Fidelity of protein synthesis affects the readthrough translation of tobacco mosaic virus RNA.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Kurkinen.
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The biosynthesis and processing of the polypeptides A (Mr = 450 x 10(3)), B1 (Mr = 240 x 10(3)), B2 (Mr = 230 x 10(3)) and C (Mr = 150 x 10(3)) of the extracellular matrix protein, laminin, were studied in murine parietal endoderm cells labelled with [35S]methionine. Various lines of evidence suggest that the A chains are not precursors to the smaller B chains. Firstly, the pulse-chase experiments, radioactivity in cytoplasmic A and (B1 + B2) chains declines with the same half-life of about 70 min. Secondly, peptide maps generated by digestion of A and B (B1 + B2) chains with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease are different. Finally, rabbit antibodies to isolated, denatured (B1 + B2) chains do not cross-react with reduced and alkylated A chains. A, B1, B2 and C polypeptides are all glycosylated by an intracellular process involving the addition of tunicamycin and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase-H-sensitive N-linked oligosaccharide side chains. Further glycosylation probably occurs around the time of secretion. Disulphide bonding of some A and B chains can be observed in the cytoplasm within 10 min of adding [35S]methionine. However, it appears that some free A and B2 chains are present in the cytoplasm and that free A chains exist in the medium. The relationship between the 150 x 10(3)-Mr C glycoprotein and the A and B components is discussed. Although B and C chains generate different peptide maps after digestion with S. aureus V8 protease, antibodies raised against isolated, denatured C chains cross-react with reduced and alkylated B (but not A) chains. This suggests that B and C chains may share some antigenic determinant(s).
Murine neuroblastoma cells have been widely used as a model system for neuronal cells as they can be induced to differentiate in culture by various stimuli, such as dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), prostaglandin, and serum starvation. The cells respond with assembly of microtubules, leading to neurite outgrowth, with increased activity of neuronal-specific enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase, choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholine-esterase, and synthesis of neurotransmitters. The differentiated cells lose tumorigenicity. Cell-to-substratum adhesion is evidently crucial for neurone extension in vitro. Neurite outgrowth is induced by treatments that increase cell-to-substratum adhesion in some neuronal cell cultures. We have now identified the major high molecular weight proteins synthesized and secreted by murine C1300 neuroblastoma cells as fibronectin, laminin and type IV procollagen, of which the latter two were also found to be deposited in pericellular matrix form.
Human plasma fibronectin migrated in electrophoresis after reduction of the disulfide bonds in SDS-polyacrylamide gels as two closely spaced polypeptide bands. These polypeptides, the A chain (Mr 220 000) and the B chain (215 000), were isolated from slices of slab gels. The two isolated chains were immumologically indistinguishable when tested by double immunodiffusion against antiserum to plasma fibronectin. Identical peptides were obtained from both chains after Staphylococcus aureus proteinase digesting or after cyanogen bromide cleavage, respectively. Kinetic analysis of plasmin digestion of isolated dimeric fibronectin, however, suggested that the A chain was cleaved more rapidly than the B chain and that the primary plasmin cleavage products of fibronectin, the 200 000 and 190 000 polypeptides, were derived from the A and B chain, respectively. The basis for the difference between the A and B chains of human plasma fibronectin identified here, is, at present, unknown. Proteolytic or some other posttranslational processing of a common fibronectin polypeptide seems unlikely since also the newly synthesized fibronectin, isolated from human fibroblast cultures pulse-labeled for 5 min, appeared as two closely spaced polypeptide bands in SDS-gel electrophoresis.
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The sequential appearance of fibronectin and collagenous proteins was studied by immunofluorescence in experimental granulation tissue in the mouse. Granulation tissue was induced by subcutaneous implantation of viscous cellulose sponges into the neck. When sponges were invaded by granulation tissue, fibronectin appeared early together with the invading fibroblasts. Interstitial collagens, type III and type I, appeared 2 to 7 days later. When the collagen had matured into bundles, fibronectin diminished or disappeared. The results suggest that fibronectin functions as a primary matrix for organization of the collagenous connective tissue during the tissue repair process.
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Cytoskeleton of chicken erythrocytes was studies studied after extraction of the cells with Triton X-100. In phase contrast microscopy the extracted cells were seen as ghost-like structures with preserved morphology, distinct nucleus and surrounding plasma membrane remnant. In electron microscopy, dense matrix-like nucleus, fibrillar plasma membrane residue and filaments, ca. 10 nm in diameter, traversing the cytoplasmic domain, were seen. Distinct bands of molecular weight 68000, 53000, 32000 and bands of both higher and lower molecular weight were obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the extracted cells. These results indicate that intermediate filaments, forming the nucleus-anchoring cytoskeleton, are present in nucleated chicken erythrocytes as part of cellular cytoskeleton.
The pericellular matrix of human fibroblast cultures was isolated, using sequential extraction with sodium deoxycholate and hypotonic buffer in the presence of protease inhibitor. The matrix attached to the growth substratum had a "sackcloth-like" structure as seen by phase contrast, immunofluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy, and it had a vaguely filamentous ultrastructure similar to that seen in intact cell layers. The matrix consisted of hyaluronic acid and heparan sulfate as the major glycosaminoglycan components and fibronectin and procollagen as major polypeptides as shown by metabolic labeling, gel electrophoresis, immunofluorescence, and collagenase digestion. This pericellular matrix can be regarded as an in vitro equivalent of the loose connective tissue matrix.
Fibronectin is a major glycoprotein component of normal fibroblasts in culture. External fibronectin is predominantly present in a pericellular fibrillar matrix that mediates distant cell-cell and cell-substratum contacts. A small proportion of external fibronectin is closely associated with the plasma membrane. In the matrix, fibronectin is partially disulfide bonded into complexes. Plasma transglutaminase, activated by thrombin, also cross-links external fibronectin into high-molecular-weight covalent complexes. In cultures of normal fibroblasts, pericellular matrix fibronectin displays extensive codistribution with (pro)collagens types I and III. Transformed adherent cells show decreased formation of the fibronectin-collagen matrix. The deficient synthesis of fibronectin and other matrix components and abnormal interactions with the matrix may account for several phenotypic characteristics of transformed cells. The pericellular matrix structure has been prepared by use of deoxycholate and hypotonic medium to solubilize the cells. The matrix contains glycosaminoglycans, procollagens, and fibronectin. The fibronectin codistributes with the procollagens. The matrix may be considered to be an in vitro equivalent of the connective tissue matrix and basal laminae found in vivo. Human sarcoma cells spread rapidly on the prepared matrix and assume an elongated morphology characteristic of normal fibroblasts. The prepared matrix may provide a general tool to study the effects of matrix on cellular behavior and differentiation.
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Antibodies to fibronectin and to distinct types of procollagens and collagens were used in immunofluorescent staining to localize these proteins in cell cultures. Normal human skin or lung fibroblasts produced a fibrillar pericellular matrix in which fibronectin and procollagen (types I and III) showed extensive codistribution. Fibronectin and procollagen were synthesized by the same cells as judged by double-stain immunofluorescence. Pericellular procollagen was specifically digested with collagenase without an effect on the fibrillar distribution of matrix fibronectin. Brief treatment with trypsin removed both matrix proteins. The human tumor cell lines HT-1080 (fibrosarcoma) and RD (rhabdomyosarcoma) produced little or no matrix fibronectin or procollagen. At sites of cell contact, simian virus 40-transformed lung fibroblasts (VA13) produced small amounts of pericellular fibrillar matrix fibronectin that codistributed with procollagen type I. Intracellular fibronectin and procollagen were visualized in all of these human sarcoma cell lines. When chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with a T class mutant (NY68) of Rous sarcoma virus temperature-sensitive for transformation were maintained at the nonpermissive temperature (41 degrees ) the cells had normal phenotype and a fibrillar matrix containing fibronectin and procollagen was present. At the permissive temperature (35 degrees ), the cells showed transformed phenotype and the matrix was lost. The failure to produce a pericellular fibronectin/collagen matrix may account for several phenotypic characteristics of transformed cultured fibroblasts.
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Fibronectin, a major pericellular glycoprotein of adherent cells, was predominantly present in fibrillar structures in human fibroblast cultures as shown by indirect immunofluorescence. In conventional "patching experiments" where one day old cells were exposed to anti-fibronectin IgG in the cold, washed, and reincubated at 37 degrees no redistribution was seen. However, continuous exposure of the cultures to IgG at 37 degrees resulted in redistribution. The fibrillar structures were lost and fibronectin aggregates (patches) were found. Fab-fragments had no such effect. These results support the findings that fibronectin is predominantly a matrix protein and show that matrix components may be redistributed in cell culture conditions.
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