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Biomedical subjects

C M Fraser

Publications and source records attributed to C M Fraser.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Monoclonal antibodies detect the conservation of muscarinic cholinergic receptor structure from Drosophila to human brain and detect possible structural homology with alpha 1-adrenergic receptors.

Muscarinic cholinergic receptors isolated from Drosophila heads, rat and human brain, dog heart, and monkey ciliary muscle were examined for structural similarities/differences by utilizing isoelectric focusing, sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and monoclonal antibody crossreactivity. Muscarinic receptors were affinity labeled with [3H]propylbenzilylcholine mustard and subjected to isoelectric focusing. Muscarinic receptors from each species focused with an isoelectric point of 5.9. The same proteins all migrated with an apparent molecular mass of 80,000 daltons on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. Six hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for muscarinic receptors were developed by using purified rat brain muscarinic receptors as the antigen. The six different monoclonal antibodies immunoprecipitated muscarinic receptors from all tissues and species tested, including human and Drosophila brains, with equal efficacy. These data indicate that muscarinic receptors are highly conserved over a considerable evolutionary period. One of the six muscarinic receptor monoclonal antibodies also immunoprecipitated rat liver alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Furthermore, two out of five monoclonal antibodies raised against alpha 1-receptors immunoprecipitated muscarinic receptors. These data suggest that some degree of structural homology exists between muscarinic cholinergic receptors and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies to surface antigens of rabbit type II pneumocytes.

Techniques for the production of monoclonal antibodies to cell surface antigens of type II pneumocytes are reported. Using these techniques, over 200 hybridomas were produced from spleen cell fusions of 8 mice. Of these, 25 expressed activity toward the type II pneumocyte cell surface. Many antibodies cross-reacted with a variety of cells and membranes from other organs and species, suggesting that these antibodies were ubiquitous to membrane antigens. Most of the antibodies cross-reacted strongly with dog lung membranes, suggesting the existence of common mammalian lung determinants. Five hybridomas produced supernatant antibody with considerable specificity for type II pneumocytes. Ascites fluid antibody was produced to these 5 hybridomas. Immunofluorescent staining of type II pneumocyte cell surfaces could be demonstrated with all 5 of these antibodies. This initial study demonstrates the feasibility of producing monoclonal antibodies to cell surface antigens of the type II pneumocyte.

Animals↗

Alpha 1-adrenergic receptor structure.

The structure of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor was investigated by comparing polypeptides identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with the size of the intact receptor in cell membranes as determined by target size analysis. The alpha 1-adrenergic receptor from rat liver membranes affinity-labeled with [3H]phenoxybenzamine, a covalent affinity reagent, appeared as a single polypeptide with a molecular mass of 85,000 daltons (Da) on NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gels. In the absence of protease inhibitors, smaller peptides of 58-62 kDa and 40-45 kDa, specifically labeled with [3H]phenoxybenzamine, were also apparent on NaDodSO4 gels. In order to determine whether the 85-kDa protein represented all or only a portion of the alpha 1-receptor, radiation inactivation (target size analysis) was undertaken. Radiation-induced receptor inactivation was measured by the loss of specific [3H]phenoxybenzamine and [3H]prazosin binding and by the loss of affinity-labeled alpha 1-adrenergic receptors on NaDodSO4 gels. Target size analysis of rat liver alpha 1-receptors indicated that the intact membrane-bound receptor has an average molecular mass of 160,000 Da. These data suggest that the intact alpha-receptor may exist in the membrane as a dimer of two 85,000-Da subunits. The structure of the alpha 1-receptor was further studied by limited proteolysis of the 85-kDa protein isolated from NaDodSO4 gels. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, and papain produce smaller peptides similar to those produced during membrane isolation in the absence of protease inhibition. Limited proteolysis of the membrane-bound receptor produces water-soluble peptides, the largest of which is 45,000 Da. This peptide contains the ligand-binding domain and protrudes from the membrane into the extracellular space.

Animals↗

Molecular properties of the slow inward calcium channel. Molecular weight determinations by radiation inactivation and covalent affinity labeling.

The slow inward calcium channel, identified by physiologic and pharmacologic responses and [3H]nitrendipine-specific binding, has been characterized by radiation inactivation and covalent affinity labeling. Target size analysis of guinea pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle membranes indicates a molecular weight of 278,000 for the calcium channel. An affinity label analog of nifedipine and nitrendipine, 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dicarbomethoxy-4-(2-isothiocyanatophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine, was found to inhibit the calcium channel by a covalent interaction with a protein subunit (Mr = 45,000) of the calcium channel.

Affinity Labels↗

Autoantibodies and monoclonal antibodies in the purification and molecular characterization of neurotransmitter receptors.

The combination of immunological advances with membrane receptor research has promoted rapid progress in the molecular characterization of neurotransmitter receptor molecules. We have to date produced monoclonal antibodies to beta 1-, beta 2-, and alpha 1-adrenergic, D2-dopaminergic, and muscarinic receptors. In addition we have discovered that some allergic respiratory disease patients possess circulating autoantibodies to beta 2-adrenergic receptors. These antireceptor antibodies in conjunction with specific receptor affinity reagents have allowed us to isolate, purify, and begin to characterize alpha- and beta-adrenergic, dopaminergic, and muscarinic receptors. For example, immunoprecipitation of turkey erythrocyte beta 1 receptors with monoclonal antibodies yields a single polypeptide Mr 65--70 K. In contrast, purification of beta 2-adrenergic receptors using either autoantibodies or monoclonal antibodies yields a receptor species with a subunit of Mr 55--59 K. Autoantibodies to beta 2 receptors demonstrate a 50--100% homology among beta 2 receptors from humans to rats, whereas monoclonal antibody FV-104 recognizes a determinant in the ligand binding site of all beta 1 and beta 2 receptors tested to date. These data suggest that beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors may have evolved from a common ancestor, perhaps by gene duplication.

Animals↗

Molecular size of the canine and human brain D2 dopamine receptor as determined by radiation inactivation.

Target-size analysis (radiation inactivation) has been utilized for determination of the molecular size of the striatal D2 dopamine receptor of both canine and human membranes. The dog and human receptors were found to have a molecular size of 123,000 daltons. The identity of molecular size values is consistent with available pharmacological and biochemical evidence supporting D2 dopamine receptor identity in canine and human tissues. These data suggest that the canine receptor may be a valid model for molecular and structural investigation of the human D2 dopamine receptor.

Animals↗

beta-Adrenergic receptor isolation and characterization with immobilized drugs and monoclonal antibodies.

Immobilized catecholamines have played an important role in the localization of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors to the plasma membrane of effector cells, and in elucidating mechanisms of beta receptor activation of cardiac muscle. An extension of immobilized drug and affinity chromatography procedures has been developed by utilizing receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies. Structurally different beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors have been purified with a single monoclonal antibody affinity column, where the antibody is specific for an epitope in the ligand-binding site of both beta 1 and beta 2 receptors. Specificity was increased by elution of receptors from the monoclonal antibody affinity columns with low concentrations of beta-receptor antagonists. These studies indicate that the turkey erythrocyte beta 1-adrenergic receptor is most likely a monomer with a molecular weight of 65,000-70,000. beta 2-Adrenergic receptors have a primary subunit of 55,000-58,000 daltons, with the intact receptor in membranes having a molecular weight of 109,000, which suggests that the beta 2-adrenergic receptor is most likely a dimer of either two identical subunits or a binding subunit and an unidentified second subunit.

Animals↗

Purification and molecular characterization of neurotransmitter receptors.

These data indicate a number of similarities between the neurotransmitter receptors of different pharmacological classes. We are pursuing the hypothesis that the neurotransmitter receptors may have evolved from one another and contain constant regions (eg, adenylate cyclase and calcium channel interaction sites) and variable regions (eg, neurotransmitter- or hormone-binding sites). It is clear that monoclonal antibodies are keys to this end.

Animals↗

Atopy, autonomic function and beta-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies.

Atopic individuals (with asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic eczema) have impaired sensitivity to beta-adrenergic agents. After the finding of antibodies to the beta-adrenergic receptor in the serum of a subject with allergic rhinitis, coded sera from atopic and control subjects were assayed for immunoglobulins that inhibited the specific binding of 125I-labelled hydroxybenzylpindolol to beta-receptors in mammalian lung membranes. Antibodies were present in nine of 60 subjects: 3/19 normal control subjects, 1/9 pre-allergic, 4/17 asthma, 0/8 allergic rhinitis, and 1/7 cystic fibrosis patients. Antibodies of the IgG class in these sera were also demonstrated by indirect precipitation of solubilized lung beta-receptors. The autonomic sensitivity of the nine antibody-positive subjects (Ab+) was compared with that of antibody-negative subjects (Ab-). The Ab+ subjects required 15.0 +/- 1.9 ng isoprenaline (isoproterenol) kg-1 min-1 i.v. to increase pulse pressure by at least 22 mmHg (Ab-, 7.7 +/- 0.4; n = 20; P less than 0.001), and 12.4 +/- 1.8 ng isoprenaline kg-1 min-1 i.v. to increase plasma cyclic AMP concentrations by 50% (Ab-, 8.08 +/- 0.62; n = 13; P less than 0.02). Ab+ subjects required 2.06 +/- 0.3% phenylephrine to dilate their pupils (Ab-, 2.55 +/- 0.08; n = 57; P less than 0.05) and 0.61 +/- 0.08% carbachol to constrict their pupils (Ab-, 0.78 +/- 0.03%; n = 57; P less than 0.05). A role for autoantibodies as beta-receptor antagonists was further supported by showing that human lung cells (VA-13 line) cultured in the presence of globulins from Ab+ subjects had a markedly impaired cyclic AMP response to isoprenaline. These results suggest that autoantibodies to beta-receptors play a pathogenetic role in asthma and related disorders. They have important implications for the concept of autoimmunity.

Autoantibodies↗

Autonomic abnormalities and autoantibodies to beta-adrenergic receptors.

We identified autoantibodies to beta 2-adrenergic receptors in the plasma of three apparently normal subjects, four patients with allergic asthma, one subject who was "preallergic" (at risk of allergy), and one patient with cystic fibrosis. Although these antibodies appeared to be heterogeneous, they shared the ability to affect binding of [125]protein A to calf-lung membranes, to inhibit beta-adrenergic ligand binding to calf-lung bet-adrenergic receptors, and to precipitate solubilized calf-lung beta-adrenergic receptors in an indirect immunoprecipitation assay. The presence of autoantibodies to beta-adrenergic receptors in these subjects correlates with abnormal autonomic responsiveness characterized by alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic hypersensitivity and beta-adrenergic hyposensitivity. These findings suggest that autoantibodies to beta-adrenergic receptors may play a part in the development of ment of autonomic abnormalities.

Adult↗