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Absence of superoxide dismutase activity in a soluble cellular isoform of prion protein produced by baculovirus expression system.

A method for expression and purification of a soluble form of histidine (HIS)-tagged murine prion protein (bacMuPrP), which lacks the entire C-terminal cleavage and glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) addition site, has been developed using a recombinant baculovirus expression system and purification with Ni-NTA agarose affinity chromatography. In mammalian sources, PrP(C) is attached to the cell membrane by a GPI anchor. However, in our system, bacMuPrP was secreted into the media, enabling its easy purification in abundance. Indirect immunofluorescence studies and immunoblot analysis localized not in cell membrane but in the perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum region in cells and is secreted into the media. Tunicamycin treatment revealed non-glycosylated proteins were secreted into the media, suggesting that glycosylation is not necessary for bacMuPrP secretion. Density-gradient sedimentation analysis demonstrated a sedimentation coefficient of secretory bacMuPrP as 2.3 S, indicating a monomeric form. Although affinity-purified PrP from mouse brain or recombinant prion protein (PrP) produced by Escherichia coli and refolded in the presence of copper has been reported to display superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, bacMuPrP did not show SOD activity. These results suggest that bacMuPrP has a different biochemical and biophysical characterization from mammalian and bacterial-derived PrP. Furthermore, this simple expression system may provide an adequate source for structural, functional, and biochemical analyses of PrP.

Animals↗

The NC1/endostatin domain of Caenorhabditis elegans type XVIII collagen affects cell migration and axon guidance.

Type XVIII collagen is a homotrimeric basement membrane molecule of unknown function, whose COOH-terminal NC1 domain contains endostatin (ES), a potent antiangiogenic agent. The Caenorhabditis elegans collagen XVIII homologue, cle-1, encodes three developmentally regulated protein isoforms expressed predominantly in neurons. The CLE-1 protein is found in low amounts in all basement membranes but accumulates at high levels in the nervous system. Deletion of the cle-1 NC1 domain results in viable fertile animals that display multiple cell migration and axon guidance defects. Particular defects can be rescued by ectopic expression of the NC1 domain, which is shown to be capable of forming trimers. In contrast, expression of monomeric ES does not rescue but dominantly causes cell and axon migration defects that phenocopy the NC1 deletion, suggesting that ES inhibits the promigratory activity of the NC1 domain. These results indicate that the cle-1 NC1/ES domain regulates cell and axon migrations in C. elegans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

LOCATE: a mouse protein subcellular localization database.

We present here LOCATE, a curated, web-accessible database that houses data describing the membrane organization and subcellular localization of proteins from the FANTOM3 Isoform Protein Sequence set. Membrane organization is predicted by the high-throughput, computational pipeline MemO. The subcellular locations of selected proteins from this set were determined by a high-throughput, immunofluorescence-based assay and by manually reviewing >1700 peer-reviewed publications. LOCATE represents the first effort to catalogue the experimentally verified subcellular location and membrane organization of mammalian proteins using a high-throughput approach and provides localization data for approximately 40% of the mouse proteome. It is available at http://locate.imb.uq.edu.au.

Animals↗

Two isoforms of the Notch antagonist Hairless are produced by differential translation initiation.

The Notch-signaling pathway controls cellular differentiation, including proliferation and cell death in all higher metazoans (including flies and men). Signal transduction through activated Notch involves the CSL group of transcriptional regulators. Notch signals need to be tightly regulated, and in Drosophila they are antagonized by the Hairless (H) protein. H silences the activity of Notch target genes by transforming the Drosophila CSL protein, Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)], from a transcriptional activator into a repressor while recruiting one of the corepressors dCtBP or Groucho. The H protein has a calculated molecular mass of approximately 110 kDa and contains several functional domains apart from the two small corepressor-binding domains. However, although there is no indication for alternative splicing, two Hairless protein isoforms, H(p120) and H(p150), are observed throughout development. Here, we show that the smaller isoform derives from an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) within the ORF. The IRES is active in a heterologous assay and contains an essential, conserved structural element. The two Hairless isoforms have residual activity in vivo which is, however, reduced compared to a combination of both, which implies that both protein isoforms are necessary for WT function. In larval tissues, translation of the two isoforms is cell-cycle regulated: whereas the H(p150) isoform is translated during interphase, H(p120) is enriched during mitosis. Thus, the presence of either H isoform throughout the cell cycle allows efficient inhibition of Notch-regulated cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Premature termination mutations in exon 3 of the SMN1 gene are associated with exon skipping and a relatively mild SMA phenotype.

Autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common motor neuron disease caused by absence or mutation in the survival motor neuron (SMN1) gene. SNM1 and a nearly identical copy, SMN2, encode identical proteins, but SMN2 only produces a little full length protein due to alternative splicing. The level of functional SMN protein and the number of SMN2 genes correlate with the clinical phenotype ranging from severe to very mild. Here, we report on premature termination mutations in SMN1 exon 3 (425del5 and W102X) which induce skipping of the mutated exon. The novel nonsense mutation W102X was detected in two patients with a relatively mild phenotype who had only two copies of the SMN2 gene, a number that has previously been found associated with the severe form of SMA. We show that the shortened transcripts are translated into predicted in frame protein isoforms. Aminoglycoside treatment suppressed the nonsense mutation in cultured cells and abolished exon skipping. Fibroblasts from both patients show a high number of nuclear structures containing SMN protein (gems). These findings suggest that the protein isoform lacking the exon 3 encoded region contributes to the formation of the nuclear protein complex which may account for the milder clinical phenotype.

Adult↗

A new strategy for studying protein kinase B and its three isoforms. Role of protein kinase B in phosphorylating glycogen synthase kinase-3, tuberin, WNK1, and ATP citrate lyase.

Protein kinase B appears to play a key role in insulin signaling and in the control of apoptosis, although the precise targets of PKB are incompletely understood. PKB exists as three isoforms (alpha, beta, and gamma) that may have unique as well as common functions within the cell. To facilitate understanding the precise roles of PKB and its isoforms, novel tools of widespread applicability are described. These tools are antisense oligonucleotide probes that enable the specific and potent knock down of endogenous PKB alpha, beta, or gamma isoforms, individually or in various combinations, including concurrent removal of all three isoforms. The probes were applied to dissect the role of PKB in phosphorylating glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a critical mediator in multiple responses, and other potentially key targets. Triple antisense knock down of PKB alpha, beta, and gamma so that total PKB was <6% blocked insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of endogenous GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta isoforms by 67% and 45%, respectively, showing that GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta are controlled by endogenous PKB. Each PKB isoform contributed to GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta phosphorylation, with PKBbeta having the predominant role. Knock down of total PKB incompletely blocked insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta, and a pathway involving atypical PKCs, zeta/lambda, was shown to contribute to the signal. Triple antisense knock down of PKB alpha, beta, and gamma abrogated the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of WNK1, ATP citrate lyase, and tuberin. However, antisense-mediated knock down of PKB alpha, beta, and gamma had no effect on insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, indicating that pathways other than PKB mediate this response in these cells. Finally, our PKB antisense strategy provides a method of general usefulness for further dissecting the precise targets and roles of PKB and its isoforms.

3T3 Cells↗

A novel PTB-PDZ domain interaction mediates isoform-specific ubiquitylation of mammalian Numb.

LNX was originally cloned as a Numb PTB-binding molecule, and it was subsequently found to act as a RING finger-type E3 ubiquitin ligase for the ubiquitylation and degradation of mNumb. Numb is a PTB domain-containing protein that functions as an intrinsic determinant of cell fate in asymmetric cell division. In mammals, four protein isoforms arise from alternative mRNA splicing. Here we report that while all four protein isoforms bind to LNX, only p72 and p66 Numb isoforms are ubiquitylated and degraded. The p72 and p66 Numb proteins differ from the other two isoforms by the presence of an 11-amino acid sequence insert in the PTB domain (PTBi). We demonstrate that the isoform-specific ubiquitylation of mNumb is due to a novel interaction between the first PDZ domain (PDZ1) of LNX and the PTBi variant. Deletion of LNX PDZ1 domain resulted in loss of ubiquitylation and subsequent degradation of the PTBi form of Numb. Interestingly efficient PTBi ubiquitylation not only depends on association with the LNX PDZ1 domain but also requires binding to the canonical PTB-binding motif NPAY in LNX. Thus two distinct modes of PTBi-mediated interaction with LNX work in concert to allow the effective and specific degradation of the p72 and p66 isoforms of mNumb.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Troponin C isoform composition determines differences in Sr(2+)-activation characteristics between rat diaphragm fibers.

Single fibers of rat diaphragm containing different naturally occurring combinations of myofibrillar protein isoforms were used to evaluate the contribution of troponin C (TnC) isoforms to fiber type-related differences with respect to sensitivity to Sr(2+) of the contractile system. Mechanically skinned fibers were studied for their isometric force vs. Sr(2+) concentration ([Sr(2+)]) relationships and then analyzed electrophoretically for myofibrillar protein isoform composition. Our data demonstrate that fiber-type differences in Sr(2+) dependence of contractile activation processes are primarily determined by the TnC isoform composition, with the slow isoform conferring on average a sevenfold greater sensitivity to Sr(2+) than the fast isoform. Moreover, the ratio of TnC isoforms determined functionally from the force-pSr (-log(10) [Sr(2+)]) curves is tightly (r(2) = 0.97) positively correlated with that estimated electrophoretically. Together, these results validate the use of Sr(2+) activation characteristics to distinguish fibers containing different proportions of fast and slow TnC isoforms and to study the mechanisms by which divalent cations activate the contractile apparatus. We also found that the functionally and electrophoretically determined ratios of TnC isoforms present in a fiber display similar sigmoidal relationships with the ratio of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform types expressed. These relationships 1) offer further insight in the functional and molecular expression of TnC in relation to the molecular expression of MHC isoform types and 2) may provide the basis for predicting sensitivity to Sr(2+), TnC, and MHC isoforms in pure and hybrid skeletal muscle fibers.

Animals↗

Differential regulation of prostaglandin F(2alpha) receptor isoforms by protein kinase C.

Prostaglandin F(2alpha) receptors (FP) are G protein-coupled receptors that bind prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)), resulting in the activation of an inositol phosphate (IP) second messenger pathway. Alternative mRNA splicing generates two FP receptor isoforms. These isoforms, designated FP(A) and FP(B), are otherwise identical except for their carboxyl termini. FP(B) is essentially a truncated version of FP(A) that lacks the 46 carboxyl-terminal amino acids, including four putative protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation sites. Until now, functional differences between these FP receptor isoforms have not been identified. We now report that pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I enhanced PGF(2alpha)-stimulated IP accumulation in transfected cells stably expressing the FP(A) isoform but not in cells stably expressing the FP(B) isoform. Whole-cell phosphorylation experiments showed a strong agonist-dependent phosphorylation of the FP(A) isoform but little or no phosphorylation of the FP(B). Pretreatment of cells with bisindolylmaleimide I decreased PGF(2alpha)-stimulated phosphorylation of the FP(A) isoform consistent with a PKC-dependent phosphorylation. In vitro phosphorylation of an FP(A) carboxyl-terminal fusion protein by recombinant PKCalpha showed that the carboxyl terminus of the FP(A) is a substrate for PKC. These results suggest that PKC-dependent phosphorylation is responsible for differential regulation of second messenger signaling by FP prostanoid receptor isoforms.

Cell Line↗

Mapping of senescent cell antigen on brain anion exchanger protein (AE) isoforms using HPLC and fast atom bombardment ionization mass spectrometry (FAB-MS).

Molecular recognition of senescent cells involves oxidation of a crucial membrane protein leading to generation of a neoantigen, called 'senescent cell antigen' (SCA), and binding of physiologic autoantibodies. These IgG autoantibodies trigger macrophage removal of the cell prior to its lysis at a time when anion transport has decreased but the membrane is still grossly intact. The neoantigen SCA is generated by oxidation of a major anion transport protein called band 3 or anion exchange protein. In this study, we use IgG physiologic autoantibodies from senescent red cells to isolate SCA from brain, and HPLC and fast atom bombardment ionization mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) to compare brain SCA to band 3. HPLC peptide maps of band 3 and SCA showed substantial homology, suggesting that SCA is a subset of band 3, and includes an estimated >/=45% of the band 3 molecule. FAB-MS results indicate that residues matching all three band 3 isoforms (AE1, AE2 and AE3) are detected in SCA fractions. These findings suggest that other isoforms of band 3 may undergo the same aging changes that AE1 on red blood cells undergoes to generate SCA. This provides confirmation that SCA is on non-erythroid cell types. Implications of these studies to the generation of neoantigens by oxidation and their recognition by autoantibodies to them are discussed.

Animals↗

Expression analysis and characterization of alternatively spliced transcripts of human IL-7Ralpha chain encoding two truncated receptor proteins in relapsed childhood all.

In the family of cytokines and cytokine receptors, alternative splicing of pre-mRNA is a frequently observed process that generates different protein isoforms from a single genetic locus. The splicing-derived cytokine receptor protein isoforms are mostly soluble receptors or show alterations in their cytoplasmic domain. It is possible that receptor abnormalities or a pathological ratio of different isoforms may contribute to leukaemia by circumventing normal growth factor control or altering the balance of proliferation and differentiation. IL-7 plays a critical role in early stages of both B and T cell maturation. Moreover, it stimulates the expansion of mature T cells including anti-tumour reactive cells as well as a number of T and B cell malignancies underlining its potential importance for deregulated lymphoid proliferation and leukaemogenesis. Here, we present detailed data on the expression of the interleukin 7 receptor alpha chain (IL-7Ralpha) in leukaemic cells from 210 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and describe two novel alternatively spliced transcripts of human IL-7Ralpha coding for truncated receptor proteins which are still capable of binding IL-7. IL-7Ralpha mRNA expression was more frequent in more mature pre-B ALL [91% (30/33)] than in common [81% (81/100)] or pro-B ALL [64% (18/28)], or even in T ALL [64% (29/45)]. These results are in concordance with flow cytometric analyses on the proportion of IL-7Ralpha bearing cells among total blast cell population. Our results lead us to assume that splicing derived IL-7Ralpha isoforms play a potential role in modulating IL-7 signal transduction and might be important for the pathogenesis of leukaemia.

Alternative Splicing↗

Estrogen increases HIP-70/PLC-alpha messenger ribonucleic acid in the rat uterus and hypothalamus.

In the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) of female rats, estrogen induces a protein isoform, HIP-70, whose sequence is identical to a protein reported to be phosphoinositol-specific phospholipase-C-alpha (PLC-alpha). Since previous studies explored induction only at the protein level, we examined both the distribution of HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA in various tissues and the effects of estrogen on HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA. Using slot blot analysis, we found that HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA is most abundant in pituitary, uterus, and VMH of female rats compared with other brain regions and tissues. Since these are target tissues for estrogen action, we examined the effects of estrogen on the abundance of HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA in these areas. Levels of HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA increased greater than 3-fold in the uterus 18 h after estrogen treatment. HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA in the VMH also increased about 35% 3 h after estrogen treatment. In situ hybridization corroborated the induction in the ventrolateral ventromedial hypothalamus. No effect of estrogen was observed on pituitary PLC-alpha mRNA. These results indicate that estrogen does increase HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA levels in certain tissues. Since the induction of HIP-70/PLC-alpha mRNA in VMH is relatively modest compared to the much larger induction of the HIP-70 protein isoform, regulation of HIP-70/PLC-alpha may entail both pre- and posttranslational mechanisms. Because members of the PLC family catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositol, potentially activating several secondary mediators (intracellular Ca2+, protein kinase-C, and eicanosoids), this second messenger pathway may mediate some effects of estrogen.

Animals↗

Differential expression of antiapoptotic gene BAG-1 in human breast normal and cancer cell lines and tissues.

BAG-1 is an antiapoptotic protein that binds to and enhances the antiapoptotic activity of Bcl-2. It binds several growth factor and hormone receptors and modulates their function. BAG-1 was also shown recently to be expressed as four protein isoforms, p50, p46, p33, and p29, through alternative translation initiation. Although many apoptosis-associated genes have been linked to oncogenesis of human breast cancer, the role of BAG-1 has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the expression of BAG-1 RNA or protein isoforms and its interacting antiapoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and BcI-X(L), in breast normal and tumor cell lines and tissues by Northern or Western blot analysis. We provide convincing evidence that both BAG-1 RNA and protein are overexpressed in human breast cancer cell lines. More importantly, we found that the expression of two isoforms of BAG-1, p46 and p33, was also much higher in breast primary tumors. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) correlated with that of BAG-1 in breast normal and carcinoma cell lines but not tissues. Our study suggests that BAG-1 isoforms may serve as a molecular marker, independent of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L), for human breast cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Computational characterization of multiple Gag-like human proteins.

In a genome-wide analysis, we have identified 85 human genes encoding 103 protein isoforms that resemble retroviral Gag proteins. These genes were domesticated from retrotransposons in at least five independent events during vertebrate evolution and were subsequently duplicated further in mammals. Structural insights into the mammalian proteins can be inferred by homology to Gag from viruses such as HIV; in turn, the cellular roles of the mammalian Gag homologs, such as apoptosis-related functions and binding to ubiquitin ligases, might hint at further functionality of viral Gag itself.

Animals↗

Lacrimal gland functions are differentially controlled by protein kinase C isoforms.

Lacrimal gland protein secretion is primarily under the control of cholinergic muscarinic and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Cholinergic agonists are coupled to the activation of phospholipase C (PLC), which leads to the production of two second messenger molecules: inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 increases the cytoplasmic concentration of calcium ([Ca2+]i), and DAG activates protein kinase C (PKC), two events that are thought to trigger protein secretion. Lacrimal gland alpha 1-adrenergic receptors are not coupled to the PLC pathway, although their activation leads to a slight increase in [Ca2+]i(3). We have also shown that unlike the cholinergic receptors, alpha 1-adrenergic receptors are not linked to the activation of phospholipase D in lacrimal gland acini. Thus the transduction pathway(s) used by the alpha 1-adrenergic receptors to trigger lacrimal gland protein secretion remains to be identified. PKC was originally described as a Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activated by DAG produced by the receptor-mediated breakdown of phosphoinositides. Molecular cloning and biochemical techniques have shown that PKC is a family of closely related enzymes consisting of at least eleven different isoforms that has been divided into three categories: (1) conventional PKCs, including PKC alpha, beta I, -beta II and -gamma isoforms have a Ca2+ and DAG-dependent kinase activity; (2) novel PKCs, including PKC epsilon, -delta, -theta, -nu, and -mu isoforms, are Ca(2+)-independent and DAG-stimulated kinases; (3) atypical PKCs, including PKC zeta, and -iota/lambda isoforms, are Ca2+ and DAG-independent kinases. All PKC isoforms, except PKC mu, have a pseudosubstrate sequence in their N-terminal part that is thought to interact with the catalytic domain to keep the enzyme inactive in resting cells. In previous studies, we showed that lacrimal gland acini express three isoforms of PKC: PKC alpha -delta, and -epsilon. In the present study, we report the identification of two other PKC isoforms, namely PKC mu and -iota/lambda. We show that these isoforms are differentially located and that they translocate differentially in response to phorbol esters and cholinergic agonists. We also show that PKC isoforms differentially control lacrimal gland protein secretion and cholinergic-induced Ca2+ elevation. Part of these results has been recently published.

Animals↗

Protein kinase C isoforms in the chemopreventive effects of a novel vitamin D3 analogue in rat colonic tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We recently showed that dietary supplementation with an analogue of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3, 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-26,27 F6-vitamin D3 (RO24-5531), reduced the incidence of colonic tumors in rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM). The aim of this study was to determine whether alterations in specific isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) are involved in this phenomenon. METHODS: Protein abundance and subcellular distribution of several PKC isoforms were examined and compared in AOM-induced tumors of rats fed control and RO24-5531-supplemented diets. RESULTS: In both AOM-induced colonic adenomas and carcinomas, a significant down-regulation of PKC-alpha, -delta, and -zeta and an up-regulation of PKC-beta11 were found compared with control colonocytes. Dietary RO24-5531 preserved the expression of PKC-zeta and increased the abundance of PKC-epsilon in carcinogen-induced adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Because identical changes in specific isoforms of PKC were found in AOM-induced adenomas and carcinomas, these alterations may be involved in the early stage(s) of colonic malignant transformation. Moreover, the ability of RO24-5531 to block the changes in PKC-zeta induced by AOM, as well as to up-regulate PKC-epsilon, may underlie its ability to prevent adenomas from progressing to carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and other secretagogues on isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) in pancreatic acini.

We used rat pancreatic acini and measured the effects of various agents on digestive enzyme secretion, diacylglycerol (DAG) and the cellular distribution of protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme activity as well as isoforms of PKC determined by quantitative immunoblot analysis. TPA, but not CCK-8, caused translocation of PKC enzyme activity from the cytosol fraction to the membrane fraction. Immunoblot analysis detected PKC-alpha, PKC-delta, PKC-epsilon and PKC-zeta. PKC-beta, PKC-gamma and PKC-eta were not detected. TPA caused translocation of all isoforms from cytosol to membrane, whereas CCK-8 caused translocation of PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon, carbachol caused translocation of PKC-epsilon, and bombesin and secretin caused no detectable translocation of any isoform. Specific receptor antagonists could prevent, as well as reverse completely, the translocation of PKC isoforms caused by CCK-8 or carbachol. Agonists added in sequence with an interposed addition of a specific receptor antagonist caused cycling of PKC-epsilon between cytosol and membrane fractions. Each receptor-mediated agonist that caused translocation of PKC also increased DAG, and with CCK-8 and carbachol cycling of PKC-epsilon between cytosol and membrane was accompanied by corresponding cyclic changes in cellular DAG. CCK-JMV-180, bombesin and secretin increased DAG but did not cause translocation of any PKC isoform. Translocation of a PKC isoform could be accounted for by whether the increased DAG originated from PIP2 (accompanied by translocation) or from phosphatidylcholine (no accompanying translocation). Thus it appeared that DAG, in pancreatic acini, is functionally compartmentalized depending on the source of the lipid. Studies using CCK-8 and CCK-JMV-180 indicated that occupation of the low affinity state of the CCK receptor by either peptide increased DAG from phosphatidylcholine, whereas occupation of the very low affinity state by CCK-8 increased DAG from PIP2 and caused translocation of PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon. TPA stimulated amylase secretion, indicating that activation of PKC can stimulate enzyme secretion; however, with the various receptor-mediated secretagogues there was no consistent, unequivocal correlation between translocation of an isoform of PKC and accompanying changes in enzyme secretion.

Amylases↗