Carboxyl-terminal sequences influence the import of mitochondrial protein precursors in vivo.

The large subunit of carbamoyl phosphate synthase A [carbon-dioxide: L-glutamine amido-ligase (ADP-forming, carbamate-phosphorylating), EC 6.3.5.5] from Neurospora crassa is encoded by a nuclear gene but is localized in the mitochondrial matrix. We have utilized N. crassa strains that produce both normal and carboxyl-terminal-truncated forms of carbamoyl phosphate synthase A to ask whether the carboxyl terminus affects import of the carbamoyl phosphate synthase A precursor. We found that carboxyl-terminal-truncated precursors were directed to mitochondria but that they were imported less efficiently than full-length proteins that were synthesized in the same cytoplasm. Our results suggest that effective import of proteins into mitochondria requires appropriate combinations of targeting sequences and three-dimensional structure.     

Escherichia coli SecB protein associates with exported protein precursors in vivo.

The product of the Escherichia coli secB gene is required for efficient export of proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane. The studies described in this report show that in wild-type growing cells, SecB protein associates with precursor forms of exported proteins, such as the periplasmic maltose-binding protein (MBP) and the outer-membrane proteins LamB and OmpA. In contrast, the cytoplasmic protein beta-galactosidase was not found in association with SecB. Pulse-chase analysis showed that the SecB-precursor MBP complex was short lived, as expected for a complex that represents an intermediate in the protein-export pathway. The results support the hypothesis that SecB protein associates with exported protein precursors in the cytoplasm and dissociates prior to or during translocation of precursors across the cell membrane.     

Channeling of aminoacyl-tRNA for protein synthesis in vivo.

Channeling, the direct transfer of metabolic intermediates from one enzyme to another in a pathway, has received increased attention as an explanation for the high efficiency of cellular processes. The known structural organization of the protein biosynthetic machinery, and a recent suggestion that aminoacyl-tRNAs may be channeled, has led us to devise a direct test of this possibility. By employing the technique of electroporation, conditions were established for the introduction of aminoacyl-tRNAs into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We show, by coelectroporation of various combinations of free [14C]amino acids and [3H]aminoacyl-tRNAs, that whereas the free amino acids serve as effective precursors for protein synthesis, the exogenous aminoacyl-tRNAs are utilized poorly, if at all. The lack of incorporation into protein from added aminoacyl-tRNAs is not due to their leakage from the cell, to their instability, or to their damage during electroporation. Furthermore, in contrast to the findings with intact cells, extracts of CHO cells incorporate both free amino acids and aminoacyl-tRNAs into protein with similar efficiencies. Based on these observations, we conclude that the inability of exogenous aminoacyl-tRNAs to serve as precursors for protein synthesis is due to the structural organization of intact cells that leads to channeling of this substrate in vivo. Thus, we propose that endogenously synthesized aminoacyl-tRNA is directly transferred from aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase to elongation factor to ribosome without dissociation into the cell fluid, and as a consequence, usage of exogenously introduced molecules is precluded.     

Protein kinase activity associated with the nuclear lamina.

A nuclear lamina-enriched fraction from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells contains a tightly bound protein kinase activity, which phosphorylates in vitro the nuclear lamins, a 52-kilodalton protein, and several unknown minor components. The enzyme(s) is thermolabile, independent of Ca2+ and cAMP, and inhibited by quercetin. After treatment with 4 M urea it remains bound to the nuclear lamina in an active state, but it is irreversibly inactivated in 6 M urea. The lamin proteins are phosphorylated on serine residues. Their two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps show multiple phosphorylation sites and a considerable similarity to the phosphopeptide maps of lamins labeled in vivo. Photoaffinity labeling experiments revealed several polypeptide fractions in the nuclear lamina fraction that are candidates for the protein kinase(s).     

Osmotic diarrhoea and skeletal muscle protein synthesis in vivo.

The pathogenic nature of the wasting seen in diarrhoea is unknown. This study measured protein synthesis in an established model of diarrhoea using lactose for seven days. Comparisons were also made with data obtained from rats fed an identical diet in which lactose was replaced by isocaloric glucose ad libitum (that is, the control diet). To account for diarrhoea induced anorexia, a third group of rats were included, which were fed identical amounts of the control diet as the rats with diarrhoea inducing diet. Comparisons of the diarrhoea induced group with rats fed the control diet ad libitum showed that diarrhoea caused a significant reduction in body weights. Type I and type II muscles showed significant reductions in protein, RNA, and DNA contents, as well as a fall in the derived parameters, RNA/DNA, protein/DNA, and RNA/protein. Fractional rates of protein synthesis (ks) were also reduced. However, synthesis rates of type I and II muscles relative to RNA (kRNA) were unchanged in these muscles in diarrhoea induced rats compared with ad libitum fed controls. In the jejunum there was an increase in the RNA/DNA ratio, and reductions in ks and kRNA. Comparisons were also made between rats with diarrhoea and rats pair fed the control diet. There were no changes in total muscle protein, RNA or DNA contents. This suggests that an important feature of body wasting in diarrhoea is the element of anorexia, which induces severe metabolic changes. The comparison between rats with diarrhoea and the pair fed group showed that histological features of the plantaris were not overtly changed, though diarrhoea caused significant reductions in RNA/DNA, protein/DNA, ks, and kRNA. Similar changes were seen for the soleus; though the reduction in ks failed to attain statistical significance. In the jejunum a comparison of diarrhoea induced rats with pair fed controls, showed increases in the ratios of RNA/DNA and protein/DNA.     

Secretion and processing of insulin precursors in yeast.

A series of dibasic insulin precursors including proinsulin was expressed and secreted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recombinant plasmids were constructed to encode fusion proteins consisting of a modified mating factor alpha 1 leader sequence and an insulin precursor. The leader sequence serves to direct the fusion protein into the secretory pathway of the cell and to expose it to the Lys-Arg processing enzyme system. The secreted peptides were purified from the fermentation broth and characterized by sequencing and amino acid analysis. Processing at one or both dibasic sequences was shown in proinsulin and in other insulin precursors containing a short spacer peptide in place of the C peptide. In contrast, no processing was observed in the absence of a spacer peptide in the insulin precursor molecule, e.g., B-Lys-Arg-A (where A and B are the A and B chain of human proinsulin, respectively). This type of single-chain insulin precursors isolated from such constructions could be enzymatically converted into insulin by treatment with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B. The above results suggest that the C-peptide region of proinsulin serves to direct the trypsin-like converting enzyme to process at the two dibasic sequences. We propose that in hormone precursors in general the spacer peptides serve to expose dibasic sequences for processing.     

In vivo metabolism of nitrogen precursors for urea synthesis in the postprandial rat

(1) Adult postprandial rats were given a continuous, intravenous infusion of 15N-labelled glutamate, alanine, ammonium chloride and glutamine amide for 6 h. The enrichment in the free hepatic pool was measured for ammonia, glutamine amide, urea, aspartate, glutamate and alanine. (2) Glutamine and glutamate supplied significantly more nitrogen to urea than ammonium chloride or alanine. (3) Glutamate was not a significant source of hepatic ammonia, hence in this situation it is not necessary to impute a major role to glutamate dehydrogenase in hepatic ammoniagenesis for urea synthesis. (4) Glutamine and ammonia, mostly of intestinal origin in the postprandial state, were major precursors of hepatic ammonia. (5) The nitrogen of glutamate and alanine moved to urea primarily through aspartic acid.     

Biogenesis of the platelet receptor for fibrinogen: evidence for separate precursors for glycoproteins IIb and IIIa.

Congenital absence of platelet glycoproteins IIb and IIIa (GPIIb and GPIIIa) results in a severe bleeding disorder characterized by defective platelet aggregation and failure of fibrinogen to bind to platelets. GPIIb is a two-chain protein containing disulfide-linked alpha and beta subunits. GPIIb and GPIIIa are present as a heterodimeric, noncovalent complex in the platelet plasma membrane and function as the fibrinogen receptor. To characterize synthesis of these two proteins, RNA isolated from a human leukemia cell line that contains GPIIb and GPIIIa was translated in a wheat germ cell-free system. Polyclonal antibodies specific for each protein immunoprecipitated distinct [35S]methionine-labeled precursors, indicating that GPIIb and GPIIIa are translated from separate mRNAs. Moreover, using specific antibodies against either intact unreduced GPIIb or the beta subunit, we obtained evidence for synthesis of a common polypeptide precursor for GPIIb alpha and GPIIb beta. Based on experiments using microsomal membranes, it appears that GPIIb is integrated into the platelet membrane with little or no cytoplasmic component. These results suggest that precursors of GPIIb and GPIIIa may be encoded by separate genes and that each precursor is processed before delivery to the plasma membrane.     

Biogenesis of peroxisomes: intracellular site of synthesis of catalase and uricase.

The intracellular site of synthesis of two peroxisomal enzymes of rat liver, uricase (urate:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.7.3.3) and catalase (hydrogen peroxide:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.6), has been localized on free ribosomes and not membrane-bound ribosomes. Free polysomes and membrane-bound polysomes, prepared by classical cell fractionation techniques from rat liver, were incubated for protein synthesis in a cell-free system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. Characterization of the total translation products by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, as well as by immunoprecipitation with anti-rat albumin anti-serum, confirmed that good separation of the two polysome classes was achieved. Uricase and catalase were immunoprecipitable from translation products directed by free polysomes or phenol-extracted free polysomal mRNA but not from products of membrane-bound polysomes. Furthermore, unlike albumin, nascent uricase and catalase were not cotranslationally segregated by dog pancreas microsomal membranes. The results indicate that uricase and catalase are transferred to the interior of peroxisomes by a post-translational mechanism; an hypothesis is formulated here for the biogenesis of peroxisomes.     

Emerin and the nuclear lamina in muscle and cardiac disease

The human genome is contained within the nucleus and is separated from the cytoplasm by the nuclear envelope. Mutations in the nuclear envelope proteins emerin and lamin A cause a number of diseases including premature aging syndromes, muscular dystrophy, and cardiomyopathy. Emerin and lamin A are implicated in regulating muscle- and heart-specific gene expression and nuclear architecture. For example, lamin A regulates the expression and localization of gap junction and intercalated disc components. Additionally, emerin and lamin A are also required to maintain nuclear envelope integrity. Demonstrating the importance of maintaining nuclear integrity in heart disease, atrioventricular node cells lacking lamin A exhibit increased nuclear deformation and apoptosis. This review highlights the present understanding of lamin A and emerin function in regulating nuclear architecture, gene expression, and cell signaling and discusses putative mechanisms for how specific mutations in lamin A and emerin cause cardiac- or muscle-specific disease.     

Isolation of nuclear pore complexes in association with a lamina.

Nuclear pore complexes have been isolated in association with a 150 A thick lamina by detergent and salt fractionation of nuclear envelopes from rat liver. The pore complexes exhibit characteristic morphology and appear to be attached in a highly specific orientation to the lamina, which extends over relatively large areas. The pore complex-lamina fraction is composed of three major and several minor polypeptides with little or no DNA, RNA, or phospholipid. It is suggested that the association of the pore complexes and the lamina reflects the structural arrangement of the nuclear periphery in vivo.     

Progesterone inhibition of uterine nuclear estrogen receptor: dependence on RNA and protein synthesis.

Progesterone treatment was found previously to reduce nuclear estrogen receptor (Re) rapidly (2-4 hr) in the hamster uterus in vivo. The present study was done to determine whether this inhibitory effect of progesterone on uterine nuclear Re could be demonstrated in vitro ad whether progesterone action was dependent on RNA and protein synthesis. A uterine strip system was used in which estradiol pretretment caused cytosol Re translocation to the nucleus and increased synthesis of cytosol progesterone receptor (Rp) during a 16-hr incubation. When progesterone was added to the medium 4 hr before the end of the incubation, cytosol Rp was depleted and nuclear Re was greatly reduced. Further experiments done with actinomycin D, puromycin, and cycloheximide indicated that the progesterone-induced loss of uterine nuclear Re was dependent on RNA and protein synthesis. These results suggest that progesterone reduced nuclear Re through a mechanism involving Rp translocation and the induction of RNA and protein synthesis, a product of which is active in degrading or otherwise inactivating nuclear Re.     

Heterogeneity in the acute control of vascular protein synthesis in vivo

In response to both hemodynamic and neurohumoral changes, the cardiovascular system remodels and this process could contribute to end organ damage. The aim of this study was to determine the early in vivo interactions between 3 systems known to contribute to vascular hypertrophic remodeling, in conduit and resistance arteries. Exogenous angiotensin II, norepinephrine and endothelin 1 administration elevated protein synthesis in the aorta and in small mesenteric arteries. In small arteries, the effect of angiotensin II was blocked by angiotensin II type 1, alpha-adrenergic and endothelin receptor antagonists, while only the alpha-adrenergic and endothelin receptor antagonists inhibited the effect of norepinephrine. Moreover, only the endothelin receptor antagonist significantly blunted the effect of exogenous endothelin on protein synthesis. In the aorta, the stimulation of angiotensin II on protein synthesis was also inhibited by the 3 antagonists. However, only the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist blunted the response to norepinephrine, and the 3 antagonists prevented the endothelin-induced elevation of protein synthesis. The blood pressure effects of the drugs did not correlate with their capacity to stimulate or inhibit vascular protein synthesis. In conclusion, interactions in the control of protein synthesis are heterogeneous along the vascular tree. In small arteries, the interaction is linear with endothelin as the downstream effector. In the aorta, the local sympathetic nervous system appears to control protein synthesis. The heterogeneity in downstream effectors should be considered in studies investigating signaling events related to protein synthesis, which is used as an early marker of hypertrophy.     

Change of karyoskeleton during spermatogenesis of Xenopus: expression of lamin LIV, a nuclear lamina protein specific for the male germ line.

Lamins are the major constituent proteins of the nuclear lamina. In the frog, Xenopus laevis, they are the products of a multigene family whose expression can be correlated to certain routes of cell differentiation. For example, lamins LI (Mr, 72,000) and LII (Mr, 68,000) is expressed, together with LI/LII, in certain highly differentiated cell types such as neurons and muscle cells and is the only lamin present in diplotene oocytes. Here we report the identification by means of two monoclonal antibodies of a fourth lamin (LIV) of Mr 75,000, which is expressed specifically during the later stages of spermatogenesis. In the seminiferous tubules, Sertoli cells contain LI/LII and LIII whereas, among the spermatogenic cells, spermatogonia contain only LI and LII. In contrast, in spermatids and sperm cells these lamins are completely replaced by lamin LIV. Primary spermatocytes are negative with both antibodies, indicating that a switch in the expression of lamins occurs early in spermatogenesis. Lamin LIV is distributed in patches along the nuclear envelopes of elongated spermatids and sperm cells rather than in the characteristic continuous lamina pattern found in most other cells. We hypothesize that the specific expression of lamin LIV is related to the conspicuous changes of nuclear architecture and chronmatin composition that are known to take place during the late stages of sperm development.     

Measurement of local cerebral protein synthesis in vivo: influence of recycling of amino acids derived from protein degradation.

A quantitative autoradiographic method for the determination of local rates of protein synthesis in brain in vivo is being developed. The method employs L-[1-14C]leucine as the radiolabeled tracer. A comprehensive model has been designed that takes into account intracellular and extracellular spaces, intracellular compartmentation of leucine, and the possibility of recycling of unlabeled leucine derived from steady-state degradation of protein into the precursor pool for protein synthesis. We have evaluated the degree of recycling by measuring the ratio of the steady-state precursor pool distribution space for labeled leucine to that of unlabeled leucine. The values obtained were 0.58 in whole brain and 0.47 in liver. These results indicate that there is significant recycling of unlabeled amino acids derived from steady-state protein degradation in both tissues. Any method for the determination of rates of cerebral protein synthesis in vivo with labeled tracers that depends on estimation of precursor pool specific activity in tissue from measurements in plasma must take this recycling into account.     

Androgen-uterine interaction: nuclear translocation of the estrogen receptor and induction of the synthesis of the uterine-induced protein (IP) by high concentrations of androgens in vitro but not in vivo.

High concentrations of androgens in vitro [10(-6) and 10(-7)M 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone (T)] translocate the estrogen receptor from cytoplasmic to the nuclear fraction of the immature rat uterus, and the androgen translocated sites are capable of eliciting the synthesis of the specific uterine "induced protein" (IP), formerly attributed to estrogenic compounds only. The magnitude of receptor translocation and IP synthesis induction is related to the concentration of androgen, and, at equal concentrations, DHT is more effective than T. Competitive protein-binding asssays with cell-free uterine cytosol indicate that DHT and T bind with barely detectable affinity to the cytosol estrogen receptor detectable affinity to the cytosol estrogen receptor [relative binding ability ca. 0.001% that of estradiol (E2)], and radioactive E2 uptake into whole uterus after pretreatment with androgens indicates that the androgen-translocated nuclear sites are readily filled by E2. DHT and T translocate the estrogen receptor to the nucleus in vitro, and the salt-extracted nuclear receptor is present as a 5 S ("transformed") receptor; however, concentrations of DHT and T that effect translocation are unable to elicit the heat-activated transformation of the estrogen receptor in cell free cytosol under conditions in which low concentrations of E2 fully transform the receptor. Under in vivo conditions, high levels of androgens (5--2,000 mug DHT or T) do not evoke any detectable translocation of the estrogen receptor and do not elicit any IP synthesis induction although uterine weight is increased (greater than 200 mug androgen) in long-term (2--3 day) assays. The analysis of androgen uptake and metabolism indicates that 500 mug or higher doses of DHT or T in vivo result in uterine concentrations of unmetabolized DHT or T equal to those seen after exposure to 5 X 10(-7) - 1 X 10(-6)M DHT or T in vitro. Hence, under conditions where in vivo and in vitro tissue uptake of androgen is equivalent, in vivo androgens are unable to affect the estrogen receptor system as is seen in vitro. These studies indicate that the in vitro and in vivo effects of androgens on the uterus are clearly different and suggest that the actions of androgens on the uterus in vivo are probably not directly mediated through the estrogen receptor system.