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J K Ngsee

Publications and source records attributed to J K Ngsee.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

A rab protein regulates the localization of secretory granules in AtT-20 cells.

Low molecular weight (LMW) GTP-binding proteins are hypothesized to play a role in the vectorial transport of intracellular vesicles. Mutational studies in yeast and subcellular localization in mammalian cells suggest that a family of LMW GTP-binding proteins, termed rab, target intracellular vesicles to their appropriate acceptor compartment. In this report, we demonstrate that an elasmobranch homologue of rab3A, o-rab3, plays a significant role in the sequestration of regulated secretory vesicles. When transfected into the murine endocrine cell line AtT-20, the wild-type o-rab3 protein is localized exclusively to the tips of the processes, a region of the cell known to accumulate proteins associated with regulated secretory vesicles. Two mutations, Gln81 to Leu (Q81L) and Asn135 Ile (N135I), which alter GTP binding or rate of hydrolysis, blocked the localization of the o-rab3 protein to the tips of cell processes. These mutations also hindered the sequestration of ACTH-containing secretory vesicles to the process tips but did not affect the basal or stimulated release of ACTH. Moreover, the sequestration of the protein VAMP to the process tip was also hindered by the mutation. The results demonstrate a role for the rab3 proteins in localization, sequestration, and storage of secretory vesicles near their release site.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1991

A family of ras-like GTP-binding proteins expressed in electromotor neurons.

The cDNAs encoding seven low molecular weight (LMW) GTP-binding proteins were isolated from an electrode lobe library of the marine ray Discopyge ommata. Four were assigned as the ray homologues of previously identified LMW GTP-binding proteins rab1, ral, Krev, and rho. Three others showed unique sequences, including two exhibiting significant similarity to the yeast SEC4 protein. Northern analysis indicated that several of the transcripts are enriched in neural tissues with a moderate level of expression in cardiac muscle. This tissue distribution was corroborated with affinity purified antibodies against the LMW GTP-binding proteins. Subcellular fractionation revealed that the proteins co-purify with cholinergic synaptic vesicles. Immunohistochemical analysis confirms this localization. At least two of the proteins, oral and o-rho, are localized to the pre-synaptic terminals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Changes in a mammalian signal sequence required for efficient protein secretion by yeasts.

A plasmid-encoded gene for a hybrid pre-protein containing most of the bovine prolactin signal peptide (SpPRL) fused to the mature sequence of yeast invertase (IVT) was expressed and the product was processed and secreted by yeast. However, the level of IVT activity was reduced about six-fold when compared to that obtained with the wild type (wt) invertase signal peptide (SpIVT). When the 5'-untranslated sequence of the hybrid mRNA was truncated by 29 nucleotides, a 2.5-fold increase in secreted IVT was observed. Replacement of the PRL codons with preferred yeast codons did not result in any improvement in the production of secreted IVT. An increase in IVT activity to the level observed with the wt SpIVT was obtained by replacement of the Gly residue located between the N terminus and the central lipophilic region of the SpPRL by Ala. Since this amino acid replacement results in a higher probability of the SpPRL assuming an alpha-helical conformation, it suggests that the secondary structure of this region is important in recognition by the yeast secretory apparatus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Multiple GTP-binding proteins from cholinergic synaptic vesicles.

Cholinergic synaptic vesicles purified from the electric organ of the marine ray, Discopyge ommata, contain 2 different size classes of GTP-binding proteins: one or more with an apparent molecular weight (MW) between 37 and 41 kDa, and 3 major and at least 2 minor proteins with MW between 20 and 29 kDa. These GTP-binding proteins were detectable using the alpha 32P-GTP overlay technique and covalent modification with bacterial toxins. The higher MW GTP-binding proteins are ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin and 2 of the lower MW GTP-binding proteins are sensitive to botulinum toxin.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1989

Isolation and characterization of two homologous cDNA clones from Torpedo electromotor neurons.

Two homologous cDNA clones were isolated from a Torpedo california electric lobe lambda gt11 expression library using a polyclonal antiserum directed against proteins associated with synaptic vesicles. Northern blotting reveals an 8- to 9-kb transcript in the electric lobe and the spinal cord, but not in the brain or other non-neuronal tissues. Antibodies generated against a fusion protein synthesized in Escherichia coli reacted with a 85- to 90-kD species in the neurons of the electric lobe. The immunoreactivity is associated with microsomal membranes and can be extracted readily with high salt. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated a sparse punctate staining pattern in the cell body which colocalized with a subpopulation of post-Golgi vesicles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cassette mutagenic analysis of the yeast invertase signal peptide: effects on protein translocation.

The coding sequence of the SUC2 locus was placed under the control of the constitutive ADH1 promoter and transcription terminator in a centromere-based yeast plasmid vector from which invertase is expressed in a Suc- strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutants in the signal peptide sequence were produced by replacing this region of the gene with synthetic oligonucleotide cassettes containing mixtures of nucleotides at several positions. The mutants could be divided into three classes on the basis of the ability to secrete invertase. Class I mutants produced secreted invertase but in reduced amount. The class II mutant, 4-55B, also exhibited reduced a level of invertase, but a significant fraction of the enzyme was intracellular. Class III mutants were partially defective in translocation from the cytoplasm to the endoplasmic reticulum and produced enzymatically active, unglycosylated preinvertase in the cytoplasm. Class III mutant preinvertases were also defective in translocation across canine pancreas microsomes. These results suggested that the reduced level of invertase resulted from proteolytic degradation of inefficiently transported intermediates. Comparison of the sequences of the mutant signal peptides indicated that amino acids at the extreme amino terminus and adjacent to the cleavage site play a crucial role in the secretory process when combined with a mutation within the hydrophobic core.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Synthesis of bovine prolactin in Escherichia coli.

Transformation of Escherichia coli cells with a recombinant plasmid (pESP4) containing a modified bovine prolactin cDNA clone in a pEMBL vector resulted in efficient expression of prolactin. The cDNA was modified by removal of a 5' nontranslated sequence as well as the sequence that specified the signal peptide of preprolactin. To achieve a high level of synthesis, a sequence of 30 nucleotides in the cDNA, which included the ATG initiation codon and the first 7 codons of mature bovine prolactin, was replaced by a chemically synthesized oligonucleotide duplex. The sequence of this duplex was chosen from the consensus sequence around the initiation codon of E. coli genes and by the amino acid sequence of the protein. Prolactin, a single-chain polypeptide of molecular weight 24,000, was identified by Coomassie Blue staining of NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gels of total protein from transformed E. coli cells, and by reaction with specific antibody. Increased levels of expression of the hormone, corresponding to the form secreted from the pituitary, were observed in the presence of isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG).

Animals↗