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A novel juxtamembrane domain isoform of HER4/ErbB4. Isoform-specific tissue distribution and differential processing in response to phorbol ester.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 4 (HER4) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases that is activated by neuregulins (NRG), betacellulin (BTC), and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor. Sequencing of full-length human HER4 cDNAs revealed the existence of two HER4 isoforms that differed by insertion of either 23 or 13 alternative amino acids in the extracellular juxtamembrane (JM) region. The 23-amino acid form (HER4 JM-a) and the 13-amino acid form (HER4 JM-b) were expressed in a tissue-specific manner, as demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of mouse and human tissues. Both isoforms were expressed in neural tissues such as cerebellum, whereas kidney expressed HER4 JM-a only and heart HER4 JM-b only. In situ hybridization using specific oligonucleotides demonstrated transcription of both JM-a and JM-b isoforms in the mouse cerebellum. Tyrosine phosphorylation analysis indicated that both receptor isoforms were activated to the same extent by NRG-beta1 and BTC, and to a lesser extent by NRG-alpha1 and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor. A functional difference was found, however, in response to phorbol ester treatment. Stimulation of cells with phorbol ester resulted in a loss of 125I-NRG-beta1 binding and in a reduction of total cell-associated HER4 protein in HER4 JM-a transfectants but not in HER4 JM-b transfectants. It was concluded that novel alternatively spliced isoforms of HER4 exist, that they are distributed differentially in vivo in mouse and human tissues, that they are both activated by HER4 ligands, and that they may represent cleavable and noncleavable forms of HER4.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Myosin heavy chains in skeletal muscles of the common shrew (Sorex araneus): absence of a slow isoform and transitions of fast isoforms with ageing.

Myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition in seven skeletal muscles of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) was analysed by gradient SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies. Characteristic for the studied muscles (diaphragm, lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, masseter, plantaris, soleus and tibialis anterior) was a total absence of the slow isoform, MHCI; all muscles were exclusively composed of two fast isoforms MHCIId and MHCIIb. In young adults the amount of MHCIId varied between 34% (tibialis anterior) and 97% (masseter). In over-wintered senescent individuals MHCIId was clearly the dominant isoform in all muscles studied; the lowest MHCIId content was measured for tibialis anterior (69%), while in diaphragm, masseter and soleus it was practically the sole isoform (over 96%). Ageing associated isoform transition from MHCIIb to MHCIId occurred in all seven muscles studied (P < 0.05).

Aging↗

Phosphorylation of human recombinant tyrosine hydroxylase isoforms 1 and 2: an additional phosphorylated residue in isoform 2, generated through alternative splicing.

The single human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene generates four different mRNA species through alternative splicing events. TH-1 and TH-2 mRNAs are expressed mostly in the brain. We have produced large amounts of the corresponding proteins in Escherichia coli to analyze their respective molecular characteristics. The polypeptides have molecular weights similar to those of TH expressed in Xenopus oocytes and react with antibodies to TH. The two isoforms were purified with a purity of 90% using a three-step procedure. The phosphorylation sites have been determined in the two isoforms after labeling with [gamma-32P]ATP in the presence of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-PK II). In both isoforms, Ser-40 was found to be phosphorylated by PKA, and Ser-19 and Ser-40 were found to be phosphorylated by CaM-PK II. The putative phosphorylation site generated by alternative splicing (Ser-31) was phosphorylated specifically by CaM-PK II in TH-2 only. The kinetic properties of the two isoforms in the presence of various concentrations of the substrate (tyrosine) and of the natural cofactor [6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin) were also analyzed. TH produced in E. coli is unphosphorylated but nevertheless active. At 50 microM tyrosine and 300 microM (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin, the specific activities of TH-1 and TH-2 are 1300 and 620 nmol of dihydroxyphenylalanine/min/mg, respectively. Phosphorylation of TH-1 and TH-2 by PKA activates both isoenzymes as shown by the increase in the affinity for the cofactor. No changes in kinetic parameters of the isoenzymes were observed after phosphorylation by CaM-PK II. Dopamine was found to inhibit both TH isoenzymes to the same extent as shown by their similar Ki values for dopamine. These values were increased after phosphorylation of each enzyme by PKA. Unlike TH-1, phosphorylation of TH-2 by CaM-PK II resulted in an increase of the Ki value for dopamine. This property may be related to the presence of the additional phosphorylated residue in TH-2 isoform.

Base Sequence↗

Relation between number of apolipoprotein(a) kringle 4 repeats and mobility of isoforms in agarose gel: basis for a standardized isoform nomenclature.

The size of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] varies from 187 to 648 kDa because of interallelic differences in the number of kringle 4-encoding sequences in the apo(a) gene. Plasma apo(a) isoform sizes were determined by a high-resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate-agarose gel electrophoretic method, followed by immunoblotting. The relation between the number of apo(a) kringle 4-encoding sequences in the apo(a) gene, as assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and genomic blotting, and the mobility of apo(a) isoforms in agarose gel was evaluated in 29 individuals who had 48 expressed apo(a) isoforms that contained between 12 and 41 kringle 4 repeats. The log of the kringle number was linearly related to the distance the isoform migrated on the agarose gel (r= 0.999). A nomenclature is proposed to designate apo(a) isoforms by the respective number of kringle 4 repeats.

Alleles↗

Induction of two UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms sensitive to phenobarbital that are involved in morphine glucuronidation: production of isoform-selective antipeptide antibodies toward UGT1.1r and UGT2B1.

We document here in that two UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms sensitive to phenobarbital are involved in morphine glucuronidation in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. The hepatic microsomal morphine UGT activity in untreated Gunn rats was significantly less than that of untreated Wistar rats. Although the morphine UGT activity in the liver of Gunn rats was increased by phenobarbital (PB) treatment, this was significantly less than that in the liver of PB-treated Wistar rats. UGT1.1r is an isoform of morphine UGT in rat, and UGT2B1 is also considered an isoform of morphine UGT, because UGT2B1 (stably expressed in V79 cells) exhibited morphine UGT activity. We prepared specific antipeptide antibodies against UGT1.1r and UGT2B1. Using isoform-specific antipeptide antibodies, both UGT1.1r and UGT2B1 in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats were inducible by PB treatment. However, UGT1.1r is not present in the liver from Gunn rats. This study is the first demonstration that protein levels of two morphine UGT isoforms, UGT1.1r and UGT2B1, in the liver of Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats are inducible by PB treatment.

Animals↗

Isoform-specific inhibition of L-type calcium channels by dihydropyridines is independent of isoform-specific gating properties.

Dihydropyridines (DHPs) block L-type Ca2+ channels more potently at depolarized membrane potentials, consistent with high affinity binding to the inactivated state. Nisoldipine (a DHP antagonist) blocks the smooth muscle channel more potently than the cardiac one, a phenomenon observed not only in native channels but also in expressed channels. We examined whether this tissue specificity was attributable to differences of inactivation in the two channel types. We expressed cardiac or smooth muscle alpha1C subunits in combination with beta2a and alpha2/delta subunits in human embryonic kidney cells, and used 2 mM Ca2+ as the permeant ion. This system thus reproduces the in vivo topology and charge carrier of the channels while facilitating comparison of the two alpha1C splice variants. Both voltage-dependent and isoform-specific sensitivity of 10 nM nisoldipine inhibition of the channel were demonstrated, with the use of -100 mV as the holding potential for fully reprimed channels and -65 mV to populate the inactivated state. Under drug-free conditions, we characterized fast inactivation (1-sec prepulses) and slow inactivation (3 min prepulses) in the two isoforms. Inactivation parameters were not statistically different in the two channel isoforms; if anything, cardiac channels tended to inactivate more than the smooth muscle channels at relevant voltages. Likewise, the voltage-dependent activation was identical in the two isoforms. We thus conclude that the more potent nisoldipine inhibition of smooth muscle versus cardiac L-type Ca2+ channels is not attributable to differences in channel inactivation or activation. Intrinsic, gating-independent DHP receptor binding affinity differences must be invoked to explain the isoform-specific sensitivity of the DHP block.

Animals↗

Ligand binding specificities and signal transduction pathways of Fc gamma receptor IIc isoforms: the CD32 isoforms expressed by human NK cells.

We recently reported that human NK cells express, in addition to CD16 [Fcgamma receptor (FcgammaR) IIIA], a second type of FcgammaR, namely CD32 (FcgammaRII). Molecular characterization of CD32 transcripts expressed by highly purified NK cells revealed that they predominantly express products of the FcgammaRIIC gene. Using stable Jurkat transfectants we have analyzed the functional properties of two FcgammaRIIc-specific isoforms isolated from NK cells, namely FcgammaRIIc1 and FcgammaRIIc3, which differ in their cytoplasmic tails. The ligand binding specificity for both murine and human IgG isotypes was found to be similar to that observed for FcgammaRIIb isoforms. Immunoprecipitation studies of FcgammaRIIc isoforms expressed in Jurkat cells revealed a protein of around 40 kDa for FcgammaRIIc1, and a protein of around 32 kDa for FcgammaRIIc3. Signal transduction studies performed on FcgammaRIIc1-expressing Jurkat cells indicated that this molecule is functional, i. e. capable of Ca2+ mobilization and activation of Lck, Zap-70 and Syk protein tyrosine kinases, although the CD3 zeta chain was not found to functionally associate with FcgammaRIIc1. In contrast, FcgammaRIIc3 transfectants showed an impaired ability of this molecule to mobilize Ca2+, but activation of Lck was detected following activation via FcgammaRIIc3. These studies demonstrate the functional activity of FcgammaRIIc isoforms and suggest that the presence of CD32, in addition to CD16, on NK cells may have functional relevance.

Antigens, CD↗

Molecular identification of the long isoform of the human neuropeptide Y Y5 receptor and pharmacological comparison with the short Y5 receptor isoform.

The neuropeptide Y Y5 receptor gene generates two splice variants, referred to here as Y5(L) (long isoform) and Y5(S) (short isoform). Y5(L) mRNA differs from Y5(S) mRNA in its 5' end, generating a putative open reading frame with 30 additional nucleotides upstream of the initiator AUG compared with the Y5(S) mRNA. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the existence of the Y5(L) mRNA. The authenticity of this transcript was confirmed by isolating part of its 5' untranslated region through 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends and analysing its tissue distribution. To study the initiation of translation on Y5(L) mRNA, we cloned the Y5(L) cDNA and two Y5(L) cDNA mutants lacking the first or the second putative initiation start codon. Transient expression of the three plasmids in COS-7 cells and saturation binding experiments using (125)I-labelled polypeptide YY (PYY) as a ligand showed that initiation of translation on Y5(L) mRNA could start at the first AUG, giving rise to a Y5(L) receptor with an N-terminal 10-amino-acid extension when compared with the Y5(S) receptor. The human Y5(L) and Y5(S) receptor isoforms displayed similar affinity constants (1.3 nM and 1.5 nM respectively). [(125)I]PYY binding to COS-7 cells expressing either the Y5(L) or the Y5(S) isoform was inhibited with the same rank order of potency by a selection of six chemically diverse compounds: PYY>neuropeptide Y>pancreatic polypeptide>CGP71683A>Synaptic 34>Banyu 6. Comparison of the tissue distribution of Y5(L) and Y5(S) mRNAs, as determined by reverse transcription-PCR analysis, indicated that expression of Y5(L) mRNA occurs in a tissue-specific manner. Finally, we have shown that the two AUG triplets contained in the 5' untranslated region of Y5(L) mRNA did not affect receptor expression.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

High expression of the gamma5 isoform of G protein in neuroepithelial cells and its replacement of the gamma2 isoform during neuronal differentiation in the rat brain.

High concentrations of G proteins, which include multiple isoforms of each subunit, alpha, beta, and gamma, are expressed in the adult brain. In this study, we concentrated attention on changes of these isoforms during embryonic development in the rat brain. Concentrations of gamma2 as well as GoAalpha, GoBalpha, and beta2 were low in early embryogenesis and then increased, whereas expression of gamma5, in contrast, was initially high followed by a drop, with only very low levels observed throughout postnatal development. Among the other isoforms, Gi1alpha, G(s)alpha-short, G12alpha, G13alpha, beta4, gamma3, gamma7, and gamma12 were present in the embryonic brain at low levels, but their levels markedly increased after birth. In contrast, the levels of Gi2alpha, G(s)alpha-long, Gq/11alpha, and beta1 were essentially constant throughout. Immunohistochemical staining of the brain vesicles in the embryos showed gamma5 to be specifically expressed in the proliferative region of the ventricular zone, whereas gamma2 was mainly present in differentiated neuronal cells of the marginal zone. Furthermore, differentiation of P19 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells to neuronal cells with retinoic acid induced the expression of gamma2 and a decrease of gamma5, the major isoform in the undifferentiated state. These results suggest that neuronal differentiation is responsible for the on/off switch of the expression of gamma2 and gamma5 subunits.

Animals↗

Two discrete promoters regulate the alternatively spliced human interferon regulatory factor-5 isoforms. Multiple isoforms with distinct cell type-specific expression, localization, regulation, and function.

Interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF-5) is a mediator of virus-induced immune activation and type I interferon (IFN) gene regulation. In human primary plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC), IRF-5 is transcribed into four distinct alternatively spliced isoforms (V1, V2, V3, and V4), whereas in human primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells two additional new isoforms (V5 and V6) were identified. The IRF-5 V1, V2, and V3 transcripts have different noncoding first exons and distinct insertion/deletion patterns in exon 6. Here we showed that V1 and V3 have distinct transcription start sites and are regulated by two discrete promoters. The V1 promoter (P-V1) is constitutively active, contains an IRF-E consensus-binding site, and is further stimulated in virus-infected cells by IRF family members. In contrast, endogenous V3 transcripts were up-regulated by type I IFNs, and the V3 promoter (P-V3) contains an IFN-stimulated responsive element-binding site that confers responsiveness to IFN through binding of the ISGF3 complex. In addition to V5 and V6, we have identified three more alternatively spliced IRF-5 isoforms (V7, V8, and V9); V5 and V6 were expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors and in immortalized B and T cell malignancies, whereas expression of V7, V8, and V9 transcripts were detected only in human cancers. The results of this study demonstrated the existence of multiple IRF-5 spliced isoforms with distinct cell type-specific expression, cellular localization, differential regulation, and dissimilar functions in virus-mediated type I IFN gene induction.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Identification of palladin isoforms and characterization of an isoform-specific interaction between Lasp-1 and palladin.

Palladin is a recently described phosphoprotein with an important role in cytoskeletal organization. The major palladin isoform (90-92 kDa) binds to three actin-associated proteins (ezrin, VASP and alpha-actinin), suggesting that palladin functions as a cytoskeletal scaffold. Here, we describe the organization of the palladin gene, which encodes multiple isoforms, including one (140 kDa) with a similar localization pattern to 90 kDa palladin. Overexpression of the 90 kDa or 140 kDa isoforms in COS-7 cells results in rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton into super-robust bundles and star-like arrays, respectively. Sequence analysis of 140 kDa palladin revealed a conserved binding site for SH3 domains, suggesting that it binds directly to the SH3-domain protein Lasp-1. Binding of 140 kDa palladin, but not 90 kDa palladin, to Lasp-1 was confirmed by yeast two-hybrid and GST-pull-down assays. Isoform-specific siRNA experiments suggested that 140 kDa palladin plays a role in recruiting Lasp-1 to stress fibers. These results add Lasp-1, an actin-binding protein with a crucial role in cell motility, to the growing list of palladin's binding partners, and suggest that 140 kDa palladin has a specialized function in organizing the actin arrays that participate in cell migration and/or cellular contractility.

Actins↗

Functional specialization of CK2 isoforms and characterization of isoform-specific binding partners.

In mammals, protein kinase CK2 has two isozymic forms of its catalytic subunit, designated CK2alpha and CK2alpha'. CK2alpha and CK2alpha' exhibit extensive similarity within their catalytic domains but have completely unrelated C-terminal sequences. To systematically examine the cellular functions of each CK2 isoform in mammalian cells, we have generated human osteosarcoma U2-OS cell lines with the expression of active or inactive versions of each CK2 isoform under the control of an inducible promoter. Examination of these cell lines provides evidence for functional specialization of CK2 isoforms at the cellular level in mammals with indications that CK2alpha' is involved in the control of proliferation and/or cell survival. To understand the molecular basis for functional differences between CK2alpha and CK2alpha', we have undertaken studies to identify proteins that interact specifically with each isoform of CK2 and could contribute to the regulation of their independent functions. A novel pleckstrin-homology domain containing protein, designated CK2-interacting protein 1 (i.e. CKIP-1) was isolated using the yeast two hybrid system as a protein that interacts with CK2alpha but not CK2alpha'. When expressed in cells as a fusion with green fluorescent protein, CKIP-1 localizes to the cell membrane and to the nucleus. In this study, we present evidence from deletion analysis of CKIP-1 suggesting that a C-terminal region containing a putative leucine zipper has a role in regulating its nuclear localization. Collectively, our data supports a model whereby CKIP-1 is a non-enzymatic regulator of CK2alpha that regulates the cellular functions of CK2alpha by targeting or anchoring CK2alpha to specific cellular localization or by functioning as an adapter to integrate CK2alpha-mediated signaling events with components of other signal transduction pathways.

Binding Sites↗

Estimation of the frequency of isoform-genotype discrepancies at the apolipoprotein E locus in heterozygotes for the isoforms.

Estimates of the impact of apolipoprotein E (apo E) alleles coding for the three common isoforms on plasma lipid levels assume genetic homogeneity among the genotype classes. To test this assumption, we have determined the apo E genotype at the two common polymorphic sites (amino acids 112 and 158) by DNA amplification and hybridisation with allele-specific oligoprobes, in 195 unrelated Caucasian participants of the Rochester Family Heart Study previously classified as heterozygotes by isoelectric focusing (IEF). Fourteen discordant samples were initially detected. Repeat typing of these samples by both methods resolved nine discrepancies and analysis of additional blood samples from the remaining five individuals eliminated a further four discrepancies. The only truly discordant allele was found in a female subject who had an E3 isoform with the common E2 (Cys112, Cys158) genotype. Transmission of this allele from the mother was demonstrated. From these results, we estimate the frequency of discrepancies between isoforms and common genotypes to be 0.25% in this population. Allele misclassification was caused by poor amplification of the DNA in six samples and superimposition of glycosylated and nonglycosylated apo E isoforms on isoelectric focusing gels in five samples. We conclude that the assumption of genetic homogeneity among genotype classes is valid and that misclassification due to technical difficulties is more frequent than true discordancies.

Adult↗

Secretion of transforming growth factor-beta isoforms by embryonic stem cells: isoform and latency are dependent on direction of differentiation.

Murine embryonic stem (ES) cells are maintained in an undifferentiated state when cultured in medium conditioned by Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells. BRL conditioned medium (CM) contains a differentiation inhibitory activity (DIA) that is synonymous with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). ES cells in monolayer culture can be induced to differentiate by addition of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) to the BRL CM, when they mainly form cells resembling parietal endoderm, or by culture in medium not conditioned by BRL cells. ES cells thus deprived of LIF/DIA differentiate spontaneously to a cell type that expresses Brachyury (T), a marker of early mesoderm. Northern blot analyses have shown previously that transcripts for transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) are detected in undifferentiated cells while transcripts for TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3 only become detectable after differentiation. We have now determined levels of TGF-beta protein in CM and in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and have used neutralizing antibodies specific for TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 that do not react with recombinant human TGF-beta 3 to determine the isoform secreted. Using the growth inhibition of mink lung CCL64 cells as a bioassay for TGF-beta activity, we demonstrate that undifferentiated ES cells secrete latent TGF-beta 1 into the medium but no activity is found in their ECM. Cells induced to differentiate with RA contain TGF-beta 2 in both active and latent forms in their CM. Likewise their ECM contains TGF-beta 2 as the sole isoform. ES cells deprived of LIF/DIA secrete both TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 isoforms in their CM but TGF-beta-like activity remains after addition of neutralizing antibodies for TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2. This active TGF beta is the major component of the TGF-beta activity in this CM. By contrast, ECM from LIF/DIA deprived cells contains only the TGF-beta 1 and beta 2 isoforms. The remaining activity in CM correlates with high expression of TGF-beta 3 by Northern blot analysis in these cells. We speculate that TGF-beta 3 is secreted by these cells and may be activated more efficiently and/or in a different manner to TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2, since it is present in CM only in its active form.

Animals↗

Expression of integrins and CD44 isoforms in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: CD44 variant isoforms are preferentially expressed in high-grade malignant lymphomas.

Low- and high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas have been investigated by immunohistochemistry for their expression of various integrins and CD44 isoforms. Comparison with the expression patterns obtained in non-malignant adult lymph nodes revealed the following differences: alpha 6 and beta 4 integrins were expressed in several high-grade malignant lymphomas to a lower degree than in both the low-grade malignant lymphomas and the normal lymph nodes; all other integrins (alpha 2, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha v, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, and beta 7) did not exhibit significant differences in the expression levels between malignant and non-malignant tissues. The standard isoform of CD44 (CD44s) was highly expressed in all lymphoid tissues. Using CD44 exons-specific monoclonal antibodies, CD44 variant isoforms were not detected in non-malignant lymph nodes and were detected only rarely in low-grade malignant lymphomas. In contrast, high-grade malignant lymphomas expressed several CD44 variant isoforms, which included the products from the variant exons 3v, 6v, and 9v, but not 4v. Specifically, detection of exon 3v and 6v products indicates a more aggressive phenotype.

Adult↗

CD45 isoform expression on human neonatal T cells: expression and turnover of CD45 isoforms on neonatal versus adult T cells after activation.

Neonatal T cells are phenotypically similar to "naive" T cells from adult donors in the CD45 isoform expression. Despite the phenotypic similarity, large differences were found between neonatal and adult T cells when T cells were activated. After activation with PHA, adult CD45RA+ T cells began to express CD45RO and no loss of CD45RA expression had yet occurred at Day 3 post-stimulation. Three days after activation, CD45RA+ neonatal T cells also coexpressed CD45RO; however, in contrast to adult T cells, a marked loss of CD45RA was observed. We analyzed the rapid loss of CD45RA found in neonatal T cells. The de novo synthesis of CD45 isoforms in neonatal T cells was essentially the same as that in the adult T cells. Turnover of the CD45RA was very rapid in both resting adult and neonatal T cells. After activation with PHA, the turnover of CD45RA on adult T cells was decreased significantly, while the turnover of CD45RA on neonatal T cells was not changed after activation. Therefore, the regulation of CD45 isoform expression not only involves switches in alternative splicing, but also involves different regulation of turnover of these isoforms from the cell membrane.

Adult↗

Substitution of the N-terminal segment of the plasma membrane Ca pump isoform 4 by that of isoform 1 results in a fully functional chimeric enzyme.

The N-terminal segment of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump (PMCA) is one of the most variable regions among the four isoforms of the enzyme and its functional importance is unknown. In the present work, the N-terminal segment of the highly active C-terminally truncated h4 mutant, h4(ct120) was modified either by substituting residues 18-43 by residues 43-75 or by replacing residues 1-75 by the homologous region from isoform h1 (residues 1-79). Immunoblot analysis of microsomal membranes from transfected COS-1 cells showed that the two N-terminally mutated proteins were correctly expressed at a level similar to that of h4(ct120). Measurements of the Ca2+ uptake by microsomal vesicles from transfected COS-1 cells indicated that mutant (18-43-->43-75)h4(ct120) had only negligible Ca2+ transport activity while the chimeric (n1-79)h1h4(ct120) enzyme was fully capable of functioning as a calcium pump. Like h4(ct120), the chimeric mutant was not stimulated further by calmodulin, and was inhibited to a similar degree by the C28R2 peptide corresponding to the calmodulin binding autoinhibitory region of the pump. Moreover, the apparent affinity for Ca2+ and the ATP dependence of the chimeric enzyme were similar to those of the h4(ct120) pump suggesting that the variability of sequence between the N-terminal segment of PMCA isoforms h1 and h4 involves amino acid substitutions that do not substantially change the behavior of the h4 enzyme. Altogether, these results demonstrate that for activity the h4 Ca pump requires a specific amino acid sequence at its N-terminus, and the essential elements for a fully active enzyme can be provided by the N-terminal segment of isoform h1 despite the variability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Anion exchanger isoform 2 operates in parallel with Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 during regulatory volume decrease of human cervical cancer cells.

Intracellular pH (pH(i)) homeostasis was investigated in human cervical cancer SiHa cells undergoing regulatory volume decrease (RVD) to determine which transport systems were involved. Using isoform-specific primers, mRNA transcripts of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) and isoform 3 were identified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the results confirmed by Western immunoblotting. From anion exchanger isoforms 1-3 (AE1-3), only the mRNA transcript of AE2 was identified by RT-PCR and the identity was confirmed by digestion with a specific restriction endonuclease. SiHa cells loaded with the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and resuspended in isotonic media showed a stable pH(i). In contrast, a gradual internal acidification took place following resuspension in hypotonic media. The NHE inhibitors, HOE694 (10 microM) and amiloride (1 mM), showed a similar potency in enhancing the rate and extent of the hypotonicity-induced internal acidification. The absence of extracellular Na(+) also substantially enhanced the acidification during RVD. These results suggest that internal acidification during RVD is mainly compensated by the operation of NHE1. Extracellular Cl(-) was critically necessary for the pH(i) acidification during RVD. The hypotonicity-induced acidification was significantly attenuated by 100 microM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, a concentration inhibiting more than 90% AE activity. This indicates that AE2 mediates a net Cl(-) influx with compensating HCO(3)(-) efflux during RVD. We conclude that AE2 operates in parallel with NHE1 to regulate pH(i) during RVD of human cervical cancer cells.

Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte↗