Biomedical subjects

P Auberger

Publications and source records attributed to P Auberger.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Insulin and interleukin-1 differentially regulate pp63, an acute phase phosphoprotein in hepatoma cell line.

We have reported previously that the phosphoprotein pp63, an acute phase protein, which has been recently identified as the rat fetuin, was capable of blocking the mitogenic effect of insulin on the rat Fao hepatoma cell line, without affecting metabolic effects of the hormone. Only the phosphorylated form of the protein has been shown to exhibit both anti-tyrosine kinase and growth inhibitory properties. In this study, we used the FTO-2B rat hepatoma cell line to analyze the mechanisms involved in the control of synthesis and/or phosphorylation of pp63. For this purpose, we investigated the action of effectors known to modulate hepatic functions, such as cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6), which regulate the production of acute phase proteins, and insulin, which elicits profound effects on hepatocyte metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that IL-1 beta diminished markedly the pp63 production by affecting its mRNA transcription and that the cytokine was able to modify the N-glycosylation process of the protein. In contrast, insulin did not affect the biosynthesis of pp63 but dramatically decreased its extent of phosphorylation.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1994

Monomeric 55-kDa guanidinobenzoatase switches to a serine proteinase activity upon tetramerization. Tetrameric proteinase SP 220 K appears as the native form.

Guanidinobenzoatases are cell surface enzymes present in cells capable of migration or remodeling. The guanidinobenzoatase purified to homogeneity from human renal carcinoma did not display gelatinase activity under the 55-kDa form (Poustis-Delpont, C., Descomps, R., Auberger, P., Delque-Bayer, P., Sudaka, P., and Rossi, B. (1992) Cancer Res. 52, 3622-3628). We bring new insights into the structure-activity relationships of this enzyme using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate labeling, gelatin zymography, and immunodetection using a polyclonal antibody raised against the 55-kDa entity. Upon aggregation into a 220-kDa form, the enzyme exhibited [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate labeling and diisopropyl fluorophosphate-inhibitable gelatinase activity whereas its capability to cleave p-nitrophenyl p'-guanidinobenzoate as a substrate was abolished. Thus, the guanidinobenzoatase property appears as a feature of a 55-kDa inactive form of a serine proteinase subunit. After boiling in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (3% w/v), the 220-kDa entity subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis could be dissociated into a 55-kDa protein as shown by silver staining. The resulting 55-kDa band remained [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate-labeled and reacted with anti-55-kDa guanidinobenzoatase antibodies, strongly suggesting that the 220-kDa proteinase was a noncovalently associated tetramer. Interestingly, Triton X-100 extracts of renal carcinoma plasma membranes exhibited a 220-kDa serine proteinase activity, as expressed in gelatin zymography, which was barely detectable in the non-tumoral counterpart. It is noteworthy that an anti-55-kDa guanidinobenzoatase reactive 220-kDa species was also observed in renal carcinoma plasma membranes extracts as assessed by Western blot, whereas it was hardly visible in the non-tumoral counterpart. No signal was immunodetected at M(r) 55,000 in renal carcinoma and kidney cortex membranes in Western blot experiments. Taken together, our data support the idea that the enzyme is expressed under its tetrameric form in the membrane. The purified enzyme is able to exhibit a serine proteinase activity when it recovers its native tetrameric form. This high molecular weight tetrameric proteinase SP 220 K appears as a new member of the cell surface serine protease family.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Thrombin and thrombin receptor agonist peptide induce early events of T cell activation and synergize with TCR cross-linking for CD69 expression and interleukin 2 production.

Thrombin stimulation of the T leukemic cell line Jurkat induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i. Proteolytic activity of the enzyme was required for this effect since diisopropyl fluorophosphate-thrombin failed to increase [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, hirudin and anti-thrombin III inhibited the thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i rise in Jurkat T cells. A synthetic thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRP) of 7 residues (SFLLRNP) was found to be as effective as thrombin for [Ca2+]i mobilization, and both agonists induced Ca2+ release exclusively from internal stores. Thrombin stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins of molecular mass 40, 42, 70, 120, and 130 kDa. There was a good correlation between thrombin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the latter three proteins and Ca2+ mobilization. Thrombin and TRP also caused translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. As a likely consequence of these events, thrombin activated the nuclear factor NF-kB. Several cell lines of hematopoietic origin including the leukemic T cell line HPB.ALL and the erythroleukemic cell line K562 were responsive to thrombin, whereas others such as THP1, a myelomonocytic cell line, and BL2, a Burkitt lymphoma were refractory to thrombin or TRP stimulation. The magnitude of the thrombin response in the different cell types paralleled the expression of the thrombin receptor mRNA. We found that activation of Jurkat T cells by a combination of phytohemagglutinin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate led to a dramatic inhibition of thrombin receptor mRNA expression and to a concomitant loss of the thrombin response. Finally, we demonstrate that thrombin and TRP enhanced CD69 expression and interleukin 2 production induced by T cell receptor cross-linking in both Jurkat T cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. These findings highlight the role of thrombin as a potential regulator of T lymphocyte activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Induction of tyrosine phosphorylation and T-cell activation by vanadate peroxide, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases.

Rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of key cellular proteins is a crucial event in the transduction of activation signals to T-lymphocytes. The regulatory role of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) in this process was explored by studying the effects of a powerful PTPase inhibitor, vanadate peroxide (pervanadate), on the activation cascade of Jurkat human leukaemic T-cells. Pervanadate induced activation of the tyrosine kinases lck and fyn (4- and 3-fold respectively) and a dramatic increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, notably phospholipase C gamma 1. After this event, we observed a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, corresponding to an influx. This effect required surface expression of the CD45 PTPase and was not observed in CD45-deficient variants of Jurkat cells. In the CD45-negative variant, the effect of pervanadate on tyrosine phosphorylation was globally decreased and some phosphorylated substrates were specifically missing. Pervanadate also stimulated transcription of the c-fos gene and accumulation of its mRNA as well as several other hallmarks of T-lymphocyte activation such as surface expression of the CD69 antigen and the interleukin 2 receptor alpha-chain (CD25). Pervanadate synergized with signals delivered by T-cell antigen receptor engagement or by a phorbol ester to induce interleukin 2 production. Pervanadate activated NF-kappa B, as shown by an increase in DNA-binding activity of this transcription factor. We thus conclude that PTPases play a crucial role in the negative regulation of signal transduction culminating in T-lymphocyte activation. Moreover, induction of tyrosine phosphorylation appears sufficient per se to initiate a complete activation programme.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

High levels of functional endopeptidase 24.11 (CD10) activity on human thymocytes: preferential expression on immature subsets.

Although it is now well established that cells of the immune system express most of the exopeptidases described so far, little information is available concerning the identification and the characterization of the peptidases associated with the surface of human thymocytes. In the present study we have focused on CD10 expression on thymocytes using both FACS and enzymatic analysis. Unfractionated intact human thymocytes were shown to express significant levels of CD10-specific enzymatic activity, as assessed by the hydrolysis of the neutral endopeptidase (NEP) substrate Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-pNA and of D-Ala2-Leu-enkephalin, a typical NEP substrate. CD10 activity was abolished by specific NEP inhibitors, including thiorphan, retrothiorphan and phosphoramidon. Moreover, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that intact thymocytes and purified NEP hydrolysed thymopentin, a thymic factor known to induce the maturation of prothymocytes into thymocytes. Finally, CD 10/NEP was preferentially associated with CD3- CD3low and immature CD4- CD8- thymocytes. The data demonstrate for the first time that human thymocytes express functional NEP and suggest a role for this enzyme in the maturation of human thymocytes.

CD3 Complex↗

PubMed1993

Characterization and purification of T lymphocyte aminopeptidase B: a putative marker of T cell activation.

We have previously described that human T lymphocytes express membrane-associated peptidase activities (Mari et al., EMBO J., 1992, 11:3875). We show in this report that intact Jurkat T cells readily cleaved H-Arg-paranitroanilide, an aminopeptidase B (AP-B) substrate. The identification of the hydrolyzing activity as AP-B was confirmed by its sensitivity to both arphamenine B and bestatin in the nanomolar range. Significant AP-B activity was released in the supernatant upon incubation of intact T lymphocytes at 37 degrees C. However, AP-B activity was found mainly in the cytosolic fraction of Jurkat T cells. Cytosolic T cell AP-B was purified to homogeneity and exhibited a molecular mass of 72 kDa. Purified AP-B cleaved N-terminal basic amino acid-containing peptides such as thymopentin (H-Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr-OH), indicating that it might play a role in the regulation of the concentration of important soluble mediators of T cell activation. A rabbit polyclonal antibody was shown to recognize AP-B as assessed by both immunoprecipitation and Western blot experiments. Finally, we found that AP-B was up-regulated during activation of normal and leukemic T lymphocytes.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMed1992

Characterization and purification of a guanidinobenzoatase: a possible marker of human renal carcinoma.

Guanidinobenzoatases are cell surface-associated proteinases supposed to be involved in cancer metastasis, cell migration, and tissue remodeling. The main features of the guanidinobenzoatase associated with human renal carcinoma plasma membrane are weak membrane association, continuous cleavage of p-nitrophenyl-p'-guanidinobenzoate conversely to the site titration effect of this compound when used with trypsin, and a peculiar sensitivity to serine protease inhibitors, compatible with a poorly active form. Plasma membrane preparation followed by agmatine-trisacryl affinity chromatography allows the purification of guanidinobenzoatase to homogeneity with an apparent enrichment factor of 450. Purified guanidinobenzoatase appears as a single polypeptide chain of M(r) 80,000, likely stabilized by intrachain disulfides bonds. The properties of purified guanidinobenzoatase indicate that it is an original enzyme in spite of some similarities with plasminogen activators. Indeed, in addition to differences in substrate and inhibitor specificity, guanidinobenzoatase is not recognized by specific monoclonal antibodies directed against plasminogen activators or their single-chain precursors. Thus, human renal carcinoma guanidinobenzoatase appears to be an original enzyme whose activity is undetectable in the nontumoral tissue of origin. In this respect, use of purified guanidinobenzoatase would allow us to obtain specific tools to give new insights in cancer cell metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Jurkat T cells express a functional neutral endopeptidase activity (CALLA) involved in T cell activation.

We have characterized a T lymphocyte endopeptidase activity that hydrolyses succinyl-alanine-alanine-phenylalanine-paranitroanilide (Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-pNa). Hydrolysis of this substrate by intact Jurkat T cells was markedly enhanced when exogenous aminopeptidase N was added to the incubation medium. It thus appears that the release of paranitroaniline from Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-pNA results from the combination of two distinct enzymatic activities: (i) an endopeptidase activity that cleaves the substrate at the alanyl bond and (ii) an aminopeptidase activity that ultimately cleaves the phenylalanyl bond. This cleavage was further confirmed by HPLC analysis. Specific endopeptidase 24.11 inhibitors were shown to inhibit the endopeptidase activity. These features are reminiscent of the characteristics of neutral endopeptidase (NEP, also known as endopeptidase 24.11, CALLA or CD10). Anti-CD10 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognized the CD10+ B cell line Raji, but not Jurkat cells as assessed by FACS analysis. This is probably due to a lack of sensitivity of this method, the level of NEP activity in Jurkat T cells being 3-5% of that measured in B cell lines. Anti-CD10 mAbs immunoprecipitated endopeptidase 24.11 activities in both Jurkat T cells and Raji B cells, demonstrating that T lymphocytes express a CALLA-related endopeptidase. We also demonstrate that T and B cell endopeptidases have the same molecular weight, that T cells express less functional CALLA mRNA than B cells and that there are at least two shorter transcripts (1.8 and 0.8 kb) in both T and B cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Isolation and characterization of a T lymphocyte mutant defective in the protein kinase C signal transduction pathway.

The phorbol ester TPA is a potent protein kinase C (PKC) activator and a cofactor in the activation of the human Jurkat leukemic T cell line. We have studied the implication of the PKC signaling pathway in the process of T cell activation by generating TPA resistant mutants of Jurkat. These mutants were obtained by recovery of cells that survived a growth arrest induced by TPA. Several cellular phenomena dependent on TPA were dramatically altered in the mutated cells. The mutants were unable to form homoaggregates upon TPA stimulation. Moreover, they did not produce interleukin-2 after activation through engagement of the T cell receptor, in the presence of TPA. These results suggest that the PKC signaling pathway activated by TPA is defective in these cells. In an attempt to define and locate the defect present in the mutants, we have analysed the biochemical properties of PKC, the cellular receptor of TPA. The increase in kinase activity and the translocation of the enzyme to the plasma membrane after stimulation by TPA appeared to be normal in the mutants. We hypothesize that a metabolic step, critical for the completion of T cell activation, distinct from protein kinase C, is impaired in the mutant cells.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1990

Inhibitors of chymotrypsin-like activities selectively block the mitotic pathway in rat hepatoma cells.

We provide evidence that both covalent and non-covalent inhibitors of chymotrypsin-like activities inhibit the insulin-induced DNA replication, while the hormonal metabolic effects such as induction of tyrosine aminotransferase activity or increase of amino-acid transport remain unchanged. Besides, the protease inhibitors that we tested were without any effect on both the autocatalytic phosphorylation of insulin receptors and the tyrosine kinase activity towards poly(glutamate/tyrosine). The inhibitory effect of protease inhibitors on DNA synthesis was also visible when fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was used to commit cells in the proliferative cycle. This observation proves that the involvement of a putative protease is not restricted to the insulin mitogenic pathway. Finally, we observed that Fao cells totally escaped the inhibitory action of a covalent inhibitor of chymotrypsin after having been exposed to insulin for 10 h. We propose that a chymotrypsin-like activity is involved in the intracellular signalling leading to the proliferation of rat hepatoma cells up to a non-return point situated in the middle of G1 (6-8 h).

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗

PubMed1990

A chymotryptic-type serine protease is required for IL-2 production by Jurkat T cells.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by activated Jurkat T cells was markedly delayed when these cells were treated with low concentrations of the chymotryptic-type protease inhibitor N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethylketone (TPCK). This increased lag time observed in the presence of TPCK directly correlates with the interaction of the inhibitor with a unique 42,000 molecular weight (MW) serine protease, which can be labelled with [3H]DFP, and was not due to an intracellular accumulation of a non-mature form of IL-2 nor to a non-specific inhibition of overall protein synthesis. The results presented in this report indicate that a 42,000 MW chymotryptic-like serine protease is required for IL-2 production by activated Jurkat T cells.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1989

Characterization of a natural inhibitor of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase: cDNA cloning, purification, and anti-mitogenic activity.

Amino acid sequence of the precursor of the phosphorylated N-glycoprotein (pp63) secreted by rat hepatocytes was deduced from the cDNA sequence. This polypeptide (Mr = 40,586) was rich in both cysteine and proline and contained three potential N-glycosylation sites. A single pp63 mRNA species (approximately 2000 bp), found in normal hepatocytes but not in FaO hepatoma cells, appeared to result from transcription of a single gene. pp63 purified by affinity chromatography inhibited insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and receptor autophosphorylation. Only the phosphorylated form of the protein was active. In additon, pp63 antagonized the growth-promoting action of insulin in FaO cells but did not affect hormone-mediated increase in amino acid transport capacity or tyrosine aminotransferase induction in these cells.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1989

Modulation of T cell activation by differential regulation of the phosphorylation of two cytosolic proteins. Implication of both Ca2+ and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases.

Interleukin 2 production by activated Jurkat T cells is markedly decreased by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The target of PGE2 action has been investigated in the present study. Among the biochemical events occurring after CD3.TCR triggering by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, phosphorylation of two cytosolic proteins, pp21 and pp23, was strongly inhibited by PGE2, forskolin, and 8-bromo-cAMP, whereas anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-induced CD3.TCR modulation and Ca2+ influx were not affected. The inhibition of both pp21 and pp23 phosphorylation and interleukin 2 synthesis by PGE2 can be largely reversed by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, N-[2-(methylamino)-ethyl-1]-5-isoquinoline sulfonamide. Together with the demonstration of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in Jurkat T cells, these results are consistent with the participation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase mediating the inhibitory action of PGE2, probably through the inhibition of pp21 and pp23 phosphorylation. Thus, it appears that the modulation of the phosphorylation of these cytosolic proteins represents an essential step in the regulation of T lymphocyte activation.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

PubMed1989

Chymotryptic-type protease inhibitors block the increase in Ca2+ and Il-2 production in activated Jurkat T cells.

Several chymotryptic-type protease inhibitors were found to inhibit both anti-CD3 mAb- and PHA-induced rise in Ca2+ and IL-2 production in Jurkat T cells. The magnitude of inhibition was a function of the effectors used to stimulate Ca2+ entry and depended on the concentration of the inhibitors. Neither tryptic-type protease inhibitors nor an elastase substrate prevented anti-CD3 mAb- or PHA-induced Ca2+ rise in Jurkat cells. The inhibitory effect of N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl-ketone on anti-CD3 mAb- and PHA-induced rise in Ca2+ resulted from a rapid increase in Ca2+ efflux. The inhibitors which were effective on Ca2+ mobilization also inhibited IL-2 production initiated by an anti-CD3 mAb in the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, and to a lesser extent by PHA or the calcium ionophore A23187. No inhibition of IL-2 production was observed when tryptic-type protease inhibitors or the elastase inhibitor were used. In addition, membrane preparations from Jurkat cells were found to hydrolyze the chymotryptic substrate Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-paranitroaniline, an effect markedly inhibited by N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethylketone. Moreover, this inhibitor protected one potential endogenous substrate (Mr 38 kDa) from proteolysis. Taken together, these observations show that chymotryptic-type protease inhibitors block the responses generated by the binding of anti-CD3 mAb to Jurkat cells, and suggest that a chymotryptic-like membrane protease contributes to T cell activation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1989

A chymotryptic-type protease inhibitor decreases interleukin 2 synthesis and induces prostaglandin production in Jurkat T cells.

TPCK (N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethylketone), a potent inhibitor of chymotryptic-type serine proteases, was found to decrease IL2 synthesis in Jurkat T cells. Conversely, the tryptic-type protease inhibitor, TLCK (N-alpha-p-tosyl-lysine chloromethylketone), which structurally is very similar to TPCK, had no effect on IL2 synthesis. Prostaglandin synthesis, a process that is known to reduce IL2 production in T cells, was increased by TPCK but not by TLCK, suggesting that this process could be, at least in part, responsible for the inhibition of IL2 production. Our results imply that a chymotryptic-type serine protease plays an active role in the regulation of IL2 synthesis and thus in the whole process of T-lymphocyte activation.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

PubMed1987

Study of a growth hormone-regulated protein secreted by rat hepatocytes: cDNA cloning, anti-protease activity and regulation of its synthesis by various hormones.

GHR-P63 ('growth hormone-regulated protein of 63,000 daltons') is an acidic glycoprotein secreted by rat hepatocytes whose synthesis is abolished upon hypophysectomy. The sequence of its mRNA including the entire coding and 3' untranslated regions was determined from a nearly full-length lambda gt11-cDNA clone. The sequence contained two ATGs in frame giving rise to two overlapping coding regions which could encode precursor polypeptides of 416 and 406 amino acid residues (MrS = 46549 and 45371). These potential translation initiation codons appeared to be functional both in vitro and in intact cells since two precursors of the correct size were immunoprecipitated as products of mRNA translation. The unglycosylated precursors were converted into intermediate intracellular forms of about 56,000 daltons containing N-linked oligosaccharide side chains and thereafter into the secretory form of approximately equal to 63,000 daltons. Strong sequence homologies, both at the nucleotide and the amino acid levels were found between GHR-P63 and several serum protease inhibitors, more particularly mouse contrapsin and human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin. In agreement with sequence data, GHR-P63 purified from rat blood by affinity chromatography was found to carry an anti-trypsin activity. GHR-P63 mRNA, virtually undetectable in hepatocytes from hypophysectomized rats, could be hormonally re-induced to subnormal levels both in vivo by treating animals with hormones and in vitro by incubating the defective cells with hormones. Growth hormone was absolutely required but had a weak effect when used alone. Glucocorticoids which had no effect per se, strongly potentiated the action of growth hormone. Nuclear run-off experiments suggest that hormones regulated GHR-P63 mRNA levels by acting mostly, if not exclusively, on gene transcription.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1985

Secretion of a major phosphorylated glycoprotein by hepatocytes. Characterization of specific antibodies and investigations of the processing, excretion kinetics, and phosphorylation.

Isolated rat hepatocytes secreted a major phosphorylated glycoprotein (PP63) with apparent Mr = 63,000 and isoelectric point ranging from 4.8 to 5.3. Specific antibodies were raised in a rabbit using material obtained from plasma as an antigen. The biosynthesis of PP63 was studied in vitro in a cell-free system and in intact hepatocytes incubated with or without tunicamycin. The mRNA translation product had a Mr = 43,000 and was of the same size as the major unglycosylated precursor found in intact cells. This precursor was rapidly processed into two major intracellular forms of Mr = 53,000 and 56,000. These species were insensitive to neuraminidase but susceptible to endoglycosidase H, indicating that they contained oligosaccharide side chains of the high mannose-type. Terminal glycosylation gave rise to the mature Mr = 63,000 protein that contained sialic acid and fucose. This species represented the exportable form of the protein and was the only one to be phosphorylated. The charge heterogeneity observed for the mature protein already existed in all the precursors, indicating that it could not be ascribed to sialylation or to phosphorylation. However, these covalent modifications were mainly responsible for the acidic character of PP63. PP63 secretion was altered by tunicamycin. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the phosphorylated glycoprotein was secreted according to kinetics similar to that described for other liver glycoprotein, with slower kinetics than albumin. Permanent phosphorylation did not appear mandatory for excretion since the dephosphorylated PP63 was excreted with an efficacy comparable to that of the phosphorylated protein. Phosphorylation of PP63 was shown to occur on a single tryptic peptide, at a serine residue.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Pretranslational regulation of tyrosine aminotransferase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) synthesis by glucagon and dexamethasone in adult rat hepatocytes.

The regulation of synthesis of the gluconeogenic cytosolic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) by glucagon and glucocorticoid hormones was studied in hepatocytes maintained in suspension culture for 7 h. Specific antibodies were used to measure relative rates of enzyme synthesis after pulse-labelling of the cells with [3H]leucine or [35S]methionine. Concomitantly, amounts of mRNA were quantified after translation in vitro in a reticulocyte lysate and specific immunoprecipitation of the proteins. Glucagon stimulated the rate of synthesis of PEPCK by 4-6-fold and that of TAT by 6-8-fold in 2h. In contrast, dexamethasone had little effect on PEPCK synthesis, whereas it increased TAT synthesis by 5-9-fold. When used in combination, the two hormones displayed additive effects on TAT synthesis, whereas the glucocorticoid hormone strongly potentiated stimulation of PEPCK synthesis by glucagon. In every instance, changes in rates of synthesis of the two enzymes were totally accounted for by increases in amounts of the corresponding functional mRNA, suggesting a pretranslational site of action for both glucagon and dexamethasone.

Animals↗