Purification on hydroxyapatite of liver ribosomes and polysomes from unfasted mice

The A1 Subunit of Shiga Toxin 2 Has Higher Affinity for Ribosomes and Higher Catalytic Activity than the A1 Subunit of Shiga Toxin 1

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections can lead to life-threatening complications, including hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children in the United States. Stx1 and Stx2 are AB5 toxins consisting of an enzymatically active A subunit associated with a pentamer of receptor binding B subunits. Epidemiological evidence suggests that Stx2-producing E. coli strains are more frequently associated with HUS than Stx1-producing strains. Several studies suggest that the B subunit plays a role in mediating toxicity. However, the role of the A subunits in the increased potency of Stx2 has not been fully investigated. Here, using purified A1 subunits, we show that Stx2A1 has a higher affinity for yeast and mammalian ribosomes than Stx1A1. Biacore analysis indicated that Stx2A1 has faster association and dissociation with ribosomes than Stx1A1. Analysis of ribosome depurination kinetics demonstrated that Stx2A1 depurinates yeast and mammalian ribosomes and an RNA stem-loop mimic of the sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) at a higher catalytic rate and is a more efficient enzyme than Stx1A1. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes at a higher level in vivo and was more cytotoxic than Stx1A1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes and inhibited translation at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1 in human cells. These results provide the first direct evidence that the higher affinity for ribosomes in combination with higher catalytic activity toward the SRL allows Stx2A1 to depurinate ribosomes, inhibit translation, and exhibit cytotoxicity at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1.

Different inhibitory effect and mechanism of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on normal cells and cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Hydroxyapatite (HAP), similar to inorganic phase in bones, shows good biocompatibility and bioactivity as bone defect repairing material. Recently, nanoscaled HAP shows the special properties differing from bulk HAP in physics, chemistry and biology. This paper demonstrates that HAP nanoparticle (nHAP) possesses the ability for inhibiting cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, after treatment with nHAP for 3 days, proliferation of human cancer cells are inhibited by more than 65% and by less than 30% for human normal cells. In vivo, injection of nHAP in transplanted tumor results in significant reduction (about 50%) of tumor size. The anticancer effect of nHAP is mainly attributed to high amount by endocytosis in cancer cells and inhibition on protein synthesis in cells. The abundant nHAP internalized in cancer cells around endoplasmic reticulum may inhibit the protein synthesis by decreasing the binding of mRNA to ribosome due to its high adsorption capacity for ribosome and arrest cell cycle in G0/G1 phase. nHAP shows no ROS-involved cytotoxicity and low cytotoxicity to normal cells. These results strongly suggest that nHAP can inhibit cancer cell proliferation and have a potential application in cancer treatment.

Augmentation of cholesterol esterification in the microsomal membrane by the removal of membrane-bound ribosomes

Acyl-CoA: cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in rough microsomes was enhanced (2-fold) by the removal (40%) of ribosomes from the microsomal membrane with RNase. Although EDTA was as efficient as RNase in the removal of ribosomes the stimulation (3.2-fold) of ACAT activity was even more, suggesting that additional effects were induced by EDTA. Reconstitution of EDTA-treated microsomes with ribosomes decreased the cholesterol-esterifying activity (40%) of the degranulated microsomes. Alternate possibilities were considered for the enhancement of ACAT activity by EDTA, namely, suppression of the hydrolysis of added palmitoyl-CoA substrate, the hydrolysis of cholesteryl ester, and the removal of metal suppressor of ACAT activity. Neither acyl-CoA hydrolase nor cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity was decreased after degranulation of microsomes. ACAT activity of EDTA-treated microsomes compared to the control was enhanced rather than suppressed after the addition of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Ba2+ ions whereas other metal ions (Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) almost completely suppressed ACAT activity in both the EDTA-treated and buffer-treated microsomes. It is concluded that the enhanced ACAT activity was largely due to the removal of ribosomes from the microsomal membrane.

Evidence for major differences in ribosomal subunit proteins from Plasmodium berghei and rat liver

Purified polysomes were isolated in high yield from the erythrocytic stages of the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, and from rat liver. Proteins extracted from the ribosomal subunits derived from these polysomes were fractionated and their number and molecular weights were estimated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Plasmodial small ribosomal subunits contained 30 proteins ranging in apparent molecular size from 11.7 to 40.7 kDa, while large subunits contained 35-36 proteins ranging from 12.1 to 42.6 kDa. None of these parasite proteins was shared by the two subunits nor altered in electrophoretic mobility by radioiodination. Rat liver 40 S ribosomal subunit proteins numbered 30 and ranged from 9.2 to 37.5 kDa, while liver 60 S subunits contained 41-43 proteins with apparent molecular sizes of 10.3-45.2 kDa. Coelectrophoresis of trace amounts of radioiodinated P. berghei ribosomal subunit proteins and stainable quantities of liver proteins demonstrated that most of these 139 parasite and host ribosomal proteins possessed different two-dimensional electrophoretic mobilities under the conditions of this study. Based upon a comparative analysis of P. berghei and rodent ribosomal RNA and these data, it was concluded that parasite and host ribosomes contain distinct ribosomal RNAs and ribosomal proteins.

Isolation of ribonuclease-free polysomes from human placenta

Human placenta is known to have a high level of polysome-bound ribonuclease which has hindered the isolation of intact polyribosomes from this tissue. We describe conditions for preparing polysomes devoid of apparent ribonuclease activity from both first trimester and term placenta. This stable preparation was achieved by utilizing buffer at low pH containing 300 mM LiCl and precipitating the polysomes chemically with 200 mM MgCl2. The yield of polysomes obtained by this procedure is 2-2.5 fold greater than that obtained by the conventional method of preparing placental polysomes. The polysomes are considered pure as judged by the ratios of absorbance 260/280 and 260/235. Moreover, the yield of polysomes obtained is greater than 95% of the tissue content and the profile of the polysomes is probably representative of the in vivo population. This is concluded from experiments in which a known amount of labelled chick polysomes was added to fresh placental tissue and the recovery of label and its distribution was analyzed.

Ribosome-membrane interactions: characterization of ribosomal proteins from loose and tight bound ribosomes

Membrane-bound ribosomes were isolated from a post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction of mouse liver homogenate by sedimentation in a sucrose density gradient, Loose ribosomes were released from the membrane fragments with 0.5 M KCl, while tight bound ribosomes were not released. After purification of the loose and tight ribosomes subclasses, ribosomal subunit proteins were isolated and compared by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No differences in the ribosomal protein composition was detected.

The ribosomes of Plasmodium berghei: isolation and ribosomal ribonucleic acid analysis

Ribosomes and high molecular weight ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) from the blood stages of Plasmodium berghei parasites were studied in preparations free from host ribosome contamination. Purified malarial ribosomes were isolated in high yield from a population of ultrastructurally intact, viable parasites by hypertonic lysis with Triton X-100 and differential centrifugation. These ribosomes were shown to be derived from active polysomes and could be dissociated into subunits by puromycin-0.5 M KCl treatment. Malarial rRNA extracted from purified 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits was characterized by electrophoretic, sedimentation and base ratio analyses. Like certain other protozoa, the P. berghei 40S ribosomal subunit possessed an exceptionally large RNA species (mol. wt 0.9 X 10(6), while RNA isolated from the parasite's 60S subunit (mol. wt 1.5 X 10(6)) was specifically 'nicked' to produce one large component (mol.wt 1.2 X 10(6)) and one small component (mol.wt 0.3 X 10(6)) in equimolar quantities. These rRNA's migrate identically on polyacrylamide gels after heating to 63 degrees C for 5 min or under denaturing conditions in the presence of formamide, indicating an absence of aggregation and non-specific degradation of the rRNA species. Base composition studies showed P. berghei rRNA to be low in guanosine and cytosine content, as is the case for protozoa generally.

Analysis by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of liver ribosomal subunnit proteins obtained from free and membrane-bound polysomes of unfasted animals

Ribosomal proteins were analyzed by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. To insure that the analysis included only that fraction of the ribosome actively participating in protein synthesis, only polysomal-bound ribosomes were used. This differs from previously reported analyses of liver ribosomal proteins. The ribosomal proteins were prepared from ribosomes of polysomal origin from membrane-bound and free polysomes. Membrane-bound and free liver polysomes were isolated from unfasted mice. The polysomes were purified on hydroxyapatite under conditions known to result in polysomes and ribosomes that are active in both endogenous and synthetic mRNA translation. Moreover, this is the first time that liver ribosomal protein was obtained and analyzed from animals that have not been starved prior to sacrifice. The puromycin-released ribosomes were dissociated into subunits and ribosomal proteins were analyzed by means of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When 100-200 mug samples of the ribosomal subunit proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis, approximately 32 major proteins were detected for the 60 S ribosomal subunit and 25 major proteins for the 40 S ribosomal subunit. A total of 13 "fractional" ribosomal proteins was also detected in the ribosomal subunit profiles. No differences in number or mobility of the ribosomal proteins were found between the membrane-bound and free ribosome populations. We describe a system in which all ribosomal proteins are completely solubilized and quantitatively move from the first to the second dimension gel. Thus the total sample is separated and fractionated. This procedure elimates artifacts due to incomplete solubilization of ribosomal proteins, which is common for the transfer from the first- to second-dimension gel. Therefore, a more detailed and accurate analysis is achieved.

Characterization of polysomes from Xenopus liver synthesizing vitellogenin and translation of vitellogenin and albumin messenger RNA's in vitro

1. Conditions are described for the isolation of polysomes from the liver of Xenopus laevis. The method involves homogenization of liver in 0.2 M Tris-HCl pH 8.5, treatment with 2% Triton X-100 and subsequent sucrose density gradient fractionation of polysomes from a 10000 X g supernatant. 2. Vitellogenin synthesis was induced in male Xenopus liver by oestradiol treatment. Polysomes were isolated and vitellogenin-synthesizing polysomes characterized by their association with monospecific 125 I-labelled rabbit anti-vitellogenin antibody and by reaction with rabbit anti-vitellogenin immunoglobulins followed by indirect immunoprecipitation with goat anti-rabbit antibody. 3. Changes in liver polysome content following oestrogen treatment of male Xenopus are correlated with the appearance of vitellogenin synthesis using an organ culture assay. 4. RNA extracted from livers of oestradiol-treated male Xenopus and from purified polysomes is shown to code for the synthesis of vitellogenin-specific immunoprecipitable polypeptides in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free protein-synthesizing system, a major component having a molecular weight of 210000. Xanopus liver RNA is also shown to code for the synthesis of an albumin-specific immunoprecipitable polypeptide of 74000 molecular-weight which coelectrophoresed with Xenopus albumin.

Analysis by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the in vivo phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins derived from free and membrane-bound polysomes

Analysis of in vivo phosphorylation of mouse liver ribosomal proteins was performed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis following 32P-injection. Our method is special and differs from other eukaryotic systems reported in that all proteins separated on the first dimension gel are completely solubilized, moving quantitatively to the second dimension gel. Only ribosomes from polysomes were used, ensuring analysis of ribosomes actively engaged in protein synthesis. We resolved sixty-five distinct proteins from ribosomes from membrane bound or free polysomes. In both cases radioautography revealed similar labeled patterns with one highly phosphorylated ribosomal protein and five marginally labeled spots.