Biomedical subjects

A B Reynolds

Publications and source records attributed to A B Reynolds.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

Immunoaffinity purification of tyrosine-phosphorylated cellular proteins.

Transformation of cells by viral oncogene-encoded tyrosine kinases coincides with the phosphorylation of many cellular proteins on tyrosine. In order to study the potential cellular targets of oncogenic tyrosine kinases, tyrosine phosphoproteins were purified from cells by immunoaffinity chromatography with antibodies to phosphotyrosine. Tyrosine phosphoproteins were purified from both rat-1 cells and primary chicken embryo cells expressing transforming or non-transforming variants of the src oncogene. These proteins were released from anti-phosphotyrosine resins with hapten, and the protein mixtures contained 6-10 highly pure phosphoproteins including the src protein pp60src. The recovered proteins represented approximately 0.03% of total cellular proteins. All of the proteins were shown to contain phosphotyrosine; in addition, virtually all of these proteins were also phosphorylated on serine and threonine. This method thus provides a large-scale, single-step immunoaffinity purification of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins to a purity amenable for immunization protocols and characterization of individual polypeptides.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Concentration of acrosome stabilizing factor (ASF) in rabbit epididymal fluid and species specificity of anti-ASF antibodies.

Rabbit Acrosome Stabilizing Factor (ASF) concentrations were measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRA) in lumenal fluids obtained by micropuncture from the caput epididymidis, corpus epididymidis, cauda epididymidis, and the vas deferens of the rabbit. ASF was below the limit of detection in caput epididymidal fluids. Average ASF concentrations (3 bucks) in the corpus epididymidis, cauda epididymidis, and vas deferens were 880, 3363, and 3236 micrograms/ml, respectively. The average level of ASF in the cauda epididymidal fluid (CEF) represents from 10 to 23% of the total protein and is at least tenfold more than the amount previously determined to effect complete decapacitation of rabbit sperm by an in vivo assay. The average ASF concentration in seminal plasma from two vasectomized males was 0.155 micrograms/ml, approximately 100,000-fold less than is present in CEF and 2000-fold less than is present in normal seminal plasma. CEFs or seminal plasma from 11 different species were screened by Western blotting using high titer anti-ASF polyclonal antibodies to detect ASF-like molecules in other species. Only rabbit ASF was recognized.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Transformation-specific tyrosine phosphorylation of a novel cellular protein in chicken cells expressing oncogenic variants of the avian cellular src gene.

We used myristylated and nonmyristylated c-src-based variants and phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies to reevaluate the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in cellular transformation by pp60src. Prior methods used to detect tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins failed to discriminate predicted differences in tyrosine phosphorylation which are clearly observed with phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies and Western blotting (immunoblotting). Here we report the observation of a 120,000-Mr protein whose phosphorylation on tyrosine correlates with the induction of morphological transformation. p120 was not observed in cells overexpressing the regulated, nononcogenic pp60c-src, whereas phosphorylation of p120 was greatly enhanced in cells expressing activated, oncogenic pp60527F. Furthermore, phosphorylation of p120 was not induced by expression of the activated but nonmyristylated src variant pp602A/527F, which is transformation defective. p120 partitioned preferentially with cellular membranes, consistent with the observation that transforming src proteins are membrane associated. Although a number of additional putative substrates were identified and partially characterized with respect to intracellular localization, tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins was not tightly linked to transformation.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Stable association of activated pp60src with two tyrosine-phosphorylated cellular proteins.

We have identified two phosphotyrosine-containing cellular proteins with relative molecular masses of 130,000 (pp130) and 110,000 (pp110) daltons in chicken embryo cells that coimmunoprecipitated with pp60v-src and activated forms of chicken pp60c-src (pp60(527)F). Most if not all of the tyrosine-phosphorylated forms of pp130 and pp110 could be immunoprecipitated from lysates with any of several src protein-specific monoclonal antibodies directed against at least three spatially distinct epitopes. Consequently, of the more than 15 prominent phosphoproteins detected on immunoblots with phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies, pp130 and pp110 were selectively removed by src protein-specific immunoprecipitation, and their presence in the immunoprecipitates appears to have been due to a direct interaction with activated src proteins. src protein variants that induce different morphological phenotypes were altered in their ability to form detergent-stable complexes with pp130 and pp110 or with pp110 alone. Mutant src proteins, defective for myristylation, showed increased tyrosine phosphorylation of and association with pp110. Expression of src variants with mutations in the A box (pp60dl92/527F) or B box (pp60dl155/527F) of the src homology region induced differences in phosphorylation of pp130 and pp110, as well as changes in their association with variant src proteins. Sequences within the B-box region appeared to be necessary for stable complex formation with pp130 and pp110 and may be involved in the interaction of activated src proteins with cellular substrates.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Novel tyrosine phosphorylations accompany the activation of pp60c-src during chemical carcinogenesis.

Treatment of normal Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells in vitro with various chemical carcinogens results in transformed preneoplastic cell lines. Continued passage of these preneoplastic cells gives rise to rare variant cells with enhanced capacity for tumorigenic growth. We have previously shown that tumor-derived SHE cell lines contain an activated proto-oncogene product, pp60c-src. Here we demonstrate that tumor-derived SHE cell lines contain several novel tyrosine phosphoproteins in addition to those found in preneoplastic parent cell lines. A correlation was observed between the activation of endogenous pp60c-src tyrosine kinase specific activity and the presence of new phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. Tyrosine phosphoproteins of approximate Mr 81 kilodaltons (kDa), 55 kDa, and 39 kDa were noted in different tumor-derived cell lines. The 81 kDa and 55 kDa proteins were membrane-associated phosphoproteins, whereas the 39 kDa protein was predominantly cytosolic. Additional signature tyrosine phosphoproteins in individual tumor-derived cell lines apparently were unique to the particular inducing carcinogen or target cell. These studies indicate that during chemical carcinogenesis, activation of the tyrosine kinase proto-oncogene protein pp60c-src coincides with the appearance of novel tyrosine phosphorylations.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Activation of pp60c-src transforming potential by mutations altering the structure of an amino terminal domain containing residues 90-95.

The overexpression of the c-src gene product, pp60c-src, in avian and rodent embryo cells is not sufficient to induce cellular transformation. In this study we report that structural alterations within an amino terminal domain of pp60c-src, the exon 3 domain (residues 84-115) activate the oncogenic potential of the c-src gene product. Site-directed mutagenesis of the c-src gene was used to generate c-src variants encoding pp60c-src proteins with the following amino acid alterations: tyr 90 to phe (pm90F); tyr 92 to phe (pm92F); arg 95 to either trp, lys, glu or gln (pm95W, 95K, 95E and 95Q, respectively), and deletion of residues 92-95 (dl92). C-src variants encoding proteins with the alteration of arg 95 to trp, glu, or lys, or containing the deletion of residues 92-95, induced alterations in cell morphology and promoted growth in soft agar as well as changes in glucose transport and in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins (including calpactin I heavy chain, p36). Analysis of in vivo phosphorylation of the transforming variant src proteins revealed little detectable alteration in the phosphorylation of tyr 527, a putative site of tyrosine kinase regulation. Our results suggest that structural alterations within a domain distal to the catalytic (kinase) domain activate pp60c-src kinase activity and, concomitantly, oncogenic potential. Furthermore, we suggest that the exon 3 domain of pp60c-src may contribute to the regulation and/or substrate specificity of the c-src protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Activation of the oncogenic potential of the avian cellular src protein by specific structural alteration of the carboxy terminus.

The role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of tyrosine protein kinase activity was investigated using site-directed mutagenesis to alter the structure and environment of the three tyrosine residues present in the C terminus of avian pp60c-src. Mutations that change Tyr 527 to Phe or Ser activate in vivo tyrosine protein kinase activity and induce cellular transformation of chicken cells in culture. In contrast, alterations of tyrosine residues present at positions 511 or 519 in c-src do not induce transformation or in vivo tyrosine protein kinase activity. Amber mutations, which alter the structure of the pp60c-src C terminus by inducing premature termination of the c-src protein at either residue 518 or 523 also induce morphological transformation and increase in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas removal of the last four residues of c-src by chain termination at residue 530 does not alter the kinase activity or the biological activity of the resultant c-src protein. We conclude from these studies that C-terminal alterations which either remove or replace Tyr 527 serve to activate the c-src protein resulting in cellular transformation and increased in vivo tyrosine protein kinase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Correlation of conformational changes in the acrosome stabilizing factor (ASF) with its biological activity.

The rabbit Acrosome Stabilizing Factor (ASF) is a glycoprotein synthesized in the corpus epididymis that reversibly decapacitates sperm. The effects of altering the conformation of ASF were evaluated by using a competitive enzyme-linked immunoabsorption assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies that recognized either sequential or conformational determinants and/or an in vivo decapacitation assay. Heat denaturation (80 degrees C for 30 min) of affinity-purified ASF resulted in destruction of its native conformation concurrent with its loss of biological activity. Acid pH treatment of ASF also resulted in a conformational change in ASF, which caused a shift from the dimeric form (MW = 260,000) to the monomeric form (MW = 130,000). This manipulation allowed the biological activity of the monomeric form of ASF to be assayed separately from the dimer. The monomer was found to be biologically inactive. Proteolysis with trypsin or Staphylococcus-V8 treatment resulted in loss of the native conformation of the molecule, but Staphylococcus-V8 did not destroy the sequential determinant recognized in this analysis. This work indicates that conformation of the ASF macromolecule is important for its biological activity, and also provides a rapid means to evaluate potential decapacitation activity of purified ASF.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Chemical and physical characterization of rabbit sperm acrosome stabilizing factor.

Rabbit Acrosome Stabilizing Factor (ASF) is an epididymal product that reversibly inhibits the process of sperm capacitation. The native molecular weights of the monomer and dimer ASF were determined from sedimentation and diffusion data at 129,000 and 259,000 Mr. The monomer is composed of 92,000 and 38,000 Mr subunits according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), with size heterogeneity demonstrated for the latter. The stoichiometry of the subunits appears to be one-to-one by gel scanning. Amino acid and carbohydrate compositions are characteristic of a globular glycoprotein, which is high in cysteine content and is 8.3% carbohydrate by weight. The sugar composition suggests the presence of both high mannose and complex N-linked oligosaccharides with the unusual feature of appreciable amounts of glucose. The isoelectric character of ASF spans a range from 5.3 to 7.0.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1986

Quantitation of the rabbit sperm acrosome stabilizing factor utilizing a sensitive immunoradiometric assay.

Acrosome Stabilizing Factor (ASF) has been previously demonstrated to reversibly decapacitate sperm, presumably through preventing the acrosome reaction. ASF is a 259,000 Mr glycoprotein composed of two dissimilar subunits and is synthesized by the corpus epididymis. This report takes advantage of monoclonal antibodies directed toward different antigenic determinants of the ASF macromolecule to develop an immunoradiometric assay. Because the immunoradiometric assay sandwiches the native antigen between two antibodies (one iodinated), this type of assay circumvented the denaturation of ASF caused by iodination. Conditions established for maximal sensitivity with reasonable efficiency were determined to be a 12-24-h equilibrium incubation of ASF with the first bound antibody followed by a carefully timed 3-h incubation with the iodinated second antibody. These conditions provide an assay for ASF that is sensitive to 200 pg/ml and covers a concentration range of more than 2.5 orders of magnitude. The ejaculates from nine male rabbits were evaluated semiweekly over a two-month period for ASF concentration, volume, and sperm number. The average ASF concentration was 265 micrograms/ml of ejaculate and while relatively consistent for any one buck, varied widely between bucks. This variation may relate to the previously reported differences of capacitation of sperm from different bucks.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Sperm surface components involved in the control of the acrosome reaction.

Several lines of evidence suggest that decapacitation of sperm occurs normally in the male reproductive tract, and as a result the acrosome is stabilized and the acrosome reaction is controlled. Since the defining experiments in 1951, where decapacitation was reversed in the female reproductive tract by capacitation, investigations have pursued the molecular events of this process. This review attempts to examine critically the older literature and compare that perspective with the current theories. The theories for decapacitation of sperm include the possible role of a peptide decapacitation factor, a glycoprotein-mediated steroid transfer to the sperm, masking of a galactosyl transferase by some macromolecule-containing carbohydrate, preclusion of calcium influx by a binding protein, and sperm interaction with the acrosome stabilizing factor. Although these theories are diverse, there are some unifying aspects. However, there remain some major unanswered questions. For example, although we point to some circumstantial evidence that infers a single decapacitation factor, this needs to be further substantiated. It is concluded that with the purification of a macromolecule involved in capacitation, specific proposals on the mechanism of capacitation, and new tools to evaluate the capacitation process, it is likely that another decade will not pass without emergence of a unifying molecular theory of sperm capacitation.

Acrosome↗

PubMed1984

Evaluation of the site of synthesis of rabbit sperm acrosome stabilizing factor using immunocytochemical and metabolic labeling techniques.

Antibodies to rabbit acrosome stabilizing factor (ASF) were raised in mice and proved monospecific on Western electroblots . Anti-ASF was utilized to immunolabel tissue sections of male reproductive tract organs. Staining of principal cell cytoplasm was observed primarily in the corpus epididymidis (Regions 6 and 7), and secondarily in the cytoplasm of principal cells of the distal cauda epididymidis (Region 8b ) and the columnar cells of the vas deferens epithelium. The microvilli of principal cells in the proximal cauda epididymidis (Region 8a ) were densely stained. Spermatozoa appeared uniformly stained within the lumen of the corpus epididymidis and staining intensity increased distally. The Golgi region of corpus principal cells was not stained, nor were other cell types in this region. Testis, caput epididymidis, and accessory sex organs were not stained. Synthesis of ASF by corpus epididymidis was shown by immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled ASF from organ cultures of specific epididymal segments. Scant amounts of synthesis were also detected in the cauda epididymidis and vas deferens. The large subunit of ASF, immunoprecipitated from the corpus epididymidis, is 2000-4000 daltons larger than the large subunit of ASF from more distal regions of the reproductive tract, suggesting modification of this component.

Acrosome↗

PubMed1984

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to the sperm acrosome stabilizing factor (ASF): utilization for purification and molecular analysis of ASF.

Utilizing hybridoma technology and highly purified acrosome stabilizing factor (ASF), six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for ASF were produced and characterized. Specificity and binding properties of each clone were examined by immunoperoxidase labeling of electrophoretic blots of rabbit serum, seminal plasma, cauda epididymal fluid and vasectomized seminal plasma separated on native and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. All mAbs recognize ASF in seminal plasma and cauda epididymal fluid but do not bind components in serum or vasectomized seminal plasma. Purification of ASF by affinity chromatography utilizing the mAbs, has shortened the 6-day isolation procedure for ASF used previously to less than 2 h and has increased the yield from 2 micrograms to 300 micrograms of ASF obtained per ml of seminal plasma. Three mAbs were used in conjunction with Cleveland digest with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoperoxidase labeling of Western Blots, to identify peptides containing specific determinants recognized by each mAb. At least five separate determinants were recognized by the six mAbs. The sensitivity of the Western blotting technique in conjunction with the specificity of the mAbs was exploited to detect polymeric forms of ASF in seminal plasma and cauda epididymal fluid. ASF is shown to be a 360-kd dimer consisting of two identical 180-kd monomers. Tools are now available to develop sensitive qualitative and quantitative assays for ASF, thus providing rapid, extremely sensitive methods for evaluating experiments designed to probe the molecular mechanism of capacitation.

Acrosome↗

PubMed1984

Immunocytochemical localization and determination of hormone-induced synthesis of the sulfated oviductal glycoproteins.

Secretory products of the oviduct provide part of the milieu for the critical events of fertilization and embryo development. Past work from this laboratory has indicated that three large sulfated glycoproteins can be isolated from rabbit oviductal fluid and are synthesized by oviductal epithelium incubated in vitro. These three glycoproteins are antigenically similar. This paper presents evidence for their localization within the oviductal tissue and their hormonal control of synthesis. Utilizing goat antiserum to these oviductal glycoproteins and the immunoglobulin-horseradish peroxidase bridge method, these macromolecules have been localized in the ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct. Ten days after ovariectomy an oviduct was removed for immunolocalization. The does were then given estradiol for the next 4 days and the second oviduct was removed. Oviducts treated with estradiol showed immunostaining of virtually all of the secretory granules within the secretory cells of the isthmus. While light level immunocytochemistry suggested the possibility of two populations of secretory granules within the ampulla because some of the granules did not show immunocytochemical staining, the more sensitive immunocytochemistry at the electron microscopic level showed staining of all granules of the ampulla and isthmus. Absorption of the antiserum with pure antigen prevented all staining. After ovariectomy and hormone withdrawal, most of the immunostaining was lost in the isthmus and virtually no staining in the ampulla was observed. Oviductal cell suspensions were made to evaluate incorporation of [35S] sulfate and [3H] leucine as a function of hormonal priming of the tissue. Estrogen-primed oviductal cells incorporated the sulfate and leucine into these specific glycoproteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗