Glycopeptides prepared from mouse cerebrum inhibit protein synthesis and cell division in baby hamster kidney cells, but not in their polyoma virus-transformed analogs

Negative regulators of cell proliferation

Cell proliferation is governed by the influence of both mitogens and inhibitors. Although cell contact has long been thought to play a fundamental role in cell cycling regulation, and negative regulators have long been suspected to exist, their isolation and purification has been complicated by a variety of technical difficulties. Nevertheless, over recent years an ever-expanding list of putative negative regulators have emerged. In many cases, their biological inhibitory activities are consistent with density-dependent growth inhibition. Most likely their interactions with mitogenic agents, at an intracellular level, are responsible for either mitotic arrest or continued cell cycling. A review of naturally occurring cell growth inhibitors is presented with an emphasis on those factors shown to be residents of the cell surface membrane. Particular attention is focused on a cell surface sialoglycopeptide, isolated from intact bovine cerebral cortex cells, which has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of an unusually wide range of target cells. The glycopeptide arrest cells obtained from diverse species, both fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and a broad variety of transformed cells. Signal transduction events and a limited spectrum of cells that are refractory to the sialoglycopeptide have provided insight into the molecular events mediated by this cell surface inhibitor.

The identification of a naturally occurring cell surface growth inhibitor related to a previously described bovine sialoglycopeptide

A 66-kDa sialoglycoprotein has been identified as the parental membrane molecule of an earlier described sialoglycopeptide (SGP), an 18-kDa molecule released by protease treatment of intact bovine cerebral cortex cells that was shown to be a potent inhibitor of cellular proliferation. The 66-kDa parental sialoglycoprotein (p-SGP) was purified approximately 2,400-fold, to apparent homogeneity, from bovine cerebral cortex cell membranes by its release during incubation with 3 M NaCl, preparative isoelectric focusing and lectin affinity chromatography. Although a membrane-associated molecule, the p-SGP appeared to be tightly bound to the cell membrane, since it was not released during incubations in the absence of 3 M NaCl. Incubation of the membrane preparations with 3 M urea proved to be too harsh, and the antigenicity required to follow the purification of the p-SGP was abolished. Analyses by SDS-PAGE, under reducing and nonreducing conditions, suggested that the p-SGP membrane component was a single polypeptide without subunit structure. The p-SGP was shown to be structurally related to the SGP fragment by immunoblots with IgG raised to the SGP inhibitor, and functionally related to the SGP by its ability to inhibit Swiss 3T3 proliferation at concentrations strikingly similar to that previous measured with the SGP fragment.

Oxidative degradation of glycosphingolipids revisited: a simple preparation of oligosaccharides from glycosphingolipids

In order to cleave gangliosides and isolate the oligosaccharide portion, the allylic nature of OH-3 of the sphingenine base was utilized in its selective oxidation to a ketone group by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone. Triethylamine treatment of the oxidation products resulted in the beta-elimination of the intact oligosaccharide. The isolation of the pure oligosaccharide from the modified ceramide residue and unreacted ganglioside was obtained by liquid chromatography. Preliminary investigations suggest that the same reaction conditions can be used for an analogous elimination of oligosaccharides linked to the serine or threonine residues of glycoproteins.

Current ideas on the significance of protein glycosylation

Carbohydrate has been removed from a number of glycoproteins without major effect on the structure or enzyme activity of the protein. Thus carbohydrate has been suggested to underly a non-primary function for proteins, such as in relatively non-specific interactions with other carbohydrates or macromolecules, stabilization of protein conformation, or protection from proteolysis. This non-specific concept is consistent with both the general similarity in carbohydrate structure on very diverse glycoproteins and the frequent structural microheterogeneity of carbohydrate chains at given sites. The concept is supported in a general sense by the viability of cells whose glycosylation processes have been globally disrupted by mutation or pharmacological inhibitors. In contrast to the above observations, other studies have revealed the existence of specific, selective receptors for discrete oligosaccharide structures on glycoproteins which seem to be important for compartmentalization of the glycoprotein, or the positioning of cells on which the glycoprotein is concentrated. Sometimes multivalency in the carbohydrate-receptor interaction is crucial. There are additional possible roles for carbohydrate in the transduction of information upon binding to a receptor. The possibility of specific roles for carbohydrate is supported by the existence of numerous unique carbohydrate structures, many of which have been detected as glycoantigens by monoclonal antibodies, with unique distributions in developing and differentiated cells. This article attempts to summarize and rationalize the contradictory results. It appears that in general carbohydrate does in fact underlie only roles secondary to a protein's primary function. These secondary roles are simple non-specific ones of protection and stabilization, but often also satisfy the more sophisticated needs of spatial position control and compartmentalization in multicellular eukaryotic organisms. It is suggested that there are advantages, evolutionarily speaking, for the shared use of carbohydrate for non-specific roles and for specific roles primarily as luxury functions to be executed during the processes of cell differentiation and morphogenesis.

Cell surface interaction is sufficient for the biological activity of a bovine sialoglycopeptide inhibitor

A sialoglycopeptide inhibitor, isolated from bovine cerebral cortex cells, that reversibly inhibits protein and DNA synthesis, was coupled to either Sepharose or polyacrylamide beads. Whereas over 1 ng of the inhibitor was released from Sepharose beads after 30 min at 37 degrees C, less than 0.2 ng of the sialoglycopeptide was released from the polyacrylamide beads. When added to 3T3 cells, the immobilized sialoglycopeptide efficiently inhibited protein synthesis. No detectable sialoglycopeptide inhibitor was released into the assay medium in the presence or absence of 3T3 cells. Addition of [125I]sialoglycopeptide, coupled to acrylamide P100 beads, to 3T3 cells also demonstrated that the sialoglycopeptide was not internalized by the cells. Thus we conclude that an interaction of the sialoglycopeptide at the cell surface is sufficient for biological inhibitory activity.

Purification and characterization of a bovine cerebral cortex cell surface sialoglycopeptide that inhibits cell proliferation and metabolism

A sialoglycopeptide from bovine cerebral cortex cells was purified to apparent homogeneity by a procedure that included chloroform/methanol extraction, diethylaminoethyl ion exchange chromatography, wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography, size-exclusion HPLC, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The cell surface inhibitor had a molecular weight of approximately 18,000, no subunit composition was detectable on reduction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, and the glycopeptide apparently contained sialic acid, as illustrated by its ability to bind to Limulus polyhemus lectin. Deglycosylation of the molecule, however, did not reduce its protein synthesis inhibitory activity. As little as 20 ng of the sialoglycopeptide was capable of inhibiting protein synthesis in a wide variety of fibroblast cell lines but not in transformed cells. Mice immunized with the sialoglycopeptide produced antibodies that, when bound to protein A-agarose gel, removed the inhibitory activity from solution. The antibodies were used to identify a single isoelectric focused band and to establish the pI of 3.0 for the molecule.

Relationship between protease activity and a sialoglycopeptide inhibitor isolated from bovine brain

We have recently described the isolation and purification to homogeneity of a new sialoglycopeptide from bovine brain cell surfaces that reversibly inhibits protein synthesis and DNA synthesis of normal but not transformed cells. Active inhibitory preparations, however, were shown to contain a protease activity that was not lost upon purification. Several experiments were performed to establish the relationship between the proteolytic activity of the sialoglycopeptide and the biological inhibitory activity. Both the protease activity and inhibitory activity were stable at pH 6-8 but were reduced or completely destroyed below pH 4 and above pH 9. Acid inactivation was reversible and upon dialysis, both the biological inhibitory and protease activities were regained. Deglycosylation and CNBr cleavage indicated that the polypeptide backbone, rather than carbohydrate moiety, played an important role in the protease and biological inhibitory activities. Furthermore, chemical modification of amino and tyrosine groups indicated that both residues are essential for both activities. Thus, the biological inhibitory activity and protease activity are very closely related and most likely reside with the same polypeptide sequence.

The role of gangliosides in the interaction of a growth inhibitor with mouse LM cells

We have isolated and characterized glycopeptides, derived from mouse and bovine cerebral cortex cells, that inhibit protein synthesis and cell growth of normal but not transformed cells. The inhibitor binds to target cell surfaces, and gangliosides have previously been shown to influence cell sensitivity to the glycopeptides. Preincubation with 3.0 micrograms/ml ganglioside GM1 at 0 degrees C for 3 hr sensitized the mouse L-cell line to the inhibitor, as determined by protein synthesis assays. Preincubation of LM cells with ganglioside GM1 alone did not affect protein synthesis rates. In addition, the gangliosides GD1a and GM3 also sensitized the LM cells to the protein synthesis inhibitory effect of the glycopeptide inhibitor. Binding experiments were performed with 3T3 (sensitive) and LM (insensitive) cells to determine if sensitivity to the glycopeptide inhibitor was reflected in binding of the inhibitor to these cells. Binding of 125I-labeled inhibitor to 3T3 cells was maximal after 60 min at 0 degrees C and saturable at approximately 1 X 10(4) molecules/cell. Furthermore, binding of the inhibitor was dose-dependent, with half-maximal binding at 1.5-2.0 nM and saturation at 8.0-10.0 nM. Scatchard plot analysis indicated that the Kd was about 1 X 10(-9) M and that there are 1 X 10(4) receptors/cell. Binding of the inhibitor to LM cells was maximal after 30 min at 0 degrees C and saturation occurred at 5 X 10(3) molecules/cell. We then examined the possibility that gangliosides are the cellular receptor or co-receptor for the glycopeptide inhibitor. Binding of the inhibitor to ganglioside GM1 was first examined after the ganglioside had been preadsorbed to polystyrene tubes. These experiments indicated that the ganglioside did not bind the inhibitor. Ganglioside-containing liposomes from phosphatidylcholine or LM cell membrane components were also prepared; these artificial membranes did not bind appreciable amounts of the iodinated inhibitor. Competition experiments showed that the gangliosides GM1 and GD1a did not neutralize the protein synthesis inhibitory activity of the glycopeptides, indicating that gangliosides do not directly interact with the glycopeptide inhibitor. In addition, binding of the inhibitor to LM cells preincubated with ganglioside GM1 was studied. Although the binding of the inhibitor to LM cells was one-half that observed for 3T3 cells, incorporation of exogenous gangliosides into LM cells did not result in increased binding of the inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Purification of a cell growth inhibitor from bovine cerebral cortex cells

A glycopeptide, isolated from bovine cerebral cortex cells and added in only nanogram levels to cells in culture, has been shown to inhibit both cell protein synthesis and cell division. When purified by gel filtration and Ulex europaeus lectin affinity chromatography, the radioiodinated preparation was subjected to high resolution isoelectric focusing and shown to contain three species of macromolecules. The glycopeptide focusing at pH 8.1 comprised over 75% of the radioiodinated material and possessed inhibitory activity against both cell protein synthesis and cell division. A second species that focused at pH 8.3 was also found to be inhibitory to cell metabolism and may have represented a variant of the major glycopeptide.

Partial characterization of a brain extract factor(s) inhibitory to transformed neural cells

The factor(s) present in extracts prepared from the brains of newborn A/J or C57B1/6 mice, which inhibits S20Y neuroblastoma cell growth in vitro, was partially characterized. Twice as much inhibitory activity was extracted per gram wet weight of brain than torso, and inhibitor recovery was greatest in extracts prepared from brains of mice 1 week or less in age. The inhibitory factor(s) was water-soluble and was stable to heating at 100 degrees C, to freezing, and to lyophilization. It was susceptible to the action of pronase. The factor(s) behaved like a molecule of molecular weight approximately 700 upon passage through ultrafiltration membranes. Growth of rat hepatoma (H4), murine melanoma (B16), and transformed murine fibroblasts (WT19 and B6-HCMV) was not significantly inhibited by brain extract. Growth of rat glioma cells (C6) was significantly reduced but to a lesser degree than that of murine neuroblastoma cells (S20Y and N115) and glioma cells (G26-20). These results suggest that the inhibitor expresses a cell specificity.

Nonrandom spatial distribution by mammalian cells in culture

Quadrat analysis was used to investigate the spatial distribution of seven mammalian cell lines in culture. The number of cells in replicate unit areas of the culture was determined, and the variance to mean ratio used as an index of random and nonrandom spatial distribution. Only mouse SV3T3 cells distributed themselves randomly throughout the entire culture growth cycle. The remaining six lines all assumed a nonrandom distribution at some point in their growth cycles. Mouse L929 cells displayed avoidance behavior, and spaced themselves at regular intervals in a uniform spatial distribution. The five remaining lines (mouse S180, rat C6, hamster CHO, canine MDCK, and human BeWo) formed multicellular clusters, and were distributed aggregatively rather than randomly. Random walk migration can account for the random distribution of SV3T3 cells. Random walk combined with contact inhibition of movement provides a satisfactory explanation for the uniform distribution of L929 cells. Random walk and contact inhibition are incompatible with cell clustering, however. Thus other mechanisms of motility or adhesiveness must contribute to cell clustering. It is possible that random walk and contact inhibition may be less common components of cell movement than generally assumed.

A monoclonal antibody to a unique cell surface growth regulatory glycopeptide

A glycopeptide, isolated from bovine cerebral cortex cells and added to cells in only nanogram/ml levels, has been shown to inhibit both cell protein synthesis and cell division. A monoclonal antibody was used to show that the inhibitory component originated from the cell surface. Incubation of the M1 IgG monoclonal antibody with partially purified bovine glycopeptide preparations and Staphyloccocus protein A removed the inhibitor from solution. Intact mouse cerebral cortex cells were found to have a similar epitope on their surfaces. In contrast, normal rat kidney cells (NRK) did not react with the monoclonal antibody. An analysis of mouse cerebral cortex membrane preparations, incubated with the monoclonal antibody, confirmed that the primary source of the antigenic determinant was the plasma membrane.

Non-exponential growth by mammalian cells in culture

The concept of exponential growth by mammalian cells in culture is based upon the apparent linearity of semilogarithmic data plots. This method of graphical analysis is known to be an unreliable test of the exponential hypothesis. We have re-examined the question of growth exponentiality using the more sensitive method of Smith plots, in which specific growth rate is plotted against either time or density on transformed graphical coordinates which linearize the mathematical expression of the growth hypothesis being tested. With exponential growth, data points fall on a horizontal straight line when specific growth rate is plotted against time or density. Using both our own and literature data, we have performed Smith plot analyses on the growth of 125 different mammalian and avian cell lines. Of these, only eleven exhibited an exponential phase. The remaining cell lines all had non-exponential growth patterns. The most common of these consisted of an initial period of growth acceleration followed by a later phase of deceleratory growth. A smaller number of lines exhibited deceleratory kinetics at all times after plating. We conclude that mammalian cell growth in culture is predominantly non-exponential, and that the apparent exponentiality of semilogarithmic data plots is usually a methodological artifact.

Isolation of cell-surface glycopeptides from bovine cerebral cortex that inhibit cell growth and protein synthesis in normal but not in transformed cells

Glycopeptides were isolated from the cell surfaces of bovine cerebral cortex that could inhibit increase in cell numbers in tissue culture and cellular protein synthesis. This cell growth inhibition apparently affected all cells exposed, could completely block cell division in a reversible manner and synchronized BHK-21 cell cultures. Polyoma-virus-transformed BHK-21 cells were completely insensitive to the inhibitor. Fractionation of the inhibitor on a Bio-Gel P-100 column revealed two peaks of biologically active material eluting at apparent molecular weights of 45 000 and 10 000 with A 1cm,280 1% 11.0. Affinity purification of the inhibitory fractions on a Ulex europaeus agglutination I lectin column resulted in retention of the inhibitory activity, suggesting the inhibitor material was a glycopeptide. Subsequent elution with 0.10 M-fucose resulted in a 244-fold increase in the specific biological activity over the starting material. Although purified from bovine brain, the material could inhibit baby-hamster kidney cell protein synthesis by 50% at a concentration of 5 x 10(6) molecules per target cell. Analysis by competitive radioimmunoassay or immunoadsorption indicated that the bovine inhibitor was structurally related to, although not necessarily identical with, a similar inhibitory glycopeptide preparation that we had previously isolated from mouse brain.