t. administration, plasma level reached the maximum at 1 h. Tumor level decreased quickly and then became essentially constant. [125I]rHu-TNF was suggested to be degraded to small fragments in the tumor. Significant distribution of [125I]rHu-TNF was found in the kidney, lung, liver and tumor. Most tissue levels decreased with time in parallel with plasma levels. [125I]rHu-TNF radioactivity was found in proximal convoluted tubules of kidney and in those areas of tumor consisting of degenerating cells with pyknotic nuclei. Urine contained most of administered radioactivity, which being neither immunoreactive nor protein-bound.     

Detection of radioactivity on microtiterplates in situ using a photon-counting imager

A position-sensitive single-photon counting imaging system, which can determine intensity and location of a light source, has been used for the detection of 125I-labeled Interleukin-1 and [3H]thymidine in 96 wells of a microtiter plate (MTP) simultaneously. 4 Bq (1 Bq = 1 Bequerel = 1 disintegration/s), 22 and 150 Bq of 125I and 3, 10 and 100 Bq of 3H were visualized and quantified by transforming the radioactivity into light in the visible range by means of Xtalscint, a solid scintillator. After only 1 min of photon accumulation time, the highest radioactivity of both isotopes could be clearly distinguished from background. Photon counts correlate well with radioactivity measured in a beta-counter (for 3H) and a gamma-counter (for 125I). The overall counting efficiency was about 5% for 125I and 3% for 3H.     

Autoradiographic localizatio of [125I]-C-ANP compared to [125I]-ANP in rat tissue

Summary Whole-body autoradiography demonstrated the different distribution of [¹²⁵I]-C-ANP and [¹²⁵I]-ANP to rat tissues. Highest enrichment of radioactivity of both labelled peptides was found in the kidney. In some organs we found remarkable differences between [¹²⁵I]-ANP and [¹²⁵I]-C-ANP. In the kidney cortex, especially in the glomeruli, as well as in the endocardium, the zona glomerulosa and the medulla of the adrenal gland, where high levels of radioactivity after [¹²⁵I]-ANP administration were detected, no or just few radioactivity was found after administration of [¹²⁵I]-C-ANP. On the other hand in the kidney papilla and the outer subcortical medulla, characteristic blackening was found after [¹²⁵I]-C-ANP administration. Those differences might be important for the understanding of pharmacological actions of ANP analogues.This work is part of the doctoral thesis of Frank Heidemann to be presented at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, FRG     

Fate of interleukin-6 in the rat. Involvement of skin in its catabolism

Iodinated recombinant human interleukin-6 (125I-rhIL-6) was intravenously injected into rats and its fate was studied during 24 h. Between 10-20 min after a single-dose injection, 125I-rhIL-6 accumulated in liver as previously reported [Castell et al. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 177, 357-361]. After 1 h, the radioactivity disappeared from the liver and accumulated in skin, reaching 35% of injected 125I-rhIL-6 5-8 h after injection. No comparable accumulation of radioactivity was found in skin when [125I]iodide or rat serum 125I-albumin was administered. Finally the radioactivity was detected as [125I]iodide in urine. Autoradiographic analysis of skin sections 5 h after 125I-rhIL-6 injection showed radioactivity in the interstitium. When the experiments were carried out with [35S]rhIL-6, essentially the same results were obtained: a decrease in radioactivity in the liver after 20 min, and a substantial increase in skin 7 h after injection. In vitro experiments showed that 125I-rhIL-6 is degraded by rat and human fibroblasts, whereas no degradation was observed with rat hepatoma cells (Fao) or human hepatocytes. These observations suggest the involvement of skin in the catabolism of IL-6.