Biomedical subjects

R Bryan Klassen

Publications and source records attributed to R Bryan Klassen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Megalin binds and internalizes angiotensin-(1-7).

Megalin is a multiligand receptor heavily involved in protein endocytosis. We recently demonstrated that megalin binds and mediates internalization of ANG II. Although there is a strong structural resemblance between ANG II and ANG-(1-7), their physiological actions and their affinity for the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) are dissimilar. Therefore, the hypothesis of the present work was to test whether megalin binds and internalizes ANG-(1-7). The uptake of ANG-(1-7) was determined by exposure of confluent monolayers of BN/MSV cells (a model representative of the yolk sac epithelium) to fluorescently labeled ANG-(1-7) (100 nM) and measurement of the amount of cell-associated fluorescence after 4 h by flow cytometry. Anti-megalin antisera and an AT(1)R blocker (olmesartan) were used to interfere with uptake via megalin and the AT(1)R, respectively. ANG-(1-7) uptake was prevented by anti-megalin antisera (63%) to a higher degree than olmesartan (13%) (P < 0.001). In analysis by flow cytometry of binding experiments performed in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from kidneys of CD-1 mice, anti-megalin antisera interfered with ANG-(1-7) binding more strongly than olmesartan (P < 0.05 against positive control). Interactions of megalin with ANG-(1-7) at a molecular level were studied by surface plasmon resonance, demonstrating that ANG-(1-7) binds megalin dose and time dependently and with an affinity similar to ANG II. These results show that the scavenger receptor megalin binds and internalizes ANG-(1-7).

Angiotensin I↗

PubMed2004

Megalin binds and internalizes angiotensin II.

Megalin is an abundant membrane protein heavily involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis. The major functions of megalin in vivo remain incompletely defined as megalin typically faces specialized milieus such as glomerular filtrate, airways, epididymal fluid, thyroid colloid, and yolk sac fluid, which lack many of its known ligands. In the course of studies on ANG II internalization, we were surprised when only part of the uptake of labeled ANG II into immortalized yolk sac cells (BN-16 cells) was blocked by specific peptide inhibitors and direct competitors of the angiotensin type 1 receptor. This led us to test if megalin was a receptor for ANG II. Four lines of direct evidence demonstrate that megalin and, to a lesser extent, its chaperone protein cubilin are receptors for ANG II. First, in BN-16 cells anti-megalin and anti-cubilin antisera interfere with ANG II uptake. Second, also in BN-16 cells, pure ANG II competes for uptake of a known megalin ligand. Third, in proximal tubule cell brush-border membrane vesicles extracted from mice, anti-megalin antisera interfere with ANG II binding. Fourth, purified megalin binds ANG II directly in surface plasmon resonance experiments. The finding that megalin is a receptor for ANG II suggests a major new function for the megalin pathway in vivo. These results also indicate that ANG II internalization in some tissues is megalin dependent and that megalin may play a role in regulating proximal tubule ANG II levels.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed2004

Megalin mediates renal uptake of heavy metal metallothionein complexes.

Although several heavy metal toxins are delivered to the kidney on the carrier protein metallothionein (MT), uncertainty as to how MT enters proximal tubular cells limits treatment strategies. Prompted by reports that MT-I interferes with renal uptake of the megalin ligand beta(2)-microglobulin in conscious rats, we tested the hypothesis that megalin binds MT and mediates its uptake. Three lines of evidence suggest that binding of MT to megalin is critical in renal proximal tubular uptake of MT-bound heavy metals. First, MT binds megalin, but not cubilin, in direct surface plasmon resonance studies. Binding of MT occurs at a single site with a K(d) approximately 10(-4) and, as with other megalin ligands, depends on divalent cations. Second, antisera and various known megalin ligands inhibit the uptake of fluorescently labeled MT in model cell systems. Anti-megalin antisera, but not control sera, displace >90% bound MT from rat renal brush-border membranes. Megalin ligands including beta(2)-microglobulin and also recombinant MT fragments compete for uptake by megalin-expressing rat yolk sac BN-16 cells. Third, megalin and fluorescently labeled MT colocalize in BN-16 cells, as shown by fluorescent microscopic techniques. Follow-up surface plasmon resonance and flow cytometry studies using overlapping MT peptides and recombinant MT fragments identify the hinge SCKKSCC region of MT as a critical site for megalin binding. These findings suggest that disruption of the SCKKSCC motif can inhibit proximal tubular MT uptake and thereby eliminate much of the renal accumulation and toxicity of heavy metals such as cadmium, gold, copper, and cisplatinum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗