Protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation during heat stress, recovery, and adaptation

Heat Shock Disrupts Cap and Poly(A) Tail Function during Translation and Increases mRNA Stability of Introduced Reporter mRNA

The effect of heat shock on translational efficiency and message stability of a reporter mRNA was examined in carrot (Daucus carota). Heat shock of short duration resulted in an increase in protein yield, whereas repression was observed following extended exposure to the stress. Regardless of the duration of the heat shock, a loss in the function of the 5[prime] cap [m7G(5[prime])ppp(5[prime])N, where N represents any nucleotide] and the 3[prime] poly(A) tail, two regulatory elements that work in concert to establish an efficient level of translation, was observed. This apparent paradox was resolved upon examination of the mRNA half-life following thermal stress, in which increases up to 10-fold were observed. Message stability increased as a function of the severity of the heat shock so that following a mild to moderate stress the increase in message stability more than compensated for the reduction in cap and poly(A) tail function. Following a severe heat shock, the increased mRNA half-life was not sufficient to overcome the virtual loss in cap and poly(A) tail function. No stimulation of protein synthesis was observed following a heat shock in Chinese hamster ovary cells, data suggesting that the heat-induced increases in mRNA stability may be unique to the heat-shock response in plants.

Different carboxyl-terminal domain kinase activities are induced by heat-shock and arsenite. Characterization of their substrate specificity, separation by Mono Q chromatography, and comparison with the mitogen-activated protein kinases

In response to heat-shock and chemical treatments, cells undergo profound biochemical changes such as modifications in protein phosphorylation in order to resist the new, unfavorable growth conditions. We have previously shown that in HeLa cells a protein kinase (HS-CTD kinase) activity is induced rapidly after a heat or sodium arsenite shock. This kinase activity is able to phosphorylate a synthetic peptide composed of four repeats of the motif Ser-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Ser-Tyr, a motif highly repeated in the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. In this paper, we designed a new experimental procedure to characterize the substrate specificity of this kinase activity. We show that HS-CTD kinase activity phosphorylates a consensus sequence (-P-X-S/T-P-) which is similar to the sequence phosphorylated by extracellular regulated protein kinases (also called mitogen-activated protein kinases). However, there is a slight but reproducible difference between these kinases in their use of serine or threonine as the phosphate acceptor. Mono Q chromatography allows the separation of five stress-induced CTD kinase activities, two of which coelute with active mitogen-activated protein kinase forms revealed by Western blotting with anti ERK1-ERK2 antibodies. The other three CTD kinase activities induced after a stress are distinct from ERK1 and ERK2 and have different enzymatic properties. The molecular nature of these HS-CTD kinases and the physiological significance of their activation during stress remain to be determined.

Induced thermotolerance during early development of murine and bovine embryos

During early development, elevated temperatures have deleterious effects on embryonic viability and development. The primary objective of the current study was to determine the ontogeny of induced thermotolerance during early murine embryonic development. Embryos were either retrieved from superovulated ICR female mice at the 2 cell and 4 cell stages and cultured thereafter or were retrieved from oviducts or uterine horns at the desired stage of development. Induction of thermotolerance was detected by evaluating viability and further development after embryos were exposed to homeothermic temperature (37 degrees C), mild heat shock (40 degrees C for 1 h), severe heat shock (42 degrees C for 1 h or 43 degrees C for 2 h), or mild heat shock followed by severe heat shock (to induce thermotolerance). Induction of thermotolerance was observed beginning at the 8 cell stage when embryos were developed in culture from the 2 cell to 4 cell stage. When embryos were developed in vivo (i.e., were retrieved from the reproductive tract at the desired stage of development), thermotolerance was not induced until the blastocyst stage of development. The induction of thermotolerance was dependent on serum supplementation since induction of thermotolerance was not observed when embryos were placed in medium without serum. Induced thermotolerance could also be demonstrated in bovine blastocysts. In conclusion, embryos acquire the ability to undergo thermotolerance as they progress through development. The timing of processes leading to acquisition of thermotolerance can, however, be hastened by exposure of embryos to in vitro conditions.

Expression of mutant eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha subunit (eIF-2 alpha) reduces inhibition of guanine nucleotide exchange activity of eIF-2B mediated by eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation

The inhibition of protein synthesis that occurs upon phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2 alpha) at serine 51 correlates with reduced guanine nucleotide exchange activity of eIF-2B in vivo and inhibition of eIF-2B activity in vitro, although it is not known if phosphorylation is the cause of the reduced eIF-2B activity in vivo. To characterize the importance of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in the regulation of eIF-2B activity, we studied the overexpression of mutant eIF-2 alpha subunits in which serine 48 or 51 was replaced by an alanine (48A or 51A mutant). Previous studies demonstrated that the 51A mutant was resistant to phosphorylation, whereas the 48A mutant was a substrate for phosphorylation. Additionally, expression of either mutant partially protected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells from the inhibition of protein synthesis in response to heat shock treatment (P. Murtha-Riel, M. V. Davies, J. B. Scherer, S. Y. Choi, J. W. B. Hershey, and R. J. Kaufman, J. Biol. Chem. 268:12946-12951, 1993). In this study, we show that eIF-2B activity was inhibited in parental CHO cell extracts upon addition of purified reticulocyte heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI), an eIF-2 alpha kinase that phosphorylates Ser-51. Preincubation with purified HRI also reduced the eIF-2B activity in extracts from cells overexpressing wild-type eIF-2 alpha. In contrast, the eIF-2B activity was not readily inhibited in extracts from cells overexpressing either the eIF-2 alpha 48A or 51A mutant. In addition, eIF-2B activity was decreased in extracts prepared from heat-shocked cells overexpressing wild-type eIF-2 alpha, whereas the decrease in eIF-2B activity was less in heat-shocked cells overexpressing either mutant 48A or mutant 51A. While the phosphorylation at serine 51 in eIF-2 alpha impairs the eIF-2B activity, we propose that serine 48 acts to maintain a high affinity between phosphorylated eIF-2 alpha and eIF-2B, thereby inactivating eIF-2B activity. These findings support the hypothesis that phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha inhibits protein synthesis directly through reducing eIF-2B activity and emphasize the importance of both serine 48 and serine 51 in the interaction with eIF-2B and regulation of eIF-2B activity.

Expression of mutant eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha subunit (eIF-2 alpha) reduces inhibition of guanine nucleotide exchange activity of eIF-2B mediated by eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation

The inhibition of protein synthesis that occurs upon phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2 alpha) at serine 51 correlates with reduced guanine nucleotide exchange activity of eIF-2B in vivo and inhibition of eIF-2B activity in vitro, although it is not known if phosphorylation is the cause of the reduced eIF-2B activity in vivo. To characterize the importance of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in the regulation of eIF-2B activity, we studied the overexpression of mutant eIF-2 alpha subunits in which serine 48 or 51 was replaced by an alanine (48A or 51A mutant). Previous studies demonstrated that the 51A mutant was resistant to phosphorylation, whereas the 48A mutant was a substrate for phosphorylation. Additionally, expression of either mutant partially protected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells from the inhibition of protein synthesis in response to heat shock treatment (P. Murtha-Riel, M. V. Davies, J. B. Scherer, S. Y. Choi, J. W. B. Hershey, and R. J. Kaufman, J. Biol. Chem. 268:12946-12951, 1993). In this study, we show that eIF-2B activity was inhibited in parental CHO cell extracts upon addition of purified reticulocyte heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI), an eIF-2 alpha kinase that phosphorylates Ser-51. Preincubation with purified HRI also reduced the eIF-2B activity in extracts from cells overexpressing wild-type eIF-2 alpha. In contrast, the eIF-2B activity was not readily inhibited in extracts from cells overexpressing either the eIF-2 alpha 48A or 51A mutant. In addition, eIF-2B activity was decreased in extracts prepared from heat-shocked cells overexpressing wild-type eIF-2 alpha, whereas the decrease in eIF-2B activity was less in heat-shocked cells overexpressing either mutant 48A or mutant 51A. While the phosphorylation at serine 51 in eIF-2 alpha impairs the eIF-2B activity, we propose that serine 48 acts to maintain a high affinity between phosphorylated eIF-2 alpha and eIF-2B, thereby inactivating eIF-2B activity. These findings support the hypothesis that phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha inhibits protein synthesis directly through reducing eIF-2B activity and emphasize the importance of both serine 48 and serine 51 in the interaction with eIF-2B and regulation of eIF-2B activity.

Translational regulation of the heat shock response

All organisms from bacteria to man respond to an exposure to higher than physiological temperatures by reprogramming their gene expression, leading to the increased synthesis of a unique set of proteins termed heat shock proteins (hsps). The hsps function as molecular chaperones in both normal and stressed cells. The rapid and efficient synthesis of hsps is achieved as a result of changes occurring at gene transcription, RNA processing and degradation, and mRNA translation. With regard to the translational regulation, the emerging picture is that the two key steps of polypeptide chain initiation, namely mRNA binding and Met-tRNA(i) binding to ribosomes, are regulated in heat-shocked mammalian cells. In Drosophila, mRNA binding is regulated by a structural feature of the leader of heat shock mRNAs and by the inactivation of eukaryotic initiation factor- (eIF-) 4F. No clear evidence for changes in Met-tRNA(i) binding has been obtained yet.

Rat fibroblasts transfected with the human 70-kDa heat shock gene exhibit altered translation and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha phosphorylation following heat shock

Heat shock inhibits translation in a wide variety of cells. After heating, eukaryotic initiation factor 2-alpha (eIF-2 alpha) becomes phosphorylated which prevents the binding of Met-tRNA to the 40s ribosomal subunit inhibiting initiation of translation. Thermotolerant cells demonstrate resistance to inhibition of translation by additional heating suggesting that heat shock proteins may help to maintain translational integrity following thermal stress. Here we have examined the effects of increased intracellular levels of hsp70 protein on translation and eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation using rat fibroblasts stably transfected with a cloned human hsp70 gene. We observed a decrease in the rate of translational inhibition following heat shock in both hsp70-transfected and thermotolerant cells. Upon recovery at 37 degrees C, both hsp70-transfected and thermotolerant cells exhibit a faster rate of translational recovery. Utilizing slab gel isoelectric focusing coupled with immunoblotting we demonstrate that 45 degrees C heat shock leads to a rapid 4-5-fold increase in eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation, with little difference seen between control cells and hsp70-transfected cells. However, dephosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha occurs faster in the hsp70-transfected cells. These results suggest that hsp70 may play a role in facilitating the dephosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha as well as reversing the inhibition of translation following heat shock.

Signal transduction mechanisms in the regulation of protein synthesis

Control of polypeptide synthesis plays an important role in cell proliferation and translation rates generally reflect the growth state of the cultured eukaryotic cell. Physiological regulation of protein synthesis is almost always exerted at the level of polypeptide chain initiation, with the binding of mRNA to the small ribosomal subunit a rate-limiting step in many cell systems. Studies have indicated key roles in the regulation of protein synthesis for the structural features of mRNA molecules and phosphorylation of initiation factors which catalyse this process. This review focuses on translational regulation at the level of mRNA binding to the ribosome and the role of phosphorylation of initiation factors in mediating both quantitative and qualitative control. The identity of putative kinases which may mediate these processes is addressed and a possible model for the role of a transient activation of initiation factors in cell growth or differentiation is presented.

Regulation of heme-regulated eIF-2 alpha kinase and its expression in erythroid cells

In this article we focus first on the molecular mechanisms controlling the activity of the heme-regulated translational inhibitor, HRI, in erythroid cells. Then we discuss the tissue-specific expression of HRI. The experimental evidence obtained to date indicates that the major physiological role of HRI is in adjusting the synthesis of globin to the availability of heme.

Regulation of translation and cell growth by eIF-4E

This review discusses the regulation of a key controlling step in the initiation of protein synthesis, the binding of mRNA to ribosomes. Particular focus is given to the phosphorylation of the cap-binding factor, eIF-4E, and the role of this factor in the regulation of cell growth.

Transient increase in vimentin phosphorylation and vimentin-HSC70 association in 9L rat brain tumor cells experiencing heat-shock

Characteristic changes in vimentin were studied in 9L rat brain tumor cells treated at 45 degrees C. During heat-shock treatment, vimentin molecules were rapidly phosphorylated and reorganized from a filamentous form into a perinuclear higher-order structure that was less extractable by nonionic detergent. These effects were found to be highly transient, peaked at 30 min after the onset of heat-shock treatment, and subsided thereafter. Simultaneously, the solubility of the constitutively expressed heat-shock protein 70 (HSC70) was also temporarily decreased and the kinetics was identical to that of vimentin. The results indicated that HSC70 and vimentin were co-insolubilized during the heat-shock treatment. We propose that the reorganization of the intermediate filaments resulted from enhanced phosphorylation of vimentin leads to the concurrent association of HSC70 to the intermediate filaments. This process may play an essential role in regulating heat-shock genes.

Translational control during heat shock

Regulation of translation during heat shock of Drosophila and mammalian cells is reviewed. Protein synthesis is severely inhibited by elevated temperatures but synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs) is resistant to this inhibition. The primary site of regulation is polypeptide chain initiation. The activities of two initiation factors, eIF-2 and eIF-4F, are modulated during heat shock. A protein kinase which modulates eIF-2 activity appears to be associated with heat shock proteins (HSPs). Evidence is emerging that HSP70 acts as a heat sensor by detecting the presence of accumulating denatured proteins. In the rabbit reticulocyte lysate denatured proteins bind HSP70 releasing an eIF-2 kinase to shut down protein synthesis. It appears highly likely that a similar mechanism is acting in heat shocked cells. Cell-free protein synthesizing systems prepared from heat shocked cells are deficient in eIF-4F. Modulation of eIF-4F can explain in part the apparent preferential translation of HSP mRNAs.

Induction of translational thermotolerance in liver of thermally stressed rats

Heat-shock gene expression in cultures of single cell types has been well characterized but little is known about the heat-shock response of intact organs in vivo. In this study, the kinetics of hepatic heat-shock gene expression and the induction of thermotolerance were characterized in rats. Animals were subjected to a defined, reversible stress by increasing the core body temperature to 41 degrees C or 42 degrees C for 30 min. New synthesis of the inducible form of the heat shock-70 family of proteins (hsp-72) peaked simultaneously with the maximal level of hsp-72 transcripts at both temperatures. These data are consistent with previous observations in cultures of hepatoblastoma cells after thermal stress [De Maio, A., Beck, S. C. & Buchman, T. G. (1993) Circ. Shock 40, 177-186]. The incorporation of radioactive amino acids into polypeptides by the liver was blocked during the first hour of recovery after heat shock at 42 degrees C. This inhibition of protein synthesis by thermal stress could be prevented by prestressing rats at 42 degrees C for 30 min and allowing the rats to recover for 24 h at normal body temperature (37 degrees C). This phenomenon, previously defined as 'translational thermotolerance', correlates with the hepatic content of hsp-72; maximal protection occurs 24 h after a 42 degrees C thermal stress when hsp-72 (protein) is also maximum and decreases with the clearance of hsp-72 from the liver. These data suggest that the presence of hsp-72 within the liver may modulate the organ response to subsequent stresses and may be important to organ and animal survival after repeated insults.

Increased phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4 alpha during early activation of T lymphocytes correlates with increased initiation factor 4F complex formation

Mature porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PPBMCs) exist in a resting state both in vivo and when maintained in culture, with low translation rates consistent with their non-proliferative state. When cultured in the presence of the appropriate mitogen, there is a 2-4-fold increase in the rate of protein synthesis per ribosome within 4 h of stimulation [Kay, J. E., Ahern, T. and Atkins, M. (1971) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 247, 322-334]. Studies on extracts prepared from unstimulated cells have suggested lesions in initiation factor activity, primarily affecting the binding of mRNA to ribosomes [Ahern, T., Sampson, J. and Kay, J. E. (1974) Nature 248, 519-521]. In these studies, we have demonstrated that activation of quiescent PPBMCs with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or concanavalin A leads to a rapid 2-4-fold increase in the rate of protein synthesis within 1 h or 4 h, respectively, which is insensitive to the transcriptional inhibitor, 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside. Relative to control cells, both phorbol ester and concanavalin A induce a 2-4-fold increase in labelling of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-4 alpha with phosphate in vivo, which primarily reflects a small net increase in phosphorylation rather than phosphate turnover on eIF-4 alpha. Similarly, with the human leukaemic T cell line JURKAT, stimulation of the T cell receptor with the monoclonal antibody, OKT-3, or treatment with phorbol ester induces a 2-3-fold increase in eIF-4 alpha phosphorylation within 30 min. Analysis of phosphorylation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and measurement of kinase activity towards synthetic peptides, indicate that this increased labelling also reflects increased eIF-4 alpha kinase activity rather than phosphate turnover on eIF-4 alpha. Of central importance is the finding that, concomitant with increased rates of protein synthesis following stimulation of PPBMCs with either phorbol ester or concanavalin A, there is a significant increase in the level of eIF-4 alpha recovered in high-molecular-mass complexes. These data suggest that, in quiescent PPBMCs, eIF-4F may be limiting and that the association of eIF-4 alpha and eIF-4 gamma into high-molecular-mass complexes is regulated by phosphorylation and may play a pivotal role in translational control.

Denatured proteins inhibit translation in hemin-supplemented rabbit reticulocyte lysate by inducing the activation of the heme-regulated eIF-2 alpha kinase

The heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI) of protein synthesis becomes activated in rabbit reticulocyte lysates in response to a variety of conditions including heme-deficiency, addition of oxidants, and heat shock. Activated HRI inhibits translation by catalyzing the phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-2. The molecular nature of the "signal" that leads to the activation of HRI in response to heat shock has not been characterized. We have recently reported that HRI interacts with the 90- and 70-kDa heat shock proteins (hsp) and a 56-kDa protein in hemin-supplemented lysates [Matts, R.L., Xu, Z., Pal, J.K., & Chen, J.-J. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267m 18160-18167]. In this report, we demonstrate that addition of denatured proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA), beta-lactoglobulin, or alpha-lactalbumin, but not the addition of the native proteins, inhibits protein synthesis in hemin-supplemented reticulocyte lysates. The inhibition was reversed upon the addition of 10 mM cAMP or purified eIF-2B, classical criteria for HRI-mediated translational inhibition. Denatured BSA, but not native BSA, stimulated the phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of eIF-2. This stimulation of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation was inhibited by a monoclonal antibody to HRI, confirming that denatured BSA was causing the activation of HRI. The concentration of denatured BSA required to inhibit protein synthesis by 50% correlated with the levels of hsp70 present in each lysate preparation. Lysate hsp70 co-immunoadsorbed with denatured BSA, but not with not with native BSA. Hsp70 was co-adsorbed with HRI from lysate in the presence of native BSA, but not in the presence of denatured BSA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Altered expression and phosphorylation of amyloid precursor protein in heat shocked neuronal PC12 cells

The pathology of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, including amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neuronal degeneration, indicates that neurons affected by AD exist under conditions of stress. In fact, the brains of AD patients undergo many changes classically associated with the heat shock response, which is one form of a stress response. These changes include reduced protein synthesis, disrupted cytoskeleton, increased number of proteins associated with ubiquitin, and the induction of heat shock proteins. To investigate the response of neurons to stress, we examined neuronal PC12 cells incubated at either 37 degrees C (control cells) or 45 degrees C (heat-shocked cells). After a 30 min exposure at 45 degrees C, the heat-shocked cells exhibited several features characteristic of the classical heat shock response including a 45% reduction in total protein synthesis, the induction of heat shock protein 72, and an increased phosphorylation of the protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-2 alpha. We used this cellular model system to study the neuronal response to stress specifically focusing on protein synthesis elongation factor 2 (EF-2) and the Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein (APP), the precursor form of beta-amyloid peptide. Hyperphosphorylation of EF-2 has been observed in the neocortex and hippocampus of AD brain. However, in our system, we find no hyperphosphorylation of EF-2 in response to heat shock. Heat-shocked neuronal PC12 cells exhibited two additional APP-like polypeptides not present in controls. We also found a significant decrease in the phosphorylation state of APP in response to heat shock.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidermal growth factor stimulates phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4B, independently of protein kinase C

We demonstrate that exposure of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF) results in phosphorylation of eIF-4B within minutes after addition of EGF. The EGF-induced phosphorylation of eIF-4B is not caused by the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase itself, since no tyrosine-phosphorylated eIF-4B could be detected upon immunoprecipitation using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Enhanced phosphorylation of eIF-4B was also detected upon exposure of the cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), suggesting that eIF-4B may be a substrate of PKC. However, down-regulation of PKC did not influence the EGF-induced eIF-4B phosphorylation, which indicates that eIF-4B is phosphorylated by an as yet unknown kinase, activated early in the EGF-induced signal transduction cascade.

Enhanced phosphorylation of a 65 kDa protein is associated with rapid induction of stress proteins in 9L rat brain tumor cells

Induction of heat-shock proteins and glucose-regulated proteins in 9L rat brain tumor cells can be differentially elicited by sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride, zinc chloride, copper sulfate, sodium fluoride, and L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. The kinds of stress protein induced by the above chemicals varied considerably, mainly determined by the nature and the concentration of the chemicals, as well as the treatment protocols. In addition, at the concentrations where stress proteins can be induced, the above chemicals were able to suppress general protein synthesis and were cytotoxic. Enhanced phosphorylation of a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 65 kDa was detected during the induction of stress proteins except in azetidine treatments during which uptake of phosphate by the cells was impaired after prolonged incubation. The phosphate moiety on the 65 kDa phosphoprotein appeared to be alkaline-stable and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that the phosphoprotein resolved into four isoforms with isoelectric points ranging from 5.1 to 5.6. Enhanced phosphorylation of the same protein was also detected in heat-shocked and withangulatin A-treated 9L cells in which stress proteins were induced. It is suggested that this phosphoprotein may be a common target for heat stress response-stimulated phosphorylation and important in the further metabolic responses of the cell to stress.

Molecular adaptation of vascular endothelial cells to oxidative stress

Cellular organisms respond at the cellular and molecular level when confronted with sudden changes in environment, and molecular adaptation represents the ability of the cells to acclimate themselves to their new environment. In this study we examined the response of bovine vascular endothelial cells (VEC) to the oxidative stress by exposing the cultured cells to two different concentrations of H2O2, 0.04 or 0.08 mM, for 18-24 h. H2O2-exposed VEC displayed good viability (85-90% for 0.04 mM H2O2; 75-80% for 0.08 mM H2O2) and exhibited normal morphology. H2O2 treatment of the VEC was associated with the expression of a number of new proteins, as demonstrated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of total cell lysate. Cells exposed to 0.04 mM H2O2 expressed 25 new proteins, whereas 19 newly expressed proteins were detected when the cells were exposed to 0.08 mM H2O2. Western blot analysis of H2O2-treated VEC using specific antibodies to heat-shock proteins (HSP) identified one of these proteins as a member of the HSP 70 family. In addition, H2O2 induced an increase in antioxidative enzyme activities in the VEC, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, these changes were a truly adaptive phenomenon because challenging the VEC with brief exposure to toxic levels of H2O2 (1 mM for 30 min) showed increased viability (by Trypan blue exclusion test) and decreased injury (by lactate dehydrogenase supernatant-to-cellular ratio determination) in adapted cells (preexposed to 0.04 or 0.08 mM H2O2) compared with control cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stimulation of translation in 3T3-L1 cells in response to insulin and phorbol ester is directly correlated with increased phosphate labelling of initiation factor (eIF-) 4F and ribosomal protein S6

One of the earliest responses to growth-promoting compounds in quiescent or serum-starved cells is stimulation of phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6. Exposure of 3T3-L1 cells to insulin or phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA) also promotes phosphorylation of specific initiation factors. In this study, stimulation of phosphate labelling of S6, eIF-4F and eIF-4B in response to insulin and PMA has been examined in 3T3-L1 cells and compared with changes in protein synthesis. The rate of phosphate incorporation into eIF-4F and S6 is rapid and parallels the transient stimulation of protein synthesis observed with insulin. Whilst a similar correlation exists with PMA, the response is not as great as with insulin, but is more sustained. A role for the co-ordinate phosphorylation of initiation factors and ribosomal protein S6 in the stimulation of protein synthesis is discussed.

Isolation, partial amino acid sequence, and cellular distribution of heat-shock protein hsp98 from Neurospora crassa

Hsp98 is one of the most prominent proteins synthesized during the heat-shock response of Neurospora crassa. We purified hsp98 and determined the amino acid sequence of two overlapping peptides obtained by cyanogen bromide cleavage. This 28 amino acid sequence from hsp98 has 75% homology with a region of the ClpB protein of Escherichia coli and 86% homology to a 96-kDa protein of Trypanosoma brucei. It also has 71% homology to hsp104 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hsp98 was enriched in the microsomal fraction of heat-shocked cells. Sucrose gradient analysis of this cellular fraction showed that the three major high molecular weight heat-shock proteins (hsp98, 83 and 67) were more concentrated in polyribosomes than in monoribosomes. Another newly synthesized protein, p28, was strongly enriched in monoribosomes. After dissociation of the polyribosomes into ribosomal subunits, the three major heat-shock proteins were shown to be localized preferentially in the large subunit. Whereas p28 was also strongly associated with the large ribosomal subunit, a newly synthesized protein of about 22 kDa was exclusively associated with the small subunit.

Induction of stress proteins in cultured myogenic cells. Molecular signals for the activation of heat shock transcription factor during ischemia

Expression of major stress proteins is induced rapidly in ischemic tissues, a response that may protect cells from ischemic injury. We have shown previously that transcriptional induction of heat-shock protein 70 by hypoxia results from activation of DNA binding of a preexisting, but inactive, pool of heat shock factor (HSF). To determine the intracellular signals generated in hypoxic or ischemic cells that trigger HSF activation, we examined the effects of glucose deprivation and the metabolic inhibitor rotenone on DNA-binding activity of HSF in cultured C2 myogenic cells grown under normoxic conditions. Whole-cell extracts were examined in gel mobility shift assays using a 39-bp synthetic oligonucleotide containing a consensus heat-shock element as probe. ATP pools were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography and intracellular pH (pHi) was measured using a fluorescent indicator. Glucose deprivation alone reduced the cellular ATP pool to 50% of control levels but failed to activate HSF. However, 2 x 10(-4) M rotenone induced DNA binding of HSF within 30 min, in association with a fall in ATP to 30% of control levels, and a fall in pHi from 7.3 to 6.9. Maneuvers (sodium propionate and amiloride) that lowered pHi to 6.7 without ATP depletion failed to activate HSF. Conversely, in studies that lowered ATP stores at normal pH (high K+/nigericin) we found induction of HSF-DNA binding activity. Our data indicate that the effects of ATP depletion alone are sufficient to induce the DNA binding of HSF when oxidative metabolism is impaired, and are consistent with a model proposed recently for transcriptional regulation of stress protein genes during ischemia.

Heat-resistant variants of the Chinese hamster ovary cell: alteration of cellular structure and expression of vimentin

Three heat-resistant mutant cell lines (78-1, 78-2, 78-3) were previously selected from Chinese hamster ovary cells. In this study, we investigated whether the differences in intrinsic thermal sensitivity result from alteration of stress protein levels or cellular structural changes. Although there was no significant difference in the levels of stress proteins, i.e., constitutive HSP70 in wild type and three heat-resistant mutant strains, there were marked differences in the amounts of vimentin among the cell lines. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blot showed a 2.3-2.9-fold increase in the level of vimentin in the mutant cells under normal growth conditions. Northern blot also revealed higher amounts of vimentin mRNA in the mutant cells. Electron microscopy and immunofluorescence suggest that increased amounts of the vimentin-containing intermediate filaments are correlated with the heat-resistant phenotypes.

Induction of heat-shock response and alterations of protein phosphorylation by a novel topoisomerase II inhibitor, withangulatin A, in 9L rat brain tumor cells

Withangulatin A is a newly identified in vitro topoisomerase II inhibitor isolated from the Chinese antitumor herb Physalis angulata. In vivo, it was found to be cytotoxic, capable of suppressing general protein synthesis and of inducing the synthesis of a small set of proteins including those generated by heat-shock treatment. The 70 kDa protein generated by withangulatin A was unequivocally identified as the heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) since both proteins migrated to the same position on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels, could be recognized by a monoclonal antibody to human HSP70, and exhibited identical peptide maps. The induction of protein synthesis by withangulatin A was regulated at the transcriptional level since it was aborted in cells pre-treated with actinomycin D. However, the initiation of this process did not require de novo protein synthesis since it was not affected by cycloheximide. Other cellular effect of withangulatin A was alterations of protein phosphorylation including an enhancement of phosphorylation of a 65 kDa protein which was also detected in the heat-shocked cells. Moreover, this process was observed within 7.5 min after the initial heat treatment which is much faster than the onset of HSP synthesis. Therefore, increased phosphorylation of the 65 kDa protein may represent one of the earliest signals generated by both heat-shock and withangluatin A and may be involved in the upstream regulation of heat-shock response in cells.

Ischemic thresholds of cerebral protein synthesis and energy state following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat

The ischemic threshold of protein synthesis and energy state was determined 1, 6, and 12 h after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in rats. Local blood flow and amino acid incorporation were measured by double tracer autoradiography, and local ATP content by substrate-induced bioluminescence. The various images were evaluated at the striatal level in cerebral cortex by scanning with a microdensitometer with 75 microns resolution. Each 75 x 75 microns digitized image pixel was then converted into the appropriate units of either protein synthesis, ATP content, or blood flow. The ischemic threshold was defined as the flow rate at which 50% of pixels exhibited complete metabolic suppression. One hour after MCA occlusion, the threshold of protein synthesis was 55.3 +/- 12.0 ml 100 g-1 min-1 and that of energy failure was 18.5 +/- 9.8 ml 100 g-1 min-1. After 6 and 12 h of MCA occlusion, the threshold of protein synthesis did not change (52.0 +/- 9.6 and 56.0 +/- 6.5 ml 100 g-1 min-1, respectively) but the threshold of energy failure increased significantly at 12 h following MCA occlusion to 31.9 +/- 9.7 ml 100 g-1 min-1 (p less than 0.05 compared to 1 h ATP threshold value; all values are mean +/- SD). In focal cerebral ischemia, therefore, the threshold of energy failure gradually approached that of protein synthesis. Our results suggest that with increasing duration of ischemia, survival of brain tissue is determined by the high threshold of persisting inhibition of protein synthesis and not by the much lower one of acute energy failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heat shock induces two distinct S6 protein kinase activities in quiescent mammalian fibroblasts

The regulation of S6 kinase activity was used to monitor perturbations of intracellular signaling activity during heat shock of quiescent murine and human fibroblasts. Previous reports on exponentially growing insect and plant cells had indicated that 40S ribosomal protein S6 is dephosphorylated during heat shock; thus inhibition of S6 kinase activity by heat shock was anticipated in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and human cells (HeLa, diploid embryonic fibroblasts MRC-5, and skin-derived fibroblasts). Unexpectedly, two distinct S6 protein kinases were activated in quiescent fibroblasts after heat exposure. One of the enzymes was partially purified by sequential column chromatography and was determined to be equivalent to the enzyme activated by serum and other growth factors, referred to here as pp70-S6 protein kinase. The other protein S6 kinase, pp90rsk, was identified by a specific immunoprecipitation assay. Monitoring both enzymatic activities during heat shock revealed a temporal pattern of activation that was reversed when compared to non-stressed, mitogen-stimulated cells. Finally, heat shock stimulated protein S6 phosphorylation in cultured, quiescent mammalian cells. These data demonstrate that specific protein kinases can be activated during heat shock, and that some early mitogenic signals may also participate in the response of cells to physiologic stress.

The cell cycle dependence of protein synthesis during Xenopus laevis development

The regulation of early embryonic development in the amphibian Xenopus laevis depends largely upon translational and post-translational regulatory mechanisms to direct the complex cytodifferentiations that take place during early cleavage and blastula formation. The cell cycle dependence of protein synthesis was examined in developing Xenopus embryos as well as in cycling cell-free lysates from Xenopus eggs. In both cases M-phase and the activation of the M-phase kinase were found to be correlated with an inhibition of translation. Translation in both the rough endoplasmic reticulum and cytosolic-free ribosomes were affected by this inhibition. Since elongation was found to be unaffected by M-phase, shifts in the polysome profiles during M-phase indicated that the inhibition affected initiation processes. The activity of the M-phase kinase may inhibit initiation through the modification of initiation factors or some other component during this process. The cell cycle dependence of translation may affect developmental mechanisms controlled by the titration of regulatory proteins.

Protein phosphorylation and kinase activities in tumour cells after hyperthermia

Phosphorylation of various proteins and the activities of specific kinases were studied in tumour cells after hyperthermia. P388 lymphoid tumour cells were treated at 40-45 degrees C for 1 h in vitro. Immediately after heat treatment, particulate and cytosol cell fractions were isolated, phosphorylated proteins separated and various kinase activities were measured. Hyperthermic treatment of the cells caused a significant decrease in protein kinase C activity while the activity of calcium-ion and phospholipid-independent protein kinases increased. Phosphorylation of cytosol proteins of 120, 80, 33, 25 and 14 kDa increased significantly after hyperthermia, and protein kinase C selectively phosphorylated the last three of these proteins. The phosphorylation of three heat shock proteins (44, 70 and 85 kDa) was not changed after hyperthermic treatment. Four tyrosine kinase activities were separated. The protein tyrosine kinase activity decreased to one-tenth of the control value after 45 degrees C for 1 h hyperthermia. The changes in kinase activities and protein phosphorylation induced by hyperthermia proved to be temperature- and time-dependent.

Protein synthesis initiation factor modifications during viral infections: implications for translational control

Infection of tissue culture cells with certain viruses results in the shutoff of host cell protein synthesis. We have examined virally infected cell lysates using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting to ascertain whether initiation factor protein modifications are correlated with translational repression. Moderate increases in eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-2 alpha phosphorylation are detected in reovirus- and adenovirus-infected cells, as reported previously (Samuel et al., 1984; O'Malley et al., 1989). Neither vesicular stomatitis virus, vaccinia virus, frog virus III, rhinovirus, nor encephalomyocarditis virus caused significantly increased 2 alpha phosphorylation. There were no reproducible, significant changes in eIF-4A, eIF-4B, or eIF-2 beta in cells infected by any of these viruses. The cleavage of eIF-4F subunit p220, such as has been previously demonstrated to occur in poliovirus (Etchison et al., 1982) and rhinovirus (Etchison and Fout, 1985), was not detected in any of the other virus infections analyzed.

Cytoskeletal dynamics in rabbit synovial fibroblasts: I. Effects of acrylamide on intermediate filaments and microfilaments

Rabbit synovial fibroblasts respond to changes in cell shape and cytoskeletal architecture by altering specific gene expression. We have tested the ability of acrylamide, a neurotoxin that alters the distribution of intermediate filaments in cultured PtK1 cells, to induce metalloprotease expression in synovial fibroblasts. Cells treated with 2-20 mM acrylamide for 5 to 24 h underwent shape changes similar to cells treated with the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate. Intermediate filaments visualized with anti-vimentin antibodies did not collapse into a perinuclear cap in these rounded cells, but were still present in the extended cell processes. Unexpectedly, when actin was visualized in acrylamide-treated cells, extensive dissociation and clumping of microfilaments was observed. Concentrations of acrylamide greater than 10 mM were cytotoxic, but cells recovered completely after 24 h incubation with 5 mM acrylamide. Like other agents that alter cell shape and actin distribution in synovial fibroblasts, acrylamide also induced expression of the secreted metalloprotease collagenase. Although some recent evidence suggests that acrylamide may be able to exert its collagenase-inducing effects extracellularly, perhaps through transmembrane matrix receptors, our observation that this neurotoxin dramatically alters protein synthesis in synovial fibroblasts suggests that direct effects on cell metabolism may also play a role in acute acrylamide intoxication.