Biomedical subjects

M Hortsch

Publications and source records attributed to M Hortsch.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1985

Immunochemical analysis of rough and smooth microsomes from rat liver. Segregation of docking protein in rough membranes.

Docking protein (or signal recognition particle receptor) is an integral membrane protein essential for translocation of nascent polypeptides across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. It serves as the receptor for the signal recognition particle, and represents the site of interaction between the translation and the translocation systems. Results presented here demonstrate that this protein is localized exclusively in rough microsomal membranes. Rough and smooth microsomes were prepared and their content of various marker proteins was determined by immunochemical techniques. Whereas a number of proteins, including cytochromes b5 and P-450 and their reductases were evenly distributed between rough and smooth microsomes, docking protein was found at 20-fold higher levels in the rough fraction. On the basis of these results it is concluded that docking protein is a functionally characterized integral protein specifically restricted to rough microsomal membranes.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Restriction of docking protein to the rough endoplasmic reticulum: immunocytochemical localization in rat liver.

Docking protein (or SRP receptor) is an integral membrane protein essential for translocation of nascent polypeptides across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Anti-docking protein antibodies were used to localize this protein in situ in thin frozen sections using protein A-gold detection methods. The majority of gold particles was restricted to ribosome-studded membranes, whereas particles were rarely seen in areas rich in smooth ER. Quantitative evaluation of labeling suggests that there is one molecule of docking protein for roughly 10 to 20 bound ribosomes. On the basis of these results we conclude that docking protein is the first functionally-characterized integral marker protein specific for the rough membranes of ER.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Biologically active synthetic fragments of epidermal growth factor: localization of a major receptor-binding region.

A primary receptor-binding region of mouse epidermal growth factor (EGF) was identified by comparing the relative affinities of selected synthetic fragments with overlapping sequences in the EGF receptor-binding assay, using human foreskin fibroblasts. Only synthetic peptides containing the amino acid residues 20-31 in the mouse EGF sequence showed the ability to compete with 125I-labeled EGF in binding to EGF receptors. The affinities of the cyclic EGF fragment [Ala20]EGF-(14-31) and the linear [(S-acetamidomethyl)-Cys20,31]-EGF-(20-31) were approximately 1/10(4) of the affinity of EGF. Despite their reduced receptor affinities, these two peptides exhibited the in vitro biological activities of native EGF, while fragments from other regions of the EGF molecule were devoid of these biological properties. The peptides induced DNA synthesis in human foreskin fibroblasts as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. They also induced EGF receptor clustering and activated the EGF-sensitive kinase, enhancing the autophosphorylation of EGF receptors in a dose-related manner. Moreover, a major antigenic determinant of EGF for rabbit anti-EGF antibodies was identified within this same localized region of the EGF molecule by competition experiments utilizing the synthetic EGF fragments. The predominant EGF antigenic determinant(s) was also found within the fragment [(S-acetamidomethyl)Cys20,31]-EGF-(20-31). The accessibility of the residues in positions 20-31 for antibody recognition is consistent with the conclusion that these residues constitute or contain a major receptor-binding region for EGF.

Binding, Competitive↗

PubMed1984

Pushing the signal hypothesis: what are the limits?

Recent advances in understanding the in vitro translocation of nascent polypeptides across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane have established a molecular basis for the initial reactions predicted by the signal hypothesis. The first two events involve a transient arrest of nascent chain elongation, followed by a docking maneuver with the ER membrane which releases this block. It is not clear, however, that such signal sequence-mediated transfer occurs in the case of all proteins, or for that matter in all cell-free translation systems.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Appearance of functional EGF receptor kinase during rodent embryogenesis.

Mouse and rat embryonic tissues at various stages of development were examined for epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase activity. The phosphorylated EGF receptor from embryonic tissues appeared as a band of mol. wt. 170 000 daltons on SDS gels. It was clearly demonstrable in the developing mouse fetus from 10 days of gestation onwards. The distribution of the EGF receptor kinase was studied in various tissues of 13 day mouse fetuses. The activity was apparent in the skin, developing skeletal muscles and various internal organs but was notably absent in the liver and brain. The amnion was found to be one of the richest sources of activity while the yolk sac was negative, and the placenta was weakly positive. In 16 day rat fetuses the distribution was quite similar to that of the 13 day mouse fetus. The liver acquired EGF receptor kinase activity by 18 days of gestation and had high activity in neonates. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that phosphotyrosine was the major labelled amino acid residue in the embryonic tissues. Thus, the EGF receptor of fetal tissues as studied by immune precipitation and phosphorylation appears to be a similar entity to that found in adult mammalian tissues. This functional EGF receptor kinase activity could first be detected at the time of onset of organogenesis.

Age Factors↗