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E Clauser

Publications and source records attributed to E Clauser.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Regulation of angiotensinogen gene.

The development of recombinant DNA technology has introduced new directions for the study of the angiotensinogen molecule. The cloning and sequencing of the human and rat cDNAs demonstrate the similarity of angiotensinogen to various serine protease inhibitors produced by the liver and was the beginning of studies looking for new physiological roles of angiotensinogen, in addition to the substrate for renin. The determination of the nucleotide sequence of these cDNAs also allowed the identification of angiotensinogen mRNA in many tissues in addition to the liver that is the major site of synthesis. This multilocalization of angiotensinogen is one of the arguments for the presence and the function of local renin-angiotensin systems. Finally, the hepatic biosynthesis of angiotensinogen is regulated by many different hormonal factors including glucocorticoid, estrogen, thyroid hormone, insulin, and angiotensin II. The cloning of the angiotensinogen gene offers the opportunity to study this regulation at the transcriptional level. We present in this paper a review of the literature concerning the new aspects of angiotensinogen using molecular biological tools and its regulation together with the characterization of the human angiotensinogen gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Molecular characterization of antithrombin III (ATIII) variants using polymerase chain reaction. Identification of the ATIII Charleville as an Ala 384 Pro mutation.

The genes of seven structural mutants of antithrombin III (ATIII), presenting either defective serine protease reactivity or abnormal heparin binding, were analyzed. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the corresponding gene exon and the mutation was identified by either dot blot analysis using a battery of allele-specific oligonucleotide probes or sequencing. Variants Paris and Paris 2 were identified as Arg 47 Cys mutations, and Clichy, Clichy 2, and Franconville were found to be Pro 41 Leu mutations. All five are heparin binding-site variants. ATIII Avranches is an Arg 393 His mutation and ATIII Charleville is an Ala 384 Pro mutation. These two mutations impair the reactive site of the molecule. ATIII Charleville is a new mutation of the reactive center, as predicted by previous biochemical data. The position of this new mutation, together with the other previously described mutations of the reactive center, sheds light on the molecular function of this site in inhibiting thrombin. Finally, genomic amplification by PCR is a powerful technique for the fast identification of antithrombin III mutations and their homozygous/heterozygous status, and should be useful for predicting thrombotic risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A novel rat carboxypeptidase, CPA2: characterization, molecular cloning, and evolutionary implications on substrate specificity in the carboxypeptidase gene family.

A new member of the carboxypeptidase gene family, carboxypeptidase A2 (CPA2), has been identified from the predicted amino acid sequence of a rat pancreatic cDNA clone. In vivo recombination and in situ hybridization techniques employing the CPA2 cDNA resulted in the isolation of two genomic clones spanning the 25-kilobase pair rat CPA2 gene. Evolutionary trees built from the amino acid sequences of the known pancreatic carboxypeptidases show that CPA2 and carboxypeptidase A1 (CPA1) are the products of genes which duplicated before the mammalian radiation, and that bovine CPA is of the A1 type. The substrate specificities of CPA1 and CPA2 isolated from rat pancreas are similar to bovine CPA in that carboxyl-terminal amino acids with aromatic or branched aliphatic side chains are preferred. However, the substrate preference of rat CPA1 is skewed toward smaller amino acids, while that of rat CPA2 is skewed toward bulkier amino acids as compared to bovine CPA. The differences in the substrate specificities of these three carboxypeptidases are compatible with the nature of the amino acid replacements in their binding pockets for the carboxylterminal amino acid of the substrate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Structural characterization of the rat carboxypeptidase A1 and B genes. Comparative analysis of the rat carboxypeptidase gene family.

Nucleotide sequencing of a rat carboxypeptidase B (CPB) cDNA and direct sequencing of the CPB mRNA via primer extension on pancreatic polyadenylated RNA has yielded the complete amino acid sequence of rat CPB. The rat enzyme is synthesized as a precursor species containing a large amino-terminal fragment (108 amino acids) that contributes a putative signal sequence and an activation peptide. The mature form of rat CPB is homologous to bovine CPB (77% identity); the amino acids in bovine CPB which have been previously implicated in catalysis or ligand binding are invariant in the rat orthologue. The rat CPB cDNA was used as a probe for the isolation of the rat CPB gene. Detailed characterization of three overlapping rat genomic clones demonstrated that the coding region for the rat CPB precursor is sequestered in 11 exons which are dispersed throughout 34 kilobase pairs of genomic DNA. The nucleotide sequence of a large part of the gene has been determined including that of the exons, the exon/intron boundaries, and the 5' flanking region. We also report the partial nucleotide sequence of the rat CPA1 gene. Comparative analysis of the structural organization of the rat CPB, rat CPA1, and rat CPA2 genes (Gardell, S. J., Craik, C. S., Clauser, E., Goldsmith, E. J., Stewart, C.-B., Graf, M., and Rutter, W. J. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 17828-17836) reveals that, with one exception, the number, position, and sequence composition of the exons in these three carboxypeptidase genes are conserved in spite of considerable divergence with respect to the lengths of their corresponding intervening sequences. Conserved sequences in the 5' flanking regions of the rat CPA1, CPA2, CPB, and other pancreas-specific genes have been identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Expression and characterization of recombinant human angiotensinogen in a heterologous eukaryotic cell line.

Transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with an expression plasmid containing a full length human angiotensinogen cDNA has provided cell lines that secrete recombinant angiotensinogen in large quantities. This angiotensinogen is immunologically identical to plasma angiotensinogen and can be cleaved by human kidney renin (EC 3.4.23.15.). The peptide liberated by renin cleavage is immunologically identical to standard angiotensin I and shows a retention time on isocratic reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography identical to that of standard angiotensin I. The heterogeneity of recombinant angiotensinogen on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis differs from that of plasma angiotensinogen. Treatment with endoglycosidases demonstrated that this difference is restricted to that of N-glycans and that N-glycans correspond to the quasi-totality of the carbohydrate content of both recombinant and plasma angiotensinogens. The development of a system capable of expressing human angiotensinogen cDNA in mammalian cells and the ability to obtain the corresponding angiotensinogen in large quantities will allow new studies on structure-function relationships of this protein.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1988

A simple strategy to amplify specifically the HLA-DQ beta gene region with genomic DNA as template.

The nature of codon 57 in the HLA-DQ beta gene was recently reported as a potential marker of genetic susceptibility to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. When exploring the relevance of this marker by using genomic DNA amplification, we encountered difficulties resulting from the coamplification of the homologous DX beta region. A simple strategy is proposed to amplify the DQ beta region exclusively. It involves the preliminary digestion of genomic DNA with a restriction enzyme which cleaves DX beta specifically, leaving intact the DQ beta sequence. The amplified material is suitable for dot blot analysis and restriction enzyme digestion. This strategy is of general interest when homologous sequences impair the specificity of enzymatic DNA amplification.

DNA↗
PubMed1988

The renin-angiotensin system in the rat brain. Immunocytochemical localization of angiotensinogen in glial cells and neurons.

The distribution of angiotensinogen containing cells was determined in the brain of rats using immunocytochemistry. Specific angiotensinogen immunoreactivity is demonstrated both in glial cells and neurons throughout the brain, except the neocortical and cerebellar territories. Positive neurons are easily and invariably detected in female brains, and haphazardly in male brain (sex hormone dependent). Angiotensinogen immunoreactivity in male brain neurons can be induced by water deprivation or binephrectomy in some areas and particularly in paraventricular nuclei. Finally, the highest concentrations of positive neurons are found in the anterior and lateral hypothalamus, preoptic area, amygdala and some well known nuclei of the mesencephalon and the brainstem. Our results confirm the wide distribution of angiotensinogen mRNA in the brain reported recently by Lynch et al. (1987). Thus the demonstration of angiotensinogen in neurons and glial cells allows a greater understanding of the biochemical and physiological data in accordance with multiple brain renin angiotensin systems.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1988

Replacement of insulin receptor tyrosine residues 1162 and 1163 does not alter the mitogenic effect of the hormone.

Chinese hamster ovary transfectants that express insulin receptors in which tyrosine residues 1162 and 1163 were replaced by phenylalanine exhibit a total inhibition of the insulin-mediated tyrosine kinase activity toward exogenous substrates [histone, casein, and poly(Glu/Tyr)]; this latter activity is associated with total inhibition of the hypersensitivity reported for insulin in promoting 2-deoxyglucose uptake. We now present evidence that the twin tyrosines also control the insulin-mediated stimulation of glycogen synthesis. Surprisingly, this type of Chinese hamster ovary transfectant is as hypersensitive to insulin for its mitogenic effect as are Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing many intact insulin receptors. Such data suggest that (i) the insulin mitogenic effect routes through a different pathway than insulin uses to activate the transport and metabolism of glucose and (ii) the mitogenic effect of insulin is not controlled by the twin tyrosines. At the molecular level, the solubilized mutated receptor has no insulin-dependent tyrosine kinase activity, whereas this receptor displays measurable insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of its beta subunit in 32P-labeled cells. We therefore propose that the autocatalytic phosphorylating activity of the receptor reports a cryptic tyrosine kinase activity that cannot be visualized by the use of classical exogenous substrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A membrane-anchored cytoplasmic domain of the human insulin receptor mediates a constitutively elevated insulin-independent uptake of 2-deoxyglucose.

Insulin stimulates the autophosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor (IR) on tyrosine residues. Mutations which compromise IR autophosphorylation in vivo result in a decrease of the insulin-activated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. These results are consistent with previous results which implicate IR autophosphorylation in the generation of the insulin response by cells. To further explore the specificity of the IR tyrosine phosphokinase (TPK) domain in IR function, we have altered the human IR (hIR) cDNA to encode truncated insulin-independent TPKs, which are expressed in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells as either membrane-anchored or cytosolic proteins. Both mutant hIRs exhibit TPK activity in vitro, although the cytosolic form is approximately 20 times more active. The carbohydrate moiety of the membrane-anchored form is of the high mannose type, consistent with an intracellular localization for this mutant hIR. The two mutant hIRs mediate very different physiological responses in transfected cells: the membrane-anchored, but not the cytosolic, hIR TPK mediates a constitutively elevated (135% the maximum insulin-stimulated response in CHO cells) insulin-independent uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. These results thus suggest that the hIR TPK is in fact specific for this aspect of IR function and, when membrane-associated, can mediate the insulin-independent uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. Neither of these mutant hIRs appears to transform CHO cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The human insulin receptor cDNA: a new tool to study the function of this receptor.

The human insulin receptor (hIR) is an integral transmembrane glycoprotein comprised of two alpha and two beta subunits. An immediate consequence of insulin binding to the extracellular alpha subunit is the autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues on the intracellular domain of the beta subunit. The placental hIR cDNA has been cloned and sequenced, providing the primary structural features of the protein. In order to investigate the functions of the beta subunit and particularly the role of autophosphorylation and tyrosine phosphokinase (TPK) activity (a feature shared by other receptors and oncogene proteins) in transmembrane signalling, we designed an expression system of the hIR cDNA in eucaryotic cells. Superexpressing CHO cell lines that contain about 10(6) functional hIR/cell have been developed. In these cells half maximum stimulation of glucose uptake occurs at 5 X 10(-10)M insulin, whereas normal CHO cells require 5 X 10(-12)M insulin. In this expression system we have carried out site-directed mutagenesis experiments in which domains of the molecule have been deleted or particular amino acids have been replaced by others. The replacement of either or both the tyrosine residues 1162 and 1163 compromise an autophosphorylated site that is important for kinase function and the insulin response. Expression of an isolated membrane-bound form of the beta-subunit produces a 6 fold increase in glucose uptake. This insulin-independent effect disappears if the twin tyrosines are mutated or if the beta subunit is expressed in the cytoplasm. These studies also show that the C terminal 112 amino acid portion of the beta subunit is important for the stability of this protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Replacement of insulin receptor tyrosine residues 1162 and 1163 compromises insulin-stimulated kinase activity and uptake of 2-deoxyglucose.

Insulin stimulates the autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues of the beta subunit of the insulin receptor (IR); this modified insulin-independent kinase has increased activity toward exogenous substrates in vitro. We show here that replacement of one or both of the twin tyrosines (residues 1162 and 1163) with phenylalanine results in a dramatic reduction in or loss of insulin-activated autophosphorylation and kinase activity in vitro. In vivo, these mutations not only result in a substantial decrease in insulin-stimulated IR autophosphorylation but also in a parallel decrease in the insulin-activated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. Furthermore, a truncated IR protein (lacking the last 112 amino acids) has an unstable beta subunit; this mutant has no kinase activity in vitro or in vivo and does not mediate insulin-stimulated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. IR autophosphorylation is thus implicated in the regulation of IR activities, with tyrosines 1162 and 1163 as major sites of this regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Generation of angiotensinogen by cultured neuroblastoma and glioma cells.

Cultured neuroblastoma cells and neuroblastoma-glioma cells have been shown to contain renin activity, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, and angiotensins. It has been assumed that these cells also produce angiotensinogen as the substrate of an intracellular renin-angiotensin system. However, measurements of angiotensinogen have not been reported in the neuroblastoma or neuroblastoma-glioma cells, and the possibility that the cells generate angiotensins from fetal bovine angiotensinogen has not been eliminated. In this work angiotensinogen was shown to accumulate in the serum-free medium of thoroughly washed neuroblastoma cells (mouse Neuro-2A and rat B103) and glioma cells (rat C6). Separate experiments demonstrated that mouse Neuro-2A cells continue to produce angiotensinogen even after two passages in a defined serum-free culture medium. Further evidence that the angiotensinogen was not a contaminant from fetal bovine serum was obtained by the use of a monoclonal antibody raised against angiotensinogen of rat plasma. The angiotensinogen of Neuro-2A and C6-glioma cells is bound by the monoclonal antibody, whereas fetal bovine angiotensinogen is not bound. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that angiotensinogen is produced locally in the brain and in neuroblastoma cells as a substrate for an intracellular renin-angiotensin system.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1986

Linking functional domains of the human insulin receptor with the bacterial aspartate receptor.

A hybrid receptor has been constructed that is composed of the extracellular domain of the human insulin receptor fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the bacterial aspartate chemoreceptor. This hybrid protein can be expressed in rodent (CHO) cells and displays several functional features comparable to wild-type insulin receptor. It is localized to the cell surface, binds insulin with high affinity, forms oligomers, and is recognized by conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies. Although most of the expressed protein accumulates as a 180-kDa proreceptor, some processed 135-kDa receptor can be detected on the cell surface by covalent cross-linking. Expression of the hybrid receptor inhibits the insulin-activated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose by CHO cells. Thus, this hybrid is partially functional and can be processed; however, it is incapable of native transmembrane signaling. The results indicate that the intact domains of different types of receptors can retain some of the native features in a hybrid molecule but specific requirements will need to be satisfied for transmembrane signaling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Mechanisms of receptor-mediated transmembrane communication.

Our experiments with the hIR protein have been designed to address a very general question of transmembrane receptor structure and function: What are the roles and interactions of the various deduced structural domains of such molecules in the initiation of the response of cells to extracellular signals? All of the evidence to date supports the previous hypothesis based on biochemical data that the IR requires ligand-activated TPK functions to initiate the insulin response by cells (for review, see Kahn 1985). Thus, mutations that compromise hIR TPK activity (site-directed point mutations or deletions) result in a concomitant decrease in at least one aspect of insulin action (glucose uptake; Ellis et al. 1986a). Other studies utilizing microinjection of antibodies to inhibit the receptor kinase have extended this conclusion to include a critical role for the receptor kinase in insulin's ability to stimulate ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation in CHO cells, glycogen synthetase in hepatoma cells, glucose uptake in adipocytes (Morgan and Roth 1987), and frog oocyte maturation (Morgan et al. 1986). Second, analyses of cell lines that express experimentally truncated hIR TPKs demonstrate that, when membrane-anchored, this TPK domain is in fact capable of autonomous hormone-independent IR function: Such cells exhibit a constitutively elevated, insulin-independent uptake of 2-deoxyglucose (Ellis et al. 1987). Finally, by substitution of a homologous TPK for that of hIR, we find that although such a hybrid is capable of insulin-dependent transmembrane signaling (phosphorylation of the hybrid beta-subunit on tyrosine residues), the hybrid IR.ros molecule does not function as an IR in such cells: It mediates neither short-term (uptake of 2-deoxyglucose) nor long-term (incorporation of [3H]thymidine) effects of insulin (L. Ellis et al., in prep.). Together, these results suggest that (1) the hIR TPK domain conveys a substrate specificity for the insulin response and (2) that a functional hIR extracellular domain alone is not sufficient for generation of the insulin response (e.g., ligand-induced aggregation, or simple delivery of insulin into the cell). With the linking of the extracellular and cytoplasmic domains of the hIR molecule has evolved a cellular mechanism for the control of hIR TPK activity; the result is that cells which express the IR are now insulin responsive, and the physiological responses associated with the hormone are ligand-activated. Thus, the uncontrolled state of autonomous TPK activity, with the associated constitutive physiological response (e.g., as exhibited by the spBam hIR mutant), is circumvented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The human insulin receptor cDNA: the structural basis for hormone-activated transmembrane signalling.

A cloned approximately 5 kb cDNA (human placenta) contains the coding sequences for the insulin receptor. The nucleotide sequence predicts a 1382 amino acid precursor. The alpha subunit comprises the N-terminal portion of the precursor and contains a striking cysteine-rich "cross-linking" domain. The beta-subunit (the C-terminal portion of the precursor) contains a transmembrane domain and, in the intracellular region, the elements of a tyrosine phosphokinase: an ATP-binding site and a possible tyrosine autophosphorylation site or sites. The overall structure is reminiscent of the EGF receptor; the cross-linking domain of the alpha subunit and several regions of the beta subunit exhibit sequence homology with the EGF receptor. The phosphokinase domain also exhibits homology with some oncogenic proteins that have tyrosine phosphokinase activity, in particular, a striking homology with v-ros. Southern blotting experiments suggest that the coding region spans more than 45 kb. The insulin receptor gene is located on chromosome 19.

Amino Acid Sequence↗