Genomic organization and tissue expression of the mouse proteasome gene Lmp-7

LMP7 is one of the two proteasome subunits encoded in the major histocompatibility complex and is speculated to play a role in the generation of endogenous peptides for presentation by class I molecules to cytotoxic T cells. Here we report the genomic organization of the mouse Lmp-7 gene and the tissue distribution of its messenger RNA. In contrast to human LMP7 which is composed of seven exons and six introns, the mouse Lmp-7 gene is organized in six exons and five introns. Interestingly, the region corresponding to the first exon of human LMP7 is highly modified by numerous insertions and deletions and contains two in frame stop codons. Consequently, the mouse Lmp-7 gene does not allow the alternative exon usage described in humans and most likely encodes for only one LMP7 protein. Thus, the Tap-1 3' end gene region and the Lmp-7 initial translation codon are separated by an 1182 nucleotide region which contains a TATA-box, a cAMP regulatory element, two SP1 sites, and two G-C-rich regions. Expression of the Lmp-7 messenger RNA was analyzed on different tissues from unstimulated mice. Lmp-7 messenger RNA is expressed in spleen, thymus, lung, liver, heart, and, at a very low level, in kidney but not in brain and testis. The possible role of Lmp genes in antigen processing is discussed.

[Determination of aconitine in wutou and related herbal drugs (roots of Aconitum) and their processed products in Hong Kong market]

This paper deals with the determination of the poisonous aconitine-type alkaloids in roots of Aconitum in Hong Kong market by TLC scanning. The results show that the content of aconitine was 0.0041%-0.021% in processed roots of Aconitum carmichaeli, 0.0084%-0.034% in processed roots of A. kusnezoffii; 0.0012% and 0.0007% in crude and roasted lateral tuber of A. carmichaeli. Aconitine was not found in the processed product of Fuzi.

Molecular basis of genetic polymorphism in major histocompatibility complex-linked proteasome gene (Lmp-2)

Four genes, closely linked to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes, have been identified in humans, mice, and rats and are thought to be involved in the generation and transport of endogenous immunogenic peptides for the MHC class I antigen-processing pathway. The Tap-1 and Tap-2 genes presumably encode a heterodimeric protein complex responsible for transporting endogenous immunogenic peptides to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. The Lmp-2 and Lmp-7 gene products are two subunits of the large cytosolic proteasome complex possibly involved in generation of endogenous peptides. To study the genetic polymorphism of the Lmp-2 gene, we used a published cDNA sequence as a consensus sequence and PCR-amplified, cloned, and sequenced the Lmp-2 gene from 12 inbred mouse strains. We found three amino acid variants, LMP-2d, LMP-2b, and LMP-2q, which partially correlated with restriction fragment length polymorphism variants identified with Southern blots. Allelic polymorphism of the Lmp-2 gene may be involved in peptide selection, leading to autoimmune disease susceptibility.

An extra cysteine proximal to the transmembrane domain induces differential cross-linking of p185neu and p185neu

The neu proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase (p185) that is closely related to the epidermal growth factor receptor. It has been proposed that receptor tyrosine kinases are activated through oligomerization. Because this clustering model predicts that oligomerization of receptors is sufficient to activate them, we determined if p185 can be activated by introducing an extra cysteine proximal to the transmembrane domain. This should induce inter-receptor disulfide bonding and, according to the clustering model, activate the receptor. This amino acid substitution enhanced recovery of both normal and transforming neu proteins as dimers, with normal p185 recovered predominantly as monomers and transforming p185* as dimers. However, the cysteine substitution did not affect the transforming activity of the two proteins.

[Identification of seven snake-drugs by iso-electric point]

This paper deals with the identification of seven snake-drugs by means of iso-electric point of protein. The experimental results show that different species of snake-drugs have different iso-electric points. The experimental data are accurate and easily reproducible (CV less than 0.5%). The difference of the averages of iso-electric points of the seven snake-drugs (P less than 0.01%) is extremely significant and thus provides a scientific criterion for the identification of peeled or powdered snake-drugs.

A subdomain in the transmembrane domain is necessary for p185neu* activation

The neu proto-oncogene encodes a protein highly homologous to the epidermal growth factor receptor. The neu protein (p185) has a molecular weight of 185,000 Daltons and, like the EGF receptor, possesses tyrosine kinase activity. neu is activated in chemically induced rat neuro/glioblastomas by substitution of valine 664 with glutamic acid within the transmembrane domain. The activated neu* protein (p185*) has an elevated tyrosine kinase activity and a higher propensity to dimerize, but the mechanism of this activation is still unknown. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to explore the role of specific amino acids within the transmembrane domain in this activation. We found that the lateral position and rotational orientation of the glutamic acid in the transmembrane domain does not correlate with transformation. However, the primary structure in the vicinity of Glu664 plays a significant role in this activation. Our results suggest that the Glu664 activation involves highly specific interactions in the transmembrane domain of p185.

TPA inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of the neu protein in vivo and in vitro

P185 is a receptor-like protein encoded by the neu/erbB-2 proto-oncogene. A point mutation in the transmembrane domain renders this protein oncogenic. We report here that incubation of cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulates the phosphorylation of the normal neu protein (p185) and the oncogenic neu protein (p185*). The increased phosphorylation occurs mainly on serine and threonine residues. Phosphate labeling experiments showed that TPA causes a reduction of basal phosphotyrosine in p185 but not p185*. Immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody yielded similar results. TPA also inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of p185* in an in vitro immune complex kinase assay. These data suggest that protein kinase C, the receptor for TPA, regulates p185 function through serine or threonine phosphorylation.

HDV (delta factor) infection complicated with subacute fulminant hepatitis B. A morphological and immunohistochemical observation

In 75 patients with subacute fulminant hepatitis B (SAFH), HDAg positive liver cells were observed in 14 cases (18.67%) by direct enzyme labelled method. It was found further that HDV (delta factor) infection was an important cause in producing massive necrosis of liver cells and superinfection of HDV with hepatitis B was identified as one of the causes of SAFH. This experiment also showed that the number of HDAg positive cells was in direct proportion to the area of liver necrosis. No obvious lymphocytic infiltrations and cytotoxic phenomena around the necrotic foci and HDAg positive cells could be found, while the cytoplasmic type HDAg positive cells showed distinct degeneration or even atrophy. Hence it was suggested that HDV could be a direct pathogenesis. No obvious characteristic changes in morphology of HDV infection could be found.

Differential regulation of class II MHC determinants on macrophages by IFN-gamma and IL-4

Initiation of an immune response depends upon expression of class II MHC determinants on plasma membranes of APC. Murine peritoneal macrophages treated with either rIFN-gamma or rIL-4 display significantly more class II MHC determinants than untreated control cells. Analysis of the induction of macrophage Ia Ag by these cytokines showed considerable quantitative and qualitative differences. Maximal levels of Ia Ag induced in macrophages and detected by ELISA after IL-4 treatment at 48 h was about 80% of that induced by IFN-gamma. However, the frequency of Ia+ cells in replicate macrophage populations cultured for 48 h in excess concentrations of cytokine was 60 to 80% with IFN-gamma, 30 to 40% with IL-4, and 5% with medium alone. Thus, the subpopulation of macrophages able to respond to IL-4 for induction of Ia Ag expression was less than that able to respond to IFN-gamma. Expression of Ia Ag on macrophages continuously exposed to IFN-gamma was maximal at 48 h and remained at this high level through 6 days. Maximal Ia Ag expression for IL-4-treated cells was also detected at 48 h, but was not sustained with time in culture, and returned to base line by 4 days. A similar time course for levels of Ia-specific message in macrophages at various times after IFN-gamma and IL-4 treatment was detected by Northern dot blot analysis. Loss of Ia mRNA and Ag with time in culture in the IL-4 treated cells was not due to macrophage cell death, depletion of active cytokine, or presence of fluid-phase inhibitors. IL-4 unresponsive cells were fully capable of maximal response to IFN-gamma for Ia Ag induction. These findings suggest that IL-4 and IFN-gamma induce class II MHC determinants through different mechanisms which may provide discrete regulatory control of APC function.

Differential regulation of class II MHC determinants on macrophages by IFN-gamma and IL-4

Initiation of an immune response depends upon expression of class II MHC determinants on plasma membranes of APC. Murine peritoneal macrophages treated with either rIFN-gamma or rIL-4 display significantly more class II MHC determinants than untreated control cells. Analysis of the induction of macrophage Ia Ag by these cytokines showed considerable quantitative and qualitative differences. Maximal levels of Ia Ag induced in macrophages and detected by ELISA after IL-4 treatment at 48 h was about 80% of that induced by IFN-gamma. However, the frequency of Ia+ cells in replicate macrophage populations cultured for 48 h in excess concentrations of cytokine was 60 to 80% with IFN-gamma, 30 to 40% with IL-4, and 5% with medium alone. Thus, the subpopulation of macrophages able to respond to IL-4 for induction of Ia Ag expression was less than that able to respond to IFN-gamma. Expression of Ia Ag on macrophages continuously exposed to IFN-gamma was maximal at 48 h and remained at this high level through 6 days. Maximal Ia Ag expression for IL-4-treated cells was also detected at 48 h, but was not sustained with time in culture, and returned to base line by 4 days. A similar time course for levels of Ia-specific message in macrophages at various times after IFN-gamma and IL-4 treatment was detected by Northern dot blot analysis. Loss of Ia mRNA and Ag with time in culture in the IL-4 treated cells was not due to macrophage cell death, depletion of active cytokine, or presence of fluid-phase inhibitors. IL-4 unresponsive cells were fully capable of maximal response to IFN-gamma for Ia Ag induction. These findings suggest that IL-4 and IFN-gamma induce class II MHC determinants through different mechanisms which may provide discrete regulatory control of APC function.

Oncogenic activation of p185neu stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation in vivo

p185, the product of the neu/erbB2 proto-oncogene, is oncogenically activated by a point mutation that substitutes glutamic acid for valine in the transmembrane domain of the protein. We have found that the transforming form of p185 differs from its normal counterpart in inducing increased tyrosine phosphorylation of other proteins in vivo and in having a much shorter half-life. These results support the model that the transforming p185 resembles a ligand-activated receptor.

Effects of altered cytoplasmic domains on transport of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein are transferable to other proteins

Alterations of the cytoplasmic domain of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (G protein) were shown previously to affect transport of the protein from the endoplasmic reticulum, and recent studies have shown that this occurs without detectable effects on G protein folding and trimerization (R. W. Doms et al., J. Cell Biol., in press). Deletions within this domain slowed exit of the mutant proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum, and replacement of this domain with a foreign 12-amino-acid sequence blocked all transport out of the endoplasmic reticulum. To extend these studies, we determined whether such effects of cytoplasmic domain changes were transferable to other proteins. Three different assays showed that the effects of the mutations on transport of two membrane-anchored secretory proteins were the same as those observed with vesicular stomatitis virus G protein. In addition, possible effects on oligomerization were examined for both transported and nontransported forms of membrane-anchored human chorionic gonadotropin-alpha. These membrane-anchored forms, like the nonanchored human chorionic gonadotropin-alpha, had sedimentation coefficients consistent with a monomeric structure. Taken together, our results provide strong evidence that these cytoplasmic mutations affect transport by affecting interactions at or near the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.

Cell-surface expression of a membrane-anchored form of the human chorionic gonadotropin alpha subunit

We carried out experiments designed to generate a novel cell-surface protein from a small glycosylated secretory protein. DNA encoding the entire precursor of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, alpha subunit) was fused precisely to DNA encoding the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein. When expressed in animal cells this DNA encoded the 92-amino acid hCG-alpha subunit anchored in cellular membranes by an extension composed of the 49 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein. This hybrid protein was transported efficiently to the plasma membrane of animal cells. The two asparagine-linked glycans on the anchored form of hCG-alpha were large and heterogeneous when compared to those on the secretory form. Experiments employing in vitro mutagenesis and the glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin established that the presence of at least one of the two asparagine-linked glycans was required for expression of the anchored molecule on the cell surface. However, as reported previously, secretion of hCG-alpha occurred in the absence of glycosylation. Also, mutations eliminating the second glycosylation site (at amino acid 78) in both the anchored or secreted forms apparently led to partial denaturation or a conformational change interfering with transport of the protein.

Effects of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin on carbonic anhydrase location in osteoclasts of cultured embryonic chick bone

The ultrastructural location of carbonic anhydrase has been examined in osteoclasts of cultured embryonic chick metatarsi. In untreated cultures and in those to which parathyroid hormone (PTH) was added, the enzyme was found in close association with the plasma membrane of the ruffled border. After brief calcitonin treatment (10 min) the ruffled border disappeared and the association of carbonic anhydrase with the plasma membrane was diminished. The results indicate that the hormones employed act directly on embryonic bone to alter osteoclast structure and the intracellular location of carbonic anhydrase.