Ecto-Enzymes of the Guinea Pig Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte

Characterization of HeLa 5'-nucleotidase: a stable plasma membrane marker

5'-Nucleotidase, assayed as 5'-AMPase, has been extensively characterized and established as a stable, quantitative plasma membrane marker in HeLa S3 cells. The membrane 5'-AMPase has a Km of 7.0 microM. Relative affinities of the other 5'-mononucleotides for the enzyme are 5'-GMP > 5'-TMP > 5'-UMP > 5'-CMP. There are activity optima at pH7 and 10; the latter is Mg(2+)-dependent. The membrane preparations have a small amount of acid phosphatase activity that is distinct from 5'-AMPase activity but no alkaline phosphatase. AOPCP, ADP, and ATP are strongly inhibitory. Mg2+, Ca2+, or Co2+ additions do not affect the pH 7.0 activity; Mn2+ activates slightly, whereas Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ are inhibitory. EDTA slowly inactivates, but removal of the EDTA without the addition of divalent cations restores activity. The inactivation is also substantially reversed by Co2+ or Mn2+, but reactivability by divalent cations decreases with time in EDTA. ConA strongly inhibits, and alpha-methyl-D-mannoside or glucose (the latter much less efficiently) relieves the inhibition, indicating that the 5'-AMPase is a glycoprotein. Histidine is also inhibitory. Ouabain, phloretin, cytochalasin B, cysteine, phenyl-alanine, MalNEt, and IAA are without effect. 5'-AMPase activity codistributes with pulse-bound [3H]ouabain when either of two cell fractionation procedures are used. The 5'-AMPase activity per cell is constant at different cell densities in exponentially growing cells, and activity per unit cell volume remains constant throughout the cell cycle. These properties, together with its absence in other organelles, its stability to storage, its insensitivity to certain experimental manipulations, and its general insensitivity to inhibitors of specific transport systems, make 5'-AMPase a useful quantitative marker in studies on the regulation of HeLa membrane transport systems. Key Words: HeLa, 5'-nucleotidase, plasma membrane marker, non-specific phosphatases, divalent ions, ConA, AOPCP, cell cycle, mitochondria, transport inhibitors.

Differences in surface membrane ecto-ATPase and ecto-AMPase in normal and malignant cells. I. Decrease in ecto-ATPase in myeloid leukemic cells and the independent regulation of ecto-ATPase and ecto-AMPase

The hydrolysis of ATP and AMP by enzymes located on the external side of the plasma membrane (ecto-ATPase and ecto-AMPase) was studied in mouse myeloid leukemic cells, normal early myeloid cells, and normal mature granulocytes and macrophages. Nine clones of myeloid leukemic cells were used belonging to three groups that differ in their ability to be induced to differentiate by the differentiation-inducing protein MGI. These three groups consisted of MGI+D+ that can be induced to undergo complete differentiation, MGI+D- that can be induced to partially differentiate and MGI-D- with no induction of differentiation. The ecto-ATPase activity of normal early myeloid cells was similar to that of normal mature granulocytes and macrophages and higher than that of any of the leukemic cells. Among the leukemic cells, the MGI-D- cells had the highest level of ecto-ATPase activity. The behaviour of ecto-AMPase differed from that of ecto-ATPase. Some MGI-D- clones had a higher ecto-AMPase activity than normal cells and MGI+D- and MGI+D+ cells showed no detectable activity. Neither the ecto-ATP-ase nor ecto-AMPase activities changed after induction of differentiation in normal early myeloid or MGI+D+ leukemic cells. The results indicate that the myeloid leukemic cells had a decreased ability to hydrolyse external ATP, that there can be an independent regulation of ecto-ATPase and ecto-AMPase and that neither of these enzyme activities changed during differentiation.

Contrast manifestation of alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase in plasma membranes isolated from rat liver and ascites hepatoma

1. Plasma membranes were isolated from ascites hepatoma AH-130 and rat livers with or without partial hepatectomy or bile duct ligation. Reciprocal manifestations of two marker enzymes for plasma membranes were observed in these membrane preparations; alkaline phosphatase activity was found much higher in the hepatoma membrane than in any preparations of the liver membranes, whereas 5'-nucleotidase activity was much lower in the former than in the latter. 2. Effects of lectins and anti-plasma membrane antiserum on these two marker enzymes were examined. The results showed that about 50% of apparent activity of 5'-nucleotidase found in the hepatoma membrane was exhibited by alkaline phosphatase. 3. Localizations of alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase in polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis were demonstrated using 5'-AMP and 5-Br, 4-Cl-indoxylphosphate as substrate. There was a difference in electrophoretic mobility between the alkaline phosphatase of the hepatoma and that of the liver.

Quercetin: a novel inhibitor of Ca2+ influx and exocytosis in rat peritoneal mast cells

The effect of the transport ATPase inhibitor, quercetin on histamine secretion from antigen sensitized mast cells was examined. At micromolar concentrations, quercetin had an immediate inhibitory effect on histamine secretion mediated by antigen, concanavalin A and ATP but it had little effect on release induced by the ionophores A23187 and X537A. Quercetin exerts its effect after the binding of the releasing ligands and the distinction between its effect on ligand induced and A23187 induced secretion suggests that it affects the normal path of Ca2+ entry into the cell. The inhibitory effects of quercetin were compared with those of the structurally related anti-allergic drugs cromoglycate and AH7725.

[5'-Nucleotidase activity of lymphocyte plasma membranes. Effect of concanavalin A]

The 5'-nucleotidase properties of isolated lymphocyte plasma membranes from young pig mesenteric nodes are described; nucleosides-5'-monophosphates are the substrates of this specific enzyme. Concanavalin A inhibits this enzyme; on the same membranes this mitogen does not affect alkaline phosphatase and activates the membrane bound (Ca2+) ATPase. The 5'-nucleotidase inhibition is due to a specific interaction of Con A with carbohydrate groups of the membrane; its high positive cooperativity suggests that the lectin promotes reorganization of the membrane bound 5'-nucleotidase. Solubilization of the 5'-nucleotidase does not prevent the effect of Con A and the solubilized enzyme is firmly bound by Con A-Sepharose 4B; these results suggest that Con A inhibits the enzyme by a direct interaction and that 5'-nucleotidase can be considered as an eventual receptor for the lectin.

Separation of plasma membrane markers by glycerol-induced blistering of muscle cells

Glycerol (50%, w/w) was found to cause blistering of chick primary myoblast and fibroblast plasma membranes and extensive blistering of 5--6-day-old-myotube plasma plasma membranes in tissue culture. The tips of myoblasts and fibroblasts appeared to be the most sensitive portion of the plasma membrane to the blistering effect of glycerol. The glycerol-induced blistering of myotubes was reduced and delayed by brief EDTA pretreatment. Glycerol treatment (50, 15 and 8% sequentially) of myotubes was used to remove plasma membrane blisters and a plasma membrane-enriched fraction was isolated from these blisters using a modified Dextran T500-polyethylene-glycol 6000 aqueous two-phase polymer system. This fraction was found to be enriched 4.1-fold for 5'-nucleotidase activity, but not for other putative plasma membrane markers, (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity or alpha-[125I]bungarotoxin binding material. Autoradiographs of alpha-[125I]bungarotoxin, glycerol-treated (50%, w/w) myotubes showed the plasma membrane blisters to be devoid of reduced silver grains. 5'-Nucleotidase was shown to be an ectoenzyme on myoblasts and 5-day-old myotubes and the total cellular activity was present on the cell surface. During the period of myoblast fusion and myotube formation, cell surface activity decreased to a low level while total cellular activity was elevated.

Preparation and characterization of total, rough and smooth microsomes from the lung of control and methylcholanthrene-treated rats

Optimal conditions for the preparation of relatively pure microsomes and microsomal subfractions from rat lung have been determined. The most importnat of these conditions is homogenization of a 20% (w/v) suspension of lung tissue in 0.44 M sucrose/1% (w/v) bovine serum albumin with four up-and-down strokes at 440 rev./min in a Potter-Elvehjem homogenizer. The 10000 X g supernatant prepared from this homogenate can be centrifuged at 105000 X g to obtain total microsomes or subfractionated into rough and smooth microsomes on a Cs+-containing discontinuous sucrose gradient. The total, rough and smooth microsomes have been characterized in terms of their chemical composition, enzymatic activity, and morphology. These preparations should prove useful in studies of various enzymes in lung (e.g. benzpyrene monooxygenase, epoxide hydrase, enzymes of phospholipid and ascorbic acid synthesis) and in subfractionations designed to reveal heterogeneites in the lateral plane of the lung endoplasmic reticulum.

Purification of plasma membrane of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages

A method using sucrose density gradient centrifugation is described for the purification of plasma membrane of guinea pig peritoneal exudate macrophages. Assays for composition and for marker enzyme activities have been modified for use with the small amounts of subcellular macrophage material. The plasma membrane was obtained in 57% yield and contained 7% of the protein. The purified plasma membrane fraction is five-fold enriched in phospholipid to protein ratio and contains no contaminating DNA, none of the cytoplasmic marker lactate dehydrogenase, no detectable mitochondrial contamination and a low contamination with lysosomal enzymes (7%). Purified plasma membrane containing 4 mg of protein can be prepared from 1 ml of pelleted macrophages in a one-day operation.

On the activation of plasma membrane ecto-enzymes by treatment with neuraminidase

It had been proposed that sialyl-residues on the surface of the cell control the activity of certain plasma membrane ecto-enzymes. We have tested the effects of several established (or presumptive) ecto-enzymes in tissue cultures of CNS-derived cells. Application of neuraminidases to cultured mouse neuroblastoma (N-18), neonatal Syrian hamster astrocytes (NN), human astrocytoma (Cox clone) and two lines of primary mouse astroblasts failed to change the activity of ecto-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase. Only two of the seven neuraminidase preparations produced marked or moderate increases in inorganic pyrophosphatase, p-nitrophenylphosphatase and cholinesterase. We have concluded that the stimulation of these enzymes was not due to removal of sialyl-residues. We suggest that contaminants (haemolysins?) in neuraminidase preparations of Clostridium perfringens increased membrane permeability and facilitated substrate-product translocation.

Inhibition of 5'-nucleotidase by concanavalin A: evidence for localization on the outer surface of the plasma membrane

5'-Nucleotidase activity of rat liver plasma membrane is markedly inhibited by concanavalin A. Taken together with a unilateral pattern of labelling of concanavalin A binding sites with hemocyanin, the results indicate that an allosteric site of the enzyme is at the outer surface of the membrane.

Mechanisms of secretion: effects of colchicine and vincristine on composition and flow of milk in the goat

Colchicine, the plant alkaloid, produced a dramatic decrease in milk flow when infused into the udder of the goat. The compound (1 to 5 mg) dissolved in 5 ml of water was inserted into one side of the under via the teat canal. Such treatments consistently caused a depression in milk yield from the infused side with maximum at 36 h and substantial reversal by 72 to 96 h. Milks from both the infused and uninfused sides of the udder were essentially normal in composition (fat, protein, and lactose). However, globulins and riboflavin were elevated in milks from the infused side. The plant alkaloid, vincristine, produced effects on milk secretion similar to those of colchicine but at dosages roughly one-tenth the latter. The two substances had no effect on the amount of milk from the uninfused side of the udder. Experiments employing [carbon-14] colchicine revealed that less than 20% of the infused colchicine is secreted in the milk. Both the secretion of fat globules and the emptying of secretory vesicles by the lactating cell are inhibited by colchicine indicating that a portion of the cell population is turned off from secretion. Plant substances such as colchicine and vincristine may at times limit yields of milk, especially in grazing ruminants.

[Kinetics of Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ activated ATPase from lymphocyte plasma membranes]

The kinetic study of the C2+ ATPase activity of lymphocyte plasma memebranes allowed some properties of this enzyme to be evidenced. The Ca2+-activated hydrolysis of ATP is independent of a non-specific alkaline phosphatase. The substrate of the ATPase activity is the chelate Ca2+- ATP. Mg2+ may substitute for Ca2+ both as chelating ion and as activating ion. Several results suggest that we have only one ATPase, activated either by Ca2+-, or by Mg2+ with less efficiency; both chelates hve the same Km; pH values for maximum activity and transition temperatures are identical; the effects of free ions are also the same, activation at low concentration and inhibition at high concentration.

Enzyme histochemistry as a link between biochemistry and morphology

The presented paper describes the role of enzyme histochemistry in cell biological investigations. In the first chapter a general discussion has been given about enzyme histochemistry as a connecting link between biochemistry and morphology. The methods available for determination of enzymes in a particular cell or cell compartment have been reviewed. In this respect the characteristics of enzyme histochemistry have been discussed. Furthermore, attention has been paid to the possibilities and limitations of enzyme histochemistry. In chapter two a comparison has been made between histochemically judged and biochemically determined enzyme activities. Some fundamental differences between the biochemical and the histochemical approach in cell biological investigations are dealt with. To correlate histochemically and biochemically determined enzyme activities, a description has been given of the application of histochemical methods on isolated fractions and sucrose-ficoll gradients of these fractions. Several experimental results are described concerning the question whether a relation exists between histochemically and biochemically determined activities of respectively alkaline phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase and 3ss-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. From these results the conclusion could be drawn that in general a good correlation exists between histochemically judged activity per volume (area X thickness) and biochemically determined activity per gram tissue. In chapter three the role of enzymes as markers of cellular particles and as parameters of metabolic pathways is described. Histochemical methods are available for most marker enzymes. Only activities of key enzymes can be regarded as parameters of metabolic pathways. The distribution in sucrose-ficoll gradients of enzymes, regarded as markers of mitochondria, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membranes has been given. The changes occur ing under different experimental conditions for a number of marker enzymes in rat liver are described. Attention has been given to the contibution of enzyme histochemistry in the study of the heterogeneity of mitochondria, the dual localization of some (lysosomal) enzymes, the complexity of the microsomal fraction, the function of the Golgi apparatus and the heterogeneity and function of plasma membranes. Based on these results and on literature findings the possible role of some marker enzymes in cell metabolism has been discussed. In chapter four problems coherent with species and sex differences in enzyme activities are described. The interpretation of histochemical and biochemical results in view of these differences is discussed. Enzymes characteristic for a given cell type -3ss-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in steroid producing cells, ATP-ase in liver plasma membrane surrounding the bile canaliculi - do show less variations between species and sexes than enzymes not directly involved in specialized functions...