Unique Group Of Proteins Research Articles

The effect of male ticks on the feeding performance of immature stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae).

A unique group of immunoglobulin-binding proteins (IGBPs), produced by ixodid male ticks during the latter half of their prolonged feeding period, improves the feeding performance of co-feeding females. As a follow-up to this observation, we investigated whether male tick feeding also affects the feeding of other developmental stages. Immature stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreeille) and Amblyomma americanum (L.) were fed on rabbits in the presence or absence of conspecific males. The mean weight of larvae and nymphs of both species that fed around males and detached from the host on the first day of dropping was significantly higher than when the immature ticks fed on rabbits in the absence of males. However, larvae of both species and nymphs of R. sanguineus that fed slower and detached on the second day of dropping did not show significant differences in weight. A similar pattern was observed for A. americanum nymphs although, unlike R. sanguineus, the presence of males also influenced the feeding performance of the nymphs that fed slowly and detached on the second day of drop-off. The improved feeding performance demonstrated by immature ticks in the presence of males may be due to immunomodulatory saliva proteins, such as immunoglobulin-binding proteins (IGBPs) that are introduced into the co-feeding site. The results are considered in relation to the distribution of ixodid tick species on their natural hosts.

Replication origins in metazoan chromosomes: fact or fiction?

The process by which eukaryotic cells decide when and where to initiate DNA replication has been illuminated in yeast, where specific DNA sequences (replication origins) bind a unique group of proteins (origin recognition complex) next to an easily unwound DNA sequence at which replication can begin. The origin recognition complex provides a platform on which additional proteins assemble to form a pre-replication complex that can be activated at S-phase by specific protein kinases. Remarkably, multicellular eukaryotes, such as frogs, flies, and mammals (metazoa), have counterparts to these yeast proteins that are required for DNA replication. Therefore, one might expect metazoan chromosomes to contain specific replication origins as well, a hypothesis that has long been controversial. In fact, recent results strongly support the view that DNA replication origins in metazoan chromosomes consist of one or more high frequency initiation sites and perhaps several low frequency ones that together can appear as a nonspecific initiation zone. Specific replication origins are established during G1-phase of each cell cycle by multiple parameters that include nuclear structure, chromatin structure, DNA sequence, and perhaps DNA modification. Such complexity endows metazoa with the flexibility to change both the number and locations of replication origins in response to the demands of animal development.

Replication origins in metazoan chromosomes: fact or fiction?

The process by which eukaryotic cells decide when and where to initiate DNA replication has been illuminated in yeast, where specific DNA sequences (replication origins) bind a unique group of proteins (origin recognition complex) next to an easily unwound DNA sequence at which replication can begin. The origin recognition complex provides a platform on which additional proteins assemble to form a pre-replication complex that can be activated at S-phase by specific protein kinases. Remarkably, multicellular eukaryotes, such as frogs, flies, and mammals (metazoa), have counterparts to these yeast proteins that are required for DNA replication. Therefore, one might expect metazoan chromosomes to contain specific replication origins as well, a hypothesis that has long been controversial. In fact, recent results strongly support the view that DNA replication origins in metazoan chromosomes consist of one or more high frequency initiation sites and perhaps several low frequency ones that together can appear as a nonspecific initiation zone. Specific replication origins are established during G1-phase of each cell cycle by multiple parameters that include nuclear structure, chromatin structure, DNA sequence, and perhaps DNA modification. Such complexity endows metazoa with the flexibility to change both the number and locations of replication origins in response to the demands of animal development. BioEssays 1999;21:5–16. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An Ultrastructural Characterization of in Vitro-Assembled hnRNP C Protein-RNA Complexes

In mammalian cells approximately 700 nucleotide lengths of pre-mRNA are packaged during transcription by a unique group of abundant nuclear proteins to form a repeating array of regular ribonucleoprotein complexes termed 30-40S heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (hnRNP particles). We have used electron microscopy to examine complexes that form when in vitro-transcribed RNA is bound by one of the purified native core-particle proteins which comprise the 40S monoparticle (the C protein tetramer). Negatively stained images of the C protein tetramer bound to particle-length RNA (700 nt) demonstrate that three tetramers bind each RNA molecule to form a stable closed triangular complex. The triangular complexes have an isosceles shape with a base of 18.0 nm and sides of 23.0 nm. When RNA molecules of 230 nt are used as substrates single tetramers bind to form complexes that appear as small rounded structures with an average diameter of 9.7 nm. Twice this length of RNA (456 nt) supports the assembly of mostly bilobed complexes that are 20.4 nm long and 11.8 nm wide. Images of the C protein-RNA complexes which assemble on 1400-nucleotide lengths of RNA (two particle lengths of RNA) clearly show complexes composed of two triangles while three-triangle complexes are seen when 2100-nt lengths of RNA are used as the assembly substrate. These ultrastructural results demonstrate that groups of three C protein tetramers combine with the length of RNA packaged in monoparticles to form a discreet triad structure. This interaction establishes a structural basis for the RNA length requirement in monoparticle assembly and a mechanism for the packaging of nascent transcripts into a repeating array of regular structures.

Identification and immunolocalisation of annexins V and VI, the major cardiac annexins, in rat heart.

The heart contains proteins of the annexin family, a unique group of calcium binding proteins. This study was aimed at identifying the major cardiac annexins and determining their distribution in the rat heart. Annexins were isolated by affinity chromatography and purified by ion exchange high pressure liquid chromatography. Identification of isolated proteins by immunoblotting was confirmed by partial amino acid sequence determination. Antisera raised against the isolated proteins were used for immunohistochemistry by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Two annexins were isolated and purified. Amino acid sequencing confirmed their identities as annexin V and VI. Immunohistochemistry showed that both annexins were present in cardiac myocytes and non-myocytes, but a distinct pattern of distribution was seen for each annexin. Annexin V immunoreactivity was enhanced in the atria compared with the ventricles, whereas annexin VI was more uniformly distributed. In individual cardiac myocytes annexin V was distributed throughout the cell by contrast with annexin VI, which localised to the sarcolemma. Intercalated discs displayed immunoreactivity for both annexins, most prominently for annexin VI. The most striking immunoreactivity for annexin V occurred in vascular endothelial cells, both in the microcirculation and in the major coronary vessels. Immunoreactivity for annexin VI in vascular structures was localised to the nuclei of endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Annexins V and VI are the major cardiac annexins. The localisation of these annexins to different components of cardiac myocytes will serve to direct the search for their functions in the heart. The striking immunoreactivity for annexins, particularly annexin V, in the coronary vessels indicates that the functions of cardiac annexins include a role in the coronary circulatory system.

Purification and analysis of an antigen-specific suppressor factor from a T cell hybridoma specific for phenyltrimethylamino hapten.

The synthetic monovalent antigen L-tyrosine-p-azophenyltri-methylammonium (tyr (TMA)) induces in A/J mice, a cascade of regulatory T cells in the absence of any detectable effector function (e.g., CTL, delayed-type hypersensitivity, etc.). An important component of the activated T cells is a first order suppressor T cell or Ts1 that is Ly-1+2-, functions only at the afferent limb of the anti-TMA response, binds the TMA ligand and bears cross-reactive idiotypes associated with anti-TMA antibodies. This Ts1 produces a suppressor factor (TsF1) that binds the TMA ligand, bears the cross-reactive idiotypes and I-J determinants and functions to induce an idiotype-specific Ts2 population. To study the biochemistry of this TsF, use was made of T cell hybridomas that constitutively produce TMA-TsF1 (8A.1 and 8A.3). The TsF1 was purified from culture supernatant or cell extracts by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, reverse phase HPLC and either affinity chromatography or by preparative IEF. The TsF1 has an isoelectric point of 6.5 and a m.w. of 26,000 or 62,000 as analyzed by SDS-PAGE or high performance molecular sieve chromatography. Its precipitation in 30 to 40% (NH4)2SO4; elution pattern from reverse phase high performance columns; its capacity to bind to a mAb specific for L-glutamic acid 60L-alanine30-L-tyrosine10 (GAT)-TsF1 strongly suggest that this protein belongs to the same family of proteins as do the GAT-TsF1 described previously. Most noteworthy is that although these TsF1 proteins show remarkable similarities, they are absolutely specific in their biologic activity; TMA-TsF1 will not suppress the response to GAT-BA-TNP and GAT-TsF1 will not suppress the response to TMA-BA-TNP. Thus the TMA-TsF1 represents a second example of a unique group of Ag-specific proteins whose function is to induce or activate other suppressor T cells in the primary immune response to Ag.

Synthesis of the Low Molecular Weight Heat Shock Proteins in Plants

Heat shock of living tissue induces the synthesis of a unique group of proteins, the heat shock proteins. In plants, the major group of heat shock proteins has a molecular mass of 15 to 25 kilodaltons. Accumulation of these proteins to stainable levels has been reported in only a few species. To examine accumulation of the low molecular weight heat shock proteins in a broader range of species, two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to resolve total protein from the following species: soybean (Glycine max L. Merr., var Wayne), pea (Pisum sativum L., var Early Alaska), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza sativa L., cv IR-36), maize (Zea mays L.), pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke, line 23DB), and Panicum miliaceum L. When identified by both silver staining and incorporation of radiolabel, a diverse array of low molecular weight heat shock proteins was synthesized in each of these species. These proteins accumulated to significant levels after three hours of heat shock but exhibited considerable heterogeneity in isoelectric point, molecular weight, stainability, and radiolabel incorporation. Although most appeared to be synthesized only during heat shock, some were detectable at low levels in control tissue. Compared to the monocots, a higher proportion of low molecular weight heat shock proteins was detectable in control tissues from dicots.

A cDNA clone for a polyadenylated RNA-binding protein of Xenopus laevis oocytes hybridizes to four developmentally regulated mRNAs.

Xenopus laevis oocytes contain a unique group of proteins which decrease during oogenesis, bind poly(A) RNA, and possibly play a role in the regulation of translation. A monoclonal antibody generated against one of these proteins was used to screen an expression vector cDNA library. A cDNA clone was isolated and confirmed to code for the binding protein by in vitro translation of hybrid-selected RNA followed by immunoprecipitation. This cDNA, when used in RNA gel blots, hybridized to four transcripts of 2.0, 1.7 (two transcripts of similar size), and 1.2 kilobases. All of the transcripts decreased in amount during oogenesis and were not evident in somatic cells. In addition, the fraction of the transcripts associated with polysomes decreased during oogenesis. Digestion of the cDNA insert with PstI generated two fragments of 220 and 480 base pairs which, when used as probes in an RNA gel blot, hybridized to unique as well as common transcripts. Genomic Southern blots suggested the presence of a single gene, indicating that these transcripts arose by alternative processing.

A cDNA clone for a polyadenylated RNA-binding protein of Xenopus laevis oocytes hybridizes to four developmentally regulated mRNAs.

Xenopus laevis oocytes contain a unique group of proteins which decrease during oogenesis, bind poly(A) RNA, and possibly play a role in the regulation of translation. A monoclonal antibody generated against one of these proteins was used to screen an expression vector cDNA library. A cDNA clone was isolated and confirmed to code for the binding protein by in vitro translation of hybrid-selected RNA followed by immunoprecipitation. This cDNA, when used in RNA gel blots, hybridized to four transcripts of 2.0, 1.7 (two transcripts of similar size), and 1.2 kilobases. All of the transcripts decreased in amount during oogenesis and were not evident in somatic cells. In addition, the fraction of the transcripts associated with polysomes decreased during oogenesis. Digestion of the cDNA insert with PstI generated two fragments of 220 and 480 base pairs which, when used as probes in an RNA gel blot, hybridized to unique as well as common transcripts. Genomic Southern blots suggested the presence of a single gene, indicating that these transcripts arose by alternative processing.

Interaction of proteins with sorghum tannin: Mechanism, specificity and significance

AbstractThe grain of some varieties of sorghum contains 2% or more condensed tannin; many other varieties contain no tannin at all. Agronomic advantages, e.g., resistance to bird depredation, are associated with high‐tannin sorghums, which have relatively low nutritional value for nonruminants. The biological effects of tannin are a result of its propensity for binding proteins; both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions are involved. Sorghum tannins can bind dietary proteins and reduce their digestibility. Purified digestive enzymes are inhibited by tannin, but significant inhibition in vivo is unlikely. Proteins differ greatly in their affinity for tannin. Those with highest affinity are large, have an open structure, contain no bound carbohydrate and are rich in proline. Sorghum proteins of the alcohol‐soluble prolamine fraction associate strongly with tannin, are difficult to remove during tannin purification and are found combined with tannin in the indigestible residue after in vitro digestion with pepsin. On germination, the seed may sacrifice a portion of these proteins to bind the tannin that might otherwise interfere with metabolism by inhibiting seed enzymes. During seed development, tannin molecules are relatively short and do not effectively precipitate proteins; as the seed dries, tannins undergo polymerization to an average of ca. 6 flavan‐3‐ol units/molecule. The antinutritional effects of sorghum tannins can be eliminated by soaking the grain in dilute aqueous alkali, but not by cooking. When rats are put on high‐tannin sorghum diets, their parotid glands undergo hypertrophy and produce a group of unique salivary proteins with extremely high affinity for tannin. These proteins contain over 40% proline and are devoid of sulfur‐containing and aromatic amino acids. This metabolic adaption may protect rats against tannin by binding and inactivating it immediately when it enters the digestive tract.

Vitellogenin and Vitellin in Insects

Vitellogenin is the generic name for a unique group of proteins that are synthesized extraovarially and become the major egg yolk protein, vitellin. Similar proteins are found in all animals with yolky eggs. Because of their high concentration in the egg, and the relative ease with which they can be purified, these proteins are excellent material for the study of the regulation of their synthesis from the molecular, developmental, and physiological points of view. This review covers the synthesis, uptake, and physical and chemical properties of vitellogenins and vitellins in insects. The term vitellogenin was derived from vitellogenesis (102), the period of rapid oocyte growth during which yolk is deposited. Once inside the oocyte these proteins are known as vitellins, because in some cases the molecules are changed during uptake. The definition of vitellogenins has traditionally included the following criteria: (a) They usually comprise 60-90% of the soluble egg yolk proteins (13, 69); (b) they are not made the oocyte, the fat body being the site of synthesis (22, 69, 102); (c) are present in large amounts only in females and thus have been called female-specific proteins (11, 102), although rigorous techniques have revealed small amounts in males (83, 119) and so this definition is not exclusive; and (d) they are selectively taken up by the oocyte during vitellogenesis (120). Because of the dynamics of the uptake mechanism (112,