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E Appella

Publications and source records attributed to E Appella.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Structural requirements for the interaction between peptide antigens and I-Ed molecules.

We have analyzed the structural characteristics of the interaction between I-Ed molecules and their peptide ligands. It was found that unrelated good I-Ed binders share structurally similar "core" regions that were experimentally demonstrated to be crucial for binding to I-Ed molecules. Single amino acid substitution analogues of one good I-Ed binder, hen egg lysozyme 107-116, were analyzed for their capacity to bind to I-Ed molecules and to activate two different I-Ed-restricted T cell hybridomas. The results illustrate the great permissiveness of I-Ed-peptide interaction and the great specificity of T cell recognition. It was concluded from these analyses that basic residues on the peptide molecule play a crucial role in binding to I-Ed. This contrasts with the structural requirements for binding to the other Iad isotype, I-Ad, the crucial hydrophobic residues. Thus, different class II molecules of the same MHC haplotype may have rather distinct peptide binding specificities, thereby expanding the repertoire of possible immunogenic peptides presented for T cell recognition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antibodies against an inter-domain segment of polypeptide chain inhibit active-site coupling in the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex.

A synthetic peptide, AAPAAAPAKQEAAAPAPAAKAEAPAAAPAAKA, proved to be an efficient and specific immunogen in rabbits. The amino acid sequence of the peptide is identical to that of the inter-domain region (PEP3) linking the innermost of the three lipoyl domains to the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding domain in the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli. Fab fragments from anti-PEP3 antibodies selectively inhibited active-site coupling in the complex without affecting the individual activities of the three component enzymes, highlighting the role of the inter-domain regions as flexible linkers in catalysis.

Antibodies↗

Antigen-specific helper function of cell-free T cell products bearing TCR V beta 8 determinants.

Although the T cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta heterodimer and its encoding genes have been characterized, a cell-free form of this receptor, which is needed for the study of functional or ligand-binding properties of the receptor, has not previously been isolated. When the cell-free supernatant products of activated cloned T helper (TH) cells were found to mediate helper activity with antigen specificity identical to that of intact T cells, experiments were carried out to determine whether this functional activity was mediated by a cell-free form of TCR-related material. A disulfide-linked dimer indistinguishable from the T cell surface alpha beta heterodimer was precipitated from cell-free supernatants of cloned TH cells with F23.1, a monoclonal antibody specific for a TCR V beta 8 determinant. Moreover, when cell-free TH products were bound to and eluted from immobilized F23.1, these affinity-purified materials had antigen-specific and major histocompatibility complex-restricted helper activity that synergized with recombinant lymphokines in the generation of B cell antibody responses. These findings suggest that the factor isolated from T cell supernatants is a cell-free form of the TCR alpha beta dimer.

Animals↗

Transcriptional and translational analysis of the murine 84- and 86-kDa heat shock proteins.

The mammalian 85-90-kDa heat shock protein(s) (hsp) have been shown to exist as two species of 84 and 86 kDa (Ullrich, S. J., Robinson, E. A., Law, L. W., Willingham, M., and Appella, E. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 83, 3121-3125). Two cDNA clones corresponding to the two forms have been isolated which specifically hybridize to either a 2.85- or a 3.0-kilobase pair transcript corresponding to hsp 84 and 86, respectively (Moore, S. K., Kozak, C., Robinson, E. A., Ullrich, S. J., and Appella, E. (1987) Gene (Amst.) 56, 29-40, and this paper). The regulation of these hsp were examined in nontransformed NIH-3T3 and chemically transformed Meth A cells. The basal level of the hsp 84 mRNA transcript was approximately 2.5-fold greater than the hsp 86 transcript, with a corresponding ratio of hsp 84 to hsp 86 protein synthesis of approximately 2.5:1. After a transient heat shock (10 min, 44 degrees C), the rate of transcription of hsp 84 and 86 increased approximately 4.5- and approximately 7-fold, respectively, within 0.5 h and remained elevated for approximately 2 h. Northern blot analysis performed on NIH-3T3 and Meth A cells, during recovery from a transient heat shock, indicated that in both cells mRNA levels of both hsp increased rapidly, peaking at 5 h post-heat shock; hsp 84 and 86 transcripts were 1.5- and 2-fold higher than in non-heat-shocked cells, respectively. The increased rate of hsp synthesis after heat shock correlated with the increased levels of each transcript in both cell lines. In the transformed Meth A cells the basal mRNA, hsp synthesis, and steady state levels of each hsp in vitro were 2-3-fold higher than in the nontransformed NIH-3T3 cells. In Meth A tumors in vivo, the steady state level of hsp 84 was reduced compared to in vitro levels. Thus, in normal and in transformed murine cells, both hsp are heat-inducible, transcriptionally and translationally, with the transformed cells expressing higher levels of synthesis of both hsp 84 and 86. The data suggest that hsp 84 and 86 syntheses are primarily transcriptionally regulated.

Animals↗

Murine 86- and 84-kDa heat shock proteins, cDNA sequences, chromosome assignments, and evolutionary origins.

The two forms of the approximately 90-kDa murine heat shock protein, referred to as HSP86 and HSP84, are coded for by separate but related genes. A full-length nucleotide sequence of the cDNA coding for HSP86 from a chemically induced tumor, Meth A, was determined. Sequences from a number of peptides from HSP86 were found to be in complete agreement with the nucleotide sequence. The HSP84 sequence from the same tumor was also completed. HSP86 and HSP84 are acidic polypeptides 733 and 724 amino acids long with calculated molecular weights of 84,796 and 83,290, respectively. The two proteins are 86% homologous. HSP86 was found to contain internal peptide repeats of Glu-Lys-Glu within a region of highly charged amino acid residues. The coding regions of the cDNAs were 76% homologous; however, this homology did not extend to the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions. The 5'-untranslated region of hsp86 cDNA was considerably longer than that of hsp84 cDNA and, unlike that of hsp84, contained extraneous ATG triplets. Hsp86-related sequences were assigned to chromosomes 12, 11, and 3. An evolutionary tree constructed from HSP90-related protein sequences indicated that HSP86 and HSP84 were likely to have diverged more than 500 million years ago. The findings presented herein suggest that HSP86 and HSP84 may have different functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Developmental and tissue-specific expression of nuclear proteins that bind the regulatory element of the major histocompatibility complex class I gene.

Expression of MHC class I genes varies according to developmental stage and type of tissues. To study the basis of class I gene regulation in tissues in vivo, we examined binding of nuclear proteins to the conserved cis sequence of the murine H-2 gene, class I regulatory element (CRE), which contains two independent factor-binding sites, region I and region II. In gel mobility shift analyses we found that extracts from adult tissues that express class I genes, such as spleen and liver, had binding activity to region I. In contrast, extracts from brain, which does not express class I genes, did not show region I binding activity. In addition, fetal tissues that express class I gene at very low levels, also did not reveal region I binding activity. Binding activity to region I became detectable during the neonatal period when class I gene expression sharply increases. Most of these tissues showed binding activity to region II, irrespective of class I gene expression. Although region II contained a sequence similar to the AP-1 recognition site, AP-1 was not responsible for the region II binding activity detected in this work. These results illustrate a correlation between region I binding activity and developmental and tissue-specific expression of MHC class I genes. The CRE exerts an enhancer-like activity in cultured fibroblasts. We evaluated the significance of each factor binding to CRE. Single 2-bp mutations were introduced into the CRE by site-directed mutagenesis and the ability of each mutant to elicit the enhancer activity was tested in transient CAT assays. A mutation that eliminated region I protein binding greatly impaired enhancer activity. A mutation that eliminated region II binding also caused a lesser but measurable effect. We conclude that region I and region II are both capable of enhancing transcription of the class I gene. These results indicate that in vivo regulation of MHC class I gene expression is mediated by binding of trans-acting factors to the CRE.

Animals↗

Purification and amino acid analysis of two human glioma-derived monocyte chemoattractants.

Two chemoattractants for human monocytes were purified to apparent homogeneity from the culture supernatant of a glioma cell line (U-105MG) by sequential chromatography on Orange A-Sepharose, an HPLC cation exchanger, and a reverse phase HPLC column. On SDS-PAGE gels under reducing or nonreducing conditions, the molecular masses of the two peptides glioma-derived chemotactic factor 1 and 2 were 15 and 13 kD, respectively. Amino acid composition of these molecules was almost identical, and differed from other cytokines that have been reported. The NH2 terminus of each peptide was apparently blocked. When tested for chemotactic efficacy, the peptides attracted approximately 30% of the monocytes added to chemotaxis chambers, at the optimal concentration of 10(-9) M. Potency and efficacy were comparable with that of FMLP, which is often used as a reference attractant. The activity was chemotactic rather than chemokinetic. In contrast to their interaction with human monocytes, the pure peptides did not attract neutrophils. These pure tumor-derived chemoattractants can now be compared with attractants produced by normal cells and evaluated for their biological significance in human neoplastic disease.

Amino Acids↗

The neutrophil-activating protein (NAP-1) is also chemotactic for T lymphocytes.

T lymphocyte chemotactic factor (TCF) was purified to homogeneity from the conditioned media of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human blood mononuclear leukocytes by a sequence of chromatography procedures. The amino-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified TCF showed identity with neutrophil-activating protein (NAP-1). Both TCF and recombinant NAP-1 (rNAP-1) were chemotactic for neutrophils and T lymphocytes in vitro supporting the identity of TCF with NAP-1. Injection of rNAP-1 into lymphatic drainage areas of lymph nodes in Fisher rats caused accelerated emigration of only lymphocytes in high endothelial venules. Intradermal injection of rNAP-1 caused dose-dependent accumulation of neutrophils and lymphocytes.

Animals↗

Purification and amino acid analysis of two human monocyte chemoattractants produced by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human blood mononuclear leukocytes.

Physicochemical characteristics of monocyte chemotactic activity in the culture fluid of PHA-stimulated human mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) were investigated. Among several chemotactic activity peaks eluted from a TSK-2000 gel filtration column, one peak, corresponding to a molecular mass of 17 kDa, accounted for about 40% of total chemotactic activity. On a chromatofocusing column, most of the 17-kDa activity eluted in a pH range of 9.4 to 7.9. It could bind to Orange-A Sepharose. These three characteristics--molecular mass, basic isoelectric point, and dye column binding--were similar to those of human glioma-derived monocyte chemotactic factor (GDCF), recently purified in our laboratory. Therefore, the MNL-derived chemoattractant was purified by the same procedures used for purification of GDCF, namely Orange-A Sepharose chromatography, carboxymethyl (CM)-HPLC, and reverse phase (RP) HPLC. About 50% of the culture fluid chemotactic activity bound to Orange-A Sepharose and was eluted in a single peak by a NaCl gradient. The active pool from the Orange-A column was separated into two sharp peaks by CM-HPLC, each of which eluted at identical acetonitrile concentrations from a RP HPLC column. By SDS-PAGE, the peptides had apparent molecular masses of 15 and 13 kDa and appeared homogeneous. Amino acid analysis showed that the composition of the two peptides was almost identical; and the N terminus of each peptide was apparently blocked. Shared characteristics of these peptides and the GDCF peptides include identical elution patterns from CM- and RP HPLC columns, identical SDS-PAGE migration, almost identical amino acid composition, and blocked N terminus. This suggests that the monocyte attractants isolated from culture fluid of PHA-stimulated MNL are identical to those derived from human glioma cells.

Amino Acids↗

Human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Full-length cDNA cloning, expression in mitogen-stimulated blood mononuclear leukocytes, and sequence similarity to mouse competence gene JE.

The purpose of this work was to analyze cDNA encoding human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), previously isolated from glioma cell line culture fluid. Screening of a cDNA library from total poly(A) RNA of glioma cell line U-105MG yielded a clone that coded for the entire MCP-1. Nucleotide sequence analysis and comparison with the amino acid sequence of purified MCP-1 showed that the cDNA clone comprises a 53-nucleotide 5'-non-coding region, an open reading frame coding for a 99-residue protein of which the last 76 residues correspond exactly to pure MCP-1, and a 389-nucleotide 3'-untranslated region. The hydrophobicity of the first 23 residues is typical of a signal peptide. Southern blot analysis of human and animal genomic DNA showed that there is a single MCP-1 gene, which is conserved in several primates. MCP-1 mRNA was induced in human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMNLs) by PHA, LPS and IL-1, but not by IL-2, TNF, or IFN-gamma. Among proteins with similar sequences, the coding regions of MCP-1 and mouse JE show 68% identity. This suggest that MCP-1 is the human homologue of the mouse competence gene JE.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Conformational flexibility and folding of synthetic peptides representing an interdomain segment of polypeptide chain in the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli.

Synthetic peptides (32 residues in length) were synthesized with amino acid sequences identical to, or related to, the long (alanine + proline)-rich region of polypeptide chain that links the innermost lipoyl domain to the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding domain in the dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli. The 400-MHz 1H NMR spectra of the peptide (Mr approximately 2800) closely resembled the sharp resonances in the spectrum of the intact complex (Mr approximately 5 x 10(6], and the apparent pKa (6.4) of the side chain of a histidine residue in one of the peptides was found to be identical to that previously observed for a histidine residue inserted by site-directed mutagenesis into the corresponding position in the same (alanine + proline)-rich region of a genetically reconstructed enzyme complex. These results strongly support the view that the three long (alanine + proline)-rich regions of the dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase chains are exposed to solvent and enjoy substantial conformational flexibility in the enzyme complex. More detailed analysis of the peptides by circular dichroism and by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy revealed that they were disordered in structure but were not random coils. In particular, all the Ala-Pro peptide bonds were greater than 95% in the trans configuration, consistent with a stiffening of the peptide structure. Differences in the sequences of the three long (alanine + proline)-rich segments may reflect structural tuning of these segments to optimize lipoyl domain movement in enzyme catalysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of murine interferon-gamma binding to its receptor on intact cells and solubilized membranes. Identification of an 80 kDa receptor.

The receptor for murine-interferon-gamma (Mu-IFN-gamma) has been characterized for its molecular size and equilibrium binding constant on a thymoma cell line, EL-4. Binding of 125I-IFN-gamma to intact cells and their solubilized membranes has shown a single class of receptor with Kd values of 1.9 x 10(-9) M and 1.3 x 10(-8) M, respectively. It was shown that solubilization of the Mu-IFN-gamma receptor with a Zwitterionic detergent (Chaps) preserves its binding activity. A direct comparison of the molecular mass of the Mu-IFN-gamma receptor on intact cells versus detergent-solubilized membranes was performed using a radiolabeled photoactivated crosslinking reagent and direct hybridization with 125I-labeled IFN-gamma on Western blots of solubilized receptor. The results indicate that both types of receptors have an identical molecular mass of approximately 80 kDa.

Affinity Labels↗

Inhibition of T cell response with peptides is influenced by both peptide-binding specificity of major histocompatibility complex molecules and susceptibility of T cells to blocking.

Synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences 46-62 and 51-62 of mouse lysozyme and 46-61 of hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) were used as competitors in a variety of T cell responses. The competitors, according to their binding specificity for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) were expected to inhibit T cell responses restricted to I-Ak, but not those restricted to I-Ad, I-Ek molecules. In competition experiments with T cell hybridomas, the poor binder I-Ed molecule required 10- to 15-fold higher competitor concentrations than the good binder I-Ak molecule to achieve 50% inhibition of antigen presentation. Similarly, the nonresponder state of H-2d mice to HEL peptide 46-61 could be overcome by increasing the immunizing dose, and proliferative T cell responses to different antigens in association with a variety of class II MHC molecules could be blocked by the mouse lysozyme and HEL peptides. Thus, the capability of some and failure of other MHC molecules to bind certain peptides appeared quantitative, rather than of an all or none nature, in these experimental systems. The susceptibility of uncloned T cell lines to peptide competitors was found to decrease with time. Lines maintained by repeated restimulation with antigen and APC, but without exogenous interleukin 2, acquired resistance within weeks. In contrast, T cell clones retained their susceptibility to peptide competitors over a long period of time. The latter data raise the possibility that a competition between ubiquitous (self) peptides and foreign antigen may result in the selection of T cells that have high avidity for the activating antigen-MHC complex, and are thus relatively resistant to competition at the level of antigen presentation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Three forms of monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MDNCF) distinguished by different lengths of the amino-terminal sequence.

Human monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MDNCF) was purified from culture supernatant of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes on a column of Sepharose-bound murine monoclonal anti-MDNCF. About 65% of the culture fluid chemotactic activity was bound to the column. The unbound 35% probably represents chemotactic activity of other cytokines in the culture fluid. More than 85% of the bound activity was eluted by pH 2.5 glycine buffer. When this material was applied to an HPLC-CM column, gradient elution produced four well-separated A280 peaks, each of which had chemotactic activity. N-terminal amino acid analysis of the four peaks revealed three different sequences. One (MDNCF-c) was identical to the sequence that we reported previously. The other two (MDNCF-a and -b) had seven and five additional amino acids, respectively, at the N-terminus. MDNCF-a, -b and -c accounted for 8, 47 and 45% of the total MDNCF peptide. Alignment with the MDNCF cDNA sequence shows that MDNCF-a results from cleavage of a 20 residue signal peptide. MDNCF-c results from culture fluid proteolytic cleavage of the N-terminal sequences of MDNCF-a and -b at an R-S bond. The three peptides occurred in the four HPLC-CM peaks in different ratios. The bulk of any one peptide was distributed in two adjacent HPLC-CM peaks. This suggests that each peptide exists in a minimum of two states. In contrast to our previous multi-step purification, the immunoaffinity and HPLC-CM column sequence resulted in complete purification of MDNCF in two steps and led to identification of two additional MDNCF peptides, one of which has not heretofore been detected.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

H-2RIIBP, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that binds to both the regulatory element of major histocompatibility class I genes and the estrogen response element.

Transcription of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes is regulated by the conserved MHC class I regulatory element (CRE). The CRE has two factor-binding sites, region I and region II, both of which elicit enhancer function. By screening a mouse lambda gt 11 library with the CRE as a probe, we isolated a cDNA clone that encodes a protein capable of binding to region II of the CRE. This protein, H-2RIIBP (H-2 region II binding protein), bound to the native region II sequence, but not to other MHC cis-acting sequences or to mutant region II sequences, similar to the naturally occurring region II factor in mouse cells. The deduced amino acid sequence of H-2RIIBP revealed two putative zinc fingers homologous to the DNA-binding domain of steroid/thyroid hormone receptors. Although sequence similarity in other regions was minimal, H-2RIIBP has apparent modular domains characteristic of the nuclear hormone receptors. Further analyses showed that both H-2RIIBP and the natural region II factor bind to the estrogen response element (ERE) of the vitellogenin A2 gene. The ERE is composed of a palindrome, and half of this palindrome resembles the region II binding site of the MHC CRE. These results indicate that H-2RIIBP (i) is a member of the superfamily of nuclear hormone receptors and (ii) may regulate not only MHC class I genes but also genes containing the ERE and related sequences. Sequences homologous to the H-2RIIBP gene are widely conserved in the animal kingdom. H-2RIIBP mRNA is expressed in many mouse tissues, in agreement with the distribution of the natural region II factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complete amino acid sequence of a human monocyte chemoattractant, a putative mediator of cellular immune reactions.

In a study of the structural basis for leukocyte specificity of chemoattractants, we determined the complete amino acid sequence of human glioma-derived monocyte chemotactic factor (GDCF-2), a peptide that attracts human monocytes but not neutrophils. The choice of a tumor cell product for analysis was dictated by its relative abundance and an amino acid composition indistinguishable from that of lymphocyte-derived chemotactic factor (LDCF), the agonist thought to account for monocyte accumulation in cellular immune reactions. By a combination of Edman degradation and mass spectrometry, it was established that GDCF-2 comprises 76 amino acid residues, commencing at the N terminus with pyroglutamic acid. The peptide contains four half-cystines, at positions 11, 12, 36, and 52, which create a pair of loops, clustered at the disulfide bridges. The relative positions of the half-cystines are almost identical to those of monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MDNCF), a peptide of similar mass but with only 24% sequence identity to GDCF. Thus, GDCF and MDNCF have a similar gross secondary structure because of the loops formed by the clustered disulfides, and their different leukocyte specificities are most likely determined by the large differences in primary sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Neonatal induction of a nuclear protein that binds to the c-fos enhancer.

The expression of the c-fos gene is transiently induced at birth in most organs in the mouse. To study the basis of this induction we searched for a nuclear factor that binds to the 5' regulatory region of the c-fos gene. Gel mobility shift assays with tissue extracts revealed fast (band I) and slow (band III) migrating bands, which represent factor binding to the c-fos enhancer, termed the serum response element (SRE). Neonatal extracts preferentially elicited band I, with low or undetectable levels of band III, whereas fetal and adult extracts generated predominantly band III, with reduced levels of band I. These results indicate that the SRE-binding activity changes during perinatal development and that the appearance of band I, which coincides with diminution of band III, correlates with neonatal c-fos induction. Methylation interference and competition analyses showed that the neonatal factor (band I) binds to the SRE at a site different from the adult factor (band III). DNA-binding activity of the adult factor, but not the neonatal factor, was sensitive to phosphatase treatment. Furthermore, the adult factor, but not the neonatal factor, shared antigenic specificity with the human serum response factor (SRF) that is expressed in cultured cells irrespective of c-fos gene induction. We conclude that band I in neonates represents a SRE-binding factor that is distinct from the SRF, which may be responsible for the neonatal induction of the c-fos gene. The band III factor was indistinguishable from the SRF in all criteria tested.

Aging↗