Bidimensional reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of cultured cell neuropeptides: application to atrial natriuretic factor

Application of a beta-cyclodextrin sulfate-immobilized precolumn to selective on-line enrichment and separation of heparin-binding proteins by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography

A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system which consisted of a beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) sulfate-immobilized hydrophilic vinyl-polymer gel precolumn and a reversed-phase analytical column was developed for the selective on-line enrichment and separation of heparin-binding proteins. Of 15 proteins investigated, 10 proteins having heparin-binding activity were retained on the beta-CD sulfate precolumn almost quantitatively, in contrast 5 proteins having no heparin-binding activity were not retained. Calibration graphs for basic fibroblast growth factor constructed at various sample volumes were nearly identical, indicating that the protein could be enriched by this system. The system was successfully used for the selective separation of lysozyme in egg white. The beta-CD sulfate-immobilized precolumn showed no loss of analytical performance over 2 years during which about 400 samples were analysed.

Pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) evokes long-lasting secretion and de novo biosynthesis of bovine adrenal medullary neuropeptides

Recently, the pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has emerged as a potential noncholinergic neuromodulator of adrenal medullary function. In support of this hypothesis, we documented PACAP's effects on the secretion and biosynthesis of neuropeptides by cultured bovine chromaffin cells. Data presented in this study indicate that PACAP is a potent and efficacious secretagogue of leucine-enkephalin which was coreleased with catecholamines with identical profiles. In comparison to nicotinic activation, however, rates of PACAP-induced secretion were substantially slower but persisted for several hours causing a prolonged increase in the tonic release of both transmitters and peptides. Interestingly, renewal of intracellular pools of neuropeptides was also stimulated by PACAP but not the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Indeed, the higher incorporation of [35S]-labeled amino acids into atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP) provided strong evidence that PACAP directly activated de novo biosynthesis. Of particular importance was PACAP's net preferential stimulation of the biosynthesis of BNP, similar to the differential regulation by protein kinase A (PK-A) and protein kinase C (PK-C) activators we have previously the differential regulation by protein kinase A (PK-A) and protein kinase C (PK-C) activators we have previously reported. PACAP-induced secretion and biosynthesis appeared to be mediated by the PACAP-specific type I receptors known to activate adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. We verified that PACAP did indeed stimulate the production of cyclic AMP and inositol phosphates in our cell system. These findings suggest that the dual signaling properties of type I receptors may be important for PACAP's differential effect on the biosynthesis of natriuretic peptides. We conclude that PACAP might assume important noncholinergic trans-synaptic regulation of the adrenal medulla by releasing and modifying intragranular catecholamine and neuropeptide contents.

Selective on-line enrichment and separation of peptides having aromatic amino acids at their C-termini by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography using an anhydrochymotrypsin-immobilized precolumn

A column switching high-performance liquid chromatographic system in which peptides retained on an anhydrochymotrypsin (AHC)-immobilized diol-silica precolumn were selectively transferred to and separated on a reversed-phase analytical column was developed. An investigation of the affinity characteristics of 40 peptides to the AHC precolumn showed that among eleven peptides having Tyr or Phe at their C-termini and more than five amino acid residues, ten were retained almost quantitatively on the precolumn, and two peptides having Trp at their C-termini were less retained. Two peptides having C-terminal PheNH2 were also retained, but the peptide having C-terminal D-PheNH2 was not retained. Among eighteen peptides having no aromatic amino acids at their C-termini, two were retained, one slightly and the other moderately. Calibration graphs for rat atrial natriuretic peptide constructed at various sample sizes were nearly identical, indicating that the peptide could be enriched by this system. The AHC precolumn showed no loss of analytical performance over 1 year, during which about 450 samples were analysed.

Application of an anhydrotrypsin-immobilized precolumn for selective separation of peptides having arginine or lysine at their C-termini by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography

A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic (CS-HPLC) system which consisted of an anhydrotrypsin (AHT)-immobilized diol-silica precolumn and a reversed-phase analytical column was developed for the selective separation of peptides having Arg or Lys at their C-termini. Tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) could be enriched almost quantitatively on the precolumn when loaded with water as a carrier solvent and the precolumn was washed with 10-30 mM acetate buffer (pH 5.0). An investigation of the affinity characteristics of 55 peptides to the AHT precolumn showed that among twelve peptides having Arg or ArgNH2 at their C-termini and more than four amino acid residues, ten were retained almost quantitatively on the precolumn, and eight out of nine peptides having Lys at their C-termini were less retained. The peptide having D-Arg at its C-termini was not retained. However, twelve out of thirty peptides having no Arg or Lys at their C-termini were also retained, but the retention was greatly decreased, in contrast to the Arg peptides, when the precolumn was washed with 20 mM calcium chloride solution. The results indicate that the CS-HPLC system equipped with an AHT precolumn offers new selectivity in the HPLC selectivity in the HPLC separation of peptides.

Differential regulation of natriuretic peptide biosynthesis in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Chromaffin cells synthesize and secrete two forms of natriuretic peptides which are also found in the heart and in the central nervous system. While atrial tissue predominantly contains atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), brain tissue appears to produce relatively larger amounts of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) also identified as aldosterone secretion inhibitory factor (ASIF), suggesting tissue-specific differential regulation of these two peptides. This report compares the modulation of the biosynthesis and secretion of ASIF with that of ANF using cultured chromaffin cells as a model system. Cholinergic nicotinic activation and KCl depolarization induce a 5-fold increase of the corelease of ASIF and pro-ASIF in cell culture medium concomitantly with a 3-fold stimulation of ANF and pro-ANF cosecretion. While the combined treatment with phorbol ester and forskolin produces a 2-fold increase in total ANF level, it induces a synergistic 20-fold elevation of total ASIF level. These results indicate that chromaffin cell secretagogues induce the cosecretion of both the precursor and mature forms of ASIF and ANF. The preferential stimulation of ASIF production is revealed by the combined treatment rendering the ASIF to ANF proportion similar to that in brain.