Identification of cDNA clones encoding different domains of the basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan

We have used antibodies to the basement membrane proteoglycan to screen lambda gt11 expression vector libraries and have isolated two cDNA clones, termed BPG 5 and BPG 7, which encode different portions of the core protein of the heparan sulfate basement membrane proteoglycan. These clones hybridize to a single mRNA species of approximately 12 kilobases. Amino acid sequences obtained on peptides derived from protease digests of the core protein were found in the deduced sequence, confirming the identity of these clones. BPG 5 spanned 1986 base pairs and has an open reading frame of 662 amino acids. The amino acid sequence deduced from BPG 5 contains two cysteine-rich domains and two internally homologous domains lacking cysteine. The cysteine-rich domains show homology to the cysteine-rich domains of the laminin chains. A globule-rod structure, similar to that of the short arms of the laminin chains, is proposed for this region of the proteoglycan. The other clone, BPG 7, is 2193 base pairs long and has an open reading frame of 731 amino acids. The deduced sequence contains eight internal repeats with 2 cysteine residues in each repeat. These repeats show homology to the neural-cell adhesion molecule N-CAM and the plasma alpha 1B-glycoprotein. Looping structures similar to these proteins and to other proteins of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily are proposed for this region of the proteoglycan. The sequence DSGEY was found four times in this domain and could be heparan sulfate attachment sites.     

Detection and characterization of a novel factor that stimulates DNA polymerase alpha

A novel factor that stimulates DNA polymerase alpha activity on poly(dA) X oligo(dT) has been identified and partially purified from mouse FM3A cells. The assay system for the factor contained poly(ethylene glycol) 6000. The activities of DNA polymerase alpha on poly(dA) X oligo(dT) in the presence and absence of the stimulating factor were increased greatly by the addition of poly(ethylene glycol). Stimulation by the factor was observed at all the primer to template ratios tested from 0.01 to 0.3. The highest activity was observed at the ratio of 0.05, corresponding to about 3.3 primers on one template in the presence of the factor. The concentration of DNA polymerase alpha used in the assay affected the stimulation by the factor, and the stimulation became more prominent at concentrations of the enzyme lower than 0.04 unit per assay. The stimulating factor lowered the Km value of DNA polymerase alpha for the template-primer, though they had no effect on the Km value for dTTP substrate. The results of product analysis suggested that the stimulation by the factor is mainly due to the increase in the initiation frequency of DNA synthesis from the primers. The stimulating factor specifically stimulated DNA polymerase alpha but not DNA polymerases beta and gamma. Furthermore, the factor formed a complex with DNA polymerase alpha under a certain condition.     

Measurement of apolipoprotein B radioactivity in whole blood plasma by precipitation with isopropanol

A method to measure apolipoprotein B radioactivity in whole blood plasma is described that is suitable for routine use in kinetic experiments in vivo. Radiolabeled apolipoprotein B is precipitated from plasma diluted 15- to 30-fold in the presence of carrier low density lipoproteins by 50% isopropanol. The amount of radioiodine in apoB is estimated from the difference between total radioiodine concentration in whole plasma and the fraction soluble in 50% isopropanol. Addition of up to 100 microliters of plasma to radioiodinated lipoproteins did not alter the percent of radioiodine precipitated in 1500 microliters of 50% isopropanol. The percent of radioiodine precipitated by isopropanol 3 min after intravenous injection of homologous radioiodinated very low density lipoproteins, intermediate density lipoproteins, and low density lipoproteins into rabbits was almost identical to that in the injected lipoproteins (y = 1.009 X +/- 0.462; r = 0.997).     

Properties of a specific interleukin 1 (IL 1) receptor on human Epstein Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes: identity of the receptor for IL 1-alpha and IL 1-beta

The properties of specific human interleukin 1 (IL 1) receptors on human Epstein Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes (EBV-B) were studied. Purified human IL 1-beta from a myelomonocytic cell line (THP-1) was labeled with 125I by the Bolton-Hunter method without detectable loss of biological activity. Among four EBV-B cell lines tested, a pre-B cell type (VDS-O) specifically bound the highest amount of 125I-IL 1-beta. Maximal binding was reached within 20 min at 4 degrees C. Scatchard plot analysis of the binding of 125I-IL 1-beta to VDS-O cells yielded a Kd (dissociation constant) of 2.4 to 5.9 X 10(-10) M with 110 to 220 binding (receptor) sites/cell. The binding of 125I-IL 1-beta to VDS-O cells was also inhibited by F(ab)'2 fragments of anti-human IL 1 and recombinant human IL 1-alpha, as well as by unlabeled human IL 1-beta but not by recombinant lymphotoxin, recombinant tumor necrosis factor, or phorbol myristic acid, suggesting that IL 1-alpha and IL 1-beta bind specifically to the same receptor. The m.w. of IL 1 receptor on human EBV-B cells was estimated to be 60,000 by both the chemical cross-linking method and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) gel filtration analysis of receptor extracted from membrane enriched fraction by a non-ionic detergent (CHAPS). The isoelectric point of solubilized human IL 1 receptor was 7.3 on HPLC chromatofocusing. The evidence of existence of IL 1 receptor on human EBV-B cells additionally supports the hypothesis that IL 1 may be an autocrine signal for these cells.     

Unfolding rates of globular proteins determined by kinetics of proteolysis

A convenient method for the determination of unfolding rates of small globular proteins under physiological conditions was developed using digestion with proteases. The apparent first-order rate constants for digestion of lysozyme with thermolysin and with Pronase at pH 8 and 50 degrees C were shown to be saturated with increases of concentrations of these proteases. The maximum rate constants extrapolated were identical in digestions with two different proteases, and were found to be equal to the unfolding rate constant of lysozyme. Similarly, the unfolding rate constant of RNase A at pH 8 and 50 degrees C, and those of lysozyme, RNase A and beta-lactoglobulin at pH 8 and 40 degrees C, were determined by the digestion method. Thus, it was shown that digestion by proteases proceeds mainly via the unfolded state of proteins.     

Hyoscyamine 6beta-hydroxylase, a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, in alkaloid-producing root cultures

Root cultures of various solanaceous plants grow well in vitro and produce large amounts of tropane alkaloids. Enzyme activity that converts hyoscyamine to 6β-hydroxyhyoscyamine is present in cell-free extracts from cultured roots of Hyoscyamus niger L. The enzyme hyoscyamine 6β-hydroxylase was purified 3.3-fold and characterized. The hydroxylation reaction has absolute requirements for hyoscyamine, 2-oxoglutarate, Fe²⁺ ions and molecular oxygen, and ascorbate stimulates this reaction. Only the l-isomer of hyoscyamine serves as a substrate; d-hyoscyamine is nearly inactive. Comparisons were made with a number of root, shoot, and callus cultures of the Atropa, Datura, Duboisia, Hyoscyamus, and Nicotiana species for the presence of the hydroxylase activity. Decarboxylation of 2-oxoglutarate during the conversion reaction was studied using [1-¹⁴C]-2-oxoglutarate. A 1:1 stoichiometry was shown between the hyoscyamine-dependent formation of CO₂ from 2-oxoglutarate and the hydroxylation of hyoscyamine. Therefore, the enzyme can be classified as a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (EC 1.14.11.-). Both the supply of hyoscyamine and the hydroxylase activity determine the amounts of 6β-hydroxyhyoscyamine and scopolamine produced in alkaloid-producing cultures.     

Preparation and characterization of two major isotypes of parvalbumins from skeletal muscle of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Two major isotypes of parvalbumins (PA1 and PA2) have been isolated from the skeletal muscle of bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. The Mr values were estimated to be 10,100 (PA1) and 11,800 (PA2) by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the isoelectric points were determined to be 4.78 (PA1) and 4.97 (PA2) by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. The amino acid compositions and isoelectric points indicate that PA1 corresponds to Rana esculenta pI 4.50 and Rana temporaria pI 4.75 parvalbumins and PA2 to Rana esculenta pI 4.88 and Rana temporaria pI 4.97 parvalbumins, showing that PA1 is genetically a beta-parvalbumin and PA2 an alpha-parvalbumin. However, in terms of the amino acid compositions, PA1 and PA2 are distinctly different from the corresponding parvalbumins of Rana esculenta or Rana temporaria. The ultraviolet spectra of PA1 and PA2 are consistent with their amino acid compositions. An ultraviolet difference spectrum of the Ca2+-loaded form vs. metal-free form indicates that a Tyr and some Phe residues in PA1 are affected by a conformational change associated with the binding of Ca2+. On electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel in 14 mM Tris and 90 mM glycine, the Ca2+-loaded form of PA1 migrated twice as fast as the Mg2+-loaded form. Both PA1 and PA2 show increased mobility in the Ca2+-loaded forms, like troponin C but different from calmodulin.     

Alpha 1 type IV collagen gene evolved differently from fibrillar collagen genes

Type IV collagen is a major structural component in basement membranes. It is considerably different from the fibrillar collagens, types I-III. For example, unlike fibrillar collagens, the triple helical domain of type IV collagen is frequently interrupted by nonhelical regions. In this report, we demonstrate several overlapping genomic clones which cover most of the mouse alpha 1(IV) chain. Electron microscopic analysis of R-loops revealed that there were at least 28 exons within 35 kilobases of the gene segment. The sizes of six exons were determined by DNA sequence analysis to be 81, 178, 134, 73, 129, and 213 base pairs. These sizes do not appear to be related to the 54-base pair coding unit which is characteristic of fibrillar collagen exons, suggesting that the alpha 1 type IV collagen gene evolved differently from the fibrillar collagen genes.     

Phosphorylation and transformation sensitivity of a major collagen-binding protein of fibroblasts

Using affinity chromatography with immobilized gelatin and native type I collagen, we have identified the major collagen-binding proteins in Nonidet P-40 extracts of chick embryo fibroblasts labeled with [35S] methionine. After washing the gelatin- or collagen-Sepharose beads with high ionic strength buffer, a 47,000-dalton protein was the only major protein besides fibronectin found to bind to these affinity beads. The isoelectric point of this protein was approximately 9.0, with a closely spaced minor spot. The total amount and the synthesis of this collagen-binding protein were both decreased in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells. This collagen-binding protein was found to be phosphorylated by incubating intact cells with [32P]orthophosphate. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that serine and threonine residues were phosphorylated, but tyrosine was not. Although quantities of the 47,000-dalton protein labeled with [35S]methionine were decreased by a factor 2.5 after transformation, the incorporation of [32P]orthophosphate/unit of protein was 5-7-fold higher in transformed cells. In temperature-sensitive mutant virus-infected cells, the amount of the 47,000-dalton protein was also decreased at the temperature permissive for transformation, and the incorporation of [32P]orthophosphate/protein was also increased. These studies establish that a major membrane-associated collagen-binding protein of fibroblasts is phosphorylated and that it is altered in both total quantity and degree of phosphorylation after malignant transformation.     

Effect of temperature and cell density on cellular protein content in temperature-sensitive mutants of rat 3Y1 diploid fibroblasts

Summary We examined cellular protein content in four temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts (3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203) under various conditions of culture that affect cell proliferation. When proliferation of the ts mutants was inhibited at a nonpermissive temperature (39.8°C) in the G₁ phase, prominent accumulation of cellular protein occurred in three mutants (3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203) but not in 3Y1tsD123. The over-accumulation of protein at 39.8°C in the former three mutants was inhibited at high cell densities. At low cell densities there was an upper limit in the protein accumulation at 39.8°C. When the three mutants, proliferation-arrested at high cell densities at 33.8°C, were replated sparsely in fresh medium and shifted to 39.8°C, proliferation was completely inhibited whereas over-accumulation of protein occurred. These results indicating dissociation of protein accumulation and cell proliferation suggest that the two events are regulated by different mechanisms. This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (1984) to K. Y. from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan.