Distribution and Chromatographic Characterisation of Gastrin and Cholecystokinin in the Rat Central Nervous System

Abstract: Two tissue extraction techniques and two radioimmunoassays were used to study the distribution of gastrin and cholecystokinin in rat brain. Small amounts of gastrin were found in extracts of neurohypophysis, but in neither ice-cold 90% methanol nor in boiling water-acetic acid extracts of the other 33 brain areas studied. Cholecystokinin was found in equivalent amounts in both types of extract of 31 areas. The distribution was similar to that in previous studies. The components of cholecystokinin immunoreactivity were characterised in 10 rat CNS tissues using four tissue extraction methods in conjunction with gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The results demonstrated that gastrins were present only in the neurohypophysis and that in all other rat CNS tissues the main molecular component was indistinguishable from the sulphated octapeptide of cholecystokinin. Minor immunoreactive components were observed in all types of extract of all tissues with the properties of the desulphated octapeptide and the C-terminal tetrapeptide amide, suggesting they are genuine tissue components, not extraction artefacts. Large molecular forms of cholecystokinin were not detected in any tissue. The results emphasise the necessity of using two or more extraction methods and two or more chromatography systems in such a study.     

Neuromedin B-like peptides in rat brain: biochemical characterization, mechanism of release and localization in synaptosomes

Neuromedin B-like peptides were characterized in the rat brain. A rabbit antisera was utilized which recognized neuromedin B but not bombesin or GRP. Using gel filtration and HPLC techniques, a major and minor peak of immunoreactivity was present in rat brain extracts. In both cases the main peak of immunoreactivity coeluted with synthetic neuromedin B. The density of neuromedin B-like peptides ranged 50-fold being greatest in the olfactory bulb and hypothalamus, intermediate in the hippocampus, spinal cord, medulla/pons, pituitary, midbrain, thalamus, striatum and cortex and lowest in the cerebellum. Release studies indicated that neuromedin B-like peptides were secreted from hypothalamic, olfactory bulb and thalamic slices in a Ca++-dependent manner when KCl (75 mM) was present. Also, the neuromedin B-like peptides in the rat brain were localized to synaptosomes. These data indicate that neuromedin B-like peptides may function as regulatory peptides in the CNS distinct from bombesin/GRP.     

A rat brain isozyme of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Unique specificity for amidated peptide substrates

We have purified angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1) from rat brain corpus striatum and rat lung. The brain enzyme has Mr 165,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, whereas the lung enzyme is 175,000. This difference is not an artifact of preparation since mixture of the two tissues prior to purification results in isolation of two proteins with Mr 165,000 and 175,000. Separation of tryptic fragments of 125I-labeled lung and brain ACE by reverse-phase chromatography yields distinct but similar patterns. No differences between the native enzymes are detected in dansyl-tripeptide cleavage specificity, inhibitor profile, immunological properties, sucrose gradient sedimentation, or gel filtration of ACE from the two tissues. However, lung and brain ACE can be differentiated in their ability to cleave amidated peptides. Both lung and brain ACE cleave Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 (substance P) via two pathways. In one pathway, ACE first releases Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 and then dipeptides sequentially from the carboxyl terminus. The other first produces Leu-Met-NH2, and then releases dipeptides to leave substance P 1-5. Lung ACE favors initial tripeptide release 3:1, while the striatal enzyme acts via the two pathways to a similar extent. Lung and striatal ACE also differ in their ability to degrade other amidated peptides. His-Lys-Thr-Asp-Ser-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 (substance K) and bombesin are degraded by striatal but not lung ACE. Physalaemin and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone are cleaved by both enzymes, while eledoisin, kassinin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and substance P 5-11 are not cleaved by either enzyme. Physalaemin is degraded more rapidly by the lung enzyme. The coincidence of an ACE isozyme with substance P and substance K in the descending striatonigral pathway and the unique ability of this isozyme to cleave substance P and substance K suggest that one or both of these peptides is a physiological substrate for striatonigral ACE.     

Preparation and properties of concanavalin A-binding glycopeptides derived from rat brain glycoproteins.

Mannose-rich glycopeptides derived from brain glycoproteins were recovered by affinity chromatography on Concanavalin A-Sepharose. These glycopeptides, which adsorb to the lectin and are eluted with alpha-methylmannoside, constitute about 25--30% of the total glycopeptide material recovered from rat brain glycoproteins. They contain predominately mannose and N-acetylglucosamine (mannose/N-acetylglucosamine = 3), as well as small amounts of galactose and fucose. Approx. 65% of the Concanavalin A-binding glycopeptide carbohydrate was recovered after treatment with leucine aminopeptidase, gel filtration on Biogel P-4, and ion-exchange chromatography on coupled Dowex 50-hydrogen and Dowex 1-chloride columns. The purified glycopeptide fraction contained six mannose and two N-acetylglucosamine residues per aspartic acid and possessed an apparent molecular weight of about 2000 as assessed by gel filtration and amino acid analysis. Galactose and fucose were absent. Treatment of the purified glycopeptides with alpha-mannosidase drastically reduced their affinity for Concanavalin A, suggesting the presence of one or more terminal mannose residues.     

Parital characterization of the rat anti-encephalitogenic protein (RSCP).

A protein antigenically similar to the anti-encephalitogenic bovine spinal cord protein (BSCP) was detected in saline extracts of rat nervous tissues by immunodiffusion analyses using a rabbit anti-BSCP serum. Rat SCP (RSCP) appears to be evenly distributed throughout all parts of the rat nervous system and occurs also in the thymus, thyroid, and adrenal glands. Although immunodiffusion analyses indicated that RSCP shares some antigenic sites with BSCP, anti-RSCP sera reacted only with RSCP, indicating that the major immunogenic determinants of the RSCP are peculiar to the rat and differ from the immunogenic determinants of human, monkey, rabbit, guinea pig, or bovine SCP. Immunoelectrophoretic analyses of concentrated pastes of rat brain (RB) or rat spinal cord (RSC) in agar at pH 8.6 revealed that RSCP occurs in two molecular forms having the electrophoretic mobilities of a serum beta-globulin and a serum gamma-globulin, respectively. However, gamma-RSCP is the predominant component of extracts of brain or spinal cord. Gamma-RSCP was isolated from RB and RSC by a procedure which involved: a) extraction with 0.05 M ammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.0; b) batch absorption of impurities on CM-52 cellulose; c) batch absorption of RSCP on SP-Sephadex, pH 3.5; d) elution of RSCP from SP-Sephadex, pH 5.5; and finally, e) gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 superfine. Purified gamma-RSCP formed one band when analyzed by polyacrylamide electrophoresis in acid gels containing 8 M urea. In contrast, two bands were always present when gamma-RSCP from brain or spinal cord were subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis in 15% gels. The larger of the two components of brain gamma-RSCP had a m.w. of 12,400 daltons, whereas the two components of spinal cord gamma-RSCP were smaller. The molecular sizes of brain RSCP and spinal cord RSCP was estimated by gel filtration chromatography to be 12,400 daltons. The amino acid compositions of gamma-RSCP prepared from RB or RSC were similar except that gamma-RSCP from RSC contained twice as much half-cystine and a slightly higher proportion of basic amino acid than gamma-RSCP from RB.     

ELECTROPHORETIC ANALYSIS OF THE HIGHLY BASIC PROTEINS OF THE RAT BRAIN FRACTION WHICH INDUCES EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

Abstract— A purified basic protein fraction of adult rat brain when injected into guinea pigs induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). The freeze-dried preparations were subjected to electrophoresis on 5% polyacrylamide gel at pH 10.6 in the presence of 8 m -urea to obtain one-step separation of highly basic proteins from other proteins. Under these conditions the highly basic proteins whose isoelectric point exceeded pH 10.0 gave seven distinct components. After staining these protein bands with naphthalene black 10B they were scanned densitometrically: the area under each peak was computed and used for calculation of the amounts of individual basic proteins. The acid extracts of rat brain contained 2.61–3.95 mg highly basic proteins/g fresh tissue.
A comparison of the electrophoretic patterns of acid extracts of rat brain and liver showed that two of the highly basic proteins (components 1 and 2) were present only in the brain and not in the liver. These two components in the brain were attributed to proteins of the myelin sheath.     

Preparation and properties of concanavalin A-binding glycopeptides derived from rat brain glycoproteins

Mannose-rich glycopeptides derived from brain glycoproteins were recovered by affinity chromatography on Concanavalin A-Sepharose. These glycopeptides, which adsorb to the lectin and are eluted with α-methylmannoside, constitute about 25–30% of the total glycopeptide material recovered from rat brain glycoproteins. They contain predominately mannose and N-acetylglucosamine (mannose/N-acetylglucosamine = 3), as well as small amounts of galactose and fucose. Approx. 65% of the Concanavalin A-binding glycopeptide carbohydrate was recovered after treatment with leucine aminopeptidase, gel filtration on Biogel P-4, and ion-exchange chromatography on coupled Dowex 50-hydrogen and Dowex 1-chrolide columns. The purified glycopeptide fraction contained six mannose and two N-acetylglucosamine residues per aspartic acid and possessed an apparent molecular weight of about 2000 as assessed by gel filtration and amino acid analysis. Galactose and fucose were absent. Treatment of the purified glycopeptides with α-mannosidase drastically reduced their affinity for Concanavalin A, suggesting the presence of one or more terminal mannose residues.     

Immunoreactive Met-enkephalin Arg6 in rat brain, and bovine brain, gut, and adrenal

Antibodies directed against the Met-enkephalin-related hexapeptide, Met-enk Arg6, have been used in radioimmunoassays in the characterization of material in rat brain, and bovine striatum, colon, and adrenal medulla. Met-enk Lys6 reacted 0.27 relative to Met-enk Arg6, but Leu-enk Arg6 and C-terminal extensions or deletions of Met-enk Arg6 showed less than 0.02 immunoreactivity. In rat brain, the concentration of Met-enk Arg6-like immunoreactivity was less than 20 pmol X g-1 in all regions, but after trypsinization of tissue extracts there were up to 80-fold increases in immunoreactivity as a result of cleavage of C-terminally extended forms. The tryptic product eluted as Met-enk Arg6 on gel filtration. In control extracts of rat brain there were at least three immunoreactive forms of Met-enk Arg6; one eluted in the position of the hexapeptide standard on gel filtration and HPLC while the others had properties of N-terminally extended forms. In bovine striatum and colon the hexapeptide-like material predominated; but in bovine adrenal extracts, there were relatively low concentrations of the hexapeptide and, instead, the dominant immunoreactive forms corresponded to two components that were probably N-terminally extended variants. Trypsin again produced marked increases in immunoreactivity. HPLC studies indicated that Met-enk Arg6Phe7- and Met-enk Arg6Gly7Leu8-like immunoreactive peptides were important substrates in bovine brain for the production of hexapeptide immunoreactivity after trypsin. The differences in the patterns of immunoreactive forms in bovine adrenal, colon, and brain are consistent with tissue variations in the pathways of posttranslational processing of the precursor molecules.     

Presence of ranatensin-like and bombesin-like peptides in amphibian brains

Antibodies specific for the carboxyl-terminal regions of bombesin and of ranatensin were used to study the tissue distribution of substances immunochemically similar to these two peptides in three amphibian species. Brain extracts of Rana catesbeiana, Rana pipiens, and Xenopus laevis all contained considerable quantities of both types of immunoreactivity, with measured concentrations as high as several hundred pmol per g tissue. The two antibodies used in this study had very low crossreactivity (less than 1% by RIA) with the other peptide. In addition, gel filtration revealed different elution profiles for the two immunoreactive substances extracted from amphibian brains. Immunocytochemistry revealed differences in localization within nerve fibers and cell bodies and specific absorption by the appropriate peptide. Ranatensin-like peptides were also present in high concentrations in skin of the two Rana species but not in that of Xenopus. Bombesin-like peptides were more abundant in the stomach of all three species. Significant amounts of substance P/phylasaemin-like immunoreactivity also were detected in the brains of all three species. It is concluded that ranatensin-like peptides are not confined to the skin and can be included as central nervous system neuropeptides in amphibians. These two groups of peptides are not species-specific since both are found in brain and stomach of amphibians whose skin contains only ranatensin-like peptide or neither.     

Identification of gastrin releasing peptide-related substances in guinea pig and rat brain

Rat and guinea pig brain extracts were examined for the occurrence of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-like substances by sequence specific radioimmunoassays interfaced with gel filtration and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Tryptic digestion of the immunoreactive peptides followed by RP-HPLC was used to further characterize GRP-related peptides in brain. Using these analytical techniques it was found that guinea pig brain extracts contained a peptide with characteristics identical to authentic GRP (27 amino acid residues long). A carboxyterminal fragment with the characteristics of GRP(18–27) as well as a respective aminoterminal fragment with the characteristics of GRP(1–16) were also present in guinea pig brain extracts. The GRP(18–27) seems to correspond to the bombesin related material that has been described previously in mammalian brain extracts.Rat brain extracts also contained a peptide with the characteristics of GRP(18–27). The corresponding aminoterminal fragment, however, behaved differently on RP-HPLC from authentic GRP(1–16) and it was not recognized by antibodies directed to the aminoterminal tridecapeptide fragment of authentic GRP. Similarly the GRP-like peptide from rat brain did not comigrate on RP-HPLC with authentic GRP and was unreactive to antibodies directed toward the aminoterminus of GRP.     

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide carboxy-terminal fragment, VIP(22-28), and other fragments of VIP, in the central nervous system of the rat

The possible existence in rat brain tissues of shorter peptides related to VIP has been examined. VIP and PHI both contain paired basic amino acid residues at which posttranslational cleavage of these peptides might occur. Antiserum to VIP(22-28) was raised in rabbits. The antiserum was carboxy-terminus directed, showing cross-reactivity with all tested peptides containing the VIP carboxy-terminus sequences. Chromatographic analysis of rat brain extracts demonstrated that recovered VIP(22-28) immunoreactivity [VIP(22-28)-ir] was heterogeneous, consisting of a major fraction [60-70% of total VIP(22-28)-ir] which eluted as authentic VIP(1-28) on gel filtration and on reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns. A second fraction (30-35% of total VIP(22-28)-ir] eluted from gel filtration columns in the position of VIP(22-28). HPLC analysis of this fraction from extracts of rat cortex, hippocampus, and midbrain indicated that it was heterogeneous. One component corresponded to authentic VIP(22-28). The other two components have not been identified; one appears to be a VIP fragment intermediate in size between VIP(1-28) and VIP(22-28).     

Distribution of bombesin- and cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in rat and dog brain and gastrointestinal tract

Using a specific bombesin radioimmunoassay and an immunoassay for cholecystokinin which sees all C-terminal fractions, the distribution of bombesin-like (BLI) and cholecystokinin-like (CCK-LI) immunoreactivity in the brain and gastrointestinal tract of the rat and dog has been studied. Both peptides are found in the brain and gut but the rat contains more CCK and BLI than the dog; this is particularly noted in the stomach, colon and cerebral cortex whereas the small intestine of both species contains equivalent amounts of peptides. This contrasts with other comparative studies, mainly on nervous system CCK, which find no major distribution differences in man, monkey, pig and rat. This finding suggests that CCK-LI and BLI peptides may have a more predominant role in the rat than in the dog.     

Isolation, Characterization, and Synthesis of AlphaFetoprotein from Neonatal Rat Brain

Monospecific anti-rat serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) IgG was coupled to cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B (4.5 mg/ml packed volume of gel) to yield an immunoaffinity matrix. The immunoaffinity column was used to isolate AFP from feto-neonatal rat brain. The purified AFP was immunologically and electrophoretically similar to serum AFP. It yielded a single band with a molecular weight of 70,000 on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the protein under nondenaturing conditions yielded two charge variants of AFP, reminiscent of AFP from feto-neonatal rat serum. The AFP was observed to bind estradiol with Ka = 5.8 X 10(8) M -1 and 1.3 X 10(8) M -1 by dextran-coated charcoal adsorption and Sephadex gel filtration techniques, respectively. Newborn rat brain cells linearly incorporated [14C]leucine into immunoprecipitable AFP during 6 h in culture. It is, therefore, concluded that feto-neonatal rat brain contains AFP similar to that present in fetal serum and that it may arise in brain as a result of its in situ synthesis.     

Stimulatory modulator of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from mammalian tissues.

The crude protein kinase modulator preparations obtained from several rat tissues (aorta, brain heart, liver, lung, skeletal muscle, small intestine and testis) were separated into their stimulatory and inhibitory modulator components by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The isolated stimulatory modulator augmented the activity of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. The isolated inhibitory modulator, on the other hand, depressed the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; it was without effect on the activity of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinease. The present findings indicate that in the mammal, apparently in contrast to the arthropoda, separate proteins are responsibile for the stimulatory and the inhibitory activities of protein kinase modulator and that the two classes of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase are regulated in an opposing manner by these two types of modulators.     

Mono-ADP-Ribosylation in Brain: Purification and Characterization of ADP-Ribosyltransferases Affecting Actin from Rat Brain

Four ADP-ribosyltransferases that acted on non-muscle actin were purified more than 3,000-fold from rat brain extract. The molecular weights of these brain ADP-ribosyltransferases were 66,000 as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration on TSK gel G3000SW. The Km values for NAD were approximately 20 microM. These enzymes were not inhibited by thymidine or nicotinamide, but were inhibited by ADP and ADP-ribose. Two soluble ADP-ribosylation factors purified from rat brain had different effects on the four ADP-ribosyltransferases during the ADP-ribosylation of non-muscle actin. These ADP-ribosyltransferases modified not only actin but also the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein of adenylate cyclase, Gs, and another guanine nucleotide-binding protein in brain, Go. These findings suggest that the four brain ADP-ribosyltransferases are concerned with nerve functions in the central nervous system.     

Purification and characterization of a β-galactoside-binding soluble lectin from rat and bovine brain

A β-galactoside-binding activity has been detected in mammalian brain extracts using a hemagglutination test and a nerve cell aggragation assay. Inhibition studies suggested the involvement of lectin-carbohydrate interactions in these processes. In an attempt to explore further the biological role of brain lectins, the β-galactoside-binding activity has been purified to apparent homogeneity from bovine and rat brain by salt extraction of the brain tissue and affinity chromatography on asialofetuin-agarose. The molecular weights determined by gel filtration, under native conditions on Ultrogel AcA-34, were 30 000 for the bovine brain lectin and 32 000 for the rat brain lectin; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS gave molecular weights of 15 000 and 16 000, respectively, suggesting that the two brain lectins are dimers. Both lectins have an isoelectric point of 3.9. Amino acid composition data indicate that both lectins contain high proportions of glycine and acidic amino acids. The lectins are specific for β-D-galactosides and related sugars and the configuration of carbon atoms 1, 2 and 4 seems of primary importance. Moreover, the nerve cell aggregation-promoting activity of the purified lectin is 300-fold that of the crude extracts.     

Purification and characterization of a beta-galactoside-binding soluble lectin from rat and bovine brain

A beta-galactoside-binding activity has been detected in mammalian brain extracts using a hemagglutination test and a nerve cell aggregation assay. Inhibition studies suggested the involvement of lectin-carbohydrate interactions in these processes. In an attempt to explore further the biological role of brain lectins, the beta-galactoside-binding activity has been purified to apparent homogeneity from bovine and rat brain by salt extraction of the brain tissue and affinity chromatography on asialofetuin-agarose. The molecular weights determined by gel filtration, under native conditions on Ultrogel AcA-34, were 30,000 for the bovine brain lectin and 32,000 for the rat brain lectin; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS gave molecular weights of 15,000 and 16,000, respectively, suggesting that the two brain lectins are dimers. Both lectins have an isoelectric point of 3.9. Amino acid composition data indicate that both lectins contain high proportions of glycine and acidic amino acids. The lectins are specific for beta-D-galactosides and related sugars and the configuration of carbon atoms 1, 2 and 4 seems of primary importance. Moreover, the nerve cell aggregation-promoting activity of the purified lectin is 300-fold that of the crude extracts.     

Isolation and characterization of fatty acid-binding protein from rat brain

A fatty acid-binding protein has been identified and isolated from the cytosol fraction of rat brain. The fatty acid-binding protein was purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and preparative isoelectric focusing. The binding protein was different from Z protein from rat liver in its isoelectric point and immunological reactivity, in spite of its similar molecular weight of 12,000. Rabbit antibodies against rat liver Z protein were used to demonstrate that the fatty acid-binding proteins from rat liver and brain are immunologically unrelated, and that no Z protein is present in rat brain cytosol.     

Stimulatory modulator of guanosine 3′:5′-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from mammalian tissues

The crude protein kinase modulator preparations obtained from several rat tissues (aorta, brain, heart, liver, lung, skeletal muscle, small intestine and testis) were separated into their stimulatory and inhibitory modulator components by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The isolated stimulatory modulator augmented the activity of guanosine 3′:5′-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase of both mammalian and arthropod origins; it had no effect, however, on the activity of adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. The isolated inhibitory modulator, on the other hand, depressed the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; it was without effect on the activity of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase. The present findings indicate that in the mammal, apparently in contrast to the arthropoda, separate proteins are responsible for the stimulatory and the inhibitory activities of protein kinase modulator, and that the two classes of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases are regulated in an opposing manner by these two types of modulators.     

Molecular variants of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in dog, rat and hog

Molecular forms of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) have been examined in the gut and brain of dog, rat and hog. Fractionation of acid extracts on CM-Sephadex revealed three components cross-reacting in a radioimmunoassay using an amino-terminal specific antiserum. One of the components was compatible with standard porcine octacosapeptide VIP, the other two eluted earlier and are so likely to be less positively charged peptides. However, after gel filtration on Sephadex G50, the same peaks of activity eluted in a similar position to porcine VIP indicating similar molecular size. There were marked species differences in the distribution of the different molecular forms. For example, in both muscle and mucosal layers of the rat intestine 50–90% of total immunoreactive VIP was attributable to the molecular variants, while in hog colon the variants were found predominantly in the mucosa and accounted for about 50% of total immunoreactivity. In contrast a form of VIP compatible with the authentic peptide accounted for over 75% of activity in the brain of all three species. The biological activity of the VIP variants is not known but clearly caution needs to be exercised in interpreting the physiological significance of studies on the action, release and metabolism of VIP.