Biomedical subjects

L Fabri

Publications and source records attributed to L Fabri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Rapid microscale enzymic semisynthesis of epidermal growth factor (EGF) analogues.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a small growth factor containing 53 amino acid residues capable of stimulating the proliferation of both mesenchymal and epithelial cells. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of EGF from several species, and related proteins that can bind to the EGF receptor (e.g. TGFalpha, VGF, heparin-binding EGF, and betacellulin), suggests that Leu47, which is highly conserved, is important for biological function. Additionally, we have shown previously, using a combination of trypsin and carboxypeptidase Y digestion of native murine EGF, that removal of Leu47 results in more than 100-fold decrease in both receptor binding and mitogenic activity. We now describe a micromethod for the rapid generation of C-terminally modified EGFs to investigate further the role of C-terminal residues in determining functional activity. These analogues have been generated by digesting native murine EGF with trypsin, purifying the biologically inactive, but structurally intact, EGF1-45 core by micropreparative RP-HPLC, and then reversing the action of trypsin to couple synthetic peptides (e.g. DL, DI, DF, EL, DLLW) onto the C-terminus of the EGF1-45 core. This enzymic semisynthesis method allows multiple derivatives to be generated rapidly from microgram quantities of EGF1-45 in sufficient quantities for sensitive biological and physicochemical analysis. We have validated the method by regenerating EGF1-47 from EGF1-45 with equivalent mitogenic and receptor binding activity to EGF1-47 generated from wild type EGF by digestion with trypsin and carboxypeptidase Y. We have also investigated the effect of substituting alternative normal or nonphysiological amino acids (e.g. allo-Ile) for Asp46, Leu47 or Arg48. Even small changes in these C-terminal residues reduce the mitogenic potency of the analogue.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2000

Stoichiometry, kinetic and binding analysis of the interaction between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the extracellular domain of the EGF receptor.

The kinetics, binding equilibria and stoichiometry of the interaction between epidermal growth factor and the soluble extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR), produced in CHO cells using a bioreactor, have been studied by three methods: analytical ultracentrifugation, biosensor analysis using surface plasmon resonance detection (BIAcore 2000) and fluorescence anisotropy. These studies were performed with an sEGFR preparation purified in the absence of detergent using a mild two step chromatographic procedure employing anion exchange and size exclusion HPLC. The fluorescence anisotropy and analytical ultracentrifugation data indicated a 1:1 molar binding ratio between EGF and the sEGFR. Analytical ultracentrifugation further indicated that the complex comprised 2EGF:2sEGFR, consistent with the model proposed recently by Lemmon et al. (1997). Global analysis of the BIAcore binding data showed that a simple Langmuirian interaction does not adequately describe the EGF:sEGFR interaction and that more complex interaction mechanisms are operative. Furthermore, analysis of solution binding data using either fluorescence anisotropy or the biosensor, to determine directly the concentration of free sEGFR in solution competition experiments, yielded Scatchard plots which were biphasic and Hill coefficients of less than unity. Taken together our data indicate that in solution there are two sEGFR populations; one which binds EGF with a KD of 2-20 nM and the other with a KD of 400-550 nM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Suckling defect in mice lacking the soluble haemopoietin receptor NR6.

Cytokines control a variety of cellular responses including proliferation, differentiation, survival and functional activation, via binding to specific receptors expressed on the surface of target cells [1]. The cytokine receptors of the haemopoietin family are defined by the presence of a conserved 200 amino acid extracellular domain known as the haemopoietin domain [2]. We report here the isolation of NR6, a haemopoietin receptor that, like the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 (IL-12) [3] and the EBI3 gene induced by Epstein-Barr virus infection in lymphocytes [4], contains a typical haemopoietin domain but lacks transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Although in situ hybridisation revealed NR6 expression at multiple sites in the developing embryo, mice lacking NR6 did not display obvious abnormalities and were born in the expected numbers. Neonatal NR6(-/-) mice failed to suckle, however, and died within 24 hours of birth, suggesting that NR6 is necessary for the recognition or processing of pheromonal signals or for the mechanics of suckling itself. In addition, NR6(-/-) mice had reduced numbers of haemopoietic progenitor cells, suggesting a potential role in the regulation of primitive haemopoiesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Murine cerberus homologue mCer-1: a candidate anterior patterning molecule.

Xenopus cerberus (Xcer) is a cytokine expressed in anterior mesendoderm overlapping and surrounding Spemann's gastrula organiser. When misexpressed in blastomeres, Xcer can induce ectopic heads with well-defined brain, cement gland, olfactory placodes, cyclopic eye, and occasionally liver and heart. We report here the identification of mCer-1, a murine gene related to cerberus. Both mCer-1 and Xcer appear to belong to the cystine knot superfamily, which includes TGF beta s and BMPs. In Xenopus animal cap assays, mCer-1 and Xcer induced cement glands and markers of anterior neural tissue and endoderm, characteristic of BMP inhibition. Furthermore, both antagonised the ventrolateral mesoderm-inducing activity of coexpressed BMP4. In mouse embryos, mCer-1 was expressed at early gastrulation in a stripe of primitive endoderm along the future anterior side of the egg cylinder, a region essential for anterior patterning. A second phase of expression was detected in anterior embryonic mesendoderm, and by late-streak stages most of the anterior half of the embryo was positive, except for the node and cardiac progenitors. Expression was later seen in the cranial portion of the two most-recently formed somites and in two stripes within presomitic mesoderm. In embryos lacking Otx2, a homeogene with a demonstrated role in anterior patterning, mCer-1 was still expressed in an anterior zone, although often abnormally. The data suggest that mCer-1 shares structural, functional, and expression characteristics with Xcer and may participate in patterning the anterior of the embryo and nascent somite region, in part, through a BMP-inhibitory mechanism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

DAN is a secreted glycoprotein related to Xenopus cerberus.

We report that DAN, a potential cell cycle regulator and tumour suppressor, is a secreted glycoprotein related to Xenopus cerberus. DAN, cerberus, its mouse relative Cer-1/cer-l/Cerberus-like/Cerr1, and the recently described factor DRM/Gremlin, appear to be members of the cystine knot superfamily, which includes TGFbetas and BMPs. Like cerberus and mCer-1, DAN-induced cement glands as well as markers of anterior neural tissue and endoderm in Xenopus animal cap assays, features of BMP signalling blockade. During mouse embryogenesis, Dan was expressed from E8.5 in cranial mesenchyme and somites, then later in limb and facial mesenchyme. The pattern in somites was highly dynamic, with transcripts initially localized to the caudal half of the nascent epithelial somite, then, after maturation, to sclerotomal cells adjacent to the neural tube. Dan was also expressed in the developing myotome. The expression domains include sites in which BMP inhibition is known to be important for development. Thus, DAN appears to be a secreted factor belonging to the cystine knot superfamily, and one of a growing number of antagonists acting to modulate BMP signalling during development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Influence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) dimerization on formation of the high affinity hexameric IL-6.receptor complex.

The high affinity interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling complex consists of IL-6 and two membrane-associated receptor components: a low affinity but specific IL-6 receptor and the affinity converter/signal transducing protein gp130. Monomeric (IL-6M) and dimeric (IL-6D) forms of Escherichia coli-derived human IL-6 and the extracellular ("soluble") portions of the IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and gp130 have been purified in order to investigate the effect of IL-6 dimerization on binding to the receptor complex. Although IL-6D has a higher binding affinity for immobilized sIL-6R, as determined by biosensor analysis employing surface plasmon resonance detection, IL-6M is more potent than IL-6D in a STAT3 phosphorylation assay. The difference in potency is significantly less pronounced when measured in the murine 7TD1 hybridoma growth factor assay and the human hepatoma HepG2 bioassay due to time-dependent dissociation at 37 degrees C of IL-6 dimers into active monomers. The increased binding affinity of IL-6D appears to be due to its ability to cross-link two sIL-6R molecules on the biosensor surface. Studies of the IL-6 ternary complex formation demonstrated that the reduced biological potency of IL-6D resulted from a decreased ability of the IL-6D (sIL-6R)2 complex to couple with the soluble portion of gp130. These data imply that IL-6-induced dimerization of sIL-6R is not the driving force in promoting formation of the hexameric (IL-6 IL-6R gp130)2 complex. A model is presented whereby the trimeric complex of IL-6R, gp130, and IL-6M forms before the functional hexamer. Due to its increased affinity for the IL-6R but its decreased ability to couple with gp130, we suggest that a stable IL-6 dimer may be an efficient IL-6 antagonist.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1994

Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates the release of protein kinase A from the cell membrane.

The mitogenic action of growth factors involves the stimulation of intracellular protein kinases. In this report we have characterized the major protein kinase released from Balb/c 3T3 and normal rat kidney plasma membranes by the action of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). PDGF appears to stimulate the release of approximately 10 proteins, at least one of which is a kinase capable of phosphorylating proteins on Ser or Thr (as determined by the lability of the phosphate to alkali treatment). More than 90% of the Ser/Thr kinase activity was inhibited by PKI5-22, a specific peptide inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). We used immunoblotting to confirm that the kinase released in response to PDGF was PKA. cAMP also stimulated the release of PKA, and the set of protein substrates phosphorylated was similar following PDGF or cAMP stimulation. Interestingly, in the presence of a cAMP analogue ((Rp)-cAMPS), cAMP could not induce dissociation of PKA from the membranes, whereas stimulation by PDGF increased the level of PKA activation. Furthermore, unlike Swiss 3T3 cells, neither Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts nor normal rat kidney cells accumulate cAMP in response to PDGF, yet the level of PKA in the cytosol of these intact cells increases in response to PDGF. Thus, it appears as though PDGF activation of the membrane-associated form of the PKA holoenzyme occurs by a mechanism independent of an elevation in cAMP levels.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1994

Synergies between micropreparative high-performance liquid chromatography and an instrumental optical biosensor.

The recent development of an automated surface plasmon resonance technology for the measurement of biomolecular interactions (Pharmacia BIAcore) has provided new opportunities for the detection and analysis of protein-protein interactions. In the BIAcore, detection is based on changes in surface plasmon resonance which are monitored optically. Changes in surface plasmon resonance correspond to changes in surface concentration of macromolecules and can be monitored in real time. We have found that the detection sensitivity obtainable with this technology (ng/ml concentrations of specific ligands are readily detectable for many applications) is complementary "in a bidirectional manner" to micropreparative HPLC. Thus micropreparative HPLC may be used to purify and characterise reagents for the biosensor, whilst the biosensor may be used to define chromatographic parameters such as elution conditions for affinity chromatography or serve as an affinity detector for fractions obtained during chromatographic purification. Examples of such applications, including the potential of the biosensor to search for and monitor the purification of unknown ligands for which the target molecule has been identified, are shown. In particular, the use of the biosensor to monitor the purification of soluble epidermal growth factor receptor from A431 cell conditioned media is demonstrated.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed1993

Mapping of the antibody- and receptor-binding domains of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor using an optical biosensor. Comparison with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay competition studies.

An automated optical biosensor instrument for measuring molecular interactions (Pharmacia BIAcore) has been used to characterise the epitopes recognised by 15 monoclonal antibodies raised against recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). The BIAcore combines an autosampler and integrated microfluidic cartridge for the introduction and transportation of samples to the sensor chip surface, with surface plasmon resonance to detect binding events. A rabbit anti-mouse Fc antibody, coupled to the sensor surface in situ using conventional protein chemistry techniques, was used to capture an anti-G-CSF monoclonal antibody. G-CSF was bound to this antibody by injection over the sensor surface. Multi-site binding experiments were then performed in which other anti-G-CSF monoclonal antibodies were injected sequentially over the surface, and their ability to bind to the G-CSF in a multimolecular complex monitored in real time. Results obtained using the biosensor have been compared with data obtained by cross competition studies using biotinylated antibodies or antibody binding studies using chemically or enzymatically derived G-CSF peptide fragments or synthetic peptides. The results of these studies are in excellent agreement with the data from the BIAcore, although modification of the antibody or G-CSF occasionally altered the epitope affinity.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Structural characterisation of native and recombinant forms of the neurotrophic cytokine MK.

The retinoic acid (RA)-inducible midkine (MK) gene encodes a heparin-binding protein which can induce neurite outgrowth in cultured mammalian embryonic brain cells. This cytokine shares 65% amino acid sequence identity with another RA-inducible cytokine, pleiotropin (PTN). Both proteins contain 10 conserved cysteine residues, all of which appear to be disulphide linked. MK and PTN are also rich in lysine and arginine residues rendering them susceptible to proteolysis during purification, and making large-scale preparation of these molecules inherently difficult. Recombinant MK has been expressed as a fusion protein using a pGEX vector transfected into E. coli. To enable refolding of MK, the fusion protein was stored in solution at 4 degrees C for 14 days in the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT). Thrombin cleavage of the fusion protein, post storage, typically generated 5 mg of MK per litre of bacterial pellet. To establish the structural integrity of the recombinant product, we have analysed the refolding kinetics and compared the disulphide bond assignment of recombinant MK with that of native MK and native PTN. The synergistic use of micropreparative HPLC, to separate and recover in small eluant volumes enzymatically derived peptide fragments, with matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALD-MS) and N-terminal sequence analysis has allowed the unambiguous identification of the disulphide bonded fragments of native and recombinant MK. The disulphide bond assignment of MK is C12-C36, C20-C45, C27-C49, C59-C91 and C69-C101, and is equivalent to that of PTN.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Midkine (MK), a retinoic acid (RA)-inducible gene product, produced in E. coli acts on neuronal and HL60 leukemia cells.

We have shown previously that (i) retinoic acid (RA), an anti-neoplastic agent, activates the midkine (MK) gene in mammalian embryonic carcinoma cells, and that (ii) the MK of 118 amino acids, purified from L cells, induces neurite outgrowth of mammalian embryonic brain cells. In this paper, we describe an unconventional strategy for the purification of a fully active MK from E. coli with a high yield. The MK was overproduced in E. coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The MK fusion protein extracted from the bacterial inclusion bodies with guanidine-HCl was renatured, refolded slowly and cleaved by thrombin at the site where the GST links to the MK. The purified free MK, like RA, induced neurite outgrowth from central neurons of the mouse spinal cord, and suppressed the growth of human HL60 leukemia cells in vitro. Unlike RA, however, the MK did not induce granulocytic differentiation of HL60 cells. Furthermore, the MK supported the survival of an NGF-insensitive sensory neuron subpopulation(s) from chicken embryo dorsal root ganglion. Thus, the actions of the MK and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) are surprisingly similar. There is no sequence similarity between MK and LIF, however, and unlike MK, LIF production does not appear to be RA-inducible.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

The purification of a Rap1 GTPase-activating protein from bovine brain cytosol.

Two GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) have been detected in extracts from bovine brain: GAP-1, which is specific for the activation of ras GTPases, and GAP-3, which is specific for the activation of the rap1 GTPases. We present a strategy for the purification to homogeneity of a cytosolic form of GAP-3 from bovine brain. The 100,000 x g supernatant from homogenized brains was chromatographed sequentially on DEAE Fast Flow, green H-E4BD Sepharose, Bio-Gel A1.5, hydroxyapatite, and phenyl-Sepharose prior to high resolution separation on Mono Q HR 5/5, phenyl-Superose HR 5/5, Mono Q PC 1.6/5, and Superose 12 PC 3.2/30. This procedure resulted in an approximately 18,000-fold purification, yielding 50 micrograms of GAP-3 from 1.6 kg of tissue. Purified cytosolic GAP-3 migrated as a single band of apparent Mr 55,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, on gel filtration cytosolic GAP-3 chromatographed as a dimer with an apparent Mr 92,000. Purified GAP-3 does not activate ras or rho GTPases and possesses no intrinsic GTPase activity. Amino acid sequence data indicated a proline-rich N terminus. The amino acid sequences of peptides generated by Staphylococcus aureus V8 digestion of reduced and pyridine-ethylated GAP-3 showed no similarity to the predicted primary structure of GAP-1 or any other proteins in the nucleic acid or protein data bases. By comparison with the data of Rubinfeld et al. (Rubinfeld, B., Munemitsu, S., Clark, R., Conroy, L., Watt, K., Crosier, W.J., McCormick, F., and Polakis, P. (1991) Cell 65, 1033-1042), it appears that the membrane-associated (Mr 85,000-95,000) and cytosolic forms of GAP-3 are derived from equivalent, or closely related, genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Characterization of bovine heparin-binding neurotrophic factor (HBNF): assignment of disulfide bonds.

The topology of the disulfides in native heparin-binding neurotrophic factor (HBNF) isolated from bovine brain was studied by proteolytic digestion using trypsin, Asp-N endoproteinase and chymotrypsin and peptide mapping. Disulfide-linked peptides were identified by automated Edman degradation. It has been shown that there are disulfide bonds between Cys15-Cys44, Cys23-Cys53, Cys30-Cys57, Cys67-Cys99 and Cys77-Cys109.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Rsr1 and Rap1 GTPases are activated by the same GTPase-activating protein and require threonine 65 for their activation.

The Rsr1 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been shown to be essential for bud site selection (Bender, A., and Pringle, J. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 9976-9980). This protein of 272 amino acids shares approximately 50% sequence identity with both Ras and Rap GTPases. However, neither GTP binding nor GTPase activity of the Rsr1 protein has been reported. The Rsr1 protein shares with human Rap1 GTPases the four specific motifs, i.e. Gly-12, residues 32-40, Ala-59, and residues 64-70, that are required for GAP3-dependent activation of the Rap1 GTPases. In this paper we demonstrate that the intrinsic GTPase activity of the Rsr1 protein is stimulated by GAP3 purified from bovine brain cytosol. The Rsr1 GTPase is not activated by either GAP1 or GAP2 which are specific for the Ras and Rho GTPases, respectively. Thus, it appears that the Rsr1 GTPase is a new member of the Rap1 GTPase family. Replacement of Gly-12 by Val in the Rsr1 GTPase completely abolishes the GAP3-dependent activation. The chimeric GTPases, Ras(1-60)/Rsr1(61-168) and Rsr1(1-65)/Ras(66-189), are activated by GAP3 but not by GAP1. Replacement of Thr-65 by Ser in the latter chimeric GTPase completely abolishes the GAP3-dependent activation, indicating that Thr-65 is required for distinguishing GAP3 from GAP1. We have previously shown that Gln-61 and Ser-65 are sufficient to determine the GAP1 specificity. Replacement of Thr-35 by Ala in the common effector domain (residues 32-40) of the chimeric Ras/Rsr1 GTPases completely abolishes GAP3-dependent activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

The major colonic cell mitogen extractable from colonic mucosa is an N terminally extended form of basic fibroblast growth factor.

Colonic growth factors (CGFs) were extracted from porcine intestinal epithelium and mucosa. Under acidic conditions, very little mitogenic activity (as assayed using murine 3T3 fibroblasts and a human colonic cell line) was extractable. However, by extracting at neutral or slightly alkaline pH, significant mitogenic activity for both the murine fibroblasts and human colonic carcinoma cell line could be detected. CGFs are present throughout the intestine and cecum. The epithelial mucosa of the distal colorectal region appeared to contain mitogens which were more potent for the colonic cells than the 3T3 fibroblasts. Purification of CGFs from the colonic mucosa required removal of associated mucin by pH precipitation prior to chromatographic fractionation. It was then possible to develop a complete purification (390,000-fold) scheme for the major CGF, an 18-kDa protein which bound to heparin-Sepharose. N-terminal sequence analysis yielded a single sequence (Q)SPGGAMAAGSITTLPALP, i.e. an N-terminally extended form of basic fibroblast growth factor. Apart from the substitution of Gly in bovine basic fibroblast growth factor by a Ser in porcine CGF, the proteins are identical. A similar extraction procedure using purified human colonic crypt epithelial cells yielded a mitogen for the human colonic cell line with similar chromatographic properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Resistance to receptor-mediated degradation of a murine epidermal growth factor analogue (EGF-Val-47) potentiates its mitogenic activity.

In most cell types two classes of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors can be found: a major class that binds EGF with relatively low affinity and a minor class that binds with very high affinity. Structure-function studies have shown that mutations at amino acid 47 in the EGF molecule severely reduce its affinity for the EGF receptor but do not cause preferential binding to one or the other subclass of receptors. Using three EGF derivatives with a mutation at amino acid 47 (Ser-47, Leu-37-Tyr-47, and Val-47), we have investigated the relative contribution of the two receptor subclasses to the EGF-dependent mitogenic response. We show that mitogenicity correlates exclusively with occupancy of the high-affinity receptor and that full occupancy of this subclass is required for maximal stimulation. In addition we demonstrate that for the EGF-Val-47 analogue this requirement can be abrogated and half-maximal biological activity reached with a high-affinity receptor occupancy of only 8%. While the rate of internalization did not significantly differ between EGF-Val-47 and native mEGF, the analogue was much more resistant to degradation by cellular proteases and, after binding and receptor-mediated internalization, was released into the medium predominantly in an intact form. We propose that the increased mitogenicity of EGF-Val-47 is due to its prolonged half-life, resulting in continued occupancy of the high-affinity EGF receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF): identification of a binding site for a neutralizing antibody.

One approach to the localization of functionally active regions of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) is to map the epitopes recognized by neutralizing anti-hGM-CSF monoclonal antibodies. We have defined the epitope recognized by one neutralizing antibody (LMM102) using proteolytic fragments obtained by enzymic digestion of bacterially synthesized hGM-CSF. RP-HPLC fractionation of a tryptic digest resulted in the identification of an immunoreactive "tryptic core" peptide containing 66 amino acids (52% of the protein). Further digestion of this "tryptic core" with S. aureus V8 protease produced a unique immunoreactive hGM-CSF product comprising two peptides, residues 86-93 and 112-127, linked by a disulfide bond between residues 88 and 121. The individual peptides, generated by reduction with dithiothreitol, were not recognized by the antibody. An analog of this peptide has been synthesized chemically and shown to have similar immunoreactivity to the epitope obtained by enzymic digestion. A series of modified peptides has also been synthesized to identify further the region required for antibody recognition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Murine epidermal growth factor: structure and function.

Murine epidermal growth factor (EGF), a 53 amino acid protein, has been modified by enzymic digestion, site-specific chemical reactions, and recombinant DNA technology. After trypsin digestion the EGF derivatives EGF1-48 (called EGF-T) and EGF1-45 (called EGF-T2) were separated from the residual EGF and the C-terminal pentapeptide by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. EGF-T competes for binding to EGF receptors with the same efficiency as EGF. The EGF-T2 derivative had no detectable receptor binding activity even at 100 nM. The in vitro mitogenic potencies of EGF and EGF-T for Balb/c 3T3 cells were indistinguishable. Treatment of EGF-T with carboxypeptidase Y yielded two derivatives, EGF-T-(des-Arg48) and EGF-T-des(Leu47-Arg48). There was only a 3-7-fold diminution in the binding efficiency and mitogenic potency for EGF-T-(des-Arg48). However, there was more than a 100-fold decrease in the binding efficiency and mitogenic activity of EGF-T-des (Leu47-Arg48). These results indicated that Leu47 is intimately involved in the formation of the ligand-receptor complex. Studies with a number of proteases indicated that the C-terminus of EGF was susceptible to enzymic digestion; however, the N-terminus appears to be folded into a conformation which prevents access to proteolytic digestion. Consequently, the N-terminus was modified by preparing an analogue with recombinant DNA technology. Oligonucleotides corresponding to EGF(3-48). Met3 Lys21 residues were ligated in frame to a beta-galactosidase expression vector. The beta-Gal-EGF fusion protein was cleaved with cyanogen bromide and EGF(4-48).Lys21 purified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗