The effect of hypertonic salt on interferon and interferon mRNA synthesis in human MG63 cells

After infection with Sendai virus or Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain F, human osteosarcoma MG63 cells produced large amounts of interferon-beta. Both interferon production and overall protein synthesis were strongly inhibited by hypertonic salt. Interferon mRNA synthesis, however, was little affected by hypertonic salt up to twice normal salt concentrations, although cellular RNA synthesis was inhibited under these conditions. The results are compared to those obtained with polyriboinosinic acid: polyribocytidylic acid copolymer [poly(rI) . poly(rC)] inductions of MG63 cells.

Spontaneous production of gamma interferon and induced production of beta interferon by human T-lymphoblastoid cell lines

Two human T-lymphoblastoid cell lines, CCRF/CEM and Molt 4, produced beta interferon (IFN-beta) upon infection with Sendai virus. Molt 4, but not CCRF/CEM, spontaneously produced up to 300 U of IFN-gamma per ml, apparently not contaminated with IFN-alpha or -beta. Phytohemagglutinin, a T-cell mitogen, did not stimulate IFN production in these lines. A third T-lymphoblastoid line, CCRF/HSB2, produced no IFN either spontaneously or after infection with Sendai virus or treatment with phytohemagglutinin. The Molt 4 cells contained an mRNA which could be translated by oocytes to give IFN-gamma. Molt 4 cells therefore provide a convenient source of human IFN-gamma and its mRNA for experimental purposes.

Control of interferon mRNA levels and interferon yields in butyrate and 5'-bromodeoxyuridine-treated Namalwa cells

Treatment of Namalwa cells with butyrate or 5'-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) before induction with Sendai virus caused an increase in the production of both interferon (IFN) and interferon mRNA (IFN mRNA). However, the increase in IFN mRNA did not completely account for the increase in IFN yield. The treatments did not affect the time course of IFN mRNA transcription and translation, or the association of IFN mRNA with polysomes. Likewise, the treatments did not alter the post-translational fate of the IFN produced. We conclude that butyrate and BrdUrd affect IFN production at the level of transcription or processing of IFN mRNA and suggest that increased efficiency of translation provides an additional level of control.

Fate of secretory proteins trapped in oocytes of Xenopus laevis by disruption of the cytoskeleton or by imbalanced subunit synthesis

The effects of imbalanced subunit synthesis, temperature, colchicine, and cytochalasin on the secretion from Xenopus laevis oocytes of a variety of avian and mammalian proteins were investigated; these proteins were encoded by microinjected messenger RNA. Cytochalasin and colchicine together severely reduced secretion in a temperature-independent manner, the exact reduction varying among the different proteins. In contrast cytochalasin alone had no effect, whereas colchicine alone caused a smaller, temperature-dependent reduction. The synthesis and subcellular compartmentation of these proteins were unaffected by the drug treatments; however, the proteins did not accumulate in the drug-treated oocytes but were degraded. The rate of degradation of each protein was similar to its rate of exocytosis from untreated oocytes. A similar result was obtained without recourse to drugs by studying the fate of immunoglobulin light chains trapped in oocytes by a deficiency in heavy chain synthesis. These results are discussed in terms of the disruptive effects, as revealed by electron microscopy, of the drug treatments on the cytoskeleton of the oocyte.

Low temperature treatment of Namalwa cells causes superproduction of interferon

Interferon production in Namalwa cells, a human lymphoblastoid line, was enhanced by lowering the incubation temperature after induction. The optimum conditions for this effect were established. At the lower temperature interferon synthesis proceeded at a lower rate but continued for longer. Interferon mRNA was shown to be associated with the polysomes for longer after induction. Addition of drugs that inhibit transcription did not prevent the increased production of interferon. Thus, the increased production of interferon is due to the prolonged translation of interferon mRNA.

Polypeptides of infectious bronchitis virus. I. Polypeptides of the virion

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), strain Beaudette, grown in cultured cells contained five structural proteins with apparent mol. wt. of 170 000 (p170), 94 000 (gp94), 50 000 (pp50) 30 000 (gp30) and 26 000 (p26). Both gp94 and gp30 are glycopeptides since they were labelled with [3H]glucosamine. The only phosphorylated polypeptide was pp50, and both it and gp94 were occasionally resolved into two bands. Two other polypeptides with mol. wt. of 28 000 (p28) and 14 000 (p14) were sometimes associated with the virus. In egg-grown virus two additional proteins were found with mol. wt. of 110 000 (p110) and 75 000 (gp75). The cell protein, actin, was also found in highly purified IBV virions. Different serotypes of either tissue culture-grown or egg-grown virus showed one of the two distinct polypeptide patterns of IBV described by Nagy & Lomniczi (1979) and Collins & Alexander (1980 a, b). Strain Beaudette gave a pattern characteristic of the M type, while strain Connecticut gave a pattern characteristic of the C type. The polypeptides present in Connecticut virus were p170, gp98, pp50, gp28 and p26. Thus, the differences between the two pattern involve the mobility of both the large (gp94/gp98) and small (gp30/gp28) glycopeptides..

Oligonucleotide fingerprinting of ribonucleic acids of infectious bronchitis virus strains

A total of 11 distinct oligonucleotide fingerprints were obtained in studies of the ribonucleic acids of 13 isolates of infectious bronchitis virus. Different serotypes had distinct fingerprints, but so did varieties within a serotype, allowing a greater degree of strain differentiation than was previously possible. Some conclusions can be drawn from the fingerprints concerning theories of origin and spread of infectious bronchitis virus.

Production and screening of cell hybrids producing a monoclonal antibody to human interferon-alpha

Mice and rats were immunized with human lymphoblastoid interferon, a mixture of human leukocyte (interferon-alpha) and human fibroblast (interferon-beta) interferons, and their serum anti-interferon levels measured. Anti-interferon activity was detected in all animals, although the mouse sera had higher titers than the rat sera. The spleens of two mice were removed and used to prepare hybrid myelomas. Anti-interferon activity in tissue culture supernatants was measured using a direct neutralization assay and a clone (NK2) producing antibody to human interferon-alpha (leukocyte) was isolated. The anti-interferon activity of this monoclonal antibody was confirmed using a new indirect immunoprecipitation (IIP) assay, which shows some advantages over the direct neutralization assay. The antibody did not neutralize human interferon-beta (fibroblast) or mouse interferon.

Oligonucleotide fingerprinting of the RNA of different strains of infectious bronchitis virus

11 distinct oligonucleotide fingerprints were obtained in studies of the RNA of 13 isolates of IBV. Different serotypes had distinct fingerprints, but so did varieties within a serotype; allowing a greater degree of strain differentiation than was previously possible. Some conclusions can be drawn from the fingerprints concerning theories of origin and spread of IBV.

The influence of topology and glycosylation on the fate of heterologous secretory proteins made in Xenopus oocytes

Secretory proteins made in Xenopus laevis oocytes under the direction of heterologous messenger RNA are modified, topologically segregated and exported. Thus the oocyte may serve as a useful surrogate secretory system and we have studied some of the factors governing access to the export pathway. Unglycosylated chicken ovalbumin, synthesized and trapped in the cytosol, is not secreted but glycosylated ovalbumin, found sequestered within vesicles, is exported from oocytes. However, ovalbumin, which is transferred across the endoplasmic reticulum in the presence of tunicamycin and which is indistinguishable by immunoprecipitation, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and by concanavalin-A--Sepharose binding from the cytosolic form, is still secreted. Guinea-pig milk proteins and human interferon are also exported from tunicamycin-treated frog cells. These observations demonstrate that access to the endoplasmic reticulum but not glycosylation is a mandatory intermediate step in secretion, and emphasize the advantages of the oocyte as a surrogate system for the study of the later events in the gene expression pathway.

Post-translational events in the production of human lymphoblastoid interferon

Newly synthesized interferon and its mRNA were membrane-associated in a human lymphoblastoid cell (Namalwa) that had been induced with Sendai virus. Treatment with zinc, which acts as an inhibitor of proteolytic cleavage, prevented interferon production. When cytoskeletal function was disrupted by adding both colchicine and cytochalasin B to the induced Namalwa cells, secretion of interferon was inhibited. It is concluded that after translation of the interferon mRNA, the newly synthesized interferon polypeptide is discharged into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, and undergoes a proteolytic cleavage before it is secreted by a process involving the cytoskeleton.

The Xenopus oocyte as a surrogate secretory system. The specificity of protein export

Combining messenger RNA from one kind of secretory cell with the cytoplasm of another such cell can reveal the nature and specificity of protein export mechanisms. We show that messenger RNAs from secretory cells of chickens, rats, mice, frogs, guinea-pigs, locusts and barley plants, when injected into Xenopus oocytes, direct the synthesis and export of proteins. Chicken ovalbumin, Xenopus albumin, mouse thyroid-stimulating hormone, locust vitellin and guinea-pig milk proteins were identified using specific antibodies, whilst chicken lysozyme and ovomucoid, rat albumin, Xenopus vitellogenin and rat seminal vesicle basic proteins were identified provisionally from their molecular weights. Certain endogenous proteins are sequestered and secreted although most oocyte proteins are not exported. Similarly the major polyoma viral protein and the simian virus 40 and polyoma tumour antigens are retained within the oocyte. Radioactive proteins exported by oocytes programmed with chicken oviduct or Xenopus liver RNA are not re-exported in detectable amounts when injected into fresh oocytes, nor is there secretion of chicken oviduct or guinea-pig mammary gland primary translation products prepared using wheat germ extracts. Thus the export of secretory proteins from oocytes cannot be explained by leakage and may require a cotranslational event. The secretory system of the oocyte is neither cell-type nor species-specific yet is highly selective. We suggest that the oocyte can be used as a general surrogate system for the study of gene expression, from transcription through translation to the final subcellular or extracellular destination of the processed protein.

Effects of sodium butyrate on a human lymphoblastoid cell line (Namalwa) and its interferon production

Treatment of lymphoblastoid cells with sodium butyrate before infection with Sendai virus increases the subsequent yield of interferon and of its messenger RNA. This treatment caused almost complete inhibition of cellular DNA synthesis and consequently cell division, and some inhibition of cellular RNA and protein synthesis. It also caused increased acetylation of histones and alterations in the plasma membrane. There was no decrease in cell viability or change in cell morphology but the cells were smaller than untreated cells and were all in the G1 phase. Sodium butyrate treatment had no effect on the course of Sendai virus infections. The observed increase in interferon yields after butyrate treatment did not correlate with its effects on DNA synthesis, size, cell division and histone acetylation, but did with its effects on RNA and protein synthesis.

The effect of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on interferon production in human cells

5-Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) increased interferon production by the Namalwa line of human lymphoblastoid cells treated with Sendai virus, but inhibited their growth. Thymidine, which also inhibited cell growth had no effect on interferon production, so that growth inhibition per se was not the cause of the stimulation. BrdUrd was incorporated into cellular DNA; 5-chlorodeoxyuridine and 5-iododeoxyuridine (which are also incorporated) increased the interferon yield, but 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (which is not incorporated) did not. Thymidine reduced both the incorporation of BrdUrd and its stimulatory effect on interferon production. Deoxycytidine (which prevents the cytotoxic effects of BrdUrd) had no effect on the stimulation. BrdUrd also stimulated interferon production in response to poly(rI) . poly(rC) in growing human diploid fibroblasts but not in SV40 virus-transformed human cells. Since BrdUrd was incorporated into the DNA of all these cells, we concluded that incorporation is necessary, but not sufficient for the stimulation of interferon formation.

Export of proteins from oocytes of Xenopus laevis

When human lymphoblastoid mRNA was microinjected into X. laevis oocytes, titers of interferon rapidly reached a maximum inside the oocyte while accumulation of interferon continued in the incubation medium for at least 45 hr. If interferon protein was injected into oocytes it was rapidly inactivated. Significantly, newly synthesized interferon but not injected interferon was found to be membrane-associated. Further experiments involving the co-injection of mRNAs coding for secretory proteins (guinea pig milk proteins and human interferon) and nonsecretory proteins (rabbit globin) revealed that only the secretory proteins were exported from the oocyte. Moreover, different proteins were exported at different rates. A distinct subclass of newly synthesized oocyte proteins of unknown function also accumulated in the incubation medium. Since the information encoded in the messenger RNAs of secretory proteins is sufficient to specify synthesis, compartmentation and secretion of these proteins, the oocyte may provide a complete system for the analysis of the secretory process.

Characterization of interferon messenger RNA from human lymphoblastoid cells

After treatment with Sendai virus, Namalwa cells form large amounts of interferon. RNA extracted from treated whole cells or from their polysomes was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes and the interferon formed was titrated. The results show that the amount of interferon mRNA was maximal by 9 h after treatment of the cells with Sendai virus and then declined. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of the mRNA gave substantial purification and showed that its size was 12 S.

The toxic effect of double-stranded RNA for interferon-treated cells: evidence for a heterogeneous cellular response and the role of the cell nucleus

When L929 cells were treated with interferon and subsequently with poly(rI).poly(rC), there was a pronounced toxic effect. Most of the cells lysed, but some survived and grew at the same rate as control cells to yield cells which were as sensitive to the effects of interferon and poly(rI).poly(rC) as the original population. The proportion of surviving cells did not vary with either the cell cycle or the cell density. The treated cells produced interferon and some of the interferon was produced by the resistant cells. Cells which had been X-irradiated before treatment with interferon and poly(rI).poly(rC) behaved similarly so cell division was not necessary for the development of toxicity. The toxic effect also developed when cells were enucleated with the aid of cytochalas in B after treatment with interferon, but not if they were enucleated before treatment. It is concluded that the nucleus is essential for interferon to exert its effect on the cells, but not for the development of cytotoxicity after the addition of poly(rI).poly(rC).

The toxic effect of double-stranded RNA for interferon-treated L cells: studies on membrane transport and with cell-free systems

We have tested two possible explanations for the toxic effects observed in L cells treated with interferon followed by poly(rI).poly(rC), namely (1) that the toxicity was preceded by and due to a change in membrane permeability which could be monitored by measurement of ion fluxes, or (2) that the toxicity was due to the action of the inhibitors of protein synthesis which are known to be formed when extracts from interferon-treated cells are treated with poly(rI).poly(rC) in vitro. Neither explanation was found to be correct.

The effect of inhibitors of glycosylation on interferon production in human lymphoblastoid cells

Interferon production was inhibited in the Namalwa line of human lymphoblastoid cells by treatment with 2-deoxy-D-glucose or D-glucosamine. D-Glucosamine also inhibited protein synthesis and the cells were no longer viable, whereas 2-deoxy-D-glucose allowed protein and RNA synthesis to continue at control rates, and the cells remained fully viable. It is concluded that a glycosylation step is essential for production of lymphoblastoid interferon.

Differences in sialic acid content of human interferons

Human leucocyte, lymphoblastoid and fibroblast interferons were separately treated with sialidase and the effect of this on their isoelectric focusing was examined using a system in which full dissociation of complexes occurred. Both leucocyte and lymphoblastoid interferons showed a single form with an isoelectric point which was unaltered by treatment with sialidase. In contrast, fibroblast interferon showed three forms which were reduced to one by treatment with the enzyme.

Initiation of translation directed by 42S and 26S RNAs from Semliki Forest virus in vitro

The proteins synthesized in vitro in response to 42S and 26S RNAs from Semliki Forest virus were labeled with formyl-[35S]methionine from initiator tRNA. One protein which comigrated with viral capsid protein was labeled under the direction of 26S RNA, and only one labeled peptide was detected after digestion with trypsin. Further digestion with pronase gave rise to the dipeptide fMet-AsN. Several labeled polypeptides were found in the 42S RNA directed product and these had molecular weights of up to 150,000. However, tryptic digestion of the product yielded only one formylmethionyl-labeled peptide, which had a different mobility from that directed by the 26S RNA. Further digestion with pronase gave a single dipeptide, fMet-Ala. This indicates that nonstructural proteins as large as 150,000 daltons are probably synthesized from one initiation site on the 42S RNA. Translation starting from the internal initiation site on the 42S RNA, which is equivalent to that on the 26S RNA, could not be detected under the conditions used. Internal initiation sites which are similarly inactive have also been detected in other viral RNAs (e.g., brome mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and polyoma 19S RNA) and this suggests that, although eukaryotic mRNAs can contain more than one initiation site for protein synthesis, only the site nearer the 5' terminus is active in vitro.

Simultaneous translation of structural and nonstructural proteins from Semliki-forest-virus RNA in two eukaryotic systems in vitro

The Semliki Forest virus genome, 42-S RNA, and the virus-specific intracellular 26-S RNA were translated in two cell-free protein-synthesising systems, the wheat germ extract, and a partially purified system from mammalian tissues. The 26-S RNA directed the synthesis of structual proteins only, as revealed by tryptic peptide mapping. About 75--80% of the radioactivity in the products comigrated with capsid and about 4--8% with envelope protein peptides. All the capsid peptides and the full-sized capsid protein were found in the products in vitro, no complete envelope protein was formed and fewer than half of the envelope peptides were detected. This result is consistent with reports that there is only one initiation site for the translation of virus structural proteins, and that the capsid protein is N-terminal in the polyprotein followed by envelope proteins. The systems programmed with 42-S RNA yielded virtually the same structural peptides. However, the bulk of the radioactivity was in peptides which did not comigrate with the structural ones. These peptides were mostly associated with relatively small-sized products. This shows that Semliki Forest virus 42-S RNA has at least two initiation sites, one for the structural proteins and the other(s) for the nonstructural proteins.

Translation of Semliki forest virus 42S and 26S RNAs in a cell-free system derived from Escherichia coli

The SFV 42S RNA and the intracellular 26S RNA have been translated in a prokaryotic cell-free system, the E. coli S30. About half of the [35S]methionine-labelled products directed by both RNAs had molecular weights larger than 20,000 on polyacrylamide gels. Both products contained tryptic peptides which comigrated with all the capsid and envelope protein-derived peptides. The most striking difference between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems lay in the translation of the 42 S RNA: The "42S RNA-specific nonstructural" peptides, which predominate in the eukaryotic systems, were apparently absent from the product translated by the prokaryotic system.

Polysomes and initiation complexes in vitro induced by Semliki Forest virus 42S and 26S RNA

Semliki Forest virus 42S and 26S RNA induce the formation of polysomes when translated in vitro in cell-free systems. After analysis on sucrose gradients the polysomal structures, containing prelabelled RNA and nascent peptide chains labelled with [35S]methionine, had sedimentation values from 100 to 200S in the case of 26S RNA and from 150 to over 250S with 42S RNA. After incubation in the presence of inhibitors of elongation 26S RNA was found in initiation complexes sedimenting at about 80S. Under identical conditions 42S RNA had a heterogenous sedimentation pattern, being attached to complexes sedimenting even faster than 250S. These structures, however, fulfilled the criteria of initiation complexes suggesting that there were more than one ribosome attached to each 42S RNA under conditions where 26S RNA bound only one.