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P Crine

Publications and source records attributed to P Crine.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Exploration of the catalytic site of endopeptidase 24.11 by site-directed mutagenesis. Histidine residues 583 and 587 are essential for catalysis.

Direct comparison of the primary structure of neutral endopeptidase (NEP, EC 3.4.24.11) with that of thermolysin, a bacterial metalloendopeptidase with a similar specificity, has revealed very few similarities between the two sequences, except for two conserved short segments. In thermolysin, these segments contain several of the residues involved in catalysis, including two zinc coordinating histidines (His-142 and His-146) and a third histidine (His-231) involved in stabilizing the transition state through hydrogen bonding. The role of the corresponding histidines in NEP (His-583, His-587 and His-637) was explored by site-directed mutagenesis of NEP cDNA and expression of the mutated cDNA in COS-1 cells. Substitution of either His-583 or His-587 of NEP for Phe completely abolished the activity and Zn-directed inhibitor recognition of the recombinant enzyme, suggesting that these residues play a role similar to His-142 and His-146 of thermolysin as zinc ligands. In contrast, substitution of His-637 for a phenylalanine residue was without effect on enzyme activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Expression of neutral endopeptidase (enkephalinase) in heterologous COS-1 cells. Characterization of the recombinant enzyme and evidence for a glutamic acid residue at the active site.

Neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) is an integral membrane protein found in the plasma membrane of many cell types. The cDNA coding for the complete primary structure of neutral endopeptidase has recently been cloned and sequenced (Devault, A. Lazure, C., Nault, C., Le Moual, H., Seidah, N. G., Chretien, M., Kahn, P., Powell, J., Mallet, J., Beaumont, A., Roques, B. P., Crine, P., and Boileau, G. (1987) EMBO J. 6, 1317-1322). Comparison of the sequence of neutral endopeptidase with that of thermolysin, a bacterial Zn-metalloendopeptidase, suggests that Glu-584 in neutral endopeptidase probably corresponds to Glu-143 in thermolysin, which is an essential amino acid involved in catalysis. To test directly the importance of Glu-584 in the catalytic activity of neutral endopeptidase by site-directed metagenesis, we have constructed an expression vector in which the rabbit kidney cDNA encoding the entire neutral endopeptidase sequence is introduced downstream from the SV40 virus early promotor. After transfection in COS-1 monkey kidney cells, this vector was found to promote the expression of a protein with biochemical and catalytic properties identical to kidney neutral endopeptidase. Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of Glu-584 to either valine or aspartic acid completely abolished the enzymatic activity of the recombinant protein without changing its affinity for the substrate-related tritiated inhibitor [3H]N-[(2R,2S)-3-hydroxyamino-carbonyl-2-benzyl-1-oxopropyl]-glycine. This observation clearly identifies Glu-584 as one of the important residues responsible for the catalytic activity of the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Primary structure homologies between two zinc metallopeptidases, the neutral endopeptidase 24.11 ("enkephalinase") and thermolysin, through clustering analysis.

Analogies in the sequences of two related zinc metallopeptidases, the bacterial thermolysin (316 amino acids) and the recently cloned neutral endopeptidase 24.11 ("enkephalinase", 749 amino acids), have been demonstrated by a hydrophobic cluster analysis method derived from the Lim theory. Two sequence alignments are proposed for the entire primary structure of thermolysin and the C-terminal part of endopeptidase 24.11. Except for an arginine residue, all the amino acids involved in the active site of thermolysin have been retrieved in both models of endopeptidase 24.11 within conserved clustered structures. The first model is characterized by a deletion of the Ca2+-binding coil present in thermolysin and the second by replacement of this coil by two alpha-helices. In both models an Arg residue can be located in the active site of the neutral endopeptidase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Determination of brush border membrane vesicle orientation using monoclonal antibodies recognizing extracytoplasmic and cytoplasmic domains of neutral endopeptidase-24.11.

A method for determination of the orientation and integrity of brush border membrane vesicles is described. The method takes advantage of the availability of two monoclonal antibodies, 23B11 and 2B12, which recognize a cytoplasmic and an extracytoplasmic domain, respectively, of the neutral endopeptidase-24.11. Specific binding of the antibodies to intact kidney brush border vesicles or to vesicles permeabilized by digitonin is detected by fluorescence using an anti-mouse immunoglobulin G-fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate. The method allows discrimination between right side out, inside out, and unsealed vesicles. It requires limited amounts of material and can be completed the day of the brush border vesicle preparation. Application to rabbit kidney brush border membranes freshly prepared led to values of 89, 8, and 3% for right side out, inside out, and unsealed vesicles, respectively. Storage at low temperature was associated with a marked increase in the proportion of unsealed vesicles.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Expression of porcine pro-opiomelanocortin cDNA in an established fibroblastic cell line: constitutive secretion of the precursor without proteolytic processing.

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is the common precursor of several pituitary hormones including alpha-melanotropic hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin. The porcine POMC cDNA was inserted downstream from the late promoter of an SV40-derived expression vector and co-transfected in NIH 3T3 cells with a marker plasmid carrying the neomycin resistance gene. Colonies resistant to the neomycin analog G418 were selected and analyzed for the production of POMC-related peptides by radioimmunoassay. Three clones were found to produce from 350 to 1750 pg of POMC-related peptides per 10(6) cells in 16 h and selected for further analysis. The number of POMC cDNA copies integrated in the host cell genome was determined and the levels of transcription were compared. POMC-related material released in the culture medium by the best producing clone (NJP 4-4) was further analyzed by gel filtration and reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography combined with radioimmunoassays. POMC was found to be synthesized and secreted without further processing or degradation. Negligible amounts of POMC-immunoreactive species were found in cellular extracts indicating that the prohormone is secreted from the NIH 3T3 cells without storage, presumably through a constitutive pathway. Our results suggest that NIH 3T3 fibroblasts do not contain the enzymatic machinery to process complex precursors such as POMC.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Screening of monoclonal antibodies for hCG for affinity and specificity.

Using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as a model polypeptide, we have developed a strategy that allows the direct screening of supernatant fluids from hybridomas for the presence of monoclonal antibodies of high affinity and predefined specificities. The assay evaluates the competition between 125I-labeled and unlabeled homologous or heterologous antigens in a solid-phase two-site immunoradiometric assay. This assay is fast and accurate, and is of general use provided the antigen of interest can be purified in nanomolar quantities. This strategy led to the isolation of nine new monoclonal antibodies for hCG, two of which could be used for elaborating a sensitive two-site immunoradiometric assay for this hormone.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Expression of porcine pro-opiomelanocortin cDNA in heterologous monkey kidney cells. Biosynthesis and secretion of the prohormone without processing.

Pro-opiomelanocortin is the common precursor to several pituitary hormones. These include alpha-melanotropic hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-lipotropic hormone, and beta-endorphin. The porcine pro-opiomelanocortin cDNA was inserted downstream from the early promoter of a SV40-derived expression vector and transfected into the monkey kidney COS-1 cells. Transient expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin cDNA was observed between 48 and 70 h after transfection. Analysis of pro-opiomelanocortin-related material in COS-1 cell extracts and culture medium revealed that these cells synthesize and secrete constitutively pro-opiomelanocortin without further processing into its mature hormones. Our results suggest that COS-1 cells do not contain the necessary enzymatic machinery to process complex precursors such as pro-opiomelanocortin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

The use of a monoclonal antibody for the rapid purification of kidney neutral endopeptidase ("enkephalinase") solubilized in octyl glucoside.

The neutral endopeptidase ("enkephalinase") of the rabbit brush border membrane has been purified to homogeneity by a rapid immunoaffinity method using a monoclonal antibody. In contrast with other methods used so far, a complete extraction of enkephalinase from the brush border membrane can be achieved with octyl glucoside, without loss of activity. The solubilized enzyme can be selectively separated from the other proteins in a single step using an immunoaffinity column consisting of the monoclonal antibody covalently linked to Sepharose CL-4B. It is demonstrated that enkephalinase can then be recovered in an active form by elution at low pH. The purified enzyme obtained by this method is completely inhibited by thiorphan and appears as a single 94,000 dalton protein after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing and reducing conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Irreversible photolabeling of active site of neutral endopeptidase-24.11 "enkephalinase" by azidothiorphan and [14C]-azidothiorphan.

Azidothiorphan and its [14C]-labeled analogue have been developed as photoaffinity ligands for the active site of the neutral endopeptidase 24.11. In in vitro assays azidothiorphan inhibits the endopeptidase activity with a Ki of 0.75 nM. After ultraviolet irradiation the inhibitor binds irreversibly to the enzyme, and many factors suggest that the photolabeling occurs at the active site. The binding is accompanied by a loss of enzymatic activity, and the inclusion of the competitive inhibitor thiorphan protects the endopeptidase from this inactivation. In addition the binding of another competitive inhibitor [3H]N-[(R,S)-3-hydroxyaminocarbonyl-2-benzyl-1-oxopropyl]-glycine to the active site of endopeptidase-24.11 is inhibited after irradiation with azidothiorphan. Experiments with [14C]-azidothiorphan have shown that very little nonspecific binding of inhibitor to enzyme occurs and the the labeled probe remains bound under denaturing conditions. Azidothiorphan has also been found to produce a long-lasting naloxone-reversible analgesia after intracerebroventricular administration. The results show that azidothiorphan should prove useful both for structural studies and for investigations on the synthesis and turnover of the neutral endopeptidase-24.11.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Posttranslational modifications of proopiomelanocortin in rat intermediate lobe cells.

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the common precursor to beta-endorphin and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone synthesized in rat intermediate lobe cells, exhibits both charge and size heterogeneity on two-dimensional gels. Pulse-labeling and pulse-chase studies revealed that this heterogeneity is due to co- and post-translational modifications of a single common polypeptide. Short 5-min-pulse incubation with [3H]phenylalanine allowed the preferential labeling of two major forms characterized by an identical isoelectric point (8.2), but slightly different apparent molecular weights (MW = 34,000 and 36,000). These peptides could be labeled with [3H]mannose and the analysis of their tryptic fragments by high-pressure liquid chromatography revealed that they correspond to polypeptides bearing one or two N-linked carbohydrate side chains. Accumulation of more acidic forms was observed during subsequent chase incubations in the absence of phenylalanine. These acidic forms were shown to incorporate sulfate and (or) phosphate groups. Sulfation and phosphorylation occurred on POMC within 5 min after its synthesis and were concomitant with the processing of the N-linked carbohydrates from the high mannose to the complex structure. Finally, partial digestion of the phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated analogs of POMC with either Staphylococcus aureus (V8 strain) protease or chymotrypsin suggests that the presence of a phosphate group may alter POMC sensitivity to exogenously added proteases.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1985

The production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody specific for the 94,000 dalton enkephalin-degrading peptidase from rabbit kidney brush border.

We have prepared a monoclonal antibody specific for a major 94,000 dalton protein from the brush border membrane of rabbit kidney cortex. The monoclonal antibody was used for the immunoaffinity purification of this protein after solubilization of brush border membranes with octylglucoside. The 94,000 dalton protein is a peptidase capable of cleaving the Gly3-Phe4 bond of methionine-enkephalin. Identification of this peptidase as a previously described 94,000 dalton enkephalinase of kidney cortex was confirmed by its sensitivity to EDTA and inhibitors such as thiorphan and phosphoramidon.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1985

Post-translational incorporation of [35S]sulfate into oligosaccharide side chains of pro-opiomelanocortin in rat intermediate lobe cells.

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), the common precursor to beta-endorphin and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in rat neurointermediate lobe cells, exhibits both charge and size heterogeneity on two-dimensional gel electrophoretograms. Short term [3H]phenylalanine pulse-labeling, and pulse-chase studies, revealed that this heterogeneity is acquired either co-translationally, through the addition of mannose-rich oligosaccharide chains to the nascent protein, or post-translationally, probably during the period of oligosaccharide processing from the high mannose to the complex forms. In this process, radioactive sulfate is incorporated into different glycoprotein variants of POMC. In the presence of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of the N-glycosylation process, [35S]sulfate incorporation does not occur in any of the major variant forms of POMC, thereby preventing the appearance of the most acidic forms on two-dimensional gels. POMC tryptic fragments were separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Sulfate incorporation occurred in only two peptides that were also labeled with [3H]glucosamine. Extensive alkaline digestion of these peptides in the presence of sodium borohydride released the sulfate-containing moieties which were separated from free amino acids by gel filtration. Sulfate bearing moieties could also be released by almond emulsin peptide:N-glycosidase digestion. All these results unambiguously show that sulfate moieties preferentially enter asparagine-linked carbohydrate side chains and not amino acid residues of the POMC polypeptide. It is also likely that differential sulfation, conferring unequal amounts of negative charge upon various glycoprotein variants of POMC, is responsible for much of the charge heterogeneity displayed by the prohormone.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Effects of the monovalent ionophore monensin on the intracellular transport and processing of pro-opiomelanocortin in cultured intermediate lobe cells of the rat pituitary.

Detailed studies on the effects of the ionophore monensin upon synthesis, maturation, and intracellular transport of pro-opiomelanocortin in cultures of rat pituitary intermediate lobe cells have been carried out. When added at concentrations larger than 5 X 10(-8) M monensin significantly inhibited protein synthesis by cultured intermediate lobe cells. Pro-opiomelanocortin synthesis was also reduced proportionally to the overall rate of protein synthesis. During pulse-chase experiments, monensin when added at a concentration of 10(-5) M at the beginning of the chase incubation completely inhibited the proteolytic processing of pro-opiomelanocortin. Using a subcellular fractionation procedure of intermediate lobe cell extracts on Percoll gradients, we were able to show that after the addition of monensin (10(-5) M), labeled pro-opiomelanocortin molecules synthesized during a 15-min pulse-incubation were recovered intact after a 2-h chase, in the fractions of the density gradient corresponding to the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi elements. No maturation products or precursor molecules entered the granule fractions as observed in nontreated cells. Taken together these results strongly suggest that monensin blocks the intracellular transport of newly synthesized pro-opiomelanocortin molecules at the Golgi level and that inhibition of proteolytic processing is due to the failure of the prohormone to enter the cell compartment (probably the secretion granules) where maturation proteases are located.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

Incorporation of canavanine into rat pars intermedia proteins inhibits the maturation of pro-opiomelanocortin, the common precursor to adrenocorticotropin and beta-lipotropin.

Pro-opiomelanocortin, the common glycoprotein precursor to adrenocorticotropin and beta-lipotropin, is the most abundant protein synthesized in rat neurointermediate lobes. Dissected rat neurointermediate lobes were incubated in the presence of canavanine, an analog of arginine, to determine (a) whether canavanine could be incorporated into pro-opiomelanocortin molecules and (b) if incorporation occurs, whether there is any effect on the processing mechanism of the prohormone. Preincubation of rat neurointermediate lobes for 16 h in the presence of 10 mM canavanine results in the production of pro-opiomelanocortin molecules in which most, if not all, the arginine residues have been replaced by canavanine. Identification of canavanine-containing pro-opiomelanocortin forms was done by two-dimensional electrophoresis, tryptic and chymotryptic peptide mapping, as well as by analysis, on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, of the fragments resulting from a partial digestion with chymotrypsin. During pulse-chase experiments, canavanine-containing pro-opiomelanocortin molecules were found to be processed at a much slower rate than the normal precursor forms: after a 2-h chase, conversion of approximately 25% of the analog-containing prophormone was observed compared to 83% of the nonanalog-containing precursors. Moreover, the small proportion of canavanine-containing precursor molecules which had undergone cleavage during the chase yielded atypical large molecular weight peptides. These results indicate that canavanine incorporation into neurointermediate lobe proteins considerably slows down the conversion of pro-opiomelanocortin into its different end products.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

Biosynthesis of a putative gonadotropin receptor component by rat leydig cells: isolation of a radiolabeled acidic protein of 79,000 molecular weight by affinity chromatography.

The Leydig cells of the testis are known to possess high affinity receptors for luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but no information concerning the synthesis of these receptors is available yet. In order to investigate this question, we have purified crude rat interstitial cell preparations on discontinuous Percoll gradients, and Leydig cells recovered from fractions demonstrating maximum testosterone production and hCG binding capacity were incubated for 17 h in a culture medium containing [35S]methionine. Radioactive proteins solubilized with Triton X-100 were submitted to affinity chromatography on a resin consisting of hCG covalently linked to agarose. Proteins bound to the column were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Autoradiography of the gel revealed a major protein (molecular weight: 79,000; pI 4.5) whose binding to the resin could be greatly diminished by an excess of hCG. The electrophoretic properties of this protein are similar to those of previously isolated gonadotropin receptor components.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Expression of variant forms of proopiomelanocortin, the common precursor to corticotropin and beta-lipotropin in the rat pars intermedia.

Proopiomelanocortin, the common glycoprotein precursor to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), is the most abundant protein synthesized in rat neurointermediate lobes. It represents 30% of the total amount of radioactive proteins obtained after a 1-h pulse incubation with [3H]phenylalanine. Several forms of this protein can be separated by a high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis technique. The three most abundant species which can be reproducibly characterized by their apparent molecular weights (Mr) and isoelectric points (pI) were called form I (Mr 34 000; pI 8.2), form II (Mr 36 000; pI 8.2), and form III (Mr 35 000; pI 7.3). Additional minor forms, representing together approximately 30% of the total forms I, II, and III combined, are also observed. They have very close molecular weights but differ by their isoelectric points. When glycosylation is prevented by tunicamycin, forms I and II are replaced by a new molecule with the same pI of 8.2 but a slightly lower Mr (32 000). This form is referred to as form T1. Similarly, form III is replaced by form T2 (Mr 33 000; pI 7.3). Forms T1 and T2 are supposed to be nonglycoslyated peptides. They were further characterized by microsequencing and peptide mapping. They both have the same N-terminal amino acid sequence with leucine residues in positions 3 and 11, and they both contain identical [3H]phenylalanine-labeled tryptic fragments, two of them corresponding to the sequences 1-8 of ACTH and 61-69 of beta-LPH. However, a limited digestion with the Staphylococcus aureus (V8 strain) protease generates a collection of peptides different for each form. These results suggest the presence of at least two different gene products corresponding to the major forms of proopiomelanocortin in the rat pars intermedia.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗