Transport of secretory and membrane glycoproteins from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. A rate-limiting step in protein maturation and secretion

Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and liver disease

Alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) deficiency, one of the most common lethal hereditary disorders among Caucasians, is associated with emphysema in adults, while in children it is associated with liver disease. Produced in the liver and released into the plasma, alpha 1AT serves as the body's major inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, a powerful proteolytic enzyme capable of degrading extracellular structural proteins. The pathogenesis of the liver disease associated with alpha 1AT deficiency is not as well understood, but is clearly linked to specific mutations in coding exons of the alpha 1AT gene, and the resulting accumulation of alpha 1AT within hepatocytes. At present, therapy for the liver disease associated with alpha 1AT deficiency is symptomatic, with liver transplantation as a last resort. New strategies are being developed to suppress the accumulation of alpha 1AT by transferring the normal gene into the liver.

Defective intracellular transport and processing of CFTR is the molecular basis of most cystic fibrosis

The gene associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) encodes a membrane-associated, N-linked glycoprotein called CFTR. Mutations were introduced into CFTR at residues known to be altered in CF chromosomes and in residues believed to play a role in its function. Examination of the various mutant proteins in COS-7 cells indicated that mature, fully glycosylated CFTR was absent from cells containing delta F508, delta 1507, K464M, F508R, and S5491 cDNA plasmids. Instead, an incompletely glycosylated version of the protein was detected. We propose that the mutant versions of CFTR are recognized as abnormal and remain incompletely processed in the endoplasmic reticulum where they are subsequently degraded. Since mutations with this phenotype represent at least 70% of known CF chromosomes, we argue that the molecular basis of most cystic fibrosis is the absence of mature CFTR at the correct cellular location.

Colocalized transmembrane determinants for ER degradation and subunit assembly explain the intracellular fate of TCR chains

The intracellular fate of T cell antigen receptor (TCR) subunits (alpha beta gamma delta epsilon zeta 2) is determined by their assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To study the structural bases for this tight correlation between assembly and intracellular fate, we sought to define the nature of determinants for both ER degradation and subunit assembly within the TCR-alpha chain. We found that a 9 amino acid transmembrane sequence of the TCR-alpha chain, containing 2 critical charged residues, was sufficient to cause ER degradation when placed in the context of the Tac antigen, used here as a reporter protein. CD3-delta assembled with chimeric proteins containing this short transmembrane sequence, and this assembly resulted in abrogation of targeting for ER degradation. Thus, the colocalization of determinants for ER degradation and sites of subunit interactions explains how the fate of some newly synthesized TCR chains can be decided on the basis of their assembly status.

The rate of bulk flow from the Golgi to the plasma membrane

A truncated analog of the backbone of sphingomyelin and glycolipids was synthesized. This truncated C8C8 ceramide was soluble in water (but was still able to cross cell membranes) and was utilized by the Golgi apparatus of living cells to produce water-soluble truncated phospholipids and glycolipids that were then secreted into the medium. Sphingomyelin is synthesized in a proximal (likely the cis) Golgi compartment. At 37 degrees C in CHO cells, the sphingomyelin analog is secreted with a half time of about 10 min. With this rate of bulk flow, no special signal is needed to pass through the Golgi to the plasma membrane. At 30 degrees C the half time of secretion of a lumenal ER marker is about 18 min, and that of the truncated sphingomyelin is about 14 min. Comparison of these rates sets an upper limit of about 4 min for half of the ER to be drained into the proximal Golgi at 30 degrees C.

Generation of a lysosomal enzyme targeting signal in the secretory protein pepsinogen

Lysosomal enzymes contain a common protein determinant that is recognized by UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase, the initial enzyme in the formation of mannose 6-phosphate residues. To identify this protein determinant, we constructed chimeric molecules between two aspartyl proteases: cathepsin D, a lysosomal enzyme, and pepsinogen, a secretory protein. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the oligosaccharides of cathepsin D were efficiently phosphorylated, whereas the oligosaccharides of a glycosylated form of pepsinogen were not phosphorylated. The combined substitution of two noncontinuous sequences of cathepsin D (lysine 203 and amino acids 265-292) into the analogous positions of glycopepsinogen resulted in phosphorylation of the oligosaccharides of the expressed chimeric molecule. These two sequences are in direct apposition on the surface of the molecule, indicating that amino acids from different regions come together in three-dimensional space to form this recognition domain. Other regions of cathepsin D were identified that may be components of a more extensive recognition marker.

The molecular basis of Tay-Sachs disease: mutation identification and diagnosis

Tay-Sachs disease is the prototype of lysosomal storage disease. While it was first described over a century ago, the defective enzyme was not identified until 1969, making possible the development of enzyme-based diagnostic and carrier screening techniques. This led to the establishment of the successful international Tay-Sachs screening program, primarily for the high risk Ashkenazi Jewish population. In the past five years the development of recombinant DNA technology has allowed researchers to characterize 95-99% of the mutations causing Tay-Sachs disease in this high risk ethnic group. Knowledge of the exact mutations responsible for the disease coupled with the powerful polymerase chain reaction technique has now made DNA-based screening and diagnosis possible. While the enzyme-based test has proven to be reliable and economical, it cannot differentiate variant phenotypes and requires the presence of specialized testing centers. Although the DNA-based test is presently less economical, it can provide carrier couples with their exact genotype and thus, predict the general phenotype of an unborn child. Furthermore, as the catalogue of mutations leading to human disease increases, more economical DNA methodologies will be developed. In the future it would be expected that a laboratory using a single DNA-based technology could diagnose and screen for a myriad of human diseases including Tay-Sachs disease.

Golgi complex beads and the transition region

Secretory proteins and membranes move in transfer vesicles from the rough endoplasmic reticulum through the transition region to the outer saccule of the Golgi complex. In both arthropod and vertebrate cells, the GC beads are a characteristic structural component of the transitional region. The beads are particles about half the size of ribosomes arranged equidistantly from one another and the smooth face of the ER. In an active GC, the beads are in rings through which the ER membrane emerges to form transfer vesicles. The beads may be part of the energy-dependent step required for the movement of proteins along eht secretory pathway, since they lose their ring arrangement under conditions that lower cellular ATP. The beads are organizers for Golgi complexes in the sense that they are the first recognizable components of new GCs as they arise from ER. Arthropod GC beads, but not those of vertebrates, can be visualized through their reaction with bismuth in vivo and in fixed tissue. Useful paradigms for traffic between the ER and the GC need to combine structural and biochemical information. Insect fat body, with its readily resolvable bismuth-strained beads and easily fractionated cell components may have particular value for this problem.

beta-Glucuronidase is transported slowly to lysosomes in BW5147 mouse lymphoma cells: evidence that the prelysosomal enzyme is not restricted to the endoplasmic reticulum

The post-translational processing of beta-glucuronidase in BW5147 mouse lymphoma cells is slow relative to other newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes. To characterize this slow maturation the acid hydrolase was immunoprecipitated from cells pulse-labeled with [2-3H]mannose. Radiolabeled beta-glucuronidase migrated as the precursor form of the enzyme for up to 4 h of chase, whereas another acid hydrolase, beta-galactosidase, was processed completely to its mature form within this same time period. Both beta-glucuronidase and beta-galactosidase obtained high levels of mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) within 60 min of their biosynthesis. The Man 6-P content of beta-galactosidase declined rapidly during a subsequent chase while that of beta-glucuronidase remained high during the first 4 h of chase and then slowly declined. 3H-Labeled phosphorylated high mannose-type oligosaccharides isolated from beta-glucuronidase after 1 h of chase were composed primarily of species with one or two phosphodiester groups, but oligosaccharides with one and two phosphomonoesters became the predominant phosphorylated species with longer chase times. The phosphorylated oligosaccharides attached to other newly synthesized acid hydrolases, on the other hand, contained primarily phosphodiester species at all chase times. When BW5147 cells were pulsed with [3H]mannose and chased in the presence of monensin to disrupt transport, the number of phosphorylated oligosaccharides recovered from beta-glucuronidase was comparable to the quantity recovered from the enzyme produced by non-drug-treated cells. The number of phosphorylated units recovered from all other newly synthesized acid hydrolases, however, was greater in the presence of the ionophore than in its absence. Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis studies indicated that beta-glucuronidase existed in two forms at steady state within BW5147 cells and, as such, was similar to liver beta-glucuronidase in which a large percentage of the enzyme was present as a complex bound to egasyn. These data suggest that newly synthesized beta-glucuronidase produced by BW5147 cells complexes with an egasyn-like protein within the endoplasmic reticulum. This interaction retards the enzyme's migration through the secretory apparatus but does not prevent its access to Golgi-associated processing enzymes.

Processing and intracellular transport of rubella virus structural proteins in COS cells

Plasmids encoding rubella virus (RV) structural proteins C-E2-E1, E2-E1, E2, and E1 have been constructed in the eukaryotic expression vector pCMV5. The processing and intracellular transport of these proteins have been examined by transient expression of the cDNAs in COS cells. Compared to alphaviruses, processing of RV glycoprotein moieties occurred relatively slowly and the transport of glycoproteins E2 and E1 to the plasma membrane was inefficient. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that the majority of RV antigen in transfected and infected COS cells was localized to the Golgi region, including the capsid protein. Accumulation of capsid protein in the juxtanuclear region was determined to be RV glycoprotein dependent. Unlike alphaviruses, RV E1 did not require E2 for targeting to the Golgi where it was retained. E2 was however necessary for cell surface expression of E1. This study revealed that the processing and transport of RV structural proteins is quite different from alphaviruses and that the accumulation of antigens in the Golgi region may be significant in light of previous reports which suggest that RV buds from the internal membranes in some cell types.

Analysis of a soluble mutant des-methionine interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (Tac protein) produced by transfected mammalian cells

By using recombinant DNA technology the cytoplasmic and trans-membrane domain of the human interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (IL-2R alpha, Tac) and of a mutant protein lacking methionine-residues 18, 25, 44, 88, 92, 126, 149, 167, 205, and 209 (des-Met IL-2R alpha) encoded by a chemically and enzymatically synthesized gene, were deleted. This leads to secretory expression of soluble wild-type and des-Met mutant Tac protein of 42-45 kDa after transfection of BHK-21 cells. Transfectants secreted up to 1.6 micrograms soluble wild-type IL-2R alpha protein/10(6) cells in 24 h into the culture medium. LTK- cell lines, expressing a large number of wild-type and des-Met mutant low-affinity IL-2R alpha of 50-55 kDa on their surface, shed a truncated form of the Tac protein of about 40 kDa into the culture medium. In contrast to wild-type IL-2R alpha, shedding of mutant Tac protein is strongly reduced. This phenomenon might be the result of higher protein stability of the mutant receptor which may also explain the about 10 times higher surface expression of des-Met IL-2R alpha in LTK- cells. There are no significant differences in the biosynthesis and post-translational modification of mutant or wild-type Tac proteins either in transfected LTK- or BHK-21 cells as analysed by pulse/chase labeling experiments.

Consolidation of intramolecular disulfide bonds in influenza virus hemagglutinin as an element of intracellular maturation

Electrophoretic behavior of influenza virus hemagglutinin during SDS electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel is critically dependent on the life time in the infected cells and also on the conditions of sample preparation and analysis. During electrophoresis of total cell lysate proteins under nonreducing conditions the short-labeled hemagglutinin is detected as multiple bands, electrophoretic mobility of most of them being lower than that of hemagglutinin of viral particles. This heterogeneity failed to be detected during electrophoresis under reducing conditions which is indicative of the differences in the number or direction of intramolecular disulfide bonds between short-labeled and mature hemagglutinin molecules. After chasing at 37 or 20 degrees hemagglutinin gradually assumes an electrophoretic character identical to that of virion protein. Chasing at 0 degrees or the substitution of parafluorophenyl alanine for phenylalanine in the maintenance medium during labeling prevents maturation. At the same time, both iodacetamide perfusion of infected cells and the preparation of nuclei-free extract prior to SDS lysis result in a marked increase in the yield of disulfide mature short-labeled hemagglutinin. These results suggest that disulfide maturation in hemagglutinin proceeds in two stages: a relatively rapid (with respect to synthesis completion) formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds as such followed by a much slower consolidation of bridges against the action of endogenous cell reductants which activate during lysis. Consolidation may be caused by two factors: trimerization of hemagglutinin monomers or their covalent post-translational modifications.

Proteolytic processing in a non-lysosomal compartment is required for transcytosis of protein-polylysine conjugates in cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

The transcytosis of horseradish peroxidase, as well as its poly(L-lys) and poly(D-lys) thioether conjugates, was investigated in Strain I Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell monolayers grown on 0.4 microns pore size polycarbonate membranes in Costar Transwells. The 3 types of HRP had almost identical rates of transport during the first 2 hr of incubation. However, a significant increase of basal-to-apical transport was detected beginning at 3 hr only in Transwells containing the poly(L-lys) conjugate. This increase was inhibited by colchicine (2 microM) and by the Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (0.1 mg/ml), but not by NH4Cl (10 mM) or chloroquine (0.1 mM). The increase was abolished either by prior trypsinization of the conjugate or by incubation at 4 degrees C. Ultrafiltration studies indicated that the transcytosed poly(L-lys) conjugate was smaller in size than the original conjugate. These results indicate that the conjugate was processed during transcytosis in a non-lysosomal proteolytic compartment, where its poly(L-lys) moiety was selectively degraded, allowing active peroxidase to be released into the apical medium.

Ultrastructural distribution of NADPase within the Golgi apparatus and lysosomes of mammalian cells

Cytochemical studies with over 40 different mammalian cell types have indicated that NADPase activity is associated with the Golgi apparatus and/or lysosomes of all cells. In the majority of cases, NADPase is restricted to saccular elements comprising the medial region of the Golgi stack and an occasional lysosome. There is often weak NADPase activity in other Golgi compartments such as the trans Golgi saccules and/or elements of the trans Golgi network. In some cells, however, strong NADPase activity is found within these latter compartments, either exclusively in trans Golgi saccules or elements of the trans Golgi network, or in combination with medial Golgi saccules and each other including (1) medial Golgi saccules + trans Golgi saccules, (2) medial Golgi saccules + trans Golgi saccules + trans Golgi network, or (3) trans Golgi saccules + trans Golgi network. In some rare cases, no NADPase activity is detectable in either Golgi saccules or elements of the trans Golgi network, but it is observed in an occasional lysosome or throughout the lysosomal system of these cells. It is unclear at present if these variations in the distribution of NADPase across the Golgi apparatus, and between the Golgi apparatus and lysosomal system, are due to differences in targeting mechanisms or to the existence of "bottlenecks" in the natural flow of NADPase along the biosynthetic pathway toward lysosomes. While no clear pattern in the association of strong NADPase activity with lysosomes was apparent relative to the ultrastructural distribution of NADPase activity in Golgi saccules or elements of the trans Golgi network, the results of this investigation suggested that cells having NADPase localized predominantly toward the trans aspect of the Golgi apparatus (in trans Golgi saccules or elements of the trans Golgi network or both) have few NADPase-positive lysosomes. The only exception is hepatocytes which were classified as predominantly trans but had noticeable NADPase activity within medial Golgi saccules and elements of the trans Golgi network as well, and highly reactive lysosomes. Other cells showing highly reactive lysosomes including (1) Kupffer cells of liver and those forming the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney, both of which also had strong NADPase activity within medial and trans Golgi saccules and elements of the trans Golgi network, (2) Leydig cells of the testis and interstitial cells of the ovary, which also showed strong NADPase activity within medial Golgi saccules, and (3) macrophages from lung, spleen and testis, and Sertoli cells from the testis all of which showed no Golgi associated NADPase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Intracellular transport of recombinant coronavirus spike proteins: implications for virus assembly

Coronavirus spike protein genes were expressed in vitro by using the recombinant vaccinia virus expression system. Recombinant spike proteins were expressed at the cell surface and induced cell fusion in a host-cell-dependent fashion. The intracellular transport of recombinant spike proteins was studied. The half time of acquisition of resistance to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H was approximately 3 h for the recombinant feline infectious peritonitis virus S protein. The S protein in feline infectious peritonitis virus-infected cells was found to have a half time of acquisition of resistance to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H of approximately 1 h. This difference can be explained by the fact that coronavirus budding takes place at intracellular membranes and that the oligosaccharides of the spike protein are modified after budding. Apparently, spike protein incorporated into budded virions is transported faster through the Golgi apparatus than is spike protein alone. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of coronavirus budding and are discussed in relation to current models of intracellular transport and sorting of proteins.

Surface expression of CD3 in the absence of T cell receptor (TcR): evidence for sorting of partial TcR/CD3 complexes in a post-endoplasmic reticulum compartment

The T cell receptor (TcR) for antigen, on the majority of T cells, is a disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of the alpha and beta chains, noncovalently associated with the CD3 complex of polypeptides (gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta). In this report, two murine thymoma cell lines are described which synthesized incomplete TcR/CD3 complexes and expressed low levels of CD3 on their surface in the absence of the TcR chains. The partial TcR/CD3 complexes were composed primarily of the inherently metabolically stable CD3 gamma and epsilon subunits. These results were in contrast to previous studies, which suggested that synthesis of all of the component chains of the TcR/CD3 complex is required for the successful transport of any of the chains to the cell surface. The efficiency of transport of the partial TcR/CD3 complexes from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to medial Golgi in the two thymomas was similar to complete complexes. However, the transport of the incomplete receptors was impaired at some point between the medial Golgi and the plasma membrane. Taken together with previous studies, these results suggested that T cells have mechanisms to retain partial TcR/CD3 complexes intracellularly both in the ER and in an undefined post-ER compartment. However, the transport of low levels of partial TcR/CD3 complexes to the cell surface in some T cell lines implied that the retention mechanisms may not always be completely efficient. Cross-linking of the surface, partial TcR/CD3 complexes with anti-CD3 epsilon antibodies did not stimulate interleukin 2 (IL 2) production. It is possible, however, that the partial TcR/CD3 complexes have some function which is unrelated to the stimulation of IL 2 production.

Glucosylation of glycoproteins by mammalian, plant, fungal, and trypanosomatid protozoa microsomal membranes

An assay for UDP-Glc:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase was developed. Incubation of rat liver microsomes with UDP-[14C]Glc led to the formation of hot trichloroacetic acid insoluble material identified as protein-linked Glc1Man7-9GlcNAc2. Addition of 8 M urea-denatured thyroglobulin to the incubation mixtures stimulated up to 10-12-fold the formation of the same compounds but only in the presence of detergents. Native thyroglobulin was ineffective. Several experiments indicated that the stimulation was due to the transfer of glucose residues from UDP-Glc to high-mannose oligosaccharides in urea-denatured thyroglobulin and that this transfer reaction did not involve dolichol mono- or diphosphate derivatives as intermediates. The glycoprotein glucosylating activity was mainly located in the endoplasmic reticulum and could glucosylate glycopeptides derived from the digestion of thyroglobulin with an unspecific protease. Glucosylation of oligosaccharides in those glycopeptides occurred, however, at a rate at least 2 orders of magnitude slower than that of the same compounds in urea-denatured thyroglobulin. Tryptic digestion of urea-denatured thyroglobulin did not affect its glucosylation rate. The structure of Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 linked to urea-denatured thyroglobulin was identical with that of Glc1Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol. The assay of UDP-Glc:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase allowed detection of the activity in microsomal membranes in which endogenous acceptors appeared to be absent or almost absent, such as those derived from mung bean, Mucor rouxii, Crithidia fasciculata, and Trypanosoma cruzi cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Impact of altered protein structures on the intracellular traffic of a mutated vasopressin precursor from Brattleboro rats

The rat vasopressin precursor, synthesized in the reticulocyte lysate system under the direction of in vitro transcribed mRNA, is processed and correctly delivered to the lumen of added microsomal vesicles. Translation of mRNA for the mutant (Brattleboro) vasopressin precursor which lacks a translational stop codon as a consequence of a frame-shift mutation, gives rise to a mutated protein (B-mutant precursor) with a C-terminal poly(lysine) sequence encoded by the poly(A) tail. Upon addition of microsomal membranes, the mutated precursor has access to the lumen of the vesicles as indicated by removal of the signal peptide; however, the C-terminal part with the poly(lysine) tail remains outside the vesicles as shown by its sensitivity to proteinase K. When a modified RNA, including a stop codon located similarly to that found in the cDNA encoding the normal precursor, is translated in the presence of microsomal membranes, the resulting product (S-mutant precursor) is refractory to proteolysis by exogenously added proteinase K. Analysis of the microsomal membranes indicates, however, that the C-terminus of the S-mutant precursor is still anchored within membranes. For studying the intracellular transport of the mutated precursor Xenopus laevis oocytes were injected with various RNA constructs. To monitor the transport steps from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi compartment an RNA encoding a glycosylation site within the S-mutant precursor sequence was constructed. The resulting GS-mutant precursor is synthesized in the oocyte but not secreted into the incubation medium, completely in contrast to the normal vasopressin precursor which can be detected in the incubation bath 4 h after injection of the respective RNA. The sensitivity of the GS-mutant precursor carbohydrate side chain to endoglycosidase H treatment suggests that the mutated precursor does not reach the Golgi apparatus.

The search for the endogenous digitalis: an alternative hypothesis

The universal presence of a binding site for cardiac glycosides on Na+-K+-ATPase has engendered speculation as to whether it also serves as a receptor for an endogenous digitalis-like hormone or autacoid. If such a hormone were to exist, it could play a role in sodium homeostasis and in the pathophysiology of primary hypertension and uremia. However, we believe that this hypothesis rests on unproven assumptions. Although typical of many toxins and drugs, binding to a single protein that acts as both its receptor and effector mechanism at the cell membrane, thereby directly affecting transmembrane ion flux, would be unusual for a hormone or autacoid. As an alternative hypothesis for the evolutionary conservation of the cardiac glycoside binding site, we suggest that its endogenous ligand may exist within the cell. After cotranslational insertion of the alpha- and beta-subunits into the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Na+-K+-ATPase, like most integral membrane proteins, 1) must be targeted through a complex network of intracellular organelles to the correct plasmalemmal domain, 2) must be monitored for appropriate protein conformation and subunit assembly, and perhaps 3) could have its catalytic function regulated before insertion in the cell membrane. Because the lumina of the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and other organelles and vesicles are topologically equivalent to the outside of the cell, all three functions could be subserved by an intraorganellar ligand for the cardiac glycoside binding site.

Protein secretion in plants

Protein secretion is an ubiquitous but poorly understood process in plants. Secreted proteins are synthesized on the membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and transported to the cell surface by secretary vesicles formed at the Golgi apparatus. Whereas many of the structural details of this process are known the mechanisms underlying secretion are just beginning to be understood, in this article we review some of the recent developments in this field, and we compare the progress made with animal and plant cells. CONTENTS Summary 567 I. Introduction 568 II. Proteins secreted by plants 568 III. Synthesis and post-translational modification of secreted proteins 571 IV. Molecular requirements for secretion 576 V. Vehicles of secretory transport 581 VI. Regulation of secretion 585 VII. Conclusions and Perspective 587 Acknowledgements 588 References 588.

Biosynthesis and clearance of prothrombin in warfarin-treated rats

The steady-state concentration of abnormal plasma prothrombin in warfarin-treated rats (10 mg/kg) was found to be approx. 6% of the plasma prothrombin level in normal rats. The clearance of abnormal plasma prothrombin in warfarin-treated rats was studied using either cycloheximide, to inhibit the synthesis, or vitamin K, to block the appearance of abnormal prothrombin in plasma. The clearance of abnormal plasma prothrombin corresponded to a half-life of approx. 6 h, which is similar to the half-life of normal plasma prothrombin. The de novo synthesis of prothrombin in warfarin-treated and normal rats was compared by measuring the incorporation of [3H]leucine into plasma prothrombin 90 min after an intravenous injection of the isotope. In warfarin-treated rats, accumulated prothrombin precursor was carboxylated and transported into circulation by injecting vitamin K 30 min after isotope administration. On comparing the incorporation of [3H]leucine into plasma prothrombin in warfarin-treated and normal rats, no significant difference in the de novo synthesis was detected. Our results suggest that the secretion of prothrombin in warfarin-treated rats is decreased to 6% of the normal rate. As the de novo synthesis is not affected by warfarin treatment, more than 90% of the newly synthesized prothrombin appears to be degraded intracellularly.