Routes of intracellular transport of acetylcholine receptor and esterase are distinct

Alternate pathways of secretion of simian immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins

A biotinylation assay was used to detect the envelope glycoprotein of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope glycoprotein expressed by a recombinant vaccinia virus on the surface of HeLa T4 cells. The relationship between the detection of the envelope glycoprotein on the cell surface and its secretion from the cell was examined. It was found that much more gp120 was released into the culture medium than could be accounted for by shedding of the biotinylated SIV envelope protein from the cell surface. Treatment with the ionophore monensin showed that this drug did not block the secretion of gp120 into the culture medium even though the expression of gp120 on the cell surface was strongly downregulated. Similar results were observed for the secretion of gp120 in HUT78 cells infected with SIVmac251 virus. Brefeldin A, on the other hand, inhibited both the detection of gp120 on the cell surface and its secretion into the culture medium. On the basis of these results, we propose that gp120 can be secreted into the culture medium via at least two pathways. One pathway involves the dissociation of gp120 from membrane-associated gp41-gp120 complexes on the cell surface. However, the major pathway involves the secretion of gp120 without its transitory appearance on the cell surface as part of a gp41-gp120 complex.

Alteration of intracellular traffic by monensin; mechanism, specificity and relationship to toxicity

Monensin, a monovalent ion-selective ionophore, facilitates the transmembrane exchange of principally sodium ions for protons. The outer surface of the ionophore-ion complex is composed largely of nonpolar hydrocarbon, which imparts a high solubility to the complexes in nonpolar solvents. In biological systems, these complexes are freely soluble in the lipid components of membranes and, presumably, diffuse or shuttle through the membranes from one aqueous membrane interface to the other. The net effect for monensin is a trans-membrane exchange of sodium ions for protons. However, the interaction of an ionophore with biological membranes, and its ionophoric expression, is highly dependent on the biochemical configuration of the membrane itself. One apparent consequence of this exchange is the neutralization of acidic intracellular compartments such as the trans Golgi apparatus cisternae and associated elements, lysosomes, and certain endosomes. This is accompanied by a disruption of trans Golgi apparatus cisternae and of lysosome and acidic endosome function. At the same time, Golgi apparatus cisternae appear to swell, presumably due to osmotic uptake of water resulting from the inward movement of ions. Monensin effects on Golgi apparatus are observed in cells from a wide range of plant and animal species. The action of monensin is most often exerted on the trans half of the stacked cisternae, often near the point of exit of secretory vesicles at the trans face of the stacked cisternae, or, especially at low monensin concentrations or short exposure times, near the middle of the stacked cisternae. The effects of monensin are quite rapid in both animal and plant cells; i.e., changes in Golgi apparatus may be observed after only 2-5 min of exposure. It is implicit in these observations that the uptake of osmotically active cations is accompanied by a concomitant efflux of H+ and that a net influx of protons would be required to sustain the ionic exchange long enough to account for the swelling of cisternae observed in electron micrographs. In the Golgi apparatus, late processing events such as terminal glycosylation and proteolytic cleavages are most susceptible to inhibition by monensin. Yet, many incompletely processed molecules may still be secreted via yet poorly understood mechanisms that appear to bypass the Golgi apparatus. In endocytosis, monensin does not prevent internalization. However, intracellular degradation of internalized ligands may be prevented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Biosynthesis of lysosomal cathepsins B and H in cultured rat hepatocytes

The biosynthesis of lysosomal cysteine proteases, cathepsins B and H, was investigated by using pulse-chase experiments in vivo in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Cathepsins B and H were isolated from either total cell extracts or culture medium labeled with [35S]methionine by immunoprecipitation and analyzed for their molecular forms. Within 60 min of chase, cellular proforms of cathepsins B of 39 kDa and H of 41 kDa were converted to single-chain form cathepsins B of 29 kDa and H of 28 kDa, respectively, and persisted as these forms even after 12-h chase periods. The proforms of cathepsins B and H derived from pulse-labeling experiments showed complete susceptibility to endoglycosidase H treatment, indicating that these proenzymes bear high-mannose-type oligosaccharides at the stage of initial events of biosynthesis. In the presence of tunicamycin, unglycosylated proenzymes of cathepsins B of 35 kDa and H of 34 kDa were found to be secreted into the extracellular medium without undergoing proteolytic processing. Furthermore, in the presence of swainsonine, a potent inhibitor of Golgi mannosidase II, considerable amounts of the proenzymes were secreted and accumulated in the medium during chasing periods. These results suggest that the oligosaccharide moiety of these enzymes would be necessary for the intracellular sorting mechanism. In monensin-treated cells, the conversion of intracellular proenzymes to mature enzymes was significantly inhibited and the proenzymes were secreted into the medium. In the presence of chloroquine or ammonium chloride, proteolytic processing of the proenzymes was completely prevented and the enhanced secretion of proenzymes was observed. These results suggest that in the presence of lysosomotropic amines the intracellular sorting of proenzymes might not occur properly during biosynthesis.

Pattern of secretion in thymic epithelial cells: ultrastructural studies of the effect of blockage at various levels

The observation of secretory phenomena in mouse thymic epithelial cells is disappointing since no real secretion image is found. An adequate technique for such a study is to block the secretion pathway and to observe by electron microscopy cells accumulating secretory products. For this purpose, we used three means of blocking secretion: Firstly, since the thymic epithelial cell is regulated by a feedback phenomenon, secretion was blocked by antibodies against thymulin, one of the hormones secreted by these cells. Secondly, colchicine was used to modify the intracellular transport of the secretory product. In both of these types of experiments, electron microscopy showed a great increase in the number of "clear vacuoles" and their granular contents in epithelial cells. In a third series of experiments, we used monensin at a concentration that blocks the intracellular transport of secretory proteins at the various levels of the Golgi apparatus. In this series, only an increased number of vacuoles was observed, but they appeared devoid of all granular content. It can be concluded that in the thymic epithelial cell, a discrete system of secretion directs the passage of the product, originating in the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum, into "clear vacuoles", the terminal element of the cellular secretory apparatus.

Recovery of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor from its down-regulation in cultured smooth muscle

The recovery of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAChR) from its down-regulation by long-term exposure to ACh was investigated. This was done to obtain information about regulation of the mAChR. Exposure of guinea-pig vas deferens to 30 microM ACh for 24 h decreased the amount of mAChR to 30% of the initial level, as measured with L-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB). The amount of mAChR was restored to 190% of its prewithdrawal level within 48 h of removal of ACh, without change in the KD value for L-[3H]QNB. This restoration was entirely dependent on protein synthesis. The half-life of the receptor was calculated to be 69 h. The recovery of mAChR was blocked by treatment with antimicrotubular agents, carboxylic ionophores, or 5 mM EGTA, which affect membrane protein synthesis. However, cytochalasin B and cyclic nucleotide derivatives had no effect. These data indicate that the recovery of mAChR was due to new synthesis of mAChR. The findings suggested that microtubules and the Golgi apparatus were involved in the biosynthesis of mAChR and that extracellular Ca2+ was necessary for the synthesis. Unlike the case with nicotinic AChR, the synthesis did not seem to be increased by cAMP or high extracellular Ca2+.

The secretory pathway in the mouse epididymis as shown by electron microscope radioautography of principal cells exposed to monensin

The secretory pathway in principal cells of the mouse epididymis was studied using in vitro labeling and electron microscope radioautography of tissue exposed to the ionophore monensin. After a 5-minute pulse of 3H-leucine, control samples of caput epididymidis were incubated in a modified Krebs-Ringer solution (MKRH medium), while experimental specimens were placed in the same medium, to which 1 microM monensin had been added. At intervals between 5 minutes and 4 hours, samples were fixed and prepared for electron microscope radioautography. Analysis of control specimens revealed heaviest labeling of the rough and the sparsely granulated endoplasmic reticulum early in the experiment followed by a fall in radioactivity, maximal labeling of the Golgi apparatus at 30 minutes, and a pronounced rise in the percentage of grains associated with the apical cell surface and the epididymal lumen beginning 1 hour after administration of precursor. In monensin-treated epididymides, radioactive material accumulated in the Golgi region while the normal increase in labeling of the apical surface and the lumen was completely inhibited for at least 2 hours. The percentage of grains attributed to coated vesicles was also reduced in samples exposed to monensin. In contrast, labeling patterns of the abundant, sparsely granulated, endoplasmic reticulum and the rough endoplasmic reticulum were very similar in monensin-treated and control specimens. The concomitant alterations in labeling of the Golgi apparatus and the lumen demonstrate that the Golgi apparatus participates in intracellular transport of secretory proteins in epididymal principal cells, and is not bypassed as previously suggested. The percentage of grains associated with the sparsely granulated endoplasmic reticulum suggests that much of the synthesis of secretory protein in the principal cells occurs in this organelle, and the lack of alteration of its labeling in the presence of a monensin-induced block at the level of the Golgi apparatus indicates that the sparsely granulated endoplasmic reticulum lies before the Golgi apparatus in the secretory pathway. It is speculated that vesicles play a role in transport of secretory protein from the Golgi apparatus to the lumen.

Coated vesicles are associated with acetylcholine receptors at nerve-muscle contacts

Cholinergic synapses form between ciliary neurons and cultured myotubes. We have identified these synaptic contacts using alpha-bungarotoxin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (alpha BTX-HRP). The enzymatic reaction product was limited to a small portion of the sarcolemma in direct apposition to the nerve terminal. Multiple neuronal processes contact the region of the myotube containing acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). At the early stages of nerve-muscle contacts neuronal processes protrude into the coated pits of the myoplasm. Numerous coated pits and coated vesicles were found beneath these early contacts. These vesicles may be involved in the transport of protein molecules at the newly formed cholinergic structures.

Monensin-induced inhibition of cell spreading in normal and dystrophic human fibroblasts

Cultured skin fibroblasts from normal individuals and from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy spread equally rapidly when seeded on a glass substratum. Exposure to the ionophore monensin substantially suppresses normal and dystrophic fibroblast spreading in serum-free media for up to at least 100 min. Preincubation of normal fibroblasts with monensin causes a further reduction in cell spreading. Dystrophic fibroblasts fail to spread as well as normal cells after monensin preincubation. Such findings indicate that there is a delay in the secretion of functional adhesive surface proteins in monensin-preincubated normal fibroblasts and that this lag period is significantly longer in dystrophic fibroblasts. These data are consistent with findings of altered adhesive and secretory properties of fibroblasts from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Synthesis and secretion of triacylglycerol lipase by cultured rat hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes isolated by collagenase perfusion were cultured for 48-72 h and examined for synthesis and secretion of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase activity. Low levels of enzyme activity found in the culture medium increased with time of incubation, and a 3-10-fold rise was encountered in the presence of optimal concentrations of heparin (5 U/ml). After interruption of enzyme synthesis by cycloheximide, plateauing of enzyme activity in the medium occurred, indicating that addition of heparin may not only stabilize but also enhance hepatic triacylglycerol lipase secretion. Synthesis and secretion of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase was not related to cell density, and enzyme secretion was encountered in subconfluent cultures. Release of enzyme activity into the medium was not sensitive to chlorpromazine, a lysosomal enzyme inhibitor, but was completely inhibited by treatment with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of glycosylation. As release of enzyme activity could be maintained for 12 h in the absence of serum, possible hormonal regulation was sought. Under the present experimental conditions, no modulation of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase was encountered by either gonadal or thyroid hormones. Addition of cyclic AMP to the culture medium resulted in a 30% decrease in enzyme activity. The dependence of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase secretion on the intactness of the Golgi apparatus and on vesicular transport was demonstrated by the treatment with monensin. The present results show that cultured rat hepatocytes provide a good model system by which the regulation of synthesis and secretion of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase can be studied.

Effect of monensin on secretion of basement membrane collagen by cultured rabbit corneal endothelial cells in comparison with rabbit tendon fibroblasts

Monensin, a monovalent ionophore, affects differently the secretion of basement membrane collagen and interstitial procollagen. At 1 X 10(-8) M, monensin inhibited only slightly the secretion of procollagen synthesized by tendon cells while secretion of basement membrane collagen synthesized by endothelial cells was inhibited by 43% after 2 hours of labelling. At higher concentration (1 X 10(-6) M), the secretion of type I procollagen by tendon cells was inhibited after two h (36%) or 24 h (24%) of labelling. The pattern of basement membrane collagen secretion varied from inhibition to stimulation depending on the labeling time. No changes in the phenotypic expression of collagen were observed in either the monensin-treated tendon cultures or endothelial cells. Phase-contrast microscopy revealed differential responses of cells to monensin: tendon cells appeared spindle-shaped or rounded-up, in contrast to the enlarged shape displayed by endothelial cells.

Monensin inhibits initial spreading of cultured human fibroblasts

The monovalent ionophore, monensin, inhibits the secretion of both pro-collagen and fibronectin in cultured human fibroblasts and other cell types. The block to secretion is due to the ability of monensin to suppress the export of these secretory proteins from the Golgi apparatus. As such proteins are known to be implicated in the adhesion, spreading and movement of cultured fibroblasts, it might be expected that monensin treatment would interfere with these processes. However, it has recently been reported that monensin-treated human embryonal fibroblasts attached and spread onto glass substrata to the same extent as untreated cells, although at later stages they fail to develop focal adhesion sites. However, these experiments were performed using medium supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS). We now demonstrate that in the absence of FCS, while monensin has little or no effect on the initial adhesion of fibroblasts to the substratum, subsequent spreading is much reduced. The inhibition of spreading is noticeable within 30 min of plating and is maintained for at least 100 min in monensin-free medium following prolonged pre-incubation of the cells with monensin.

Modulation of glycosylation and transport of viral membrane glycoproteins by a sodium ionophore

Analysis of viral glycoprotein expression on surfaces of monensin-treated cells using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) demonstrated that the sodium ionophore completely inhibited the appearance of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) G protein on (Madin-Darby canine kidney) MDCK cell surfaces. In contrast, the expression of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein on the surfaces of MDCK cells was observed to occur at high levels, and the time course of its appearance was not altered by the ionophore. Viral protein synthesis was not inhibited by monensin in either VSV- or influenza virus-infected cells. However, the electrophoretic mobilities of viral glycoproteins were altered, and analysis of pronase-derived glycopeptides by gel filtration indicated that the addition of sialic acid residues to the VSV G protein was impaired in monensin-treated cells. Reduced incorporation of fucose and galactose into influenza virus HA was observed in the presence of the ionophore, but the incompletely processed HA protein was cleaved, transported to the cell surface, and incorporated into budding virus particles. In contrast to the differential effects of monensin on VSV and influenza virus replication previously observed in monolayer cultures of MDCK cells, yields of both viruses were found to be significantly reduced by high concentrations of monensin in suspension cultures, indicating that cellular architecture may play a role in determining the sensitivity of virus replication to the drug. Nigericin, an ionophore that facilitates transport of potassium ions across membranes, blocked the replication of both influenza virus and VSV in MDCK cell monolayers, indicating that the ion specificity of ionophores influences their effect on the replication of enveloped viruses.

Model for transformations of the clathrin lattice in the coated vesicle pathway

Transport of receptors by the coated vesicle pathway entails assembly of clathrin triskelions into a lattice in conjunction with receptors in a membrane. The processes by which the receptors are concentrated, the lattice is assembled, transformed into a cage during vesiculation, and subsequently removed from pinched off vesicles are not understood in regard to mechanism, energetics or control. Tubulin and actin assembly are looked to for analogies applicable to clathrin. The present model supposes that clathrin assembly is energy linked and can be described by kinetic equations of the same general form as those for treadmilling in linear polymers. The coat lattice assembles in a steady state involving the degradation of a high energy form of the clathrin triskelions. Diffuse endocytosis receptors are assumed to be associated with individual triskelions and to be able to trigger clustering and coated pit formation by influencing the assembly kinetics of the bound triskelions. A generalization of the treadmilling scheme is proposed by which the kinetic parameters associated with clathrin polymerization can shift simultaneously for an entire lattice to favor alternatively net assembly or disassembly. This shift is effected by a coordinated conversion of the lattice bound receptors. The conversion of the receptors in turn depends on some global property of the membrane compartments (arguably pH, calcium concentration or transmembrane voltage) which is likely to change as a consequence of vesiculation. Thereby, lattice disassembly can be coordinated with the topological conversion from coated pit to coated vesicle.

Expression of membrane IGM by a human B lymphoblastoid cell line in the presence of monensin

The effect of the carboxylic ionophore, monensin, on the synthesis and expression of membrane IgM in the human lymphoblastoid cell line, Daudi, was investigated. The normal processing events in the maturation of mu chains and k chains were altered in monensin treated Daudi cells; the immunoglobulin chains did not appear to undergo complete terminal glycosylation modifications. Transport of the glycoprotein to the plasma membrane could be demonstrated indicating that the interference of intracellular processing of the IgM by monensin did not significantly influence the membrane expression of the IgM.

Uptake of ferritin by the mosaic egg surface of Brachydanio

The internalization of membrane from the mosaic egg surface of the zebra fish, Brachydanio, was investigated using anionic ferritin and transmission electron microscopy. The cortical cytoplasm of the 5-min activated egg showed numerous membrane-bound vesicles not found in the unactivated egg cortex. Two types of vesicles were identified: uncoated (smooth) and coated. Coated vesicles measured about 0.7 to 0.9 micrometer in diameter. Coated pits, considered to be precursors to the formation of coated vesicles, were frequently observed at the base of membrane-lined cortical granule crypts. Anionic ferritin was localized over coated pits and in both smooth and coated vesicles. The absence of any morphological evidence of a surface origin for smooth vesicles suggested these ferritin-labeled organelles might be formed by coated vesicle fusion. Our results indicate that the plasma membrane redundancy created by the exocytosis of cortical granules in Brachydanio appears to be resolved in part by the internalization of membrane through endocytosis.

Effects of monensin on morphogenesis and infectivity of Friend murine leukemia virus

The transport of the gp70 glycoprotein to the cell surface and concomitant release of infectious virus was inhibited by treatment of Friend murine leukemia virus-infected Eveline cells with the sodium ionophore monensin. Virus yields were reduced more than 50-fold by 10(-5) M monensin, whereas particle production was reduced by 50% in monensin-treated cells. The resulting particles failed to incorporate newly synthesized gp70 and p15(E), whereas the other structural proteins, p30, p15, p12, and p10, were incorporated into virions. However, monensin did not inhibit the incorporation into virions of preformed gp70. A reduction in the efficiency of cleavage of the PrENV glycoprotein precursor and a defect in the processing of simple endo-H-sensitive to complex endo-H-resistant oligosaccharides suggest that intracellular transport of gp70 may be blocked before its entry into the Golgi apparatus. Fewer particles were found to bud from the cell surface, but intracellular vacuoles with budding virions were detected. Ferritin labeling and pulse-chase studies suggested a cell surface origin for these vacuoles. These experiments indicate that monensin inhibits the transport of Friend murine leukemia virus glycoproteins at an early stage, with a resultant block in the assembly and release of infectious virus.

Coated vesicle isolation by immunoadsorption on Staphylococcus aureus cells

Porcine brain coated vesicles were isolated from crude fractions of tissue homogenates by affinity separation using anticlathrin-coated STaphylococcus aureus (Staph A) cells as a solid-phase immunoadsorbent. The specificity of the immunoadsorption was monitored by SDS PAGE analysis and by competitive ELISA assays. SDS PAGE of the material immunoadsorbed from a fraction of porcine bran smooth microsomes showed a selective enrichment in a 180,000 mol wt protein. In an ELISA assay, this protein competed effectively--in binding anticlathrin--with clathrin extracted from a coated vesicle preparation. When the immunoadsorbed fraction was examined by electron microscopy, coated vesicles and vesicle-free cages were found forming a quasicontinuous monolayer on the surface of the Staph A cells. Other particles were not adsorbed, and the controls were free of either clathrin cages or coated vesicles. Upon extensive dialysis (against MES buffer, pH 6.5), similar cages appeared on the surface of anticlathrin-coated Staph A cells reacted with extracted clathrin. This study demonstrates that anticlathrin-coated Staph A cells can be used for the isolation and purification of a homogeneous population of coated vesicles. In addition, the ability of extracted clathrin to bind and to polymerize onto the Staph A cells raises the possibility of using this technique to further explore the conditions required for cage and/or vesicle reconstitution.

Inhibition of pinocytosis in rat embryo fibroblasts treated with monensin

Rat embryo fibroblasts cultured in the presence of monensin exhibited an inhibited uptake of horseradish peroxidase. The inhibition was detected after 3 h, after which time the cells became increasingly vacuolated; the concentration of monensin required to inhibit pinocytosis (0.4 microM for half-maximum inhibition at 18 h) was similar to that found by others to inhibit secretion. Both the exchange of 5'-nucleotidase between the membranes of cytoplasmic organelles and the cell surface and the internalization of anti-5'-nucleotidase bound to the cell surface were inhibited by approximately 90% in monensin-treated cells. The effects of monensin were reversible: cells cultured first with monensin, and then in fresh medium, exhibited control levels of horseradish peroxidase uptake, exchange of 5'-nucleotidase, and internalization of anti-5'-nucleotidase bound to the cell surface. After monensin treatment, the median density of both galactosyl transferase and 5'-nucleotidase increased from 1.128 to 1.148, and the median density of both N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and horseradish peroxidase taken up by endocytosis decreased from 1.194 to 1.160. The results indicate that monensin is a reversible inhibitor of pinocytosis and, presumably, therefore, of membrane recycling. They suggest that the inhibition of membrane recycling occurs at a step other than the fusion of pinocytic vesicles with lysosomes and is perhaps a consequence of an effect of the ionophore on the Golgi complex.

Latent acetylcholinesterase in secretory vesicles isolated from adrenal medulla

A new procedure is described for the preparation of highly purified and stable secretory vesicles from adrenal medulla. Two forms of acetylcholinesterase, a membrane bound form as well as a soluble form, were found within these vesicles. The secretory vesicles, isolated by differential centrifugation, were further purified on a continuous isotonic Percoll gradient. In this way, secretory vesicles were separated from mitochondrial, microsomal and cell membrane contamination. The secretory vesicles recovered from the gradient contained an average of 2.26 mumol adrenaline/mg protein. On incubation for 30 min at 37 degrees C in media differing in ionic strength, pH, Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentration, the vesicles released less than 20% of total adrenaline. Acetylcholinesterase could hardly be detected in the secretory vesicle fraction when assayed in isotonic media. However, in hypotonic media (less than 400 mosmol/kg) or in Triton X-100 (0.2% final concentration) acetylcholinesterase activity was markedly higher. During hypotonic treatment or when secretory vesicles were specifically lyzed with 2 mM Mg2+ and 2 mM ATP, adrenaline as well as part of acetylcholinesterase was released from the vesicular content. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis this soluble enzyme exhibited the same electrophoretic mobility as the enzyme released into the perfusate from adrenal glands upon stimulation. In addition to the soluble enzyme a membrane bound form of acetylcholinesterase exists within secretory vesicles, which sediments with the secretory vesicle membranes and exhibits a different electrophoretic mobility compared to the soluble enzyme. It is concluded, that the soluble enzyme found within isolated secretory vesicles is secreted via exocytosis, whilst the membrane-bound form is transported to the cell membrane during this process, contributing to the biogenesis of the cell membrane.

Fate of secretory proteins trapped in oocytes of Xenopus laevis by disruption of the cytoskeleton or by imbalanced subunit synthesis

The effects of imbalanced subunit synthesis, temperature, colchicine, and cytochalasin on the secretion from Xenopus laevis oocytes of a variety of avian and mammalian proteins were investigated; these proteins were encoded by microinjected messenger RNA. Cytochalasin and colchicine together severely reduced secretion in a temperature-independent manner, the exact reduction varying among the different proteins. In contrast cytochalasin alone had no effect, whereas colchicine alone caused a smaller, temperature-dependent reduction. The synthesis and subcellular compartmentation of these proteins were unaffected by the drug treatments; however, the proteins did not accumulate in the drug-treated oocytes but were degraded. The rate of degradation of each protein was similar to its rate of exocytosis from untreated oocytes. A similar result was obtained without recourse to drugs by studying the fate of immunoglobulin light chains trapped in oocytes by a deficiency in heavy chain synthesis. These results are discussed in terms of the disruptive effects, as revealed by electron microscopy, of the drug treatments on the cytoskeleton of the oocyte.

Glycosylation does not determine segregation of viral envelope proteins in the plasma membrane of epithelial cells

Enveloped viruses are excellent tools for the study of the biogenesis of epithelial polarity, because they bud asymmetrically from confluent monolayers of epithelial cells and because polarized budding is preceded by the accumulation of envelope proteins exclusively in the plasma membrane regions from which the viruses bud. In this work, three different experimental approaches showed that the carbohydrate moieties do not determine the final surface localization of either influenza (WSN strain) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) envelope proteins in infected Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, as determined by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy, using ferritin as a marker. Infected concanavalin A- and ricin 1-resistant mutants of MDCK cells, with alterations in glycosylation, exhibited surface distributions of viral glycoproteins identical to those of the parental cell line, i.e., influenza envelope proteins were exclusively found in the apical surface, whereas VSV G protein was localized only in the basolateral region. MDCK cells treated with tunicamycin, which abolishes the glycosylation of viral glycoproteins, exhibited the same distribution of envelope proteins as control cells, after infection with VSF or influenza. A temperature-sensitive mutant of influenza WSN, ts3, which, when grown at the nonpermissive temperature of 39.5 degrees C, retains the sialic acid residues in the envelope glycoproteins, showed, at both 32 degrees C (permissive temperature) and 39.5 degrees C, budding polarity and viral glycoprotein distribution identical to those of the parental WSN strain, when grown in MDCK cells. These results demonstrate that carbohydrate moieties are not components of the addressing signals that determine the polarized distribution of viral envelope proteins, and possibly of the intrinsic cellular plasma membrane proteins, in the surface of epithelial cells.

Fluorescence photobleaching recovery measurements reveal differences in envelopment of Sindbis and vesicular stomatitis viruses

Fluorescence photobleaching recovery (FPR) measurements of virus glycoproteins on the surfaces of cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Sindbis virus showed that the VSV glycoprotein (G) remained mobile throughout the infectious cycle, whereas Sindbis virus glycoproteins (E1, E2) were partially mobile early after infection and immobile at later times when greater amounts of these proteins were on the cell surface. A highly mobile fraction of Sindbis virus glycoproteins was detected throughout the replication cycle of a temperature-sensitive mutant unable to form virus particles. This immobilization of E1 and E2 was the result of increasing surface glycoprotein concentrations and virus budding. Together with other data, which included the detection of E1 and E2 in particles as soon as these proteins were transported to the cell surface, the FPR results suggest that Sindbis virus assembly initiates on intracellular vesicles, where glycoproteins aggregate and bind nucleocapsids. In contrast, our FPR data on VSV support a model previously suggested by others, in which a small fraction of cell-surface G is immobilized into budding sites formed by interactions with virus matrix and nucleoproteins. FPR measurements also provide direct evidence for strong interactions between E1 and E2, as well as between E1 and PE2, the precursor form of E2.

Immunocytochemical localization of procollagen and fibronectin in human fibroblasts: effects of the monovalent ionophore, monensin

The monovalent ionophore monensin inhibits the secretion of both procollagen and fibronectin from human fibroblasts in culture. The distribution of these proteins in control and inhibited (5 x 10(-7) M monensin) cells has been studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. In control cells, both antigens are present throughout the cytoplasm and in specific deposits in a region adjacent to the nucleus, which we identify as a Golgi zone by electron microscopy. Treatment of cells with monensin causes intracellular accumulation of procollagen and fibronectin, initially in the juxta-nuclear region and also subsequently in peripheral regions. Electron microscope studies reveal that in such cells the juxta-nuclear Golgi zone becomes filled with a new population of smooth-membraned vacuoles and that normal Golgi complexes are not found. Immunocytochemically detected procollagen and fibronectin are localized in the region of these vacuoles, whereas more peripheral deposits correspond to the dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, which are also caused by monensin. Procollagen and fibronectin are often codistributed in these peripheral deposits. Accumulation of exportable proteins in Golgi-related vacuoles is consistent with previous analyses of the monensin effect. The subsequent development of dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum also containing accumulated proteins may indicate that there is an additional blockade at the exit from the endoplasmic reticulum, or that the synthesized proteins exceed the capacity of the Golgi compartment and that their accumulation extends into the endoplasmic reticulum.

Secretion of acetylcholinesterase: relation to acetylcholine receptor metabolism

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and acetylcholine receptors (AChR) are muscle-specific glycoproteins present (AChR) are muscle-specific glycoproteins present in cultured chick embryo muscle cells. The first is found as both a secreted and a membrane-bound enzyme whereas the ACh receptor is strictly an integral membrane protein. We have studied the transport and externalization of these two proteins in the same cells using several compounds known to affect secretory processes: colchicine, tunicamycin and the ionophores X-537A, Nigericin and Monensin. Under all experimental conditions, any change in the rate of AChE secretion was accompanied by an identical change in the rate of ACh receptor incorporation into the plasma membrane. These studies were designed to test directly the hypothesis that secreted and integral membrane proteins are transported together to the plasma membrane. Our results are consistent with a single transport pathway in muscle cells for the externalization of membrane and secreted proteins.