Probing the structure-function relationship of nerve growth factor

We compared the receptor binding, antigenicity, biological activation, and cell-mediated proteolytic degradation properties of mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) and human NGF (hNGF). The affinity of hNGF toward human NGF-receptor is greater than that of mNGF, but the affinity of mNGF toward rat NGF-receptor is greater than that of hNGF. Thus, the specificity of the interaction between NGF and its receptor resides both on the NGF and on its receptor. Using a group of anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies that competitively inhibit the binding of NGF to receptor, sites differing between mNGF and hNGF were detected. Together, these results indicate that the sites on hNGF and mNGF, responsible for binding to NGF-receptor, are similar but not identical. In comparing the relative abilities of mNGF and hNGF to stimulate a biological response in PC12 cells, we observed that mNGF was better at stimulating neurite outgrowth than was hNGF, consistent with the differences observed for receptor binding affinity. However, the ED₅₀ for biological activation is approximately 100-fold lower than theK _d for receptor occupancy, and, thus, the dose-response curve is not consistent with a simple activation proportional to receptor occupancy. The data are consistent with a model requiring a low-level threshold occupancy of NGF-receptor (K _d=10^–9 M) in order to stimulate full biological activity. Finally, we observed the degradation of NGF by PC12 cells. We found that the NGF molecule is significantly degraded via a receptor-mediated uptake mechanism. Together, the data provide insight into regions of the NGF molecule involved in contacts with the receptor leading to formation of the NGF: NGF-receptor complex. Additionally, they establish the link between occupancy of receptor and biological activation and the requirement for receptor-mediated uptake in order to degrade NGF proteolytically in cultured PC12 cells.     

性别及日龄对转人神经生长因子基因小鼠唾液中蛋白分泌的影响

神经生长因子(Nerve growth factor,NGF)是一种能促进神经元发育、分化、再生的蛋白。为高效生产药效更佳的人源NGF (hNGF)药物,最近,笔者实验室构建出唾液腺特异表达hNGF的转基因小鼠,并从该转基因小鼠唾液中纯化获得具有高生物学活性的h NGF蛋白。为了选择性别和日龄最适宜的转hNGF基因小鼠用于收集纯化hNGF蛋白,文中比较了28日龄(性成熟前)雄性、雌性,63日龄(性成熟后)雄性、雌性转hNGF基因小鼠,共4组转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液量、唾液总蛋白量、唾液鼠源NGF (mNGF)蛋白量和唾液h NGF蛋白量等指标。结果显示,63日龄的转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液量、唾液总蛋白量、唾液mNGF蛋白量和唾液hNGF蛋白量显著高于28日龄同一性别的转hNGF基因小鼠,且63日龄的雄性转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液hNGF蛋白量显著高于同一日龄的雌性转hNGF基因小鼠;在4组小鼠中,63日龄的雄性转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液hNGF含量最高,比28日龄雌性转hNGF基因小鼠高出约46倍,最适宜用于收集唾液并从中纯化hNGF。     

Biologically active human and mouse nerve growth factors secreted by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a trophic agent that is essential for the development and survival of sympathetic and sensory nerves. A chemically-synthesized DNA fragment encoding human NGF (hNGF) and a cDNA encoding mouse NGF (mNGF) were engineered for expression in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression and secretion of hNGF and mNGF was attempted under the direction of the yeast PGK promoter and with various leader sequences. Among the leader sequences tested, that of the yeast -factor successfully directed secretion of both hNGF and mNGF that were correctly processed. The content of the recombinant NGF (reNGF) in the culture supernatant was estimated to be 1 g/ml. The yeast-produced reNGF was able to bind to NGF receptors in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells as efficiently as the standard mNGF, and partially purified reNGF could induce neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells. Thus, we have demonstrated that biologically active human and mouse reNGF can be produced in yeast cells. Correspondence to: M. Nishizawa     

Overproduction of biologically-active human nerve growth factor in Escherichia coli.

A gene coding for human nerve growth factor (hNGF) was constructed for expression under control of the trp promoter in E. coli. The plasmid pTRSNGF contained a synthetic hNGF gene fused, in frame, to the region encoding the beta-lactamase signal peptide. The plasmid pTRLNGF contained the same coding sequence as hNGF attached downstream from the N-terminal fragment of the trp L gene. E. coli cells harboring pTRSNGF produced an amount of hNGF constituting 4% of the total cellular protein, and removed the beta-lactamase signal peptide. The mature protein hNGF was biologically active in the PC12h bioassay for neurite outgrowth. This biological activity was comparable to that of authentic mouse NGF. E. coli cells harboring pTRLNGF produced an amount of fusion protein hNGF constituting 25% of the total cellular protein. Although the fusion protein hNGF formed inclusion bodies in cells, dissolved fusion protein hNGF was active in neurite outgrowth from PC12h cells.     

人神经生长因子基因的克隆及序列分析

以人基因组DNA为模板,采用PCR获得人神经生长因子(hNGF)基因,载体pGEM-T中,DNA序列分析克隆的hNGF基因与文献报道的完全一致。     

A common mechanism for recombinant human NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and murine NGF slow unfolding

The recombinant human nerve growth factor (hNGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), neurotrophin 4/5 (NT4/5), and murine NGF (mNGF) dimers all undergo rapid unfolding and dissociation to monomer in GdnHCl. Fluorescence spectroscopy, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and size-exclusion chromatography were used to show that this monomer M1 converts slowly to a more fully unfolded monomer, M2, by a first order process with half-lives of 22, 2.5, 1.6, and 0.73 h for hNGF, mNGF, NT-3, and BDNF, respectively, at 25 degrees C. Linear Arrhenius plots for the conversion of M1 to M2 yielded activation energies of 27, 22, 24, and 24 kcal/mol for hNGF, mNGF, NT-3, and BDNF, respectively. The refolding of these neurotrophins from 5 M GdnHCl was also first order with NT-3 the slowest to refold and BDNF the fastest. Threading of the N-terminus out through the cystine-knot loop present in each of these proteins is proposed as the slow step in unfolding. The number of amino acids in the cystine-knot loop (14 for hNGF, mNGF, NT-3, and BDNF; 21 for NT4/5), and the number and position of the proline residues in this loop (2 for hNGF; 1 for mNGF, NT-3, BDNF, and NT4/5) correlate with the relative rates of unfolding. The smaller the loop and the greater the number of prolines, the more hindered and slower the unfolding.     

Synthesis and secretion of human nerve growth factor by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The DNA coding for human nerve growth factor (hNGF) was chemically synthesized and introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression and secretion of hNGF was obtained by use of the yeast phosphoglycerate kinase-encoding gene promoter and the pre-pro sequence of the yeast alpha-mating factor. Immunoblotting with antiserum raised against a protein A-hNGF fusion protein, allowed the detection of an immunoreactive material secreted into the culture medium. A preparation from the culture medium, partially purified by ion-exchange column chromatography, stimulated neurite outgrowth from rat pheochromocytoma PC12h cells.     

Human fibroblast cells synthesize and secrete nerve growth factor in culture.

Using our enzyme immunoassay system developed for recombinant hNGF, we examined the synthesis and secretion of human NGF (hNGF) by human fibroblast (WS-1) cells. The amount of the factor secreted by WS-1 cells increased linearly and a significant amount of NGF was detected in the conditioned medium of WS-1 cultures. WS-1 NGF showed properties identical to those of recombinant human NGF in immunoreactivity and molecular weight. An increase in cell density or the withdrawal of serum from the culture medium caused a drastic decrease in the rate of NGF secretion. These results suggest that WS-1 cells are able to synthesize and secrete hNGF in culture and that the synthesis/secretion is regulated in a growth phase-dependent manner.     

Simultaneous synthesis of luciferase and human nerve growth factor in caterpillars infected with a recombinant baculovirus

Human nerve growth factor (hNGF) gene was proliferated with human leucocyte DNA as template by PCR. Then a fusion gene coding hNGF and luciferase (Luc) cDNAs was inserted into transfer vector pSXIVVI⁺X3/3 with the control of Syn XIV promoter. Luc and hNGF were simultaneously synthesized in Spodoptera larvae upon infection with a recombinant baculovirus, TnNPV-Luc-NGF-OCC⁺. Densitometric scanning of SDS-PAGE revealed that ∼18% of the total Coomassie blue-stainable protein of the infected larvae was represented by Luc protein, while the hNGF level was ∼8%. Both proteins were similar to their authentic counterparts in terms of immunoreactivity. Received 16 August 1998/ Accepted in revised form 14 October 1998     

Development of sensitive enzyme immunoassay for human nerve growth factor.

We prepared anti-recombinant human nerve growth factor (hNGF) antibody IgG and characterized its property immunologically. This antibody IgG reacted with some animal NGFs, especially with bovine NGF, on immunodiffusion analysis. Using this antibody IgG, we developed a sensitive two-site enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for human NGF, based on the biotin-streptoavidin system. NGF at a concentration as low as 0.02 pg/well (corresponding to 8 x 10(-19) mol) could be measured with high reproducibility. The sensitivity of this EIA was equal to that of our EIA for mouse NGF. With this EIA, the detection limit of other mammalian NGFs was reduced in parallel with the degree of decrease in amino acid sequence homology between them and hNGF.     

Optimization of recombinant human nerve growth factor production in the psychrophilic Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis

The optimization of production strategy is a very useful tool to attain high level of recombinant protein at a low cost. A promising biotechnological application of psychrophilic bacteria is their use as non-conventional host for the recombinant production of useful proteins. The lowering of the expression temperature can in fact facilitate the correct folding of heterologous proteins that accumulate in insoluble form as inclusion bodies when produced in Escherichia coli. An example of such "difficult" proteins is the human nerve growth factor (hNGF). The gene encoding the mature form of hNGF was expressed in the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 at 4 degrees C. Western blotting experiments demonstrated that the protein was produced in soluble form and translocated in the periplasmic space. Furthermore, an analytical gel filtration chromatography confirmed that the recombinant protein was largely in dimeric form. For a more efficient recombinant rhNGF production, the influence of cultivation operational strategies and growth conditions (medium composition, temperature, specific growth rate) on biomass yield and recombinant protein production was investigated in batch and chemostat cultivations. The highest product yield of soluble rhNGF (7.5mg(NGF)g(dryweight)(-1)) has been achieved in batch culture at 4 degrees C on Schatz medium with addition of tryptone and vitamins.     

Synthesis and biological activity of polyethylene glycol-mouse nerve growth factor conjugate

Conjugation of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives with therapeutic proteins is a promising approach for enhancing protein stability and, therefore, effectiveness. An N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of fluorescein-PEG 2000 was used for chemical modification of mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF), a dimeric protein with therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease. The mNGF-PEG2000-fluorescein conjugate was characterized by RP-HPLC, spectrofluorometry, and SDS-PAGE and was biologically active, as determined by two independent NGF-specific assays (enhancement of ChAT activity in fetal neurons and neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells). The conjugate was not detectable by a standard NGF ELISA, suggesting a fortuitous reduction in protein recognition by antibodies.     

The unprocessed C-terminal dipeptide of recombinant beta-nerve growth factor determines three stable forms with distinct biological activities.

The processing of polypeptide neurotrophins in the nervous system is poorly understood. In this paper, we provide information on the effects of C-terminal processing of nerve growth factor. Three forms of recombinant mouse beta-nerve growth factor (rNGF) were produced and isolated from insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus. The three purified forms of rNGF exhibited distinct biological activities and differed in their abilities to compete with high affinity binding of mouse beta-nerve growth factor (mNGF). However, they were chemically and structurally indistinguishable from each other. All three forms of rNGF differed from mature mNGF from mouse submaxillary gland in that the C-terminal Arg-Gly dipeptide had not been proteolytically removed. Removal of the C-terminal dipeptide by gamma-NGF peptidase treatment converted the three forms into a single form identical with mature mNGF. The above results demonstrate that a single polypeptide of rNGF, due to the presence of a C-terminal dipeptide, exhibits three stable dimeric protein conformations with distinct biological activities. The apparent lack of gamma-NGF peptidase in the nervous system raises the possibility that the biologically significant form of NGF may differ from mature mNGF; such a difference may be of physiological relevance.     

Unsuitability of laser nephelometer in the evaluation of factor VIII antigen

We developed assays for the measurement of Factor VIII in a Laser Nephelometer and the results were compared with those obtained by conventional immunological methods. Marked discrepancies were obtained using different antisera and only the Dako antiserum lot 42 B yielded satisfactory results. Other antisera used (other lots of Dako antiserum, Behringwerke antiserum and Immunoscientific antiserum) failed to yield satisfactory results. From our data it seems that Laser Nephelometer has no role in the evaluation of Factor VIII complex. Statements to the contrary have to be accepted with great caution.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the epidermal growth factor receptor

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was developed using three different antibody preparations, one of which is commercially available. Using one of the antisera (986), the assay could detect as few as 200 × 10⁶ receptors. This is equal to 0.332 fmol. This sensitivity means that a minimum of 100 A-431 cells (human carcinoma) or 5,000 normal cells are needed to quantitate the number of EGF receptors. Two of the antisera (986 and 451) recognized EGF receptors from placental tissue. EGF receptors from as little as 667 ng of placental membrane protein were detectable. The assay is highly species specific, with the sensitivity for the EGF receptor from different species dependent on the antiserum used. The commercial antibody, 29.1, had especially strong reactivity against pig and dog EGF receptors. An ELISA using this antibody had the capacity to detect the number of EGF receptors in 10 μg of liver membrane protein. The assay is sensitive to receptor conformation. The binding of antisera 986 and 451 to 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-denatured receptor was reduced. The binding of antibody 29.1 was impaired by the presence of 1% Triton X-100 but not the same levels of Tween-20 or SDS. In addition to being a sensitive technique for the quantitation of the EGF receptor, this assay is very rapid, taking a total of 4 h. The microtiter dish format also allows hundreds of samples to be assayed at once. By using the appropriate antiserum and standards, the EGF receptor can be quantitated in tissues from humans, dogs, pigs, and mice.     

Partial characterization of four forms of immunoreactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the brain and terminal nerve of the spiny dogfish (Elasmobranchii; Squalus acanthias).

Four forms of immunoreactive GnRH have been detected in tissue extracts of both whole brains and terminal nerves from the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias). The GnRH forms were characterized using reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and immunological recognition with four different antisera. Three of these forms possess immunological and chromatographic properties consistent with known forms of GnRH: mammalian GnRH, chicken GnRH-II and salmon GnRH. An additional form, with an HPLC elution position intermediate between chicken GnRH-II and salmon GnRH appears to be a new structure of GnRH. The presence of all four GnRH forms in the terminal nerve suggests a lack of regional specificity of the expressed forms of GnRH in the brain.     

Overproduction of Biologically-active Human Nerve Growth Factor in Escherichia coli

A gene coding for human nerve growth factor (hNGF) was constructed for expression under control of the trp promoter in E. coli. The plasmid pTRSNGF contained a synthetic hNGF gene fused, in frame, to the region encoding the β-lactamase signal peptide. The plasmid pTRLNGF contained the same coding sequence as hNGF attached downstream from the N-terminal fragment of the trp L gene. E. coli cells harboring pTRSNGF produced an amount of hNGF constituting 4% of the total cellular protein, and removed the β-lactamase signal peptide. The mature protein hNGF was biologically active in the PC12h bioassay for neurite outgrowth. This biological activity was comparable to that of authentic mouse NGF. E. coli cells harboring pTRLNGF produced an amount of fusion protein hNGF constituting 25% of the total cellular protein. Although the fusion protein hNGF formed inclusion bodies in cells, dissolved fusion protein hNGF was active in neurite outgrowth from PC12h cells.     

Characteristics of antibodies to the epidermal growth factor receptor-kinase

Polyclonal antibodies to different antigenic forms of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor-kinase from human A-431 cells have been produced, and their properties have been characterized and compared. Biochemically active receptor-kinase purified by affinity chromatography was employed as one type of antigen. Denatured receptor-kinase prepared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis of the affinity-purified receptor was used as the second type of antigen. Animals immunized with either type of antigen produced antibody capable of immunoprecipitating the receptor-kinase molecule. Antibodies produced in response to the biochemically active antigenic form of the receptor-kinase are capable of blocking ¹²⁵I-EGF binding to the receptor and inhibited EGF-stimulated biological responses. These antisera are not species specific in their ability to inhibit growth-factor binding to the EGF receptor of various mammalian cells. However, these rabbit antisera were unable to inhibit ¹²⁵I-EGF binding to rabbit cells. Although antisera produced in response to the denatured receptor-kinase molecule are not able to block ¹²⁵I-EGF binding or EGF-stimulated biological responses, they are particularly efficient for the immunoprecipitation of solubilized ¹²⁵I-EGF:receptor complexes. None of the antisera contain antibodies capable of interfering with basal receptor-kinase phosphorylation activity. Although each of the antisera immunoprecipitated this kinase activity, none of the antisera contained antibody which served as a phosphorylation substrate for the EGF receptor-kinase in contrast to the immunoglobulins present antisera to the src gene product of the Rous sarcoma virus.     

Prostatic growth factor: purification and structural relationship to basic fibroblast growth factor

Prostatic growth factor (PrGF) was purified from alkaline homogenates of human benign prostatic hyperplastic tissue by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, heparin affinity chromatography, and cation-exchange chromatography. The 17,600-dalton, basic (pI 10.2) PrGF is related to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) since antisera raised against synthetic peptides with sequence homologies corresponding to an internal peptide and amino- and carboxyl-terminal peptides of bFGF react with the growth factor. The growth factor appears larger than bFGF, suggesting that additional amino-terminal sequences may be present as a result of alkaline extraction in the presence of protease inhibitors.     

促进CHO细胞生长及其产物hNGF表达的培养条件的初步研究

以稳定表达人神经生长因子（hNGF）的重组工程CHO细胞株为对象,采用无血清流加悬浮培养（Fed batch culture）方式,考察使用基础培养基(无特殊添加物),分别添加丁酸钠、DMSO、KH2PO4的培养基及不同培养温度（32℃和37℃）对细胞生长和重组蛋白表达的影响。每日取样检测细胞密度、细胞活率、葡萄糖浓度、重组蛋白浓度。结果表明细胞培养温度由37℃下降至32℃,细胞生长周期明显延长,重组蛋白产量增加。5mmol/L丁酸钠和2% DMSO的加入虽然提高了重组蛋白的表达量,但严重抑制细胞生长。最大的蛋白比生成速率（qNGF）出现在37℃培养且添加2% DMSO的培养条件下,而最高蛋白表达量则出现于32℃培养添加3.65mmol/L KH2PO4的培养条件下。研究表明,将培养温度设为32℃,在基础培养基中添加3.65mmol/L KH2PO4或1% DMSO是提高hNGF表达水平的有效方法。