heparin-Sepharose Chromatography Research Articles

Identification of an endothelial cell product as an inhibitor of tissue factor activity.

An endothelial cell glycoprotein that inhibits the initiation of the coagulation process promoted by tissue factor has been isolated by heparin-sepharose, hydroxyapatite and gel filtration chromatography. As is the case for several other species synthesized by this cell type, the N-linked carbohydrate moiety is sulfated. The identification of this inhibitor hints at the possible existence of a functional balance, between the activator of the coagulation cascade and its inhibitor, which may become perturbed in various pathophysiological conditions.

In Vitro Effects of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A: Artifacts Due to Heparin1

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) has been reported to inhibit elastase activity, lymphoblastogenesis, complement activity, and thrombin-induced coagulation of fibrinogen. Since some of these results are controversial, we reevaluate here the effects of PAPP-A in these last two systems. By molecular sieve chromatography, PAPP-A immunoreactivity and inhibitory activity on thrombin and complement were dissociated. A PAPP-A-free washing of the heparin-Sepharose column used during the purification of PAPP-A showed inhibitory activities similar to those of purified PAPP-A. Furthermore, a preparation of PAPP-A that had not been submitted to heparin-Sepharose chromatography during purification was not active in either assays. Thus, the anticoagulant and anti-complement effects previously attributed to PAPP-A were due to a contaminant of low molecular mass. We believe that this contaminant is probably heparin. A protocol to eliminate free and PAPP-A-bound heparin is presented herein, and implications for other previously reported in vitro effects of PAPP-A are discussed.

Partial purification and characterization of cytosolic Tyr-protein kinase(s) from human erythrocytes.

Tyrosine-protein kinase, phosphorylating tyrosine residues of transmembrane band 3 protein, has been partially purified from human erythrocyte cytosol by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography followed by heparin-Sepharose chromatography. Such a Tyr-protein kinase (36 kDa), as distinct from the Ser/Thre-protein kinases (casein kinase S and TS), appears to display a broader site specificity than does the previously described human erythrocyte P-Tyr-protein phosphatase, dephosphorylating band 3 protein. That is, it is able to phosphorylate not only the highly acidic copolymer poly(Glu-Tyr) but also angiotensin II, lacking an acidic amino acid sequence around the target Tyr residue. Moreover, the phosphorylation of these two substrates exhibits a different pH dependence and a different response to NaCl and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. These results suggest that in intact erythrocytes the cytosolic Tyr-protein kinase might phosphorylate band 3 not only on Tyr-8, surrounded by several acidic side-chains (as demonstrated preferentially to occur in isolated ghosts), but also on other Tyr residues surrounded by other amino acid sequences.

The influence of metabolic control on very low density lipoprotein composition in hypertriglyceridemic type II diabetics. A study using heparin-sepharose chromatography

The composition and heparin-binding capacity of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) from type II diabetics prone to develop secondary hypertriglyceridemia have been examined. Twelve diabetic patients whose triglyceride levels normalized during short-term treatment for hyperglycemia were studied. Normalization of triglyceride values reduced plasma levels of VLDL without modifying its relative lipid composition. There was, however, an increase in its relative apoprotein (apo) content, to which apo B made a greater percentage contribution. The calculated average particle diameter of postreatment VLDL was reduced. The fraction of VLDL binding to heparin increased after treatment. Binding was strongly correlated to the apo B content and, to a lesser extent, to the apo E content. The data suggest that treatment of hyperglycemia favorably modified VLDL such that they more closely resemble VLDL from normolipidemic subjects, with potentially beneficial physiological consequences.

A Growth Factor in Bovine and Human Testes Structurally Related to Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor

Homogenates of human testes, epididymides and prostate, and calf testes and epididymides are mitogenic for cultured human foreskin fibroblasts. The growth factors appear similar in that they are inactivated by boiling and acid, but not by treatment with reducing agent. The growth factor in human and bovine testes was partially purified from tissue homogenates, prepared in high ionic strength buffer (pH 7.6) containing protease inhibitors, by ammonium sulfate precipitation and two cycles of heparin-Sepharose chromatography. The growth factor in calf testes was also partially purified from tissue extracted in ammonium sulfate without protease inhibitors, acidified to pH 4.5, and precipitated by ammonium sulfate followed by two cycles of heparin-affinity chromatography. A predominant 17,500 molecular weight (MW) growth factor was identified from alkaline homogenates of human and calf testes by its reactivity with antisera prepared against synthetic peptides whose sequences corresponded to residues 1–12 (amino-terminal), 33–43 (internal) and 136–145 (carboxy-terminal) of bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). A slightly smaller 16,600MW peptide from acidic extracts of calf testes also reacted with antisera to the three synthetic peptides. A 15,500MW peptide, lacking immunoreactivity with antiserum to the amino-terminal synthetic peptide, was also seen. These findings suggest that a growth factor is present in human and calf testes that is structurally related to bFGF. The structure of the growth factors appears to be altered during the isolation procedure.

Accumulation of large VLDL in cyclophosphamide treated rabbits. Relationship with lipoprotein lipase deficiency

Rabbit very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) have been fractionated by heparin sepharose chromatography into two subpopulations : an unretained fraction (UR) and a retained fraction (R). The separation profiles of VLDL from cyclophosphamide treated rabbits differed from those obtained in normal animals : UR fraction was far more important in treated rabbits than in control animals. Comparative studies of the two VLDL subfractions isolated from treated rabbits have been performed. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of urea showed a similar distribution in both fractions of apolipoproteins X, a group of low molecular weight apolipoproteins detected after antimitotic therapy. SDS - polyacrylamide electrophoresis revealed the presence of one form of apolipoprotein B : apo B100 in the VLDL from treated rabbits giving evidence of their hepatic origin. Relative to the R-fraction, the UR-fraction was characterized by an increased triacylglycerol content and a larger diameter as observed by electron microscopy. In vitro incubations with lipoprotein lipase and reisolation of postlipolysis particles suggest that both VLDL fractions can undergo metabolic conversion to LDL. A decrease of lipoprotein lipase activity after treatment, as previously observed, may thus explain the accumulation of the large VLDL.

Large scale purification of the nuclear thyroid hormone receptor from rat liver and sequence-specific binding of the receptor to DNA.

Methodology is reported for extracting thyroid hormone receptors from rat liver nuclei and for purifying these such that certain receptor properties can be examined. The extraction technique resulted in 1700 pmol of receptor/2 kg of liver and bypasses centrifugation in dense sucrose. The receptor was then purified by sequential heparin-Sepharose, DEAE-Sepharose, and phospho-Ultrogel chromatography and size exclusion and hydrophobic interaction high performance liquid chromatography. These steps yielded 23-35 micrograms of receptor at 0.7-1.5% purity from two 2-kg liver preparations. The cross-linkers disuccinimidyl suberate and N-succinimidyl-6-(4-azido-2-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate were employed to covalently attach 125I-labeled 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) to the purified receptor. Autoradiography after denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed major 49,000 Mr and minor 58,000 Mr specific T3-binding proteins. The purified receptors exhibited high affinity (Kd = 100 pM) single site T3-binding activity. Because of the high affinity and specificity of [125I]T3 for the receptor, it was possible to uniquely identify the receptor containing DNA-protein complexes in a gel retardation assay and thus directly demonstrate for the first time that the receptor can specifically recognize sequences in the 5'-flanking DNA of the rat growth hormone gene. [125I]T3-labeled receptor migrated at the same position as the major gel-retarded 32P-labeled DNA band. Specific DNA competed for the binding much more strongly than nonspecific DNA. Thus, the purification procedure results in relatively large quantities of receptor at a purity sufficient for detecting and studying a number of its properties including specific DNA binding activity.

A comparison of 11β-chloromethlylestradiol and tamoxifen aziridine as affinity labeling reagents for estrogen receptors

The tritium-labeled from of 11β-chloromethylestradiol was prepared by metal hydride reduction of the 17-keto derivative. Affinity labeling experiments were carried out using [ 3H] 11β-chloromethylestradiol and [ 3H]tamoxifen aziridine with estrogen receptor from crude, calf uterine cytosol and partially purified (heparin-sepharose chromatography) preparations. Both compounds formed highly stable receptor complexes. Estrogen specific, covalent binding, however, was indicated only for [ 3H]tamoxifen aziridine. An equilibrium dissociation constant of 2.8 × 10− 10 M was determined for the receptor-[ 3H] 11β-chloromethylestradiol interaction. Measurement of hormone dissociation kinetics at 30°C revealed a slow, single phase dissociation of 11β-chloromethylestradiol from the receptor (dissociation rate constant, 1.3 × 10− 3 min− 1). This contrasted with the normal biphasic dissociation pattern of estradiol in which the dissociation rate constant for the slower component was 16.7 × 10− 3 min− 1. The results indicate that 11β-chloromethylestradiol readily converts the estrogen receptor to a high affinity binding form and suggest that the radiolabeled hormone may prove useful for studies of estrogen action.

High yield purification of melanoma growth stimulatory activity

Tumor cells produce a variety of hormones and growth factors that are associated with modulation of the growth pattern of malignant cells. Hs294T human malignant melanoma cells produce a monolayer mitogen, melanoma growth stimulatory activity (MGSA), that stimulates the growth of Hs294T cultures in serum-free medium. MGSA has been purified to homogeneity from conditioned medium of Hs294T human malignant melanoma cells using acetic acid extraction of the crude conditioned medium followed by three Chromatographie processes, including gel-filtration, heparin-Sepharose, and reverse-phase HPLC. MGSA was eluted from the heparin-Sepharose resin with 0.1–0.3 M NaCl. The binding affinity is similar to that of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) but much less than many endothelial cell-derived growth factors which require significantly higher salt concentrations for elution. These procedures resulted in a final yield of purified MGSA that was significantly greater than yields obtained using previously reported procedures. The homogeneous 16000 and 13000 molecular weight moieties obtained by means of these procedures exhibited similar bioactivities (stimulating a 2- to 3-fold increase in Hs294T cell growth) over a 0.06–6 ng concentration range. This bioactivity was progressively inactivated during storage at −80°C. These results indicate that the combination of heparin-Sepharose chromatography and reverse phase-HPLC provides a more efficient means of purification of MGSA.

Antithrombin Glasgow, 393 arg to his: A P 1 reactive site variant with increased heparin affinity but no thrombin inhibitory activity

Antithrombin Glasgow is a hereditary abnormal antithrombin that has lost thrombin inhibitory activity. It was isolated from the plasma of a 41-year-old male with a history of thrombotic events. Antithrombin Glasgow was purified from plasma using heparin-Sepharose chromatography at pH 7.4 eluting with increasing concentrations of NaCl. The normal protein eluted with 0.9 mol/l NaCl and Glasgow with 1.05 mol/l NaCl. Electrophoresis in agarose at pH 8.6 showed the variant to migrate more anodally than normal. The C-terminal small fragment resulting from catalytic cleavage with elastase between P 3 and P 4 of the reactive loop was isolated and sequenced. This showed the replacement of the arginine at residue 3 by a histidine. This is residue 393 in the intact molecule. The findings suggest that heparin, on binding, interacts indirectly with the reactive centre region of antithrombin.

Characterization of four tyrosine protein kinases from the particulate fraction of rat spleen.

Four distinct tyrosine protein kinases active on poly(Glu4,Tyr1) and angiotensin II, and operationally termed TPK-I, TPK-IIA, TPK-IIB and TPK-III have been resolved and partially purified from rat spleen particulate fraction by combining DEAE-Sepharose, heparin-Sepharose, phosphocellulose and polylysine-agarose chromatographies. Once partially purified all of them are free of Ser/Thr-specific protein kinase activity as judged using casein, histones, protamine and the peptide Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Val-Ala as substrates. TPK-I (apparent molecular mass 64 kDa, by gel filtration) and TPK-IIA (54 kDa) share several properties, including substrate specificity and stimulation by heparin; the latter however is much more responsive to polylysine then the former (10- and 3-fold maximum stimulation, respectively). Conversely TPK-IIB (51 kDa) is markedly inhibited by heparin and it is also characterized by its unique substrate specificity: unlike the other three tyrosine protein kinases it by far prefers the tetrapeptide Glu-Tyr-Ala-Ala over the decapeptide Asp-Ala-Glu-Tyr-Ala-Ala-Arg-Arg-Arg-Gly and readily phosphorylates band-3 protein of red cell membrane. The unusual preference for Mg2+ over Mn2+ as activator and the capability to phosphorylate calmodulin distinguish TPK-III (61 kDa) from the other isoenzymes. Moreover TPK-III is insensitive to heparin and polylysine and is inhibited by quercetin much more efficiently than the other enzymes (I50 = 10 microM). Upon incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP, TPK-I, TPK-IIA and TPK-III give rise to alkali-stable radiolabeled components of 61, 55 and 52 kDa respectively, as evaluated by PAGE/SDS. In every case such a radiolabeling takes place also in the presence of a large excess of phosphorylatable substrate (angiotensin II) while it is readily reversed by isotopic dilution with 10-fold excess unlabeled ATP, supporting the view that it represents an autophosphorylation process. No (auto)phosphorylation product(s) could be detected in TPK-IIB even if its amount, in terms of catalytic activity, was 10-fold higher than that of the others.

Characterization of very-low-density lipoproteins isolated from baboons, and fractionated using heparin-Sepharose chromatography

Plasma very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) ( d< 1.006 g/ml) were purified from baboons by repeated ultracentrifugation. The weight composition of VLDL purified from these animals was 59% triacylglycerol, 17% phospholipid, 13% cholesterol plus cholesteryl esters, and 11% protein. When purified VLDL was fractionated using heparin-Sepharose chromatography, an average of 33% of the total recovered proteins were unbound in a saline solution, and 67% (range, 31 to 92%) were bound by the column, but could be eluted with 3 M NaCl. Recoveries of starting protein and the major classes of lipids in the two fractions were 70–80%. The two fractions differed in both apolipoprotein and lipid compositions. Analysis of sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated apolipoproteins using 3–21.5% acrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis indicated that both VLDL fractions contained apolipoprotein B, but only the bound fraction possessed significant amounts of apolipoprotein E. On a weight percent basis, the apolipoprotein-E-rich (bound) VLDL fraction contained significantly more cholesterol and cholesteryl esters ( P < 0.001) and less phospholipids ( P < 0.005) compared to the apolipoprotein E-poor (unbound) VLDL. Apolipoprotein-E-poor VLDL had shorter retention times than E-rich VLDL upon gel filtration chromatography, suggesting a larger size. There was no significant correlation between plasma levels of apolipoprotein-E-poor VLDL and levels of apolipoprotein B. These results demonstrate that baboons possess VLDL which can be separated into apolipoprotein-E-poor and E-rich fractions and these fractions differ in protein and lipid composition and in size.

Sigma-like activity from mustard (Sinapis alba L.) chloroplasts conferring DNA-binding and transcription specificity to E. coli core RNA polymerase

A protein fraction which lacks DNA-binding activity itself, but confers enhanced protein-DNA complex formation to E. coli core RNA polymerase, was obtained from mustard chloroplasts by heparin Sepharose chromatography. Gel retardation and competition assays as well as DNase I footprinting experiments with a chloroplast DNA fragment containing the psbA promoter indicate that this reflects sequence-specific binding. Transcription of the psbA template by E. coli core enzyme in the presence of the chloroplast fraction results in enhanced formation of transcripts of the size expected for correct initiation at the in vivo start site. We conclude that the chloroplast fraction reveals sigma-like activity with E. coli RNA polymerase and thus might contain factor(s) of equivalent function in chloroplast transcription.

Calf thymus DNA polymerase delta: purification, biochemical and functional properties of the enzyme after its separation from DNA polymerase alpha, a DNA dependent ATPase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

We have established a novel procedure to purify calf thymus DNA polymerase delta from cytoplasmic extracts. The enzyme has typical properties of DNA polymerase delta including a 3' - greater than 5' exonuclease activity and efficiently replicates natural occurring genomes such as primed single-stranded M13 DNA and single-stranded porcine circovirus DNA, this last one thanks to an associated or contaminating primase activity. A processivity of at least a thousand bases was evident and this in the apparent absence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The enzyme was purified through a procedure that allows the simultaneous isolation of DNA polymerase delta, DNA polymerase alpha-primase and a DNA dependent ATPase. All these enzymes coeluted from a phosphocellulose column. After chromatography on hydroxylapatite DNA polymerase delta separated from the coeluting DNA polymerase alpha and DNA dependent ATPase. Separation of the latter two was achieved on heparin-Sepharose. DNA polymerase delta was further purified by heparin-Sepharose and fast protein liquid chromatography. Purified DNA polymerase delta was resistant to the DNA polymerase alpha inhibitors BuPdGTP and BuAdATP and did not react with DNA polymerase alpha monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Based on this isolation protocol we can start to test biochemically the hypothesis whether DNA polymerase delta and DNA polymerase alpha might act coordinately at the replication fork as leading and lagging strand replicases, respectively.

Effects of heparin and other acid mucopolysaccharides on the activity of a cytolytic pore-forming protein (perforin) from cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.

A cytolytic protein (perforin) was rapidly purified from a cell line of mouse cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) by DEAE-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose, and phenyl-Sepharose chromatographies. The purified perforin was activated by heparin, the half maximal concentration being 3-10 ng/ml, depending on the calcium concentration. Other acid mucopolysaccharides, such as chondroitin sulfates A and C, keratan polysulfate, and heparin sulfate, also enhanced the lysis of erythrocytes by perforin, but the concentrations required for activation were more than 100-fold higher than that of heparin. Chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and keratan sulfate, however, had no effect on the perforin activity. It was suggested that heparin potentiates the lytic activity of perforin and acid mucopolysaccharides may actually be involved in target cell lysis by CTL.

Rapid quantification of apolipoprotein E enriched very-low-density lipoproteins hy heparin—Sepharose chromatography

Rapid quantification of apolipoprotein E enriched very-low-density lipoproteins hy heparin—Sepharose chromatography

Characterization of partially purified phospholipase C from human platelet membranes.

A phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]-hydrolytic activity was found to be present in the human platelet membrane fraction, with 20% of the total activity of the homogenate. The membrane-associated phospholipase C activity was extracted with 1% deoxycholate (DOC). The DOC-extractable phospholipase C was partially purified approx. 126-fold to a specific activity of 0.58 mumol of PtdIns-(4,5)P2 cleaved/min per mg of protein, by Q-Sepharose, heparin-Sepharose and Ultrogel AcA-44 column chromatographies. This purified DOC-extractable phospholipase C had an Mr of approx. 110,000, as determined by Ultrogel AcA-44 gel filtration. The enzyme exhibits a maximal hydrolysis for PtdIns-(4,5)P2 at pH 6.5 in the presence of 0.1% DOC. The addition of 0.1% DOC caused a marked activation of both PtdIns(4,5)P2 and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) hydrolyses by the enzyme. The enzyme hydrolysed PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns in a different Ca2+-dependent manner; the maximal hydrolyses for PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns were obtained at 4 microM- and 0.5 mM-Ca2+ respectively. In the presence of 1 mM-Mg2+, PtdIns(4,5)P2-hydrolytic activity was decreased at all Ca2+ concentrations examined, but PtdIns-hydrolytic activity was not affected.

Isolation and characterization of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase III from Leishmania mexicana and inhibition by purine analogs.

A DNA-dependent RNA polymerase has been isolated and characterized from the parasitic flagellated protozoan Leishmania mexicana. The initial stages of purification utilized high-ionic-strength extraction and protamine sulfate treatment. The enzyme was further purified by differential elution by heparin-Sepharose, DEAE-Sephadex, and carboxymethyl-Sephadex chromatography. Analysis of the chromatographically purified RNA polymerase on nondenaturing gels revealed two electrophoretic forms. The enzyme isolated had characteristics of true DNA-dependent RNA polymerase since it required DNA and all four nucleoside triphosphates for synthesis of RNase-sensitive products. Analysis of ammonium sulfate and metal ion optima, as well as relative activities of the enzyme with Mn2+ versus Mg2+, gave results similar to those reported for other RNA polymerase IIIs in eucaryotes. Formycin A triphosphate was found to be a noncompetitive inhibitor of RNA polymerase III, and cordycepin triphosphate was found to be inhibitory, although the exact mode of inhibition was not determined.

Purification of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C from a particulate fraction of bovine brain.

The coupling of various agonist receptors to the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides has generated much interest in the nature of the phospholipase C that is activated. Here we report the purification of a bovine brain phospholipase C derived from the particulate fraction. A 1000-fold purification was achieved by a combination of heparin-Sepharose, DEAE-cellulose and gel-permeation chromatography. The purified enzyme appears to be monomeric and under denaturing conditions shows a single staining major polypeptide of molecular mass 154 kDa in SDS gels. The enzyme is specific for phosphoinositides although it shows a marked preference for the polyphosphoinositides. With phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate as substrate the enzyme expresses a specific activity of greater than 100 mumol min-1 mg-1. The phospholipase C is activated by Ca2+ (0.1-10 microM). The behaviour of this particulate enzyme is discussed in the context of a agonist-induced phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis.

Influence of chromatographic fractions of extracts derived from bovine neural retina on newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) lens regeneration in vitro.

Removal of the ocular lens in adult newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) is followed by a series of cellular events leading to regeneration of a new lens by cell type conversion of pigmented iris epithelial cells at the dorsal pupillary margin (Yamada, Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. 2:247-283, 1967). Following depigmentation and five to seven cell divisions, iris epithelial cells redifferentiate into lens fiber cells and synthesize crystallin proteins (Yamada, Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. 2:247-283, 1967). This process is dependent upon neural retina in vivo (Stone, Anat. Rec. 131:151-172, 1958; Reyer, Dev. Biol. 14:214-225, 1966) and in vitro (Yamada et al., Differentiation 1:65-82, 1973). Acting on the hypothesis that the role of the neural retina is to promote passage of iris epithelial cells through the requisite number of cell cycles which will then allow them to redifferentiate as lens fiber cells (Yamada, in: Cell Biology of the Eye. Academic Press, New York, 1982), we undertook testing of the effects of eye-derived mitogenic substances, as well as other mitogens, on regeneration of lens from iris in organ culture. We have previously defined a critical period for the retinal influence in vivo and in vitro, and have shown that crude extracts of retina can enhance regeneration of lenses in culture (Connelly et al., J. Exp. Zool., 240:343-351, 1986). In this paper, we report on the lens regeneration enhancing activity (LRA) of more highly purified fractions of the retinal extracts. Heparin-sepharose chromatography of the crude retinal extract yields three fractions (Courty et al., Biochemie 67:265-269, 1985) called EDGF I, II, and III. EDGF I and II have affinity for heparin, while EDGF III does not. In our bioassay, LRA appears only in the EDGF III fraction. Dialysis of EDGF III against 0.1 N acetic acid yields a fraction which has affinity for cibacron blue sepharose (eluting at 2.15 M salt) and also has significant LRA. Because insulin at high doses has a marginal effect on lens regeneration in culture (Williams and McGlinn, Am. Zool. 19:923, 1979; Connelly, Differentiation 16:85-91, 1980), we tested IGF-I. Because of the putative neurotrophic effects of transferrin (Tf) (Mescher and Munaim, J. Exp. Zool., 230:485-490, 1986), we tested Tf for its ability to enhance regeneration of the lens in culture. IGF-I seems to have an enhancing effect on lens regeneration; Tf does not.