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Structural relationship and posttranslational modification of stage-specific proteins synthesized during early preimplantation development in the mouse.

The synthesis of stage-related proteins characteristic of meiotic maturation and early preimplantation development occurs in the absence of significant transcription. Previous work indicated that some of the stage-related proteins typical of the early postfertilization period are synthesized in unfertilized oocytes at the same time that they are detected in fertilized eggs. This observation has led to the suggestion that protein synthesis in newly fertilized eggs is regulated by an intrinsic developmental program initiated during the resumption of meiosis (meiotic maturation) and supported in part by previously untranslated mRNA. It also has been proposed that the rapid and complex changes in protein synthesis that characterize this period may involve differential gene expression or selective protein degradation, or both. To date, cell-free translation of oocyte RNA has not demonstrated the existence of a sizeable population of preformed mRNA that could support the observed changes in protein synthesis. I have tested the notion that the apparent changes in protein synthesis during early development in the mouse may be derived from families of proteins related both in amino acid sequence and posttranslational modification. The findings show that many changes in protein synthetic patterns related to early development after fertilization are independent of fertilization and involve the posttranslational modification of proteins with identical or very similar primary structures. The results are discussed with respect to current interpretations of quantitative and qualitative changes in protein synthesis during early mammalian development as they relate to differential gene expression and presumed activation of preformed mRNA.

Animals↗

Overexpression and purification of the soluble polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase from Alcaligenes eutrophus: evidence for a required posttranslational modification for catalytic activity.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase has been expressed in Escherichia coli by reengineering the 5'-end of the wild-type (wt) gene and subsequent transformation of this gene into protease-deficient E. coli UT5600 (ompT-). Induction with IPTG results in soluble PHA synthase, which is approximately 5% of the total protein. The soluble synthase has been purified to > 90% homogeneity using FPLC chromatography on hydroxylapatite and Q-Sepharose and has a specific activity of 5 mumol min-1 mg-1. The molecular weight of the PHA product is approximately 10(6) Da based on PlGel chromatography and calibration using polystyrene molecular weight markers. The synthase in the absence of substrate appears to exist in both monomeric and dimeric forms. Incubation of the synthase with an excess of substrate converts it into a form that is now extractable into CHCl3 and sediments on sucrose density ultracentrifugation with PHA. Studies in which the ratio of substrate, 3-D-hydroxybutyrylCoA, to synthase is varied suggest that during polymerization the elongation process occurs at a rate much faster than during the initiation process. A mechanistic model has been proposed for the polymerization process [Griebel, R., Smith, Z., & Merrick, J. (1968) Biochemistry 7, 3676-3681] in which two cysteines are required for catalysis. This model is based on the well-characterized enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. To test this model, several site-directed mutants of synthase, selected based on sequence conservation among synthases, have been prepared. The C459S mutant has activity approximately 90% that of the wt protein, while the C319S and C319A synthases possess < 0.01% the activity of the wt protein. CD and antibody studies suggest that the mutant proteins are properly folded. The detection of only a single essential cysteine by mutagenesis and the requirement for posttranslational modification by phosphopantetheine to provide a second thiol in many enzymes utilizing coenzyme A thiol ester substrates made us consider the possibility that posttranslational modification was required for synthase activity as well. This hypothesis was confirmed when the plasmid containing PHA synthase (pKAS4) was transformed into E. coli SJ16, requiring beta-alanine for growth. Growth of SJ16/pKAS4 on [3H]-beta-alanine followed by Coomassie staining of the protein and autoradiography revealed that PHA synthase is overexpressed and that beta-alanine is incorporated into the protein. These results suggest PHA synthase is posttranslationally modified by phosphopantetheine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acyltransferases↗

Signaling to p53: breaking the posttranslational modification code.

In unstressed cells, the tumor suppressor protein p53, a tetrameric transcription factor, is present in a latent state and is maintained at low levels through targeted degradation. A variety of cellular stresses including DNA damage, hypoxia, nucleotide depletion, viral infection, and cytokine-activated signaling pathways that transiently stabilize the p53 protein, cause it to accumulate in the nucleus, and activate it as a transcription factor. Activation leads either to growth arrest at the G1/S or G2/M transitions of the cell cycle or to apoptosis. The molecular mechanisms by which stabilization and activation occur are incompletely understood, but accumulating evidence points to roles for multiple posttranslational modifications in mediating these events through several potentially interacting but distinct pathways. Both the approximately 100 amino acid N-terminal and approximately 90 amino acid C-terminal domains are highly modified by phosphorylation and acetylation, whereas modifications to the central sequence-specific DNA binding domain have not been reported. Seven serines and one threonine in the first 46 residues of the transactivation domain and four to five serines in the carboxyl-terminal domain are now known to be phosphorylated, and Lys320 and Lys382 in the carboxyl-terminal domain (human p53) can be acetylated. Antibodies that recognize p53 only when it has been modified at specific sites have been developed by several laboratories, and studies with these have shown that most of the known posttranslational modifications are induced when cells are exposed to DNA-damaging agents. Exceptions are Ser378, which is reported to be constitutively phosphorylated, and Ser376, which is dephosphorylated in response to DNA damage. These recent results, coupled with biochemical and genetic studies, suggest that several amino-terminal phosphorylations can be important in stabilizing p53 in response to DNA damage and in directing acetylation at C-terminal sites. DNA damage-induced modifications to the C-terminus inhibit the ability of this domain to negatively regulate sequence-specific DNA binding either by inducing a conformational change in the protein or by inhibiting non-sequence-specific DNA binding by the C-terminus. C-terminal modifications also modulate the oligomerization state of p53, and may modulate nuclear import/export. Modifications in response to DNA damage to other components that interact with p53 may also be important. In most cases, clear roles for specific modifications, interactions among individual modifications, and the enzymes responsible for each modification remain to be defined. Nevertheless, the field appears poised for major advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate p53 function.

Acetylation↗

Posttranslational modification of prothyroid hormone.

Posttranslational processing of thyroglobulin may influence its role as the prothyroid hormone. We have examined the role of glycosylation in the subsequent export and iodination of thyroglobulin. We find that glycosylation is necessary both for the movement of thyroglobulin through the cell and for iodination. During posttranslational processing, thyroglobulin is also phosphorylated and carboxymethylated. The implications of these postsynthetic modifications are discussed.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Tissue-specific posttranslational modification of the small heat shock protein HSP27 in Drosophila.

Drosophila sHSPs (small heat shock proteins) are expressed in the absence of stress in specific regions of the central nervous system and in gonads of young adults flies. In these two organs, the sHSPs show a cell-specific and developmental stage-specific pattern of expression suggesting distinct regulation and function(s) of each individual sHSP (R. Marin et al., Dev. Genet. 14, 69-77, 1993). Since mammalian HSP27 has been reported to be phosphorylated through a complex novel cascade implicating distinct kinases, we examined whether two of the sHSPs (HSP27 and HSP23) exist in different isoforms as a result of posttranslational modification in vivo. HSP27 and HSP23 were analyzed in various tissues in unstressed and heat-shocked flies. Four isoforms of HSP27 were found to be constitutively expressed in the nervous system and in testes and two in ovaries. The proportion of these isoforms relative to each other was specific to a given tissue. In the case of HSP23, two isoforms were expressed in the heads and in testes of unstressed flies. In ovaries, a low level of a single isoform of HSP23 was found. Heat shock caused an increase in the amount of preexisting HSP27 and HSP23 and the appearance of additional isoforms in ovaries. Susceptibility to phosphatase treatment indicated that isoforms of HSP27 were phosphoproteins. This was further supported by in vitro experiments in which Drosophila sHSPs were incubated with purified Chinese hamster HSP27 kinase. Only HSP27 was shown to be a substrate of this mammalian HSP27 kinase. The present data suggest that tissue- and HSP-specific posttranslational modification systems may modulate the function of these proteins in different cell types. Furthermore, the signal transduction pathways leading to phosphorylation of the sHSPs are conserved between mammals and Drosophila, and the sHSP kinase cascade may be developmentally regulated.

Animals↗

Relationship between posttranslational modification of transaldolase and catalase deficiency in UV-sensitive repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts and SV40-transformed human cells.

Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) is a rare recessively inherited human disease associated with a hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. The ultraviolet component of sunlight can initiate and promote the formation of cutaneous tumors as seen in the skin cancer-prone XP patients. Previously, we have found that the low activity of the NADPH-dependent antioxydant enzyme, catalase, which we have observed in XP diploid fibroblasts and SV40-tranformed cells, could be restored by the addition of NADPH. Here we have analyzed transaldolase, which regulates NADPH levels produced by the pentose phosphate pathway in order to examine how it influences the catalase activity regulated in XP and SV40-transformed cells. We find that transaldolase activity is high in XP and SV40-transformed human fibroblasts, whereas transaldolase transcription is unchanged, suggesting that modification of transaldolase activity is due to a posttranslational modification of the protein. Two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis has allowed us to identify a complex set of transaldolase isoforms and to postulate that the phosphorylation of specific isoforms could be correlated with the different enzymatic activities seen. Our results show that high transaldolase activity corresponds to a low catalase activity in SV40-transformed cells and in fibroblasts from XP patients who have a high predisposition to develop skin cancer.

Acatalasia↗

Protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications in mammalian base excision repair.

Base excision repair (BER) averts the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of most endogenously produced DNA damage, including lesions that arise spontaneously due to the intrinsic instability of DNA or modifications that are formed from reactions with intracellular chemicals, such as reactive oxygen species and alkylating agents. Defects in the BER process have been associated with cancer susceptibility and neurodegenerative disorders. In its most simplistic form, BER can be fully reconstituted with a minimum of four human proteins and is completed in just five sequential steps: (i) excision of an inappropriate base by a DNA glycosylase (e.g., uracil DNA glycosylase); (ii) incision of the DNA backbone immediately adjacent to the resulting abasic site by apurinic/apyrimidimic endonuclease 1; (iii) removal of the 5'-abasic terminal fragment, and (iv) repair synthesis to fill the gap by DNA polymerase beta; and (v) ligation to seal the remaining nick by DNA ligase 1 or a complex of DNA ligase 3 and X-ray repair cross-complementing 1. However, BER can involve the participation of other proteins as well, such as alternative DNA polymerases or one of several nonessential "auxiliary" factors. In addition, BER operates most efficiently when specific protein-protein coordination occurs. Furthermore, several BER protein activities have been shown to be regulated by posttranslational modification, and some of the physical protein interactions link BER to other DNA transaction pathways. In this review, we summarize the current state of the emerging complexities of mammalian BER, focusing on the growing number of reported protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications.

Animals↗

Posttranslational modifications of the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system.

Two forms of enzymatic posttranslational modifications of the monooxygenase system are described: modification by phosphatase and modification by protein kinase. Phosphatase treatment of microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-pretreated rabbits and rats caused a marked decrease of monooxygenase activity which was paralleled by a comparable decrease of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity while the second essential component of the system, cytochrome P-450, remained unaltered. Thus phosphatase attacks monooxygenase via reductase. Protein kinases showed the opposite preference; while cytochrome P-450 was phosphorylated, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was not. Thus the kinase affects monooxygenase via cytochrome P-450. The phosphorylation of cytochrome P-450 turned out to be a specific reaction observed only with certain cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes and certain protein kinases.

Animals↗

Autoantigenic posttranslational modifications of proteins: does it apply to rheumatoid arthritis?

There are many posttranslational modifications of proteins of which all are homeostatically important either to carry out a particular structural or functional role or to allow efficient recycling of the amino acid constituents. An important feature of the modified proteins is the acquisition of autoantigenicity. That notion should have been recognized for years with the modifications of immunoglobulin G that constitute new targets for rheumatoid factors. Citrullination or the deimination of arginine residues in proteins creates epitopes that are targeted by rheumatoid autoantibodies with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 40% to 70% and 92% to 99%, respectively. The how, when, and why of the responsible break in tolerance are largely speculative but apoptosis, multiple genetic and environmental influences are likely required. Identifying citrullinated proteins as autoantigens has resulted in new diagnostic and prognostic autoantibody markers for RA and studying the citrullination process and its nature and role in cell biology has provided new insights into its pathogenesis.

Apoptosis↗

Prediction of lipid posttranslational modifications and localization signals from protein sequences: big-Pi, NMT and PTS1.

Many posttranslational modifications (N-myristoylation or glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) lipid anchoring) and localization signals (the peroxisomal targeting signal PTS1) are encoded in short, partly compositionally biased regions at the N- or C-terminus of the protein sequence. These sequence signals are not well defined in terms of amino acid type preferences but they have significant interpositional correlations. Although the number of verified protein examples is small, the quantification of several physical conditions necessary for productive protein binding with the enzyme complexes executing the respective transformations can lead to predictors that recognize the signals from the amino acid sequence of queries alone. Taxon-specific prediction functions are required due to the divergent evolution of the active complexes. The big-Pi tool for the prediction of the C-terminal signal for GPI lipid anchor attachment is available for metazoan, protozoan and plant sequences. The myristoyl transferase (NMT) predictor recognizes glycine N-myristoylation sites (at the N-terminus and for fragments after processing) of higher eukaryotes (including their viruses) and fungi. The PTS1 signal predictor finds proteins with a C-terminus appropriate for peroxisomal import (for metazoa and fungi). Guidelines for application of the three WWW-based predictors (http://mendel.imp.univie.ac.at/) and for the interpretation of their output are described.

Acyltransferases↗

Thematic review series: lipid posttranslational modifications. Fighting parasitic disease by blocking protein farnesylation.

Protein farnesylation is a form of posttranslational modification that occurs in most, if not all, eukaryotic cells. Inhibitors of protein farnesyltransferase (PFTIs) have been developed as anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. Using the knowledge gained from the development of PFTIs for the treatment of cancer, researchers are currently investigating the use of PFTIs for the treatment of eukaryotic pathogens. This "piggy-back" approach not only accelerates the development of a chemotherapeutic agent for protozoan pathogens but is also a means of mitigating the costs associated with de novo drug design. PFTIs have already been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of eukaryotic pathogens in animal models, including both Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, and Plasmodium falciparum, one of the causative agents of malaria. Here, current evidence and progress are summarized that support the targeting of protein farnesyltransferase for the treatment of parasitic diseases.

Animals↗

Determination of the sites of posttranslational modifications in the charge isomers of bovine myelin basic protein by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectroscopy.

The posttranslational modifications in each of the 18.5 kDa bovine myelin basic protein charge isomers C-1 to C-6 have been determined by the use of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectroscopy. The pattern of modifications is viewed as being unique to each charge isomer and is thought to reflect a specific placement and function for each isomer in the myelin membrane. Several of the sites of posttranslational phosphorylation were found to differ from a number of the reported sites that were phosphorylated in vitro by various kinases. These differences suggest that an extremely cautious approach be taken in identifying in vivo posttranslationally modified amino acid residues from residues that have been modified in vitro by various kinases. We have identified the following posttranslationally phosphorylated and deamidated, modified sites in the bovine MBP components C1-C6. C1 has no modification; C2 represents a deamidation of Gln 146; in C3, Thr 97 and Ser 164 are phosphorylated; in C4, Ser 54, Thr 97, and Ser 160 are phosphorylated; in C5 Ser 7, Ser 54, Thr 97, and Ser 164 are phosphorylated; and in C6, Ser 7, Ser 54, Thr 97, Ser 160, and Ser 164 are phosphorylated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The effect of posttranslational modifications on the interaction of Ras2 with adenylyl cyclase.

Ras proteins undergo a series of posttranslational modifications that are critical for their cellular function. These modifications are necessary to anchor Ras proteins to the membrane. Yeast Ras2 proteins were purified with various degrees of modification and examined for their ability to activate their effector, adenylyl cyclase. The farnesylated intermediate form of Ras2 had more than 100 times higher affinity for adenylyl cyclase than for the unprocessed form. The subsequent palmitoylation reaction had little effect. In contrast, palmitoylation was required for efficient membrane localization of the Ras2 protein. These results indicate the importance of farnesylation in the interaction of Ras2 with its effector.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

A relationship between nuclear poly(adenosine diphosphate ribosylation) and acetylation posttranslational modifications. 1. Nucleosome studies.

The chromatin-associated enzyme poly(ADP-Rib) polymerase catalyzes the posttranslational modifications of histones. Antibody to poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) [poly(ADP-Rib)] has been coupled to Sepharose, and the resulting immunoadsorbant was used to fractionate, specifically, oligonucleosomes derived from cells pulse labeled for the acetylation modifications of chromatin by incubation with [3H]acetate followed by treatment with sodium butyrate. Generally, about 50% of the histone H3 and H4 mass becomes acetylated under these conditions. Pulse-labeled acetylated regions of chromatin were selectively retained by the anti-poly(ADP-Rib)-Sepharose column due to the presence of endogenous poly(ADP-Rib) components. The data suggest that certain histone molecules might be mutally poly(ADP-ribosylated) and acetylated, and this phenomenon was further explored at the protein level in the accompanying paper [Wong, M., & Smulson, M. (1984) Biochemistry (following paper in this issue)].

Acetates↗

Posttranslational modifications of axonemal tubulin.

Axonemal tubulin exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity mostly due to several posttranslational modifications (PTM). The aim of this work was to chemically characterize the different PTM occurring in the C-terminal tail of axonemal tubulin purified from sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, spermatozoa. After its purification, tubulin was enzymatically cleaved. The C-terminal peptides were chromatographically isolated, first by anion exchange and then by reverse-phase HPLC. Peptides were characterized by their sequence, determined by Edman degradation, and by their mass, determined by MALDI-TOF/MS. The two major conclusions are that the majority of the isolated C-terminal peptides were unmodified and that polyglycylation and polyglutamylation can occur simultaneously on one molecule of alpha-tubulin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Systematic Identification of Microtubule Posttranslational Modification "Readers" by Quantitative Proteomics.

Microtubules, dynamic polymers assembled from &#x3b1;, &#x3b2;-tubulin dimers, contribute to myriad cellular processes. This is largely attributed to microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). How MAPs selectively bind microtubules to carry out various functions is not known. The "Tubulin Code" theory proposes that posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of microtubules serve as signs that can be read by specific MAPs, thereby conferring specific functional properties to the microtubules. In support of this hypothesis, "reader" MAPs have been identified for various tubulin PTMs, but, until recently, no systematic screening had been performed to identify readers in an unbiased manner. We addressed this by developing a reader identification pipeline that uses quantitative mass spectrometry to interrogate the microtubule proteome of cells programmed to express specific PTMs. This pipeline can be used to identify readers for any tubulin PTM from various cell types as long as the writer enzymes are known. We also provide an alternative, complementary approach to obtain modified microtubules using a generic writer enzyme in vitro.

Protein Processing, Post-Translational↗

Regulation of cytochrome P450 by posttranslational modification.

Cytochrome P450s are a family of enzymes represented in all kingdoms with expression in many species. Over 3,000 enzymes have been identified in nature. Humans express 57 putatively functional enzymes with a variety of critical physiological roles. They are involved in the metabolic oxidation, peroxidation, and reduction of many endogenous and exogenous compounds including xenobiotics, steroids, bile acids, fatty acids, eicosanoids, environmental pollutants, and carcinogens [Nelson, D. R., Kamataki, T., Waxman, D. J., Guengerich, F. P., Estabrook, R. W., Feyereisen, R., Gonzalez, F. J., Coon, M. J., Gunsalus, I. C., Gotoh, O. (1993) The P450 superfamily: update on new sequences, gene mapping, accession numbers, early trivial names of enzymes, and nomenclature. DNA Cell Biol. 12(1):1-51.] The development of numerous diseases and disorders including cancer and cardiovascular and endocrine dysfunction has been linked to P450s. Several levels of regulation, including transcription, translation, and posttranslational modification, participate in maintaining the proper function of P450s. Modifications including phosphorylation, glycosylation, nitration, and ubiquitination have been described for P450s. Their physiological significance includes modulation of enzyme activity, targeting to specific cellular compartments, and tagging for proteasomal degradation. Knowledge of P450 posttranslational regulation is derived from studies with relatively few enzymes. In many cases, there is only enough evidence to suggest the occurrence and a possible role for the modification. Thus, many P450 enzymes have not been fully characterized. With the introduction of current proteomics tools, we are primed to answer many important questions regarding regulation of P450 in response to a posttranslational modification. This review considers regulation of P450 in a context that describes the potential role and physiological significance of each modification.

Animals↗

Non-enzymatic posttranslational modifications of bovine serum albumin by oxo-compounds investigated by chromatographic and electrophoretic methods.

Non-enzymatic posttranslational modifications of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by oxo-compounds, particularly glucose, ribose, glyoxal and glutardialdehyde, have been investigated using a set of modern chromatographic and electrophoretic separation methods. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) alternatively with UV spectrophotometric (diode array) or mass spectrometric (MS) detection, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with Coomassie brilliant blue staining detection, and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with UV spectrophotometric detection have been employed for the investigation of the chemical and structural changes of BSA caused by its reaction with the above oxo-compounds exhibiting different degree of reactivity. The extent of modifications was found to be dependent on the nature of the oxo-compound used and progressed in the glucose<ribose<glyoxal<glutaraldehyde order. With the aid of HPLC/UV/MS and CZE/UV tryptic peptide mapping and amino acid analysis of both unmodified and modified BSA it was revealed that the mildest modification resulted from the reaction of BSA with glucose, in this case presumably only monofunctional derivatives have arisen, whereas the most intensive modifications were found after BSA reaction with glutardialdehyde, which resulted in high degree of both inter- and intra-molecular cross-linking, due to which no unmodified peptides were detected after tryptic cleavage of BSA modified by this agent.

Aldehydes↗