Comparison of the enzymatic behavior of high molecular weight and free lysyl-tRNA synthetase from rat liver: kinetic analysis of lysylation of tRNA

Lysyl-tRNA synthetase occurs in the high molecular weight form in rat liver. The high molecular weight lysyl-tRNA synthetase has been previously demonstrated to exist as multienzyme complexes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. The multienzyme complexes can be dissociated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and yield fully active, free lysyl-tRNA synthetase. The free form is found to be twice as active as the complexed form in lysylation. Bisubstrate and product inhibition kinetics of lysylation are systematically carried out for highly purified free lysyl-tRNA synthetase and the 18 S synthetase complex. Surprisingly, the two enzyme forms exhibit distinctly different kinetic patterns in bisubstrate and product inhibition kinetics under identical conditions. The 18 S synthetase complex shows kinetic patterns consistent with an ordered bi uni uni bi ping pong mechanism, while the results of free lysyl-tRNA synthetase do not. We conclude that structural organization of lysyl-tRNA synthetase beyond quaternary structure of proteins may alter the enzyme behavior.     

The NH2-terminal extension of rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase is responsible for its hydrophobic properties

Rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase is found in extracts either as a component (Mr = 72,000) of the multienzyme aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex or as a low molecular weight (Mr = 60,000) free protein. The two forms are thought to be identical except for an extra peptide extension at the NH2-terminus of the larger form which is required for its association with the complex, but is unessential for catalytic activity. It has been suggested that interactions among synthetases in the multienzyme complex are mediated by hydrophobic domains on these peptide extensions of the individual proteins. To test this model we have purified to homogeneity the larger form of arginyl-tRNA synthetase and compared its hydrophobicity to that of its low molecular weight counterpart. We show that whereas the smaller protein displays no hydrophobic character, the larger protein demonstrates a high degree of hydrophobicity. No lipid modification was found on the high molecular weight protein indicating that the amino acid sequence itself is responsible for its hydrophobic properties. These findings support the proposed model for synthetase association within the multienzyme complex.     

A basic NH2-terminal extension of rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase required for its association with high molecular weight complexes

Rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase is found in extracts either as a component (Mr = 72,000) of a high molecular weight aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex or as a low molecular weight (Mr = 60,000) free form. Previous studies suggested that the free protein arises from the complex-derived form by a limited proteolysis that removes the portion of the protein required for its association with the complex. In order to determine the location in the protein and some structural properties of this extra 12-kDa portion, the complex-derived and free forms were each extensively purified and compared by peptide mapping using limited V-8 protease digestion. The two proteins showed 7-8 peptide bands in common, as well as 1-2 unique bands each. Treatment of each of the proteins with carboxypeptidase Y prior to digestion with V-8 protease indicated that the two proteins have a common COOH-terminal peptide. Amino acid analyses of the two arginyl-tRNA synthetases revealed a strong similarity; however, the complex-derived form contained a large excess of basic amino acids. These results demonstrate directly that the complex-derived and free forms of arginyl-tRNA synthetase are closely related proteins, but that the former includes a basic, NH2-terminal extension absent in the free form. The role of this extra segment in the polyanion-binding properties of eukaryotic synthetases and in their structural organization into high molecular weight complexes is discussed.     

Mammalian high molecular weight and monomeric forms of valyl-tRNA synthetase

Valyl-tRNA synthetase from rat liver sediments at 15.5 S with a Stokes radius of 90 A, corresponding to a native molecular weight of 585,000. Purification of valyl-tRNA synthetase to homogeneity by a combination of conventional and affinity column chromatography yields a fully active monomeric form of valyl-tRNA synthetase with a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 S and a Stokes radius of 45 A. The subunit molecular weight of the monomeric valyl-tRNA synthetase is 140,000, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. In the presence of 400 mM KCl, the purified monomeric valyl-tRNA synthetase associates to a high molecular weight form. The high molecular weight valyl-tRNA synthetase in the homogenate can be readily converted to the monomeric form by controlled trypsinization. The kinetic parameters of the two forms are nearly identical. The results suggest that the high molecular weight valyl-tRNA synthetase is a homotypic tetramer and converts to the monomeric valyl-tRNA synthetase after the cleavage of a small peptide.     

Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the Bacillus licheniformis bacitracin synthetase 2 gene.

The structural genes for the entire bacitracin synthetase 2 (component II) and for a part of the putative bacitracin synthetase 3 (component III) from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 10716 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. A cosmid library of B. licheniformis DNA was constructed. The library was screened for the ability to produce bacitracin synthetase by in situ immunoassay using anti-bacitracin synthetase antiserum. A positive clone designated B-15, which has a recombinant plasmid carrying about a 32-kilobase insert of B. licheniformis DNA, was further characterized. Analysis of crude cell extract from B-15 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting (immunoblotting) showed that the extract contains two immunoreactant proteins with high molecular weight. One band with a molecular weight of about 240,000 comigrates with bacitracin synthetase 2; the other band is a protein with a molecular weight of about 300,000. Partial purification of the gene products encoded by the recombinant plasmid by gel filtration and hydroxyapatite column chromatography revealed that one gene product catalyzes L-lysine- and L-ornithine-dependent ATP-PPi exchange reactions which are characteristic of bacitracin synthetase 2, and the other product catalyzes L-isoleucine-, L-leucine, L-valine-, and L-histidine-dependent ATP-PPi exchange activities, suggesting the activities of a part of bacitracin synthetase 3. Subcloning experiments indicated that the structural gene for bacitracin synthetase 2 is located near the middle of the insert.     

Regulation of phosphorylation of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in the high molecular weight core complex in reticulocytes

Five aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases found in the high molecular weight core complex were phosphorylated in rabbit reticulocytes following labeling with 32P. The synthetases were isolated by affinity chromatography on tRNA-Sepharose followed by immunoprecipitation. The five synthetases phosphorylated were the glutamyl-, glutaminyl-, lysyl-, and aspartyl-tRNA synthetases and, to a lesser extent, the methionyl-tRNA synthetase. In addition, a 37,000-dalton protein, associated with the synthetase complex and tentatively identified as casein kinase I, was also phosphorylated in intact cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the proteins indicated all of the phosphate was on seryl residues. Incubation of reticulocytes with 32P in the presence of 8-bromo-cAMP and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine resulted in a 6-fold increase in phosphorylation of the glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and a 2-fold increase in phosphorylation of the aspartyl-tRNA synthetase. When the high molecular weight core complex was isolated by gel filtration/affinity chromatography, the profile of phosphorylation was similar to that observed by immunoprecipitation with a 9- and 3-fold stimulation of the glutaminyl- and aspartyl tRNA-synthetase, respectively. From this data it was concluded that the increased phosphorylation of the glutaminyl- and aspartyl-tRNA synthetases obtained with 8-bromo-cAMP did not appear to be involved in dissociation of the high molecular weight core complex.     

delta-Aminolevulinate synthetases in the liver cytosol fraction and mitochondria of mice treated with allylisopropylacetamide and 3,5-dicarbethoxyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine.

Hepatic delta-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthetase was induced in mice by the administration of allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) and 3,5-dicarbethoxy-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC). In both cases, a significant amount of ALA synthetase accumulated in the liver cytosol fraction as well as in the mitochondria. The apparent molecular weight of the cytosol ALA synthetase was estimated to be 320,000 by gel filtration, but when the cytosol ALA synthetase was subjected to sucrose density gradient centrifugation, it showed a molecular weight of 110,000. In the mitochondria, there were two different sizes of ALA synthetase with molecular weights of 150,000 and 110,000, respectively; the larger enzyme was predominant in DDC-treated mice, whereas in AIA-treated mice and normal mice the enzyme existed mostly in the smaller form. When hemin was injected into mice pretreated with DDC, the molecular size of the mitochondrial ALA synthetase changed from 150,000 to 110,000. The half-life of ALA synthetase in the liver cytosol fraction was about 30 min in both the AIA-treated and DDC-treated mice. The half-life of the mitochondrial ALA synthetase in AIA-treated mice and normal mice was about 60 min, but in DDC-treated mice the half-life was as long as 150 min. The data suggest that the cytosol ALA synthetase of mouse liver is a protein complex with properties very similar to those of the cytosol ALA synthetase of rat liver, which has been shown to be composed of the enzyme active protein and two catalytically inactive binding proteins, and that ALA synthetase may be transferred from the liver cytosol fraction to the mitochondria with a size of about 150,000 daltons, followed by its conversion to enzyme with a molecular weight of 110,000 within the mitochondria. The process of intramitochondrial enzyme degradation seems to be affected in DDC-treated animals.     

Comparison of the complexed and free forms of rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase and origin of the free form

Arginyl-tRNA synthetase is found in multiple molecular weight forms in extracts from a variety of mammalian tissues. The rat liver enzyme can be isolated either as a component of the synthetase complex (Mr greater than 10(6) or as a free protein (Mr = 60,000). However, based on activity measurements after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the molecular weight of the free form differs from its counterpart in the complex (Mr = 72,000). Both forms of arginyl-tRNA synthetase cross-react with an antibody directed against the complex, and both have similar catalytic properties. Thus, the two proteins have similar apparent Km values for arginine and ATP, the same pH optimum, are inhibited equally by elevated ionic strength and PPi, and they aminoacylate the same population of tRNA molecules. On the other hand, the free and complexed forms differ with respect to their apparent Km values for tRNA (free, 4 microM; complexed, 28 microM), their temperature sensitivity (complexed greater sensitivity), and their hydrophobicity (complexed more hydrophobic). Limited proteolysis of the synthetase complex with papain releases a low molecular weight form of arginyl-tRNA synthetase whose size, temperature sensitivity, and hydrophobicity are similar to that of the endogenous free form. Nevertheless, the usual 2:1 ratio of complexed-to-free form of rat liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase is not altered by a variety of homogenization or incubation conditions in the presence or absence of multiple protease inhibitors. In contrast to extracts of rat liver, rabbit liver extracts do not contain a free form of arginyl-tRNA synthetase. These results suggest that the complexed and free forms of arginyl-tRNA synthetase are probably the same gene product and that the free form in rat liver extracts is derived from the complexed form by a limited endogenous proteolysis that removes the portion of the protein required for anchoring it in the complex. The question of whether the free form is an artifact of isolation or whether it pre-exists in the cell is discussed.     

Isolation of thioesterase and acyl carrier protein activities liberated by elastase digestion of pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase

Proteolysis of pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase with elastase cleaves the thioesterase component and an acyl carrier protein-containing peptide from the multienzyme complex. These proteins are then separated in one step by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-75 column. Each of the eluted proteins is homogeneous, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of each has been estimated to be 36,000 and 12,000 daltons, respectively.     

An efficient protocol for incorporation of an unnatural amino acid in perdeuterated recombinant proteins using glucose-based media

The in vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins is a well-established technique requiring an orthogonal tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair specific for the unnatural amino acid that is incorporated at a position encoded by a TAG amber codon. Although this technology provides unique opportunities to engineer protein structures, poor protein yields are usually obtained in deuterated media, hampering its application in the protein NMR field. Here, we describe a novel protocol for incorporating unnatural amino acids into fully deuterated proteins using glucose-based media (which are relevant to the production, for example, of amino acid-specific methyl-labeled proteins used in the study of large molecular weight systems). The method consists of pre-induction of the pEVOL plasmid encoding the tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair in a rich, H₂O-based medium prior to exchanging the culture into a D₂O-based medium. Our protocol results in high level of isotopic incorporation (~95%) and retains the high expression level of the target protein observed in Luria–Bertani medium.     

Altered aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes in CHO cell mutants

The Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase mutants Gln-2, His-1, and Lys-101 were analyzed for alterations in respective particulate enzyme forms. The mutant Gln-2 showed a preferential loss of the lower molecular weight enzyme form for glutamine. His-1 showed alterations of the enzyme complexes for several other aminoacyl-tRNA activities but only decreased activity for itself. The mutant Lys-101 only showed an altered Lysyl-tRNA synthetase. These results provide evidence for a model of the intracellular role of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes wherein the high molecular weight forms utilize amino acids directly from the extracellular pool while the low molecular weight forms utilize intracellular pools.     

Protein: Polyanion interaction. The effect of heparin on thetrehalosephosphate synthetase of Mycobacterium smegmatis.

The effect of the polyanion heparin on the trehalose phosphate synthetase of Mycobacterium smegmatis had been studied. In the presence of heparin (0.5 mg/ml), the synthetase shows greatly increased stability when heated at 50 °C for various periods of time as compared to the enzyme in the absence of heparin. Heparin also prevents digestion of the enzyme by trypsin. In the absence of heparin, the synthetase is retained on a Sephadex G-200 column and elutes in an area suggesting a molecular weight of about 40,000–50,000. However, when heparin (0.5 mg/ml) is mixed with the enzyme, the synthetase is excluded from the Sephadex G-200 column and elutes in an area suggesting a molecular weight of greater than 450,000. The trehalose phosphate synthetase was purified by binding it to a column of heparin covalently attached to Sepharose 4B. The synthetase was eluted from this column with a linear gradient of heparin. This enzyme fraction which contained bound heparin showed greatly increased stability at 50 °C, and eluted from the Sephadex G-200 column in an area suggesting a molecular weight of greater than 450,000. These results indicate that heparin, and presumably other polyanions, stabilizes the synthetase to adverse conditions and also causes an association of the enzyme to high molecular weight forms.The synthetase, when bound to the heparin-Sepharose gel, still retained good enzymatic activity. This immobilized enzyme was active with various glucose sugar nucleotides (ADP-glucose, GDP-glucose, UDP-glucose, TDP-glucose) and did not require additional polyanion. The product formed from each of these sugar nucleotides was shown to be trehalose phosphate by a variety of chemical and enzymatic procedures.     

Threonyl-tRNA synthase from rabbit reticulocytes: a reversible transition from the RNA-non-binding to the RNA-binding form

A simple three-step procedure was used to isolate threonyl-tRNA synthetase of rabbit reticulocytes which is in a ribosome-free extract in the RNA-non-binding form. According to SDS electrophoresis, the enzyme has a molecular weight of 86 000 Da and is heterogeneous by isoelectric point; pI of the major component is near 6.2. Threonyl-tRNA synthetase is capable of interacting with a high molecular weight RNA (E. coli rRNA). Thus, in the course of purification threonyl-tRNA synthetase passes from the RNA-non-binding to the RNA-binding form. This transition was shown to be reversible.     

A major polypeptide component of rat liver mitochondria: carbamyl phosphate synthetase.

One of the major components of rat liver mitochondria detected by gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate is a 165,000 molecular weight polypeptide that makes up 15 to 20% of the total mitochondrial protein. This component appears to be a single molecular species. Evidence is presented here for the identification of this protein with the polypeptide chain of a urea cycle enzyme, carbamoylphosphate synthetase I (EC 2.7.2.5). The 165,000 molecular weight polypeptide was solubilized from mitochondria with Triton X-100 and purified to 90% homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. This component co-migrated with carbamyl phosphate synthetase activity when mitochondrial proteins were separated by gel filtration or sucrose gradient centifugation. The identification of the 165,000 molecular weight polypeptide with this activity was also supported by the presence or absence of this protein in a variety of rat tissue mitochondria, in liver and kidney mitochondria from various ureotelic and nonureotelic species, and in fetal rat liver mitochondria.     

Purification of mammalian histidyl-tRNA synthetase and its interaction with myositis-specific anti-Jo-1 antibodies

Histidyl-tRNA synthetase is purified to near homogeneity from rat liver. The subunit molecular weight of histidyl-tRNA synthetase is 50,000, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The Stokes radius and the sedimentation coefficient of histidyl-tRNA synthetase are 38 A and 6.0 S, respectively. The native molecular weight of histidyl-tRNA synthetase is calculated to be 96,000 on the basis of its hydrodynamic properties. The purified histidyl-tRNA synthetase reacts with the myositis-specific anti-Jo-1 antibodies. Anti-Jo-1 immunoglobulin G reacts with the native form of histidyl-tRNA synthetase and does not react or only weakly reacts with the denatured form. The anti-Jo-1 antibodies exhibit stronger inhibition toward histidyl-tRNA synthetase that has been preincubated with tRNA than that without preincubation. Anti-Jo-1 antibodies behave as a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to tRNA in the aminoacylation reaction catalyzed by histidyl-tRNA synthetase. The structural features of the antigen of the anti-Jo-1 antibodies in light of these results are discussed.     

The nucleotide sequence for a proline-activating domain of gramicidin S synthetase 2 gene from Bacillus brevis

A fragment encoding proline-activating domain (grs 2-pro) of gramicidin S synthetase 2 (GS 2) was found in an 8.1-kilobase pairs (kb) DNA fragment of Bacillus brevis Nagano, which contained the full length of GS 1 gene (grs 1). The clones designated GS719 and GS708, which expressed gramicidin S synthetase 1, were elucidated to express immunoreactive proteins to GS 2 antibodies with approximate molecular weights of 115,000, 105,000 (GS719), and 110,000 (GS708). The partial purification of the gene products of these clones was carried out using DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography. The immunoreactive proteins to GS 2 antibodies were separated from gramicidin S synthetase 1 protein and had specific proline-dependent ATP-32PPi exchange activity. The nucleotide sequence for the proline-activating domain in the 8.1-kb insert was determined. This fragment was 2,879 base pairs long, and encoded 959 amino acids. The calculated molecular weight of 111,671 was consistent with the apparent molecular weight of 115,000 found in SDS-PAGE of the immunoreactive products to GS 2 antibodies. The open reading frame for this protein followed grs 1 gene, though two were separated by a 73-base pair noncoding sequence, and remained open to the end.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Enrichment and characterization of the mRNAs of four aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases from yeast.

We have partially purified the messenger RNAs for yeast arginyl-, aspartyl-, valyl-, alpha and beta subunits of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases in order to study their biosynthesis and ultimately, to isolate their genes. Sucrose gradient fractionation of poly U-Sepharose selected mRNAs resulted in a ten fold enrichment of the in vitro translation activity of these mRNAs. The translation products of messenger RNAs for arginyl- and valyl-tRNA synthetases have the same molecular weight as the purified enzymes; translation of aspartyl-tRNA synthetase messenger RNA yielded a 68 kD molecular weight polypeptide (while the purified cristallisable enzyme appears as a 64-66 kD doublet, which, as we showed is a proteolysis product). The translation of the mRNAs for alpha and beta phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase gave polypeptides having the same molecular weight as those obtained from the purified enzyme, but the major translation products are slightly heavier, indicating that they may be translated as precursors. As estimated from centrifugation experiments mRNAs of arginyl-, aspartyl-, alpha and beta subunits of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase were 1700-2000 nucleotides long, indicating that alpha and beta are translated from two different mRNAs.     

Purification of the glutamine synthetase II isozyme of Drosophila melanogaster and structural and functional comparison of glutamine synthetases I and II

Glutamine synthetase II was purified from Drosophila melanogaster adults. It was completely separable from the isozyme glutamine synthetase I by means of DEAE chromatography. The complete enzyme has an apparent molecular weight of 360,000. After two-dimensional electrophoresis it gave a single molecular species with an apparent molecular weight of 42,000. Structural analysis of the two isozymes showed that they are different both in subunit molecular weight and in isoelectric point. Peptide maps of the purified subunits showed considerable dissimilarity. Glutamine synthetase II is more active than glutamine synthetase I in the transferase assay, while the opposite is true in the biosynthetic assay. The kinetic parameters were determined, showing again noteworthy differences between the two isozymes. We therefore conclude that two forms of glutamine synthetase are present in Drosophila, with different primary structures, different kinetic behavior, and the possibility of different functional properties.     

Characterization of the major proteins in gamma particles, cytoplasmic organelles in Blastocladiella emersonii zoospores.

The gamma particles of Blastocladiella emersonii are 0.5-micron (diameter), electron dense, membrane-enclosed organelles in the cytoplasm of zoospores that have been reported (E.C. Cantino and G.L. Mills, in P. Lemke, ed., Viruses and Plasmids in Fungi, 1979, and R.B. Myers and E.C. Cantino, in A. Wolsky (ed.), Monographs in Developmental Biology, 1974) to store the enzyme chitin synthetase. These particles were isolated from zoospores, and the two major proteins were purified for an analysis of their composition and function. The lower-molecular-weight protein (apparent molecular weight, 41,000) was insoluble in aqueous buffers, had an unusual, very basic amino acid composition, and comprised the characteristic electron-dense inclusions seen in micrographs of sections of fixed and stained gamma particles. After dispersal of the gamma particle membranes with detergent, the higher-molecular-weight protein (apparent molecular weight, 43,000) and a third minor protein (apparent molecular weight, 45,000) sedimented through sucrose cushions with the 41 kilodalton inclusion body protein but were dissociated from it by sonication in buffer containing 7 M urea. Together, the two major proteins represent 60 to 70% of the total protein in the gamma particle and 2.9% of the total protein in zoospores. Tests with specific antisera showed that the two major proteins were not antigenically related, a result consistent with the differences in amino acid composition. When zoospore lysates were centrifuged in sucrose density gradients, the major gamma particle proteins and chitin synthetase activity migrated to regions of different density. Proteins from sporulating thalli and germinating zoospores were separated by gel electrophoresis, and the two major gamma particle proteins were detected by reaction with specific antisera after electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose filters. Neither protein could be found in growth phase cells; the appearance and disappearances of both proteins were correlated with the formation of the gamma particles during sporulation and their decay during zoospore germination. The results indicate that gamma particles do not store chitin synthetase in the proteinaceous inclusion, but an alternative function has not yet been identified.     

The effect of mixed-function oxidation of enzymes on their susceptibility to degradation by a nonlysosomal cysteine proteinase

Mixed-function oxidation of Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase by ascorbate, oxygen, and iron has previously been shown to cause inactivation of the enzyme and enhanced susceptibility to proteolytic attack by a variety of proteases. One of these proteases, from rat liver, is a high molecular weight cysteine proteinase which does not degrade native glutamine synthetase at neutral pH. Although inactive, the oxidized glutamine synthetase preparations used in this study were only partially degraded by this proteinase. Some of the subunits were degraded to acid soluble products with no detectable intermediates; the remaining subunits had not become susceptible to proteolytic attack during the limited exposure to the ascorbate mixed-function oxidation system. Several mammalian enzymes which are known to be inactivated by mixed-function oxidation were tested as substrates for the proteinase. Native rabbit muscle enolase and pyruvate kinase were resistant to degradation, but their oxidatively inactivated forms were degraded. Oxidized phosphoglycerate kinase and creatine kinase were also preferentially degraded. Moreover, trypsin degraded oxidized preparations of all of these enzymes faster than control preparations. Oxidative inactivation of superoxide dismutase by hydrogen peroxide caused a slight increase in susceptibility to proteolytic attack, but the enzyme was still relatively resistant to degradation both by the cysteine proteinase and by trypsin. Although oxidation conditions may not have been optimal for demonstrating enhanced proteolytic susceptibility, the results do indicate that mixed-function oxidation can render some mammalian enzymes, as well as bacterial glutamine synthetase, susceptible to degradation. Mixed-function oxidation of these proteins may be a mechanism of marking them for intracellular turnover.