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Biomedical subjects

D Vestweber

Publications and source records attributed to D Vestweber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cloning of the mouse endothelial selectins. Expression of both E- and P-selectin is inducible by tumor necrosis factor alpha.

E-selectin (ELAM-1) and P-selectin (GMP-140, PADGEM, CD62) have both been described as human endothelial cell adhesion molecules for neutrophils and monocytes. Cell surface appearance of these two proteins on human umbilical vein endothelial cells can be regulated by different mechanisms: E-selectin is transcriptionally induced, within hours, by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) while P-selectin is transported from storage granules to the plasma membrane within minutes upon induction by various stimulating agents. We have obtained cDNA clones covering the full-length coding sequence of the homologous mouse proteins for both endothelial selectins. We show that synthesis of mouse P-selectin, like that of E-selectin, is transiently induced by TNF-alpha in several endothelioma cell lines derived from different mouse tissues. This induction was monitored on both the RNA as well as the protein level. The TNF induced, newly synthesized P-selectin protein was detected on the cell surface. Protein expression of P-selectin increased with a slightly lower rate than expression of E-selectin. In organ cultures of lung tissue from TNF-injected mice, the synthesis of P-selectin was clearly elevated compared to control mice. The bovine P-selectin homolog recognized by cross-reaction with anti-mouse P-selectin antibodies was also TNF-inducible in primary capillary endothelial cells from adrenal cortex and in aorta-derived endothelial cells. Thus, P-selectin can be regulated on two different levels. While the transport of stored P-selectin to the cell surface is controlled by regulated secretion of storage granules, the synthesis and surface expression can be induced by TNF-alpha similarly to that of E-selectin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Sequential translocation of an artificial precursor protein across the two mitochondrial membranes.

We have constructed a chimeric mitochondrial precursor protein consisting of a mutant bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor coupled to the C terminus of a purified artificial precursor protein. This construct fails to complete its import into isolated mitochondria and becomes stuck across sites of close contact between the two mitochondrial membranes. When the mitochondria are then depleted of ATP and the intramolecular disulfide bridges of the trypsin inhibitor are cleaved by dithiothreitol, the trypsin inhibitor moiety is transported across the outer membrane into the intermembrane space. This translocation intermediate can be chased across the inner membrane by restoring the ATP levels in the matrix. These results show that translocation of pancreatic trypsin inhibitor across a biological membrane is prevented by its intramolecular disulfide bridges, that import into the matrix involves two distinct translocation system operating in tandem, and that ATP is required for protein translocation across the inner but not the outer membrane.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Selectins: cell surface lectins which mediate the binding of leukocytes to endothelial cells.

The selectins are the most recently identified family of cell adhesion molecules. The three known members of this family (L-, E- and P-selectin) mediate the binding of leukocytes to endothelial cells and are involved in the homing of lymphocytes to lymph nodes, as well as the extravasation of neutrophilic granulocytes into inflamed tissues. The lectin character of these cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) makes the selectin protein family unique among all known CAM families. The review will summarize present knowledge about the structural organization, the ligands identified (carbohydrates and glycoproteins) and the different regulation mechanisms of the cell surface activity of the three selectins.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A yeast mitochondrial outer membrane protein essential for protein import and cell viability.

The gene encoding ISP42, an integral outermembrane protein located at the yeast mitochondrial protein import site was cloned, sequenced and modified. Yeast cells depleted of ISP42 accumulate uncleaved mitochondrial precursor proteins and then die. ISP42 is the first mitochondrial membrane protein shown to be indispensable for protein import and cell viability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

A precursor protein partly translocated into yeast mitochondria is bound to a 70 kd mitochondrial stress protein.

We have probed the environment of a precursor protein stuck in mitochondrial import sites using cleavable bifunctional crosslinking reagents. The stuck precursor was crosslinked to a 70 kd protein which, by immunological techniques, was shown to be a matrix protein. The protein was purified to homogeneity by ATP-Sepharose chromatography and partially sequenced. Fourteen of its 15 N-terminal amino acids were identical to residues 24-38 of the protein encoded by the nuclear gene SSC1, which had been proposed to encode a dnaK-like 70 kd mitochondrial stress protein. Our data imply that this mitochondrial hsp70 is made with a cleavable matrix-targeting sequence composed of 23 residues. The complex containing stuck precursor, mitochondrial hsp70, and ISP42 could be solubilized from mitochondria by the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 even without crosslinking, suggesting tight association of these three components. As the stuck precursor is arrested at an early stage of translocation, mitochondrial hsp70 may initiate the events that lead to refolding of imported precursors in the matrix space.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1989

A 42K outer-membrane protein is a component of the yeast mitochondrial protein import site.

An engineered precursor protein that sticks in the import site of isolated yeast mitochondria can be specifically photo-crosslinked to a mitochondrial outer-membrane protein of relative molecular mass 42,000 (42K). This protein (termed import-site protein 42 or ISP 42) is exposed on the mitochondrial surface; antibodies against it block protein import into mitochondria. ISP 42 is the first identified component of the putative transmembrane machinery that imports proteins into mitochondria.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1989

DNA-protein conjugates can enter mitochondria via the protein import pathway.

Mitochondria import most of their proteins and small molecules from the cytoplasm. There is some tentative evidence that they import some of their RNAs, but it is not known how nucleic acids could enter mitochondria. Here, we show that isolated yeast mitochondria can import a single-stranded or double-stranded 24-base pair piece of DNA whose 5' end is covalently linked to the C-terminus of a mitochondrial precursor protein.

DNA↗
PubMed1989

Disrupted yeast mitochondria can import precursor proteins directly through their inner membrane.

Import of precursor proteins into the yeast mitochondrial matrix can occur directly across the inner membrane. First, disruption of the outer membrane restores protein import to mitochondria whose normal import sites have been blocked by an antibody against the outer membrane or by a chimeric, incompletely translocated precursor protein. Second, a potential- and ATP-dependent import of authentic or artificial precursor proteins is observed with purified inner membrane vesicles virtually free of outer membrane components. Third, import into purified inner membrane vesicles is insensitive to antibody against the outer membrane. Thus, while outer membrane components are clearly required in vivo, the inner membrane contains a complete protein translocation system that can operate by itself if the outer membrane barrier is removed.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1989

Protein import into mitochondria: ATP-dependent protein translocation activity in a submitochondrial fraction enriched in membrane contact sites and specific proteins.

To identify the membrane regions through which yeast mitochondria import proteins from the cytoplasm, we have tagged these regions with two different partly translocated precursor proteins. One of these was bound to the mitochondrial surface of ATP-depleted mitochondria and could subsequently be chased into mitochondria upon addition of ATP. The other intermediate was irreversibly stuck across both mitochondrial membranes at protein import sites. Upon subfraction of the mitochondria, both intermediates cofractionated with membrane vesicles whose buoyant density was between that of inner and outer membranes. When these vesicles were prepared from mitochondria containing the chaseable intermediate, they internalized it upon addition of ATP. A non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue was inactive. This vesicle fraction contained closed, right-side-out inner membrane vesicles attached to leaky outer membrane vesicles. The vesicles contained the mitochondrial binding sites for cytoplasmic ribosomes and contained several mitochondrial proteins that were enriched relative to markers of inner or outer membranes. By immunoelectron microscopy, two of these proteins were concentrated at sites where mitochondrial inner and outer membranes are closely apposed. We conclude that these vesicles contain contact sites between the two mitochondrial membranes, that these sites are the entry point for proteins into mitochondria, and that the isolated vesicles are still translocation competent.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Interaction between mitochondria and the nucleus.

The interaction between the mitochondrial and the nuclear genome is in part mediated by proteins (and possibly also RNAs) which are encoded in the nucleus and imported into mitochondria. We are beginning to understand how proteins can penetrate across both mitochondrial membranes and how some of these proteins can regulate the expression of specific mitochondrial genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Point mutations destabilizing a precursor protein enhance its post-translational import into mitochondria.

In order to study the role of protein unfolding during post-translational protein import into mitochondria, we destabilized the structure of a mitochondrial precursor protein by site-directed mutagenesis. The precursor consisted of the first 16 residues of the yeast cytochrome oxidase subunit IV precursor fused to mouse dihydrofolate reductase. Labilization of the folded precursor structure was monitored by increased susceptibility to protease and diminished ability of methotrexate to block import of the precursor into isolated yeast mitochondria. On comparing the original precursor with two mutant forms that were destabilized to different degrees, increased labilization correlated with an increased rate and efficiency of import into mitochondria. This supports the view that the precursor must unfold in order to enter the mitochondria.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

A chimeric mitochondrial precursor protein with internal disulfide bridges blocks import of authentic precursors into mitochondria and allows quantitation of import sites.

Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (which contains three intramolecular disulfide bridges) was chemically coupled to the COOH terminus of a purified artificial mitochondrial precursor protein. When the resulting chimeric precursor was presented to energized isolated yeast mitochondria, its trypsin inhibitor moiety prevented the protein from completely entering the organelle; the protein remained stuck across both mitochondrial membranes, with its NH2 terminus in the matrix and its trypsin inhibitor moiety still exposed on the mitochondrial surface. The incompletely imported protein appeared to "jam" mitochondrial protein import sites since it blocked import of three authentic mitochondrial precursor proteins; it did not collapse the potential across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Quantification of the inhibition indicated that each isolated mitochondrial particle contains between 10(2) and 10(3) protein import sites.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1988

Mitochondria can import artificial precursor proteins containing a branched polypeptide chain or a carboxy-terminal stilbene disulfonate.

A purified, artificial precursor protein was used as a transport vehicle to test the tolerance of the mitochondrial protein import system. The precursor was a fusion protein consisting of mouse dihydrofolate reductase linked to a yeast mitochondrial presequence; it contained a unique cysteine as its COOH-terminal residue. This COOH-terminal cysteine was covalently coupled to either a stilbene disulfonate derivative or, with the aid of a bifunctional cross-linker, to one of the free amino groups of horse heart cytochrome c. Coupling to horse heart cytochrome c generated a mixture of branched polypeptide chains since this cytochrome lacks a free alpha-amino group. Both adducts were imported and cleaved by isolated yeast mitochondria. The mitochondrial protein import machinery can thus transport more complex structures and even highly charged "membrane-impermeant" organic molecules. This suggests that transport occurs through a hydrophilic environment.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1987

The structure of cell adhesion molecule uvomorulin. Insights into the molecular mechanism of Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion.

We have determined the amino acid sequence of the Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion molecule uvomorulin as it appears on the cell surface. The extracellular part of the molecule exhibits three internally repeated domains of 112 residues which are most likely generated by gene duplication. Each of the repeated domains contains two highly conserved units which could represent putative Ca2+-binding sites. Secondary structure predictions suggest that the putative Ca2+-binding units are located in external loops at the surface of the protein. The protein sequence exhibits a single membrane-spanning region and a cytoplasmic domain. Sequence comparison reveals extensive homology to the chicken L-CAM. Both uvomorulin and L-CAM are identical in 65% of their entire amino acid sequence suggesting a common origin for both CAMs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Expression and distribution of cell adhesion molecule uvomorulin in mouse preimplantation embryos.

We have examined the synthesis and distribution of the cell adhesion molecule uvomorulin in mouse preimplantation embryos. Uvomorulin can already be detected on the cell surface of unfertilized and fertilized eggs but is not synthesized in these cells. Uvomorulin synthesis starts in late two-cell embryos and seems not to be correlated with the onset of compaction. The first signs of compaction are accompanied by a redistribution of uvomorulin on the surface of blastomeres. During compaction uvomorulin is progressively removed from the apical membrane domains of peripheral blastomeres. In compact morulae uvomorulin is no longer present on the outer surface of the embryo but is localized predominantly in membrane domains involved in cell-cell contacts of adjacent outer blastomeres. On inner blastomeres of compact morulae uvomorulin remains evenly distributed. This uvomorulin distribution once established during compaction is maintained and also found in the blastocyst: on trophectodermal cells uvomorulin localization is very similar to that in adult intestinal epithelial cells while uvomorulin remains evenly distributed on the surface of inner cell mass cells. The possible role of the redistribution of uvomorulin for the generation of trophectoderm and inner cell mass in early mouse embryos is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Molecular cloning of the mouse cell adhesion molecule uvomorulin: cDNA contains a B1-related sequence.

A clone (F20) containing coding sequences for the cell adhesion molecule uvomorulin was isolated by immunological techniques from cDNA library in the expression vector lambda gt11. The beta-galactosidase-uvomorulin fusion protein was used to affinity purify anti-uvomorulin antibodies. Affinity-purified antibodies recognized uvomorulin from cell lysates of embryonal carcinoma cells and reacted with the cell surface of embryonal carcinoma cells. The 1.8-kilobase cDNA insert hybridized to a single 4.3-kilobase poly(A)+ RNA species found only in cells expressing uvomorulin. Part of the nontranslated 3' sequences of the cloned uvomorulin cDNA is homologous to the interspersed B1 repeat of the mouse genome.

Animals↗