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K R Westcott

Publications and source records attributed to K R Westcott.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Folding and purification of a recombinantly expressed interferon regulatory factor, IRF-4.

Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF-4), an intracellular, multidomain protein, is a member of the interferon regulatory factor family and a lymphoid-specific transcription factor that can form a ternary complex with DNA and the transcription factor PU.1. Recombinant human IRF-4 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from the soluble cell extract and the insoluble inclusion bodies. The inclusion bodies were solubilized with guanidinium-hydrochloride and sequentially buffer exchanged into urea- and then NaCl-containing solutions. This two-step process for the removal of the denaturants was the critical step to allow for the correct folding of IRF-4. Following purification through immobilized metal affinity, hydrophobic interaction, and gel permeation chromatographies, the renatured protein was shown to be structurally and physically equivalent to a sample of IRF-4 produced in the soluble fraction of E. coli cells. This was confirmed by near and far UV circular dichroism analysis, including thermal stability analysis. The purified IRF-4 was also shown to be capable of binding DNA in a PU.1-dependent manner by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis. The protein folding and purification methods are suitable for producing large quantities of full-length IRF-4.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1998

In vitro methionine oxidation of recombinant human leptin.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role and importance of the four methionines in recombinant human leptin, and the effect of methionine oxidation in leptin structural stability and biological activity. METHODS: Oxidized leptin derivatives were prepared in the presence of H2O2 and t-butylhydroperoxide, separated by RP-HPLC, and characterized by peptide mapping and LC/MS. Their biophysical and biological properties were studied. RESULTS: Six major species of oxidized leptins were detected: two mono-oxidized, one di-oxidized, two tri-oxidized, and one tetra-oxidized. Further oxidation at cystine disulfide was also detected. Kinetic analysis indicated that oxidation at Met1 and Met69 proceeded first and independently. In 48 mM t-butylhydroperoxide, the pseudo first-order rate constants, k1 and k69, were 1.5 x 10(-3) and 2.3 x 10(-4) min-1. No change in the secondary or tertiary structure was detected for Met1 mono-oxidized and Met1, Met69 di-oxidized leptins. The Met1 mono-oxidized leptin retained full potency as compared to native leptin. A slight decrease of thermostability and a significant loss of the in vitro bioactivity were observed for Met1, Met69 di-oxidized leptin. Both Met55 and Met137 were not oxidized in t-butylhydroperoxide but only in H2O2. They appeared to be much less accessible to oxidation and might interact with the hydrophobic core structure of the leptin molecule. CONCLUSIONS: The oxidation of leptin occurred in the order of Met1 > Met69 >> Met55 approximately Met137, and the importance for maintaining leptin structural integrity was Met55 approximately Met137 >> Met69 approximately Met1. Met69, but not Met1, plays a critical role in the protein stability and activity.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Differential effects of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on distinct developmental stages of murine megakaryocytopoiesis.

The effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) on three developmental stages of megakaryocytopoiesis was investigated. Using a murine bone marrow agar culture system, titrated doses of TGF beta 1 were added to cultures assaying primitive high proliferative megakaryocyte progenitors, committed megakaryocyte precursors, and nondividing, endoreduplicating megakaryocytes. The growth of high proliferative megakaryocyte colony-forming cells (HPP-CFU-Mk) that require the growth factors interleukins-1, 3 and 6 (IL-1 + IL-3 + IL-6) for colony detection was abrogated by the addition of 1 ng TGF beta 1/ml. The sensitivity of committed megakaryocyte progenitors (colony-forming unit-megakaryocyte, CFU-Mk) to TGF beta 1 depended on the growth factor combination. TGF beta 1 (1 ng/ml) completely inhibited megakaryocyte colony formation from CFU-Mk only in cultures stimulated by low doses of IL-3. TGF beta 1 (> 10 ng/ml) could only marginally inhibit megakaryocyte colony formation generated in the presence of either high doses of IL-3 or the combination of low dose IL-3 + IL-6. TGF beta 1 inhibited both IL-3-dependent and IL-6-dependent megakaryocyte growth but tenfold higher doses of TGF beta 1 were required to inhibit growth generated by the combination of IL-3 + IL-6. The data showed that the capacity of TGF beta 1 to inhibit distinct differentiation stages of the megakaryocytopoietic lineage depended on the concentration and combination of growth factors involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Soluble stem cell factor in human serum.

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a recently described factor active in the early stages of hematopoiesis. It can exist in membrane-bound form and in proteolytically released soluble form. The levels and nature of SCF in human serum are described. As determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed for 257 samples, SCF level in serum averaged 3.3 +/- 1.1 ng/mL. The serum SCF was partially purified by immunoaffinity chromatography and analyzed by glycosidase treatments in conjunction with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The results show that the SCF has N-linked and O-linked carbohydrate and corresponds to the soluble form, at or about 165 amino acids in length. The findings suggest functional importance for soluble SCF in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Recombinant human transforming growth factor-beta 1: expression by Chinese hamster ovary cells, isolation, and characterization.

A partial cDNA clone encoding the gene for human transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) was isolated from a human bladder carcinoma cell line (5637) cDNA library. Following restriction enzyme processing and ligation of synthetic oligonucleotide linkers, the gene was inserted into a plasmid and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells. Clonal selection and growth conditions resulted in a method for production of recombinant human TGF-beta 1 at 7 mg/liter in conditioned cell medium. Through a combination of low pH treatment, cation-exchange chromatography, and salt precipitation, the recombinant human TGF-beta 1 was purified in milligram amounts to > 95% purity in a yield of about 36%. Purification to homogeneity was accomplished by chromatography on C18 silica gel. Amino acid analysis, N-terminal sequencing, and growth inhibition assays indicate identity with the molecule from human platelets.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Solution structure and dynamics of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor alpha.

Circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies have shown that the secondary structure of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is very similar to that of epidermal growth factor (EGF). The infrared spectra revealed a minor difference between the two proteins, in particular in the beta-sheet structure. A large difference was observed with CD between the two proteins in the apparent conformation each adopts when the disulfide bonds are reduced. Reduced TGF-alpha showed a distinct alpha-helical conformation only at a high trifluoroethanol concentration, whereas reduced EGF assumed an alpha-helical conformation in the absence of trifluoroethanol. This indicates that these two proteins adopt different secondary structures in the absence of disulfide bonds, although they assume similar folding structures in their presence. These data suggest that the disulfide bonds to a large degree dictate the conformation of these two proteins. Additionally, differences in the dynamic behavior between EGF and TGF-alpha were also observed. Infrared experiments showed that the hydrogen-deuterium exchange rate is much higher for TGF-alpha than for EGF, indicating that TGF-alpha is a more flexible molecule. The rate of reduction of the disulfide bonds by dithiothreitol was also faster for TGF-alpha. Therefore, it can be concluded that although EGF and TGF-alpha have a similar overall conformation, TGF-alpha is a more flexible molecule than EGF.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1992

Circular dichroism of reduced and oxidized recombinant human epidermal growth factor.

To further elucidate the role of the disulfide bonds in determining the protein folding of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (r-HuEGF) we studied the structure of reduced and oxidized r-HuEGF using circular dichroism (CD). The far UV CD spectrum of reduced r-HuEGF in 10 mM sodium phosphate pH 3.0 is very different from that of the oxidized molecule. The spectrum of the reduced molecule consists of a plateau from 225 to 200 nm, consistent with the presence of alpha-helix, beta-sheet, and unordered structure. The addition of the alpha-helix inducer trifluoroethanol to the reduced molecule resulted in an enhancement of alpha-helix, at the apparent expense of beta-sheet, while the oxidized molecule was unaffected by the presence of this reagent. Secondary structure predictions based on the amino acid sequence of EGF correlate most closely with the structure of the reduced molecule. From these results, it appears that the r-HuEGF has a more regular secondary structure in the absence of the disulfide bonds than in their presence. This suggests that the folding of EGF occurs by destroying the regular secondary structure that was present in the reduced state, and that the structure of the native molecule is dictated largely by disulfide bonding.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1988

Cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor contains covalently bound fatty acid.

The cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (215,000 daltons) was isolated from embryonic bovine tracheal cells and embryonic human skin fibroblasts labelled with [3H]palmitic acid. The tritium label was detected in the protein upon fluorographic analysis of SDS-polyacrylamide gels of the purified receptor. The label was not sensitive to hydroxylamine, methanolic KOH, or beta-mercaptoethanol, but labelled fatty acid was recovered from the protein by acidic methanolysis. Labelled receptor protein could not be isolated from cells grown in the presence of [3H]myristic acid. The results suggest the presence of amide-linked palmitic acid in the structure of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Evidence for ligand- and pH-dependent conformational changes in liposome-associated mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

Digestion of mannose 6-phosphate receptor preparations with trypsin and chymotrypsin was found to produce characteristic polypeptide "fingerprints" of the receptor. Lengthy digestions with both proteases produced fragments of the receptor which appeared to be resistant to further proteolysis. This suggests the occurrence of distinct structural domains within the receptor protein. Liposome-associated mannose 6-phosphate receptor preparations were made using phosphatidylcholine and purified receptor. Receptor molecules were oriented in the liposomes with greater than 90% of ligand-binding sites on the outside surfaces of the liposomes. Liposome-associated mannose 6-phosphate receptor was labeled with 125I at pH 7.5 and 5.4 in the presence or absence of sugar phosphate ligands. Limited trypsin digestion was used to analyze 125I-labeled receptor preparations. Peptide fragments having molecular weights of approximately 60,000 and 23,000 were found to be most prominently labeled. At pH 7.5 the labeling of the 60-kDa fragment was enhanced strongly by the presence of mannose 6-phosphate. This ligand-induced enhancement of 125I-labeling was saturable, had a K1/2 value of 0.4 mM, required the presence of phosphatidylcholine, and did not occur at pH 5.4. Incorporation of 125I into both polypeptide fragments was significantly reduced at pH 5.4. These results suggest the occurrence of ligand- and pH-dependent conformational changes in domains of the mannose 6-phosphate receptor which may be necessary for proper function of this membrane receptor in receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Regulation of beta-D-galactoside alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase activity. The effects of detergents and lysophosphatidates.

Peptide maps of Form A and Form B of porcine submaxillary gland beta Gal alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase were essentially identical, consistent with the view that the two forms are not different enzyme species but that one, the B form (Mr = 44,000) is derived from the A form (Mr = 49,000). Analysis of the sialyltransferase activity in subcellular fractions from homogenates of porcine submaxillary glands reveals that 85% of the total activity of the transferase is bound to membranes, mostly in the Golgi apparatus, and that the remainder is soluble. The relative amounts of the membrane-bound and soluble forms as well as their response to detergents suggests that they are the cellular counterparts to the A and B forms of the transferase. The activity of Form A and the membrane-bound enzyme is stimulated to similar extents by various detergents. Triton-type detergents are more effective than Brij-type. Lysophosphatidylcholine is a potent stimulator of the activity of Form A but lysophosphatidylethanolamine is without effect and lysophosphatidylserine and lysophosphatidylglycerol are inhibitory. C16-18 acyl derivatives of lysophosphatidylcholine stimulate the activity more extensively than the C14 acyl derivative, and the C12 acyl derivative is without effect. In contrast, Form B is fully active in the absence of all detergents tested although it is inactivated just as Form A by lysophosphatidylglycerol and octylglucoside. Kinetic analysis of Forms A and B reveal that detergents stimulate the activity of Form A by lowering the KD and KM of CMP-NeuAc and increasing the Vmax of the reaction. Form B in contrast, which is fully active in the absence of detergents, has kinetic parameters like those of Form A in the presence of detergent. Taken together, these results suggest that Form A of the sialyltransferase, but not Form B, contains a lipid-binding domain, and that binding of detergents or lipids to the domain modulates the activity of the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Reconstitution of a porcine submaxillary gland beta-D-galactoside alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase into liposomes.

Form A of the beta-D-galactoside alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase from porcine submaxillary glands was incorporated into liposomes. Incorporation was achieved by gel filtration of the enzyme in the presence of octylglucoside-phospholipid micelles. As detergent was removed during gel filtration, liposomes (average diameter, 370 A) with bound enzyme were formed and emerged unretarded from the column. The recovery of enzyme activity in the liposomes was about 40% of the initial activity starting with as little as 9 micrograms of transferase. Chromatography on Sepharose CL6B and sucrose density gradient centrifugation confirmed the association of enzyme with liposomes. In contrast to Form A, Form B of the sialyltransferase, which lacks the proposed lipid-binding domain of Form A, cannot be incorporated into liposomes. Form A of the transferase was also incorporated into liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and a mixture of phospholipids from the membranes of the Golgi apparatus from porcine submaxillary glands. Although the transferase was distributed about equally on the internal and external surface of the phosphatidylcholine liposomes, most of the transferase was on the external surface in liposomes containing cholesterol (72%) or in liposomes containing Golgi apparatus phospholipids (88%). The enzyme bound to phosphatidylcholine liposomes was shown by kinetic analysis to have the same activity as that found in the presence of activity-stimulating detergents such as Triton X-100. Enzyme incorporated into cholesterol-containing liposomes had the same activity. In contrast, enzyme bound to liposomes formed from the Golgi apparatus mixed phospholipids had a lower activity, but one similar to that of the transferase in Golgi apparatus membranes. These studies suggest that the composition of a biological membrane may well influence the orientation of the transferase in the membrane as well as modulate its enzymic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Interrelationships between PGE1 and PGI2 binding and stimulation of adenylate cyclase.

The effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostacyclin (PGI2) on hepatic adenylate cyclase were studied in plasma membranes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rat livers. Both PGE1 and PGI2 stimulated this enzyme complex to the same maximal levels and with approximately the same EC50 (10(-7) M). Maximally stimulating concentrations of PGE1 and PGI2 were examined alone and together; their effects were not additive, indicating that the same enzyme complex was shared. Although a receptor for PGE1 could be demonstrated with a dissociation constant of 1 X 10(-8) M, PGI2 was only 1/100 as effective in competing for PGE1 binding sites (KD, 1 X 10(-6) M), indicating that these two prostaglandins may act via separate membrane receptors. PGI2 is known to be unstable at neutral pH; however, we have determined its half-life during these assays by a sensitive bioassay and concluded that the degradation of PGI2 is not sufficient to account for its inability to dissociate [3H]PGE1 binding. Further evidence that PGI2 might act through a distinct receptor was found in animals whose PGE1 receptors were 40% downregulated with a corresponding 28% decrease in PGE1-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. These membranes had no such decrease in PGI2-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. We conclude that 1) hepatic adenylate cyclase is equally sensitive to PGE1 and PGI2; 2) the same adenylate cyclase complex responds to both prostaglandins; and 3) PGE1 and PGI2 interact with separate membrane receptors in rat liver.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1980

Inhibition of adenylate cyclase by the 2',3'-dialdehyde of adenosine triphosphate.

The periodate-oxidized analog of ATP, 2',3'-dialATP, competitively inhibited bovine brain and rat liver adenylate cyclase. The apparent Ki for inhibition of brain adenylate cyclase by 2',3'-dialATP was 196 microM in the presence of Mg2+ and 37 microM in the presence of Mn2+. The Ki values for inhibition of rat liver adenylate cyclase by 2',3'-dialATP were 48 and 30 microM in the presence of Mg2+; and Mn2+, respectively. Adenylate cyclase activity was irreversibly inactivated by 2'3'-dialATP in the presence of NaCNBH3 and the kinetics for loss in enzyme activity were pseudo-first order. Both ATP and Tris protected adenylate cyclase from irreversible inhibition by 2',3'-dialATP and NaCNBH3. It is proposed that 2',3'-dialATP forms a Schiff's base with an amino group at the active site of the enzyme and that Na-CNBH3 reduction of this Schiff's base causes irreversible modification of the catalytic subunit. The Km for 2',3'-dialATP inactivation, the maximal rate constant of inactivation, and protection of the enzyme by ATP were not affected by the presence or absence of free Mg2+. These data indicate that a divalent cation is not required for binding of 2',3'-dialATP to the active site of adenylate cyclase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1980

Down-regulation in vivo of PGE receptors and adenylate cyclase stimulation.

Down-regulation in vivo of liver plasma membrane receptors for prostaglandin E (PGE) was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats using the 16,16-dimethyl analogue of PGE2, This analogue was used for subcutaneous injections because it escapes the rapid pulmonic degradation characteristic of PGE and was recognized well by liver plasma membrane receptors. Following treatment with the analogue, the concentration of PGE receptors was significantly decreased (-37%, P less than 0.001), but the binding affinity was not altered. There was no evidence for carry-through of the analogue into the isolated plasma membrane preparation. It was also demonstrated that GTP decreased the binding affinity between PGE and its receptor. Down-regulation of receptor concentration was associated with a significant decrease (P less than 0.001) in PGE1-stimulated plasma membrane adenylate cyclase activity. These data provide the novel demonstration that rat liver plasma membrane receptor for PGE can be down-regulated in vivo and that this causes a corresponding decrease in PGE-induced plasma membrane adenylate cyclase activity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1979

Production of cyclic AMP from extracellular ATP by intact LM cells.

Intact LM cells, a line of cultured mouse fibroblasts, exhibited an adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1) activity in the presence of exogenous [alpha-32P]ATP which was 20--30% of that observed with comparable preparations of lysed cells. The extent of NaF and prostaglandin E1 stimulation was comparable in intact cells and lysed cells. 96% of the added ATP and 92% of the cyclic AMP produced by intact cells could be isolated extracellularly in the incubation medium. Cellular integrity under assay conditions was monitored by trypan blue exclusion. These data suggest that LM cells contain an adenylate cyclase activity which is accessible to extracellular ATP.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1979

Resolution of adenylate cyclase sensitive and insensitive to Ca2+ and calcium-dependent regulatory protein (CDR) by CDR-sepharose affinity chromatography.

Partially purified adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] from bovine brain cortex was fractionated into two separate forms by calcium-dependent regulatory protein (CDR)-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The major form of the enzyme, comprising approximately 80% of the applied activity, did not bind to the affinity column in the presence of Ca2+ and was insensitive to the CDR. Approximately 20% of adenylate cyclase activity was absorbed to CDR-Sepharose in the presence of Ca2+. This activity was stimulated by Ca2+ and CDR. This study directly demonstrates that brain cortex contains Ca2+-CDR-sensitive and -insensitive forms of adenylate cyclase and indicates that CDR-Sepharose may be a useful tool for purification of adenylate cyclase. The Ca2+ -stimulated adenylate cyclase was purified at least 55-fold with a 13% yield.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1979

Evidence for a dissociable protein subunit required for calmodulin stimulation of brain adenylate cyclase.

An adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphatelyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] preparation that is not stimulated by NaF,5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate, or Ca2+.calmodulin has been isolated from bovine cerebral cortex by Affi-Gel Blue chromatography and calmodulin-Sepharose chromatography. Sensitivity to these effectors was restored by incubation of the adenylate cyclase preparation with detergent-solubilized protein from bovine cerebral cortex. Reconstitution of of Ca2+.calmodulin activation required the presence of 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate. The factor required for restoration of Ca2+.calmodulin stimulation was sensitive to heat, trypsin digestion, and N-ethylmaleimide. These observations suggest that this adenylate cyclase activity requires the presence of one or more guanyl nucleotide binding subunits for calmodulin sensitivity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗