Characterization of the formyl peptide chemotactic receptor appearing at the phagocytic cell surface after exposure to phorbol myristate acetate

We examined the biochemistry and subcellular source of new formyl peptide chemotactic receptor appearing at the human neutrophil and differentiated HL-60 (d-HL-60) cell surface after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Formyl peptide receptor was analyzed by affinity labeling with formyl-norleu-leu-phe-norleu-[125I]iodotyr-lys and ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and densitometric analysis of autoradiographs. PMA, a specific granule secretagogue, increases affinity labeling of formyl peptide receptors on the neutrophil surface by 100%, and on d-HL-60, which lack specific granule markers, by 20%. Papain treatment markedly reduces surface labeling of formyl peptide receptor in both neutrophils and d-HL-60, and results in the appearance of a lower m.w. membrane-bound receptor fragment. PMA stimulation of papain-treated cells increases uncleaved surface receptor on neutrophils by 400%, and on d-HL-60 by only 45%. This newly appearing receptor is the same apparent m.w. (55,000 to 75,000 for neutrophils; 62,000 to 80,000 for d-HL-60) and yields the same papain cleavage product (Mr, 31,000 for neutrophils; Mr, 29,000 for d-HL-60) as receptor on the surface of unstimulated cells. Formyl peptide receptor detected by affinity labeling in neutrophil specific granule-enriched subcellular fractions is identical to receptor found on the surface of unstimulated cells appearing as equal amounts of two isoelectric forms (isoelectric points, 5.8 and 6.2) at Mr 55,000 to 70,000. There is twice as much receptor present in the specific granule-enriched fraction per cell equivalent compared with plasma membrane. Azurophil granules contain trace amounts of receptor. Similar analysis of neutrophils treated with papain before subcellular fractionation shows that papain cleaved receptor fragment is detectable almost exclusively in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction. Most of the affinity-labeled formyl peptide receptor present in specific granule enriched fraction is present in membranes other than plasma membrane or Golgi membrane, because specific granule-enriched fraction contains only a small amount of plasma membrane marker and an amount of Golgi membrane marker equal to that found in plasma membrane-enriched fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Processing of the formyl peptide receptor by HL-60 cells

Processing of the formyl peptide receptor by differentiated HL-60 cells has been studied using the photoaffinity label N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-125I-Tyr-Lys-N epsilon-6-(4'-azido-2' -nitrophenylamino)-hexanoate. The receptor on live cells has an apparent molecular weight of 60,000 to 80,000 and possesses one predominant papain cleavage site on the cell exterior yielding a 35,000-Da fragment that contains the binding site. The affinity-labeled receptor was internalized with a t1/2 = 3.2 min at 37 degrees C, a t1/2 = 12 min at 24 degrees C, and was not internalized at 15 degrees C. The internalized receptor was localized in two intracellular compartments with buoyant densities less than that of the plasma membrane. The compartment with the lowest buoyant density was coincident with the Golgi marker galactosyltransferase. Intracellular dissociation of noncovalently bound peptide from the receptor occurred with a t1/2 = 25-28 min. Following a 3-h lag period, internalized affinity-labeled receptor was degraded by a first-order process with a t1/2 = 7 h.     

Effects of tunicamycin on the expression and function of formyl peptide chemotactic receptors of differentiated HL-60 cells

We previously showed that formyl peptide chemotactic receptors (FPCR) of human phagocytic cells contain at least two asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains located at the distal end of the receptor. The requirement of these N-linked oligosaccharide chains for expression and function of FPCR was investigated in HL-60 cells induced to differentiate by N6,O2-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (Bt2cAMP) in the presence or absence of 5 micrograms/ml tunicamycin. Tunicamycin did not prevent the changes in morphology associated with Bt2cAMP-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. Autoradiographic analysis after SDS-PAGE of FPCR affinity labeled with N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-[125I]iodo-Tyr-Lys (formyl 125I-hexapeptide) and ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) demonstrated that greater than 95% of FPCR expressed by tunicamycin-treated cells completely lacked N-linked oligosaccharide (Mr 32,000), and no fully glycosylated FPCR (Mr 62,000 to 85,000) was detectable. Scatchard analysis of formyl 125I-hexapeptide binding indicated the presence of two classes of binding sites for both control and tunicamycin-treated cells (control cells, 82,000 +/- 32,000 sites/cell with Kd 10.0 +/- 4.3 nM and 520,000 +/- 40,000 sites/cell with Kd 250 +/- 80 nM; tunicamycin-treated cells, 11,000 +/- 5000 sites/cell with Kd 3.0 +/- 1.9 nM and 470,000 +/- 70,000 sites/cell with Kd of 500 +/- 140 nM). Both control and tunicamycin-treated cells augmented superoxide anion release, exhibited a migratory response, and showed a transient rise in intracellular free Ca2+ upon stimulation with N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe. However, the responses of the tunicamycin-treated cells were less than that of the control cells. The present studies demonstrate that N-glycosylation of FPCR is not essential for cell surface expression or for several FPCR-mediated cell responses.     

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.     

Asparagine-linked glycosylation of cytochrome b558 large subunit varies in different human phagocytic cells

Cytochrome b558, an essential component of the respiratory burst of phagocytic cells, is the terminal electron donor to molecular oxygen that results in the formation of superoxide anion (O2-.). It is an integral membrane heterodimer that in neutrophils consists of a 22-kDa small subunit and a highly glycosylated 91-kDa large subunit. Identical core proteins often differ in glycosylation in different cell types and with some membrane glycoproteins, the glycosylation state may markedly affect function. In the present study, antisera reactive with cytochrome b558 large subunit was used for immunoblot analysis of the glycosylation pattern of this subunit from different types of phagocytic cells. Striking variability in the apparent m.w. of this broadly banding subunit was detected in five different phagocytic cell types (neutrophils 78,000 to 93,000; eosinophils 74,000 to 115,000; monocytes 82,000 to 99,000; dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced HL-60 cells 79,000 to 103,000; dimethyl sulfoxide-induced HL-60 cells 77,000 to 110,000). However, after complete cleavage of N-linked oligosaccharides with endoglycosidase F, the core peptide of cytochrome b558 large subunit from these different cell types had the same Mr (58,000). Inhibition of N-glycosylation with tunicamycin in differentiating HL-60 cells resulted in the synthesis of immunoreactive protein of the same m.w. and banding pattern as seen after endoglycosidase F cleavage. These tunicamycin treated cells retained some capacity to generate superoxide anion when stimulated with PMA. We conclude that the identity of the N-linked oligosaccharides of the cytochrome b558 large subunit differ in various phagocytic cells. All N-linked glycans on cytochrome b558 in all cell types examined were of the complex type as defined by resistance to endoglycosidase H cleavage. N-linked glycosylation of the cytochrome b558 large subunit may not be essential for activation of the respiratory burst.     

Y2 receptor proteins for peptide YY and neuropeptide Y. Characterization as N-linked complex glycoproteins.

Affinity labeling using [125I-Tyr36]PYY and homobifunctional affinity crosslinking reagents of the rabbit Y2 receptor for peptide YY(PYY) results in specifically labeled proteins of both M(r) = 50,000 to 60,000 and M(r) = 96,000 to 115,000 [1,2]. In this work the glycoprotein nature of affinity labeled Y2 receptor proteins were investigated by enzymatic deglycosylation using neuraminidase, endoglycosidase F (endo F), N-glycosidase F (PNGase F), and O-glycanase treatment. Only N-glycosidase F and neuraminidase increased the electrophoretic mobility of the radiolabeled receptor bands, whereas all other glycosidases did not. PNGase F treatment of both radiolabeled receptor bands electroeluted from gel slices reduced the apparent molecular mass of by 16-17 kDa units, that is M(r) = 96,000 to 79,000 and M(r) = 60,000 to 44,000, indicating removal of N-linked oligosaccharide chains of similar size from both species. Neuraminidase treatment caused slight increases in the electrophoretic mobilities suggesting the presence of terminal sialic residues. It is concluded that the Y2 binding proteins are N-linked complex (sialo)glycoproteins with a minimal core protein size of M(r) = 44,000. Furthermore, based on this sensitivity pattern of the glycosidases, the Asn-linked carbohydrate may be of the tri- or tetra-antennary complex type containing terminal sialic acid residues.     

Biosynthetic and glycosylation studies of cell surface platelet-derived growth factor receptors

The cell surface pool of metabolically labeled platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors in BALB/c3T3 fibroblasts was studied using an antiphosphotyrosine antibody. Exposure of intact cells to PDGF stimulates autophosphorylation of surface PDGF receptors and allowed immunoaffinity purification of only PDGF-activated receptors. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated appearance of newly synthesized receptors in a surface activatable pool within 30-45 min of synthesis. In the absence of exogenous PDGF, the apparent half-life of this pool was 2 h. The presence of both N- and O-linked oligosaccharide chains on cell surface PDGF receptors was demonstrated. Enzymatic removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide chains reduced the receptor's apparent Mr by approximately 40 kDa and removal of O-linked oligosaccharide caused approximately a 7-kDa reduction. Activation of receptor tyrosine autophosphorylation by PDGF did not require either processing of high-mannose N-linked oligosaccharides to complex forms or the presence of sialic acid on receptor oligosaccharide chains. Tryptic cleavage of PDGF-activated surface receptors in intact cells yielded two discrete phosphotyrosine-containing fragments of 107 and 85 kDa. Cleveland digest patterns from each fragment indicate that both are derived from the intact PDGF receptor. These data indicate that PDGF receptors are synthesized and turn over rapidly in the absence of ligand. Partial characterization of the extracellular domain oligosaccharide contribution to receptor function and trypsin susceptibility is provided.     

Identification of heparan sulfate proteoglycan as a high affinity receptor for acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) in a parathyroid cell line.

We have characterized two high affinity acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) receptors in a rat parathyroid cell line (PT-r). Affinity labeling with 125I-aFGF showed that these two receptors, apparent molecular masses, 150 and 130 kDa, respectively, display higher affinity for aFGF than for bFGF. The 150-kDa receptor bears a heparan sulfate chain(s), demonstrated by a decrease in size of 15-20 kDa with heparitinase digestion after affinity labeling. Heparitinase digestion before affinity labeling markedly reduced the intensity of the 150 kDa species. Scatchard analysis showed two different high affinity binding sites (Kd of 3.9 pM with 180 sites/cell and Kd of 110 pM with 5800 sites/cell). The higher affinity site was completely eliminated by digestion with heparitinase before adding labeled aFGF; the lower affinity site was unaffected. In ion exchange chromatography after metabolic labeling of the cells with [3H]glucosamine and affinity labeling with 125I-aFGF, the larger receptor-ligand complex, 165 kDa, eluted with approximately 0.5 M NaCl, typical eluting conditions for heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Both of the receptor-ligand complexes were smaller on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis than two major heparan sulfate proteoglycans, HSPG I and II, which we characterized in this cell line previously (Yanagishita, M., Brandi, M. L., and Sakaguchi, K. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 15714-15720). Both receptors have similar N-linked oligosaccharide and sialic acid contents, shown by analysis of affinity-labeled receptors upon digestion with glycopeptidase F and with neuraminidase. All together, these results suggest that PT-r cells bear two distinct high affinity receptors for aFGF, a 150-kDa receptor which is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan and another that is a glycoprotein. The heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan moiety of the 150- kDa receptor is critical for high affinity binding of aFGF. These findings contrast with current concepts derived from other systems, suggesting that heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans/proteoglycans function as a reservoir source for FGF or as a group of low affinity binding sites.     

Analysis of cholecystokinin-binding proteins using endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F

We have previously shown that the cholecystokinin (CCK)-binding proteins in rat pancreatic plasma membranes consist of a major Mr 85,000 and minor Mr 55,000 and Mr 130,000 species as revealed by affinity labeling with 125I-CCK-33 using the cross-linker, disuccinimidyl suberate. The glycoprotein nature of these species was investigated using endoglycosidase F (endo F) and neuraminidase treatment and wheat germ agglutinin-agarose chromatography. Treatment of affinity-labeled membranes with endo F resulted in increased electrophoretic mobilities of all three binding proteins, indicating removal of N-linked oligosaccharide side chains. Endo F treatment of each protein in gel slices indicated the following cleavage relationships: Mr 85,000----65,000; Mr 55,000----45,000; Mr 130,000---- 110,000. Using limiting enzyme conditions to digest each protein contained in excised SDS gel slices, three and four products, respectively, were identified for the Mr 85,000 and 55,000 proteins. Similar treatment of the Mr 130,000 protein revealed only the Mr 110,000 product. These results indicated that the Mr 85,000 protein has at least three, the Mr 55,000 protein has at least four, and the Mr 130,000 protein has at least one, N-linked oligosaccharide side chain(s) on their polypeptide backbone. Neuraminidase treatment of affinity-labeled membranes caused slight increases in the electrophoretic mobilities of all three proteins, indicating the presence of sialic acid residues. Solubilization of affinity-labeled membranes in Nonidet P-40 followed by affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin-agarose revealed that all three CCK-binding proteins specifically interact with this lectin and can be eluted with N-acetyl- D-glucosamine. Analysis of the proteins present in the eluted fractions by silver staining indicated a significant enrichment for proteins having molecular weights corresponding to the major CCK-binding proteins in comparison to the pattern of native membranes. Taken together, these studies provide definitive evidence that the CCK- binding proteins in rat pancreas are (sialo)glycoproteins.     

Effect of phorbol myristate acetate on processing of formyl peptide receptors by human neutrophils

We examined the effect of phorbol myristate acetate on the ability of human neutrophils to process formyl peptide receptors. The receptor was affinity-labeled and its extracellular localization assessed over time, by cleavage of extracellular labeled receptor with papain. Neutrophils were capable of internalizing (and/or recycling) affinity labeled formyl peptide receptor in the absence of extracellular calcium. This phenomenon was dependent upon stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate, suggesting a role for protein kinase C in this process.     

Further Studies on Guinea Pig Z-1 Antigen That Is Involved in Phagocytosis of Zymosan by Macrophages: Cell Type Distribution of the Antigen and Cross-Reactivity of Anti-Z-1 with Human CR3

We have previously identified a heterodimer molecule, Z-1, on guinea pig peritoneal macrophages (Møs) by the newly prepared monoclonal antibody, anti-Z-1, and Z-1 has been assumed to be the complement receptor type three (CR3) in this species. To clarify this assumption, the cell type distribution of the antigen in guinea pig and the cross-reactivity of anti-Z-1 with other species were analyzed. It was demonstrated that Z-1 was expressed on peritoneal Møs, pulmonary Møs, peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), peripheral neutrophils, and some subpopulations of spleen cells and of bone marrow cells, but not on erythrocytes, circulating lymphocytes, and lymphocytes in both spleen and bone marrow in detectable amounts. Thus the expression of Z-1 seems to be restricted to phagocytes as is CR3 of other species. Furthermore, it was found that anti-Z-1 bound with peripheral neutrophils from human, horse and goat and HL-60 cells differentiated into monocytes. Any cross-reactivity of the antibody was not detected with neutrophils from rabbit, cow, sheep and dog and nondifferentiated HL-60 cells. Human Z-1 was indistinguishable from human CR3, since both were the heterodimer consisting of α chain of 170 kDa (pI = 6.6-7.2) noncovalently associated with β chain of 100 kDa (pI = 5.6-6.7). In addition, human CR3 in detergent-lysate of neutrophils was completely adsorbed with anti-Z-1 F(ab')2-Sepharose. These findings indicate that guinea pig Z-1 shares an antigenic determinant with human CR3. It thus seems to be possible that Z-1 may function as CR3 in guinea pigs.     

Isolation of a cDNA that encodes a novel granulocyte N-formyl peptide receptor.

A cDNA of 1650 base pairs was isolated by screening an HL-60 granulocyte library with an N-formyl peptide receptor (NFPR) cDNA probe under low stringency conditions. The cDNA encodes a protein of 351 amino acids tentatively named FPR2, with a calculated molecular weight of 39 kDa. Sequence analysis revealed that FPR2 is 69% identical in sequence to the human NFPR and shares extensive homology to several other chemoattractant receptors. FPR2 expressed in transfected cells mediated formyl peptide-stimulated calcium mobilization at micromolar concentrations of ligand. FPR2 messenger is detected in granulocytic HL-60 cells, but not in undifferentiated HL-60 cells. These findings suggest that FPR2 is a novel receptor for formyl peptide ligand and a new member of the chemoattractant receptor gene family.     

Two distinct Gi-proteins mediate formyl peptide receptor signal transduction in human leukemia (HL-60) cells

In membranes of myeloid differentiated HL-60 cells, the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine stimulates phospholipase C via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein but does not inhibit adenylyl cyclase. In these membranes, the chemotactic peptide markedly stimulates the cholera toxin-dependent [32P]ADP-ribosylation of two proteins with approximate molecular masses of 40 and 41 kDa, respectively. The radiolabeled proteins comigrate on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with the two pertussis toxin substrates present in HL-60 membranes, alpha i2 and alpha i3. The effect of the chemotactic peptide is blocked by treatment of intact HL-60 cells with pertussis toxin. Peptide mapping studies using Staphylococcus aureus protease V8 reveal that the two radiolabeled proteins are structurally distinct. Thus, the agonist-activated formyl peptide receptor functionally interacts with two distinct pertussis toxin substrates, most likely with Gi2 and Gi3. As the third Gi protein, Gi1, appears to be absent from both HL-60 cells and from systems that clearly reveal hormonal inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, the results strongly suggest that primary structure alone does not suffice to determine which effector mechanism is regulated by a given Gi-protein.     

The fate of newly synthesized V-ATPase accessory subunit Ac45 in the secretory pathway.

The vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a multimeric enzyme complex that acidifies organelles of the vacuolar system in eukaryotic cells. Proteins that interact with the V-ATPase may play an important role in controlling the intracellular localization and activity of the proton pump. The neuroendocrine-enriched V-ATPase accessory subunit Ac45 may represent such a protein as it has been shown to interact with the membrane sector of the V-ATPase in only a subset of organelles. Here, we examined the fate of newly synthesized Ac45 in the secretory pathway of a neuroendocrine cell. A major portion of intact approximately 46-kDa Ac45 was found to be N-linked glycosylated to approximately 62 kDa and a minor fraction to approximately 64 kDa. Trimming of the N-linked glycans gave rise to glycosylated Ac45-forms of approximately 61 and approximately 63 kDa that are cleaved to a C-terminal fragment of 42-44 kDa (the deglycosylated form is approximately 23 kDa), and a previously not detected approximately 22-kDa N-terminal cleavage fragment (the deglycosylated form is approximately 20 kDa). Degradation of the N-terminal fragment is rapid, does not occur in lysosomes and is inhibited by brefeldin A. Both the N- and C-terminal fragment pass the medial Golgi, as they become partially endoglycosidase H resistant. The Ac45 cleavage event is a relatively slow process (half-life of intact Ac45 is 4-6 h) and takes place in the early secretory pathway, as it is not affected by brefeldin A and monensin. Tunicamycin inhibited N-linked glycosylation of Ac45 and interfered with the cleavage process, suggesting that Ac45 needs proper folding for the cleavage to occur. Together, our results indicate that Ac45 folding and cleavage occur slowly and early in the secretory pathway, and that the cleavage event may be linked to V-ATPase activation.     

Molecular and functional analyses of two new calcium-activated chloride channel family members from mouse eye and intestine

Two new calcium-activated chloride channel (CLCA) family members, mCLCA5 and mCLCA6, have been cloned from mouse eye and intestine, respectively. mCLCA5 is highly homologous to hCLCA2, and mCLCA6 is highly homologous to hCLCA4. mCLCA5 is widely expressed with strong expression in eye and spleen, whereas mCLCA6 is primarily expressed in intestine and stomach. mCLCA6 is also expressed as a splice variant lacking exon 8 and part of exon 10 in intestine and stomach. Transfection of tsA201 cells with enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged versions of the three cDNAs reveals protein products of 155 and 65 kDa for mCLCA5 and mCLCA6 and 145 and 65 kDa for the mCLCA6 splice variant. In vitro translation of mCLCA5 generates a 90-kDa protein that does not appear to be glycosylated. mCLCA6 also generates a 90-kDa protein that is glycosylated to a 110-kDa product, whereas the mCLCA6 splice variant generates an 80-kDa product that is 100 kDa after glycosylation. Treatment of enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged mCLCA6 with PNGase F (peptide: N-glycosidase F) to remove N-linked glycosyl groups shows a reduction in size of the 65 kDa product to 60 kDa. Consistent with the hypothesis that mCLCA5, mCLCA6, and its splice variant encode calcium-activated chloride channels, in HEK293 cells expressing CLCAs ionomycin-evoked increases in intracellular calcium stimulated a current that reversed near Cl(-) equilibrium potential, E(Cl). Furthermore, these currents were inhibited by the chloride channel blocker niflumic acid. Given the prominent role of hCLCA2 in cancer cell adhesion and the unique high level of expression of hCLCA4 in brain, the identification of their murine counterparts presents the opportunity to clarify the role of CLCAs in disease and normal cell physiology.     

Structure and membrane topology of the high-affinity receptor for human IFN-gamma: requirements for binding IFN-gamma. One single 90-kilodalton IFN-gamma receptor can lead to multiple cross-linked products and isolated proteins

We analyzed the high affinity receptor for IFN-gamma of Raji cells and human placenta by combining Scatchard analysis, cross-linking experiments, and receptor purification. Only one high affinity binding site was found, Kd 2.1 X 10(-10). The receptor is a 90-kDa glycoprotein. However, multiple cross-linked products of 110 kDa to about 250 kDa could be generated and proteins of 90, 70, and 50 kDa could be obtained upon purification. These proteins all contained the same 90-kDa receptor, or part of it. We suggest that extensive cross-linking and/or proteolysis may explain many of the conflicting results published thus far. The extracellular domain of the 90-kDa receptor protein was highly resistant to digestion with trypsin or proteinase K. Trypsin digestion neither affected the number of binding sites per cell, nor the Kd for IFN-gamma. A cluster of sites for different proteases was found in the intracellular domain. The 50-kDa fragment created by trypsin digestion had the same characteristics as the isolated 50-kDa receptor fragment. It contained the IFN-gamma binding site and the receptor's extracellular and amino-terminal domain. N-linked glycosylation contributed about 15 kDa to its molecular mass, of which 4 kDa were attributable to sialic acid residues. O-Linked glycosylation was not detected. The number of binding sites per cell and the Kd for IFN-gamma were not affected by the presence or absence of N-linked glycosylation. The receptor contained at least one critical disulfide bridge and the reduced receptor could be reactivated in vitro.     

46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate-specific receptor: biosynthesis, processing, subcellular location and topology

Synthesis of the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate-specific receptor was followed in cells of human (fibroblasts, Hep G2 cells, U937 monocytes, blood-derived macrophages) or rat (Morris hepatoma 7777 cells) origin. The mature form of the receptor has an apparent molecular size of 46 kDa except in fibroblasts, where the apparent molecular size was 43 kDa. The receptor contains 7-8 N-linked oligosaccharide chains, about 5 of which are converted into endo H-resistant forms within 2 h of synthesis. A small fraction of the receptor (about 3% of total in U937 monocytes) is located at the cell surface while the bulk of the receptor resides in internal membranes. Part of the internal receptors (20% in fibroblasts) resides in membranes of the endocytic pathway. The receptor was not detectable in dense lysosomes. The receptor is a hydrophobic transmembrane protein partitioning with Triton X-114. The cytosolic portion of the receptor comprises a molecular size of about 5 kDa and contains the C-terminus. The luminal (or external) portion of the receptor comprises a molecular size of greater than or equal to 37.5 kDa, of which more than half is represented by carbohydrate. Cross-linking experiments suggest that the mature receptor exists in membranes as a dimer.     

Effect of deglycosylation on the structure and hormone-binding activity of the lutropin receptor.

Affinity-purified rat ovarian lutropin (LH) receptor is a single 90 kDa polypeptide which binds to immobilized lectins, indicating that the receptor is a glycoprotein [Keinänen, Kellokumpu, Metsikkö & Rajaniemi (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7920-7926]. In the present study the glycoprotein nature of the rat ovarian LH receptor was investigated in order to determine the contribution of the glycan moiety to receptor''s size and hormone-binding properties. Treatment of the 125I-labelled purified LH receptor with neuraminidase and peptide N-glycosidase F resulted in a decrease in size of LH receptor from 90 kDa to 79 kDa and 62 kDa respectively, as assessed by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase treatment did not affect the electrophoretic mobility of the intact or neuraminidase-treated LH receptor. Subjecting the membrane-bound LH receptor to similar enzymic treatments followed by ligand blotting showed that the 79 kDa and 62 kDa forms are capable of specific hormone binding. Furthermore, intact and peptide N-glycosidase F-treated membranes bound 125I-labelled human choriogonadotropin with similar affinities. These data suggest that molecular mass of the polypeptide backbone of the LH receptor is 62 kDa. The receptor contains N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide chains with terminal sialic acid residues, with little or no O-linked oligosaccharide. N-Linked carbohydrate is not required for specific high-affinity hormone binding.     

Contribution of leptin receptor N-linked glycans to leptin binding

The extracellular domain of the human leptin receptor (Ob-R) contains 20 potential N-glycosylation sites whose role in leptin binding remains to be elucidated. We found that a mammalian cell-expressed sOb-R (soluble Ob-R) fragment (residues 22-839 of the extracellular domain) bound leptin with a dissociation constant of 1.8 nM. This binding was inhibited by Con A (concanavalin A) or wheatgerm agglutinin. Treatment of sOb-R with peptide N-glycosidase F reduced leptin binding by approximately 80% concurrently with N-linked glycan removal. The human megakaryoblastic cell line, MEG-01, expresses two forms of the Ob-R, of approx. 170 and 130 kDa molecular mass. Endo H (endoglycosidase H) treatment and cell culture with alpha-glucosidase inhibitors demonstrated that N-linked glycans are of the complex mature type in the 170 kDa form and of the high-mannose type in the 130 kDa form. Both isoforms bound leptin, but not after peptide N-glycosidase F treatment. An insect-cell-expressed sOb-R fragment, consisting of the Ig (immunoglobulin), CRH2 (second cytokine receptor homology) and FNIII (fibronectin type III) domains, bound leptin with affinity similar to that of the entire extracellular domain, but this function was abolished after N-linked glycan removal. The same treatment had no effect on the leptin-binding activity of the isolated CRH2 domain. Our findings show that N-linked glycans within Ig and/or FNIII domains regulate Ob-R function, but are not involved in essential interactions with the ligand.