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Analysis of leukocyte membrane protein interactions using protein microarrays.

BACKGROUND: Protein microarrays represent an emerging class of proteomic tools to investigate multiple protein-protein interactions in parallel. A sufficient proportion of immobilized proteins must maintain an active conformation and an orientation that allows for the sensitive and specific detection of antibody and ligand binding. In order to establish protein array technology for the characterization of the weak interactions between leukocyte membrane proteins, we selected the human leukocyte membrane protein CD200 (OX2) and its cell surface receptor (hCD200R) as a model system. As antibody-antigen reactions are generally of higher affinity than receptor-ligand binding, we first analyzed the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to normal and mutant forms of immobilized CD200R. RESULTS: Fluorescently labelled mAb DX147, DX136 and OX108 were specifically reactive with immobilized recombinant hCD200R extracellular region, over a range of 0.1-40 microg ml(-1) corresponding to a limit of sensitivity of 0.01-0.05 femtomol per spot. Orientating hCD200R using capture antibodies, showed that DX147 reacts with an epitope spatially distinct from the more closely related DX136 and OX108 epitopes. A panel of soluble recombinant proteins with mutations in hCD200R domain 1 produced by transiently transfected cells, was arrayed directly without purification and screened for binding to the three mAb. Several showed decreased binding to the blocking mAb DX136 and OX108, suggesting close proximity of these epitopes to the CD200 binding site. Binding of hCD200 to directly immobilized rat, mouse, and hCD200R was achieved with multimeric ligands, in the form of biotinylated-hCD200 coupled to FITC-labelled avidin coated beads. CONCLUSION: We have achieved sensitive, specific and reproducible detection of immobilized CD200R with different antibodies and mapped antigenic epitopes for two mAb in the vicinity of the ligand binding site using protein microarrays. We also detected CD200 binding to its receptor, a low affinity interaction, using beads presenting multivalent ligands. Our results demonstrate the quantitative aspects of protein arrays and their potential use in detecting simultaneously multiple protein-protein interactions and in particular the weak interactions found between leukocyte membrane proteins.

Animals↗

Expression of wild-type and mutant human ornithine transcarbamylase genes in Chinese hamster ovary cells and lack of dominant negative effect of R141Q and R40H mutants.

Chinese hamster ovary cultured cells were transformed to continuously express wild-type and two mutant ornithine transcarbamylase genes, R141Q and R40H. In addition, these cells were transfected to transiently express the same genes. The R141Q mutation abolishes the enzymatic activity, and the amount of "mature" protein present in transfected cells is equivalent to the wild type. The R40H mutation causes a reduction of enzymatic activity to approximately 26 to 35% of wild type concomitant with a significant reduction in the amount of protein present. Transfection with wild-type and mutant genes together in various proportions did not reveal dominant negative effects of the two mutations studied. This expression system can be used to examine the deleterious effect of private mutations or lack thereof in families with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency as well as evaluate the potential dominant negative effects of gene delivery for treatment of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Protein localization to the nucleolus: a search for targeting domains in nucleolin.

Nucleolin, a major nucleolar phosphoprotein, is presumed to function in rDNA transcription, rRNA packaging and ribosome assembly. Its primary sequence was highly conserved during evolution and suggests a multi-domain structure. To identify structural elements required for nuclear uptake and nucleolar accumulation of nucleolin, we used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce point- and deletion-mutations into a chicken nucleolin cDNA. Following transient expression in mammalian cells, the intracellular distribution of the corresponding wild-type and mutant proteins was determined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. We found that nucleolin contains a functional nuclear localization signal (KRKKEMANKSAPEAKKKK) that conforms exactly to the consensus proposed recently for a bipartite signal (Robbins, J., Dilworth, S.M., Laskey, R.A. and Dingwall, C. (1991) Cell 64, 615-623). Concerning nucleolar localization, we found that the N-terminal 250 amino acids of nucleolin are dispensible, but deletion of either the centrally located RNA-binding motifs (the RNP domain) or the glycine/arginine-rich C terminus (the GR domain) resulted in an exclusively nucleoplasmic distribution. Although both of these latter domains were required for correct subcellular localization of nucleolin, they were not sufficient to target non-nucleolar proteins to the nucleolus. From these results we conclude that nucleolin does not contain a single, linear nucleolar targeting signal. Instead, we propose that the protein uses a bipartite NLS to enter the nucleus and then accumulates within the nucleolus by virtue of binding to other nucleolar components (probably rRNA) via its RNP and GR domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The NITY motif of the beta-chain cytoplasmic domain is involved in stimulated internalization of the beta3 integrin A isoform.

Beta3 integrin adhesion molecules play important roles in wound repair and the regulation of vascular development and three beta3 integrin isoforms (beta3-A, -B, -C) have been described so far. Surface expression of beta3 integrins is dynamically regulated through internalization of beta3 integrins, however, the molecular mechanisms are understood incompletely. To evaluate the role of the cytoplasmic domain of beta3 integrins for internalization, we have generated single chain chimeras with variant and mutated forms of beta3 cytoplasmic domains. Upon transient transfection into chinese hamster ovary cells, it was found that the beta3-A chimera had strongly reduced cell surface expression compared with the corresponding beta3-B, or beta3-C fusion proteins, or the tail-less constructs, whereas steady state levels of all chimeras were near identical. Studies employing cytoplasmic domain mutants showed that the NITY motif at beta3-A 756-759 is critical for plasma membrane expression of beta3-A. Furthermore, delivery of beta3-A to the cell surface was specifically modulated by the cytoplasmic protein beta3-endonexin, a previously described intracellular protein. Coexpression of the native, long form of beta3-endonexin, which does not interact with the beta3 tail, acted as a dominant negative inhibitor of beta3-A-internalization and enhanced steady-state surface expression of the beta3-A-chimera. Furthermore, anti-beta3 antibody-induced internalization of the native beta3 integrin (alpha(IIb)beta3 was dramatically reduced for the Tyr(759)-Ala substitution mutant (alpha(IIb)beta3) (Y759A) and expression of the long isoform of beta3-endonexin substantially decreased the internalization of wild-type alpha(IIb)beta3. Thus, the NITY motif of the beta-chain cytoplasmic domain is involved in stimulated internalization of the beta3 integrin A isoform and beta3-endonexin appears to couple the beta3-A isoform to a specific receptor-recycling pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Overexpressed Drosophila src 64B is phosphorylated at its carboxy-terminal tyrosine, but is not catalytically repressed, in cultured Drosophila cells.

Little is known about the regulation of non-receptor tyrosine kinases in invertebrates. We have studied the relationship between the phosphorylation state of the Drosophila src 64B (Dsrc) gene product, p62D, and its tyrosine kinase activity in Drosophila Schneider 2 cells, using wild-type and mutated Dsrc constructs that were overexpressed by transient transfection. Phosphopeptide mapping showed that the putative regulatory C-terminal tyrosine (Tyr-547) of p62D was phosphorylated in vivo. In contrast to vertebrate src family kinases overexpressed in fibroblasts, wild-type p62D overexpressed in Schneider 2 cells was phosphorylated at additional tyrosines outside of the C-terminus. These tyrosines corresponded to the major in vitro autophosphorylation sites. Overexpression of wild-type p62D or several catalytically active p62D mutants significantly increased the phosphorylation of numerous Schneider cell proteins on tyrosine, while expression of catalytically inactive mutants of p62D had no such effect. Thus, in contrast to the repression of src family kinase activity in fibroblasts, p62D is catalytically active when overexpressed in Drosophila cells, perhaps because of substoichiometric C-terminal tyrosine phosphorylation. These results raise the possibility that fly development will be sensitive to ectopic expression of p62D.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Defective folding and stable association with protein disulfide isomerase/prolyl hydroxylase of type I procollagen with a deletion in the pro alpha 2(I) chain that preserves the Gly-X-Y repeat pattern.

We have studied the folding, processing, and association with two endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins of the abnormal type I procollagen molecules produced by a strain of fibroblasts harboring a 4.5 kilobase deletion in an allele of COL1A2 (Willing, M. C., Cohn, D.H., Starman, B. Holbrook, K.A., Greenberg, C.R., and Byers, P.H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 8398-8404). By sequencing cDNA, we found that the mutant allele encodes pro alpha 2(I) chains that are shortened by 180 amino acids but retain the Gly-X-Y repeat pattern crucial for collagen triple helix formation. The type I procollagen molecules that incorporated the shortened chain were retained intracellularly and were stable. The triple helical domain in these molecules did not attain a normal conformation and remained accessible to posttranslational modifying enzymes amino-terminal to the deletion site for a prolonged period. The abnormal molecules folded into a triple helical conformation more slowly than the normal molecules, and the amino-terminal ends of the pro alpha 1(I) chains failed to become protease-resistant. While the abnormal procollagen molecules were not bound by the ER-resident protein BiP, they stably associated with protein disulfide isomerase, the beta-subunit of prolyl-4-hydroxylase. These results indicate that some mutations in type I collagen genes both transiently delay folding and permanently disrupt the structure of the triple helix and suggest that binding to prolyl-4-hydroxylase helps to retain certain abnormal procollagen molecules within the ER.

Adult↗

[From gene to disease; neonatal diabetes mellitus and the KCNJ11 gene].

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (DM) is by definition diagnosed within the first 3 months of life and can be either transient (TNDM) or permanent (PNDM). Recently, activating mutations in the KCNJ11 gene, which encodes the Kir6.2 subunit of the K(ATP) channel, have been identified as a cause of TNDM, the main cause of PNDM, and the cause of a new syndrome: developmental delay, epilepsy and neonatal diabetes. Patients with neonatal DM are normally dependent on life-long insulin injections, but patients with neonatal DM due to a KCNJ11 mutation are able to achieve control with sulphonylurea tablets. The mutations are predominantly spontaneous but have also been described as due to autosomal dominant inheritance and paternal mosaicism. Mutations at codon 201 and 59 are thus far the most prevalent. Because mutated K(ATP) channels do not close in response to ATP, the beta-cell membrane is hyperpolarised and insulin secretion does not occur. Mutated K(ATP) channels in muscle, nerve and brain are responsible for the neurological symptoms.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗

Transcriptional regulatory sequences of the housekeeping gene for human triosephosphate isomerase.

To examine the functional organization of the human triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) promoter, deletion, insertion, and linker scanning mutations were introduced into the TPI promoter of hybrid TPI/beta-globin genes. These genes were transiently expressed in mouse L and human HeLa cells, and the effect of each mutation on the frequency and position of transcription initiation was assayed by S1 nuclease transcript mapping. Multiple positive regulatory elements reside between positions -595 and +1 in L cells and -920 and -7 in HeLa cells and coordinately promote maximum hybrid gene transcription. These elements include an array of GC boxes (positions -126 to -48) that variably conform to the consensus Sp1-binding site, and a canonical TATA box (positions -27 to -21) that is essential for detectable levels of transcription. In an additive yet position-dependent fashion, the GC boxes function in cis to the TATA box to control both the frequency and position of transcription initiation. Additional positive elements reside upstream of position -131 and are required for full promoter function. Also, an inhibitory element(s) residing between position -7200 and either -2800 in L cells or -920 in HeLa cells reduces transcription approximately 7-fold relative to the level of transcription achieved with the maximally active promoter.

Animals↗

Three conserved motifs in the extracellular domain of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor subunit are essential for ligand binding and surface expression.

The receptor for the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (GM-R) is a heterodimeric complex consisting of two subunits, GM-R alpha and GM-R beta. Structural analyses have shown a number of highly conserved amino acid motifs present in both GM-R alpha and GM-R beta. These motifs include QYFLY, CXW, XW, and WSXWS motifs in the extracellular domain; a conserved cysteine in the transmembrane domain; and the entire cytoplasmic domain, including the LXVLX box in the carboxy terminal region of the cytoplasmic domain. We have investigated the role of these motifs in GM-R alpha by examining the effects of specific motif mutations on ligand binding and surface expression. Transient expression of these mutant GM-R alpha subunits in COS cells shows that these extracellular motis are essential for ligand binding. Alterations of the cytoplasmic region of GM-R alpha do not alter GM-CSF binding or the reconstitution of high-affinity receptors when coexpressed with GM-R beta. Permeabilization and immunostaining of cells transfected with mutant GM-R alpha subunits yields data suggesting that each of the mutant subunits is present in the cytoplasm. Immunostaining of both intact and permeabilized COS cells transiently transfected with wild-type or mutant GM-R alpha s showed that extracellular domain mutants accumulated in the cytoplasm and were not efficiently transported to the cell surface.

3T3 Cells↗

cis-Acting elements controlling transcription from rat serine protease inhibitor 2.1 gene promoter. Characterization of two growth hormone response sites and a dominant purine-rich element.

The cis-acting elements that are functionally important for the basal, the growth hormone (GH), and the glucocorticoid hormone (GC) regulation of expression of the rat serine protease inhibitor 2.1 gene (spi 2.1) were mapped. Normal rat hepatocytes were transiently transfected with constructs harboring deleted or mutated versions of the spi 2.1 proximal promoter region fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. A purine-rich sequence (GAGA box, nucleotides -57 to -45), whose mutation or deletion almost completely knocks out both basal and hormone-stimulated promoter activities, plays the role of a key control element. A positive GC response element, spanning nucleotides -88 to -74, confers GC responsiveness to a heterologous promoter. Two structurally unrelated GH-response elements (GHRE) were identified. GHRE-II (nucleotides -136 to -104) contains a CCAAT enhancer binding protein binding site whose mutation completely abolishes its GH-dependent enhancer function. GHRE-I, which spans nucleotides -61 to +8, is not an enhancer element. Its GH-dependent activity depends on the preservation of the distance separating the GAGA box and elements of the basic transcriptional machinery. Taken together, these results have revealed the existence of an apparently new type of promoter functioning that strictly depends on the integrity of a key regulatory (G + A) motif.

Animals↗

[Molecular genetic analysis of a Japanese family with Fabry disease].

A Japanese male patient with Fabry disease who had no activity of the lysosomal hydrolase alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-GalA) and female members of his family were analyzed. We cloned a cDNA encoded the mutant alpha-GalA, determined its nucleotide sequence, and found two nucleotide differences between the mutant and the wild-types cDNAs. The one difference, a C-to-T transition at nucleotide number 118, resulted in an amino acid substitution of Pro-40 by Ser. A transient expression assay demonstrated that this missense mutation was the cause of the deficiency of alpha-GalA activity in the patient. Gene analysis of the patient's family by PCR and subsequent sequencing demonstrated that all females were heterozygotes.

Adult↗

PU.1/Spi-1 is essential for the B cell-specific activity of the mouse CD72 promoter.

CD72 is a 45-kDa glycoprotein that is predominantly expressed on cells of the B lineage, except for plasma cells. Its expression pattern is representative of many B cell-specific proteins, which are essential for B cell development and activation but are down-regulated after B cells become terminally differentiated plasma cells. We have examined the promoter region of the mouse CD72 gene to identify sequences responsible for this regulatory pattern. The CD72 gene does not have an obvious TATAA box. Primer extension assays identified multiple transcription initiation sites. Deletion analyses have identified the 255-bp minimal promoter required for tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression. DNase I footprinting analysis of the CD72 minimal promoter revealed three protected elements: FP I, FP II, and FP III. Sequences corresponding to FP I or III gave increased reporter gene activity specifically in B cells, but not in T cells or NIH-3T3 cells. Sequences corresponding to FP II gave increased reporter gene activity in mature B cells, but not in plasma cells or non-B cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I protection analyses revealed that FP I was bound by the transcription factor PU.1/Spi-1. Transient reporter analyses with plasmid bearing the mutated PU.1 binding site showed that binding of PU.1 is necessary for the increase in CD72 promoter activity in B cells. These results suggest that the 255-bp CD72 promoter confers both tissue specificity and developmental stage specificity, and that the B cell and macrophage-specific transcription factor PU.1 is essential for regulating the tissue specificity of the mouse CD72 promoter.

Animals↗

Attenuation of transient focal cerebral ischemic injury in transgenic mice expressing a mutant ICE inhibitory protein.

We used transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative mutation of interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) (C285G) in a model of transient focal ischemia in order to investigate the role of ICE in ischemic brain damage. Transgenic mutant ICE mice (n = 11) and wild-type littermates (n = 9) were subjected to 3 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Cerebral infarcts and brain swelling were reduced by 44% and 46%, respectively. Neurological deficits were also significantly reduced. Regional CBF, blood pressure, core temperature, and heart rate did not differ between groups when measured for up to 1 h after reperfusion. Increases in immunoreactive IL-1 beta levels, observed in ischemic wild-type brain at 30 min after reperfusion, were 77% lower in the mutant strain, indicating that proIL-1 beta cleavage is inhibited in the mutants. DNA fragmentation was reduced in the mutants 6 and 24 h after reperfusion. Hence, endogenous expression of an ICE inhibitor confers resistance to cerebral ischemia and brain swelling. Our results indicate that downregulation of ICE expression might provide a useful therapeutic target in cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗

A double mutation in exon 6 of the beta-hexosaminidase alpha subunit in a patient with the B1 variant of Tay-Sachs disease.

The B1 variant form of Tay-Sachs disease is enzymologically unique in that the causative mutation(s) appear to affect the active site in the alpha subunit of beta-hexosaminidase A without altering its ability to associate with the beta subunit. Most previously reported B1 variant mutations were found in exon 5 within codon 178. The coding sequence of the alpha subunit gene of a patient with the B1 variant form was examined with a combination of reverse transcription of mRNA to cDNA, PCR, and dideoxy sequencing. A double mutation in exon 6 has been identified: a G574----C transversion causing a val192----leu change and a G598----A transition resulting in a val200----met alteration. The amplified cDNAs were otherwise normal throughout their sequence. The 574 and 598 alterations have been confirmed by amplification directly from genomic DNA from the patient and her mother. Transient-expression studies of the two exon 6 mutations (singly or together) in COS-1 cells show that the G574----C change is sufficient to cause the loss of enzyme activity. The biochemical phenotype of the 574 alteration in transfection studies is consistent with that expected for a B1 variant mutation. As such, this mutation differs from previously reported B1 variant mutations, all of which occur in exon 5.

Animals↗

Role of Val509 in time-dependent inhibition of human prostaglandin H synthase-2 cyclooxygenase activity by isoform-selective agents.

Prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS), a key enzyme in prostanoid biosynthesis, exists as two isoforms. PGHS-1 is considered a basal enzyme; PGHS-2 is associated with inflammation and cell proliferation. A number of highly selective inhibitors for PGHS-2 cyclooxygenase activity are known. Inhibition by these agents involves an initial reversible binding, followed by a time-dependent transition to a much higher affinity enzyme-inhibitor complex, making these agents potent and poorly reversible PGHS-2 inhibitors. To investigate the PGHS-2 structural features that influence the time-dependent action of the selective inhibitors, we have constructed a three-dimensional model of human PGHS-2 by homologous modeling. Examination of the PGHS-2 model identified Val509 as a cyclooxygenase active site residue, that was not conserved in PGHS-1. Recombinant human PGHS-2 with Val509 mutated to either Ile (the corresponding residue in PGHS-1), Ala, Glu, or Lys was expressed by transient transfection of COS-1 cells to evaluate the effects of the mutations on cyclooxygenase activity and on inhibition by four agents reported to be selective for PGHS-2 (NS398, nimesulide, DuP697, and SC58125). All the recombinant proteins were of the expected mass. The mutants exhibited 45-210% of wild-type cyclooxygenase activity, with Km values for arachidonate of 2.1-7.6 microM (wild-type PGHS-2, 3.8 microM), indicating that changes in position 509 had modest effects on cyclooxygenase catalysis. Each of the agents inhibited wild-type PGHS-2 in a time-dependent fashion, and all but nimesulide did the same for the V509A mutant. In contrast, the V509E and V509I PGHS-2 mutants, like recombinant human PGHS-1, did not show time-dependent inhibition with any of the agents, and the V509K mutant responded in a time-dependent manner only to DuP697. Reversible inhibition was still observed with Val509 mutants that did not show time-dependent inhibition. Thus, the side chain structure at position 509 markedly influenced the ability of PGHS-2 to undergo the time-dependent transition without removing inhibitor or substrate binding. These results indicate that Val509 in PGHS-2 has a major role in the structural transition that underlies time-dependent inhibition by the isoform-selective agents.

Animals↗

Loss-of-function and dominant-negative mechanisms associated with hepatocyte nuclear factor-1beta mutations in familial type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1beta, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, regulates gene expression in a dimerized form in pancreas, liver, and some other tissues. Recent genetic studies have identified two HNF-1beta mutations, R177X and A263fsinsGG, in subjects with a monogenic form of type 2 diabetes. Despite the defects being in the same gene, diverse severities of disease are observed in the affected subjects. To investigate the molecular mechanism by which mutations might cause various phenotypic features, wild type and mutant proteins were transiently expressed in insulin-producing (MIN6) and hepatic (HepG2) cells. Luciferase reporter assay showed that both mutations resulted in a marked reduction of transactivation activity. Because their dimerization activity was found to be intact by the yeast two-hybrid system, it was possible that they were dominant-negative to wild type activity. When co-expressed with wild type, both of the mutants significantly decreased wild type activity in HepG2 cells. In contrast, although A263fsinsGG functioned similarly in MIN6 cells, R177X failed to affect wild type activity in this cell line. Immunohistochemical analysis of the mutants suggests that this functional divergence might be generated by the modification of nuclear localization. These results suggest that HNF-1beta mutations may impair pancreatic beta-cell function by loss-of-function and dominant-negative mechanisms.

Base Sequence↗

Transient expression in tobacco leaves of an aglycosylated recombinant antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor.

When generating stably transformed transgenic plants, transient gene expression experiments are especially useful to rapidly confirm that the foreign molecule of interest is correctly assembled and retains its biological activity. TheraCIM(R) (CIMAB S.A., Havana) is a recombinant humanized antibody against the Epidermal Growth Factor receptor (EGF-R), now in clinical trials for cancer therapy in Cuba and other countries. An aglycosylated version (Asn 297 was mutated for Gln 297) of this antibody was transiently expressed in tobacco leaves after vacuum-mediated infiltration of recombinant Agrobacterium tumefaciens that carried a binary plasmid bearing the antibody heavy and light chain genes and plant regulation signals. Protein extracts from "agroinfiltrated" leaves were tested by ELISA and Western blot, showing that the fully assembled antibody was accumulated in plant tissues. The absence of plant specific glycans did not interfere in the assembling or in the activity of the plantibody, as demonstrated in this work. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that the aglycosylated antibody expressed in plants recognizes the EGF-R expressed on the surface of A431 human tumor culture cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The role of conserved aspartate and serine residues in ligand binding and in function of the 5-HT1A receptor: a site-directed mutation study.

Wild-type and mutant serotonin 1A receptors were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells using the infection-transfection variant of the vaccinia virus/T7 polymerase vector system. The amino acid substitutions in the transmembrane regions, Asp82-->Asn82, Asp116-->Asn116, and Ser198-->Ala198 all resulted in a decrease in affinity for 5-HT by 60-100-fold, without affecting the affinity for the antagonist, pindolol. The binding of agonist to the additional mutant, Thr199-->Ala199, was too weak to be measured, 5-HT induced GTPase activities for all receptors studied. These findings indicate that the residues mutated play an important role in the binding of the agonist and less critical roles in the binding of the antagonist pindolol.

Aspartic Acid↗