Calcium-dependent Phospholipid Binding Research Articles

Effects of profilin–annexin I association on some properties of both profilin and annexin I: modification of the inhibitory activity of profilin on actin polymerization and inhibition of the self-association of annexin I and its interactions with liposomes

We have previously shown that annexin I, a member of a family of calcium-dependent phospholipid and membrane binding proteins, interacts with profilin with high specificity and affinity. This finding further suggests that annexin I is involved through profilin in the regulation of membrane-cytoskeleton organization. We have investigated the consequences of a complex formed by these two proteins on the functions of both profilin and annexin I. Annexin I is able to modify the inhibitory effect of profilin on actin polymerization. This action is partial and the mechanism involved appears to be complex. On the other hand, the association between annexin I and profilin is sufficiently strong to inhibit the self-association of annexin I. The binding capacity of annexin I to liposomes containing phosphatidylserine, which mimics annexin I binding to membranes, is also decreased by profilin. This binding is nevertheless restored when phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PtdIns P2) is included in the liposomes. Finally, the capacity of annexin I to aggregate liposomes is also modified. It is worthwhile mentioning that the liposomes-binding and liposomes-aggregating activities of annexin I are independently regulated. The cell localization and functions of annexin I and profilin suggest that interaction between these two proteins may be directly implicated in the regulation of membrane-cytoskeleton. The phospholipid composition of membranes may be one of the modulating factors.

A ternary metal binding site in the C2 domain of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-delta1.

We have determined the crystal structures of complexes of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-delta1 from rat with calcium, barium, and lanthanum at 2.5-2.6 A resolution. Binding of these metal ions is observed in the active site of the catalytic TIM barrel and in the calcium binding region (CBR) of the C2 domain. The C2 domain of PLC-delta1 is a circularly permuted topological variant (P-variant) of the synaptotagmin I C2A domain (S-variant). On the basis of sequence analysis, we propose that both the S-variant and P-variant topologies are present among other C2 domains. Multiple adjacent binding sites in the C2 domain were observed for calcium and the other metal/enzyme complexes. The maximum number of binding sites observed was for the calcium analogue lanthanum. This complex shows an array-like binding of three lanthanum ions (sites I-III) in a crevice on one end of the C2 beta-sandwich. Residues involved in metal binding are contained in three loops, CBR1, CBR2, and CBR3. Sites I and II are maintained in the calcium and barium complexes, whereas sites II and III coincide with a binary calcium binding site in the C2A domain of synaptotagmin I. Several conformers for CBR1 are observed. The conformation of CBR1 does not appear to be strictly dependent on metal binding; however, metal binding may stabilize certain conformers. No significant structural changes are observed for CBR2 or CBR3. The surface of this ternary binding site provides a cluster of freely accessible liganding positions for putative phospholipid ligands of the C2 domain. It may be that the ternary metal binding site is also a feature of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding in solution. A ternary metal binding site might be a conserved feature among C2 domains that contain the critical calcium ligands in their CBR's. The high cooperativity of calcium-mediated lipid binding by C2 domains described previously is explained by this novel type of calcium binding site.

Calcium-mediated Translocation of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 to the Nuclear Envelope and Endoplasmic Reticulum

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is activated by a wide variety of stimuli to release arachidonic acid, the precursor of the potent inflammatory mediators prostaglandin and leukotriene. Specifically, cPLA2 releases arachidonic acid in response to agents that increase intracellular Ca2+. In vitro data have suggested that these agents induce a translocation of cPLA2 from the cytosol to the cell membrane, where its substrate is localized. Here, we use immunofluorescence to visualize the translocation of cPLA2 to distinct cellular membranes. In Chinese hamster ovary cells that stably overexpress cPLA2, this enzyme translocates to the nuclear envelope upon stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187. The pattern of staining observed in the cytoplasm suggests that cPLA2 also translocates to the endoplasmic reticulum. We find no evidence for cPLA2 localization to the plasma membrane. Translocation of cPLA2 is dependent on the calcium-dependent phospholipid binding domain, as a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding deletion mutant of cPLA2 (delta CII) fails to translocate in response to Ca2+. In contrast, cPLA2 mutated at Ser-505, the site of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, translocates normally. This observation, combined with the observed phosphorylation of delta CII, establishes that translocation and phosphorylation function independently to regulate cPLA2. The effect of these mutations on cPLA2 translocation was confirmed by subcellular fractionation. Each of these mutations abolished the ability of cPLA2 to release arachidonic acid, establishing that cPLA2-mediated arachidonic acid release is strongly dependent on both phosphorylation and translocation. These data help to clarify the mechanisms by which cPLA2 is regulated in intact cells and establish the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum as primary sites for the liberation of arachidonic acid in the cell.

GapIII, a new brain-enriched member of the GTPase-activating protein family.

Ras GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) are negative regulators of ras, which controls proliferation and differentiation in many cells. Ras GAPs have been found in a variety of species from yeast to mammals. We describe here a newly identified mammalian GAP, GapIII, which was obtained by differential screening of a rat oligodendrocyte cDNA library. GapIII putatively encodes a 834 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 96 kDa, which contains a consensus GAP-related domain (GRD). The protein encoded by this cDNA has high homology with Gap1m, which was recently identified as a putative mammalian homolog of Drosophila Gap1. These proteins contain three structural domains, an N-terminal calcium-dependent phospholipid binding domain, GRD, and a C-terminal PH/Btk domain. Because of the sequence homology and the structural similarities of this protein with Gap1m, we hypothesize that GapIII and Gap1m may be members of a mammalian GAP gene family, separate from p120GAP, neurofibromin (NF1), and IQGAP. To confirm the GapIII protein activity, constructs containing different GapIII-GRD domains were transformed into iral mutant yeast to determine their relative ability to replace IRA1 functionally. Constructs that contained essentially the full-length protein (all three domains), the GRD alone, or the GRD plus PH/Btk domain suppressed heat shock sensitivity of ira1, whereas constructs that contained the GRD with part of the PH/Btk domain had only a weak ability to suppress heat shock sensitivity. These results suggest that the GapIII GRD itself is sufficient to down-regulate ras proteins in yeast. Expression of GapIII mRNA (4.2 kb) was examined by Northern analysis and in situ hybridization. This mRNA was expressed at highest levels in the brain, where its expression increased with development. Lower levels of the mRNA were expressed in the spleen and lung. Among neural cells, GapIII mRNA was expressed in neurons and oligodendrocytes, but not in astrocytes. Interestingly, the expression pattern in brain is reminiscent of type 1 NF1 expression reported by Gutmann et al. (Cell Growth Differ in press, 1995). We propose that in addition to p120GAP and neurofibromin, the GapIII/Gap1m family may be important for modulating ras activity in neurons and oligodendrocytes during normal brain development and in particular in the adult brain.

Potential Interaction between Annexin VI and a 56-kDa Protein Kinase in T Cells

Annexins belong to a large family of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins known to undergo post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. Physiological function of each annexin is still unclear since they may partipate in signal transduction. We have tested the presence of annexins in a T cell line (Jurkat) and studied their phosphorylation by protein tyrosine kinases of the src family. Among annexins I, II, V and VI found in Jurkat cells, annexin VI was shown to be phosphorylated in vitro by p56 lck and annexins I and II by p60 src. We could not detect the phosphorylation of A-VI in vivo, even after cell stimulation. However, a 56-kDa phosphoprotein was found to be associated with A-VI after T cell activation. This 56-kDa protein shares some characteristics with p56 lck.

Annexin-I inhibits phospholipase A 2 by specific interaction, not by substrate depletion

Annexin-I is a calcium dependent phospholipid binding and phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2) inhibitory protein. A ‘substrate depletion’ model has been proposed for the mechanism of PLA 2 inhibition by annexin-I in studies with 14 to 18 kDa PLA 2s. Herein, we have studied the inhibition mechanism using 100 kDa cytosolic PLA 2 from porcine spleen. The inhibition has been measured at various substrate and calcium ion concentrations. The pattern of PLA 2 inhibition by annexin-I was consistent with a ‘specific interaction’ mechanism rather than the ‘substrate depletion’ model. Apparent contradiction with previous studies can be explained by the calcium-dependent binding of annexin-I to the substrate.

Organization of the Human Annexin V (ANX5) Gene

We characterized the region of human chromosome 4q26-q28 that contains the gene encoding annexin V (placental anticoagulant protein I), a member of a family of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. A total of 14.5 kb, containing 9 introns, could be directly amplified from genomic DNA; the remainder was characterized from genomic clones in phage λ and a yeast artificial chromosome. The gene was mapped with restriction enzymes Bam HI, EcoRI, HindIII, SacI, StuI, and Xba I; the transcribed region spans 28 kb and contains 13 exons (44 to 530 bp in size) and 12 introns (0.23 to 8.8 kb in size). Several putative transcription factor binding sites are present in the 5′-region, but the promoter has no recognizable TATA box. This study will facilitate further analysis of the functions of annexin V and its role in disease.

Calcium-dependent interaction of the cytoplasmic region of synaptotagmin with membranes. Autonomous function of a single C2-homologous domain.

The synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin has been implicated in the docking and subsequent calcium-regulated exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. We demonstrate that synaptotagmin is a major constituent of synaptic vesicle membranes, comprising 7-8% of the total vesicle protein. A proteolytic fragment of synaptotagmin, containing two repeats homologous to the C2-domain of protein kinase C, bound to a variety of natural membranes in a calcium-dependent manner (EC50 approximately 30 microM calcium). Binding was insensitive to proteolysis of the acceptor membranes suggesting an interaction with the lipid constituents. This interaction was confirmed using a recombinant fusion protein, containing both C2-like domains of synaptotagmin, that bound to artificial liposomes in a calcium-dependent manner. Phospholipid binding properties were preserved in a 114-amino acid domain corresponding to the first C2-like repeat of the protein and represents the shortest functional cassette yet reported. Furthermore, deletion of a highly conserved 9-amino acid motif, within this region, was sufficient to abolish the calcium-dependent phospholipid binding properties of this domain. This mutation may provide a means to selectively disrupt individual C2-domains in order to assess their relative contributions to function.

Annexin V forms calcium-dependent trimeric units on phospholipid vesicles

The quaternary structure of annexin V, a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein, was investigated by chemical cross-linking. Calcium was found to induce the formation of trimers, hexamers, and higher aggregates only when anionic phospholipids were present. Oligomerization occurred under the same conditions as annexin—vesicle binding. A model is proposed in when cell stimulation leads to calcium-induced organization of arrays of annexin V lining the inner membrane surface, thus altering properties such as permeability and fluidity.

Association of Annexin V with prolactin in the rat anterior pituitary gland

When pituitary extracts were subjected to non denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an unknown protein was found to associate with a proportion of the prolactin. This protein was dissociated from prolactin by sodium dodecyl sulfate. The protein was purified and sequenced. As the amino terminus was blocked, the amino acid sequences of three peptide fragments were determined. The obtained sequences of 41 amino acids were identical to partial sequences of a known protein, rat Annexin V. The molecular mass, 36kDa, was also the same as the molecular weight of Annexin V. The existence of Annexin V mRNA in rat pituitary glands was also confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. These results show that Annexin V, a member of the calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins, is synthesized in the rat pituitary gland, and suggest its association with prolactin in the gland.

Alternatively spliced annexin XI transcripts encode proteins that differ near the amino-terminus

Annexins are a family of structurally related calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. We recently described a new member of this family, bovine annexin XI [1]. Two kinds of cDNAs were identified corresponding to annexin XI mRNA variants A and B, which are generated by alternative splicing of identical primary transcripts. Annexin XI isoforms are predicted to differ at the amino-terminus, suggesting that they may have distinct biological roles.

Characterization and Subcellular Localization of Calcium-Dependent Phospholipid Binding Proteins (Annexins) in Normal Human Skin and Reconstituted Epidermis

Annexins represent a widespread family of Ca(++)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. Although their precise functions are still unknown, they probably play an important role in cell regulation because they are major substrates for various growth factor receptor kinases. We characterized annexins in human skin using three different antisera raised against annexin II, annexin V, and a synthetic peptide that resembles the consensus sequence of all annexins. In normal human skin, using SDS-PAGE, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis, we identified two major 34-kDa proteins and one 36-kDa protein, with respective isoelectric points of 6.5, 5.2, and 7.2-7.9. According to these criteria they were identified as annexins, I, V, and II, respectively. Minor 45-51 kDa and 68-kDa proteins with 6.1-6.7 and 6.8-7.1 isoelectric points were also present, and likely corresponded to annexins VII and VI, respectively. We investigated the ability of these proteins to bind phospholipids in the presence of calcium using liposomes formed from a mixture of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine. The cellular distribution of annexins in normal human skin was determined by immunofluorescence with antiannexin II and anti-annexin V antibodies. Labeling with both antibodies was observed predominantly at the cell membrane with some cytoplasmic staining also being apparent. Specificity was confirmed by the absence of staining using pre-immune sera or after the absorption of the antibodies with their corresponding antigens. These proteins were also characterized in vitro in a reconstituted human skin model. All were present in this system except annexin VI and VII, which were lost after phospholipid purification. Further experiments should now be carried out using this system to clarify the role and regulation of these proteins within the epidermis.

Phospholipid binding of antiphospholipid antibodies and placental anticoagulant protein.

We evaluated the interaction of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with placental anticoagulant protein I (PAP I), a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein which may act as a natural anticoagulant. Clotting assays showed additive prolongation of clotting times with aPL and PAP I. ELISA and vesicle phospholipid binding studies showed PAP I inhibition of aPL binding to phospholipid but no inhibition of PAP I-phospholipid binding by aPL. aPL and PAP I interact additively in anticoagulant activity in in vitro clotting systems and compete for phospholipid in ELISA system. These data support the hypotheses that aPL and PAP I may recognize similar phospholipid epitopes and that in vivo interaction may occur.

Correlation of gene and protein structure of rat and human lipocortin I

Lipocortins (annexins) are a family of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity. The characteristic primary structure of members of this family consists of a core structure of four or eight repeated domains, which have been implicated in calcium-dependent phospholipid binding. In two lipocortins (I and II) a short amino-terminal sequence distinct from the core structure has potential regulatory functions which are dependent on its phosphorylation state. We have isolated the rat and the human lipocortin I genes and found that they both consist of 13 exons with a striking conservation of their exon-intron structure and their promoter and amino acid sequences. Both lipocortin I genes are at least 19 kbp in length with exons ranging from 57 to 123 bp interrupted by introns as large as 5 kbp. Each of the four repeat units of lipocortin I are encoded by two consecutive exons while individual exons code for the highly conserved putative calcium-binding domains. The promoter sequences in the rat and in human genes are highly conserved and contain nucleotide sequences characterized as enhancer sequences in other genes. The structure of the lipocortin I gene lends support to the hypothesis that the lipocortin genes arose by a duplication of a single domain.

Phospholipid-Binding Properties of Calphobindin-II(Annexin VI), an Anticoagulant Protein from Human Placenta.

Calphobindin-II (CPB-II, annexin VI), is a calcium dependent phospholipid binding protein that can be classified as a member of the annexin family. The phospholipid-binding properties of CPB-II were investigated by measuring the binding constants of [125I]-CPB-II using phospholipid vesicles consisting of 80% phosphatidylcholine and 20% phosphatidylserine. A dissociation constant (Kd) of CPB-II with the phospholipid vesicles was determined to be 0.2 to 0.3 nM in the presence of Ca2+ ranging from 0.3 to 30 mM. The number of CPB-II capable of binding to the phospholipid vesicles at 0.3 mM Ca2+ decreased to about 1/2 in the presence of Ca2+ of more than 1 mM. Prothrombin and factor X were effective in competing with the binding of CPB-II to the phospholipid vesicles, although their affinities were lower by two or three orders of magnitude than that of unlabeled CPB-II at 30 nM Ca2+. Competitive effects of CPB-II, calphobindin-I (CPB-I, annexin V) and calphobindin-III (CPB-III, annexin III) on binding of [125I]-CPB-II to phospholipid vesicles, were similarly observed.

Identification and characterization of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins in human mononuclear cells

Calcium-dependent phospholipid binding and phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins were isolated from human mononuclear cells. Lipocortins I and II were present whereas lipocortin IV (endonexin I) was not. The other proteins were purified to homogeneity and shown to have molecular masses of 35, 36, 32 and 73 kDa. The 36-kDa and 73-kDa proteins are related, the smaller appears to be part of the larger. The 73-kDa protein is related to the 67-kDa calelectrin and to lipocortin VI; the 32-kDa protein is different from endonexin I but related to chromobindin 7 and to lipocortin V. The 35-kDa protein has been identified by tryptic peptide sequencing as lipocortin III. All these proteins inhibit phospholipase A2 activity in vitro and the three smaller ones inhibit the [3H]arachidonic acid release from prelabelled monocytes induced by the calcium ionophore A23187 in a dose-dependent manner.

Calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins associated with the membranes of rabbit skeletal muscle

By using extraction in the presence of Ca 2+ and Triton X-100 and then in the presence of EGTA without detergent, a set of Ca 2+-dependent phospholipid binding proteins has been identified in the membranes of transverse tubules (T-tubules) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), isolated from rabbit skeletal muscles. Longitudinal SR, junctional SR and T-tubule membranes yielded about 9, 14 and 3.3 μg of EGTA-soluble proteins per 1 mg of membrane protein, respectively. In the presence of 1 mM CaCl 2, 68 and 33 kDa proteins of T-tubules and junctional SR as well as 30 kDa protein of T-tubules were shown to bind to liposomes made of 1:1 w w mixtures of (i) phosphatidylcholine and (ii) phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, or phosphatidyl ethanolamine. In the presence of EGTA, the above-mentioned proteins were mostly found in the supernatants. Binding of the proteins with liposomes consisting of pure phosphatidylcholine was negligible.

Phospholipid-dependent Ca2+ binding by the 36-kDa tyrosine kinase substrate (calpactin) and its 33-kDa core.

A 36-kDa protein, which is a component of the membrane skeleton, has been shown to co-localize with spectrin in addition to serving as a major substrate for tyrosine-protein kinases. This protein, which will be referred to as calpactin (for calcium-dependent phospholipid and actin binding protein), was isolated from bovine intestine as the complex with a 10-kilodalton light chain and the Ca2+ binding was analyzed by equilibrium dialysis with 45Ca2+ in the presence or absence of phospholipid. Although Ca2+ binding by calpactin alone was negligible at micromolar free Ca2+, it was greatly enhanced by liposomes containing phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylinositol. A proteolytic derivative of calpactin, termed the "core," which has lost the site of association with the light chain in addition to the site of tyrosine phosphorylation by pp60src, was also found to contain this high affinity phospholipid enhanced Ca2+-binding activity. Scatchard plots reveal that each calpactin monomer or core polypeptide bound 2 Ca2+ ions with a Kd of 4.5 X 10(-6) M at 200 micrograms of phosphatidylserine/ml. Liposome binding experiments confirmed that calpactin as a complex with light chain as well as calpactin monomer or the 33-kDa core interact with phosphatidylserine liposomes in a Ca2+-dependent manner.