Apparent Mol Research Articles

Expression and Differential Glycosylation of Human Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin by Mammalian Cell Lines

The human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) gene is responsible for the production of plasma SHBG by the liver and androgen-binding protein in the testis. Cell-specific glycosylation events during synthesis may account for minor differences in the biochemical properties of SHBG and androgen-binding protein, and we have, therefore, expressed a human SHBG cDNA in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and a mouse hepatoma cell line (BW-1), and compared the products to SHBG in serum. The SHBG produced in this way is a homodimer of subunits that exhibit size microheterogeneity similar to SHBG in human serum, and its affinity for 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (Kd = 0.6 nM) and other steroids is essentially identical to that of natural SHBG. When medium from transfected CHO and BW-1 cells was subjected to Concanavalin-A (Con-A) chromatography, the relative amounts of SHBG retained by Con-A were 74% and 86%, respectively. In addition, when SHBG produced by CHO cells was separated into two fractions by Con-A chromatography and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, SHBG that did not interact with Con-A migrated with a slightly larger apparent mol wt than that of SHBG that binds Con-A; this can be explained by the presence of triantennary, rather than biantennary, N-linked oligosaccharide chains. These data also demonstrate that the subunit microheterogeneity associated with plasma SHBG reflects differences in glycosylation during synthesis, which appear to be cell type specific.

Partial purification and some properties of a hemolymph lectin from panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

Hemagglutinating activity was studied in homogenates of three embryonic stages, and in the hemolymph of most instar larvae and in adult insects of Panstrongylus megistus, an important Chagas' disease vector in Brazil. A hemolymph lectin from the 5th instar larvae of P. megistus was purified through a biospecific adsorption by using formaldehyde-treated erythrocytes. The lectin fraction was desorbed with 0.2M D-galactose in 0.15M NaCl. The lectin fraction activity was inhibited by L-rhamnose, D-lactose, raffinose, D-galactose, and D-fucose. The electrophoretic pattern to native and acidic proteins resolved lectin fraction in two main bands with lectin activity. These bands were considered as multiple molecular forms or isoforms of P. megistus lectin. Under denaturating conditions, isoform 1 showed one band with apparent mol wt (MW) of 64 kDa while isoform 2 was resolved in two bands with MW of 64 and 33 kDa.

Narcissus latent, a virus with filamentous particles and a novel combination of properties

Summary As previously reported, narcissus latent virus (NLV) has flexuous filamentous particles measuring c. 650 nm × 13 nm, is manually transmissible to Nicotiana clevelandii and Tetragonia expansa, and is transmitted by the aphid Myzus persicae following brief acquisition access periods. In contrast to previous reports the virus particle protein has an apparent mol. wt of c. 45 kD. Moreover, infected cells in N. clevelandii leaves contain cytoplasmic inclusion bodies resembling those of potyviruses. In vitro translation of NLV RNA produced only one major product (mol. wt c. 25 kD) which was not precipitated by antisera to virus particle protein or to cytoplasmic inclusion protein. Antisera to 12 potyviruses and nine carlaviruses failed to react with sap containing NLV particles. Similarly antiserum to NLV particles did not react with particles of seven potyviruses or four carlaviruses. A weak reaction was detected between NLV particles and antiserum to particles of maclura mosaic virus (MMV), a virus which resembles NLV in particle morphology and particle-protein size, and in inducing pinwheel inclusions. The cytoplasmic inclusion proteins (CIPs) of NLV, MMV and from narcissus plants with yellow stripe symptoms were serologically inter-related. These proteins were also serologically related to, and had mol. wt similar to, the CIP of members of the potyvirus group. Particles with the size and antigenic specificity of those of NLV were found consistently in narcissus plants with yellow stripe disease. Narcissus latent and narcissus yellow stripe viruses therefore seem to be synonymous and, together with MMV, have properties distinct from those of any previously described virus group.

Proteolytic Cleavage of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) by Rat Tissuesin Vitro: Influence on the Kinetics of Exogenously Administered hGH*

The presence of several endogenous molecular forms of human GH (hGH), including proteolytically cleaved two-chain forms, has been proposed to be related to the diverse biological activity of hGH. The present study characterized hGH degradation in the rat to determine how peripheral metabolism may influence the kinetics and pharmacology of exogenously administered hGH. In vitro studies indicated that hGH was proteolytically degraded by thyroid gland and skeletal muscle, but not liver and kidney homogenates. The proteolytic activity, localized to the 9000 x g pellet fraction, was characterized as a chymotrypsin-like serine protease using class-specific inhibitors. N-Terminal sequencing of hGH peptides formed by the thyroid gland and skeletal muscle indicated that cleavage sites were almost exclusively at Tyr/Phe-Xaa bonds, with similar points of cleavage observed in the two tissues. Immunoreactive two-chain forms of hGH were also formed. The two-chain molecules had similar cleavage sites, but differed in apparent mol wt when analyzed by nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. To understand the potential significance of two-chain product formation, we compared the kinetics and degradation of hGH with those of a synthetic two-chain derivative of hGH (Des-1-8,135-145; 2-CAP). The in vitro tissue distribution of 2-CAP proteolysis was the same as that for hGH. The fragmentation pattern of 2-CAP was less complex when analyzed by reverse phase HPLC. The major peptide fragments formed from 2-CAP were chromatographically similar to those formed from hGH. The plasma kinetics of 2-CAP were compared to those of hGH with a RIA using polyclonal antiserum to hGH. After im and sc administration of 2-CAP (125 micrograms/kg), the area under the plasma concentration curve was 3.2- and 4.5-fold greater, respectively, than after administration of hGH (125 micrograms/kg). Both compounds had a greater area under the curve by the im than the sc route. 2-CAP had 2- to 3-fold greater bioavailability than hGH by the im and sc routes. Plasma from rats treated 30 min earlier with hGH im was immunoextracted and analyzed by Western blotting. A circulating immunoreactive fragment was detected which had similar electrophoretic mobility as a two-chain hGH product formed during the in vitro incubations of hGH with skeletal muscle and thyroid gland homogenates. The results indicate that hGH is proteolytically processed in peripheral tissue homogenates, with the formation of two-chain products. The greater bioavailability of 2-CAP suggests that metabolism of hGH to two-chain forms may influence the in vivo kinetics of hGH.

Limited proteolysis of porcine pancreatic and barley isozyme 2 α-amylases occurs in specific loops of their (β/α) 8-barrel domain

α-Amylases are, in general, highly resistant to proteases. In an attempt to reveal domain/function relationships of porcine pancreatic (PPA) and barley isozyme 2 (BA-2) α-amylases, prolonged treatment with moderate to high concentrations of subtilisin and proteinase K, respectively, have been performed. From both PPA and BA-2, two larger fragments were obtained. SDS-PAGE indicated the cleavage products of PPA to be of apparent mol. wts 41 kd and 14 kd, while BA-2 gave rise to 33 kd and 12 kd fragments. The susceptible peptide bonds were identified, by sequencing of isolated fragments, to be after E 369 and Q 294 in PPA and BA-2 respectively. The X-ray structure of PPA and the predicted structure of BA-2 indicate three-domain (β/α) 8-barrel proteins. Surprisingly, the protease susceptible areas are located to different loops, namely, those following the eighth β-strand and the seventh β-strand in the (β/α) 8-barrel domains of PPA and BA-2 respectively. The limited proteolysis was accompanied by loss of enzymatic activity of both PPA and BA-2. The importance of a surface site in amylolytic activity is suggested.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Binds Selectively to Human Peripheral Blood Monocytes and B-Lymphocytes*

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a potential modulator of responses to a variety of immunological challenges. Previous studies have suggested that specific IGF-I receptors are present on peripheral blood leukocytes, including polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. We sought to determine what type of IGF receptor was present on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and which types of cells possessed these receptors. Binding of [125I]IGF-I to mononuclear cells was inhibited by both unlabeled IGF-I and insulin, insulin being 200-fold less potent than IGF-I. Covalent affinity labeling with [125I]IGF-I, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography, revealed a specific binding species with an apparent mol wt of 130 kDa. Two color flow cytometric analysis of mononuclear cells stained with mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for the human IGF-I receptor, the human insulin receptor, and monoclonal antibodies directed against specific monocyte and lymphocyte subset cell surface antigens revealed that both IGF-I receptors and insulin receptors were present on nearly all monocytes and B-lymphocytes, but were present on only 2% of T-lymphocytes. We conclude from these data that among human peripheral blood nonactivated mononuclear cells, IGF-I binds to specific type I IGF receptors found predominantly on monocytes and B-lymphocytes.

Ontogeny of Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) and IGF-Binding Proteins in Porcine Serum during Fetal and Postnatal Development*

The insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) circulate in plasma in association with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). As a first step to understanding the regulation of expression of these proteins in pigs, we characterized the ontogeny of circulating IGFs and IGFBPs during fetal and early postnatal development. Serum IGFs were separated from IGFBPs, before IGF RIA, by acidification and chromatography on C18 Sep-Pak cartridges. The IGF-I levels increased during the latter half of fetal life from 11 +/- 1 ng/ml on day 60 to 37 +/- 3 ng/ml on day 112 (2-3 days before term) and further increased postnatally to 227 +/- 21 to 265 +/- 26 ng/ml) and also increased higher than IGF-I levels, with no obvious developmental pattern, during fetal life (170 +/- 21 to 265 +/- 26 ng/ml) and also increased postnatally by 2-fold (463 +/- 29 ng/ml on day 42). These results support the view that IGF-II is a fetal and postnatal growth factor, whereas IGF-I is primarily a postnatal growth mediator in pigs. Serum IGF-binding proteins were identified by Western ligand blotting. Five IGFBPs with apparent mol wt of 43K, 39K, 34K, 31K, and 26K were detected in fetal and postnatal sera. The two largest proteins were shown to be glycoproteins and immunologically related to porcine (p) IGFBP-3, suggesting that they are glycosylation variants of pIGFBP-3. The abundance of these two IGFBPs increased coincidently with increasing serum IGF-I levels. The 34K IGFBP was immunologically related to rIGFBP-2 and was 2- to 3-fold more abundant in fetal serum than in postnatal serum. The 31K IGFBP was resolved into a triplet and also was a component of pIGFBP-3 immunoprecipitates. Similarly, the 26K IGFBP was present in pIGFBP-3 immunoprecipitates. The 31K and 26K IGFBPs represented a minor portion of serum IGF-binding activity in fetal and postnatal pigs and exhibited no obvious developmental patterns. It is hypothesized that the postnatal increases in serum IGF-I and 43K and 39K IGFBPs as well as the decrease in the 34K IGFBP are driven by GH action.

Studies on the biochemical structure of the major cat allergen Felis domesticus I

The major cat allergen, Fel d I, was purified to homogeneity from cat dander extract by sequential mAb affinity chromatography and HPLC size exclusion. The purity and allergenic activity of the preparation was demonstrated by different techniques such as HPLC, RAST inhibition, skin prick tests and CIE/CRIE. Fel d I showed a mol. wt of about 35,000 by HPLC gel filtration and of 18,000 by SDS-PAGE, confirming that it is a non-covalently linked dimer. However, SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing conditions as well as labelling experiments with 14C-iodoacetamide of 2-ME-reduced Fel d I showed that each mol. wt. 18,000 monomer is comprised of two covalently S-S bound polypeptides with apparent mol. wt. of 4000 (α-chain) and 14,000 (β -chain). Reduction and alkylation of Fel d I obliterated most of its allergenic activity, as determined by RAST inhibition and immunoblotting, suggesting that most of the IgE-binding sites are conformational. On the other hand, treatment of Fel d I by N-glycanase under reducing and non-reducing conditions indicated the presence of N-linked oligosaccharides in the β-chain. Carbohydrate analysis data of the whole Fel d I molecule showed the presence of a relatively high carbohydrate content (~20%). RAST inhibition experiments of native and deglycosilated allergen suggest that most IgE epitopes are located in the protein moiety of the molecule. However, the deglycosilated allergen showed a 2–4 fold reduction in its inhibition capacity of RAST as compared to the native allergen, suggesting that carbohydrates could have some role in keeping the active conformation of those epitopes. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the β-chain (20 residues) and most of the α-chain (40 residues) were determined. Both chain sequences showed no homology with other known protein sequences.

Immunological Identification and Distribution of Parathyroid Hormone-Like Protein Polypeptides in Normal and Malignant Tissues*

Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies recognizing human parathyroid hormone-like protein (PTHLP) have been produced using a series of recombinant and synthetic PTHLP peptides. These antibodies have been used to develop a two-site immunometric enzyme immunoassay which detects PTHLP[1-87] and PTHLP[1-141] but not PTH. The immunoassay detected PTHLP in extracts of squamous carcinomas and normal tissues at concentrations from 7-515 ng PTHLP[1-87]/mg protein. Immunoblotting of the extract which showed the highest immunoreactivity, a squamous carcinoma of the lung from a patient with hypercalcemia, revealed a major band having an apparent mol wt of 26,500 and several other higher mol wt bands. Similar polypeptides were observed by immunoblotting cell extracts from a cell line, SCaBER, which secretes immunoreactive PTHLP into its medium and also from tumors in nude mice derived from this cell line. Chaotropic agents did not alter the immunoblotting pattern, and antibodies to three different epitopes of PTHLP recognized these bands, indicating PTHLP expression in the extracts. Immunohistochemical staining of normal human tissue with these antibodies revealed several PTHLP-containing tissues and confirmed the results of the immunoassay, suggesting a paracrine role for PTHLP. Staining was observed in several neoplastic tissues including squamous cell carcinomas, lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, osteogenic sarcoma, and adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Distribution of cadmium and induced Cd-binding proteins in roots, stems and leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris

Roots, stems and leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (cv. Rubino PF1H) grown in Hoagland's solution supplemented with 1, 2 and 2.5 mM Cd(NO 3) 2 were analyzed. In comparison with control plants grown in a nutrient solution containing equivalent amounts of NO 3 − added as KNO 3, plants grown in the presence of 1 mM Cd(NO 3) 2 showed a significant decrease in fresh weight and per cent dry matter in roots, whereas stems were slightly affected and leaves not at all. At 2 and 2.5 mM Cd concentrations the fresh weight of roots was unaffected, but their dry matter content was strongly reduced; stems showed significant, even limited decrease of both fresh weight and % dry matter. In comparison, the fresh weight and foliar area of leaves were strongly reduced, the dry matter content being unaffected. The distribution of Cd in plant tissues showed that total Cd in roots exceeded by about one and two orders of magnitude total Cd of stems and leaves, respectively. Intercellular spaces of plant tissues were washed successively with water, 5 mM CaCl 2 and 5 mM EDTA. Results showed that most of Cd in the apoplast of root, stem and leaf tissues was extractable by complexing it with EDTA. Water extractable Cd in intercellular spaces was present in ionic form, as Cd 2+. Gel filtration of tissue extracts showed that 83.4% of total Cd was present as free metal ion in extract of leaves, whereas 56.6% and 48.7% was found in stem and roots extracts, respectively. The remaining part of the total Cd was associated with protein fractions. One type of Cd-protein fraction of about 10 kDa molecular weight ( K av 0.54) was present in roots, stems and leaves, binding 24.1%, 43.4% and 16.6% of total Cd, respectively. A second protein fraction with apparent mol. wt. > 30 kDa was present only in roots, binding 27.2% of total root Cd. This result was confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, showing a Cd-induced protein band common to leaves, stems and roots with an apparent mol. wt. 9.2 kDa, which can be interpreted as phytochelatins, and an intensively stained Cd-induced band, present only in root extracts, of about 42 kDa apparent mol. wt.

Thrombin-like activity in snake venoms from Peruvian Bothrops and Lachesis genera

P. Orejuela, A. Zavaleta, M. Salas and N. Marsh. Thrombin-like activity in snake venoms from Peruvian Bothrops and Lachesis genera. Toxicon 29, 1151–1154, 1991.—Venoms from Lachesis muta muta, Bothrops pictus, B. barnetti, B. atrox and B. hyoprorus coagulate in vitro canine fibrinogen, and both bovine fibrinogen and bovine plasma. B. barnetti and L. muta muta venoms have greater activity on canine fibrinogen and B. atrox and B. hyoprorus venoms, a greater activity on bovine fibrinogen. Gel filtration showed one peak of coagulant activity in all venoms except B. atrox venom which possessed two peaks. The apparent mol. wt of these enzymes ranged from 45,000 to 69,000.

Partial purification of a mannosyltransferase involved in the O-mannosylation of glycoproteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The mannosyltransferase that catalyses the transfer of mannose from dolichyl-phosphate-mannose (Dol-P-Man) to the hydroxyl group of serine/threonine residues in the acceptor peptide (Tyr-Asn-Pro-Thr-Ser-Val) was partially purified approximately 150-fold from the microsomal membrane fraction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The membrane-bound enzyme was solubilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 at a protein:detergent ratio of 2:1, and was then purified by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, followed by hydroxyapatite column chromatography. The partially purified enzyme had a pH optimum of 7.2 and required Mg2+ at an optimum concentration of 10 mM for activity. The apparent mol. wt of the enzyme, as estimated by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300, was approximately 125 kDa. The activity of the partially purified enzyme was greatly stimulated by phosphatidylcholine (PC), while other naturally occurring phosphoglycerides had no significant effect. The extent of activation of mannosyltransferase activity was greatly affected by the number of carbons and the degree of saturation/unsaturation of the fatty acid substituents, as well as by their position on the glycerol moiety of the PC molecule. Maximum stimulation of the mannosyltransferase activity was induced by a PC derivative in which both sn-1 and sn-2 positions on the glycerol moiety were occupied by C12:0 fatty acids. In general, mannosyltransferase was found to exhibit greater specificity for the L-alpha-PC derivatives in which the sn-2 position of the glycerol contained a saturated fatty acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evolutionary trends of neurofilament proteins in fish

1. 1. Neurofilament complement was studied in an early chordate ( Ciona intestinalis) and six fish species by immunoblot with antisera specific for each of the three mammalian NF subunits. 2. 2. The anti-NF-H and anti-NF-M antisera were characterized as strict for phosphorylated epitopes located in the carboxyterminal domain 3. 3. The NF-L subunit is absent in primitive chordates and appears first in fish; it can be identified on the basis of its apparent mol. wt, its reactivity with the anti-IFA antibody and with polyclonal antibodies raised to the NF-L subunit of mammals. 4. 4. Primitive chordate neurofilaments are constituted by a single polypeptide of ca 160,000 mol. wt exhibiting only M-type phosphorylation-dependent epitopes. 5. 5. Primitive fish ( Acipenser transmontanus, Salmo gairdneri, Scorpaena porcus, Serranus scriba) possess only a single high mol. wt NF subunit reacting with both anti-NF-H and anti-NF-M antiserum while more recent species ( Mugil saliens, Perca Fluviatilis) possess two high mol. wt NF subunits which are immunologically distinct as to their phosphorylation structures. 6. 6. The existence in some fish species of two high mol. wt NF polypeptides suggests that the process of gene duplication and diversification supposed to have given rise to the two high mol. wt NF subunits of mammals and birds has occurred repeatedly in vertebrate evolution, and may be regarded as a case of convergent evolution.

Characterization of serum-stimulated lipoprotein lipase from bovine heart

1. 1. A triglyceride (TG) lipase is present in whole homogenate and tissue extracts of beef myocardium with chareteristics of lipoprotein lipase (LPL); i.e. activity is stimulated by serum, inhibited by NaCI and protamine sulfate, the protein binds to heparin-Sepharose, and the enzyme has an alkaline pH optimum. 2. 2. This TG lipase, eluted from heparin-Sepharose at 0.9–1.0 M NaCI, has an apparent mol. wt of 64 K daltons. Its primary mRNA is 3.7 kb. 3. 3. Expression of LPL mRNA and enzyme activities are in the ratio of approximately 20:8:1 for hearts of mouse, rat and beef, respectively and correlate with r = +0.99.

New toxins from the venom of the common tiger snake ( Notechis scutatus scutatus)

Scutoxin A and B represent two isoforms of a new toxic protein from the venom of the Australian tiger snake, Notechis scutatus scutatus. Both isoforms, of apparent mol. wt 13,000, are less basic than either notexin or notechis II-5. They both have similar i.v. ld 50-values in mice of ca 0.006 μg/g, and phospholipase activities of about 136 μmoles of fatty acid released /min/mg at 37°C when acting on phosphatidylcholine in the presence of Triton X-100. Toxicities of the scutoxins are the same as notexin and about seven times more potent than notechis II-5. ELISAs and western blot analyses indicate that the new toxins are immunologically similar to notexin and notechis II-5, with phospholipase activities falling between these latter two proteins. When crude venom is initially passed over a gel filtration column, each scutoxin isoform co-elutes in a different fraction with notexin. Gel filtration experiments using purified samples of notexin and scutoxin have failed to demonstrate any evidence for the formation of higher mol. wt protein complexes. Peptide mapping suggests the presence of five glutamate residues in one of the protein isoforms. These findings, together with the high toxicity and active phospholipase levels, demonstrate that the new proteins are not the previously reported non-toxic and enzymatically inactive notechis II-1. The combination of gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 and cation-exchange chromatography used to isolate the scutoxins also permits recovery of notexin and notechis II-5 in high purity.

Purification and characterization of a major human Pneumocystis carinii surface antigen.

Previous studies of Pneumocystis carinii have identified the major surface antigen of rat and human isolates as proteins of 116,000 and 95,000 mol wt, respectively, that are antigenically not identical. In this study both rat and human P. carinii proteins were purified by solubilization with zymolyase followed by molecular sieve and ion exchange chromatography. The native proteins had an apparent mol wt of 290,000 or greater, based on molecular sieve studies as well as cross-linking studies. Both proteins were glycoproteins; treatment with endoglycosidase H resulted in a 9% decrease in mol wt. The carbohydrate composition of the rat P. carinii glycoprotein was distinct from the human isolate; glucose, mannose, galactose, and glucosamine occurred in approximately equimolar ratios in the human P. carinii protein, whereas glucose and mannose were the predominant sugars of the rat P. carinii protein. To evaluate humoral immune responses to the human P. carinii protein, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using purified protein was developed. Some, but not all, patients who subsequently developed P. carinii pneumonia demonstrated a serum antibody response to the surface antigen. Nearly all subjects without a history of P. carinii pneumonia had no detectable antibodies. Purified P. carinii proteins will greatly facilitate the investigation of host-P. carinii interactions.

Dexamethasone and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3Modulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Proteins in Rat Osteoblast-Like Cell Cultures

Using the method of Western ligand blot, we have found that the major form of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGF-BP) secreted by rat osteoblastic-like cells in culture is a 31-kDa protein that is immunologically identical to BP-2, the binding protein originally identified in conditioned medium of Buffalo rat liver cells (BRL-3A). Two minor forms of IGF-BPs with apparent mol wt of 24 kDa (BP-24) and 42 kDa (BP-42) have also been identified. The amount of IGF-BPs in serum-free conditioned medium increased 3-fold on day 3 compared to the day 1 level. We also studied the modulation of IGF-BPs by dexamethasone (DEX), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D3], and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). DEX coordinately reduced the level of IGF-BPs in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which resulted in less than 10% of the BP-2 remaining at 100 nM. In contrast, 1,25-(OH)2D3 at 100 nM enhanced the amount of BP-2 by 1-fold. In combined treatments, 1,25-(OH)2D3 at 10 nM was unable to antagonize the inhibitory effect of DEX in the dose range of 1-10 nM. IGF-I, at 1 and 10 nM, proved to be a potent stimulator of all IGF-BPs, and at 10 nM, it completely reversed the inhibition by 100 nM DEX. Although the roles of IGF-BPs have not been clearly defined in bone cells, they are capable of modulating the biological actions of IGFs in other cell culture systems. Modulation of the IGF-BP level by DEX, 1,25-(OH)2D3, and IGF-I suggests important roles for these binding proteins in altering IGF-I action in rat osteoblast-like cell cultures.

Glucose Deprivation Induces the Selective Accumulation of Hexose Transporter Protein GLUT-1 in the Plasma Membrane of Normal Rat Kidney Cells

Antibody to the carboxyl-terminal of hexose transporter protein GLUT-1 was used to localize this carrier in normal rat kidney (NRK) cells during D-glucose (Glc) deprivation. Glc-deprivation of NRK cells induces increased hexose transport, inhibits the glycosylation of GLUT-1, and increases the content of both native, 55,000 apparent mol wt (Mr) and aglyco, 38,000 Mr GLUT-1 polypeptides. The distribution of GLUT-1 protein in subcellular fractions isolated from Glc-fed NRK cells shows that the 55,000 Mr polypeptide is most abundant in intracellular membrane fractions. Glc-fed cells that have been tunicamycin treated contain principally the 38,000 Mr GLUT-1 polypeptide, which is found predominantly in intracellular membrane fractions. In Glc-deprived cells the 55,000 Mr GLUT-1 polypeptide localizes predominantly in the Golgi and plasma membrane fractions, whereas the more abundant 38,000 Mr GLUT-1 polypeptide is distributed throughout all membrane fractions. In Glc-deprived but fructose-fed cells only the 55,000 Mr GLUT-1 polypeptide is detected, and it is found predominantly in the plasma membrane and Golgi fractions. The localization of GLUT-1 protein was directly and specifically visualized in NRK cells by immunofluorescence microscopy. Glc-fed cells show little labeling of cell borders and a small punctate juxtanuclear pattern suggestive of localization to the Golgi and, perhaps, endoplasmic reticulum. Glc-fed cells that have been tunicamycin treated show large punctate intracellular accumulations suggestive of localization to distended Golgi and perhaps endoplasmic reticulum. Glc-deprived cells exhibited intense labeling of cell borders as well as intracellular accumulations. Glc-deprived but fructose-fed cells show fewer intracellular accumulations, and the labeling is, in general, limited to the cell borders. Our results suggest that Glc deprivation induces the selective accumulation of GLUT-1 in the plasma membrane of NRK cells.

Thyroid Hormone Receptor Mutations that Interfere with Transcriptional Activation also Interfere with Receptor Interaction with a Nuclear Protein

A 20 amino acid segment within the ligand-binding domain of the rat beta 1-thyroid hormone receptor (T3R; amino acids 286-305) is conserved in all members of the erbA superfamily. Mutations in this region impair T3 induction of reporter gene expression in a transfection system without impairing T3 binding or nuclear localization of the receptors. We postulate that a nuclear protein may need to interact with this domain for full transcriptional activity and provide evidence for the existence of this putative protein. Specifically, a JEG-3 cell protein (denoted TRAP, T3R auxiliary protein) interacts with wild-type T3R-beta 1 to increase binding of the receptor to T3 response elements in vitro. Mutations within amino acids 286-305 impair the ability of TRAP to enhance T3R binding to hormone response elements. Cross-linking studies indicate that TRAP has an apparent mol wt of 63 kDa. Surprisingly, TRAP does not enhance binding of erbA-alpha 2 and v-erbA to DNA, even though these proteins contain highly conserved versions of the 20-amino acid beta 1 T3R sequence under study. TRAP or a similar protein, however, does enhance binding of retinoic acid receptor-beta to a hormone response element. We conclude that the inability of T3Rs with mutations in this domain to fully activate transcription may be due to an inability of these proteins to fully interact with TRAP. We postulate that TRAP or related proteins may be important regulators of ligand-dependent transcriptional activation for other members of the erbA family in addition to the T3R.

Falsely Elevated Serum Parathyroid Hormone Levels due to Immunoglobulin G in a Patient with Idiopathic Hypoparathyroidism*

A 73-yr-old patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism was admitted to our hospital in May 1981. The immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) level determined by RIA using antiserum specific for the C-terminal region of PTH-(65-69) was in the upper normal range (0.6 ng/mL) and over the next 7 yr increased gradually to 6 ng/mL. Since iPTH levels determined using other commercial RIA kits remained constantly decreased or in the undetectable range, we studied the mechanism of false elevation of iPTH in this patient. The patient's serum contained no binding protein to the tracer ([125I]) [Tyr45] human PTH-(46-84)), nor was any heterophilic antibody to the first [guinea pig immunoglobulin G (IgG)] or the second antibody (goat IgG) detected. Consistent with these findings, the dilution curve of the serum was parallel with that of standard bovine PTH-(1-84). Gel filtration analysis revealed that the iPTH-like substance was eluted in the void volume (apparent mol wt, greater than 70,000). Almost all of the iPTH-like substance was adsorbod by a protein-A-Sepharose column. When the IgG fraction purified by protein-A-Sepharose affinity chromatography was applied to an antihuman IgG lambda-Sepharose column, 72% of the iPTH-like substance was detected in the IgG lambda. These results suggest that the falsely elevated iPTH in the patient's serum was due to IgGs (mainly IgG lambda), which were cross-reactive with the antiserum highly specific for the C-terminal region of human PTH-(65-69).