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J Avruch

Publications and source records attributed to J Avruch.

124 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Identification and subcellular distribution of adipocyte peptides and phosphopeptides.

Subcellular fractions of high purity (including plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, nuclei, and cytoplasm) were prepared from isolated adipocytes, and the peptide components were examined by detergent gel electrophoresis. Each fraction except the endoplasmic reticulum exhibited a unique and reproducible complement of major peptides. Although the endoplasmic reticulum was distinctive in its enzymic markers, its peptide components showed striking homologies with certain species in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. The two major adipocyte glycopeptides appear to be contained in the plasma membrane, inasmuch as they followed the distribution of 5'-nucleotidase. Incubation of adipocytes with extracellular 32Pi led to a uniform rate of incorporation of 32P into cellular peptides, with steady-state incorporation reached by 2 hours. Plasma membrane, mitochondria, nuclei, and cytoplasm all contained a distinctive complement of from two to five major phosphopeptides of different molecular weights. The majority of endoplasmic reticulum phosphopeptides exhibited molecular weights closely similar to those of certain species in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. The phosphopeptides of the plasma membrane exhibited the highest absolute 32P incorporation of all phosphopeptides, next was the single major mitochondiral phosphopeptide. All fractions except the mitochondria contained, in addition to the few major phosphopeptides, numerous minor 32P-labeled phosphopeptides.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1976

Effects of epinephrine and insulin on phosphopeptide metabolism in adipocytes.

Isolated adipocytes, incubated in the presence of extracellular 32Pi to steady state 32P incorporation into cellular phosphopeptides, were exposed to hormones for 5 min. Epinephrine (10(-6) M) stimulated 32P incorporation into at least 12 major phosphopeptides, distributed in the cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum, and plasma membrane. Quantitatively pre-eminent among these were peptides of molecular weight 123,000 and 69,000, each located both in the cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum. The effect of epinephrine (10(-7) M) on 32P incorporation into these two peptides was augmented by theophylline (10(-3) M) in a synergistic fashion. Norepinephrine, dibutyryl N6,O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (synthetic 1 to 24 fragment), and glucagon mimicked the effect of epinephrine. Insulin modified adipocyte peptide phosphorylation in two ways. When present as the sole hormone, insulin (100 microunits/ml) consistently and selectively stimulated the 32P incorporation into a peptide of molecular weight 123,000 (endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm) without significant alteration in the 32P content of any other major peptide. A second effect of insulin was evident when epinephrine (10(-6) M) was present simultaneously. Insulin significantly inhibited the epinephrine-stimulated phosphorylation of the molecular weight 69,000 (endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm) and 26,000 (plasma membrane) peptides. Nevertheless, persistence of insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the 123,000 peptide in the presence of epinephrine was shown by a 32P content of this peptide that was greater in the presence of both hormones than with either individually. These findings indicate that in intact adipocytes: (a) epinephrine acutely alters the phosphorylation of a large number of adipocyte peptides, partly at least, via activation of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase; (b) insulin opposes several epinephrine-stimulated phosphorylations in a manner consitent with its ability to lower epinephrine-stimulated intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation in adipocytes; and (c) insulin, in addition, exerts a unique stimulatory effect on adipocyte peptide phosphorylation that is independent of its effects on cyclic AMP metabolism and may be medicated by the generation of an as yet undefined intracellular "messenger" unique to insulin.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1976

Regulation of plasma membrane protein phosphorylation in two mammalian cell types.

The appreciation of protein phosphorylation as a ubiquitous mechanism for the post-translational control of protein function has drawn our attention to the phosphorylation of plasma membrane proteins. We have studied this phenomenon in the human erythrocyte and rat adipocyte, and have observed several features, common to the two systems, which may be of general significance. In examining protein phosphorylation in intact cells incubated with 32Pi, it is evident that the 32P-polypeptides of the plasma membrane are among the most highly labelled species in the cell, despite their minor contribution to overall protein content. The addition of epinephrine (to adipocytes) or cAMP (to erythrocytes) increases the phosphorylation of certain peptides, whereas others are unaffected. The protein kinases mediating these phosphorylations are present in the plasma membrane as isolated, and can be divided into two groups--cAMP dependent and cAMP independent. These two classes of kinase differ markedly in their substrate specificity toward endogenous and exogenous polypeptide substrates. Two classes of protein kinases with similar properties can be detected in the cytoplasm. The relationship between the membrane-bound and cytoplasmic enzymes is uncertain. The potential roles of the plasma membrane cAMP dependent protein kinases are evident from the diverse effects of cAMP on surface properties; however, the prevalence of plasma membrane proteins phosphorylated via cAMP independent pathways is striking. Thus, elucidation of the regulatory properties of the plasma membrane cAMP independent protein kinases may give new insight into the control of a variety of surface phenomena not mediated by cAMP.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1972

Demonstration of a phosphopeptide intermediate in the Mg ++ -dependent, Na + - and K + -stimulated adenosine triphosphatase reaction of the erythrocyte membrane.

Human erythrocyte membranes are phosphorylated by [gamma-(32)P]ATP in association with the Mg(++)-dependent, Na(+) and K(+)-stimulated ATPase (EC 3.1.6.3) reaction. To delineate the membrane species involved, phosphorylated membranes were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, under conditions that minimize hydrolysis of acyl phosphate linkages. Three radioactive components were detected, of which only one was a phosphopeptide, of apparent molecular weight 105,000. The phosphate bound to this peptide undergoes rapid turnover and is discharged by hydroxylamine. In the presence of Mg(++), the phosphorylation of this peptide is specifically stimulated by Na(+) and blocked by ethylene diamine tetraacetate; its dephosphorylation is stimulated by K(+) and blocked by ouabain. We conclude that this phosphopeptide is an intermediate in the Mg(++)-dependent, Na(+)- and K(+)-stimulated ATPase reaction of the erythrocyte membrane.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of SAPK/ERK kinase-1 in the stress-activated pathway regulating transcription factor c-Jun.

The stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), which are distantly related to the MAP kinases, are the dominant c-Jun amino-terminal protein kinases activated in response to a variety of cellular stresses, including treatment with tumour-necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-beta (refs 1, 2). SAPK phosphorylation of c-Jun probably activates the c-Jun transactivation function. SAPKs are part of a signal transduction cascade related to, but distinct from, the MAPK pathway. We have now identified a novel protein kinase, called SAPK/ERK kinase-1 (SEK1), which is structurally related to the MAP kinase kinases (MEKs). SEK1 is a potent activator of the SAPKs in vitro and in vivo. An inactive SEK1 mutant blocks SAPK activation by extracellular stimuli without interfering with the MAPK pathway. Although alternative mechanisms of SAPK activation may exist, as an immediate upstream activator of the SAPKs, SEK1 further defines a signalling cascade that couples cellular stress agonists to the c-Jun transcription factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗