Identification of the vitellogenin proteins in the newt Pleurodeles waltl (urodele amphibian)

Vitellogenin derived from the blood of estrogen-treated Pleurodeles waltl was identified by immunochemical and electrophoretic analyses, using an antiserum against plasma vitellogenin isolated by dimethylformamide precipitation. Pleurodeles vitellogenin migrates as four bands on native PAGE, designated alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta- VTG, with apparent mol. wts of 250,000, 270,000, 280,000 and 520,000 respectively. In the plasma, from estrogen-treated males like from ovariectomized estrogen-treated females, an additional band (mu-VTG) was found by native PAGE, never observed in estrogen-treated female plasma. It has a mol. wt of about 380,000 and shows complete immunological cross-reactivity with the vitellogenin antiserum. At least two polypeptides, termed VTG-I and VTG-II (mol. wt = 180,000 and 210,000) were identified by SDS-PAGE. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis displays three distinct precipitate lines indicating major immunological differences between the plasma vitellogenins.     

Characterization of a chimeric plasminogen activator consisting of a single-chain Fv fragment derived from a fibrin fragment D-dimer-specific antibody and a truncated single-chain urokinase

An Mr 57,000 single-chain chimeric plasminogen activator, K12G0S32, consisting of a variable region fragment (Fv) derived from the fibrin fragment D-dimer-specific monoclonal antibody MA-15C5 and of a 33-kDa (amino acids Ala132 to Leu411) recombinant single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (rscu-PA-33k) was studied. K12G0S32, secreted by infected Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells at a rate of 1.5 micrograms/10(6) cells/48 h, was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. It was obtained essentially as a single-chain molecule with a Ka = 5.5 x 10(9) M-1 for immobilized fragment D-dimer, similar to that of MA-15C5. The specific activity of both its single-chain and two-chain forms on fibrin plates was 100,000 IU/mg of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) equivalent. Activation of plasminogen by two-chain K12G0S32 obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km = 2.9 +/- 0.6 microM and a k2 = 3.7 +/- 0.6 s-1 (mean +/- S.D.; n = 3), as compared to Km = 12 microM and k2 = 4.8 s-1 for rtcu-PA-32k (recombinant low Mr two-chain u-PA consisting of amino acids Leu144 to Leu411). Single-chain K12G0S32 induced a dose- and time-dependent lysis of a 125I-fibrin-labeled human plasma clot immersed in citrated human plasma; 50% lysis in 2 h was obtained with 0.70 +/- 0.07 micrograms/ml (mean +/- S.D.; n = 5), as compared with 8.8 +/- 0.1 micrograms/ml for rscu-PA-32k (recombinant low Mr single-chain u-PA consisting of amino acids Leu144 to Leu411) (mean +/- S.D.; n = 3). With two-chain K12G0S32, 50% clot lysis in 2 h required 0.25 +/- 0.03 micrograms/ml (mean +/- S.D.; n = 3), as compared with only 0.62 +/- 0.04 micrograms/ml (mean +/- S.D.; n = 2) for rtcu-PA-32k. These results indicate that low Mr single-chain u-PA can be targeted to a fibrin clot with a single-chain Fv fragment of a fibrin-specific antibody, resulting in a 13-fold increase of the fibrinolytic potency of the single-chain form and a 2.5-fold increase of the potency of the two-chain form.     

Protein phosphorylation in Escherichia coli and purification of a protein kinase

More than 40 protein species including RNA polymerase were found to be phosphorylated in Escherichia coli on analyses of 32P-labeled cell lysates by single and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The protein species and the level of phosphorylation varied depending on the cell growth phase. With [gamma-32P]ATP as a substrate, cell lysates phosphorylated endogenous proteins in vitro which were predominantly phosphorylated in vivo. Both serine and threonine were the major phosphate acceptors in whole cell lysates. Starting from a partially purified RNA polymerase preparation with the protein phosphorylation activity and using an E. coli protein with an apparent Mr = 90K (K represents X 1000) as the substrate, we purified a protein kinase with a native Mr approximately 120K to apparent homogeneity. The protein kinase is either a heterodimer of 61K and 66K polypeptides or a homodimer of one of these polypeptides. We also isolated a 100K protein with self-phosphorylation activity.     

Characterization of the major phosphoprotein and its kinase on the surface of the rat adipocyte

Intact rat fat cells exposed to 12.5 microM [gamma-32P]ATP incorporate label into specific proteins within minutes. By solubilizing the reaction mixture with SDS which by passes the subcellular fractionation steps, the labeled proteins can be identified in autoradiographs of SDS-PAGE gels. The most prominently labeled protein has an Mr of 42,000. Localization of this component to the cell surface can be made on the basis of inhibition of phosphorylation by addition of a protein derived from the rat brain with protein kinase inhibitory property, susceptibility of the phosphorylated protein to tryptic digestion, whereas the unphosphorylated protein is unaffected by digestion with trypsin (15 min), inhibition of phosphorylation of this protein after brief exposure to melittin, and the consistent observation that more label is associated with the 42,000 Mr band in homogenates and permeabilized cells than in comparable numbers of intact cells exposed to the same amount of label. A 42,000 Mr phosphoprotein is also present in mitochondria which is most likely the alpha subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase. To rule out the possibility that the cell surface protein might be a mitochondrial contaminant from broken cells, 32Pi-labeled and [gamma-32P]ATP-labeled cells were solubilized with Triton and chromatographed on a rabbit anti-pyruvate dehydrogenase antibody-Sepharose 4B column. A single labeled peak was detected upon elution of the bound fraction only in the 32Pi-labeled sample, and not in the [gamma-32P]ATP-labeled sample. Subcellular fractionation studies of intact cells labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP showed differences in the recovery of phosphoproteins of 42,000 Mr depending on whether a continuous sucrose gradient (27.6-54.1%, g/ml) or a discontinuous sucrose gradient (16, 35 and 48%, g/ml) was used. Phosphoproteins of 42,000 Mr were located in the mitochondrial and membrane fractions collected by discontinuous sucrose gradient separation, whereas a phosphoprotein of 42,000 Mr was found primarily in the mitochondrial fraction after continuous sucrose gradient separation. By 5'-nucleotidase activity measurements, the latter approach appears to result in the isolation of a heavy fragment of the plasma membrane with the mitochondrial light fraction which is 42,000 in Mr and labeled. Finally, comparison of the autoradiographs of two-dimensional (2D) gels (isoelectric focusing followed by 10% SDS-PAGE) show different isoelectric points for 42,000 Mr components in [gamma-32P]ATP- and 32Pi-labeled cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Cloning and characterization of vitellogenin cDNA from the common Japanese conger (Conger myriaster) and vitellogenin gene expression during ovarian development

The major yolk protein precursor, vitellogenin (VTG) was detected in plasma from vitellogenic females and estradiol-17β (E₂)-treated immature females, but not in males and immature females by Western blotting in common Japanese conger Conger myriaster. Its molecular mass was approximately 180 kDa under denaturing and reducing conditions. The common Japanese conger VTG cDNA was cloned from the liver of vitellogenic female. It contains 5110 nucleotides including an open reading frame that encodes 1663 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the common Japanese conger VTG shares 80% identity with that of eel Anguilla japonica VTG-1, and 45–55%, 32–34% and 27–29% identity with the deduced amino acid sequences of other fish, amphibian and avian VTG with polyserin domain, respectively. In female common Japanese conger, VTG gene was highly expressed in the liver of this species similar with other oviparous vertebrates. The expression levels of VTG gene in the liver increased from the oil droplet stage to the tertiary yolk globule stage and were maintained until the migratory nucleus stage.     

Characterization of a Mr = 56,000 polypeptide associated with 10S DNA polymerase alpha purified from calf thymus using monoclonal antibody.

Existence of a Mr = 56,000 polypeptide associated with 10S DNA polymerase alpha was shown by production of a monoclonal anti-calf thymus 10S DNA polymerase alpha antibody secreted from a hybridoma line named 3H1. The antibody bound three polypeptides with Mr = 180,000, 56,000 and 32,000 in hydroxylapatite fraction of 10S DNA polymerase alpha by immunoblot. The antibody co-precipitated the polypeptides with the large polypeptide (Mr = 150,000-140,000) of 10S DNA polymerase alpha with the aid of second antibody. Among three polypeptides, the Mr = 56,000 polypeptide was co-purified with DNA polymerase alpha through DNA-cellulose chromatography and repeated sucrose rate-zonal centrifugations. The Mr = 56,000 polypeptide was still associated with 10S DNA polymerase alpha after second sucrose rate-zonal centrifugation, but the amount of it was reduced. The polypeptide was banded at pH 7.2-8.0 and displayed microheterogeneity in respect of isoelectric point by isoelectrofocusing with 7 M urea, and showed weak DNA-binding property after blotting onto a nitrocellulose. The antibody against the polypeptide precipitated DNA polymerase alpha from human, rat, and mouse, and Mr = 56,000 and 32,000 polypeptides were detected in these DNA polymerase alpha fractions by immunoblot. These results suggest that the polypeptide with Mr = 56,000 may take part in the DNA polymerase reaction.     

Large polypeptides of 10S DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus: rapid isolation using monoclonal antibody and tryptic peptide mapping analysis

The polypeptides recognized by a monoclonal antibody against calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha (secreted from a hybridoma CL22 -2- 42B , Nucleic Acids Res. (1982) 10, 4703-4713) were identified by the immunoblot method as the large polypeptides of the partially-purified 10S DNA polymerase alpha fraction. Using an immunoprecipitation technique with the monoclonal antibody, a rapid immunological isolation of the polypeptides has been achieved. By this method, the large polypeptides with Mr = 140,000, 145,000, and 150,000 were isolated from a partially-purified preparation of 10S DNA polymerase alpha. On the other hand, the polypeptides with Mr = 150,000, 180,000, and 240,000 were obtained from a crude extract of calf thymus. Tryptic peptide maps showed that the large polypeptides with Mr = 150,000, and 180,000 were very similar in primary structure and that the structures of Mr = 180,000 and 240,000 polypeptides contained partially common sequences. Among these polypeptides, the Mr = 150,000 polypeptide was shown to correlate with the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the large polypeptide of 10S DNA polymerase alpha is initially synthesized as Mr = 180,000 or larger polypeptide, then converted to the form with Mr = 150,000. The Mr = 140,000 and 145,000 polypeptides in the purified preparation may be artificial products formed during purification.     

Acid-stable protease inhibiting polypeptides formed from denatured horse plasma by proteolysis

1. Trypsin digestion of perchloric acid precipitated horse plasma yielded polypeptides with inhibitory properties for trypsin, chymotrypsin and, to a small extent, kallikrein. 2. The Mr of the inhibitory polypeptides were 73,000 and 24,000. 3. The number, enzyme specificity and Mr of the inhibitory polypeptides differed from the values known for the human being. 4. The inhibitory polypeptides were purified by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-trypsin and by gel filtration through Sephadex G-75. 5. Protease inhibitory polypeptides were generated in the same manner by chymotrypsin, elastase, proteinase K, pronase, collagenase, papain and subtilisin. 6. The number and electrophoretic migration of the inhibitory polypeptides obtained with the different enzymes were variable. 7. The enzyme specificity was constant since all polypeptides inhibited only trypsin, chymotrypsin and kallikrein to a small extent. 8. None of the inhibitory polypeptides were immunologically related to native plasma proteins or plasma protease inhibitors.     

Immunologic evidence that vacuolar H+ ATPases with heterogeneous forms of Mr = 31,000 subunit have different membrane distributions in mammalian kidney.

Vacuolar H+ ATPases reside in the plasma membrane of several segments of the mammalian nephron. In the proximal tubule, H+ ATPase is located in both the brush-border microvilli and in subvillar invaginations, while in the collecting duct intercalated cells, it is primarily in plasmalemma-associated membranes. H+ ATPase isolated from bovine kidney brush border has a cluster of polypeptides of Mr greater than 31,000 found associated with the Mr = 31,000 subunit, whereas H+ ATPase isolated from microsomes dose not have the additional associated polypeptides (Wang, Z.-Q., and Gluck, S. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 21957-21965, 1990). In this study, we describe the production of several new monoclonal antibodies to the bovine vacuolar H+ ATPase Mr = 31,000 subunit. Two of the antibodies differed in reactivity to the cluster of Mr greater than 31,000 subunits found in purified bovine kidney brush-border H+ ATPase. Antibody E11 reacted with both the Mr = 31,000 and Mr greater than 31,000 subunits and stained renal brush border intensely. Antibody H8 did not react with the Mr greater than 31,000 polypeptides and did not stain brush border. The heterogeneity of the Mr greater than 31,000 subunits did not appear attributable to glycosylation or phosphorylation. These findings provide further evidence for heterogeneity of the Mr = 31,000 subunit in different renal membrane compartments and suggest a role for the Mr greater than 31,000 polypeptides specific to the brush-border microvilli.     

Purification and subunit composition of acetohydroxyacid synthase I from Escherichia coli K-12.

Acetohydroxyacid synthase I from Escherichia coli K-12 has been purified to near homogeneity. Analysis of the purified enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the presence of two polypeptides, one with a molecular weight of 60,000 and one with a molecular weight of 9,500. These two polypeptides were present in constant proportion to each other and to enzyme activity. The molar ratio of the two polypeptides (Mr 9,500:60,000), estimated from stained polyacrylamide gels, was 1. Antisera raised against the 60,000 Mr polypeptide precipitated both the 60,000 and the 9,500 Mr polypeptides from extracts of cells labeled with [35S]methionine. The addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate before immunoprecipitation eliminated the smaller polypeptide, and only the larger one was recovered. The hydrodynamic properties of the native enzyme confirmed a previous report that the largest enzymatically active species has a molecular weight of about 200,000; this species contains both the 60,000- and 9,500-molecular-weight polypeptides.     

Autophosphorylation of Calmodulin-Kinase II in Synaptic Junctions Modulates Endogenous Kinase Activity

Previous studies have purified from brain a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (designated CaM-kinase II) that phosphorylates synapsin I, a synaptic vesicle-associated phosphoprotein. CaM-kinase II is composed of a major Mr 50K polypeptide and a minor Mr 60K polypeptide; both bind calmodulin and are phosphorylated in a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent manner. Recent studies have demonstrated that the 50K component of CaM-kinase II and the major postsynaptic density protein (mPSDp) in brain synaptic junctions (SJs) are virtually identical and that the CaM-kinase II and SJ 60K polypeptides are highly related. In the present study the photoaffinity analog [alpha-32P]8-azido-ATP was used to demonstrate that the 60K and 50K polypeptides of SJ-associated CaM-kinase II each bind ATP in the presence of Ca2+ plus calmodulin. This result is consistent with the observation that these proteins are phosphorylated in a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent manner. Experiments using 32P-labeled peptides obtained by limited proteolysis of 60K and 50K polypeptides from SJs demonstrated that within each kinase polypeptide the same peptide regions contain both autophosphorylation and 125I-calmodulin binding sites. These results suggested that the autophosphorylation of CaM-kinase II could regulate its capacity to bind calmodulin and, thus, its capacity to phosphorylate substrate proteins. By using 125I-calmodulin overlay techniques and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis we found that phosphorylated 50K and 60K CaM-kinase II polypeptides bound more calmodulin (50-70%) than did unphosphorylated kinase polypeptides. Levels of in vitro CaM-kinase II activity in SJs were measured by phosphorylation of exogenous synapsin I. SJs containing highly phosphorylated CaM-kinase II displayed greater activity in phosphorylating synapsin I (300% at 15 nM calmodulin) relative to control SJs that contained unphosphorylated CaM-kinase II. The CaM-kinase II activity in phosphorylated SJs was indistinguishable from control SJs at saturating calmodulin concentrations (300-1,000 nM). These findings show that the degree of autophosphorylation of CaM-kinase II in brain SJs modulates its in vitro activity at low and possibly physiological calmodulin concentrations; such a process may represent a mechanism of regulating this kinase's activity at CNS synapses in situ.     

Effects of 2,2'4,4'5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) on plasma sex steroids and vitellogenin in rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli)

We examined the estrogenic effect of 2,2'4,4'5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) on the rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. We measured levels of plasma estradiol-17beta (E(2)) and testosterone (T) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Plasma concentrations of T and 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in female and male fish injected with PCB 153 using two dosages (0.16 mg/kg body weight. and 0.57 mg/kg) did not differ significantly between sexes or from sham-injected controls of the same sex. Plasma concentrations of E(2) in females injected with PCB 153 (both levels) increased at 12 and 24 h. Concentrations of plasma vitellogenin (VTG) in females increased 72 h after injection with PCB 153 and reached 0.38 and 1.25 mg/mL, respectively. No VTG was detected in males injected with the same dosage. These results suggest that PCB 153 may lead to the production VTG in female rockfish through a synergistic effect with E(2), resulting in indirect disruption of the aromatization process.     

Cholera toxin can catalyze ADP-ribosylation of cytoskeletal proteins

Cholera toxin catalyzes transfer of radiolabel from [32P]NAD+ to several peptides in particulate preparations of human foreskin fibroblasts. Resolution of these peptides by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis allowed identification of two peptides of Mr = 42,000 and 52,000 as peptide subunits of a regulatory component of adenylate cyclase. The radiolabeling of another group of peptides (Mr = 50,000 to 65,000) suggested that cholera toxin could catalyze ADP-ribosylation of cytoskeletal proteins. This suggestion was confirmed by showing that incubation with cholera toxin and [32P]NAD+ caused radiolabeling of purified microtubule and intermediate filament proteins.     

Neutralization and binding of heparin by S protein/vitronectin in the inhibition of factor Xa by antithrombin III. Involvement of an inducible heparin-binding domain of S protein/vitronectin

The interference of the heparin-neutralizing plasma component S protein (vitronectin) (Mr = 78,000) with heparin-catalyzed inhibition of coagulation factor Xa by antithrombin III was investigated in plasma and in a purified system. In plasma, S protein effectively counteracted the anticoagulant activity of heparin, since factor Xa inhibition was markedly reduced in comparison to heparinized plasma deficient in S protein. Using purified components in the presence of heparin, S protein induced a concentration-dependent reduction of the inhibition rate of factor Xa by antithrombin III. This resulted in a decrease of the apparent pseudo-first order rate constant by more than 10-fold at a physiological ratio of antithrombin III to S protein. S protein not only counteracted the anticoagulant activity of commercial heparin but also of low molecular weight forms of heparin (mean Mr of 4,500). The heparin-neutralizing activity of S protein was found to be mainly expressed in the range 0.2-10 micrograms/ml of high Mr as well as low Mr heparin. S protein and high affinity heparin reacted with apparent 1:1 stoichiometry to form a complex with a dissociation constant KD = 1 X 10(-8) M as determined by a functional assay. As deduced from dot-blot analysis, direct interaction of radiolabeled heparin with S protein revealed a dissociation constant KD = 4 X 10(-8) M. Heparin binding as well as heparin neutralization by S protein increased significantly when reduced/carboxymethylated or guanidine-treated S protein was employed indicating the existence of a partly buried heparin-binding domain in native S protein. Radiolabeled heparin bound to the native protein molecule as well as to a BrCN fragment (Mr = 12,000) containing the heparin-binding domain as demonstrated by direct binding on nitrocellulose replicas of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Kinetic analysis revealed that the heparin neutralization activity of S protein in the inhibition of factor Xa by antithrombin III could be mimicked by a synthetic tridecapeptide from the amino-terminal portion of the heparin-binding domain. These data provide evidence that the heparin-binding domain of S protein appears to be unique in binding to heparin and thereby neutralizing its anticoagulant activity in the inhibition of coagulation factors by antithrombin III. The induction of heparin binding and neutralization may be considered a possible physiological mechanism initiated by conformational alteration of the S protein molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Identification of the NADH-binding subunit of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase of Paracoccus denitrificans

The NADH dehydrogenase complex isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans is composed of approximately 10 unlike polypeptides and contains noncovalently bound FMN, non-heme iron, and acid-labile sulfide [Yagi, T. (1986) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 250, 302-311]. When the Paracoccus NADH dehydrogenase complex was irradiated by UV light in the presence of [adenylate-32P]NAD, radioactivity was incorporated exclusively into one of three polypeptides of Mr approximately 50,000. Similar results were obtained when [adenylate-32P]NADH was used. The labeling of the Mr 50,000 polypeptide was diminished when UV irradiation of the enzyme with [adenylate-32P]NAD was performed in the presence of NADH, but not in the presence of NADP(H). The labeled polypeptide was isolated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and was shown to cross-react with antiserum to the NADH-binding subunit (Mr = 51,000) of bovine NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase. Its amino acid composition was also very similar to that of the bovine NADH-binding subunit. These chemical and immunological results indicate that the Mr 50,000 polypeptide is an NADH-binding subunit of the Paracoccus NADH dehydrogenase complex.     

Benzene dioxygenase in Pseudomonas putida. Subunit composition and immuno-cross-reactivity with other aromatic dioxygenases.

The terminal oxygenase component of benzene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida strain ML2 was shown to contain two subunits, of Mr 54,500 and 23,500, by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The native Mr of the terminal oxygenase was estimated to be 168,000 +/- 4000. Polyclonal antibodies raised against each of the subunits cross-reacted with two polypeptides in cell-free extracts from toluene-grown Pseudomonas putida strain N.C.I.B. 11767. The Mr values of these polypeptides were similar to those reported for the subunits from the terminal dioxygenase component of toluene dioxygenase. These polypeptides were present only when this strain was grown on toluene. No cross-reactivity was observed with subunits of the naphthalene dioxygenase or benzoate dioxygenase systems.     

Protein phosphorylation in intact bovine epididymal spermatozoa: identification of the type II regulatory subunit of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase as an endogenous phosphoprotein

An obstacle to the study of protein phosphorylation in mammalian spermatozoa has been the inability to incorporate sufficient amounts of 32Pi into cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (Babcock et al., 1975). We report conditions under which 32Pi is effectively incorporated into the ATP of intact bovine spermatozoa. In the presence of a bicarbonate-buffered medium containing glucose, spermatozoa incorporated 32P into intracellular ATP in a time-dependent manner; after 2 h of incubation, the specific activity of [gamma-32P]ATP (2.3 X 10(4) cpm/nmol ATP) was estimated to be 50-65% of the specific activity of the intracellular phosphate pool. In the absence of glucose or other added substrates, the specific activity of [gamma-32P]ATP was 10-25% that of the specific activity observed in the presence of glucose. Washed spermatozoa incubated in carrier-free 32Pi for 2 h at 37 degrees C, and solubilized in a solution containing final concentrations of 6.8 M urea, 6% NP4O, and 5% beta-mercaptoethanol contained in excess of 40 32Pi-labeled proteins as assessed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Major phosphoproteins had approximate molecular weights of 93,000, 40,000, and 22,000. A different two-dimensional gel pattern was observed when cells were extracted with a solution containing 38.5 mM 2[N-cyclohexylamino] ethanesulfonic acid (CHES), pH 9.5/1.5% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) at 100 degrees C. In contrast to the urea/Nonidet P-40 (NP40)/beta-mercaptoethanol extract, a 56,000 Mr phosphoprotein represented a major component while the 40,000 Mr and several of the 22,000 Mr polypeptides were markedly reduced in radioactive intensity. The 56,000 Mr species present in the CHES/SDS extract comigrated with the purified, phosphorylated regulatory subunit (RII) of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from bovine heart. Antibodies to RII immunoprecipitated a 56,000 Mr, 32P-labeled polypeptide from the CHES/SDS extract that comigrated with purified, [32P] RII after two-dimensional electrophoresis. RII, then, appears to represent one of the endogenous phosphoproteins of intact bovine epididymal spermatozoa.     

Domain structure of human plasma and cellular fibronectin. Use of a monoclonal antibody and heparin affinity to identify three different subunit chains

The domain structure of human plasma fibronectin was investigated by using heparin-binding and antibody reactivity of fibronectin and its proteolytically derived fragments. Digestion of human plasma fibronectin with a combination of trypsin and cathepsin D produced six major fragments. Affinity chromatography showed that one fragment (Mr 45 000) binds to gelatin and three fragments (Mr 31 000, 36 000, and 61 000) bind to heparin. The 31K fragment corresponds to NH2-terminal fragments isolated from other species. The 36K and 61K fragments are derived from a region near the C-terminus of the molecule and appear to be structurally related as demonstrated by two-dimensional peptide maps. A protease-sensitive fragment (Mr 137 000), which binds neither gelatin nor heparin but which has been shown previously to be chemotactic for cells [Postlethwaite, A. E., Keski-Oja, J., Balian, G., & Kang, A. H. (1981) J. Exp. Med. 153, 494-499], separates the NH2-terminal heparin- and gelatin-binding fragments from the C-terminal 36K and 61K heparin-binding fragments. A monoclonal antibody to fibronectin that recognized the 61K heparin-binding fragment was used to isolate a sixth fragment (Mr 34 000) that did not bind to heparin or gelatin and that represents a difference between the 61K and 36K heparin-binding fragments. Cathepsin D digestion produced an 83K heparin-binding, monoclonal antibody reactive fragment that contains the interchain disulfide bond(s) linking the two fibronectin chains at their C-termini. The data indicate that plasma fibronectin is a heterodimeric molecule consisting of two very similar but not identical chains (A and B). In contrast, enzymatic digestion of cellular fibronectin produced a 50K heparin-binding fragment lacking monoclonal antibody reactivity which suggests that the cellular fibronectin subunit is similar to the plasma A chain in enzyme susceptibility but contains a larger heparin-binding domain. A model relating the differences in the three fibronectin polypeptides to differences in published cDNA sequences is presented.     

Effects of inhibition of N-linked glycosylation by tunicamycin on nucleoside transport polypeptides of L1210 leukemia cells

Membrane polypeptides (relative mass (Mr) 48,000--55,000) associated with the equilibrative transport of nucleosides were identified in cultured murine leukemia (L1210/C2) cells by site-specific photolabeling with [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine ([3H]NBMPR). Growth of cells in the presence of tunicamycin resulted in the gradual conversion of 3H-labeled polypeptides to a form that migrated more rapidly (Mr 42,000--47,000) during sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When plasma membrane fractions were photolabeled and incubated with O-glycanase or endoglycosidase F, the [3H]NBMPR-labeled polypeptides migrated in SDS-polyacrylamide gels with the same mobility as native NBMPR-binding polypeptides, whereas incubation with either N-glycanase or trifluoromethane sulfonic acid converted [3H]NBMPR-labeled polypeptides to the more rapidly migrating form (Mr 41,000--48,000). These observations are consistent with the presence of N-linked oligosaccharides of the complex type on the NBMPR-binding polypeptides of L1210/C2 cells. Tunicamycin exposures that reduced incorporation of [3H]mannose into plasma membrane fractions by greater than 95% had little, if any, effect on either the affinity (Kd values, 0.1-0.2 nM) or abundance (Bmax values, 200,000--220,000 sites/cell) of NBMPR-binding sites, whereas uridine transport kinetics at 37 degrees C were altered in a complex way. Thus, although N-linked glycosylation is not required for insertion of the NBMPR-binding protein into the plasma membrane or for interaction of NBMPR with the high-affinity binding sites, it is important for function of at least one of the three nucleoside transporters expressed by L1210/C2 cells.