[Expression and purification of the N-domain of human canstatin and its bioactivity]

Total RNA was extracted from placenta umbilical tissue. The canstatin cDNA was amplified from total RNA by net-RT-PCR technique and cloned into pSP72, and the resulted plasmid pSP72C was used as template to amplify its N-domain. The amplified 1-89 aa N-domain was then cloned into pET-3c. The resulted plasmid pET-CN was transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). The N-domain was efficiently expressed after IPTG induction as a 10 kD band on SDS-PAGE. The expressed product accounted for approximately 35.3% of the total bacterial proteins, as estimated by densitometry and existed mainly as inclusion body. The inclusion bodies were washed, lysed and the reactivated proteins were purified by the Sephadex G-100 gel filtration to a purity of 92.6%. CAM assay showed that N-domain effectively inhibited the angiogenesis of chicken embryo microcapillary vessel.

Glycodelin and amniotic fluid transferrin as inhibitors of E-selectin-mediated cell adhesion

Human amniotic fluid contains a variety of glycoproteins. Several of these substances have been shown to exert immunomodulatory effects. Glycodelin, previously known as placental protein 14, is one of these glycoproteins. It has a unique carbohydrate configuration, consistent with fucosylated LacdiNAc structures that are very unusual for mammals. Oligosaccharides with fucosylated LacdiNAc antennae have previously been shown to block selectin-mediated cell adhesion. Another glycoprotein, human transferrin, is also present in amniotic fluid in relatively high concentrations. This transferrin shows a different glycosylation compared with serum transferrin. Amniotic fluid transferrin carries sialylated Lewis X antigens. Glycodelin and transferrin were isolated from amniotic fluid and for comparison from serum of pregnant women by chromatographic methods. The purified proteins were used as ligands to block E-selectin-mediated HepG2 cell adhesion. Two types of binding assays with distinct receptor accommodations (immobilised E-selectin and activated HUVECs) were used to quantify inhibition efficiencies of the different proteins. We found that glycodelin is a strong inhibitor with a 10(3)-fold potency compared to the monovalent tetrasaccharide sialyl Lewis X whereas the potency of transferrin is rather low.

Improved production of recombinant ovine interferon-tau by mut(+) strain of Pichia pastoris using an optimized methanol feed profile

Recombinant ovine interferon-tau (r-oIFN-tau) production by Pichia pastoris was studied using methanol as the sole carbon source during induction. The cells were grown on glycerol up to a certain cell density before induction of the AOX1 promoter by methanol for expression of the recombinant protein. Cell growth on methanol has been modeled using a substrate-feed equation, which served as the basis for an effective computer control of the process. The r-oIFN-tau concentration in the culture began to decline despite continued cell growth after 50 (+/- 6) h of induction, which was associated with an increase in proteolytic activity of the fermentation broth. A specific growth rate of 0.025 h(-1) was found to be optimal for r-oIFN-tau production. No significant improvement in r-oIFN-tau production was observed when the specific growth rate was stepped up before the critical point when r-oIFN-tau concentration started decreasing during fermentation. However, best results were obtained when the specific growth rate was stepped down from 0.025 to 0.02 h(-1) at 38 h of induction, whereby the active production period was prolonged until 70 h of induction and the broth protease activity was correspondingly reduced. The corresponding maximum protein yield was 391.7 mg x L(-1) after 70 h of fermentation. The proteolytic activity could be reduced by performing fermentations at specific growth rates of 0.025 h(-1) or below. The recombinant protein production can be performed at an optimal yield by directly controlling the methanol feed rate by a computer-controlled model. The production profile of r-oIFN-tau was found to be significantly different from other secreted and intracellular recombinant protein processes, which is an indication that recombinant protein production in Pichia pastoris needs to be optimized as individual processes following established principles.

In bovine binucleate trophoblast giant cells, pregnancy-associated glycoproteins and placental prolactin-related protein-I are conjugated to asparagine-linked N-acetylgalactosaminyl glycans

Bovine binucleate trophoblast giant cells (BNCs) produce large amounts of PAS-positive cytoplasmic granules. After fusion of BNCs with uterine epithelial cells, the contents of these granules are released into the maternal stroma which underlies the uterine epithelium. Histochemically, the granules can be labeled with N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins ( Dolichos biflorus, Vicia villosa, and Wisteria floribunda agglutinins) and with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin. In this study, we used lectin western blot analysis of proteins from fetal cotyledons to characterize the lectin binding glycoproteins. Lectin western blots showed several bands. A main band of approximately 65 kDa was identified as pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) and a double band at 34-35 kDa as prolactin-related protein-I (PRP-I) by their crossreactivity with specific antisera. Enzymatic cleavage of N-linked glycans with peptide- N-glycanase F abolished the lectin binding to PRP and PAGs in western blots, revealing that the lectins bound to asparagine-linked glycans. The high specificity of the lectins was used for the enrichment of PRP-I and PAGs from placental cotyledons with Vicia villosa lectin affinity chromatography. The occurrence of the relatively uncommon asparagine-linked N-acetylgalactosaminyl glycans on secretory proteins of the BNCs suggests a functional role of this specific glycosylation pattern.

Isolation and partial characterization of three pregnancy-associated glycoproteins from the ewe placenta

Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are synthesized in the outer epithelial layer of the placenta in artiodactyls. In this work, three novel ovine PAGs were isolated from late-pregnancy fetal cotyledons and characterized biochemically. The isolation procedure included acid and ammonium sulfate precipitations and anion and cation exchange chromatographies. The isolated PAGs have different NH(2)-terminal amino acid sequences (RGSXLTILPLRNMRDIVY, ISRVSXLTIHPLRNIMDML, and RGSNLTIHPLRNIRD) and apparent molecular masses (55, 57, and 59 kDa). Each shows several isoforms with different pI values. The three proteins share high sequence identity with each other and with other ovine, bovine, and caprine PAGs. They have not been described previously. The ovPAG-59 sequence differs from the previously identified ovPAG-4 sequence (determined by DNA cloning and sequencing) at only one position among the 15 N-terminal residues. The newly characterized ovPAGs and the procedure used to isolate them will be helpful in producing new antisera for investigating PAG secretion in pregnant ewes.

Characterization of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins extracted from zebu (Bos indicus) placentas removed at different gestational periods

In the present work, two biochemical approaches were used to characterize PAGs isolated from Bos indicus fetal cotyledons removed at different gestational ages. The first procedure included acidic and ammonium sulfate precipitations, anion and cation exchange chromatographies and the second included pepstatin-agarose affinity chromatography. A bovine PAG radioimmunoassay was used to monitor the immunoreactivity throughout the isolation procedures. The most immunoreactive fractions issued from cation exchange and affinity chromatographies were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, before transfer to a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane for NH2-microsequence determination. Use SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, different isoforms of PAG with apparent molecular masses of 51 to 69 kDa and isoelectric points varying from 4.4 to 6.7 were identified in the placentas from different gestational ages. N-terminal microsequencing (10 to 25 aa long) indicates the expression of one single terminal amino acid sequence in the Bos indicus placenta, which is 100% identical to the bovine PAG-1.

PLIF, a novel human ferritin subunit from placenta with immunosuppressive activity

Ferritin is a ubiquitous iron storage protein existing in multiple isoforms composed of 24 heavy and light chain subunits. We describe here a third ferritin-related subunit cloned from human placenta cDNA library and named PLIF (placental immunomodulatory ferritin). The PLIF coding region is composed of ferritin heavy chain (FTH) sequence lacking the 65 C-terminal amino acids, which are substituted with a novel 48 amino acid domain (C48). In contrast to FTH, PLIF mRNA does not include the iron response element in the 5'-untranslated region, suggesting that PLIF synthesis is not regulated by iron. The linkage between the FTH and C48 domains created a restriction site for EcoRI. PLIF protein was found to localize in syncytiotrophoblasts of placentas (8 weeks of gestation) at the fetal-maternal interface. Increased levels of PLIF transcript and protein were also detected in the breast carcinoma cell lines T47D and MCF-7 but not in the benign corresponding cell line HBL-100. In vitro, PLIF was shown to down-modulate mixed lymphocyte reactions and to inhibit the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with OKT3. The accumulated data indicate that PLIF is an embryonic immune factor involved in down-modulating the maternal immune recognition of the embryo toward anergy. This mechanism may have been adapted by breast cancer cells over expressing PLIF.

Anti-HIV activity of a glycoprotein from first trimester placental tissue

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) transmission from a mother to the offspring during pregnancy is highly complex and a variable process in part due to the presence of several anti-HIV factors. In this study, we report an early pregnancy-associated protein (early pregnancy associated protein-1, Epap-1) with an apparent molecular weight of 90 kDa in placental tissue of pregnant women during the first trimester. Epap-1 was isolated and purified using Sambucus nigra agarose lectin affinity chromatography. Epap-1 strongly inhibits HIV-1(MN), HIV-1(91US056), HIV-1(VB-7) replication in vitro while it exhibits low activity with HIV-1(VB-66) strain. The molecular analysis of action of Epap-1 shows that it affects HIV-CD4 binding through inhibition of CD4-gp120 interaction.

Isolation, purification and partial characterization of early pregnancy factor (EPF) from sera of pregnant women

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is a pregnancy protein, which is secreted into the maternal serum 12-16 hours after fertilization. It is thought to be an immunosuppressive molecule. EPF is detected in pregnant woman's serum by the rosette inhibition assay (RIA). In this study, EPF was purified from the pregnant woman's sera by using ion exchange chromatography and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The proteins which showed a positive result with the RIA, were found to be 35 kDa and 17 kDa molecular weights. The biological activities of these proteins were stable upon heat treatment at 56 degrees C for 30 min. Proteins isolated and purified in this study might be of great significance to the field of human reproduction with particular reference to pregnancy and recurrent abortion.

Purification and characterization of an immunomodulatory endometrial protein, glycodelin

Human glycodelin is synthesized by endometrial cells in the late secretory phase and early pregnancy under hormonal regulation. Whereas the precise physiological functions of glycodelin are unknown, its expression during embryonic nidation and its inhibition of T cell proliferation suggest an immunomodulatory role. We purified human glycodelin from first trimester human decidual cytosol by using a rapid two-step high-performance liquid chromatography method and investigated its effects on human monocyte migration. Human U937 cells were used as a model of monocyte chemotaxis in Boyden chamber migration assays. N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe and the beta-chemokine RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) were used as monocyte chemoattractants. Purified glycodelin inhibited monocyte migration in a dose-dependent fashion (IC50 = 550 nm). Glycodelin activity was totally reversed by heat inactivation (95 degrees C x 15 min) and neutralized by pretreatment with specific anti-glycodelin antibodies. Deglycosylated glycodelin was equipotent to intact glycodelin in the monocyte migration assay. 125I-Glycodelin binding to whole U937 cells revealed a single, saturable site with a Kd = 48 +/- 21 nm by Scatchard analysis. Cross-linking studies indicated that glycodelin binds to a high molecular mass (approximately 250 kDa) protein complex at the monocyte cell surface. Our findings support the hypothesis that glycodelin reduces the local maternal inflammatory response toward the implantation of a semiallogeneic conceptus.

Prokaryotic expression, purification, and reconstitution of biological activities (Antiprotease, antitumor, and heparin-binding) for tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2

We report the expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) (also known as PP-5, placental protein-5; MSPI, matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor) in E. coli as a 25-kDa nonglycosylated protein with a glycine substituted for aspartic acid at the amino terminus. High-level expression of TFPI-2 was obtained with pRE1 expression vector under the transcriptional and translational controls of the lambdaP(L) promoter and lambdacII ribosome-binding site, respectively, with ATG initiation codon. TFPI-2 was produced as inclusion bodies and accounted for 25-30% of the total E. coli proteins. The inclusion bodies containing TFPI-2 were solubilized with urea, sulfitolyzed, purified, and refolded through a disulfide interchange reaction. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited plasmin with an inhibition constant (K(i)) of 5 nM that is similar with the TFPI-2 expressed in a mammalian system. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 bound heparin and also inhibited plasmin, regardless of whether the enzyme was in the fluid phase or was bound to the membranes of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. In addition, refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited radiolabeled matrix degradation and Matrigel matrix invasion by HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and B16-F10 melanoma cells. Together, our results suggest that glycosylation is not essential for antiprotease, antitumor, and matrix-binding activities of TFPI-2. Based on these collective data, we conclude that a biologically active nonglycosylated TFPI-2 can be produced in E. coli and that the protein can be produced in high-enough quantities to conduct in vivo studies for determination of the role of this inhibitor in tumor invasion and metastasis.

N-218 MLN64, a protein with StAR-like steroidogenic activity, is folded and cleaved similarly to StAR

The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) facilitates the movement of cholesterol from the outer to inner mitochondrial membrane in adrenal and gonadal cells, fostering steroid biosynthesis. MLN64 is a 445-amino acid protein of unknown function. When 218 amino-terminal residues of MLN-64 are deleted, the resulting N-218 MLN64 has 37% amino acid identity with StAR and 50% of StAR's steroidogenic activity in transfected cells. Antiserum to StAR cross-reacts with N-218 MLN64, indicating the presence of similar epitopes in both proteins. Western blotting shows that MLN64 is proteolytically cleaved in the placenta to a size indistinguishable from N-218 MLN64. Bacterially expressed N-218 MLN64 exerts StAR-like activity to promote the transfer of cholesterol from the outer to inner mitochondrial membrane in vitro. CD spectroscopy indicates that N-218 MLN64 is largely alpha-helical and minimally affected by changes in ionic strength or the hydrophobic character of the solvent, although glycerol increases the beta-sheet content. However, decreasing pH diminishes structure, causing aggregation. Limited proteolysis at pH 8.0 shows that the C-terminal domain of N-218 MLN64 is accessible to proteolysis whereas the 244-414 domain is resistant, suggesting it is more compactly folded. The presence of a protease-resistant domain and a protease-sensitive carboxy-terminal domain in N-218 MLN64 is similar to the organization of StAR. However, as MLN64 never enters the mitochondria, the protease-resistant domain of MLN64 cannot be a mitochondrial pause-transfer sequence, as has been proposed for StAR. Thus the protease-resistant domain of N-218 MLN64, and by inference the corresponding domain of StAR, may have direct roles in their action to foster the flux of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Recombinant production of PIGF-1 and its activity in animal models

In this paper we review current knowledge on placenta growth factor (PIGF) and summarise our data on its recombinant production in bacteria and its activity. PIGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are both angiogenic factors belonging to the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family. PIGF is a dimeric glycoprotein which shares a number of biochemical and functional features with VEGF. The aminoacidic similarity between the two factors is high (about 50%) in the PDGF-like domain. By alternative splicing of the PIGF mRNA, three forms of PIGF protein are generated which are named PIGF-1, PIGF-2 and PIGF-3. We have focused our attention on form 1 of human PIGF (PIGF-1). A large quantity of active recombinant PIGF-1 has been obtained using a bacterial expression system. By optimising the fermentation and purification it was possible to produce about 140 mg/l of culture of active PIGF-1, which is potentially suitable for a pharmaceutical use. The angiogenic activity of two different batches of bacteria-derived PIGF-1 obtained in our laboratory was demonstrated in chick chorionallantoic membrane assays. Finally, in preliminary studies we have shown that bacteria-derived PIGF-1 has a protective effect against myocardial lesions induced by isoprenaline in rat and rabbit.

Isolation, purification, and characterization of pregnancy-specific protein B from elk and moose placenta

Pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) was isolated, purified, and partially characterized from elk and moose placenta. The procedure, which was monitored by bovine PSPB (bPSPB) RIA, included homogenization and extraction in aqueous solution, acidic and ammonium sulfate precipitation, and ion exchange, gel filtration, and affinity chromatographies. The estimated molecular sizes of moose PSPB (mPSPB) were 58 kDa and 31 kDa, and of elk PSPB (ePSPB) were 57 kDa, 45 kDa, and 31 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The isoelectric points of mPSPB were 4.8, 6.6, and 6.7, and of ePSPB were 4.8, 4.9, 6.1, and 6.2 as determined by isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The carbohydrate contents of mPSPB and ePSPB were approximately 3.15% and 4.98%, respectively. Although ePSPB and mPSPB were recognized by anti-bPSPB in an Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion test, they were found to share identical epitopes and partial identities compared to bPSPB. After treatment at different temperatures (20-60 degrees C) for 1 h, the immunoreactivities of ePSPB and mPSPB in serum were very stable. Only ePSPB in serum treated at 60 degrees C lost some immunoreactivity. After alteration of serum pH (pH 3-11) for 2 h, the immunoreactivities of ePSPB and mPSPB became lower at pH 3 and 4, and remained stable from pH 5 to 11. These data show that moose and elk PSPB have properties similar to those of bovine and ovine PSPB.

A placenta-derived suppressor factor with a T-cell bias

PROBLEM

Functional and mechanistic aspects of immunosuppression by murine placental supernatants (MPS) were investigated.

METHOD OF STUDY

MPS and a low molecular weight fraction of the supernatant (MPSf) were tested for suppressive action on T-cell reactivity in vitro and in vivo, on B-cell responses and on T-cell activation events.

RESULTS

MPS and MPSf suppress mitogen-induced proliferation and mixed lymphocyte reactions of human and murine lymphocytes, antigen-induced proliferation of T cells in vitro and in vivo, proliferation of CD8+ lymphocytes, proliferation induced by cross-linking of surface CD3 and the in vivo response of mice to allogeneic stimuli. MPSf affects cell cycling of activated T cells and blocks interleukin (IL)-2 production. MPSf does not affect antibody production or the induction of MHC class II expression on B cells.

CONCLUSIONS

MPSf is a potent inhibitor of T-cell responses in vitro and in vivo, with no demonstrable effect on B-cell function.

Progress in characterization of pre-implantation factor in embryo cultures and in vivo

PROBLEM

Pre-implantation factor (PIF), a small, embryo-derived peptide is detected in the maternal serum prior to implantation and is associated with successful pregnancy outcome. However, its identity is not known.

METHOD OF STUDY

PIF was isolated from mouse embryo conditioned media and from pregnant porcine sera, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) followed by mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Conditioned culture media was separated by gel filtration chromatography followed by reversed phase chromatography. At each step, PIF activity was determined by the lymphocyte/platelet binding autorosette assay (LPBA). Mass spectrometry yielded a single peak with a mass of 1300 Da. The peptide is, however, present in very low concentrations (fM), which has so far precluded complete identification. Pregnant porcine sera that exhibit potent PIF activity were deproteinated by acetone and further fractionated by reversed phase HPLC. Active fractions contain peptides of molecular masses 523 and 551 Da.

CONCLUSION

PIF, likely to be peptides, represents a novel substance related to pregnancy initiation and maintenance.

Expression, purification, and characterization of interferon-tau produced in Pichia pastoris grown in a minimal medium

Interferon-tau (IFN-tau) is a novel type I IFN that was originally identified as a pregnancy recognition hormone. IFN-tau shares all of the biological properties of other type I IFNs including antiviral activity and antiproliferative activity through induction of the cell cycle inhibitor gene product p21WAF1. It is a promising therapy for cancers, viral infections, and for autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, without the adverse side effects associated with IFN-alpha and IFN-beta. Here, we describe novel growth and induction conditions for the expression of functionally active and uniformly 15N-labeled IFN-tau from Pichia pastoris in a minimal media for use in initial 2D- and 3D-NMR studies in solution. Purified 15N-IFN-tau was homogenous, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer (MS), and retained full biological activity. MS analysis confirmed uniform isotopic labeling of IFN-tau with 15N incorporation exceeding 99%. Circular dichroism (CD) as well as 1D-NMR and 15N-1H heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra confirmed that purified 15N-labeled IFN-tau has a stable secondary structure. Besides providing a route for isotope labeling of IFN-tau, our procedure may be useful for the expression and purification of other proteins that are difficult to obtain in Pichia pastoris grown in minimal media.

Inhibitory properties of human recombinant Arg24-->Gln type-2 tissue factor pathway inhibitor (R24Q TFPI-2)

Human type-2 tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI-2), also known as placental protein 5, is a 32-kDa serine proteinase inhibitor consisting of three tandemly arranged Kunitz-type domains homologous to tissue factor pathway inhibitor. TFPI-2 inhibits a variety of serine proteinases involved in coagulation and fibrinolysis through an arginine residue (R24) in its first Kunitz-type domain, which constitutes a putative P1 residue for the substrate recognition sites of these proteinases. As recent studies have shown that this P1 residue to be a glutamine in murine TFPI-2, we constructed, expressed, and purified a human TFPI-2 mutant with glutamine substituted for arginine at position 24 (R24Q TFPI-2). R24Q TFPI-2 lost approximately 90% of its inhibitory activity towards bovine trypsin and virtually all inhibitory activity towards human plasmin and the factor VIIa-tissue factor complex, emphasizing the importance of the P1 Arg24 residue in the inhibition of these serine proteinases. However, whereas wild-type TFPI-2 is a relatively weak inhibitor of human factor Xa amidolytic activity (IC50 approximately 1 microM), R24Q TFPI-2 exhibited enhanced inhibitory activity towards the amidolytic and coagulant activities of this proteinase with a Ki of 18 nM. While the molecular basis for the enhanced inhibition of human factor Xa by R24Q TFPI-2 is unknown, these data provide suggestive evidence that murine TFPI-2 may function as a serine proteinase inhibitor in spite of the absence of a P1 Arg or Lys residue.

A mannose-binding glycoprotein found in the 4 day post coital rat uterus is involved in pregnancy

Experiments were conducted to study the functional implication of a mannose-binding glycoprotein found in the day 4 post coital (p.c.) rat uterus, using a mono-specific polyclonal antibody raised against the glycoprotein. Western Blot and immunohistochemical techniques were employed to study the distribution of the glycoprotein, and the results suggest that this glycoprotein is present only in the day 4 p.c. uterus and is specifically localized in the stromal cells. Administration of anti-UA (Uterine Agglutinin) antiserum against the glycoprotein into the day 4 p.c. uterine lumen inhibits carrying of embryo to term. The antiserum is not embryo toxic. After in vivo in utero intra-luminal administration of anti-UA antiserum in day 4 p.c. rat the antiserum has been specifically localized in the uterine stroma by immunohistochemistry. After intravenous injection, the glycoprotein is cleared mainly through the kidney and liver. The possible role of this glycoprotein in the implantation process in rats has been discussed. From the data it is evident that UA may not be directly involved in sugar-sugar interactions with embryo since it is not present in any significant amount in pregnant uterus from day 5 onwards. Since other experiments show that UA does have some role to play in early pregnancy, UA probably acts through some other factor, and preliminary studies suggest that this factor maybe TGF-beta3.

Cloning, expression, purification, and immunocharacterization of placental protein-14

Human placental protein-14 (PP-14), a member of the lipocalin superfamily, shares homology at the level of the primary and secondary structures with bovine beta-lactoglobulin. It is the most prominent endometrial protein synthesized by the glandular cells of endometrium under estrogen priming and progesterone stimulation. The temporal and spatial expression of PP-14 in the female reproductive tract combined with its biological activities ex vivo suggest that this glycoprotein probably plays an essential physiological role in the regulation of fertilization, implantation, and maintenance of pregnancy. We proposed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the function of this protein. A prerequisite to such investigations on any protein is the availability of sufficient amounts of the same in a homogenous form. Therefore, recombinant DNA technology was employed. The PP-14 cDNA was obtained from the first-trimester endometrial tissue RNA by RT-PCR using unique primers. After confirming the identity of the gene, the protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The gene was also cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris to obtain the protein product in a glycosylated form. The recombinant proteins were immunocharacterized using a cross-reactive antibody raised to bovine beta-lactoglobulin. Polyclonal antiserum raised to the E coli expressed PP-14 also bound to the native PP-14 from amniotic fluid suggesting that recombinant PP-14 may be exploited to elucidate functional aspects of the protein.

Interaction of human tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) with pregnancy zone protein: a comparative study with t-PA-alpha2-macroglobulin interaction

Human pregnancy zone protein (PZP) is a major pregnancy-associated plasma protein strongly related to alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M). Interactions of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) with PZP and alpha2-M were both investigated in vitro and the complexes were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The results demonstrated that PZP-t-PA complex formation was evident within 1 h of incubation, whereas alpha2-M-t-PA complexes were formed after 18 h. Conclusions were supported by the following evidence: (i) PZP and alpha2-M complexes revealed changes of the mobility rate in non-denaturing PAGE, similar to those observed with alpha-Ms-chymotrypsin; (ii) both PZP and alpha2-M formed complexes of molecular size >360 kDa by SDS-PAGE, in accordance with the covalent binding of t-PA, which was previously reported for other proteinases; and (iii) PZP underwent a specific cleavage of the bait region with appearence of fragments of 85-90 kDa as judged by reducing SDS-PAGE. In contrast, the proteolytic attack on alpha2-M was found to occur more slowly, requiring several hours of incubation with t-PA for generation of an appreciable amount of fragments of 85-90 kDa. The appearance of free SH-groups of alpha-Ms was further investigated by titration with 5, 5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The maximal level of SH-groups raised was 3.9 mol/mol of PZP and 3.5 mol/mol of alpha2-M, indicating approximately one SH-group for each 180-kDa subunit. Finally, t-PA activity in PZP-t-PA complex was evaluated by measuring the hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate Flavigen t-PA. Our results revealed that prolongation of the incubation period of this complex increased t-PA-mediated hydrolysis of Flavigen t-PA until a plateau was reached, approximately between 60 and 120 min. The present study suggests that PZP, by binding to t-PA, may contribute to the control of the activity of proteinases derived from fibrinolytic systems.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of human placental mitochondria and protein identification by mass spectrometry: toward a human mitochondrial proteome

Owing to the complexity of higher eukaryotic cells, characterization of a complete proteome is likely to be difficult to achieve. However, advantage can be taken of the cell compartmentalization to build organelle proteomes, which can moreover be viewed as specialized tools to study specifically the biology and "physiology" of the target organelle. Within this frame, we report here the construction of the human mitochondrial proteome, using placenta as the source tissue. Protein identification was carried out mainly by peptide mass fingerprinting, but other methods were also used (N-terminal microsequencing, blotting). The optimization steps in two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis needed for proteome research are discussed. However, the relative paucity of data concerning mitochondrial proteins is still the major limiting factor in building the corresponding proteome, which should be a useful tool for researchers working on human mitochondria and their deficiencies.

Identification of two new members of the mouse prolactin gene family

The prolactin (PRL) family consists of a collection of genes expressed in the uterus, placenta, and anterior pituitary. These cytokines/hormones participate in the control of maternal-fetal adaptations to pregnancy. In this report, we establish the presence of two new members of the mouse PRL family. Novel expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with significant homology to PRL were isolated from embryonic, ectoplacental cone, and placental cDNA libraries. The cDNAs were sequenced and compared to other members of the PRL family. The two new cDNAs were assigned to the PRL family based on sequence homology and were referred to as PRL-like protein-F (PLP-F) and PRL-like protein-G (PLP-G). PLP-F cDNA encodes for a predicted 267 amino acid protein containing a 30 amino acid signal peptide and three putative N-linked glycosylation sites. PLP-G cDNA encodes for a predicted 266 amino acid protein containing a 30 amino acid signal peptide and six putative N-linked glycosylation sites. Sequence alignments of these proteins with other members of the PRL family suggest some unique features. Both sequences contain an extra amino acid segment located between exons two and three of the prototypical PRL gene and a nine amino acid carboxy terminal extension. PLP-F contained an additional 15 amino acid region situated between exons four and five of the prototypical PRL gene. Both PLP-F and PLP-G mRNAs were expressed in the placenta but not in other tissues (uterus, brain, thymus, heart, lung, diaphragm, liver, kidney, and ovary). In summary, the two newly identified members share approximately 50% amino acid sequence identity, are specifically expressed in the placenta, and represent a new subfamily within the PRL family.

Different ovine interferon-tau genes are not expressed identically and their protein products display different activities

Interferon tau (IFN-tau) proteins are secreted by the ovine conceptus for a few days before definitive attachment of the trophoblast to the uterine epithelium and act to prolong luteal life span. Multiple genes encode for IFN-tau in sheep, but it remains unclear which genes are expressed during early pregnancy and whether the proteins encoded by these genes are equipotent. Three distinct ovine (ov) IFN-tau gene variants, p3, p6, and s4, were examined to determine whether they differed in gene expression and whether the proteins displayed different biological activities. By using RNase protection assays, full-length protected fragments were detected for p3 and p6 in approximately similar proportions in conceptuses flushed from the uterus at Days 12-13, Days 15-16, and Days 18-19 of pregnancy, but the amount of full-length protected s4 transcripts was 10% to 20% of that for p3 and p6. Partially protected probe fragments were also evident, presumably from probe hybridization to related ovIFN-tau transcripts. Recombinant proteins were generated and exhibited 34.2 (p3), 8.4 (p6), and 11.9 (s4) units (x 10(-7)) of activity per milligram of protein when tested on Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. Antiproliferative activity on human Daudi cells varied considerably between the interferons, with p3 being 2000-fold more potent than s4. The interferons were injected into the uterine lumen of ewes from 10 to 18 days postestrus. The functional life span of the corpus luteum (CL) was increased (p = 0.02) by either 300 microg/day p3 (31.7 +/- 7.8 days) or 300 microg/day p6 (25.5 +/- 4.2 days), but not by 300 microg/day s4 (19.2 +/- 2.9 days), when compared to controls (15.8 +/- 0.6 days). Injection of 1 mg/day s4 did, however, increase (p = 0.02) CL life span (23.5 +/- 4.1 days). These data suggest that IFN-tau genes are not equally expressed in trophectoderm and that ovIFN-tau genes encode for proteins with significantly different biological potency.

Characterization of conceptus-produced goat interferon tau and analysis of its temporal and cellular distribution during early pregnancy

Two proteins (17 and 22-24 kDa) produced by day 17 goat conceptuses were purified from in vitro culture media. Analysis of their N-terminal amino acid sequences and of their antiviral activity confirmed that both proteins belonged to the interferon tau family characteristic of ruminant conceptuses. The two molecules were glycosylated (22-24 kDa) or nonglycosylated (17 kDa) isoforms of the same protein. The time course of secretion was plotted and immunoblotting of the protein contents of uterine flushings from day 13 to day 21 of pregnancy was performed. The nonglycosylated isoform (17 kDa) was first detected on day 16; both isoforms were present at day 17 and, thereafter during pregnancy, the two proteins were not present in uterine flushings. Immunohistochemistry was used to show that the goat interferon tau was present in the trophoblastic cells as early as day 14 and until day 17. However, immunostaining was not uniform along the conceptus; labelling was greater at the abembryonic pole than at the embryonic pole. By day 18, as implantation proceeded, goat interferon tau was no longer detected. These results confirmed that the goat conceptus secretes interferon tau during the period of maternal recognition of pregnancy but its rapid decrease suggests that other factors need to be present by day 18 to take over its role in the maintenance of luteal function.