Biomedical subjects

K Jungermann

Publications and source records attributed to K Jungermann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Increase by anaphylatoxin C5a of glucose output in perfused rat liver via prostanoids derived from nonparenchymal cells: direct action of prostaglandins and indirect action of thromboxane A(2) on hepatocytes.

In the perfused rat liver the anaphylatoxin C5a enhanced glucose output, reduced flow, and elevated prostanoid overflow. Because hepatocytes (HCs) do not express C5a receptors, the metabolic C5a actions must be indirect, mediated by e.g. prostanoids from Kupffer cells (KCs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which possess C5a receptors. Surprisingly, the metabolic C5a effects were not only impaired by the prostanoid synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, but also by the thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) receptor antagonist, daltroban, even though HCs do not express TXA(2) receptors. TXA(2) did not induce prostaglandin (PG) or an unknown factor release from KCs or sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs), which express TXA(2) receptors, because (1) daltroban did neither influence the C5a-induced release of prostanoids from cultured KCs nor the C5a-dependent activation of glycogen phosphorylase in KC/HC cocultures and because (2) the TXA(2) analog, U46619, failed to stimulate prostanoid release from cultured KCs or SECs or to activate glycogen phosphorylase in KC/HC or SEC/HC cocultures. In the perfused liver, Ca(2+)-deprivation inhibited not only flow reduction but also glucose output elicited by C5a to similar extents as daltroban. Similarly, in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), flow reduction and glucose output induced by U46619 were almost completely prevented, whereas glucose output induced by the directly acting PGF(2alpha) was only slightly lowered. Thus, in the perfused rat liver PGs released after C5a-stimulation from KCs and HSCs directly activated glycogen phosphorylase in HCs, and TXA(2) enhanced glucose output indirectly mainly by causing hypoxia as a result of flow reduction.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Differential expression of prostanoid receptors in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells and stellate cells of rat liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prostanoids produced by nonparenchymal cells modulate the function of parenchymal and nonparenchymal liver cells during homeostasis and inflammation via eight classes of prostanoid receptors coupled to different G-proteins. Prostanoid receptor expression in parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells was studied in order to get a better insight into the complex prostanoid-mediated intrahepatic signaling network. METHODS: RNA was isolated from freshly purified parenchymal and nonparenchymal rat liver cells and the mRNA level of all eight prostanoid receptor classes was determined by newly developed semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction protocols. RESULTS: The mRNAs for the prostanoid receptors were differentially expressed. Hepatocytes were the only cell type which contained the mRNA of the Gq-linked prostaglandin F2alpha receptor; they were devoid of any mRNA for the Gs-linked prostanoid receptors. Kupffer cells possessed the largest amount of mRNA for the Gs-linked prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype 2. Endothelial cells expressed high levels of mRNA for the Gq-linked thromboxane receptor and medium levels of mRNA for the Gs-linked prostacyclin receptor, while stellate cells had the highest levels of mRNA for the prostacyclin receptor. The mRNAs for the Gq-linked prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype 1 and the Gi-linked prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype 3 were expressed in hepatocytes and all nonparenchymal cell types at similar high levels, whereas the mRNA of the Gs-linked prostaglandin D2 receptor was expressed in all nonparenchymal cells at very low levels. CONCLUSIONS: In hepatocytes the prostaglandin F2alpha receptor can mediate an increase in glucose output via an increase of intracellular InsP3 while cAMP-dependent glucose output can be inhibited via the subtype 3 prostaglandin E2 receptor. The subtype 2 prostaglandin E2 receptor can restrain the inflammatory response of Kupffer cells via an increase in intracellular cAMP The thromboxane receptor and the prostacyclin receptor in sinusoidal endothelial and the prostacyclin receptor in stellate cells may be involved in the regulation of sinusoidal blood flow and filtration.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Rat complement factor I: molecular cloning, sequencing and expression in tissues and isolated cells.

Factor I (FI) is a regulatory serine protease of the complement system which cleaves three peptide bonds in the alpha-chain of C3b and two bonds in the alpha-chain of C4b thereby inactivating these proteins. The human protein and the recently characterized mouse factor I are heterodimers of about 88,000 MW which consist of a non-catalytic heavy chain of 50,000 MW which is linked to a catalytic light chain of 38,000 MW by a disulphide bond. For the screening of a rat liver cDNA library we used a hybridization probe produced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerated primers which corresponded to conserved parts of the human and the murine factor I nucleotide sequences. One of the identified sequences, which had a length of 2243 base pairs (bp), contained the complete coding region and the whole 3' untranslated region. The length of the coding region in rat consisted of 1812 bp followed by a 3' untranslated region of 207 bp including the polyadenylation signal and the beginning of the poly A tail. Comparison of the rat cDNA-derived coding sequence revealed identities of 87% to the mouse and of 78% to the human FI nucleotide sequence. The translation product of rat FI mRNA was 604 amino acid residues (aa) in length with an identity of 85% to the mouse (603 aa) and 69% to the human protein (583 aa). The comparison of the molecular mass predicted by the primary structure and derived from rat FI isolated from rat serum as detected in immunoblot analyses suggested a glycosylation of more than 20% of the total mass of the FI protein. Expression studies using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays indicated that FI-specific mRNA could neither be identified in B cells, nor in T cells, monocytes or granulocytes from rat and human peripheral blood nor in rat peritoneal macrophages. These data were in agreement with the results of RT-PCR obtained with several human lymphoma cell lines (Jurkat, MOLT-4, HUT102, Wil 2-NS, Ramos, Raji, U937) all of which were devoid of FI-specific mRNA. In accord with our data from two rat hepatoma cell lines (FAO and H4IIE) and one from man (HepG2) only isolated rat hepatocytes (HC) but neither Kupffer cells (KC), hepatic stellate cells (HSC; Ito cells) nor sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) expressed FI-specific mRNA. FI mRNA was also detected in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and in the uterus and small intestine of the rat. Spleen and lymph nodes did not contain any detectable FI-specific mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Mimicry in primary rat hepatocyte cultures of the in vivo perivenous induction by phenobarbital of cytochrome P-450 2B1 mRNA: role of epidermal growth factor and perivenous oxygen tension.

Treatment of male rats with phenobarbital (PB) results in a perivenous and mid-zonal pattern of cytochrome P-450 (CYP)2B1 mRNA expression within the liver acinus. The mechanism of this zonated induction is still poorly understood. In this study sinusoidal gradients of oxygen and epidermal growth factor (EGF) besides those of the pituitary-dependent hormones growth hormone (GH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) were considered to be possible determinants for the zonated induction of the CYP2B1 gene in liver. Moreover, heme proteins seem to play a key role in oxygen sensing. Therefore, the influence of arterial (16% O2) and venous (8% O2) oxygen tension (pO2), and of the heme synthesis inhibitors CoCl2 and desferrioxamine (DSF) on PB-dependent CYP2B1 mRNA induction as well as the repression by EGF and, for comparison, by GH, T4, and T3, of the induction under arterial and venous pO2 were investigated in primary rat hepatocytes. Within 3 days, phenobarbital induced CYP2B1 mRNA to maximal levels under arterial pO2 and to about 40% of maximal levels under venous pO2. CoCl2 annihilated induction by PB under both oxygen tensions, whereas desferrioxamine and heme abolished the positive modulation by O2, suggesting that heme is a necessary component for O2 sensing. EGF suppressed CYP2B1 mRNA induction by PB only under arterial but not under venous pO2, whereas GH, T4, and T3 inhibited induction under both arterial and venous pO2. Thus, in hepatocyte cultures, an O2 gradient in conjunction with EGF mimicked the perivenous induction by PB of the CYP2B1 gene observed in the liver in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Acute increase, stimulated by prostaglandin E2, in glucose absorption via the sodium dependent glucose transporter-1 in rat intestine.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute stimulation by cAMP of the sodium dependent glucose cotransporter SGLT1 has previously been shown. As prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increases intracellular cAMP concentrations via its receptor subtypes EP2R and EP4R, it was investigated whether PGE2 could enhance intestinal glucose absorption. METHODS: The action of PGE2 on carbohydrate absorption in the ex situ perfused rat small intestine and on 3-O-[14C]methylglucose uptake in isolated villus tip enterocytes was determined. Expression of mRNA for the PGE2 receptor subtypes 1-4 was assayed in enterocytes by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In the perfused small intestine, PGE2 acutely increased absorption of glucose and galactose, but not fructose (which is not a substrate for SGLT1); in isolated enterocytes it stimulated 3-O-[14C]methylglucose uptake. The 3-O-[14C]methylglucose uptake could be inhibited by the cAMP antagonist RpcAMPS and the specific inhibitor of SGLT1, phlorizin. High levels of EP2R mRNA and EP4R mRNA were detected in villus tip enterocytes. CONCLUSION: PGE2 acutely increased glucose and galactose absorption by the small intestine via the SGLT1, with cAMP serving as the second messenger. PGE2 acted directly on the enterocytes, as the stimulation was still observed in isolated enterocytes and RT-PCR detected mRNA for the cAMP-increasing PGE2 receptors EP2R and EP4R.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

PubMed1999

Impaired stimulation of intestinal glucose absorption via hepatoenteral nerves in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

In an ex situ organ perfusion system, that of the isolated nonrecirculating joint perfusion of rat small intestine and liver, insulin infused into the portal vein increased intestinal glucose absorption. This insulin action against the bloodstream can be blocked by TTX, indicating a propagation of the insulin signal via hepatoenteral nerves, which conforms with previous studies with atropine and carbachol. Insulin action could also be mimicked by dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP) acting directly on the absorptive enterocytes. Because autonomic neuropathy is a common late complication of diabetes mellitus, the possible impairment of these nerves in the diabetic state was studied in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. In the isolated joint intestine-liver perfusion, glucose was applied as a bolus into the lumen; its absorption was measured in the portal vein. In 5-day diabetic as well as in control rats, portal insulin, arterial carbachol, and arterial DBcAMP increased intestinal glucose absorption. In 3-mo diabetic rats portal insulin and arterial carbachol failed to stimulate glucose absorption, whereas arterial DBcAMP still did so, indicating an undisturbed function of the absorptive enterocytes. The lack of an effect of portal insulin and arterial carbachol and the unchanged action of DBcAMP in the chronically diabetic rats indicated that the signaling chain via the hepatoenteral nerves was impaired, which is in line with a diabetic neuropathy.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1999

Role of hepatic, intrahepatic and hepatoenteral nerves in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and hemodynamics of the liver and intestine.

The liver as an effector organ is the major glucose reservoir, the utilization of which is controlled by hormones but also by hepatic sympathetic nerves. The liver as a sensory organ detects a glucose concentration gradient between the hepatic artery and the portal vein by intrahepatic sensory-effector nerves, generating a cholinergic signal for an insulin-dependent net hepatic glucose uptake. The liver senses the insulin concentration by hepatoenteral sensory-effector nerves, generating a cholinergic signal to increase glucose absorption in the intestine and thus its coordinated utilization in liver, muscle and adipose tissue.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1999

Differential expression of the C5a receptor on the main cell types of rat liver as demonstrated with a novel monoclonal antibody and by C5a anaphylatoxin-induced Ca2+ release.

The C5-anaphylatoxin (C5a) is a protein of 74 (human) or 77 (rat) amino acid residues, respectively, which is generated by limited proteolysis upon activation of the fifth component of complement. Its generation may be induced by both the classical and alternative pathways. C5a has been shown to indirectly increase glucose output from hepatocytes (HC) in perfused rat liver by inducing prostanoid release from Kupffer cells (KC) and hepatic stellate cells (HSC). A direct action of C5a on hepatocytes would require their expression of the specific C5a receptor (C5aR). In former studies using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) it was shown that HC lack this receptor in contrast to KC, HSC and, probably, sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC), all of which contained mRNA for the C5aR in decreasing amounts. Using a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb R63) against the rat receptor, expression of the rat receptor on the four cell types was investigated by FACS analysis, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. The data obtained were confirmed by functional studies in which the Ca2+ response after stimulation of the isolated cells with recombinant rat C5a (rrC5a), the ligand for the receptor was recorded. The FACS and the immunocytochemical data presented here clearly indicate that rat HC do not express the C5aR, whereas KC have the highest expression level followed by HSC. SEC expressed the receptor only weakly. In line with these findings, a strong Ca2+ response was observed after stimulation of KC and HSC, and a weak one with SEC. However, no signal was obtained upon stimulation of HC. The results of this study support the indirect stimulation of glucose output from HC via prostanoid release from nonparenchymal liver cells and contradict the formerly proposed hypothesis of a direct action of C5 anaphylatoxin on hepatocytes.

Anaphylatoxins↗

PubMed1998

Involvement of a local fenton reaction in the reciprocal modulation by O2 of the glucagon-dependent activation of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene and the insulin-dependent activation of the glucokinase gene in rat hepatocytes.

H2O2 mimicked the action of periportal pO2 in the modulation by O2 of the glucagon-dependent activation of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) gene and the insulin-dependent activation of the glucokinase (GK) gene. H2O2 can be converted in the presence of Fe2+ in a Fenton reaction into hydroxyl anions and hydroxyl radicals (.OH). The hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive and might interfere locally with transcription factors. It was the aim of the present study to investigate the role of and to localize such a Fenton reaction. Hepatocytes cultured for 24 h were treated under conditions mimicking periportal or perivenous pO2 with glucagon or insulin plus the iron chelator desferrioxamine (DSF) or the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylthiourea (DMTU) to inhibit the Fenton reaction. PCK mRNA was induced by glucagon maximally under conditions of periportal pO2 and half-maximally under venous pO2. GK mRNA was induced by insulin with reciprocal modulation by O2. DSF and DMTU reduced the induction of PCK mRNA to about half-maximal and increased the induction of GK mRNA to maximal under both O2 tensions. Hydroxyl radical formation was maximal under arterial pO2. Perivenous pO2, DSF and DMTU each decreased the formation of .OH to about 70% of control. The Fenton reaction could be localized in a perinuclear space by confocal laser microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction techniques. In the same compartment, iron could be detected by electron-probe X-ray microanalysis. Thus a local Fenton reaction is involved in the O2 signalling, which modulated the glucagon- and insulin-dependent PCK gene and GK gene activation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Impaired glucose sensing by intrahepatic, muscarinic nerves for an insulin-stimulated hepatic glucose uptake in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Insulin-induced net hepatic glucose uptake depends on the sensing by muscarinic, intrahepatic nerves of a glucose concentration gradient between portal vein and hepatic artery. The function of these intrahepatic nerves was examined in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. In the presence of the glucose gradient insulin induced net glucose uptake in isolated perfused livers from control and acutely diabetic but not from chronically diabetic animals. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine still mimicked the existence of the gradient, excluding a metabolic impairment of livers of chronically diabetic animals. The impairment of the intrahepatic nerves due to diabetic neuropathy could contribute to postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1998

Stimulation by anaphylatoxin C5a of glycogen phosphorylase in rat hepatocytes via prostanoid release from hepatic stellate cells but not sinusoidal endothelial cells.

In the perfused rat liver, the anaphylatoxin C5a has been shown to enhance glucose output. Since hepatocytes lack C5a receptor mRNA, the metabolic effect of C5a must be elicited indirectly via C5a receptor expressing non-parenchymal liver cells. Kupffer cells were found to be able to mediate the C5a action via release of prostanoids. However, elimination of the Kupffer cells by pretreatment of the animals with gadolinium chloride reduced the metabolic effect of C5a to only about 40%. Therefore, it was investigated whether not only Kupffer cells but in addition also hepatic stellate cells or sinusoidal endothelial cells released prostanoids in response to C5a. In isolated hepatic stellate cells but not in sinusoidal endothelial cells, recombinant rat C5a induced a time- and dose-dependent release of thromboxane B2 and prostaglandins D2, E2 and F2alpha. The rate of prostanoid release was maximal within the first two minutes and then declined again. C5a-induced prostanoid release from hepatic stellate cells was smaller than that from Kupffer cells and it differed in the prostanoid ratios (PGE2/PGD2/PGF2alpha/TXB2 = 1:1:0.1:0.6 and 1:4:1:3, respectively). RrC5a activated hepatocellular glycogen phosphorylase via prostanoid release in cocultures of hepatocytes with hepatic stellate cells but not with sinusoidal endothelial cells. Thus, the part of the rrC5a-induced glucose output in the perfused rat liver, which was not abrogated by elimination of the Kupffer cells with gadolinium chloride, most likely was mediated by prostanoids released from hepatic stellate cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Transcriptional activation of the haem oxygenase-1 gene by cGMP via a cAMP response element/activator protein-1 element in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The expression of the rate-limiting enzyme of haem degradation, haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1), can be induced by various stimuli, including lipopolysaccharide, tumour necrosis factor alpha and NO. The NO signal can be transmitted by cGMP, therefore this study was aimed at testing the activation of the HO-1 gene by cGMP. In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, both HO-1 mRNA and protein were induced by the NO donor sodium nitroprusside and 8-bromo-cGMP. The HO-1 mRNA induction by cGMP was prevented by the specific protein kinase G inhibitor KT5823. The cGMP-dependent HO-1 mRNA induction was dose-dependent and transcriptionally regulated, as determined by studies with actinomycin D and a nuclear run-on assay. Cycloheximide lowered the cGMP-dependent induction of HO-1 mRNA to about one half. Luciferase reporter constructs driven by about 800 bp of the 5'-flanking region of the rat HO-1 gene were transiently transfected into primary rat hepatocytes; 8-bromo-cGMP caused a 6-fold induction, which was obliterated by deletion and mutation of the cAMP response element/activator protein-1 (CRE/AP-1) (-665/-654) site. Thus HO-1 induction by cGMP appears to be stimulated by the protein kinase G pathway and may be mediated mainly via a CRE/AP-1 element in the rat HO-1 promoter.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1998

Human mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 gene. Structure, chromosomal localization and tissue-specific expression.

The mitochodrial (mt) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2) gene was isolated by screening a human genomic library with a rat cytosolic (cy) PCK1 cDNA probe comprising sequences from exons 2-9 and by PCR amplification of human genomic DNA spanning consecutive exons with known primer pairs from mtPCK2 cDNA containing sequences from two putative neighbouring exons. The mtPCK2 gene spans approx. 10 kb and consists of ten exons and nine introns. All exon-intron junction sequences match the classical GT/AG rule. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ and total RNA from various tissues revealed one mRNA species of approx. 2.4 kb. The gene is expressed in a variety of human tissues, mainly in liver, kidney, pancreas, intestine and fibroblasts. In contrast with the cytosolic isoenzyme, the mitochondrial form might not have a purely gluconeogenic function. The mtPCK2 gene maps to chromosome 14q11.2-q12, in contrast with the cyPCK1 gene located on 20q13.2-q13.31.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Periportal localization of glucagon receptor mRNA in rat liver and regulation of its expression by glucose and oxygen in hepatocyte cultures.

Glucagon is the major hormone activating glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis both localized in the periportal, more aerobic zone of the liver. Accordingly, the glucagon receptor (GcgR) mRNA was found to be predominantly expressed in this area. In hepatocyte cultures high glucose concentrations as reached after a meal induced GcgR mRNA under arterial but not venous pO2. The induction by glucose was partially antagonized by insulin and unaffected by glucagon. The modulation by 02 of the glucose-dependent induction would contribute to the zonated expression of GcgR mRNA.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Connexin 32 gap junctions enhance stimulation of glucose output by glucagon and noradrenaline in mouse liver.

Gap junctions connect neighboring cells via intercellular channels composed of connexins (Cx). Connexin 32 (Cx32) is the main connexin in hepatocytes. Gap junctions propagate a signal from periportal to perivenous hepatocytes generated by electrical stimulation of sympathetic liver nerves. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to examine the involvement of hepatocellular gap junctions in hormonal regulation. In perfused livers from wild-type mice and Cx32-deficient mice, the stimulation of glucose release by varying noradrenaline and glucagon concentrations was investigated. At saturating hormone concentrations, glucose release was the same in wild-type and Cx32-deficient livers. However, glucose output was significantly smaller in Cx32-deficient than wild-type livers at half-maximally effective hormone concentrations. Because the two hormones circulate at less than half-saturating concentrations and because they are degraded during passage of blood through the liver, they lose efficiency from the periportal to the perivenous zone. In wild-type livers, this decrease in efficiency can be partially compensated by intercellular signal propagation through gap junctions, resulting in higher hormone actions than in Cx32-deficient livers. It is concluded that gap junctions are not only involved in intercellular propagation of nervous, but also of hormonal signals from periportal to perivenous hepatocytes.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Enteric glucagon 37 rather than pancreatic glucagon 29 stimulates glucose absorption in rat intestine.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Glucose and galactose are absorbed by the small intestine via the sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) and fructose via the facilitated glucose transporter 5. A stimulatory effect of enteric glucagon 37 and pancreatic glucagon 29 on intestinal carbohydrate absorption has been shown. However, only glucagon 37 is released after nutrient uptake and would thus fit into a regulatory circuit of nutrient-dependent hormone release that enhances carbohydrate absorption. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether glucagon 37 rather than glucagon 29 is the physiological stimulus of intestinal glucose absorption. METHODS: We examined the effects of glucagon 37, glucagon 29, and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate on intestinal carbohydrate absorption and hepatic glucose output in the isolated perfused small intestine, isolated enterocytes, and isolated perfused liver of the rat. RESULTS: Reciprocal dose-response curves for the effects of the two hormones in intestine and liver were demonstrated: glucagon 37 was one order of magnitude more potent than glucagon 29 in increasing intestinal absorption of glucose via the SGLT1. In contrast, glucagon 29 more efficiently stimulated hepatic glucose release. The intracellular messenger was shown to be adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. CONCLUSIONS: Glucagon 37 rather than glucagon 29 is the physiological stimulus of intestinal glucose absorption and exerts its effect via a specific glucagon 37 receptor.

Absorption↗

PubMed1998

Parallel acceleration of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA degradation and increase in ribonuclease activity induced by insulin in cultured rat hepatocytes.

In cultured rat hepatocytes, glucagon increased phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA transiently. Insulin, given at the maximal increase, enhanced the degradation by 3-fold. The levels of beta-actin mRNA and ribosomal RNA, which served as a control, remained unchanged. The transcriptional inhibitor, actinomycin D, or the serine/threonine phosphatase IIA inhibitor, okadaic acid, prevented the degradation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA. This indicated that the degradation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA requires the de novo synthesis of a bona fide destabilizing factor and/or active protein phosphatase. In vitro RNA degradation assays were developed in order to investigate whether insulin-treated cells contained enhanced ribonuclease activity. Fractionated cytosolic extracts were prepared by removing cell organelles by differential centrifugation and thereafter part of the cytosolic proteins by heat treatment. These extracts were incubated with exogenously added total RNA and the degradation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA, beta-actin mRNA and 28S ribosomal RNA was studied. In this assay, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA and the otherwise stable beta-actin mRNA and ribosomal RNA were degraded 3-fold faster by extracts from insulin-treated, than from untreated, cells. The increase in RNase activity induced by insulin could be prevented by treatment of cultured rat hepatocytes with actinomycin D, indicating that ongoing gene transcription was required. The 'in vivo' specificity of the insulin effect on PCK mRNA degradation in cultured hepatocytes seemed to be lost in the in vitro assay in cytosolic extracts due to the disruption of the intracellular environment. Also in whole cell lysates, which were obtained by hypo-osmotic shock of the cells, and which contained the disrupted particulate and all soluble cellular components, PCK mRNA as well as beta-actin mRNA and ribosomal RNA, was degraded. The increase in ribonuclease activity due to insulin paralleled the insulin-induced acceleration of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA degradation in cultured hepatocytes, which might indicate a functional correlation.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Purification of a RNA-binding protein from rat liver. Identification as ferritin L chain and determination of the RNA/protein binding characteristics.

In cultured rat hepatocytes the degradation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA might be regulated by protein(s), which by binding to the mRNA alter its stability. The 3'-untranslated region of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA as a potential target was used to select RNA-binding protein(s) from rat liver by the use of gel retardation assays. A cytosolic protein was isolated, which bound to the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA 3'-untranslated region and other in vitro synthesized RNAs. The protein was purified to homogeneity; it had an apparent molecular mass of 400 kDa and consisted of identical subunits with an apparent size of 24.5 kDa. Sequence analysis of a tryptic peptide from the 24.5-kDa protein revealed its identity with rat ferritin light chain. Binding of ferritin to RNA was abolished after phosphorylation with cAMP-dependent protein kinase and was augmented after dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase. Weak binding was observed in extracts from okadaic acid-treated cultured hepatocytes compared with untreated cells. Preincubation of ferritin with an anti-phosphoserine or an anti-phosphothreonine antibody attenuated binding to RNA, while an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody generated a supershift indicating that phosphoserine and phosphothreonine but not phosphotyrosine residues were in close proximity to the RNA-binding region. Ferritin is the iron storage protein in the liver. Binding of ferritin to RNA was diminished in the presence of increasing iron concentrations, whereas the iron chelator desferal was without effect. It is concluded that ferritin might function as RNA-binding protein and that it may have important functions in the general regulation of cellular RNA metabolism.

Animals↗