On the biophysics of transmembrane signalling

Plasma membrane biophysical properties linked to the antiproliferative effect of interferon-alpha

The relationship of plasma membrane biophysical properties to the anti-proliferative effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) was investigated in Daudi lymphoblasts cell lines with sensitivity to growth inhibition, parallel clonal variants selected for resistance, and one revertant subclone. Lateral mobility of surface differentiation antigens (I2, CD19, CD20, and sIgM-kappa) were measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). The mean diffusion coefficients, D, values for two clones of IFN-alpha resistant Daudi cells were significantly higher (D = 8.1-11 x 10(-10) cm2/sec) than for parental sensitive cells (D = 4.9-7.4 x 10(-10) cm2/sec). Microviscosity of the plasma membranes were probed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. These results also indicate a greater degree of molecular motional freedom in resistant cells. Treatment of sensitive lymphoblasts with IFN-alpha (100-400 U/10(6) cells) for 5-30 min consistently increased mean values of D and the degree of spin-probe motional freedom, whereas no significant differences were detected in resistant cells. The effect of IFN-alpha on the membrane potential (Em) of Daudi cells was quantitated by flow cytometry using a voltage-sensitive oxonol dye. Membrane potential of all clones was similar (-50 to -56 mV). Treatment with IFN-alpha for 8-10 min caused hyperpolarization in the sensitive cells (deltaEm up to 45 mV), but only minimal hyperpolarization in the resistant ones (deltaEm up to 7 mV). We concluded that sensitivity to IFN-alpha and treatment with IFN-alpha are related to the biophysical status of plasma membranes.

Bretylium-induced voltage-gated sodium current in human lymphocytes

Using the whole-cell variation of the patch-clamp technique it has been determined that 0.25-3 mM bretylium tosylate (BT) exerts a repolarizing effect on partially depolarized human lymphocytes. The repolarizing effect was ouabain (40 microM)-sensitive, and was inhibited by the removal of external Na+ or by the Na(+)-channel-blocker amiloride (10-44 microM), but K(+)-channel-blockers 4-aminopyridine (0.1-5 mM) and quinine (100 microM) had no effect. The drug induced a sodium dependent, amiloride-sensitive transient inward current reaching its maximum value approx. 20-30 s after the administration of BT and lasting for 6-10 min. This current was activated by depolarization within 25 ms at around -42 mV, its inactivation took about 2 s and its reversal potential was +24 +/- 5 mV. An increase in the intracellular sodium concentration (1.8-3.2 mM) has been observed upon the addition of BT by monitoring the SBFI fluorescence of the dye-loaded cells. It has been shown that whole-cell K+ currents are significantly decreased by BT. The existence of voltage and ligand (BT)-gated sodium channels has been postulated in human lymphocytes. These channels are thought to participate in the initiation of membrane repolarization in human lymphocytes, and thereby influence mitogenic or antigen-induced cell-activation processes.

Dynamic physical interactions of plasma membrane molecules generate cell surface patterns and regulate cell activation processes

Molecular interaction and transmembrane signal transducing events generate a very dynamic and ever changing "pattern" in the plasma membranes. Lymphocytes, the key functional elements of the immune system, are eminently suited to be the primary targets to investigate these proximity, mobility, or other physical-chemical changes in their plasma membranes. Recently, a number of experiments suggested that processed peptides from antigens can bind specific components of MHC molecules (Elliott et al., 1991). This is certainly a way to alter their structure. Cell surface patterns of topological nature, assembly and disassembly of oligomeric receptor structure like the IL-2 receptor have been investigated by sophisticated biophysical techniques. The dynamic changes in the two-dimensional cell surface pattern and intramolecular conformational changes within this "larger" macro-pattern may have a strong regulatory role in signal transducing and intercellular recognition processes. Recent data on these problems are presented together with brief and critical discussions.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements on cell surfaces. A spectroscopic tool for determining protein interactions

The interaction of cell surface components may influence several events during the process of transmembrane signalling. Receptor clustering, conformational changes and altered molecular interactions often play essential roles in the final outcome of ligand receptor interactions. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is an excellent tool which can be used to determine distance relationships and supramolecular structure on cell surfaces. This paper reviews the theoretical basis of fluorescence resonance energy transfer, its spectrofluorometric and flow cytometric applications, and provides a critical evaluation of the methods. Finally, examples are given to illustrate the use of the method of fluorescence resonance energy transfer in solving biological problems.

Human MHC class I antigens are associated with a 90-kDa cell surface protein

Human MHC class I proteins are expressed on almost all nucleated cells as a heavy chain (about 45 kDa) non-covalently associated with beta 2-microglobulin (12 kDa). In this report we show that MHC class I (MHC-I) proteins can also be associated with a 90-kDa protein in the cell membrane. Surface-radiolabelled cells were treated with dithiobis succinimidyl propionate (DSP) in order to preserve multimer protein complexes during cell lysis. The lysates were immunoprecipitated and analysed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Immunoprecipitation of human MHC-I proteins co-precipitated another protein of about 90 kDa in molecular weight-p90. p90 was coprecipitated from all the MHC-I expressing cells tested: U937, Raji, Molt-4 and IFN-gamma treated K562, but not from untreated, MHC-I negative K562. A 90-kDa protein was also co-precipitated with MHC-I from fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Furthermore, p90 was coprecipitated by different MoAbs to the MHC-I heavy chain or beta 2-microglobulin, but not by control antibodies. Two additional co-precipitating proteins at 34 kDa and 28 kDa were seen in MHC-I precipitates from Raji cells. Our results suggest that MHC-I proteins and the 90-kDa protein are associated in the cell membrane, probably by a close but weak, non-covalent interaction. Two additional cell surface proteins at 34 kDa and 28 kDa seem to be MHC-I associated on Raji Burkitt's lymphoma cells.