Studies on the alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase of Dictyostelium discoideum

Purification and renaturation of Dictyostelium recombinant alkaline phosphatase by continuous elution electrophoresis

A 1583 bp fragment of Dictyostelium alp cDNA (94% of the gene) was cloned in pET32a+. The enzyme was expressed in an inactive form in the inclusion body of the expression host BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIL. The recombinant ALP constituted more than 50% of the total protein in the inclusion body and 25-30% of the total protein in the expression host after 3 h induction with IPTG at 37 degrees C. A continuous elution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis procedure was used to purify the recombinant enzyme. This technique yielded a homogeneous protein that retained enzymatic activity after dialysis without further treatment. A yield of 5mg per liter of culture broth was obtained with a specific activity of approximately 0.7 nmol/min/mg protein (0.7 mU/mg). Immunoinhibition studies using a polyclonal antibody produced against the recombinant protein showed complete inhibition of enzymatic activity when the enzyme was preincubated with the antibody at a 1:1000 dilution. The enzyme exhibited a pH optimum of approximately 9.0. The substrate specificity indicated that the Dictyostelium enzyme is a typical broad range alkaline phosphatase.

Expression pattern of alkaline phosphatase in Dictyostelium

We used two different methods to study the expression pattern of alkaline phosphatase (alp) in Dictyostelium. In situ staining of the endogenous enzyme activity at different stages of development showed that the enzyme was active early in the aggregation stage and localized to the area where the tip of the first finger was initiated. The activity was localized to the anterior region of developing slugs, then became restricted to the region between the prestalk and prespore cells at the culmination stage. In the complete fruiting body, the activity was confined to the lower and upper cup. A second method to study alp expression utilized a beta-galactosidase reporter gene under the control of the alp promoter. A low level of beta-galactosidase activity was observed in vegetative cells, then increased during development. Reporter gene activity was restricted to PstO cells at the slug stage. At the culmination stage, the expression was restricted to prestalk cells at the interface between the prestalk and prespore cells. In the completed fruiting body, the expression was observed in the upper and lower cup.

5'-Nucleotidase in Dictyostelium: protein purification, cloning, and developmental expression

5'-Nucleotidase (5NU) in Dictyostelium discoideum is an enzyme that shows high substrate specificity to 5'-AMP. The enzyme has received considerable attention in the past because of the critical role played by cyclic AMP in cell differentiation in this organism. Degradation of cAMP by cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) produces 5'-AMP, the substrate of 5NU. During the time course of development, the enzyme activity of 5NU increases and becomes restricted to a narrow band of cells that form the interface between the prestalk/prespore zones. We have purified a polypeptide associated with 5NU enzyme activity. Protein sequence of this peptide was obtained from mass spectrometry and Edman degradation. Polymerase chain reaction PCR amplification of genomic DNA using degenerate oligonucleotides and a search of sequences of a cDNA project yielded DNA fragments with sequence corresponding to the peptide sequence of 5NU. In addition, a clone was found that corresponded to the classical 'alkaline phosphatase' (AP) as described in several organisms. The sequences of the 5NU and AP cDNAs were not similar, indicating they are the products of separate genes and that both genes exist in Dictyostelium. Analysis of the expression of 5nu during Dictyostelium development by Northern blotting determined that the gene is developmentally regulated. Southern blot analysis showed a single form of the 5nu gene. Targeted gene disruption and knockout mutagenesis using the 5nu sequences suggested that a 5nu mutation may be lethal.

Phospholipase-C-independent inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation in Dictyostelium cells. Activation of a plasma-membrane-bound phosphatase by receptor-stimulated Ca2+ influx

Dictyostelium cells have enzyme activities that generate the inositol polyphosphate Ins(1,4,5)P3 from Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 via the intermediates Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and Ins(1,4,5,6)P4. These enzyme activities could explain why cells with a deletion of the single phospholipase C gene (plc- cells) possess nearly normal Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels. In this study the regulation and the subcellular localization of the enzyme activities was investigated. The enzyme activities performing the different reaction steps from Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 to Ins(1,4,5)P3 are probably due to a single enzyme. Indications for this are the previously shown similar Ca2+ dependencies of the various reaction steps. Furthermore, the activities mediating the complete conversion of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 to Ins(1,4,5)P3 co-purify after subcellular fractionation, solubilization, and chromatography of the proteins. Subcellular fractionation studies demonstrate that the enzyme is localized mainly at the inner face of the plasma membrane. The enzyme activity could not be stimulated in vitro by guanosine 5'-(3-thio)triphosphate, a procedure known to activate G-protein-coupled enzymes in Dictyostelium. Still, in plc- cells the level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was increased significantly after stimulation with high concentrations of the extracellular ligand cAMP. This stimulation is most likely due to the influx of Ca2+ because no increase of Ins(1,4,5)P3 could be detected in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The results demonstrate the existence of a new receptor-controlled route for the formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 that is independent of phospholipase C.

Co-storage in large 'dense-core' vesicles of dopamine and cholecystokinin in rat striatum

The subcellular localization of cholecystokinin in the striatum--an area where a high density of cholecystokinin containing terminals has been demonstrated--was studied using biochemical techniques. Cholecystokinin containing vesicles were partially purified using iso-osmotic Ficoll gradients. As judged from their size and their buoyant density in isopycnic gradients, cholecystokinin containing vesicles represent large 'dense-core' vesicles. Negative staining and subsequent immunolabelling for synaptophysin at the electron microscopical level, showed labelled vesicles of 50-70 nm. binding of dihydrotetrabenazine was detected in the cholecystokinin containing fractions. The results suggest that dopamine is co-stored with cholecystokinin in large dense vesicles in rat striatum.

Association of calmodulin and an unconventional myosin with the contractile vacuole complex of Dictyostelium discoideum

mAbs specific for calmodulin were used to examine the distribution of calmodulin in vegetative Dictyostelium cells. Indirect immunofluorescence indicated that calmodulin was greatly enriched at the periphery of phase lucent vacuoles. The presence of these vacuoles in newly germinated (non-feeding) as well as growing cells, and the response of the vacuoles to changes in the osmotic environment, identified them as contractile vacuoles, osmoregulatory organelles. No evidence was found for an association of calmodulin with endosomes or lysosomes, nor was calmodulin enriched along cytoskeletal filaments. When membranes from Dictyostelium cells were fractionated on equilibrium sucrose density gradients, calmodulin cofractionated with alkaline phosphatase, a cytochemical marker for contractile vacuole membranes, at a density of 1.156 g/ml. Several high molecular weight calmodulin-binding proteins were enriched in the same region of the gradient. One of the calmodulin-binding polypeptides (molecular mass approximately 150 kD) cross-reacted with an antiserum specific for Acanthamoeba myosin IC. By indirect immunofluorescence, this protein was also enriched on contractile vacuole membranes. These results suggest that a calmodulin-binding unconventional myosin is associated with contractile vacuoles in Dictyostelium; similar proteins in yeast and mammalian cells have been implicated in vesicle movement.

Endosomal association of a protein phosphatase with high dephosphorylating activity against a coronavirus nucleocapsid protein

On the assumption that dephosphorylation of the neurotropic coronavirus JHM (JHMV) nucleocapsid protein (N) may be connected with initiation of the infectious cycle we searched for a relevant host enzyme activity. Analysis of subcellular fractions from L-2 murine fibroblasts, separated by dual Percoll density gradients, revealed the presence of a phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPPase), co-sedimenting with the endososomal/prelysosomal material, which possesses high activity against N. With purified [32P]N as substrate it was demonstrated that this PPPase, distinguishable from acid and alkaline phosphatases, acts optimally at neutral pH in the presence of Mn2+ following treatment with a detergent. Complete inhibition with okadaic acid at 0.9-4.5 microM but not at 1-10 nM relegates this PPPase to a type 1 protein phosphatase. Similar PPPase activity for N was present in the endosome fraction of a rat Roc-1 astrocytoma-oligodendrocyte cell line and in homogenates of brain and cultured oligodendrocytes. Our data suggest that the phosphorylated N of the inoculum may be modified by the endosomal PPPase in host cells, including those from the CNS so as to facilitate the JHMV infectious process.

Identification of a high-affinity Ca2+ pump associated with endocytotic vesicles in Dictyostelium discoideum

In the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, changes in free cytosolic Ca2+ are thought to regulate certain processes during cell aggregation and differentiation. To understand the mechanisms controlling free Ca2+ levels in this organism, we previously isolated and characterized an ATP/Mg2+-dependent, high-affinity Ca2+ pump which appeared to be a component of "inside-out" plasma membrane vesicles [J. L. Milne and M. B. Coukell (1988) Biochem. J. 249. 223-230]. In this report, we demonstrate that a high-affinity Ca2+ pump, with properties virtually identical to the isolated pump, can be detected in filipin- or digitonin-permeabilized cells of Dictyostelium. Moreover, Ca2+-pumping vesicles, which migrate on Percoll/KCl gradients like the vesicles identified earlier, can be isolated from the permeabilized cells. Results of additional experiments suggest that this intracellular Ca2+ transporter is associated with a high-capacity non-IP3-releasable Ca2+ store which is generated by endocytosis. A possible role for this store in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis in Dictyostelium is discussed.

Studies on the mechanism of action of the alkaline phosphatase from Dictyostelium discoideum

The Dictyostelium discoideum alkaline phosphatase was investigated kinetically in an attempt to elucidate its mechanism of action. Analysis of the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate by stopped-flow spectrophotometry revealed biphasic kinetics, suggesting a double displacement enzyme mechanism. Furthermore, Tris stimulated activity in an uncompetitive manner, a result that was consistent with this interpretation. The enzyme was inhibited reversibly by phosphate at low ionic strength, but the inhibition was irreversible at high ionic strength and the latter effect was enhanced at alkaline pH values. These results indicate that high ionic strength and alkaline pH conditions bring about a conformational change that renders the enzyme susceptible to irreversible inhibition by phosphate.

Purification of bovine liver cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase. Kinetic and structural studies as compared to the membrane isoenzyme

Cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase from bovine liver has been purified to homogeneity. Two affinity chromatographies on concanavalin A and 5'AMP-Sepharose columns result in a 12,000-fold purification. The sequential elution of glycoproteins from the concanavalin-A-Sepharose column with methyl alpha-D-glucoside and methyl alpha-D-mannoside greatly increases the degree of purification of the enzyme. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate shows two subunits having apparent molecular masses of 65 kDa and 57 kDa respectively, while only one band at 70 kDa is observed in the case of the membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase. Both the Stokes radii, measured by gel exclusion HPLC, and the sedimentation coefficient, determined by density gradient ultracentrifugation, indicate that the cytosolic enzyme is a heterodimer of about 130 kDa. This contrasts with the membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase which is a homodimer of 140 kDa. Moreover, the antibodies raised against the membrane 5'-nucleotidase inhibited the cytosolic form indicating that a common antigenic determinant(s) exists between the two isoenzymes. However, structural differences are revealed by immunoblotting. In the same way, the effect of lectins suggests that differences in the structure of the carbohydrate chains exist between the two isoenzymes. The purified cytosolic enzyme has lower affinity for the nucleotides than does the membrane enzyme. In addition, while ADP, [alpha,beta-CH2]ADP and ATP were strong competitive inhibitors of the membrane enzyme, ADP and ATP activate the cytosolic form and [alpha,beta-CH2]ADP has no effect. Moreover, two pH optima at 7.5 and 9.5 are observed in the cytosolic enzyme while only one at 7.5 occurred in the membrane form. Finally the exogenous cations, MgCl2 and MnCl2, are necessary for the maximal activity of the cytosolic but not of the membrane 5'-nucleotidase. All these observations indicate that the two isoenzymes are different.

Isolation and characterization of a plasma membrane calcium pump from Dictyostelium discoideum

During the aggregation and differentiation of amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum, changes in free cytosolic Ca2+ appear to regulate a number of physiological processes. To understand the mechanisms regulating free intracellular Ca2+ in this organism, we have isolated and characterized an ATP/Mg2+-dependent, high-affinity Ca2+ pump. When homogenates of 2 h starved cells were fractionated on Percoll/KCl gradients, one peak of high-affinity Ca2+-pumping activity was detected. This activity was resolved from enzyme markers of the mitochondrion and the rough endoplasmic reticulum but it cosedimented with the plasma membrane marker, alkaline phosphatase. Further studies suggested that the pump was associated with 'inside-out' plasma membrane vesicles. Like plasma membrane Ca2+-transport ATPases from other systems, this isolated Ca2+ pump: (1) was Mg2+-dependent, (2) displayed a high specificity for ATP as an energy source, (3) exhibited a high affinity for free Ca2+ with a Km of 0.3 microM, and (4) was very sensitive to inhibition by vanadate (IC50 2 microM) but was unaffected by mitochondrial inhibitors, ouabain and Ca2+-channel blockers. Unlike plasma membrane Ca2+ pumps from most other systems, this enzyme appeared not to be regulated by calmodulin. During development, non-mitochondrial, vanadate-sensitive, high-affinity Ca2+-pumping activity in crude lysates remained relatively constant for at least 15 h. These observations suggest that this plasma membrane Ca2+ pump probably functions in Dictyostelium to maintain Ca2+ homeostasis by extruding free cytosolic Ca2+ from the cells.

Membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells and newborn mouse liver

5'-Nucleotidase activity in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells was undetectable. The cell homogenate, when mixed with adult mouse liver homogenate, inhibited the 5'-nucleotidase activity of the latter, without affecting its p-nitrophenyl phosphate-hydrolysing activity. The inhibitor activity was enriched (6.8-fold) in a membrane fraction which was enriched in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (14-fold) and alkaline phosphatase (8-fold). 5'-Nucleotidase activity in this membrane fraction could be detected only after separating the inhibitor activity from the enzyme on Sephadex G-50. The inhibitor activity was decreased by 27% when heat-treated, 33% when treated with 6 M urea and was almost completely lost when treated with trypsin. It was dialysable from a tubing with a molecular exclusion limit of 10,000, but was retained in a tubing with an exclusion limit of 3000. From these results we conclude that a small molecular weight protein inhibitor(s) of 5'-nucleotidase is present in the plasma membrane of Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. Also, the presence of such an inhibitor in the newborn mouse liver but not in the adult liver suggests that it may have some role in cellular ageing and cancer.

Cytochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase in the cell membrane of Dictyostelium discoideum amebae

We demonstrated that alkaline phosphatase was localized on the cell membrane of Dictyostelium discoideum amebae and on isolated plasma membranes. The enzyme activity was specifically inhibited by 0.01 M KCN or cysteine. The same method could also be applied to baker's yeast and MDCK cells (dog kidney cells in vitro).

The membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities of vegetative cells of Dictyostelium discoideum

Earlier reports suggested that the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)- and the p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP)-hydrolyzing activities of Dictyostelium discoideum membrane preparations are due to different proteins. These results have been apparently contradicted by the recent purification to homogeneity of the two activities from culmination phase cells as a single protein [D. R. Armant and C. L. Rutherford (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 12710-12718]. Results presented here from studies on the activities of vegetative cells support the concept of a single protein. Nondenaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Triton X-100 extracts of cell membrane preparations of D. discoideum showed identical migration of pNPPase and AMPase activities. Furthermore, the previously reported different pH optima of the two activities was due to the fact that pH optima are dependent upon the substrate concentration, and the selective solubilization of AMPase from membrane preparations by phospholipase C can probably be accounted for by the finding that phospholipase C preparations from the same commercial source contain 5'-nucleotidase activity. Moreover, there are alterations in the Km and the stability of both AMPase and pNPPase in a strain with a mutationally altered alkaline phosphatase, further supporting the concept that the two activities are due to a single protein. Both substrates serve as transphosphorylation donors demonstrating that the enzyme activity is mechanistically an alkaline phosphatase.

A plasma membrane Mg2+-ATPase in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum

Evidence is presented for the existence of a plasma membrane ATPase in Dictyostelium discoideum. The enzyme is dependent on Mg+2, and is insensitive to both azide and oligomycin. It is, however, sensitive to diethylstilbestrol, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, vanadate, and thimerosal. Monovalent cations (Na+, K+, and choline) have no effect on enzyme activity, but high concentrations of Ca+2 are highly inhibitory. Vegetative cells express the highest amount of enzyme activity; the activity decreases three- to fourfold during the early stages of differentiation, and then remains constant during the latter stages.

Comparison of 5'-nucleotidase activities of isolated plasma membranes of two ascites cell variants

The glycogen-containing ascites cell line was found to have a 3-5 times higher 5'-nucleotidase specific activity than the glycogen-free variant, resulting in different substrate affinity constants of Km = 0.14 mM and Km = 0.69 mM respectively. These activity differences were due to true 5'-nucleotidase as shown by its inactivation through specific inhibitors such as concanavalin A and alpha, beta-methylene adenosine diphosphate. Substrate specificity of the enzyme was similar in both cell lines, but differences were observed with respect to the pH optimum and stability.

The hydrophobic character of the membrane-bound phosphodiesterase from Dictyostelium discoideum

A phosphodiesterase activity is shown to copurify with the plasma membrane fraction prepared by the two-phase partition method. The enrichment in phosphodiesterase parallels that of alkaline phosphatase, which is thought to be a typical membranous enzyme. Up to 66% of the phosphodiesterase activity can be solubilized by a treatment with 0.2% Triton X-100. Higher doses were ineffective in solubilizing more activity. Analysis by native gel electrophoresis showed that an activity extracted by 2 M NaCl migrated at the same position as 'soluble' phosphodiesterase of cytosolic or extracellular origin. In contrast, the Triton-solubilized enzyme had an apparently higher molecular weight. When subjected to charge shift electrophoresis on agarose gels in the presence of an ionic detergent, the Triton-solubilized phosphodiesterase displayed a hydrophobic character. This behaviour contrasts with that of 'soluble' phosphodiesterases, the electrophoretic mobility of which is unaffected by the presence of an anionic detergent. The hydrophobic character of the membranous enzyme was lost after gentle hydrolysis by papain.

Plasma membrane heterogeneity in ascites tumor cells. Isolation of a light and a heavy membrane fraction of the glycogen-free Ehrlich-Lettré substrain

In this work we report on the isolation of two plasma membrane fractions of a glycogen-free substrain of Ehrlich-Lettré ascites cells, a light fraction sedimenting in a sucrose gradient at 1.10 g/ml, and a heavy fraction sedimenting at nuclei by a combination of short-term swelling and mild Dounce homogenization. A 12 000 X g postnuclear pellet (PII) containing major portions of the plasma membrane marker enymes, 5'-nucleotidase, ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and the alkaline phosphatase, was prepared by differential centrifugation. The two plasma membrane fractions were obtained by centrifugation on a discontinuous sucrose gradient, from which they were further purified on a linear sucrose gradient applying sedimentation velocity conditions only. Enrichment factors for the three marker enzymes were between 5- and 14-fold for the light fraction and between 3- and 7-fold for the heavy fraction with an overall yield of 1--4% and 0.5--1.7%, respectively, of cellular protein. Contamination of both fractions with nuclear material was minor. Mitochondrial contamination was about 8% for the light material and somewhat higher for the heavy material. In the light fraction, co-sedimentation of lysosomal and Golgi marker enzymes was detected. The presence of membrane structures of these organelles could not be confirmed definitely by electron microscopy. Differences in sialic acid content and phospholipid composition within the two fractions, especially in the relative proportion of lecithin to sphingomyelin, suggests differences in membrane fluidity. The light material showed mostly unit membrane vesicles in thin-section and freeze-etch electron microscopy, whereas the heavy fraction mainly consisted of sheet-like membrane fragments.

Reversible heat activation of alkaline phosphatase of dictyostelium discoideum and its developmental implication

The activities of some enzymes increase during the development of the cellular slime mould, Dictyostelium discoideum. Because optimal specific activity is attained by eachenzyme at a specific developmental stage, development can be followed as a function of enzyme activity. The activity of one of these enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, increases markedly during the late stages of development, making it a potentially useful marker for terminal differentiation. It has been suggested that this increase in activity is due to de novo enzyme synthesis because the increase in activity does not occur in the presence of inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. However, we present evidence here of reversible heat activation of membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase which suggests that the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity may be due to an unmasking of pre-existing enzyme by a novel membrane regulatory mechanism.

Quantitative study of the fluidity of Escherichia coli membranes using deuterium magnetic resonance

Specifically deuterated palmitic acid was incorporated into the membrane phospholipids of the L51 strain of Escherichia coli. The cytoplasmic and outer membranes were separated by using standard techniques and studied by deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance between 0 and 40 degrees C. Distinctive liquid-crystalline and gel spectra were observed to coexist over a wide temperature range. The relative intensities of these spectra provided a direct measure of the fraction of the deuterium-labeled phospholipids in the fluid state as a function of temperature. Above 37 degrees C, the amount of immobilized or gel-phase phospholipid is estimated to be less than 3% of the total phospholipid. The gel to liquid-crystalline transition region for the outer membrane was shifted upwards by approximately 7 degrees C relative to that of the cytoplasmic membrane, in agreement with previous studies [Davis, J. H., Nichol, C. P., Weeks, G., & Bloom, M. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 2103]. The orientational order in the fluid phase of both membranes decreased gradually with increasing temperature and was greater in the outer membrane than in the cytoplasmic membrane. The orientational order of the gel-phase component was the same for both membranes, within an experimental uncertainty of 10%, and was independent of temperature from 0 to 30 degrees C for the outer membrane and from 10 to 30 degrees C for the cytoplasmic membrane.

Immunotherapy with levamisole: early decrease of cAMP levels in lymphocytes from treated cancer patients

Lymphocyte cyclic nucleotide content was studied before and after Levamisole administration to cancer patients. Twelve patients with disseminated cancer received 100 mg/m2 on two consecutive days; nine comparable patients with disseminated cancer served as controls. Endogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were measured in lymphocytes before, 24, and 48 hours after ingestion of the first dose of Levamisole. A statistically significant decline in lymphocyte cAMP level was observed after drug administration and no significant changes were noted in cGMP levels. Further studies will be necessary to correlate this biochemical change in cyclic nucleotides with modulation of the functional level of cellular immune mechanisms.

The purification and characterization of Dictyostelium discoideum plasma membranes

A new procedure for the purification of plasma membranes of Dictyostelium discoideum is described. Cells are broken by vigorously stirring in the presence of glass beads, and plasma membranes are isolated by equilibrium sucrose density centrifugation. The purified membranes are considerably enriched in alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase and contain very low levels of succinate dehydrogenase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The purified membranes contain relatively high levels of phospholipid, sterol and carbohydrate. They appear as a relatively homogeneous population of membrane vesicles in the electron microscope. This new method of purification is compared to previously published procedures which have been found to be unsuitable for our purposes.