The isolation and characterisation of human atrial natriuretic factor produced as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli

Human atrial natriuretic factor [ANF(1-28)] has been isolated from a fusion protein produced in Escherichia coli. ANF(1-28) was linked to a naturally occurring E. coli protein, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, via unique cleavage sequences susceptible to either human thrombin digestion, or the chemical action of 2-(2-nitrophenylsulphenyl)-3-methyl-3'-bromoindolenine (BNPS-skatole). The linker sequences were Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg and Trp respectively. The liberated ANF was purified by reversed-phase HPLC. Optimised cleavage conditions released 5-10% (by mass) of the maximal yield of ANF(1-28) from the fusion protein with the thrombin-susceptible linker, whilst a 2-5% (by mass) yield was observed from the fusion protein with the tryptophan linker after BNPS-skatole treatment. The purified cleavage products were biologically active and shown to comprise intact ANF(1-28). Fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry confirmed [MH]+ of 3079 m/z, consistent with ANF(1-28).     

Production of human adrenocorticotropin by cleavage of alkaline-phosphatase-derived fusion proteins containing repetitive recognition sequences for collagenases

Recombinant plasmids coding for fusion proteins which consist of human adrenocorticotropin joined to N-terminal sequences of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase via collagenase-sensitive linkers were constructed and used for the production of these proteins by transformed E. coli cells. It was shown that repetitive linkers of the form -Gly-(Pro-Xaa-Gly)n-Pro- with n greater than or equal to 2 were cleaved by clostridiopeptidase A (Clostridium histolyticum) by orders of magnitude faster than corresponding nonrepetitive sequences (n = 1). The C-terminal cleavage product was Gly-Pro-adrenocorticotropin which could be converted to the authentic hormone by dipeptidyl peptidase IV. On the basis of these enzymatic reactions a procedure for the preparation of pure adrenocorticotropin was developed. Derivatives of alkaline phosphatase containing similar repetitive linker sequences were cleaved by clostridiopeptidase A as efficiently as the adrenocorticotropin fusion proteins.     

不同连接肽的双价单链抗体基因的构建及表达

采用基因重组技术分别借助不同长度的连接肽[G4S和(G4S)3],将两个相同的抗人大肠癌单链抗体基因ND-1scFv共价连接,构建表达载体pET-28a( )ND-1sc(Fv)2,并在大肠杆菌BL21中表达ND-1sc(Fv)2的融合蛋白。应用Ni2 亲和层析方法对表达产物进行纯化,SDS-PAGE、免疫荧光法(IFA)和ELISA对纯化后的蛋白质进行纯度和免疫活性分析。结果表明成功构建了表达载体pET-28a( )ND-1sc(Fv)2,并在大肠杆菌中获得高效表达,其表达产物以不溶性包涵体形式存在。纯化后ND-1sc(Fv)2-5、ND-1sc(Fv)2-15的蛋白质纯度分别为90%和86%。IFA及ELISA结果表明,二者均保留了亲本抗体的免疫活性,对表达在人大肠癌细胞上的肿瘤相关抗原LEA具有特异结合活性,其免疫活性均明显高于ND-1scFv,其中ND-1sc(Fv)2-15的免疫活性更接近于亲本单抗ND-1,该抗体有望成为大肠癌临床导向诊断和治疗的理想载体。     

Proteolytic cleavage of atrial natriuretic factor receptor in bovine adrenal membranes by endogenous metalloendopeptidase. Effects on guanylate cyclase activity and ligand-binding specificity.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a peptide hormone from the heart atrium with potent natriuretic and vasorelaxant activities. The natriuretic activity of ANF is, in part, mediated through the adrenal gland, where binding of ANF to the 130-kDa ANF receptor causes suppression of aldosterone secretion. Incubation of bovine adrenal membranes at pH < 5.6 caused a rapid and spontaneous cleavage of the 130-kDa ANF receptor, yielding a 65-kDa polypeptide that could be detected by photoaffinity labeling by 125I-labeled N alpha 4-azidobenzoyl-ANF(4-28) followed by SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions. Within 20 min of incubation at pH 4.0, essentially all the 130-kDa receptor was converted to a 65-kDa ANF binding protein. This cleavage reaction was completely inhibited by inclusion of 5 mM EDTA. When SDS/PAGE was carried out under non-reducing conditions, the apparent size of the ANF receptor remained unchanged at 130 kDa, indicating that the 65-kDa ANF-binding fragment was still linked to the remaining part(s) of the receptor polypeptide through a disulfide bond(s). The disappearance of the 130-kDa receptor was accompanied by a parallel decrease in guanylate cyclase activity in the membranes. Inclusion of EDTA in the incubation not only prevented cleavage of the 130-kDa receptor, but also protected guanylate cyclase activity, indicating that proteolysis, but not the physical effects of the acidic pH, causes inactivation of guanylate cyclase. The 130-kDa ANF receptor in adrenal membranes was competitively protected from photoaffinity labeling by ANF(1-28) or ANF(4-28), but not by atriopeptin I [ANF(5-25)] or C-ANF [des-(18-22)-ANF(4-23)-NH2]. On the contrary, the 65-kDa ANF-binding fragment generated after incubation at pH 4.0 was protected from labeling by any of the above peptides, indicating broader binding specificity. After incubation in the presence of EDTA, the 130-kDa ANF receptor, which was protected from proteolysis, retained binding specificity identical to that of the 130-kDa receptor in untreated membranes. The results indicate that the broadening of selectivity is caused by cleavage, but not by the physical effect of acidic pH. Spontaneous proteolysis of ANF receptor by an endogenous metalloendopeptidase, occurring with concomitant inactivation of guanylate cyclase activity and broadening of ligand-binding selectivity, may be responsible for the generation of low-molecular-mass receptors found in the adrenal gland and other target organs of ANF. The proteolytic process may play a role in desensitization or down-regulation of the ANF receptor.     

Acidic pH- and metal ion (Zn++ or Mn++)-dependent proteolysis of 140 kDa atrial natriuretic factor receptor in bovine adrenal cortex plasma membranes: evidence for membrane-bound acidic metalloendopeptidase

Incubation of the adrenal membranes at pH 3.5-5.6 resulted in apparent proteolysis of 140 kDa protein to yield a 70 kDa polypeptide containing an ANF-binding site, which could be photoaffinity labeled by [125I]4-azidobenzoyl monoiodo ANF-(4-28). This 70 kDa fragment was found to be disulfide-linked to the remaining segment(s) of the molecule, giving a total apparent Mr of 140,000 when not reduced. The acidic pH-dependent proteolysis was rapid even at 0 degree C, suggesting close association of an endopeptidase with ANF receptor. The proteolysis was inhibited by EDTA, but not by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, N-ethylmaleimide or pepstatin, indicating that the enzyme is a metalloendopeptidase. The inhibition was reversed by ZnCl2 or MnCl2, but not CaCl2 or MgCl2. The adrenal membranes contained guanylate cyclase activity of 1.1 nmol/min/mg protein using Mn-GTP as a substrate, which could be stimulated by 0.1 microM ANF to 2.7 nmol/min/mg. The membranes showed high affinity to ANF-(1-28) and ANF-(4-28), but little affinity to the truncated peptides ANF-(5-25) and ANF-(7-23). After treatment at pH 3.5 and 0 degrees C for 15 min, the membranes retained ANF-binding activity but with broader specificity, exhibiting high affinity to all four peptides above. It was suggested that an acidic metalloendopeptidase in the adrenal membranes may be involved in ANF receptor cleavage.     

Novel Gag-Pol Frameshift Site in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Variants Resistant to Protease Inhibitors

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants resistant to protease inhibitors have been shown to contain a mutation in the p1/p6 Gag precursor cleavage site. At the messenger RNA level, this mutation generates a U UUU UUU sequence that is reminiscent of the U UUU UUA sequence required for ribosomal frameshifting and Gag-Pol synthesis. To test whether the p1/p6 cleavage site mutation was generating a novel frameshift site, HIV sequences were inserted in translation vectors containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene requiring −1 frameshifting for expression. All sequences containing the original HIV frameshift site supported the synthesis of CAT but expression was increased 3- to 11-fold in the presence of the mutant p1/p6 sequence. When the original frameshift site was abolished by mutation, expression remained unchanged when using constructs containing the mutant p1/p6 sequence, whereas it was decreased 2- to 4.5-fold when using wild-type p1/p6 constructs. Similarly, when introduced into HIV molecular clones, the p1/p6 mutant sequence supported Gag-Pol synthesis and protease activity in the absence of the original frameshift site, indicating that this sequence could also promote ribosomal frameshifting in virus-expressing cells.     

Polyprotein processing in cis and in trans by hepatitis A virus 3C protease cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli.

To determine the P3 region protein-processing sites cleaved by the hepatitis A virus 3C protease, a nested set of constructs containing a portion of 3A (3A* [the asterisk denotes an incomplete protein]), 3B and 3C and various amounts of 3D, fused in frame to Escherichia coli TrpE-coding sequences under control of the tryptophan promoter, was made. Additional plasmids that encoded a portion of 2C (2C*) and the P3 proteins, including complete or incomplete 3D sequences, were constructed. After induction, E. coli containing these recombinant plasmids produced high levels of fusion proteins as insoluble aggregates. 3C-mediated cleavage products were identified by comparison of expression with a matching set of plasmids, containing an engineered mutation in 3C. Cleavage products were detected by immunoblot analyses by using antisera against the TrpE protein, against 3D*, and against 3CD*. Scissile bonds were determined by N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the proteins formed by cleavage. The results showed that when a portion of 2C was present, the primary cleavage by the 3C protease was between 2C and 3A, and the cleavage site was QG, as predicted by J. I. Cohen, J. R. Ticehurst, R. H. Purcell, A. Buckler-White, and B. M. Baroudy, J. Virol. 61:50-59, 1987. Very little further cleavage of the released P3 protein was detected. When the fusion protein contained no 2C and included only 3A*-to-3D sequences, efficient cleavage occurred between 3B and 3C, at the QS pair, also as predicted by Cohen et al. (J. Virol. 61:50-59, 1987). The latter proteins were also cleaved between 3C and 3D, but less efficiently than between 3B and 3C. Extracts of bacteria expressing proteins from 3A* to 3D also cleaved a radiolabelled hepatitis A virus substrate containing VP1*2ABC* sequences in trans.     

Mosaic incorporation and regulated expression of an exogenous gene in the sea urchin embryo

A fusion gene construct in which the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene is controlled by CyIIIa actin gene cis-regulatory sequences was injected into unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. The distribution of CAT DNA sequences was measured directly by in situ hybridization in squashed 24-hr blastula preparations derived from these eggs. Earlier studies had shown that stable mosaic incorporation of the exogenous DNA occurs during cleavage, after which the exogenous sequences replicate at approximately the pace of the host cell genomes. The fractions of embryonic cells observed in this study to include CAT DNA sequences imply that their stable incorporation into a replicating nuclear form occurs most often in a single cell at the 3rd or 4th cleavage stages, though it may occur as early as 2nd cleavage, or as late as 7th cleavage. Corroborative measurements were carried out by the same method on squashed preparations of embryos at earlier stages, and by in situ hybridizations of CAT mRNA, both in dissociated embryos and in cytological sections of 72-hr pluteus-stage embryos. Hybridizations to CAT mRNA and to CAT DNA were carried out on alternate sections of several embryos. The results confirm unequivocally that although CAT mRNA appears only in the aboral ectoderm in embryos derived from eggs injected with the CyIIIa.CAT fusion gene, the exogenous sequences are indeed present, though silent, in the various other cell types of the late embryo.     

The effects of intracerebroventricular infusion of atrial natriuretic factor in conscious sheep

The effects of 24-hour intracerebroventricular infusion of human atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and two related fragments were studied in conscious sheep. ANF (1-28) had no effect on either mean arterial pressure (MAP) or heart rate (HR) when infused at 3 or 10 micrograms/hr, however a small diuresis and an increase in urinary sodium (Na) excretion was observed. The smaller fragment, ANF (5-27) infused at 10 micrograms/hr, increased MAP, HR and body temperature, although the same rate of infusion of ANF (5-28) was without effect. All peptides increased plasma sodium concentration and plasma osmolality. None of the peptides affected plasma ACTH, glucose or renin concentration. ANF (1-28) had no effect on either Na intake or water intake in Na-depleted sheep. These studies suggest that members of the ANF family can influence a number of physiological functions following central administration.     

Activity of recombinant dengue 2 virus NS3 protease in the presence of a truncated NS2B co-factor, small peptide substrates, and inhibitors

Recombinant forms of the dengue 2 virus NS3 protease linked to a 40-residue co-factor, corresponding to part of NS2B, have been expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to be active against para-nitroanilide substrates comprising the P6-P1 residues of four substrate cleavage sequences. The enzyme is inactive alone or after the addition of a putative 13-residue co-factor peptide but is active when fused to the 40-residue co-factor, by either a cleavable or a noncleavable glycine linker. The NS4B/NS5 cleavage site was processed most readily, with optimal processing conditions being pH 9, I = 10 mm, 1 mm CHAPS, 20% glycerol. A longer 10-residue peptide corresponding to the NS2B/NS3 cleavage site (P6-P4') was a poorer substrate than the hexapeptide (P6-P1) para-nitroanilide substrate under these conditions, suggesting that the prime side substrate residues did not contribute significantly to protease binding. We also report the first inhibitors of a co-factor-complexed, catalytically active flavivirus NS3 protease. Aprotinin was the only standard serine protease inhibitor to be active, whereas a number of peptide substrate analogues were found to be competitive inhibitors at micromolar concentrations.     

Elements upstream of the AAUAAA within the human immunodeficiency virus polyadenylation signal are required for efficient polyadenylation in vitro.

Recent in vivo studies have identified specific sequences between 56 and 93 nucleotides upstream of a polyadenylation [poly(A)] consensus sequence, AAUAAA, in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) that affect the efficiency of 3'-end processing at this site (A. Valsamakis, S. Zeichner, S. Carswell, and J. C. Alwine, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2108-2112, 1991). We have used HeLa cell nuclear extracts and precursor RNAs bearing the HIV-1 poly(A) signal to study the role of upstream sequences in vitro. Precursor RNAs containing the HIV-1 AAUAAA and necessary upstream (U3 region) and downstream (U5 region) sequences directed accurate cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro. The in vitro requirement for upstream sequences was demonstrated by using deletion and linker substitution mutations. The data showed that sequences between 56 and 93 nucleotides upstream of AAUAAA, which were required for efficient polyadenylation in vivo, were also required for efficient cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro. This is the first demonstration of the function of upstream sequences in vitro. Previous in vivo studies suggested that efficient polyadenylation at the HIV-1 poly(A) signal requires a spacing of at least 250 nucleotides between the 5' cap site and the AAUAAA. Our in vitro analyses indicated that a precursor containing the defined upstream and downstream sequences was efficiently cleaved at the polyadenylation site when the distance between the 5' cap and the AAUAAA was reduced to at least 140 nucleotides, which is less than the distance predicted from in vivo studies. This cleavage was dependent on the presence of the upstream element.     

Comparative hemodynamic actions of ANF-related peptides in conscious sheep

The rapid hemodynamic effects of several N- and C-terminal deleted fragments of ANF, a potent ANF analogue and the recently characterised brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were investigated in conscious sheep, and compared to the rapid hemodynamic actions of ANF 1-28. The hypotensive potency of all peptides studied was as follows: ANF 1-28 = PLO58 greater than 5-27 = ANF 5-28 = BNP greater than ANF 7-28 greater than ANF 13-28 = ANF 5-25. All peptides reduced blood pressure via a decrease in total peripheral resistance, excluding ANF 5-25 and 13-28 which were without effect on any parameter measured. These changes were associated with reflex increases in both heart rate and cardiac output, and a slight reduction in stroke volume. The duration of hypotensive/vasodilator action of ANF 1-28, 5-27, 5-28, 7-28 and BNP was approximately 3-4 minutes, whereas that of PLO58 was 7-8 minutes. In conclusion, amino acid deletions from the C- and N-terminal of the ANF molecule reduced the hypotensive/vasodilator potency of the peptide in conscious sheep. BNP produced similar rapid hemodynamic changes to ANF 1-28, suggesting that the two peptides may co-regulate blood pressure and possibly body fluids to promote fluid and cardiovascular homeostasis.     

Ligands with specific affinity to a specific sequence of DNA base pairs. XI. The synthesis and binding to DNA of bis-netropsins with the C-ends of their netropsin fragments tethered by tetra- or pentamethylene linkers

Bis-Netropsins with the C-ends of their netropsin fragments tethered via tetra- or pentamethylene linkers and with Gly or L-Lys-Gly residues on their N-ends were synthesized. The footprinting technique was used to study the specificity of bis-netropsin binding to the specially constructed DNA fragments containing various clusters of A.T pairs. It was found that the linker length affects the binding of bis-netropsins, with the tetramethylene linker providing better protection than the pentamethylene linker. It was shown that the newly synthesized bis-netropsins bind tighter to the 5'-A4T(4)-3' sequence, whereas the bis-netropsin with a linker between the netropsin N-ends binds better to 5'-T4A(4)-3' sequences. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2002, vol. 28, no. 6; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Effects of small C-ANF receptor ligands on plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor, blood pressure, and renal function in the rat.

In this article, after a very brief review on ANF receptors, we report our study on the effects of small C-ANF receptor ligands in the rat. Two small ligands were synthesized: 2-naphthoxyacetyl-isonipecotyl-rANF11-15-NH2 (5 aa), containing 5 amino acids; and Ala7-rANF8-17-NH2 (10 aa), containing 10 amino acids from the ring structure of ANF1-28. After control periods, 5 aa or 10 aa were infused i.v. at a dose of 10 micrograms.min-1.kg-1 body weight for 70 min in anesthetized rats, followed by a 60-min recovery period. The 5 aa and 10 aa peptides significantly and reversibly increased plasma levels of endogenous immunoreactive ANF by 106 +/- 29 and 52 +/- 24 pg/mL, respectively. Infusion of the 5 aa peptide significantly decreased mean arterial blood pressure from 113 +/- 1 to 100 +/- 3 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.32 Pa) and increased glomerular filtration rate from 1.6 +/- 0.2 to 2.3 +/- 0.2 mL/min, sodium excretion from 0.6 +/- 0.3 to 3.4 +/- 0.4 mumol/min, and potassium excretion from 0.5 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.2 mumol/min. Similar results were obtained with the 10 aa peptide. The effects of both peptides on blood pressure and sodium excretion persisted throughout the recovery period. The results confirm and extend previous observations showing that C-ANF receptors mediate the removal of ANF from the circulation. The shortening of the minimal peptide length necessary to bind to C-ANF receptors markedly enhances the possibility of developing orally active C-ANF receptor ligands for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases.     

Expression, purification, and in vivo activity of atrial natriuretic factor prohormone produced in Escherichia coli

Atrial muscles of the heart are known to produce polypeptide hormones called atrial natriuretic factors (ANF) which have potent diuretic and hypotensive action. These hormones are synthesized as a larger protein precursor called pro atrial natriuretic factor or proANF which contains the biologically active ANF sequences at its C-terminus. Rat proANF (representing amino acids -1 to 128 of the coding sequence) was expressed in a soluble form in Escherichia coli. A simple purification procedure was developed which consists of boiling E. coli cell extracts in 1 M acetic acid and subjecting the supernatant to reversed-phase HPLC. The effect of intravenous administration of the purified recombinant proANF on mean arterial blood pressure was examined. The displacement dose-response curves obtained demonstrated that proANF exhibits similar, albeit less potent, physiological activity than ANF.     

Expression of human parathyroid hormone-(1-84) in Escherichia coli as a factor X-cleavable fusion protein

Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)-(1-84) was obtained from Escherichia coli using a cleavable fusion protein strategy. The fusion protein contains residues 1-138 of human growth hormone as the amino-terminal region and residues 1-84 of hPTH as the carboxyl-terminal region. A 7-residue linker containing the recognition/cleavage sequence of the site-specific blood coagulation protease activated factor X (factor Xa) joins the two regions. Intact hPTH-(1-84) is released from this fusion protein by cleavage in vitro with factor Xa. The fusion protein was produced at a high level and formed inclusion bodies which allowed it to be easily purified by low speed centrifugation, with a yield of approximately 50 mg/liter of culture. After factor Xa cleavage and high performance liquid chromatography purification, highly purified hPTH was obtained, with a final yield of 1.5-3 mg/liter. Physical and biological characterization of the purified hormone demonstrated that it was intact and active hPTH-(1-84).