Cloning and expression of cDNA encoding Xenopus laevis bone morphogenetic protein-1 during early embryonic development

Stimulation of ovarian follicle growth after AMPK inhibition

Previous studies showed that the protein kinase B (Akt)–mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Hippo signaling Yes-associated protein (YAP) pathways play important roles in promoting follicle growth. Additionally, other studies demonstrated that 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an upstream regulatory element of mTOR and YAP. Here, we used AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) toin vitrocultured ovaries from 10-day-old mice followed byin vivografting into adult hosts or toin situtreated ovaries of 3-week-old mice by intrabursal injection followed by gonadotropin stimulation. We found that the phosphorylation of ovarian mTOR and downstream proteins (ribosomal protein S6 (S6) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4B (eIF4B)) was upregulated following Compound C administration, whereas tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) phosphorylation was downregulated. Additionally, treatment with Compound C increased hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (Hif1a), vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegfa), VEGF receptor 2 (Vegfr2) and connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf) mRNA levels. Furthermore, treatment of 10-day-old mice with Compound C promoted the growth of preantral and antral follicles accompanied by enhanced angiogenesis.In situintrabursal injection with Compound C, followed by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, increased the number of ovulated oocytes in 3-week-old mice, and these oocytes could be successfully fertilized, leading to the delivery of healthy pups. Our results demonstrated that treatment with AMPK inhibitor resulted in the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway, increases inCtgfexpression in mouse ovaries, stimulation of follicle development and promotion of ovarian angiogenesis for ovary growth.

Agonists and Antagonists of TGF-β Family Ligands

The discovery of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family ligands and the realization that their bioactivities need to be tightly controlled temporally and spatially led to intensive research that has identified a multitude of extracellular modulators of TGF-β family ligands, uncovered their functions in developmental and pathophysiological processes, defined the mechanisms of their activities, and explored potential modulator-based therapeutic applications in treating human diseases. These studies revealed a diverse repertoire of extracellular and membrane-associated molecules that are capable of modulating TGF-β family signals via control of ligand availability, processing, ligand-receptor interaction, and receptor activation. These molecules include not only soluble ligand-binding proteins that were conventionally considered as agonists and antagonists of TGF-β family of growth factors, but also extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and proteoglycans that can serve as "sink" and control storage and release of both the TGF-β family ligands and their regulators. This extensive network of soluble and ECM modulators helps to ensure dynamic and cell-specific control of TGF-β family signals. This article reviews our knowledge of extracellular modulation of TGF-β growth factors by diverse proteins and their molecular mechanisms to regulate TGF-β family signaling.

BMP-1 participates in the selection and dominance of buffalo follicles by regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of granulosa cells

BMP1/TLD-related metalloproteinases play a key role in morphogenesis via the proteolytic maturation of a number of extracellular matrix proteins and the activation of a subset of growth factors of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. Recent data indicated that BMP1 is expressed in sheep ovarian follicles and showed a protease activity. The aim of the present study was to characterize the function of the buffalo BMP1 gene in folliculogenesis. A 3195-bp buffalo BMP1 mRNA fragment was firstly cloned and sequenced, which contained a whole 2967-bp codon sequence. The multialigned results suggested that BMP1 is highly conserved among different species both at the nucleic acid and the amino acid level. BMP1 is located in the oogonium of the fetal buffalo ovary and in the granulosa cells (GCs) and the oocytes of adult ovary from the primordial to the large antral follicles. Further study showed that BMP1 promoted cell cycle and proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in IVC GCs. Adding BMP1 recombinant protein to the culture medium of the GCs increased the expression of the key cell cycle regulators such as cyclin D1 and cyclin D2 and downregulated the expression of cell apoptosis pathway genes such as Cytochrome C, Fas, FasL, and Chop, both at the mRNA and at the protein levels. It also upregulated the expression of PAPP-A, IGF system, and VEGF, and so forth, which play important roles in the selection and dominance of growth follicles. The opposite results were observed by adding BMP1 antibody to the investigation groups. This study suggests that BMP1 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of IVC GCs by changing the expression pattern of related genes and may potentially promote the selection and dominance of the buffalo follicles.

SECRETION OF A BONE-INDUCING AGENT (BIA) BY CULTURED SAOS-2 HUMAN OSTEOSARCOMA CELLS

An extractable bone-inducing agent has recently been identified in freeze-dried preparations of Saos-2 cultured human osteosarcoma cells. Although not all osteoinductive components of Saos-2 cell extracts have been identified, we have shown that Saos-2 cells express high levels of mRNA for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)-1,2,3,4 and 6. Any or all of these BMPs (plus possible unknown factors) may be involved in ectopic bone induction, and may act as paracrine agents, conveying morphogenetic information to juxtaposed osteoprogenitor cells. Our objectives in this study were: 1) to determine whether Saos-2 cells secrete BIA into their culture medium; and 2) if secreted, to determine whether released bone-inducing agent is soluble and/or particulate and contains BMPs. Saos-2 cells were grown to confluence, and then overlaid with serum-free DMEM culture medium for 48 hours. The serum-free conditioned medium was then decanted and filtered through 0.45μ pore-size filters to retain any vesicles or other particulates released by the cells. Particulate protein retained on the 0.45μ filter (designated "retentate") was extracted into 6M urea and bioassayed for bone-inducing activity in Nu/Nu mice, along with soluble media protein that had passed through the 0.45μ filter (designated "filtrate") plus freeze-dried Saos-2 cells from which conditioned the culture medium was obtained. Results indicate that the bone-inducing agent of Saos-2 cells is not only retained by the cells, but is also secreted in both soluble and particulate forms into serum-free conditioned medium. Bone-inducing activity (per mg protein) is more concentrated in the particulate fraction, which is shown by electron microscopy to contain a mixture of vesicles (similar to matrix vesicles) plus electron dense granules (resembling ribosomes) and 10 mM microfilaments (of possible collagenous or cytoskeletal origin). BMP-1,2,3,4,6 and 7 were detected by western blots in both the soluble and particulate fractions of conditioned medium. Thus, it is indicated that Saos-2 cells secrete an osteoinductive factor which may function in vivo as a paracrine morphogenetic agent.

Members of the lysyl oxidase family are expressed during the development of the frog Xenopus laevis

Lysyl oxidase (Lox) is a copper-dependent amine oxidase that catalyzes the cross-linking of collagen and elastin fibers in the extracellular matrix (ECM). In mammals, four closely related Lox-like enzymes have been described that share a highly conserved catalytic domain with Lox. We have characterized Xenopus laevis cDNAs for Lox, Loxl-1, and Loxl-3, and show that they are expressed during early embryonic development. Using RT-PCR we detected maternal transcripts for Xloxl-1, but levels remained low until tailbud stages. Transcripts for Xlox and Xloxl-3 were not detected until early neurulae, although transcripts for Xlox remained at low levels until tailbud stages. Whole mount in situ hybridization showed that transcripts for Xloxl-1 and Xloxl-3 are localized in the notochord, while transcripts for Xlox are found in the notochord, somites, and head. X. laevis Lox-like enzymes were inhibited by incubating embryos, from cleavage stages to tadpole stages, in beta-aminopropionitrile, a specific inhibitor of the catalytic domain. The resulting embryos appeared to differentiate normally but suffered from poor collagen fiber formation. Defects included kinks in the notochord, a posterior shift of the somites, abnormal gut coiling, and the formation of edemas. Our data suggest that Lox-related enzymes are required for the proper formation of the ECM during X. laevis development.

Xolloid-related: a novel BMP1/Tolloid-related metalloprotease is expressed during early Xenopus development

We have identified a novel Tolloid-like metalloprotease, called Xolloid-related (Xlr), that is expressed during early Xenopus development. Transcripts for xlr are localized to the marginal zone of mid-gastrulae and are most abundant in ventral and lateral sectors. At neurula stages xlr is strongly expressed around the blastopore and in the pharyngeal endoderm, and more weakly expressed throughout the ventral half of the embryo. Transcripts are detected in the nervous system, particularly the hindbrain and spinal cord, and tailbud of tailbud stage embryos, with weaker expression in the anterior nervous system, otic vesicle, heart, and pronephric duct. Transcription of xlr is increased by BMP4 and decreased by Noggin and tBR, indicating that xlr is regulated by BMP signalling. Injection of xlr mRNA inhibits dorsoanterior development and the dorsal axis inducing ability of coinjected chordin, but not noggin or tBR, mRNA. Xlr conditioned media cleaves Chordin in vitro, indicating that this protease may regulate the availability of Chordin in vivo.

Post-translational modification of bone morphogenetic protein-1 is required for secretion and stability of the protein

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-1 is a glycosylated metalloproteinase that is fundamental to the synthesis of a normal extracellular matrix because it cleaves type I procollagen, as well as other precursor proteins. Sequence analysis suggests that BMP-1 has six potential N-linked glycosylation sites (i.e. NXS/T) namely: Asn(91) (prodomain), Asn(142) (metalloproteinase domain), Asn(332) and Asn(363) (CUB1 domain), Asn(599) (CUB3 domain), and Asn(726) in the C-terminal-specific domain. In this study we showed that all these sites are N-glycosylated with complex-type oligosaccharides containing sialic acid, except Asn(726) presumably because proline occurs immediately C-terminal of threonine in the consensus sequence. Recombinant BMP-1 molecules lacking all glycosylation sites or the three CUB-specific sites were not secreted. BMP-1 lacking CUB glycosylation was translocated to the proteasome for degradation. BMP-1 molecules lacking individual glycosylation sites were efficiently secreted and exhibited full procollagen C-proteinase activity, but N332Q and N599Q exhibited a slower rate of cleavage. BMP-1 molecules lacking any one of the CUB-specific glycosylation sites were sensitive to thermal denaturation. The study showed that the glycosylation sites in the CUB domains of BMP-1 are important for secretion and stability of the molecule.

Identification of amino acid residues in bone morphogenetic protein-1 important for procollagen C-proteinase activity

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-1, which belongs to the tolloid subgroup of astacin-like zinc metalloproteinases, cleaves the C-propeptides of procollagen at the physiologic site and is, therefore, a procollagen C-proteinase (PCP). Cleavage occurs between a specific alanine or glycine residue (depending on the procollagen chain) and an invariant aspartic acid residue in each of the three chains of procollagen. To learn more about how BMP-1 exhibits PCP activity we mapped the primary structure of BMP-1 onto the x-ray crystal structure of astacin and identified residues in the metalloproteinase domain of BMP-1 for subsequent site-directed mutagenesis studies. Recombinant wild-type and mutant BMP-1 were expressed in COS-7 cells and assayed for PCP activity using type I procollagen as the substrate. We showed that substitution of alanine for Glu(94), which occurs in the HEXXH zinc-binding motif of BMP-1, abolishes PCP activity. Furthermore, mutation of residues Lys(87) and Lys(176), which are located in the S1' pocket of the enzyme and are therefore adjacent to the P1' residue in the substrate, reduced the proteolytic activity of BMP-1 by approximately 50%. A surprising observation was that mutation of Cys(66) reduced the activity to 20%, suggesting that this residue is crucial for activity. Further experiments showed that Cys(66) and Cys(63), which are located in the tolloid-specific sequence Cys(63)-Gly(64)-Cys(65)-Cys(66) in the active site, most likely form a disulfide bridge.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) localization in developing human and rat growth plate, metaphysis, epiphysis, and articular cartilage

We assessed the distribution and relative staining intensity of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-1-7 by immunohistochemistry in tibial growth plates, epiphyses, metaphyses, and articular cartilage in one 21-week and one 22-week human fetus and in five 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. In the rats, articular cartilage was also examined. BMP proteins were mostly cytoplasmic, with negligible matrix staining. Highest BMP levels were seen in (a) hypertrophic and calcifying zone chondrocytes of growth plate (BMP-1-7), (b) osteoblasts and/or osteoprogenitor fibroblasts and vascular cells of the metaphyseal cortex and medulla (BMP-1-6), (c) osteoclasts of the metaphysis and epiphysis (BMP-1,-4,-5, and -6), and (d) mid to deep zone articular chondrocytes of weanling rats (BMP-1-7). BMP staining in osteoclasts, an unexpected finding, was consistently strong with BMP-4, -5, and -6 but was variable and dependent on osteoclast location with BMP-2,-3, and -7. BMP-1-7 were moderately to intensely stained in vascular canals of human fetal epiphyseal cartilage by endothelial cells and pericytes. BMP-1,-3,-5,-6, and -7 were localized in hypertrophic chondrocytes adjacent to cartilage canals. We conclude that BMP expression is associated with maturing chondrocytes of growth plate and articular cartilage, and may play a role in chondrocyte differentiation and/or apoptosis. BMP appears to be expressed by osteoclasts and might be involved in the intercellular "cross-talk" between osteoclasts and neighboring osteoprogenitor cells at sites of bone remodeling.

Is chordin a long-range- or short-range-acting factor? Roles for BMP1-related metalloproteases in chordin and BMP4 autofeedback loop regulation

Diffusible morphogen models have been used widely to explain regional specification of tissues and body axes during animal development. The three-signal model for patterning the dorsal-ventral axis of the amphibian embryo proposes, in part, that a factor(s) secreted from Spemann's organizer is responsible for converting lateral marginal zone into more dorsal cell fates. We examine the possibility that chordin, a secreted inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and candidate "dorsalizing signal," is a long-range-acting factor. We show that chordin can, when overexpressed, act directly over distances of at least 450 microm in the early Xenopus embryo to create a gradient of BMP signaling. However, since lower levels of chordin can still induce secondary axes and these amounts of chordin act only locally to inhibit a BMP target gene, we suggest that chordin likely acts as a short-range signal in vivo. Furthermore, BMP1, a secreted metalloprotease that cleaves chordin protein in vitro, inhibits chordin's axis-inducing effects, suggesting that BMP1 functions to negatively regulate chordin's action in vivo. A dominant-negative mutant BMP1 blocks the in vitro cleavage of chordin protein by wild-type BMP1 and induces secondary axes when injected ventrally. We argue that BMP1 and Xolloid are probably functionally redundant metalloproteases and may have two roles in the early Xenopus embryo. One role may be to inhibit the action of low-level chordin protein expressed throughout the entire embryo and a possible second role may be to inhibit activation of a juxtacrine cell relay, thereby confining chordin's action to the organizer region preventing chordin from functioning as a long-range-acting factor.

Cloning of the chick BMP1/Tolloid cDNA and expression in skeletal tissues

The astacin-related metalloproteases Bone Morphogenetic Protein-1 (BMP1) and Tolloid possess multiple functions in the maturation of extracellular matrices containing fibrillar collagens. We are interested in developing an in-vitro model system to study the role of BMP1 and Tolloid in chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Cloning of the cDNAs for chick BMP1 and Tolloid reveals that the two gene products are more than 80% identical to their human and mouse homologs and are similarly derived from the same genetic locus. Anti-BMP1/Tolloid antibodies have been developed, and detect two proteins of 80 and 116kDa. Chick BMP1 and Tolloid message and proteins are found in a variety of embryonic and juvenile tissues, including chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Tolloid message and protein are generally less abundant than BMP1 message; this discrepancy is greatest in growth plate chondrocytes. Tolloid protein is more tightly bound than BMP1 to the extracellular matrix produced by cultured osteoblasts. The Chordin gene is also expressed in chondrocytes and osteoblasts, suggesting that BMP1 and Tolloid influence BMP signaling as well as matrix maturation during skeletogenesis.

Hydra metalloproteinase 1: a secreted astacin metalloproteinase whose apical axis expression is differentially regulated during head regeneration

The newly emerging astacin metalloproteinase family comprises multiple members with diverse functions. Most recently, the development-related functions have been attributed to both (1) proteolytic cleavage and subsequent release of active TGF-beta-like growth factors from latent inhibitory complexes and (2) modification of extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly and composition. We previously identified and purified hydra metalloproteinase 1 (HMP-1), a developmentally important astacin proteinase that functions in head regeneration and transdifferentiation of tentacle battery cells (L. Yan et al., 1995, Development 121, 1591-1602). In the present study, further cloning revealed that HMP-1 is produced as a secreted zymogen with a conserved hydrophobic signal sequence and a putative propeptide. The processed HMP-1 is composed of a characteristic astacin proteinase domain and a unique Cys-rich C-terminus. With this simple domain structure, HMP-1 represents an ancestral astacin proteinase. Consistent with its role in head regeneration, HMP-1 mRNA is expressed at highest levels by endodermal cells at the apical pole of the body column just inferior to the base of tentacles, the region of active cell differentiation or transdifferentiation. A modified immunocytochemical procedure demonstrated that HMP-1 protein can be localized not only to ECM of tentacles as we previously reported, but also to endodermal cells of the body column in a pattern similar to its mRNA distribution. The localization of HMP-1 protein in tentacles was confirmed using an enzymatic approach. A translocation of HMP-1 protein from cells in the body column to the extracellular milieu in tentacles further suggests that HMP-1 is a secreted protein. HMP-1 expression undergoes extensive regulation at the transcriptional level both temporally and spatially during head regeneration. The involvement of HMP-1 in this morphogenetic process is further supported by the blockage of head regeneration with localized antisense treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that HMP-1 is a secreted astacin metalloproteinase that has an important role in regulating hydra head morphogenesis potentially through its differential expression along the body axis.

The role of tolloid/mini fin in dorsoventral pattern formation of the zebrafish embryo

A highly conserved TGF-β signaling pathway is involved in the establishment of the dorsoventral axis of the vertebrate embryo. Specifically, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (Bmps) pattern ventral tissues of the embryo while inhibitors of Bmps, such as Chordin, Noggin and Follistatin, are implicated in dorsal mesodermal and neural development. We investigated the role of Tolloid, a metalloprotease that can cleave Chordin and increase Bmp activity, in patterning the dorsoventral axis of the zebrafish embryo. Injection of tolloid mRNA into six dorsalized mutants rescued only one of these mutants, mini fin. Through chromosomal mapping, linkage and cDNA sequence analysis of several mini fin alleles, we demonstrate that mini fin encodes the tolloid gene. Characterization of the mini fin mutant phenotype reveals that Mini fin/Tolloid activity is required for patterning ventral tissues of the tail: the ventral fin, and the ventroposterior somites and vasculature. Gene expression studies show that mfn mutants exhibit reduced expression of ventrally restricted markers at the end of gastrulation, suggesting that the loss of ventral tail tissues is caused by a dorsalization occurring at the end of gastrulation. Based on the mini fin mutant phenotype and the expression of tolloid, we propose that Mini fin/Tolloid modifes the Bmp activity gradient at the end of gastrulation, when the ventralmost marginal cells of the embryo are in close proximity to the dorsal Chordin-expressing cells. At this time, unimpeded Chordin may diffuse to the most ventral marginal regions and inhibit high Bmp activity levels. In the presence of Mini fin/Tolloid, however, Chordin activity would be negatively modulated through proteolytic cleavage, thereby increasing Bmp signaling activity. This extracellular mechanism is amplified by an autoregulatory loop for bmp gene expression.

Immunodetection of Xenopus bone morphogenetic protein-1 in adult and embryonic cells

In order to analyze biochemical properties of Xenopus bone morphogenetic protein-1 (XBMP-1), rabbit antiserum (alpha-B1) was raised against a synthetic peptide (P1) corresponding to a hydrophilic N-terminal region. XBMP-1B (Xtld) synthesized in the reticulocyte lysate was successfully immunoprecipitated by this antiserum. This precipitation was completely blocked when P1 was added to the reaction, indicating that alpha-B1 recognized XBMP-1B specifically. In Western blot analysis, two distinct sizes of protein (107 and 34 kD) were detected in hind limbs in metamorphosing animals. Both proteins were detected in various adult tissues such as lung, liver, kidney, heart, muscle, intestine, brain, and testis. The mixing of the liver and muscle extracts, and the following detection of immunoreactive proteins suggested that the 34 kD band was a proteolytic product of the 107 kD protein. In the embryonic extracts from the unfertilized egg (stage 0) to swimming tadpoles (stage 40), a 63 kD protein was detected in addition to the 107 kD protein. We also showed that the 107 kD protein was much more expressed in the animal half of the unfertilized eggs than in the vegetal half, but that it was ubiquitously expressed in the gastrula embryos. We suggest that the 63 and 107 kD proteins correspond to full-length proteins encoded by XBMP-1A and XBMP-1B genes, and these proteins are expressed in embryo and in various adult tissues.

Phosphinic peptides, the first potent inhibitors of astacin, behave as extremely slow-binding inhibitors

A series of phosphinic pseudo-peptides varying in length and composition have been designed as inhibitors of the crayfish zinc endopeptidase astacin, the prototype of the astacin family and of the metzincin superfamily of metalloproteinases. The most efficient phosphinic peptide, fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-Pro-Lys-PhePsi(PO2CH2)Ala-P ro-Leu-Val, binds to astacin with a Ki value of 42 nM, which is about three orders of magnitude below the corresponding values for previously used hydroxamic acid derivatives. However, the rate constants for association (kon = 96.8 M-1.s-1) and dissociation (koff = 4.1 x 10(-6) s-1) are evidence for the extremely slow binding behaviour of this compound. N-terminally or C-terminally truncated phosphinic analogues of this parent molecule are much less potent, indicating a critical role of the peptide size on the potency. In particular, omission of the N-terminal proline residue leads to a 40-fold increase in Ki which is mostly due to a 75-fold higher koff value. These findings are consistent with the previously solved crystal structure of astacin complexed with one of the phosphinic peptides, benzyloxycarbonyl-Pro-Lys-PhePsi(PO2CH2)Ala-Pro-O-methyl, Ki = 14 microM [Grams, Dive, Yiotakis, Yiallouros, Vassiliou, Zwilling, Bode and Stöcker (1996) Nature Struct. Biol. 3, 671-675]. This structure also reveals that the phosphinic group binds to the active site as a transition-state analogue. The extremely slow binding behaviour of the phosphinic peptides is discussed in the light of the conformational changes involving a unique 'tyrosine switch' in the structure of astacin upon inhibitor binding. The phosphinic peptides may provide a rational basis for the design of drugs directed towards other members of the astacin family which, like bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1; i.e. the procollagen C-proteinase), have become targets of pharmacological research.

A developmental gene (Tolloid/BMP-1) is regulated in Aplysia neurons by treatments that induce long-term sensitization

Long-term sensitization training, or procedures that mimic the training, produces long-term facilitation of sensory-motor neuron synapses in Aplysia. The long-term effects of these procedures require mRNA and protein synthesis (Montarolo et al., 1986; Castellucci et al., 1989). Using the techniques of differential display reverse transcription PCR (DDRT-PCR) and ribonuclease protection assays (RPA), we identified a cDNA whose mRNA level was increased significantly in sensory neurons by treatments of isolated pleural-pedal ganglia with serotonin for 1.5 hr or by long-term behavioral training of Aplysia. The effects of serotonin and behavioral training on this mRNA were mimicked by treatments that elevate cAMP. The aplysia mRNA increased by serotonin and behavioral training was 41-45% identical to a developmentally regulated gene family which includes Drosophila tolloid and human bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1). Both tolloid and BMP-1 encode metalloproteases that might activate TGF-beta (transforming growth factor beta)-like molecules or process procollagens. Aplysia tolloid/BMP-1-like protein (apTBL-1) might regulate the morphology and efficacy of synaptic connections between sensory and motor neurons, which are associated with long-term sensitization.

Cleavage of Chordin by Xolloid metalloprotease suggests a role for proteolytic processing in the regulation of Spemann organizer activity

The Xolloid secreted metalloprotease, a tolloid-related protein, was found to cleave Chordin and Chordin/BMP-4 complexes at two specific sites in biochemical experiments Xolloid mRNA blocks secondary axes caused by chordin, but not by noggin, follistatin, or dominant-negative BMP receptor, mRNA injection. Xolloid-treated Chordin protein was unable to antagonize BMP activity. Furthermore, Xolloid digestion released biologically active BMPs from Chordin/BMP inactive complexes. Injection of dominant-negative Xolloid mRNA indicated that the in vivo function of Xolloid is to limit the extent of Spemann's organizer field. We propose that Xolloid regulates organizer function by a novel proteolytic mechanism involving a double inhibition pathway required to pattern the dorsoventral axis: [formula in text].

XBMP-1B (Xtld), a Xenopus homolog of dorso-ventral polarity gene in Drosophila, modifies tissue phenotypes of ventral explants

Previously we have isolated a Xenopus cDNA homolog of bone morphogenetic protein-1 (XBMP-1A). In the present report we describe a new cDNA clone called XBMP-1B (or Xtld) from a Xenopus embryonic library. Sequence analysis indicates that these two clones share an indentical N-terminal sequence, including a region of metalloprotease domain, three copies of a repeat first found in complement proteins C1r/s and an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like sequence. XBMP-1B protein has an additional copy of an EGF-like sequence followed by two copies of complement 1 r/s repeat in the C-terminus. The overall protein structure predicted from the XBMP-1B sequence reveals that it encodes a protein homologous to Drosophila tolloid. Three XBMP-1 transcripts (2.9, 5.2 and 6.6 kb) were detected by northern blot analysis. However, the 2.9 kb transcript hybridized specifically with XBMP-1A and the 5.2 and 6.6 kb transcripts hybridized with XBMP-1B. In Drosophila, a major function of tolloid is to augment the activity of the decapentaplegic gene product, a close relative of tumor growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily members, BMP-2/4. Although XBMP-1 and XBMP-4 are detected in various adult tissues of Xenopus, the expression pattern of these two genes was not tightly correlated. In the embryo, the expression of XBMP-1 increased gradually from the morula to the swimming tadpole stages. Injection of XBMP-1B RNA into the ventral blastomeres at the 4-cell stage caused an elongation of the ventral marginal zone explants and converted globin-positive blood cells to mesenchymal and muscle tissues at later stages. It was shown that XBMP-1A was less active and a 1A mutant lacking the signal sequence was inactive. Further studies revealed that injection of XBMP-1B RNA into the ventral marginal zone induced up-regulation of dorsal marginal zone markers, such as goosecoid and chordin, at the gastrulation stage. These data indicate that XBMP-1 may have a role in determining dorso-ventral patterning in Xenopus, but in a different way from the dpp/tolloid system demonstrated in Drosophila.

Dorsal or ventral: similarities in fate maps and gastrulation patterns in annelids, arthropods and chordates

The idea that chordates, during their evolution, have inverted their dorsoventral body axis has recently gained substantial support. It has been shown that various dorsoventral patterning genes that are evolutionarily conserved between insects and vertebrates are expressed dorsally in insects, and ventrally in vertebrates, or vice versa. The ventral body side of insects thus seems to correspond to the dorsal body side of vertebrates, and these are nerve cord-bearing, neural body sides in both groups. In order to exclude that the inverted polarity of gene patterning activity is purely accidental, we compare here vertebrate and invertebrate blastula fate maps and their gastrulation patterns in the framework of early gene expression. From this comparison it appears that the neural body sides, 'ventral' in annelids or arthropods, and 'dorsal' in chordates, develop at similar positions with respect to the initial egg asymmetry. In addition, the formation of the neural body sides involves similar movements during gastrulation. We further suggest that the deuterostome gastrulation seen in today's chordates can be derived from a more ancestral gastrulation pattern seen in today's annelids and arthropods, and that the ventral midline cells of insects correspond to the dorsal midline cells of vertebrates.

Failure of ventral body wall closure in mouse embryos lacking a procollagen C-proteinase encoded by Bmp1, a mammalian gene related to Drosophila tolloid

The mouse bone morphogenetic protein1 (Bmp1) gene encodes a secreted astacin metalloprotease that cleaves the COOH-propeptide of procollagen I, II and III. BMP-1 is also related to the product of the Drosophila patterning gene, tolloid (tld), which enhances the activity of the TGFbeta-related growth factor Decapentaplegic and promotes development of the dorsalmost amnioserosa. We have disrupted the mouse Bmp1 gene by deleting DNA sequences encoding the active site of the astacin-like protease domain common to all splice variants. Homozygous mutant embryos appear to have a normal skeleton, apart from reduced ossification of certain skull bones. However, they have a persistent herniation of the gut in the umbilical region and do not survive beyond birth. Analysis of the amnion of homozygous mutant embryos reveals the absence of the fold that normally tightly encloses the physiological hernia of the gut. At the electron microscopic level, the extracellular matrix of the amnion contains collagen fibrils with an abnormal morphology, consistent with the incorporation of partially processed procollagen molecules. Metabolical labelling and immunofluorescence studies also reveal abnormal processing and deposition of procollagen by homozygous mutant fibroblasts in culture.

Structure of the gene encoding the sea urchin blastula protease 10 (BP10), a member of the astacin family of Zn2+-metalloproteases

Blastula protease 10 (BP10), a metalloprotease of the astacin family, is secreted at the blastula stage by the sea urchin embryo. The BP10 gene shows a precise temporal and spatial regulation during embryogenesis. It has been cloned from a sea urchin lambda genomic library and the transcription unit has been entirely sequenced. It spans 6kb and contains seven exons (2.8 kb) and six introns (3.2 kb). Sequence comparison and phylogeny analysis show that BP10 belongs to a sub-family of molecular proteins which all play a role during development. In the two cases where the exon/intron organization of the gene is known (BP10 and tolloid), the modular structure of the protein is not reflected at the gene level, which indicates that this sub-family probably did not evolve by exon shuffling.

BMP-1 and the astacin family of metalloproteinases: a potential link between the extracellular matrix, growth factors and pattern formation

Members of the astacin family of metalloproteinases such as human bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1) have previously been linked to cell differentiation and pattern formation during development through a proposed role in the activation of latent growth factors of the TGF-beta superfamily. Recent findings indicate that BMP-1 is identical to pro-collagen C-proteinase, which is a metalloproteinase involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) formation. This observation suggests that a functional link may exist between astacin metalloproteinases, growth factors and cell differentiation and pattern formation during development. Taken together, current studies indicate that BMP-1 and possibly other astacin metalloproteinases are multifunctional enzymes that act directly on growth factors and the ECM. In combination, these dual actions would have profound effects on developmental processes.

Disruption of BMP signals in embryonic Xenopus ectoderm leads to direct neural induction

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which have been implicated in the patterning of mesoderm, are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. We have investigated the roles of Xenopus BMP-7 (XBMP-7) and BMP-4 (XBMP-4), and activin (another TGF-beta-related molecule) in early development by generating dominant-negative versions of these growth factors. Mutations were generated by altering the cleavage sites that are required for maturation of the active dimeric forms of XBMP-7, XBMP-4, and activin. These mutant constructs, designated Cm-XBMP-7, Cm-XBMP-4, and Cm-activin, result in polypeptides that allow for dimerization of the subunits, but are incapable of maturation. Expression of Cm-XBMP-7 and Cm-XBMP-4, but not Cm-activin, in the ventral marginal zone of the Xenopus embryo results in the development of a secondary axis, similar to that seen by ectopic expression of the truncated BMP receptor. These results suggest that the cleavage mutants interfere with BMP signaling during mesodermal patterning. We also found that expression of Cm-XBMP-7 or Cm-XBMP-4 in animal cap ectoderm directly induces neuroectoderm. The neural induction was specific for Cm-XBMP-7 and Cm-XBMP-4 because ectopic expression of Cm-activin or Vg-1 did not mimic the same phenotype. Molecular study of neural patterning by Cm-XBMP-7 and Cm-XBMP-4 revealed that only anterior neuroectodermal markers are expressed in response to these Cm-XBMPs. These results suggest that the BMPs are involved in the specification of ectoderm in Xenopus development, and that neural induction requires the removal of BMP signals in the ectoderm. We propose that neural induction occurs by a default mechanism, whereby the inhibition of BMP signaling is required for the conversion of ectoderm to neuroectoderm in the developing Xenopus embryo.

The astacin family of metalloendopeptidases

The astacin family of metalloendopeptidases was recognized as a novel family of proteases in the 1990s. The crayfish enzyme astacin was the first characterized and is one of the smallest members of the family. More than 20 members of the family have now been identified. They have been detected in species ranging from hydra to humans, in mature and in developmental systems. Proposed functions of these proteases include activation of growth factors, degradation of polypeptides, and processing of extracellular proteins. Astacin family proteases are synthesized with NH2-terminal signal and proenzyme sequences, and many (such as meprins, BMP-1, tolloid) contain multiple domains COOH-terminal to the protease domain. They are either secreted from cells or are plasma membrane-associated enzymes. They have some distinguishing features in addition to the signature sequence in the protease domain: HEXXHXXGFXHEXXRXDR. They have a unique type of zinc binding, with pentacoordination, and a protease domain tertiary structure that contains common attributes with serralysins, matrix metalloendopeptidases, and snake venom proteases; they cleave peptide bonds in polypeptides such as insulin B chain and bradykinin and in proteins such as casein and gelatin; and they have arylamidase activity. Meprins are unique proteases in the astacin family, and indeed in the animal kingdom, in their oligomeric structure; they are dimers of disulfide-linked dimers and are highly glycosylated, type I integral membrane proteins that have many attributes of receptors or integrins with adhesion, epidermal growth factor-like, and transmembrane domains. The alpha and beta subunits are differentially expressed and processed to yield latent and active proteases as well as membrane-associated and secreted forms. Meprins represent excellent models of hetero- and homo-oligomeric enzymes that are regulated at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels.

A 25.7 × 10(3) M(r) hydra metalloproteinase (HMP1), a member of the astacin family, localizes to the extracellular matrix of Hydra vulgaris in a head-specific manner and has a developmental function

Hydra extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of a number of components seen in vertebrate ECM such as laminin, type IV collagen, fibronectin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan. A number of functional studies have shown that hydra ECM plays an important role in pattern formation and morphogenesis of this simple metazoan. The present study was designed to identify matrix degrading proteinases in hydra and determine their potential function in hydra morphogenesis. Using SDS-PAGE gelatin-zymography, five gelatinolytic bands were identified with relative molecular masses of 67 × 10(3), 51–58 × 10(3) (a triplet) and 25–29 × 10(3), respectively. Inhibition studies indicated that all of these gelatinases were metalloproteinases. Gelatin-zymography indicated that there was a differential distribution of these gelatinases along the longitudinal axis of hydra, with the 67 × 10(3) M(r) gelatinase being concentrated in the body column, while the 51–58 × 10(3) M(r) gelatinase triplet and the 25–29 × 10(3) M(r) gelatinase concentrated in the head region. Purification procedures were successfully developed for the 25–29 × 10(3) M(r) metalloproteinase which has been termed hydra metalloproteinase 1 (HMP1) and which appeared as a single band with a SDS-PAGE mobility of 25.7 × 10(3) M(r). The N-terminal sequence of purified HMP1 indicated that it has structural homology with metalloproteinases that belong to the astacin family. Subsequent cloning and sequencing of cDNA clones confirmed the identification of HMP1 as an astacin-like metalloproteinase. Immunocytochemical studies with antibodies generated against the purified enzyme and to a synthetic peptide indicated that HMP1 was localized to the ECM of tentacles. Functional studies were performed in which purified HMP1, anti-HMP1 IgG, or suspected substrates of HMP1 (e.g. growth factors such as TGF-beta 1) were introduced into the interepithelial compartment of hydra using a ‘DMSO loading’ procedure. These studies indicated that HMP1 has a functional role during a number of developmental processes such as head regeneration and cell differentiation/transdifferentiation of tentacle battery cells.

The metzincins--topological and sequential relations between the astacins, adamalysins, serralysins, and matrixins (collagenases) define a superfamily of zinc-peptidases

The three-dimensional structures of the zinc endopeptidases human neutrophil collagenase, adamalysin II from rattle snake venom, alkaline proteinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and astacin from crayfish are topologically similar, with respect to a five-stranded beta-sheet and three alpha-helices arranged in typical sequential order. The four proteins exhibit the characteristic consensus motif HEXXHXXGXXH, whose three histidine residues are involved in binding of the catalytically essential zinc ion. Moreover, they all share a conserved methionine residue beneath the active site metal as part of a superimposable "Met-turn." This structural relationship is supported by a sequence alignment performed on the basis of topological equivalence showing faint but distinct sequential similarity. The alkaline proteinase is about equally distant (26% sequence identity) to both human neutrophil collagenase and astacin and a little further away from adamalysin II (17% identity). The pairs astacin/adamalysin II, astacin/human neutrophil collagenase, and adamalysin II/human neutrophil collagenase exhibit sequence identities of 16%, 14%, and 13%, respectively. Therefore, the corresponding four distinct families of zinc peptidases, the astacins, the matrix metalloproteinases (matrixins, collagenases), the adamalysins/reprolysins (snake venom proteinases/reproductive tract proteins), and the serralysins (large bacterial proteases from Serratia, Erwinia, and Pseudomonas) appear to have originated by divergent evolution from a common ancestor and form a superfamily of proteolytic enzymes for which the designation "metzincins" has been proposed. There is also a faint but significant structural relationship of the metzincins to the thermolysin-like enzymes, which share the truncated zinc-binding motif HEXXH and, moreover, similar topologies in their N-terminal domains.

The screw gene encodes a ubiquitously expressed member of the TGF-beta family required for specification of dorsal cell fates in the Drosophila embryo

The decapentaplegic (dpp) gene product, a TGF-beta related ligand, acts as an extracellular morphogen to establish at least two cellular response thresholds within the dorsal half of the Drosophila embryo. Null mutations in the screw (scw) gene are phenotypically similar to moderate dpp mutants and cause dorsal cells to adopt ventral fates. We show that scw encodes a novel TGF-beta protein and is an integral part of the signal that specifies dorsal pattern. Although scw is expressed uniformly during blastoderm stages, its effect on development appears graded and is restricted to the dorsal side of the embryo. Our results indicate that DPP activity alone is insufficient to specify different dorsal cell fates. We propose that SCW and DPP act together to establish distinct response boundaries within the dorsal half of the embryo, perhaps by forming heterodimers that have higher activity than homodimers of either molecule alone.

TGF-beta related genes in development

Embryonic induction is the process by which signals from one cell population change the developmental fate of another. Polypeptides related to growth factors are one group of molecules mediating many inductive events. Recent data on the embryonic expression and function of signaling proteins related to transforming growth factor beta, in both vertebrate and invertebrate systems, have shown that these molecules play important roles in both pattern formation and tissue specification during embryogenesis.