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R W Mercer

Publications and source records attributed to R W Mercer.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of multiple Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase isoform genes in human hematopoietic cells. Behavior of the novel A3 isoform during induced maturation of HL60 cells.

Multiple isoenzymes of the Na+,K+-ATPase (alpha, alpha+, and alpha 3) have been identified by molecular cloning (Shull, G. E., J. Greeb, and J. B. Lingrel. 1986. Biochemistry. 25:8125-8132; and Schneider, J. W., R. W. Mercer, and E. J. Benz, Jr. 1987. Clin. Res. 35:585A. [Abstr.]). At least one of these, the alpha 3 chain, represents a novel form for which protein products and enzymatic activities are just beginning to be defined in rodents. We have recently demonstrated that expression of alpha 3 is largely confined to neuromuscular tissues of fetal and adult rats (Schneider, J. W., R. W. Mercer, M. Gilmore-Hebert, M. F. Utset, C. Lai, A. Greene, and E. J. Benz, Jr. 1988. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 85:284-288). We now report that certain human leukemia cell lines including HL60, HEL, and Molt 4 express mRNA for both alpha and alpha 3 isoforms of Na+,K+-ATPase; mRNA was not detected in several other cell lines, including K562 and U937; no cell lines expressed alpha+ mRNA. In uninduced HL60 cells, alpha 3 mRNA comprised 20-30% of total Na+,K+-ATPase mRNA. Furthermore, in HL60 and HEL cells, both alpha and alpha 3 mRNA declined after induction of maturation by DMSO, retinoic acid, or hemin. However, the reduction in alpha 3 mRNA was far more dramatic. alpha 3 mRNA virtually disappeared, but alpha mRNA declined by only approximately 50%. In contrast, when maturation of HL60 cells along the monocyte/macrophage lineage was induced by exposure to phorbol esters, alpha 3 mRNA remained abundant. Moreover, mRNA for the beta subunit of the Na+,K+-ATPase increased dramatically. Our results demonstrate that the alpha 3 isoform, formerly thought to be confined to neuromuscular tissues, is expressed in restricted lineages of hematopoietic origin. These leukemia cell lines should provide a useful model for analyzing regulation of the alpha 3 isoform gene and characterization of alpha 3 isoform activities.

Animals

Tissue specificity, localization in brain, and cell-free translation of mRNA encoding the A3 isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase.

The isolation of multiple Na+,K+-ATPase cDNAs from rat brain has led to the discovery of a family of alpha-isoform genes. Using A1 (alpha), A2 (alpha+), and A3 (alpha III) Na+,K+-ATPase gene probes, we have analyzed the distribution of Na+,K+-ATPase mRNAs in adult and fetal rat tissues by RNA blot and hybridization histochemistry. A1 Na+,K+-ATPase mRNA was found ubiquitously among various tissues, with highest levels in transport epithelial and neural tissues. A2 mRNA was found in adult neural and muscle tissues, and A3 mRNA was found only in neural tissues and fetal heart muscle. Both A1 and A2 mRNAs were less abundant in fetal brain than in adult brain; in contrast, A3 mRNA was abundant at both stages. In situ mapping of brain areas that contain A3 mRNA suggests that this Na+,K+-ATPase isoenzyme is expressed predominantly by neural cells. Analysis of Na+,K+-ATPase proteins generated by cell-free translation of synthetic mRNAs suggests that the A3 protein has properties similar to A2 (alpha+).

Animals

Molecular cloning and characterization of alpha-subunit isoforms of the Na,K-ATPase.

The identification of the different alpha-subunit isoforms of the Na,K-ATPase has added an unexpected complexity to the understanding of the function and regulation of this important transport protein. Our results indicate that the alpha, alpha(+) and alpha III isoform mRNAs have distinct, but partially overlapping, distributions in brain and peripheral tissues. Also, characterization of mRNA distribution in fetal tissues suggests that the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms are regulated during development and differentiation. The developmental regulation and strikingly different tissue specificities of the three alpha-subunit isoforms suggests that the different Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunits may be adapted to perform different roles in maintaining sodium and potassium homeostasis.

Animals

In vitro expression of the alpha and beta subunits of the Na,K-ATPase.

Our analysis of the cloned alpha 3 protein strongly suggests that this c-DNA represents a bona fide Na+,K+ ATPase isoform. Its similarity to alpha + may have made its detection in tissues by gel migration or immunoreactivity difficult. Expression of an enzymatically active alpha 3 beta Na+K+ATPase either in a completely in vitro system or in a heterologous tissue culture system will clearly establish the biochemical properties of this isoform. Development of alpha 3 specific immunochemical probes will allow a proper assessment of its in vivo expression.

Animals

Expression of genes for the alpha and beta subunits of the Na,K-ATPase in normal and drug resistant cells.

The studies described in this report show that the genes for sodium, potassium-ATPase exhibit more complexity than was originally expected on the basis of studies of the Na,K-ATPase proteins or their transport activities. First, there are at least three isoforms of the alpha subunit. Second, expression of the beta subunit, although apparently always leading to the same protein product, involves complex variability in the sizes and predominance of different mRNA classes. The biologic basis for this heterogeneity of mRNA transcripts is not known. Third, ouabain resistance in at least one cell line, the human Hela C+ cell line, involves amplification of two independent genetic units, the alpha and beta subunit genes, as well as high levels of expression of the mRNAs. These results serve as strong evidence for the importance of the beta subunit, although no discrete functions have yet been assignable to this protein. It is otherwise difficult to understand why the alpha and beta subunits are both amplified in these cells, and both decline upon withdrawal of the selective agent. On the basis of evidence gathered in our laboratory and that of other groups, we conclude that the genetic basis for sodium transport in eukaryotic tissues is far more complex than previously anticipated. There appears to be a need for specialization of sodium, potassium-ATPases in different tissues and for complex generation of multiple beta-subunit mRNA species. Our molecular genetic approach has also allowed us to demonstrate that there is probably an important role played by the beta-subunit in Na,K-ATPase function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Rat-brain Na,K-ATPase beta-chain gene: primary structure, tissue-specific expression, and amplification in ouabain-resistant HeLa C+ cells.

We deduced the complete amino acid sequence of the rat brain Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit from cDNA. The rat brain beta-subunit exhibits a high degree of primary sequence and secondary structural homology with the human and Torpedo beta-subunit polypeptides. Analysis of rat tissue RNA reveals that the beta-subunit gene encodes four separate mRNA species which are expressed in a tissue-specific fashion. In ouabain-resistant HeLa C+ cells, beta-subunit DNA sequences are amplified (approximately 20-fold) and beta-subunit mRNAs are overproduced relative to levels in parental HeLa cells. These results suggest that the beta-subunit plays an important role in Na,K-ATPase structure-function and in the mechanism underlying cellular resistance to the cardiac glycosides.

Amino Acid Sequence

Molecular cloning of rat brain Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit cDNA.

We have isolated a cDNA clone for the rat brain Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit. A lambda gt11 cDNA expression library constructed from mRNA of 1- and 2-week-old rat brains was screened with an antibody reactive with rat brain Na,K-ATPase. A positive phage clone, lambda rb5, containing a 1200-base-pair cDNA insert expressed a beta-galactosidase-cDNA fusion protein that was reactive by immunoblotting with the Na,K-ATPase antibody. This fusion protein was also reactive in ELISA with a monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha subunit of the Na,K-ATPase. A 27S mRNA species exhibiting sequence hybridization to the cDNA insert of lambda rb5 was identified in rat brain, kidney, and liver, as well as in dog kidney. This 27S mRNA exhibited a tissue-specific pattern of abundance consistent with the relative abundance of Na,K-ATPase polypeptides in vivo: kidney greater than brain greater than liver. In a ouabain-resistant HeLa cell line, C+, which contains minute chromosomes and at least a 10-fold greater number of sodium pumps than parental HeLa cells, DNA sequences complementary to lambda rb5 cDNA were amplified approximately 40-fold. Analysis of the lambda rb5 cDNA sequence demonstrated a perfect nucleotide sequence match between a portion of the cDNA and the amino acid sequence of the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit fluorescein isothiocyanate binding site. Taken together, the data presented here demonstrate that the lambda rb5 cDNA clone is a portion of the gene coding for the rat brain Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit. The ATPase gene appears to be present in one or very few copies in the rat and human genomes and to be transcriptionally regulated in different rat tissues. In a ouabain-resistant human cell line, on the other hand, ouabain resistance appears to involve an increase in the number of gene copies coding for the Na,K-ATPase.

Animals

Cast ejector.

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