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H Weissbach

Publications and source records attributed to H Weissbach.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Heat shock-dependent transcriptional activation of the metA gene of Escherichia coli.

In Escherichia coli, the growth rate at elevated temperatures is controlled by the availability of endogenous methionine, which is limited because of the temperature sensitivity of the metA gene product, homoserine transsuccinylase (HTS). In order to determine the relationship between this control mechanism and the heat shock response, we estimated the cellular levels of HTS during heat shock by Western (immunoblot) analysis and found an increase following induction by temperature shift and by addition of ethanol or cadmium ions. The elevated level of HTS was a result of transcriptional activation of the metA gene. This activation was heat shock dependent, as it did not take place in rpoH mutants, and probably specific to the metA gene, as another gene of the methionine regulon (metE) was not activated. These results suggest a metabolic link between the two systems that control the response of E. coli to elevated temperatures: the metA gene, which codes for the enzyme responsible for regulating cell growth as a function of temperature elevation (HTS), is transcriptionally activated by the heat shock response.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed1995

Interaction of BiP with substance P and nucleotides.

A rapid and simple spin column assay has been used to study interactions of BiP with substance P (SP) and ATP. At 4 degrees C, the binding of SP to BiP requires ATP and a stable SP-BiP.ATP complex is formed. Nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues or ADP cannot replace ATP. Although ATP converts BiP dimers to monomers, the requirement for ATP for SP binding is not solely due to BiP dissociation, because purified BiP monomers also require ATP for peptide binding. At 37 degrees C, there is rapid binding of SP to BiP even in the absence of ATP and, in fact, ATP at concentrations above 5 microM causes release of SP from BiP. At this higher temperature, there is also rapid hydrolysis of ATP bound to BiP. These results extend our previous results (Brot et al., 1994) that indicated the formation, at low ATP concentrations, of a labile SP.BiP.ATP complex that, after ATP hydrolysis, resulted in a stable SP.BiP.ADP complex.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1994

Similarity of nucleotide interactions of BiP and GTP-binding proteins.

BiP is a member of the Hsp70 heat shock protein family found in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, that binds to a variety of proteins destined to be secreted. Substance P (SP) has been used as a model peptide to study the interaction of BiP with protein substrates. SP stimulates BiP ATPase activity and forms a stable complex with BiP that is dissociated in the presence of levels of ATP > 50 microM. At lower concentrations of ATP, the SP remains bound to BiP, and the results are consistent with the view that a BiP-ATP complex is initially formed that reacts with SP to form a ternary complex, SP-BiP-ATP. Hydrolysis of ATP in this complex yields a SP-BiP-ADP complex. An exchange of ATP with ADP bound to BiP has also been demonstrated, and the results suggest that the interactions of BiP with ATP resemble those seen with GTP-binding proteins and GTP.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1994

BiP is a substrate for src kinase in vitro.

In a study to investigate the ability of chaperones to modulate src kinase activity, it was observed that BiP, a member of the HSP70 family found in the endoplasmic reticulum, is an excellent substrate for src kinase in vitro. The reaction requires polylysine and the results suggest that two tyrosine residues are phosphorylated. Although there is no evidence for this reaction in vivo, it does provide a very efficient method to label BiP.

Carrier Proteins↗
PubMed1994

The effect of phosphorylation and site-specific mutations in the immunodominant epitope of the human ribosomal P proteins.

The immunodominant epitope recognized by lupus antiribosomal P protein antibodies (anti-P antibodies) is located within the 11 C-terminal residues common to the three P proteins. This epitope contains a potential phosphorylation site for casein kinase II and clusters of acidic and hydrophobic amino acids. To determine the role of each of these features in antigen recognition, lupus anti-P sera were tested for binding to phospho- and dephospho- forms of the P proteins and to synthetic peptide antigens in which site-specific modifications had been introduced. Immunoblot analysis revealed that anti-P antibodies specific for the phospho- form of the P proteins represented only a minor population of anti-P antibodies and, in many cases, were absent altogether. In contrast, when charged substitutions were introduced into either the acidic or hydrophobic clusters and tested by ELISA, striking reductions of 64-86% were observed. Conservative Gly-->Pro substitutions also produced a 73% average reduction in anti-P binding whereas substitution of either Ser-105 or the C-terminal Asp-115 resulted in a < 35% reduction in binding. These findings suggest that phosphorylation of the P proteins does not play a role in antibody recognition but that anti-P antibodies require both the acidic and hydrophobic clusters for optimal binding to synthetic peptide antigens. The remarkable degree of specificity demonstrated by these antibodies supports the view that anti-P autoantibodies result from a highly specific (at the B cell level) immune response to self antigen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Antiribosomal antibodies in SLE, infection, and following deliberate immunization.

ARA occur in approximately 10% of randomly selected SLE patients but in up to 40% of patients with active disease. Anti-P antibodies appear to be a highly specific diagnostic marker for SLE since they are rarely detected in other multisystem autoimmune disorders. ARA are most frequently directed against the P proteins and the shared conserved C-terminus of the P proteins is immunodominant in almost all sera tested. Anti-P antibodies increase in titer in patients with active disease and have been reported to be detected more frequently in patients with severe behavioral disturbances. This may be particularly true of patients with affective disorders. The clinical utility of serological tests for anti-P in central nervous system lupus must await large, prospective studies. Other ARA antibodies have been detected in patients with SLE. These antibodies include anti-28S rRNA, anti-S10, and anti-L12. In all cases, the frequency with which these antibodies are detected is increased in sera containing anti-P. The P proteins and the 28S rRNA epitope play essential, but as yet undefined, roles in GTPase activity on the ribosome. The L12 protein is the mammalian homologue of the E. coli and yeast proteins known to bind to the 28S rRNA epitope. These findings indicate that some SLE patients produce autoantibodies against multiple components of a functionally related domain of the ribosome. This, in turn, supports the notion that the ribosome initiates and/or maintains autoantibody production. Despite the evidence supporting an antigen driven immune response, attempts to induce anti-P antibodies by immunization with autologous ribosomes in the autoimmune strain of mouse, MRL, have been unsuccessful. It therefore seems likely that the ribosomal components must be altered in some way to break tolerance or that other abnormalities of the immune system are necessary for autoantibody production. Immunization with foreign ribosomes induce anti-P autoantibodies in mice and in apparently normal humans infected with the hemoflaggelate, T. cruzi. The ability of the P proteins to break tolerance in these situations is, most likely, explained by the provision of a T cell epitope (the foreign P protein) together with the multivalency of the P proteins on the ribosome (which activate autoreactive B cells). We therefore propose (Fig. 5) a two-signal model for autoantibody production similar to that suggested for T-B collaboration in the normal immune response and also in the GVHD model of lupus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Autoantigen-specific T cell proliferation induced by the ribosomal P2 protein in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A role for helper T cells in the induction of pathogenic lupus autoantibodies is increasingly supported by data from studies of murine lupus and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the poor in vitro function of SLE T cells has hampered the identification and characterization of autoantigen-specific T cells. We used recombinant fusion proteins to study the T cell proliferative response of 31 lupus patients and 27 healthy subjects to a well-characterized SLE autoantigen, the ribosomal P2 protein. Although PBMC from SLE patients showed marked impairment in the proliferative response to the common recall antigen tetanus toxoid when compared with normal subjects, a significantly greater proportion of SLE patients (32%) than normal individuals (0%) showed a T cell response to a recombinant P2 fusion protein. When the SLE patients were subgrouped according to the presence of serum anti-P autoantibody, 7 of 10 anti-P antibody-positive patients, but 0 of 20 anti-P antibody-negative SLE patients, demonstrated > 2,000 cpm [3H]thymidine incorporation and a P2 stimulation index > 5. The specificity of the T cell proliferative response for the P2 protein was confirmed by studies using a second recombinant human P2 fusion protein and by the specific activation of P2-primed T cells by recombinant P2 in secondary cultures. Moreover, the T cell proliferative response to the P2 autoantigen was mediated by CD4-positive T cells and was inhibited by anti-MHC class II antibodies. These data demonstrate the presence of autoantigen-specific T helper cells in patients with SLE and suggest that these T cells drive the production of autoantibodies by B lymphocytes.

Autoantigens↗
PubMed1993

The Roche Institute.

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Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed1993

Dissociation of glucose-regulated protein Grp78 and Grp78-IgE Fc complexes by ATP.

Recent studies have shown that ATP can dissociate dimers of the glucose-regulated protein Grp78 to monomers. In the present study, we have used purified recombinant Grp78 from Escherichia coli to investigate this reaction in more detail. During the course of the Grp78 dimer-monomer conversion, a stable Grp78 monomer-ATP complex is formed. Upon removal of the ATP, the Grp78 dimer is reformed. ADP, nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues, and GTP do not effect the dissociation of Grp78 dimers. A cell line that overproduces IgE Fc has been used to examine the nature of the Grp78-IgE Fc complexes present and the effect of ATP on them. Grp78-IgE Fc complexes ranging from 100 kDa to 300 kDa were observed by sucrose gradient analysis, suggesting that aggregate forms of Grp78 may be present in some of these complexes. Treatment of the extracts with ATP resulted in release of a Grp78 monomer from the complex. These results suggest that the dissociation of Grp78 oligomers by ATP may be involved in the function of Grp78 in protein translocation through the endoplasmic reticulum.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the Escherichia coli peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase gene.

The gene encoding peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase was cloned from an Escherichia coli genomic library using an oligonucleotide probe based on the amino-terminal sequence of the protein. The nucleotide sequence revealed that the gene codes for a polypeptide of 212 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 23,314. The protein has been overexpressed in E. coli and is present as a soluble active species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Interactions of liver Grp78 and Escherichia coli recombinant Grp78 with ATP: multiple species and disaggregation.

The hamster gene encoding the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (Grp78) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase. After induction with isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside, the recombinant Grp78 was purified to homogeneity by affinity column chromatography of the fusion protein followed by thrombin cleavage. The purified recombinant protein was compared with liver Grp78 for its ability to interact with ATP. Like liver Grp78, the recombinant protein contained a weak ATPase activity and a Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation activity. However, unlike liver Grp78, in which the autophosphorylation reaction is stimulated less than 50% by CaCl2, the reaction with the recombinant Grp78 was stimulated about 15-fold in the presence of Ca2+. Although the liver protein showed at least four isoforms after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the recombinant Grp78 had one major species corresponding to the most basic form seen in liver. Both the liver Grp78 and the recombinant protein existed primarily as monomers and dimers. A small amount of oligomers was also present in the liver Grp78. When either protein was incubated with ATP, there was a conversion of the higher molecular weight species to the monomeric form.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

Role of the metF and metJ genes on the vitamin B12 regulation of methionine gene expression: involvement of N5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid.

The repression of MetE synthesis in Escherichia coli by vitamin B12 is known to require the MetH holoenzyme (B12-dependent methyltransferase) and the metF gene product. Experiments using trimethoprim, an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, show that the MetF protein is not directly involved in the repression, but that N5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (N5-methyl-H4-folate), the product of the MetF enzymatic reaction is required. Since the methyl group from N5-methyl-H4-folate is normally transferred to the MetH holoenzyme to form a methyl-B12 enzyme, the present results suggest that a methyl-B12 enzyme is involved in the vitamin B12 repression of metE expression. Other results argue against the possibility that a methyl-B12 enzyme functions in this repression solely by decreasing the cellular level of homocysteine, which is required for MetR activation of metE expression. Experiments with metJ mutants show that the MetJ protein mediates about 50% of the repression of metE expression by B12 but is totally responsible for the regulation of metF expression by vitamin B12.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltran↗
PubMed1992

High level expression and purification of peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase in Escherichia coli.

The enzyme peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase catalyzes the conversion of methionine sulfoxide residues in proteins to methionine. The 636 nucleotide coding region of the peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase gene has been amplified from a genomic clone using the polymerase chain reaction and the product was subcloned into plasmid pGEX-2T downstream of the glutathione S-transferase gene under control of the tac promoter. Escherichia coli XL1-Blue cells transformed with this plasmid and induced with isopropylthio-beta-galactoside expressed high levels of the fusion protein. The protein was soluble and was purified to homogeneity by affinity binding to a glutathione-agarose resin followed by cleavage of the fusion protein with thrombin. Both the fusion protein and the purified peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase protein showed high peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Autophosphorylation of 70 kDa heat shock proteins.

Several members of the 70 kDa heat shock protein group are known to be phosphorylated in vivo and have recently been found to undergo a Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation. The characteristics of the autophosphorylation reaction with Escherichia coli DnaK the mitochondrial and chloroplast homologs, and the endoplasmic reticulum Bip/Grp78 are discussed. Some common features are a requirement for Ca2+, inhibition by Mg2+ and phosphorylation solely on a threonine residue. Although the role of autophosphorylation of these proteins is not clear, it is known that the level of phosphorylation of some Hsp70 proteins in vivo is responsive to stress and other cellular conditions.

Calcium↗
PubMed1991

Lupus antiribosomal P antisera contain antibodies to a small fragment of 28S rRNA located in the proposed ribosomal GTPase center.

The ribosomal P proteins are necessary for GTPase activity during protein synthesis. In addition to antibodies to the P proteins, sera from lupus patients contain anti-rRNA activity. To determine whether lupus antiribosomal sera recognize the region of 28S rRNA recently proposed to form part of the ribosomal GTPase center, an rRNA fragment corresponding to nucleotides (nt) 1922-2020 was transcribed in vitro and tested for antigenicity. 18 of 24 (75%) lupus sera containing anti-P antibodies, but only 2 of 24 (8%) lupus sera without anti-P, immunoprecipitated this rRNA fragment (p less than 0.001). The binding was specific, since no significant differences were observed between anti-P positive and negative lupus sera in binding to the RNA fragment transcribed in the antisense orientation or to a control region of rRNA. The majority of sera tested protected a rRNA fragment of approximately 68 nucleotides. To evaluate the fine specificity of the anti-28S antibodies, deletions and site-directed mutations were made in the RNA fragment. The anti-28S antisera required nt 1944-1955 for recognition and were remarkably sensitive to destabilizing as well as nondestabilizing mutations in the stems of the RNA fragments. Detection of antiprotein and anti-RNA antibodies directed against a functionally related domain in the ribosome, together with the remarkable specificity of anti-28S antibodies, strongly suggests a direct role for this region of the ribosome in initiating and/or maintaining antiribosomal autoantibody production.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1991

Ribosomal proteins P0, P1, and P2 are phosphorylated by casein kinase II at their conserved carboxyl termini.

A potential casein kinase II (CK II) recognition site is located within the conserved carboxyl (COOH) terminus of the ribosomal P (phospho) proteins P0, P1, and P2. To determine whether the COOH termini of the P proteins are physiological substrates for CK II, we studied the phosphorylation of the P proteins in vitro and in intact cells. The results show that the addition of exogenous purified CK II and ATP to intact ribosomes in vitro resulted in the relatively selective phosphorylation of all three P proteins. A synthetic peptide corresponding to the COOH-terminal 22 amino acids of P2 (C-22) was also phosphorylated by CK II with a Km of 13.4 microM. An endogenous ribosome-associated, CK II-like enzyme also phosphorylated the P proteins relatively selectively in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+ and ATP. The endogenous kinase was inhibited by heparin, utilized either ATP or GTP as a phosphate donor, and phosphorylated casein. A CK II-specific peptide (Arg-Arg-Arg-Glu-Glu-Glu-Thr-Glu-Glu-Glu) and the C-22 peptide inhibited the phosphorylation of the P proteins by the endogenous kinase, providing further evidence for its CK II-like properties and for localization of the CK II phosphorylation site to the COOH termini of the P proteins. Tryptic phosphopeptide maps of P1 and P2 phosphorylated by exogenous CK II and the endogenous ribosome-bound kinase were virtually identical. These phosphopeptides comigrated with the tryptic digest of C-22 and with the tryptic phosphopeptides derived from P1 and P2 isolated from intact cells metabolically labeled with [32P]orthophosphate in vivo. These studies demonstrate that exogenous CK II and a ribosome-bound, CK II-like enzyme phosphorylate the ribosomal P proteins in vitro and localize the target site for phosphorylation to the COOH terminus. The incorporation of phosphate into the same target site in intact cells indicates that the P proteins are in vivo substrates of CK II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Anti-P autoantibody production requires P1/P2 as immunogens but is not driven by exogenous self-antigen in MRL mice.

Considerable evidence supports the idea that autoantibody production in human and murine SLE is Ag driven. To determine whether Ag (the ribosomal P proteins) could initiate autoantibody production in lupus mice, 34 MRL/lpr mice were immunized with mouse riboosomal proteins in Freund's adjuvant. Neither intact ribosomes, denatured total mouse ribosomal proteins, nor the purified mouse ribosomal proteins, P1 and P2, induced the production of anti-P autoantibodies in the MRL/lpr mice. In contrast to these negative findings, MRL/lpr mice immunized with Artemia salina ribosomes produced anti-P antibodies as well as anti-P autoantibodies. Although the induced anti-P autoantibodies bound exclusively to the carboxyl terminus, these anti-P antibodies differed from spontaneously occurring anti-P autoantibodies in their predominant binding to mouse P0 on immunoblots and their preferential reactivity against A. salina synthetic peptides by ELISA. Induction of anti-P antibodies required the presence of P1 and P2 on the ribosome because ribosomal cores devoid of P1 and P2 dimers did not induce anti-P. Despite the presence of approximately 80 ribosomal proteins, autoantibodies to other mouse ribosomal proteins were rarely observed. Immunization of MRL/+ mice and a normal H-2-matched strain of mice, C3H, also resulted in anti-P antibodies reactive with the A. salina P proteins and mouse P0. Whereas anti-P levels gradually declined in C3H mice, anti-P levels either remained elevated (MRL/lpr) or showed a secondary rise (MRL/+) at the onset of autoimmunity. These observations indicate that: i) high levels of autologous Ag are not sufficient to drive antiribosomal autoantibody production in MRL mice, ii) multivalency of the P proteins may explain their potent immunogenicity and ability to break tolerance, and iii) immunized MRL mice show an abnormal persistence of high level anti-P production presumably reflecting T cell activation of presensitized B cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗