Analysis of the control of citrulline synthesis in isolated rat-liver mitochondria

Irradiation of chicken muscle cells with ultraviolet light (254 nm) to cross-link RNA and protein moieties was used to examine the polypeptide complements of cytoplasmic mRNA-protein complexes (mRNP). The polypeptides of translationally active mRNP complexes released from polysomes were compared to the repressed nonpolysomal cytoplasmic (free) mRNP complexes. In general, all of the polypeptides present in free mRNPs were also found in the polysomal mRNPs. In contrast to polysomal mRNPS, polypeptides of Mr 28 000, 32 000, 46 000, 65 000 and 150 000 were either absent or present in relatively smaller quantities in free mRNP complexes. On the other hand, the relative proportion of polypeptides of Mr 130 000 and 43 000 was higher in free mRNPs than in polysomal mRNP complexes. To examine the role of cytoplasmic mRNP complexes in protein synthesis or mRNA metabolism, the changes in these complexes were studied following (a) inhibition of mRNA synthesis and (b) heat-shock treatment to alter the pattern of protein synthesis. Actinomycin D was used to inhibit mRNA synthesis in chick myotubes. The possibility of newly synthesized polypeptides of cytoplasmic mRNP complexes being assembled into these complexes in the absence of mRNA synthesis was examined. These studies showed that the polypeptides of both free and polysomal mRNP complexes can bind to pre-existing mRNAs, therefore suggesting that polypeptides of mRNP complexes can be exchanged with a pool of RNA-binding proteins. In free mRNP complexes, this exchange of polypeptides is significantly slower than in the polysomal mRNP complexes. Heat-shock treatment of chicken myotubes induces the synthesis of three polypeptides of Mr = 81 000, 65 000 and 25 000 (heat-shock polypeptides). Whether this altered pattern of protein synthesis following heat-shock treatment could affect the polypeptide composition of translationally active polysomal mRNPs was examined. The results of these studies show that, compared to normal cells, more newly synthesized polypeptides were assembled into polysomal mRNPs following heat-shock treatment. A [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptide of Mr = 80 000 was detected in mRNPs of heat-shocked cells, but not of normal cells. This polypeptide was, however, detected by AgNO3 staining of the unlabeled polypeptide of mRNP complexes of normal cells. These results, therefore, suggest that the assembly of newly synthesized 80 000-Mr polypeptide to polysomal mRNPs was enhanced following induction of new heat-shock mRNAs. The results of these studies reported here have been discussed in relation to the concept that free mRNP complexes are inefficiently translated in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Free messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes of chicken primary muscle cells following modification of protein synthesis by heat-shock treatment

When primary cultures of chicken myoblasts were subjected to incubation at a temperature higher than their normal growing temperature of 36-37 degrees C, the pattern of protein synthesis was altered. This condition of heat shock induced a vigorous production of a number of proteins collectively known as 'heat-shock proteins'. The synthesis of heat-shock proteins was achieved without a significant decrease in the production of a broad spectrum of proteins by muscle cells. The synthesis of three major heat-shock polypeptides with Mr values of 81 000, 65 000 and 25 000 was observed in both mononucleated dividing myoblast cells and terminally differentiated myotubes. Two-dimensional electrophoretic separation of the heat-induced polypeptides synthesized by myogenetic cultures further established that same set of polypeptides with Mr of 65 000 (pI 6.0 and 5.5), 81 000 (pI 6.2) and 25 000 (pI 5.6 and 5.3) were produced in myoblasts and myotubes. The effect of the changes in pattern of protein synthesis on the mRNA and protein moieties of non-polysomal cytoplasmic mRNA-protein complexes (free mRNP) was examined. Free mRNP complexes sedimenting at 20-35 S were isolated from the post-ribosomal supernatant of both normal and heat-shocked myotube cultures by centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. A 10-20S RNA fraction isolated from these complexes stimulated protein synthesis in a cell-free system. The RNA fraction obtained from heat-shocked cells appeared to direct the synthesis of all three major heat-shock proteins. In contrast, synthesis of these polypeptides was not detected when RNA from free mRNP complexes of normal cells was used for translation. The free mRNP complexes of both normal and heat-shocked cells showed a buoyant density of 1.195 g/cm3 in metrizamide gradients. A large number of polypeptides of Mr = 35 000-105 000 were present in the highly purified free mRNP complexes isolated from the metrizamide gradient. Similar sets of polypeptides were found in these complexes from both normal and heat-shocked myotube culture. However, the relative proportion of a 65 000-Mr polypeptide was dramatically increased in the free mRNP complexes of heat-shocked cells. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis revealed that this polypeptide and the 65 000-Mr heat-shock polypeptide exhibit similar electrophoretic migration properties. These observations suggest that, following heat-shock treatment of chicken myotube cultures, the changes in the pattern of protein synthesis is accompanied by alteration of the mRNA and protein composition of free mRNP complexes.     

Non-polysomal poly(A)-containing messenger ribonucleoproteins of cryptobiotic gastrulae of Artemia salina

Non-polysomal poly(A)-containing messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) of Artemia salina has been isolated by thermal chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose in moderate (250 mM) and low (50 mM NaCl and 5 mM MgCl2) ionic strength. The purified particles sedimented between 5 S and 30 S and banded at a density of 1.38-1.40 g/cm3 and 1.26-1.27 g/cm3 in CsCl and sucrose isopycnic centrifugation, respectively. The translatability of the mRNP in a cell-free system depended on the conditions of isolation. The protein composition of the free mRNP is independent of the conditions used in oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography. The proteins have Mr of 87,000, 76,000, 65,000, 50,000, 45,000, 38,000 and 23,500. A specific set of proteins is associated wtih different ribonucleoproteins, although some proteins are present on multiple particles. The main 17 +/- 2-S particle is composed of proteins with Mr of 87,000, 76,000, 45,000 and 38,000. Approximately the same proteins were present on free mRNP and mRNP isolated from non-polysomal mRNP-ribosome complexes. Poly(A)-binding proteins have Mr of 38,000 and 23,500. The 38,000-Mr protein comprised at least 60% of the total mRNP protein. Poly(A)-binding proteins with Mr of 38,000 and 76,000 are also present in a free state in the cytoplasm. A relation between the main poly(A)-binding mRNP protein and the helix-destabilizing protein HD40 [Marvil, D. K., Nowak, L., and Szer, W. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 6466-6472] is discussed.     

Purification of multiple erythroid cell proteins that bind the promoter of the alpha-globin gene.

Three erythroid cell factors that bind the murine alpha-globin promoter were enriched more than 1,000-fold by conventional and DNA sequence affinity chromatography. Visualization of enriched polypeptides revealed simple patterns suggesting that each binding activity was purified. Two of the purified proteins, alpha-CP1 and alpha-CP2, have been shown previously to interact with distinct binding sites that overlap in the alpha-globin CCAAT box. Affinity purification of alpha-CP1 revealed seven polypeptides with Mrs raging from 27,000 to 38,000. In contrast, purified alpha-CP2 was made up of a polypeptide doublet with Mrs of 64,000 and 66,000. The third purified binding activity, alpha-IRP, interacted with sequences that formed an inverted repeat (IR) between the alpha-globin CCAAT and TATAA boxes. Affinity-purified alpha-IRP was made up of a single polypeptide with an Mr of 85,000. We confirmed that the purified polypeptides corresponded to alpha-CP1-, alpha-CP2-, and alpha-IRP-binding activities by UV cross-linking experiments (alpha-CP2 and alpha-IRP) or by renaturation of binding activity after elution of polypeptides from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels (alpha-CP1 and alpha-CP2). The apparent complexity of the polypeptides accounting for alpha-CP1 binding activity prompted a further physical characterization of this factor. Sedimentation of affinity-purified alpha-CP1 in glycerol gradients containing 100 mM KCl showed that all seven polypeptides migrated as a complex that cosedimented with alpha-CP1-binding activity. In contrast, when sedimented in glycerol gradients containing 500 mM KCl, alpha-CP1 dissociated into at least two components. Under these conditions, alpha-CP1-binding activity was reduced or lost. Activity was reconstituted, however, by combining fractions that were enriched in the two components. These results were confirmed by experiments in which we showed that alpha-CP1-binding activity can be recovered only by combining distinct sets of polypeptides that were isolated and renatured from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Our results suggest that the seven polypeptides visualized after affinity purification of alpha-CP1 interact to form a heterotypic complex (or set of complexes) required for alpha-CP1-binding activity.     

Rabbit liver glycogen synthase kinases. Characterization of a protein kinase (PC0.7) able to phosphorylate glycogen synthase and phosvitin

A rabbit liver protein kinase (PC0.7), able to phosphorylate glycogen synthase and phosvitin, has been extensively purified. The enzyme had apparent Mr = 170,000-190,000 as judged by gel filtration and was associated with two major polypeptide species, alpha (Mr = 43,000) and beta (Mr = 25,000). Two other polypeptides, Mr = 38,000 and Mr = 35,000, were also detected. Treatment with trypsin led to an enzyme composed only of polypeptides of Mr = 35,000 and Mr = 25,000. The beta-polypeptide underwent autophosphorylation when incubated with Mg2+ and ATP or GTP. The protein kinase was effective in utilizing both ATP and GTP as the phosphoryl donor (apparent Km values 5-11 microM and 9-19 microM, respectively). The enzyme phosphorylated phosvitin, casein, and glycogen synthase but not histone or phosphorylase and was inhibited by heparin. Phosphorylation of glycogen synthase proceeded to approximately 0.5 phosphate/subunit with little inactivation of the glycogen synthase. The phosphorylation occurred predominantly in a 21,000-dalton CNBr fragment of glycogen synthase that had been previously shown to reside toward the COOH terminus of the molecule. The liver PC0.7 appeared very similar to an analogous enzyme isolated from rabbit muscle (DePaoli-Roach, A. A., Ahmad, Z., and Roach, P. J. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 8955-8962). The present work, therefore, provides a point of contact between the Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotide-independent glycogen synthase kinases of rabbit liver and muscle.     

Bone acidic glycoprotein-75 is a major synthetic product of osteoblastic cells and localized as 75- and/or 50-kDa forms in mineralized phases of bone and growth plate and in serum

Anti-peptide and anti-protein antisera were produced which both recognize bone acidic glycoprotein-75 (Mr = 75,000) and an apparent fragment or biosynthetic intermediate (Mr = 50,000) in calcified tissues and/or serum. A fragment-precursor relationship is suggested from the fact that closely spaced doublet polypeptides of Mr = 50,000 could be produced by proteolysis of the purified protein upon long term storage. No reactivity was detected with osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, or small bone proteoglycans. Bone acidic glycoprotein-75 represents 0.5-1% of the total radiolabeled proteins synthesized by explant cultures of neonatal calvaria or growth plate, by calvarial outgrowth cultures, and by rat osteosarcoma cells. Amounts produced by explant cultures and calvarial outgrowth cultures were similar to that for osteopontin, a major product of osteoblasts. In osteosarcoma cultures, 80% of labeled antigens were associated with the cell layer fraction wherein specific immunoprecipitation pelleted Mr = 50,000 and 75,000 sized antigens. Bone acidic glycoprotein-75 (Mr = 75,000) is enriched in 4 M guanidine HCl/0.5 EDTA extracts of neonatal rat bone and growth plate tissues, whereas largely absent from heart, lung, spleen, liver, brain, and kidney. Explant cultures of these noncalcifying tissues also synthesized bone acidic glycoprotein-75 antigen, but the quantities produced were only 5% or less that obtained with calvaria. By immunohistochemistry, antigenicity is associated with the bony shaft and calcified cartilage of long bones, but is absent from associated soft tissues. These finding demonstrate that bone acidic glycoprotein-75 is antigenically distinct, predominantly localized to calcified tissues, represents a major product of normal osteoblastic cells and may undergo a characteristic fragmentation in vivo and in vitro.     

Use of immuno-blot techniques to discriminate between the glutathione S-transferase Yf, Yk, Ya, Yn/Yb and Yc subunits and to study their distribution in extrahepatic tissues. Evidence for three immunochemically distinct groups of transferase in the rat.

The glutathione S-transferases are dimeric enzymes whose subunits can be defined by their mobility during sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis as Yf (Mr 24,500), Yk (Mr 25,000), Ya (Mr 25,500), Yn (Mr 26,500), Yb1 (Mr 27,000), Yb2 (Mr 27,000) and Yc (Mr 28,500) [Hayes (1986) Biochem. J. 233, 789-798]. Antisera were raised against each of these subunits and their specificities assessed by immuno-blotting. The transferases in extrahepatic tissues were purified by using, sequentially, S-hexylglutathione and glutathione affinity chromatography. Immune-blotting was employed to identify individual transferase polypeptides in the enzyme pools from various organs. The immuno-blots showed marked tissue-specific expression of transferase subunits. In contrast with other subunits, the Yk subunit showed poor affinity for S-hexylglutathione-Sepharose 6B in all tissues examined, and subsequent use of glutathione and glutathione affinity chromatography. Immuno-blotting was employed to identify a new cytosolic polypeptide, or polypeptides, immunochemically related to the Yk subunit but with an electrophoretic mobility similar to that of the Yc subunit; high concentrations of the new polypeptide(s) are present in colon, an organ that lacks Yc.     

A cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein complex containing a small RNA inhibitor of protein synthesis

Ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNP) sedimenting between 10 and 15 S were isolated from the postpolysomal cytoplasmic fraction of embryonic chicken muscle. These RNP complexes lack mRNA but contain RNA with a sedimentation coefficient of 4.4 S. The 4.4 S RNA did not arise as a product of degradation during the course of the isolation procedure nor did it contain oligo(U)- or poly(A)-rich regions. Furthermore, the 4.4 S RNA-containing RNP complex was easily separable from free mRNPs and, therefore, is not considered as part of the free mRNP complexes. Both the 4.4 S RNA and 10 to 15 S RNP were able to inhibit translation of either "capped" or "uncapped" mRNA in a heterologous cell-free system. This inhibitory effect may result from interference of 4.4 S RNA with an early event in mRNA translation. A large number of polypeptides of Mr = 14,000 to 220,000 were present in the 10 to 15 S RNP. Among these, the most prominent polypeptides were of Mr = 36,000; 48,000; 52,000; 58,000; 65,000; 78,000; 84,000; 96,000; 105,000; 165,000; and 220,000. With the exception of the Mr = 36,000 polypeptide, these major components were also found in the nonpolysomal cytoplasmic mRNA protein complexes (free mRNP).     

Transformation in Bacillus subtilis: a 75,000-dalton protein complex is involved in binding and entry of donor DNA.

A 75,000-dalton protein complex involved in DNA binding during transformation was purified from membranes of competent Bacillus subtilis cells. Previous results (Smith et al., J. Bacteriol. 156:101-108, 1983) showed that the complex contained two polypeptides, polypeptide a (molecular weight, 18,000; isoelectric point, 5.0) and polypeptide b (molecular weight, 17,000; isoelectric point, 4.7) in approximately equal amounts. In the present experiments the two polypeptides were extracted from two-dimensional gels and studied separately and in combination with respect to DNA binding and nuclease activities. For DNA binding the interaction of both polypeptides was required. DNA binding occurred efficiently in the presence of EDTA. Nuclease activity was restricted to polypeptide b. The nucleolytic properties of b were identical to those of the native 75,000-dalton complex. Polypeptide a affected b by reducing its nuclease activity. Analysis of the nuclease subunit b on DNA-containing polyacrylamide gels revealed nuclease activities at four different molecular weight positions. These activities were identical to the major competence-specific nuclease activities which were previously implicated in the entry of donor DNA during transformation (Mulder and Venema, J. Bacteriol. 152:166-174, 1982). These results indicate that the 75,000-dalton protein complex is composed of two different competence-specific polypeptides involved in both binding and entry of donor DNA. The possible roles of the two polypeptides in the transformation of B. subtilis are discussed.     

Messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes isolated by oligodeoxythymidylate-cellulose chromatography from Neurospora crassa polysomes.

Messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes were isolated from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-dissociated polysomes of Neurospora crassa. Approximately 15% of the [3H]uridine incorporated into polysomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) during a 15-min pulse was eluted from oligodeoxythymidylate-cellulose as an mRNP complex. The isolated mRNP complexes exhibited sedimentation coefficients ranging from 15S to greater than 60S. RNA isolated from these mRNP complexes sedimented in sucrose gradients between 4S and 40S, with broad peaks at 15S and 24S. The buoyant density of mRNP complexes eluted with 25% formamide was 1.42 to 1.44 g/cm3, whereas for mRNP complexes eluted with 50% formamide it was 1.48 to 1.50 g/cm3. Six polypeptides, with molecular weights of 14,000, 19,000, 24,000, 31,000, 44,000, and 66,000, were associated with mRNP complexes eluted with 25% formamide. The mRNP complexes eluted with 50% formamide had one associated polypeptide, of molecular weight 27,000.     

Purification, subunit structure and properties of a high-molecular-mass protein phosphatase capable of dephosphorylating mRNP of the brine shrimp Artemia sp

A phosphoprotein phosphatase active towards casein, phosphorylase a and mRNP proteins has been detected in the cytosol of cryptobiotic gastrulae of Artemia sp. This phosphatase has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 225,000 as measured by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and has been purified to near homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography on different DEAE-substituted matrices, affinity chromatography on polylysine-agarose, histone-Sepharose 4B and protamine-agarose, hydrophobic chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose 4B and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis of the final purification step revealed that the enzyme contains two types of subunits, alpha and beta, with Mr of 40,000 and 75,000, respectively. These values, in conjunction with the native Mr and the molar ratios of the subunits estimated by densitometric analysis of the gel, suggested that the subunit composition of the enzyme is alpha 2 beta 2. When treated with 1.7% (v/v) 2-mercaptoethanol at -20 degrees C or with ethanol, the enzyme released the catalytic alpha subunit of Mr 40,000. The protein phosphatase was activated by basic proteins e.g. protamine (A 0.5 = 1 microM), histone H1 (A 0.5 = 1.6 microM) and polylysine (A 0.5 = 0.2 microM) and inhibited by ATP (I 0.5 = 12 microM), NaF (I 0.5 = 3.1 mM) and pyrophosphate (I 0.5 = 0.6 mM). The enzyme is a polycation-stimulated protein phosphatase. Purified mRNP proteins, phosphorylated by the mRNP-associated casein kinase type II, are among the substrates used by the enzyme. The function of reversible phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of mRNP as a regulatory mechanism in mRNP metabolism is discussed.     

Identification of bovine brain Ca2+-binding proteins

In a previous communication (Waisman, D.M., Smallwood, J.I., Lafreniere, D. and Rasmussen, H. (1983) Biochem, Biophys. Res. Commun. 116, 435-441) we reported that chromatography of bovine brain 100,000 X g supernatant on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose and analysis of resultant fractions by chelex competitive calcium binding assay, resolved three peaks of calcium binding activity. Gel permeation chromatographic analysis of each peak resolved apparent Mr 40,000 (Peak I), Mr 75,000, Mr 230,000 and Mr 420,000 (Peak II), and Mr 38,000 (Peak III). In the present communication the calcium binding proteins responsible for the calcium binding activity peaks resolved by gel permeation chromatography, have been purified and identified as caligulin, (Mr 40,000), calcineurin, (Mr 230,000) and calmodulin, (Mr 38,000). In addition, a novel calcium binding protein (Mr 48,000 by SDS PAGE) has been identified from the Mr 75,000 calcium binding activity peak.     

Structural characterization of cardiac protein phosphatase with a monoclonal antibody. Evidence that the Mr = 38,000 phosphatase is the catalytic subunit of the native enzyme(s)

The native structures of protein phosphatases have not been clearly established. Several tissues contain high molecular weight enzymes which are converted to active species of Mr approximately 35,000 by denaturing treatments or partial proteolysis. We have used a monoclonal antibody directed against purified bovine cardiac Mr = 38,000 protein phosphatase to determine whether this species is the native catalytic subunit or a proteolytic product of a larger polypeptide. Monoclonal antibody was obtained from a cloned hybrid cell line produced by the fusion of Sp2 myeloma cells with spleen cells from a mouse immunized with phosphatase coupled to hemocyanin. This antibody was specific for the Mr = 38,000 phosphatase as determined by immunoblot analysis of purified enzyme or cardiac tissue extracts after native or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A single immunoreactive protein of Mr = 38,000 was present in cardiac tissue extracts including extracts prepared from freeze-clamped rat heart rapidly denatured in hot sodium dodecyl sulfate buffer. Precipitation of cardiac extract with 80% ethanol did not alter the Mr of the phosphatase nor did it liberate new immunoreactive material not observed in the extract. Ethanol precipitation caused the dissociation of both phosphatase activity and immunoreactivity from a high Mr form to a form of Mr between 30,000 and 40,000. An immunoreactive protein of Mr = 38,000 was identified in several bovine and rat tissues as well as tissues from rabbits, mice and chickens and human HT-29 cells. From these data we conclude that the Mr = 38,000 cardiac phosphatase is a native catalytic subunit of higher molecular complexes which are dissociated by ethanol precipitation. A very similar, or identical, protein is present in several tissues and species suggesting that this catalytic subunit is a ubiquitous enzyme important in many dephosphorylation reactions.     

Phosphorylation of beta-crystallin B2 (beta Bp) in the bovine lens

Three major 32P-labeled polypeptides were found in the soluble fraction of bovine lenses cultured in a medium containing [32P]orthophosphate. Two of the polypeptides corresponded to the phosphorylated A and B chains of alpha-crystallin. In this communication, the third polypeptide is now identified. This polypeptide is characterized by a molecular weight of 27,000 and a pI of 6.6, eluted exclusively in the beta Low fraction of a CL-6B gel filtration separation of lens soluble material, and could be further purified by DE52 anion exchange chromatography. The only 32P-labeled amino acid detected was phosphoserine. A single 32P-labeled peptide was observed after tryptic digestion and two-dimensional mapping. The amino acid sequence of the purified peptide is Gly-Ala-Phe-His-Pro-Ser-Ser. This sequence exactly matches the expected C-terminal tryptic fragment, residues 198-204, of the bovine beta-crystallin B2. The results of carboxypeptidase A digestion of the 32P-labeled peptide suggest that only Ser203 is phosphorylated. By using the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, purified beta B2 was phosphorylated in vitro, generating a single 32P-labeled polypeptide with the identical pI as the phosphorylated polypeptide obtained from lens culture. On the basis of these data, the Mr 27,000 32P-labeled polypeptide is identified as the phosphorylated form of the beta-crystallin B2.     

Purification and properties of eIF-2 phosphatase

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) phosphatase has been purified 840-fold to apparent homogeneity from rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Native eIF-2 phosphatase has a Mr = 98,000, pI = 6.1, s20,w = 5.1, and a Stokes radius = 38 A. A subunit composition of one 60,000-dalton polypeptide and one 38,000-dalton polypeptide is indicated. The Km for [32P]eIF-2 is 30 microM and the Vmax = 1.1 nmol of phosphate released/min/microgram. The 38,000-dalton subunit of eIF-2 phosphatase does not co-electrophorese with the catalytic subunit of liver phosphorylase phosphatase, a type 1 protein phosphatase. The specificity of eIF-2 phosphatase for phosphorylation sites on th alpha- and beta-subunits of eIF-2 appears to be determined by the environment of the phosphatase and substrate. Both the alpha- and beta-subunits of [32P]eIF-2 are rapidly dephosphorylated by the purified phosphatase. In unfractionated lysate and in unfractionated lysate supplemented with an equivalent activity of the purified phosphatase, only the alpha-subunit of eIF-2 is dephosphorylated. This indicates other factors are present in the lysate which govern the dephosphorylation of eIF-2.     

Purified eukaryotic initiation factor 2 from calf liver consists of two polypeptide chains of 48,000 and 38,000 daltons.

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2), which specifically binds Met-tRNAMetf and forms stable ternary complexes with GTP, has been purified from ribosomal salt wash proteins from calf liver. The purified factor exhibits only two polypeptide bands of Mr = 48,000 and 38,000 following electrophoresis in 15% polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Densitometric tracings show the two polypeptides are present in a molar ratio of 1:1. This suggests a Mr = 86,000 for the native enzyme, a value which agrees with the apparent molecular weight determined by physical methods. Less pure preparations of eIF-2 show additional polypeptide bands, including 50,000- and 46,000-dalton bands, all of which can be removed by further purification without affecting the activity of eIF-2.     

Relationship of multiple forms of chromogranin

Chromogranin polypeptides of Mr 100,000, Mr 85,000, Mr 75,000, and Mr 65,000 have been detected in adrenal medulla chromaffin granules using anti-chromogranin antiserum. Monoclonal antibodies to this protein also detect the multiple molecular weight chromogranin polypeptides. Analysis of phosphorylated amino acids gives a value of 5 phosphoserine residues/mol of Mr 75,000 chromogranin polypeptide. Immunological analysis of dephosphorylated chromogranin shows that the anti-chromogranin serum reacts with both the phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of the protein. Each of the chromogranin polypeptides has been isolated using a combination of DEAE-cellulose chromatography and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Sequencer analysis of each protein revealed a high degree of amino acid identities at the amino terminal of these proteins. Amino-terminal Sequencer analysis of chromogranin fragments also provides evidence for a gene duplication event. Preliminary studies also show that chromogranin may be degraded in the chromaffin granules by a calcium-dependent mechanism.     

Biochemical characterization of an Fc gamma receptor purified from human neutrophils

The Fc receptor identified by mAb 3G8 (Fc gamma RIII) was isolated by mAb affinity chromatography from 0.5 to 2 x 10(10) neutrophils yielding 33 to 149 micrograms of protein. Iodination of the purified protein identified a polypeptide of broad electrophoretic mobility from Mr 47 to 70 kDa and occasionally a fainter polypeptide at 100 to 130 kDa, which may be dimerized receptor. Two-dimensional isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis illustrated multiple diffuse polypeptides ranging from a pI of less than 4.7 to 6.5. Treatment of the purified receptor with neuraminidase shifted the mobility of these polypeptides to a more basic pI, ranging from 6 to 8, illustrating the presence of sialic acid residues on Fc gamma RIII. The glycoprotein nature of Fc gamma RIII was characterized by several criteria. The receptor bound to Con A-Sepharose. Treatment of Fc gamma RIII with endoglycosidase H or F, which cleave high mannose and biantennary complex N-linked oligosaccharides, respectively, failed to alter the electrophoretic mobility of the Fc gamma R. Peptide N:glycosidase F, which cleaves all classes of N-linked oligosaccharides, reduced the Mr of Fc gamma RIII by 60% to reveal two poorly resolved polypeptides centered at Mr 25 kDa and ranging from Mr 16 to 28 kDa. Chemical deglycosylation with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, which cleaves O- and N-linked oligosaccharides except for the asparagine-linked N-acetylglucosamine, reduced the Mr of Fc gamma RIII to 21 to 36 kDa. These results demonstrate that Fc gamma RIII is an acidic complex sialoglycoprotein and suggest that there may be 8 to 15 N-linked oligosaccharide chains on Fc gamma RIII.     

Biosynthesis and turnover of a Mr = 110,000 glycoprotein localized to the hepatocyte bile canaliculus

Antiserum was raised in rabbits against a bile canalicular glycoprotein of Mr = 110,000 purified to homogeneity from of rat liver. The antisera specifically immunoprecipitated a Mr = 110,000 polypeptide from hepatocytes metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine. When hepatocytes in primary culture were incubated with tunicamycin before labeling with [35S]methionine in the presence of tunicamycin, the major polypeptide immunoprecipitated by the specific antiserum from Triton X-100 extracts of cells had a molecular weight of 59,000. Enzymatic removal of N-linked carbohydrates from the Mr = 110,000 glycoprotein by N-glycanase digestion also yielded a polypeptide with minimum Mr = 59,000. In pulse-chase experiments using [35S]methionine, the Mr = 110,000 protein detected by the specific antisera first appears as Mr = 85,000 and 75,000 intermediate species which are endoglycosidase H sensitive. The Mr = 85,000 intermediate form is lost first with time followed by the Mr = 75,000 form giving rise to the Mr = 110,000 form that is endoglycosidase H resistant. Neuraminidase digestion of the Mr = 110,000 form generated an Mr 85,000 form but with a different carbohydrate structure than the intermediate Mr 85,000 form detected in the pulse-chase experiments. The time required to accomplish the processing of the Mr = 85,000 and 75,000 forms is relatively slow. Finally, the terminal sugars are added and the mature Mr = 110,000 glycoprotein is rapidly transported to the cell surface. A minimum time of 90 min is required for the Mr = 110,000 bile canalicular glycoprotein to be synthesized, processed, and reach the cell surface which is long relative to the time required (10 min) for another domain-specific protein, the receptor for asialoglycoproteins, to reach the sinusoidal surface. The Mr = 110,000 bile canalicular glycoprotein turns over in the bile canalicular domain with a half-life of 43 h while the asialoglycoprotein receptor turns over in the sinusoidal domain with a half-life of 23 h.