Biomedical subjects

E Appella

Publications and source records attributed to E Appella.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

HLA-A2.1-associated peptides from a mutant cell line: a second pathway of antigen presentation.

Peptides extracted from HLA-A2.1 class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules expressed on the antigen processing mutant CEMx721.174.T2 were characterized by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Only seven dominant peptides were found, in contrast to over 200 associated with HLA-A2.1 on normal cells. These peptides were derived from the signal peptide domains of normal cellular proteins, were usually larger than nine residues, and were also associated with HLA-A2.1 in normal cells. These results suggest that proteolysis of signal peptide domains in the endoplasmic reticulum is a second mechanism for processing and presentation of peptides for association with class I molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

H-2RIIBP (RXR beta) heterodimerization provides a mechanism for combinatorial diversity in the regulation of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone responsive genes.

H-2RIIBP (RXR beta) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that activates transcription of MHC class I genes in response to retinoic acid (RA). Using chemical cross-linking, co-immunoprecipitation, gel mobility shift and streptavidin-biotin DNA precipitation assays, we show that H-2RIIBP formed heterodimers with thyroid hormone (T3) and RA receptors (T3R alpha and RAR alpha). H-2RIIBP heterodimer formation required a conserved sub-domain of its C-terminal region, occurred independently of target DNA and was much more efficient than either T3R alpha/RAR alpha heterodimer or H-2RIIBP homodimer formation. Heterodimers displayed enhanced binding to target DNA elements and contacted DNA in a manner distinct from that of homodimers. A functional role for heterodimers in vivo was demonstrated by synergistic enhancement of MHC class I transcription following co-transfection of H-2RIIBP with T3R alpha or RAR alpha. We provide biochemical evidence that H-2RIIBP formed heterodimers with several naturally occurring nuclear proteins. The results suggest that H-2RIIBP, by virtue of its ability to heterodimerize, enhances combinatorial diversity and versatility in gene regulation mediated by nuclear hormone receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Cloning of a negative transcription factor that binds to the upstream conserved region of Moloney murine leukemia virus.

The long terminal repeat of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MuLV) contains the upstream conserved region (UCR). The UCR core sequence, CGCCATTTT, binds a ubiquitous nuclear factor and mediates negative regulation of MuLV promoter activity. We have isolated murine cDNA clones encoding a protein, referred to as UCRBP, that binds specifically to the UCR core sequence. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrate that the UCRBP fusion protein expressed in bacteria binds the UCR core with specificity identical to that of the UCR-binding factor in the nucleus of murine and human cells. Analysis of full-length UCRBP cDNA reveals that it has a putative zinc finger domain composed of four C2H2 zinc fingers of the GLI subgroup and an N-terminal region containing alternating charges, including a stretch of 12 histidine residues. The 2.4-kb UCRBP message is expressed in all cell lines examined (teratocarcinoma, B- and T-cell, macrophage, fibroblast, and myocyte), consistent with the ubiquitous expression of the UCR-binding factor. Transient transfection of an expressible UCRBP cDNA into fibroblasts results in down-regulation of MuLV promoter activity, in agreement with previous functional analysis of the UCR. Recently three groups have independently isolated human and mouse UCRBP. These studies show that UCRBP binds to various target motifs that are distinct from the UCR motif: the adeno-associated virus P5 promoter and elements in the immunoglobulin light- and heavy-chain genes, as well as elements in ribosomal protein genes. These results indicate that UCRBP has unusually diverse DNA-binding specificity and as such is likely to regulate expression of many different genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Human DNA-activated protein kinase phosphorylates serines 15 and 37 in the amino-terminal transactivation domain of human p53.

Human DNA-PK is a nuclear, serine/threonine protein kinase that, when activated by DNA, phosphorylates several DNA-binding substrates, including the tumor suppressor protein p53. To identify which p53 residues are phosphorylated, we examined DNA-PK's ability to phosphorylate synthetic peptides corresponding to human p53 sequences. Serines 15 and 37 in the amino-terminal transactivation domain of human p53, and serines 7 and 18 of mouse p53, were phosphorylated by DNA-PK in the context of synthetic peptides. Other serines in these p53 peptides, and serines in other p53 peptides, including peptides containing the serine 315 p34cdc2 site and the serine 392 casein kinase II site, were not recognized by DNA-PK or were phosphorylated less efficiently. Phosphorylation of the conserved serine 15 in human p53 peptides depended on the presence of an adjacent glutamine, and phosphorylation was inhibited by the presence of a nearby lysine. Phosphorylation of recombinant wild-type mouse p53 was inhibited at high DNA concentrations, suggesting that DNA-PK may phosphorylate p53 only when both are bound to DNA at nearby sites. Our study suggests that DNA-PK may have a role in regulating cell growth and indicates how phosphorylation of serine 15 in DNA-bound p53 could alter p53 function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

H-2RIIBP expressed from a baculovirus vector binds to multiple hormone response elements.

H-2RIIBP is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that binds to the region II enhancer of major histocompatibility complex class I genes. Based on its homology with Drosophila XR2C/CF1, H-2RIIBP may play a role in development. By using a baculovirus expression system, a large amount of recombinant H-2RIIBP was produced. The recombinant protein accumulated in the nucleus of insect cells. A series of monoclonal antibodies reacting with the recombinant H-2RIIBP was then generated. A DNA-protein immunoprecipitation assay was developed with these antibodies, enabling the DNA-binding specificity of H-2RIIBP to be distinguished from that of an endogenous region II binding factor expressed in uninfected insect cells. We show that H-2RIIBP binds to estrogen response elements with an affinity comparable to that for the region II enhancer. H-2RIIBP also bound to some, but not all, thyroid hormone response elements and retinoic acid response elements, albeit at a lower affinity. Binding to these elements was demonstrated without exogenous addition of a ligand. The H-2RIIBP binding specificity determined by this assay was in agreement with the specificity assessed by Southwestern and gel mobility shift assays. Furthermore, methylation interference assays indicated that H-2RIIBP recognizes the conserved hormone response motif GG(T/A)CA. Taken together, these data demonstrate that H-2RIIBP is capable of binding to hormone response elements of a variety of genes. They suggest that H-2RIIBP may exert a pleiotropic function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

p53 mutations in Raji cells: characterization and localization relative to other Burkitt's lymphomas.

The nuclear phosphoprotein p53 is an important regulator of cell proliferation in normal cells. Interestingly, the gene encoding p53 has usually undergone mutations in a wide range of tumor types. Recent studies of the p53 gene in Burkitt's lymphomas have demonstrated that mutations are extremely common, and in fact it is rare that both alleles of the p53 gene in these tumors are not inactivated by mutation or deletion. We present here genetic data regarding the status of the p53 gene in the Burkitt lymphoma cell line, Raji. As is typical for this type of tumor, both alleles have undergone point mutations. Further, statistical analysis of available data from a large number of Burkitt's lymphomas indicates an apparent tumor-specific distribution of p53 mutations. The possibility that specific mutations of the p53 gene may be important for different tumor types is discussed.

Alleles↗

PubMed1992

Human wild-type p53 adopts a unique conformational and phosphorylation state in vivo during growth arrest of glioblastoma cells.

The wild-type (wt) human tumor-suppressor gene product, p53, and its mutant form have been analysed in an in vivo system in which the inducible expression of wt p53 results in growth arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Two major pools of p53 are detected after wt p53 expression by their differential reactivity with the p53 monoclonal antibodies PAb 421 and 1801 as well as the mutant and wt-specific monoclonal antibodies PAb 240 and 1620; one pool contains wt and mutant p53 and is characterized as having a mutant conformation, whereas the other pool contains only wt p53 with a wt conformation. As G1 arrest is entered, the amount of wt p53 associated with the mutant pool decreases, such that by 12 h free wt and mutant p53 are the major pools. Two-dimensional gel analysis of the p53 pools revealed that free wt p53 is phosphorylated to a greater degree than mutant p53, which correlated with the loss of the PAb 421 epitope on wt p53. In summary, the ability of wt p53 to exert an antiproliferative effect correlates with the presence of a unique conformational state of wt p53 characterized by increased phosphorylation and the loss of both the PAb 421 epitope and association with mutant p53 pool, whereas mutant p53 is unable to assume this conformational state.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Structural characterization of a 39-residue synthetic peptide containing the two zinc binding domains from the HIV-1 p7 nucleocapsid protein by CD and NMR spectroscopy.

A 39-residue peptide (p7-DF) containing the two zinc binding domains of the p7 nucleocapsid protein was prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The solution structure of the peptide was characterized using circular dichroic and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in both the presence and absence of zinc ions. Circular dichroic spectroscopy indicates that the peptide exhibits a random coil conformation in the absence of zinc but appears to form an ordered structure in the presence of zinc. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicates that the two zinc binding domains within the peptide form stable, but independent, units upon the addition of 2 equivalents of ZnCl2 per equivalent of peptide. Structure calculations on the basis of nuclear Overhauser (NOE) data indicate that the two zinc binding domains have the same polypeptide fold within the errors of the coordinates (approximately 0.5 A for the backbone atoms, the zinc atoms and the coordinating cysteine and histidine ligands). The linker region (Arg17-Gly23) is characterized by a very limited number of sequential NOEs and the absence of any non-sequential NOEs suggest that this region of polypeptide chain is highly flexible. The latter coupled with the occurrence of a large number of basic residues (four out of seven) in the linker region suggests that it may serve to allow adaptable positioning of the nucleic acid recognition sequences within the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Self peptide requirement for class II major histocompatibility complex allorecognition.

Using a dinitrophenylated and biotinylated peptide antigen, we have developed an affinity chromatography procedure to purify complexes of a given peptide species and a given class II major histocompatibility complex antigen away from class II molecules occupied by other peptides. We show that hen egg lysozyme peptide-I-Ed complexes purified according to this procedure have a greatly enhanced capacity to activate hen egg lysozyme-specific T cells but have lost the capacity to activate three different alloreactive T-cell hybridomas. These data demonstrate that the class II molecule in and of itself is not sufficient to activate alloreactive T cells. Rather, the data suggest that recognition of specific complexes formed between allo-class II and particular autologous peptides may be required. Alternatively, alloreactive T cells may be recognizing "empty" major histocompatibility complex molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

p53 mutations, ras mutations, and p53-heat shock 70 protein complexes in human lung carcinoma cell lines.

The p53 tumor suppressor gene is frequently mutated and the K-ras oncogene is occasionally mutated in primary specimens of human lung carcinomas. These mutated genes also cooperate in the immortalization and neoplastic transformation of rodent cells. To determine whether these mutations are necessary for maintenance of the immortalized and/or neoplastically transformed states of human bronchial epithelial cells, the p53 gene and regions of the ras (K-, H-, and N-) genes were sequenced in nine human lung carcinoma cell lines. Detection of p53 mutations by polymerase chain amplification and direct DNA sequencing was corroborated by p53 immunocytochemistry and coimmunoprecipitation of p53 with heat shock protein 70. p53 and ras genes were frequently, but not always, mutated in the carcinoma cell lines. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that multiple genetic changes involving both protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes occur during lung carcinogenesis.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Comparison of structural requirements for interaction of the same peptide with I-Ek and I-Ed molecules in the activation of MHC class II-restricted T cells.

We have analyzed the interaction of the hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) peptide 107-116 with the MHC class II molecule I-Ek, using truncated and single residue substitution analogues to measure activation of I-Ek-restricted, 107-116-specific T cell hybridomas and competition for Ag presentation by I-Ek molecules. These results have been compared with previous findings on the interaction of the same peptide with the I-Ed molecule. Stimulation of T cell hybridomas by truncated peptides defines the sequence 108-116 as the minimum epitope necessary for activation of both I-Ek- and I-Ed-restricted T cell hybridomas. Substitution analysis pinpoints three residues (V109, A110, and K116) in the sequence 108-116 as being critical for binding to I-Ek molecules and demonstrates the involvement of most other residues in recognition by T cells. Results previously obtained for binding of HEL 107-116 to I-Ed molecules indicated that peptide residues R112, R114, and K116 were critical for interaction with I-Ed. Comparison of these results indicates a difference in the likely MHC contact residues between the HEL sequence 108-116 and I-Ed or I-Ek molecules, suggesting that the same HEL peptide assumes a different conformation in the binding site of these two MHC molecules. This in turn affects residues interacting with the specific T cell receptor. According to the hypothetical tridimensional structure predicted for class II molecules, the difference in MHC contact residues observed within the sequence 108-116 can be related to polymorphic amino acids in the binding site of I-Ek and I-Ed molecules. A search through published binding data for a common pattern in this and other I-Ek-binding peptides has permitted us to derive a possible motif for predicting peptide binding to I-Ek molecules. This putative motif was tested by determining binding to I-Ek of an unbiased panel of about 150 synthetic peptides. Binding data indeed demonstrate the presence of this motif in the majority of good binders to I-Ek molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Macrophage stimulating protein: purification, partial amino acid sequence, and cellular activity.

Macrophage stimulating protein (MSP) was purified to homogeneity from human blood plasma by selection of biologically active fractions obtained by sequential immunoaffinity and high pressure liquid ion exchange chromatography. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the molecular mass of MSP was 70 kilodaltons (kD); under reducing conditions two gel bands were seen, at 47 and 22 kD. The disulfide-linked two-chain structure of MSP was confirmed by separation of reduced and alkylated MSP chains. A computer search comparison of six partial sequences of MSP digests showed that MSP has not been recorded in data banks of protein sequences. Two MSP fragments had greater than 80% identity in overlaps of 12-16 residues to sequences in the protein family that includes human prothrombin, plasminogen, and hepatocyte growth factor. The concentration of purified MSP required for half-maximal biological activity was the order of 10(-10) M. In addition to making mouse resident peritoneal macrophages responses to chemoattractants, MSP caused the appearance of long cytoplasmic processes and pinocytic vesicles in freshly plated macrophages. MSP also caused phagocytosis via the C3b receptor, CR1. Whereas resident peritoneal macrophages bind but do not ingest sheep erythrocytes opsonized with IgM anti-Forssman antibody and mouse C3b, addition of MSP caused ingestion. Thus, MSP causes direct or indirect activation of two receptors of the mouse resident peritoneal macrophage, CR1 and the C5a receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Negative regulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I promoter in embryonal carcinoma cells.

Transcription of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes is negatively regulated in undifferentiated F9 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells via the conserved upstream regulatory region. This region contains constitutive enhancers and an inducible enhancer, the interferon consensus sequence (ICS), that is responsible for interferon-induced transcription. A series of mutations in the ICS, but not in the enhancer elements, resulted in an increase in expression of the MHC class I promoter in F9 cells. However, these ICS mutants did not increase promoter activity in F9 cells differentiated after retinoic acid treatment. Results of mobility-shift DNA-binding assays and methylation interference experiments showed that undifferentiated F9 cells contained a factor(s) that bound to a sequence within the 5' and central part of the ICS. This binding site, termed the MHC negative regulatory element (NRE), coincided with the site of mutations that increased promoter activity in F9 cells and was distinct from the element to which interferon-response factors bind. The factor(s) that binds to the MHC NRE was not detected in differentiated F9 cells treated with retinoic acid or in other cells expressing MHC class I genes. Finally, introduction of concatenated, double-stranded NRE oligomers, but not oligomers of unrelated sequences, into F9 cells abolished negative regulation of the MHC class I promoter activity, providing evidence that the NRE binding factor is responsible for repression of the MHC class I genes in F9 cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Specific DNA binding to a major histocompatibility complex enhancer sequence by a synthetic 57-residue double zinc finger peptide from a human enhancer binding protein.

Two 57-residue peptides containing one pair of "zinc fingers" from a human enhancer binding protein were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis. One peptide (MBP-DF) contained the native sequence, while the second peptide ([Abu11]MBP-DF) has an alpha-aminobutyric acid residue substituted for a nonconserved cysteine residue at position 11. The peptides were characterized by several chemical and physical methods, and their DNA binding properties were evaluated using gel retardation experiments. Spectroscopic studies demonstrated that addition of metal ions such as zinc and cobalt resulted in specific conformational changes in both peptides, indicating that cysteine-11 does not appear to be involved in metal chelation. One-dimensional 1H NMR studies indicate that a stable folded structure is formed upon addition of zinc, and the chemical shift pattern is consistent with that previously observed for one constituent single finger (Omichinski, J., Clore, G. M., Appella, E., Sakaguchi, K., and Gronenborn, A. M. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 9324-9334). Gel retardation experiments demonstrate that the peptides are capable of interacting with a 15-mer oligonucleotide comprising a portion of the major histocompatibility complex enhancer sequence and that the interaction is zinc-dependent. The dissociation constant for the [Abu11]MBP-DF peptide is 1.4 x 10(-7) M with maximal binding occurring at a zinc-to-peptide ratio of 2 to 1. The binding specificity observed with respect to related enhancer sequences exhibits the same relative order as noted previously for the whole protein. Studies with point mutants of the major histocompatibility complex enhancer binding sequence indicate that the last GC base pair in a four-guanine stretch plays a pivotal role in the interaction between the peptide and DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Growth suppression induced by wild-type p53 protein is accompanied by selective down-regulation of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen expression.

The p53 gene is a frequent target of mutation in a wide variety of human cancers. Previously, it was reported that conditional expression of wild-type p53 protein in a cell line (GM47.23) derived from a human glioblastoma multiform tumor had a negative effect on cell proliferation. We have now investigated the effect that induction of wild-type p53 protein in this cell line has on the expression of the proliferating-cell nuclear antigen gene. The proliferating-cell nuclear antigen gene encodes a nuclear protein that is an auxiliary factor of DNA polymerase delta and part of the DNA replication machinery of the cell. We show that inhibition of cell cycle progression into S-phase after induction of wild-type p53 protein is accompanied by selective down-regulation of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen mRNA and protein expression.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed1991

Crystal structure of interleukin 8: symbiosis of NMR and crystallography.

The crystal structure of a host defense system chemotactic factor, interleukin 8, has been solved by molecular replacement using as a model the solution structure derived from nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. The structure was refined with 2 A x-ray data to an R factor of 0.187 (0.217 at 1.6 A). A comparison indicates some potential differences between the structure in solution and in the crystalline state. Our analysis also predicts that residues 4 through 9 on the amino terminus and the beta-bend, which includes His-33, may be important for receptor binding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Tissue-specific expression of the HLA-DRA gene in transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice were produced containing a 33 kilobase (kb) DNA fragment encompassing the five exons and all the known regulatory regions of the class II HLA-DRA gene. The transgene displayed regulated expression [constitutive and interferon-gamma (IFN)-gamma induced] of the human products in most mouse tissues. The tissue distribution of the DRA transgene products more closely resembled that of their mouse homologues, the endogenous H-2 Ea products, than the wider distribution of DRA products in humans. This was evident in several tissues (endothelia of small vessels, especially those of glomerular capillaries, Kupffer cells, and epithelial cells lining the gastrointestinal tract), known to differentially express class II molecules in the two species. Thus, the wider human specific pattern of expression requires an exact cis/trans complementation which is incompletely reconstituted in transgenic mice, suggesting that human-specific cis-acting elements may have arisen during evolution to direct the expression of class II genes to those anatomical regions which usually lack them in the mouse. The only example of aberrant expression of the DRA gene in the present series of transgenic mice was in the dendritic and/or epithelial cells of the thymic cortex, which displayed greatly reduced DR alpha levels in spite of a normal expression of the endogenous E alpha molecules.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Mapping of the mouse 86-kDa heat-shock protein expressed gene (Hsp86-1) on chromosome 12 and related genes on chromosomes 3, 4, 9, and 11.

The HSP86 gene family in BALB/c, AKR/J, C58/J, and NFS/N inbred mice comprises an intron-containing expressed gene and, depending on the strain, two to four other HSP86-related members that are apparently processed pseudogenes. The expressed gene locus, Hsp86-1, was identified by its sequence identity with the mouse HSP86 cDNA coding region together with the presence of an intron at the same position as in the homologous human gene. Hsp86-1 was mapped 11.6 cM from the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene IgH on Chromosome 12 using an intersubspecies backcross. Two of the other loci that were common to all inbred strains tested, designated Hsp86-ps1 and Hsp86-ps2, were mapped to positions on Chromosomes 11 and 3, respectively. An HSP86-related locus specific to NFS/N and C58/J mice, designated Hsp86-ps3, was mapped on Chromosome 9. Also, an HSP86-related locus that was unique to NFS/N mice, designated Hsp86-ps4, was mapped to Chromosome 4.

Amino Acid Sequence↗